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Chapter 36
“How about trying on these earrings, Eva?”
“No, dear. Our daughter looks best in red earrings.”
“Does she? Everything looks lovely to me.”
“Well, of course. Our daughter is the most beautiful in the world.”
“Oh dear. What does our pretty girl think?”
“…I like them all.”
The Blanche mansion was in an uproar thanks to a letter from the Emperor.
Working alongside Claude alone had been an honor to the family. But now the Emperor himself was granting her a reward? This would be remembered in the history of the Blanche family.
Her parents were ecstatic, busy dressing Eva up, but she herself felt nothing but gloom.
It was like being punished with a mouthful of sand.
Just preparing to visit the palace took several days. Her mother dragged her through every boutique in town for a dress fitting, and her father insisted she cram some etiquette through express lessons.
She kept hoping the day would never come—but time, as always, was merciless. The day she was to meet the Emperor arrived.
Eva, unable to eat properly for days, had visibly lost weight.
“Eva, sweetie, be careful and tell us everything when you return.”
“Dear, don’t pressure her. Just do as you wish, child.”
If I could really do as I wished, I’d run off to the countryside and live with multiple lovers.
She longed to drop that bomb and disappear—but instead, she had to force a smile.
“…I’ll do my best and come back.”
Running now would probably cause a literal bloodbath.
Wearing a stiff smile, Eva climbed into the carriage headed to the palace.
✦ ✦ ✦
“Lady Blanche, it’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“It’s an honor. I’m Eva Blanche.”
“I am Pla, His Majesty’s aide.”
She had secretly hoped Chase would come to greet her—but of course not. Instead, the Emperor’s aide, Pla, was waiting.
Just seeing him made her shoulders shrink.
“Please follow me.”
“Yes, of course.”
Trailing after him, Eva cursed herself internally.
I should’ve followed Brigitte instead. I wouldn’t have to meet the Emperor if I had. I didn’t think I’d regret it this fast.
Should I run away now? Her head swirled with a thousand thoughts.
“His Majesty is inside. Please go in.”
They had already reached the palace reception room. Frozen with nerves, Eva creaked out a question.
“Um… do I go in alone?”
“Yes.”
“You’re not coming in?”
“I have other matters to attend to.”
It felt like heading into the final round of a high-pressure interview. She hadn’t even applied but was being dragged in with a fast pass. She was not happy.
As Eva hesitated, standing still—
Knock knock.
“Your Majesty. Lady Blanche is here.”
Pla didn’t intend to wait. He knocked in her place, leaving Eva no time to object.
“Let her in.”
The Emperor’s voice came through.
“Please go in.”
With a far too pleasant smile, Pla opened the door. Eva had no choice but to step inside.
“I-I greet His Imperial Majesty, the S-Sun of the Vegren Empire.”
She tripped over the short sentence three times, almost biting her tongue.
Facing the Emperor, Eva froze from sheer tension.
“Sit.”
“Y-yes, Your Majesty.”
She moved like a broken toy—same arm, same leg—and sat down when the Emperor did.
She was a private facing a three-star general.
“No need to be so stiff.”
“Yes, interviewer—no! I mean, Your Majesty.”
Trying to think of him as just a bald man conducting an interview backfired—she misspoke.
That blunder made her even more nervous. She clenched her fists tightly.
“I called you here to thank you for successfully managing the recent party. Thanks to your good impression, the Penne Empire made a trade proposal.”
“Thank you. But it was all thanks to Prince Claude and the other organizers!”
Her voice pitched up at the end, like someone being interviewed.
“Especially, the Penne envoy sent a letter filled with praise for you.”
Brigitte! Why would you do something that helpful?
“This is clearly your accomplishment.”
“Thank you.”
“I intend to reward you. Is there anything you’d like?”
I want to leave. Right now.
For a second, she nearly said that out loud.
“There’s nothing I desire. Just being able to help the palace is reward enough.”
“How modest.”
“Not at all. I believe anyone in my place would say the same. This first trade with Penne is already a great honor to me.”
She forced a smile, though it trembled with anxiety.
“Lady Blanche.”
“Yes!”
“What do you think we should trade with Penne to bring the greatest benefit to our empire?”
An essay question, out of nowhere! Eva’s brain spun as she tried to find a model answer. But she was too tense to think straight.
Stay calm! Better to give a thoughtful answer than a rushed one.
The silence stretched, but the Emperor waited patiently.
Finally, Eva answered in a trembling voice:
“…If it were me, I would suggest trading seeds.”
“Seeds?”
The Emperor’s eyebrow twitched.
She remembered reading in a book that this was his sign of interest.
Taking that as encouragement, Eva spoke with more confidence.
“Yes. I heard Penne’s wintertree herbs have strong medicinal effects.”
In the original story, when Rai was wounded in war, that herb had helped greatly. She remembered it well—it was a critical moment for her favorite character.
“Then wouldn’t it be better to trade the herbs themselves?”
“That would work too, but I believe it would give Penne too much control.”
The Emperor raised a hand to cover his mouth—hiding his expression.
“Many nations already know of Penne’s herbs. If they raise prices, we’d have no choice but to comply.”
“So, buying seeds instead.”
“It may take time to cultivate them, but in the long term, it would benefit us.”
“Hm.”
“If we could grow those herbs solely in Vegren, the day might come when other empires would want to trade with us.”
Even with his mouth covered, the Emperor’s expression seemed to soften.
“What do you think Penne would want from us in return?”
“Wood, of course.”
“Why?”
“Because they’re a cold country and need constant heat. I heard—no, I read—that chimneys are a common feature in every home.”
Another detail from the original novel. Thank you, author!
“They’re used to burning wood to heat their homes, so they must be running low.”
“But if we trade away our wood, we’ll run out too.”
“That’s why we could replace older trees with saplings grown from the seeds we import.”
“So, buying and reselling—clever.”
The Emperor continued to observe Eva with a hidden but pleased expression.
‘I think Lady Blanche would be a perfect match for Prince Claude.’
He had once dismissed Julian’s words as childish teasing.
But of all the noblewomen he had asked this question, Eva gave the most satisfying answer.
It might be worth considering again.
“Do you have a fiancé, Lady Blanche?”
“…Excuse me?”
A personal question—during an interview?! She couldn’t exactly say, “That’s inappropriate!”
“No, I don’t.”
“I see. Thank you for coming today. Are you sure you don’t want a reward?”
“Yes. This was a group effort, and I wouldn’t want to take all the credit.”
“Haha. I understand. Then, until we meet again.”
“Pardon? Again?”
Why is he asking if I’m engaged… don’t tell me he’s thinking of making me his second Empress. I don’t want Claude and Julian to become my nephews!
“You may go.”
“Yes, Your Majesty!”
Unlike her clumsy entrance, Eva practically flew out like a flying squirrel.
Even the normally unreadable Emperor let out a chuckle.
“Ugh… I feel like I lost a year off my life.”
“Did your meeting go well, Your Ladyship?”
“Ah!”
Startled, Eva spun around. She hadn’t noticed Pla standing beside her.
He was holding a file, smiling politely.
“Yes… it went well. How long was I in there?”
“About ten minutes.”
“Ten? It felt like over an hour!”
“Ten minutes exactly.”
Even stiffer than Chase. Do they only hire aides like this?
She nodded awkwardly.
“I’ll escort you back to your carriage.”
“No need. I can find my way.”
“You may get lost—it’s your first time here.”
“I have a good sense of direction.”
A lie, but she really wanted to be alone.
Being with Pla still felt like being near the Emperor.
“Then I’ll take my leave here.”
“Yes. Goodbye.”
Eva bowed and quickly left the palace before anyone could stop her.
Pla watched her go, then knocked and entered the reception room.
“She has left, Your Majesty.”
“I see. How did she do?”
Pla placed the documents on the desk.
“Hmm… I think I’ll invite her to the greenhouse next time.”
“The greenhouse?”
“She’s quite the promising young lady.”
Pla saw the slight curl of the Emperor’s lips and understood immediately.
That young lady might just become Prince Claude’s consort.
As he cleared away the untouched tea, Pla mused to himself.
Meanwhile, Eva was already plotting her escape.
“I need to leave. Now. If I stay any longer, I’ll die of stress. Why are more people getting involved?!”
She quickened her pace, heading back to the mansion.
“Iva.”
A quiet voice called her name.
She turned to see Claude standing there with a soft smile.
“Prince Claude?”
“I was waiting for you.”
