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Chapter 60
“Will you hand me that letter? I happen to be on my way to His Majesty, so I’ll deliver it.”
“Eh? Bu-but…”
Tanesia extended her hand, but the attendant hesitated.
“It is the rule that any letter to His Majesty must be delivered personally to prevent any… untoward incidents…”
“How insolent!”
However, the attendant couldn’t finish speaking.
The head maid, standing behind the empress, scolded him sharply.
“Untoward incidents, you say?”
The soft, melodious voice was beautiful like a nightingale, yet for some reason, the attendant felt a chill run down his spine.
“Your words sound odd. As if I were intercepting a letter meant for His Majesty.”
The attendant’s face went pale in an instant. He belatedly realized his mistake.
The head maid began to interrogate him harshly.
“Do you dare insult and scheme against Her Majesty the Empress?”
“E-empress… I—I did not mean such a thing…”
Overcome with fear, the attendant stammered pitifully, his body trembling as he hunched over.
Tanesia spoke to him kindly.
“Yes. You had no such intention, right?”
“Y-yes! That’s right, Your Majesty!”
As the attendant frantically nodded, Tanesia pursed her lips.
“Then say it again.”
With trembling hands, the attendant placed the letter into Tanesia’s palm.
“I am grateful that Her Majesty is taking care of the humble servant’s matter. Y-your Majesty.”
“Nothing more to say?”
When the empress asked, the attendant’s eyes darted nervously.
One of the maids standing expressionless behind the empress quietly placed a finger to her lips.
“I-I won’t tell anyone about this!”
At that, Tanesia smiled brightly, like a blooming flower.
“Good. You may go now.”
“Th-thank you, Your Majesty.”
A guard approached Tanesia as she watched the attendant leave.
“Handle it.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
The man nodded sharply and disappeared into the scenery as if blending with it.
Back in the empress’s palace, Tanesia half-reclined on the couch, and the maids immediately surrounded her, ready to attend.
Feeling their careful touch massaging her shoulders, calves, and feet, Tanesia checked the letter.
The seal in sealing wax was indeed that of the Verdi family. She broke the seal.
‘…’
Upon reading the contents, Tanesia slightly furrowed her brow.
“An engagement, huh…”
She slowly sat up, holding the proposal letter.
It was Archibald’s letter, requesting the engagement of Calliope Verdi to Prince Leraige.
“To think he’d try to unfasten the collar without the master’s permission.”
Her low voice was as cold as a glacier.
The maids instinctively froze as the atmosphere around the empress turned chilling.
Ever since the seventh prince’s name came up, not even a breath could be taken lightly.
They had all learned from experience what terrible fates befell those who displeased the empress in the past.
“Archibald Verdi… so he dares to stab me in the back like this.”
Tanesia clenched her fists.
Her long, lacquered, ornate nails dug into her palms.
The atmosphere in the palace became frighteningly tense.
Everyone was on edge, anticipating the empress’s next move.
“Mother, it’s Lucius. May I come in?”
Hearing the crown prince’s voice from outside, Tanesia paused.
She composed a mask of warmth and calm over her beautiful face, as if she had never been angry.
“Welcome, my son.”
Tanesia greeted him with a gentle smile.
Lucius entered, his expression radiating lethal intensity, as if he could stab someone to death at any moment.
Tanesia, already suspecting the reason, signaled the maids to leave.
Grateful for the chance, they quickly exited the room.
With just the two of them, Tanesia seated Lucius on the sofa and asked,
“You don’t look well. Tell me, who has disturbed your mind?”
“Who else?”
Lucius answered, barely controlling his anger.
Tanesia repeated gently,
“Leraige?”
“He seems to have pushed for an engagement behind our backs.”
As Lucius trembled in anger, Tanesia soothed him.
“The foolish dog tried to be clever. Escaping through marriage can sometimes be an effective solution.”
Death, or being sold.
Tanesia and Lucius left him only those two options.
“If he were from a modest family, we might have overlooked it.”
Lucius ground his teeth. He had planned to confine the bastard in some remote noble household, yet the illegitimate child had preempted him.
“And the girl is none other than Calliope Verdi!”
“I am aware.”
Unlike Lucius, who could barely contain his anger, Tanesia remained calm.
“The border count personally submitted the engagement request, stating he wishes my granddaughter to be engaged to Leraige.”
Tanesia handed him Archibald’s engagement letter.
Lucius slowly read it, his clenched lips trembling. He spat out his words,
“The filthy bastard doesn’t know his place.”
Anger filled his dark eyes.
“Does His Majesty know of this?”
“He does not. I brought it before the proposal reached him. I also ensured it was silenced for now.”
Tanesia stood after taking the engagement letter from Lucius.
“But we’ve only bought time; eventually, he will find out.”
The empress walked slowly across the room to the fireplace.
Raising her hand, she dropped the paper.
In the blazing flames, the proposal letter turned to ashes in an instant.
“There’s nothing to worry about.”
Watching this, Tanesia muttered in a chilling voice,
“Leraige will never be able to marry Calliope Verdi.”
“How do you mean?”
Lucius asked, apprehensive.
Beyond the influence of the Verdi family, Calliope herself was exceptionally capable.
A marriage would essentially give wings to a despicable illegitimate child.
Tanesia tilted one of her crimson lips slightly and said,
“There are quite a few families that desire the seventh prince.”
Lucius pondered, then realized the answer, twisting into a smile.
“Yes. Those families would be far too good for that bastard!”
Royal marriages required the emperor’s approval.
So before Leraige’s marriage could be approved, they would simply arrange a marriage with a suitable family of their choice.
“Let’s find someone suitable among the emperor’s loyal families.”
“She must be obedient and well-mannered, Mother.”
Tanesia twitched an eyebrow. The change was so subtle Lucius didn’t notice.
“It would be better if she were weak, so we can control things even after marriage, wouldn’t you agree?”
“Perhaps.”
Her answer was ambiguous, yet Lucius took it as complete agreement.
In truth, Tanesia didn’t place much importance on his opinion.
After all, he was the future emperor; she was not.
Thus, Lucius didn’t even realize that she could see through all his thoughts.
“Anyway, speaking with you has made me feel better.”
“That’s good to hear.”
“Yes. I was so frustrated.”
“My, my.”
Tanesia smiled gently.
“I’ve become a cruel mother who didn’t even offer her son a cup of tea.”
Just as she called for a maid to serve tea,
“Your Majesty!”
A man in uniform rushed in, kneeling before them.
