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Chapter 44
Secret Rendezvous (1)
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After watching the morning sun rise and returning home with her family, Berenice still couldn’t bring herself to get out of bed, even when the sun was high overhead.
Partly, it was because the banquet had gone on all night and she was exhausted — but mostly because of the unexpected situations she’d had to deal with.
“Especially that crazy man who clung to me until the very end.”
Whatever orders the Count had given him, Nion had been unbelievably persistent, shadowing her every step — and that was the biggest problem.
Even the Marquis and Marchioness, as well as Lowell, had been so appalled that they refused to leave her side for fear of some incident. Because of that, her plan to sneak into a lounge for a bit of rest had fallen through completely.
“Next time we meet, I’m just running away.”
You avoid madmen and manure — that was just common sense.
Resolving herself to that, Berenice finally sat up, leaning her back against the bed’s headboard.
She had already told Nadia that she planned to spend the entire day lazing in bed, so there was no need to come serve her until she called.
After quite some time, Berenice finally got out of bed, drew back the curtains, and opened the window.
The air that brushed through her snowy-white hair was warm and soft — completely different from yesterday.
“The weather’s really lovely.”
It was, quite literally, spring.
As she relaxed and savored the gentle spring breeze, a careful knock came at the door.
“My lady, are you awake?”
It was Nadia’s voice.
Nadia almost never went against Berenice’s orders — so if she was here, something urgent must have happened.
Thinking that, Berenice rose and opened the door herself.
“Oh, you’re awake.”
“What is it?”
“Someone from the Imperial Palace has arrived.”
“…What?”
“They say they’ve come by Her Majesty the Empress’s command…”
Even if it was urgent, sending someone right after the banquet ended? That was extreme.
Berenice was momentarily speechless, and Nadia added anxiously,
“The imperial attendant is waiting. You’ll need to get ready right away.”
“What about Father and Mother?”
“Lady Patterson has gone to inform them, and Theo went to tell Young Master Lowell.”
“…All right. Let’s get ready.”
She couldn’t very well keep an imperial attendant waiting, especially one bearing the Empress’s summons.
With the help of Nadia and the other maids, Berenice hurriedly dressed and went down to the drawing room.
There, the Marquis and Marchioness had already arrived ahead of her and were receiving the visitor.
“I’m sorry for keeping you waiting.”
“No, not at all. I should be the one to apologize. You must all be exhausted after last night’s banquet…”
It must have been an uncomfortable errand for the attendant as well — visiting a noble household just hours after such a major event, when everyone was clearly resting.
And not just any noble family — the Wiltière Marquisate, the only one of its kind in Egonid.
Even under imperial orders, it wasn’t something one could deliver arrogantly or without humility.
Fortunately, the family understood the attendant’s awkward position.
They hadn’t even frowned, and instead apologized for being late and welcomed him warmly — which only made the attendant feel guiltier.
He bowed and spoke with gratitude and apology in his voice.
“Her Majesty the Empress wishes to invite Lady Wiltière to tea.”
He presented a silver tray respectfully toward Berenice.
On it lay a dark blue envelope, edged in gold leaf.
Berenice accepted it with both hands, broke the wax seal bearing the imperial crest, and unfolded the letter inside.
In elegant handwriting, it simply invited her to enjoy tea personally prepared by the Empress in her garden — two days hence.
“Please convey that I would be honored and delighted to accept Her Majesty’s invitation.”
“Her Majesty also said she would send a carriage for you on the day.”
“I appreciate her thoughtfulness.”
“Then, I will take my leave and look forward to seeing you in two days.”
“Please travel safely.”
After the Empress’s attendant departed, Berenice moved to the Marquis’s study, where she showed the invitation to Lowell, who arrived a little later.
The Marquis and Marchioness had already examined it before he came.
“So it’s a real invitation?”
“I told you — I was invited to the Empress’s tea.”
“I thought you were joking.”
“How could I joke about something like that?”
“You weren’t exactly in your right mind after dealing with that lunatic Blaze sent after you. It was possible.”
“…Okay, fair.”
This really wasn’t the kind of conversation to have in front of an imperial summons, but the Marquis and Marchioness were too troubled to care about their twins’ banter.
“She asked you to find a book, didn’t she?”
“Yes, though she hasn’t told me the title or author yet.”
“Did she say when she would?”
“Perhaps that’s what she plans to tell me at the tea.”
“And there’s no guarantee the Third Prince won’t appear again, is there?”
“…Honestly, no.”
“The Empress has her eye on you — quite openly, it seems.”
“Not on me, but on our family, the Wiltières.”
Anyone with sense could see where this was heading.
“She’s an awfully greedy woman,” Lowell muttered, clicking his tongue.
Berenice was the only daughter of the Marquis of Wiltière — far too valuable a prize for a prince who couldn’t even step out from under his mother’s skirts.
Of course, that was the kind of thought one could only voice within the Marquis’s house. After all, the opponent was royalty.
“I think we need to find Berenice a match soon,” the Marchioness said, pressing a hand to her forehead and sighing deeply.
They had barely fended off one shameless libertine, and now a fourteen-year-old boy was eyeing her daughter.
Among nobles, an age gap wasn’t unusual — but when the boy’s mother was the Empress herself, that was a serious problem.
“If the Empress personally takes the initiative, there’s nothing we can do.”
“I know. But finding Nia a proper match right now is impossible, and you know that.”
“Yes, but still…”
It had only been a week since they’d annulled her engagement to Blaise.
Even for the Wiltière family, arranging another engagement immediately would be burdensome.
At least, for now, the Empress couldn’t openly mention marrying Ashard and Berenice, for the same reason — but if this invitation marked the beginning of her continued interest, what then?
“Those who once coveted the Wiltière family will back off for a while, wary of the Empress’s gaze…”
And when the timing was right, if the Empress herself proposed the match?
They could refuse, of course — but what would happen to the Marquisate after that refusal…
“Don’t think about it.”
Berenice quickly shook off the dark thoughts that followed, and looked at her parents and twin brother, all wearing grave expressions.
“We’ve been invited, so whatever her scheme is, we have to attend.”
“Just be careful not to get entangled in anything.”
“The Empress won’t make a move right away,” Lowell said, nodding.
“I think it’s best to see how she behaves first — then decide how to respond,” Berenice added.
“Yes. Worrying ahead of time won’t solve anything,” the Marquis agreed.
So, for now, they decided to accept the invitation and gauge the Empress’s intentions before choosing how to act.
Later, back in her room, Berenice spent the entire day — until the sun set and the moon rose — thinking about the Empress’s sudden, impatient maneuver.
Her blatant interest was almost suspicious. Was there some hidden trap beneath it?
Just then — click — she heard the sound of a window opening, and turned her head in surprise.
“…Why is it that every time, Your Highness comes in through the window instead of the door?”
It was only the second time, but somehow, Kaiden’s uninvited visits were already starting to feel familiar.
Seeing him once again climbing in through the window without permission, Berenice sighed, rose from her seat, and walked over to him.
“Your Highness?”
“This time, you’re not crying.”
“…What?”
“Every time I’ve come to see you, you seemed to be in tears.”
“I don’t cry that often.”
He had only caught her twice — and one of those times, she’d just had tears in her eyes, that was all.
Avoiding Kaiden’s gaze, which lingered on her as if he didn’t quite believe her, Berenice once again handed him a glass of water and spoke.
