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Chapter : 25
“I… I actually hoped that, since my father is working with the Marquis, there might be a chance that he’d propose to me too.”
“Hey, Cecilia! What kind of rude thing are you saying?”
“Oh my! I’m sorry, Your Highness.”
“Besides, there’s no way the Marquis would ever get engaged to you.”
“What?”
The young ladies’ endless bickering kept the tea party chatter going. It was only after a few hours that they loaded the carriage Hats had prepared with gifts and returned, satisfied.
As soon as the mansion gates closed, Freesia headed straight to Hats’ study.
She wanted to thank him for arranging the garden and preparing the departing carriage, but… she also couldn’t help worrying about him.
The study door was closed. Standing in front of it, Freesia called out instead of knocking.
“Hats.”
No response.
“Hats?”
She tapped lightly on the door, then cautiously opened it.
For the first time, she noticed Hats lying on the sofa.
‘Is he sleeping?’
Freesia quietly approached and crouched in front of his face.
He didn’t move, appearing to be in a deep sleep.
How is his skin so clean? Like a perfectly made doll.
No matter how she looked, his appearance was flawless. As Freesia slowly blinked, admiring his face, Hats suddenly opened his eyes and looked at her.
“Eek!”
Startled, Freesia stumbled backward.
Hats quickly reached out with his right hand and caught her shoulder so she wouldn’t fall.
“Why are you startled?”
“I thought you were sleeping!”
“Who sleeps at this hour?”
With a snap of his fingers, Hats lightly tapped Freesia’s forehead, then got up.
Who actually takes a nap at this hour?
Freesia pouted slightly and sat on the opposite side of him.
“What about the accident?”
“It’s really nothing. You don’t need to worry.”
“I am worried.”
“Really, it’s nothing.”
“Liar.”
Freesia narrowed her eyes at him, as if she knew everything.
“When did you get so perceptive?”
“Are you teasing me?”
“Haha. No.”
Good grief. Hats laughed out loud.
Freesia stared at him, eyes wide, but Hats seemed unaware of what he had just done. He had merely straightened his slightly crooked uniform shirt and lightly tousled his hair.
“You’re right… I do feel a bit tired.”
“Was it a big accident? I heard there was an explosion…! Wait, let me see, are you hurt anywhere?!”
“I’m fine. No injuries.”
Freesia hurried over and checked his shoulders, moving her hands over him. Hats didn’t resist and let her do as she pleased, calmly watching her.
“You should tell me if something like that happens. Why didn’t you?”
“…I didn’t expect it to happen.”
“Huh?”
Seeing Freesia’s pout, Hats chuckled softly.
She was cute. Beautiful. He felt an irresistible urge to pull her into a tight embrace.
A week ago, a section of the winery next to the farm was blown up. After consulting with Count Dude, who managed the farm, Hats intentionally set off a small explosion only in areas that needed remodeling.
He told the relevant parties it was an accident, but it was carefully calculated. Though Duke Switzer was on good terms with the Emperor, he was surprised that the Marquis caused such an incident. Still, since Hats was practically increasing his wealth, the Duke followed his lead without complaint.
Thus, Hats naturally suspended the wine shipments to the palace. After that, he became a bit busier due to the remodeling work, and that was all.
Yet, Freesia had gone so far as to worry about him. That was an unexpected bonus.
“You’re worried?”
“Of course! How bad was the accident?”
“Then… just let me hug you once.”
“Huh?”
Before Freesia could react, Hats grabbed her with his large hands and sat her on his lap, burying his head in her slender neck and wrapping his arms around her.
Freesia, who had intended to push him away, remembered his bandaged hands and lowered her arms. Hats tightened his gentle but firm embrace.
Her soft pink hair mingled with his black locks, and a sweet scent enveloped them.
‘What should I do? Just protecting her isn’t enough.’
He didn’t want her to get hurt—not a single scratch. Hats vaguely felt he wanted to keep her trapped in his arms.
“…Your Highness.”
“Huh?”
“Are you listening?”
“Sorry, say that again. What did you say?”
Freesia, distracted, had been lost in thought while receiving a report from Ron.
The image of Hats gently stroking her hair, just like her late mother, had lingered in her mind for days.
“Recently, the new Empress’s reputation isn’t good.”
“Hmm, and?”
“It seems her relationship with His Majesty has worsened too.”
“What else happened in the meantime?”
“Since Empress Rocheline is gone, it seems managing the palace affairs has become difficult. Among the ministers, her name still comes up frequently.”
“Ha… now, at this point…”
“His Majesty has become irritable, and the new Empress is hosting parties every day, so naturally the relationship has deteriorated.”
“Yes… that makes sense.”
Freesia exhaled bitterly at Ron’s words.
If things continued this way, it would only get worse. It was the natural consequence of their own actions. Brief encounters—once a day, once or twice a week, a few times a month—might have been fine, but such a relationship couldn’t last.
Freesia recalled a recent report: the palace parties had never ceased, and the Emperor, busy with his work, was gradually drifting apart from her.
There had been only about three months from Empress Rocheline’s death until Freesia was expelled from the palace. During that time, Chloe hosted endless parties, flaunting her acquired status. Until then, the Emperor had indulged her, as if he would let her do as she pleased indefinitely.
Yet their relationship had broken down in less than a year since the original story ended.
According to sources, the mask ball a month ago worsened the situation when the Empress injured her face. No one knew how, but the injury made her highly irritable.
Freesia looked down at her own hands.
The Empress’ injury was her fault. Just as her own face had swollen after being slapped by Chloe, Chloe’s delicate face had surely suffered as well.
Her father didn’t know Chloe had tried to kill her. Chloe had hidden it perfectly.
No matter how playful, she must have known she shouldn’t meddle with the Switzer family and her father. That’s why she was nervous that day at the masked ball.
“Stupid Chloe…”
Freesia muttered angrily to herself.
Her mother hadn’t merely sat gracefully in the Empress’ seat. The reputation of being a smart and noble Empress wasn’t undeserved. Before the rumors of her being a villain, Rocheline had been involved in all palace affairs. She doted on Freesia, yet was so busy that she could only be visited with prior arrangement.
She supported the Emperor in all his duties, from trade disputes to military issues, relations with nobles, and public sentiment. That was one reason the Emperor couldn’t help but keep her by his side. Because of such an Empress, he had risen to his highest position.
Even if it only fueled the Emperor’s insecurities, Rocheline had been the perfect Empress.
Freesia, frustrated, went to the window to get some fresh air. From there, she saw Hats leaving.
The clock had just passed 3 PM. Perhaps due to the accident, Hats had been busier than ever.
“Ron.”
“Yes, Your Highness?”
“Do you think Hats could be unfaithful?”
“…”
After watching him leave, Freesia turned to Ron.
“What do you think? Is it possible?”
“Right now? That would be impossible.”
“Right?”
“There are no women around him. Even if you look at other young ladies, he doesn’t give them a glance. It’s almost impossible.”
Ron’s firm answer made Freesia press her hand to her forehead in frustration.
“Does Jennifer still send letters?”
“Yes. Constantly. But Cain quietly handles them so Your Highness doesn’t find out.”
“Cain?”
“The butler who’s always by the Marquis’ side.”
“Oh, so he has a name. I didn’t know.”
“Everyone has a name.”
Freesia nodded, recalling the butler. A man in his mid-to-late thirties, always neat, naturally by Hats’ side.
“I should call him by his name next time. But who is Jennifer? Isn’t Hats curious about her letters?”
“Well, I’m not.”
“I am. You know… if they were to break off the engagement, I wonder how much Hats would demand.”
Ron remained silent, watching Freesia seriously.
She was the one who had stopped the engagement. And it was the right decision. Her master was in danger, and the Marquis could be her perfect protector. But…
Your Highness dislikes troublesome and complicated things. She hates being tied down.
She always says she wants to live freely, but she’s not lazy. She isn’t materialistic, doesn’t crave power, and has no bias toward class.
Since she resolved to avenge the new Empress, she seemed to have forgotten the plan from the day she left the palace. Revenge took priority over comfort.
Why does she keep talking about breaking the engagement? She must know not breaking it would benefit her.
…Is it because she doesn’t want to hurt someone? The Marquis, who saved her life multiple times? Or Duke Switzer?
Either way, he will unconditionally respect Freesia’s decision. Yet for now, he hoped she wouldn’t break off the engagement—for her own sake.
Tilting his head slightly, Ron shook the land document he held and said coldly:
“Don’t think this is enough.”
“Tch.”
If I had known this… I’d have hidden my wealth even more!
Freesia plopped down on the bed, arms crossed, staring at the high ceiling and blinking slowly.
In the original story, Vivian received a mine as a birthday gift from the Emperor on her twentieth birthday—April, the same month Freesia had been expelled from the palace.
The weather in this place lacked distinct seasons, alternating between summer and spring. That day felt like a warm spring. That’s when she began begging Ron for herself. A few days before Freesia and Ron were expelled, Vivian had hosted a grand birthday party.
Freesia hadn’t attended, but she knew from the maids that her father had given Vivian a very precious gift.
Vivian would surely make a fortune from the mine and become a daughter even more loved by her father. That’s how it appeared in the original story.
“For the first time, I’m jealous of Vivian.”
“Huh? Why all of a sudden?”
At the mention of Vivian, Ron’s face twisted with unmistakable displeasure.
“The mine Vivian got… it’s huge. Exporting what comes from it would make a fortune. And if she uses it for beauty businesses…”
“What mine?”
“You don’t know? She got it from her father for her birthday.”
“A mine?”
Freesia sighed in disappointment.
“Yes… ah! It hasn’t been developed yet, so it’s not really a mine. The mountain in the east, near the large lake…”
“I’ve never heard of that.”
“What?”
“Are you sure? What His Majesty gave her was not a mine, but a white-tailed peacock and a golden cage. I heard the foreign minister struggled to get it.”
“But…”
It couldn’t be… in the original story, it had been like that. Did I misremember? Did it change? I’m sure she took all of Empress Rocheline’s lands and gave one to Vivian…
As Freesia retraced her memories, her eyes widened.
‘Wait a minute! Could this…!’
