🔊 TTS Settings
Chapter 73
The Empress truly seemed to regard Betty fondly and was genuinely interested in getting to know her better. She asked many questions.
“So, are you adjusting well to the Prowell Marquisate? Nothing giving you trouble?”
“It’s a place I used to visit often, and everyone treats me kindly, so I’m doing fine.”
“That’s good to hear. If there’s ever anything you need, tell me. Being the Empress of the Empire comes with a lot of… possibilities.”
The last remark carried an odd undertone — a hint of bitterness, perhaps.
But the conversation was briefly interrupted when a maid brought in tea and refreshments. Betty glanced at the silver teaspoon resting in her cup and instinctively looked toward the Empress.
“It’s routine for me to check things like that now,” the Empress said with a weary sigh, having caught Betty’s glance. What kind of life must it be, unable to eat or drink anything without fear?
“Even though it was a lady-in-waiting who poisoned me, not a maid, Roy still can’t relax.”
“His Majesty must be very concerned about you.”
It wasn’t hard to guess who she meant by that nickname.
‘If Lloyd finds Cain’s reckless personality amusing, at least he won’t have his head cut off for it.’
It hadn’t taken Betty long to realize that the “Lloyd” the Grand Duke had once mentioned — when he gave her a copy of the Empire’s history — referred to the Emperor himself.
She had been both surprised and fascinated to learn how close the Emperor and the Grand Duke truly were — not only politically trusted allies but close personal friends.
“Roy… well, my husband, he doesn’t say it outright, but it’s obvious that he’s more bothered by this incident than I am.”
A glimpse of mixed emotions crossed her face — relief, sorrow, and a faint bitterness all mingled together.
But the Empress quickly composed herself, organizing the papers before her with a gentle smile.
“Let’s stop with the gloomy talk. How’s your grandmother? And the butler? And your father?”
“They’re all well. My grandmother’s health is a little…”
After that, their talk turned entirely casual. Betty didn’t just sit still — she occasionally rose to help the Empress.
When the Empress fumbled for a place to set her quill, Betty held it for her; when she ran out of ink and looked flustered, Betty fetched more.
“I keep making you work for me. That’s not very proper of me.”
“It’s really no trouble at all.”
All she did was quietly observe the Empress’s movements and anticipate what she needed before being asked.
This time, she even took out a handkerchief she’d recently started carrying and offered it discreetly.
“Why? Ah… I’ve gone and done it again.”
The Empress gave a sheepish smile, gesturing to her ink-stained fingers.
“You must have a lot of work piled up.”
“Not so much that I’d skip lunch with you. Come on, let’s leave this and go eat.”
Betty was practically ushered out by the Empress, and the two shared another long, easy conversation over lunch.
The Empress stopped asking about Betty and instead began recounting stories from her own childhood.
It was clear she was being considerate — she didn’t want Betty, who still didn’t know much about the Prowell family, to feel out of place.
“That’s how I ended up meeting Roy.”
As her story moved toward more recent years, the names of the Emperor and Grand Duke Davan began to appear more often.
‘I wonder what kind of person the Emperor really is…’
From the glimpses she’d seen through the Grand Duke and the Empress, he seemed fair and sharp-minded — yet, unexpectedly, had a playful and candid side.
“You should’ve seen it. Back then, Sir Ian was terrifying. His gaze was lethal. He’s mellowed a lot since then.”
“…So this is the mellow version of him?”
“Of course. Hard to believe, isn’t it? I can’t believe it either. He’s awkward and reserved now, but at least he’s not frightening anymore. That’s a big improvement.”
The Empress chuckled, her tone tinged with affection.
“Back then, Roy used to nag him endlessly — telling him to stop glaring so people wouldn’t run away.”
“It must still be a fond memory for you.”
Betty had expected the story of the Emperor’s days as a prince — when he was locked in a fierce struggle for the throne — to be tense and political.
But the Empress spoke of it with a strange fondness.
“Those were the days when it was just Roy and me. Neither of us knew how much the weight of duty would crush us later. Back then, all we had were ambition and bright hopes for the future.”
Now Betty understood the faintly bitter smile that often played on the Empress’s lips.
“Being responsible for an entire empire… it’s no easy task. We both wanted it, but if you ask whether we were truly ready for it — well, I’m not so sure.”
“…No one can ever be fully prepared for something like that.”
“Thank you for saying that.”
Still, Betty sensed that her words hadn’t really reached the Empress’s heart.
As the Empress herself said, she was buried beneath endless responsibility.
Betty wondered just how hard Janine had worked to maintain the dignity and poise that made everyone think of her as “the perfect Empress.”
Time flew, and before she knew it, evening had fallen.
The Empress seemed reluctant to let Betty leave. She clasped Betty’s hands and spoke with heartfelt regret.
“Will you come again next time, if you can spare the time?”
There was a wistful tremor in her hesitant tone. Under the flickering light, Janine’s expression looked oddly fragile.
“I’ll come tomorrow.”
Perhaps that was why — why a visit that should’ve been a one-time courtesy turned into something regular.
“Truly? Then I’d be delighted.”
“I have plenty of time, after all.”
“But you do know it’s quite a hassle to come all the way here.”
Betty had been hoping to help the Empress in some small way, and seeing how the Empress’s face always brightened when she visited made her feel at ease.
If her mere presence could comfort the Empress, what could be more meaningful than that?
“Thank you, Betty.”
When Betty returned to the Marquis’s estate, she always reported to the Dowager Lady in detail about how Janine was doing — which, in turn, greatly relieved the older woman.
It felt good to finally have found something worthwhile to do. Her heart was far lighter than when she’d been idle.
Then, one day—
“You’ve arrived.”
The imperial knight, now familiar with Betty’s regular visits, greeted her lightly and let her in.
He did seem oddly tense that day, though.
Brushing off the thought, Betty knocked as usual and entered the study the Empress used — only to freeze in shock.
There was already a guest — a blonde man whose back she recognized immediately.
Could it be the Duke or his son? What could have brought them here?
But all those thoughts vanished the moment the man turned around.
“…Janine?”
The eyes — they were different. Not the cool blue she knew, but a vivid, burning red, like flames tinged with blood.
From his casual familiarity and the way he called the Empress by name, Betty instantly realized who he was.
“Your Majesty, the Emperor.”
She bowed deeply, instinctively.
There was only one man she knew who could look like that — and sit so casually in the Empress’s private chamber.
“You may rise. And who are you?”
“Beatrice Prowell, Your Majesty.”
When she stood, she saw him lounging against the desk, arms crossed, studying her with quiet curiosity.
“Ah. Yes, I remember hearing about you — the only child of the Marquis’s missing younger brother.”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“You do resemble Janine… to some extent.”
It seemed half an observation, half an absentminded slip — as if he’d half expected the Empress herself to appear and half mistaken Betty’s resemblance for her.
Betty stood there uncertainly, unsure how to act in the Emperor’s presence. It wasn’t as if she could just chat casually like he had, nor could she take her usual seat — not when he was perched right next to it.
“Betty, what’s the matter? Why aren’t you coming in?”
And at that moment — thankfully — the Empress appeared from behind.
