Chapter 10
“Oh! Really? Who?”
Marie’s eyes suddenly sparkled.
“Oh, you’re already here.”
Serena, who had arrived at the room just in time, opened the door and brought Marie’s basket inside. As Marie approached with her curious steps, she asked.
“Serena, who is it? You? Who?”
“Hmm.”
Serena hesitated for a moment, contemplating whether to tell her or not. But mentioning the name seemed too personal.
No matter how disliked the emperor was, she didn’t want to gossip about his private life here and there. So she decided to withhold the information.
“Well, I can’t say that part.”
“It’s you, Serena.”
“You can figure it out if you look around carefully. As you said, there aren’t many women around His Majesty, right?”
“Well, that’s true, but…”
“It could be someone you know too.”
Lucy Carter often visits the palace.
Serena smirked, hiding the rest of her words. Now that she had arrived in the room, she planned to continue her research.
“Thank you for giving me a lift. This is a gift.”
Serena took out lemon candies from her pocket and offered them to Marie. She always kept candies or chocolates for the emperor’s children, as she was responsible for raising them.
Marie received the candy and alternated her gaze between the candy and Serena.
“Take care.”
Serena waved her hand and closed the door. Marie stood in front of the closed door for a while before muttering softly.
“Anna’s words might be true…!”
Excitement filled Marie’s cheeks in an instant. It reminded her of what Anna had said about Serena and the emperor’s relationship.
“Marie, I’ve discovered some incredible information.”
“What kind of information is making you so excited? Is it something lucrative?”
There were often occasions when valuable information was sold to the nobles among the lower class. So it was a sarcastic reference to that.
Anna, who would usually get angry or annoyed, surprisingly lowered her voice and said.
“Well… This time, there seems to be something unusual going on between the palace and His Majesty.”
“Unusual?”
“It seems like they’re spending nights together!”
“What are you talking about? Then what about the viscount?”
“Are you still pushing for the viscount and His Majesty?”
“Shush, Anna.”
“In any case, it’s something certain. I overheard with my own two ears that they are having secret meetings.”
“You’re just imagining things again.”
“Do you really think so? This time, it feels real!”
At that moment, Marie thought Anna had misunderstood again and passed by without paying much attention.
Besides, Marie was part of the “Lily-Ishid Faction,” and Anna was part of the “Lily-Leonard Faction.” She thought Anna was trying to persuade her into joining the Lily-Ishid Faction for no reason. So she didn’t pay much attention to Anna’s story.
But who would have thought she would hear it directly from Serena, the person involved!
“Obviously, you must have felt embarrassed to admit it was yourself.”
Marie, with an excited face, bit her lower lip.
“I didn’t know that and talked to Serena about Viscount Lowell. What an idiot!”
Then she lightly slapped her own cheek as if to punish herself. She realized how she could have mentioned the viscount in front of the couple and caused unnecessary misunderstandings. It sent a chill down her spine.
“This is not the right time. I have to tell Anna quickly!”
With that in mind, Marie hurriedly walked down the corridor, thinking that the misunderstanding between the two maids had deepened further.
***
Serena had just hung the flowers she received from Marie on the sun
-drenched terrace when she heard a familiar voice.
“Are you there?”
She heard a knock and immediately recognized the voice. Serena quickly brushed off the dust from her body and opened the door. Standing in front of the door was Leonard Carter with his red hair.
“Sir Leonard, what brings you here?”
“The Emperor is looking for you.”
“Me?”
“Yes, you. He seem a little unwell.”
“Oh, then we should go right away.”
Without a word, Serena grabbed her medical bag and followed Leonardo.
It was extremely rare for the emperor to seek her out first, so Serena’s heart pounded, thinking that something big must have happened. She thought of various treatment methods in her mind as she spoke up.
“Is he feeling really unwell?”
“Oh, well. Actually, it’s nothing serious. Just say that he came for an examination.”
“What?”
Serena tilted her head in confusion, wondering what he meant.
I’m going because you’re unwell, but it’s nothing serious?
Then Leonardo smiled elegantly and spoke.
“Well, an unexpected visitor has come, and he’s not someone we can just chase away.”
“Is it a high-ranking noble?”
Serena replied tactfully, and Leonardo nodded briefly.
“Yes, precisely. Since His Majesty might be in a slightly unfavorable situation because of that, please understand in advance.”
Leonardo lowered his head as if to say, “Take care of our child.”
“When was the last time that emperor was in a good mood?”
Serena refrained from asking that question. Even if she told Leonardo, it would only reach Ishid’s ears.
Moreover, calling the emperor “that guy” would be considered treason, and I would be the one to suffer the consequences.
“He must be someone who is quite uncomfortable to deal with.”
It was clear that he was more uncomfortable than me, who was the attending physician, wanting to drive the person away. Serena first asked to confirm who was visiting.
“Who is it?”
“Ophelia Greenwood.”
“Ah, I see.”
Serena nodded with a face that indicated she knew who it was. She already knew that Ishid detested her greatly.
Strictly speaking, it was because she was a member of the “Greenwood Duke’s family,” but still.
“I will briefly check the situation inside and come back.”
With a warm smile, Leonardo knocked and entered the room. Serena waited outside for a moment, and suddenly, a commotion broke out from inside.
Crash!
“Ah!”
“Your Majesty!”
Following Ophelia’s scream, Leonardo’s urgent voice could be heard.
“No way…!”
“Hah, he really can’t focus on one thing!”
Serena, thinking that the emperor had finally collapsed, without even knocking, flung the door wide open.
* * *
A little while ago.
Ishid stared fixedly at the woman in front of him. She was sitting in her seat, trying her best to look good.
The hem of her dress was puffed up like a balloon, making her movements visibly uncomfortable.
“What’s the matter without even contacting me?”
Ishid was in a gloomy mood due to the unexpected visit of an uninvited guest. Normally, no one could enter the palace without the emperor’s permission. It was because the emperor’s face was not something anyone could see.
However, the woman in front of him, dressed in the Greenwood family’s attire, managed to find her way in and move around so freely.
“Greenwood is participating in the preparations for this year’s banquet, so she must have used that as an excuse to come.”
Ishid guessed the reason why she had entered the palace without permission and massaged his throbbing forehead.
But he had allowed it himself, so strictly speaking, she hadn’t come without permission.
Ishid didn’t like her coming to him with her family’s name on her back. Even without looking inside, he could tell. Therefore, he asked about the matter before exchanging greetings.
Ophelia Greenwood smiled brightly, unaffected by Ishid’s coldness.
I visited the palace for official business and had something to report to His Majesty. I was relieved that he wasn’t busy when I arrived.”
“….”
“This time, I made tea with fruits brought from the Pheon Kingdom. It tastes delicious, especially with the maidservant.”
Ophelia gestured with her eyes, and the maid standing beside her elegantly handed a beautifully wrapped box to Ishid.
Ishid merely nodded his head without any intention of opening the gift. As the maid discreetly placed it next to him, Ophelia spoke.
“Would you like to try it?”
“Later.”
Ishid declined briefly and yawned, stretching himself out. Despite clearly showing signs of boredom, Ophelia paid no mind and instructed the maid.
“Bring the tea set.”
“Yes, my lady.”
The maid glanced at Ishid and quietly stepped back. Ishid stared at her with a bewildered expression.
He had clearly said he would have it later, but she completely disregarded his opinion. Sensing Ishid’s annoyance, Ophelia spoke softly.
“I want to serve it to you personally. I’m sure if you try it, His Majesty will also be pleased.”
“Greenwood is indeed a peaceful place.”
Ishid smirked sarcastically. In response, Ophelia smiled with her eyes and replied.
“There’s always plenty of time when it comes to His Majesty.”
Observing Ophelia’s seemingly unaffected demeanor, Ishid furrowed his brow.
Her intentions were obvious. With the position of the Empress vacant, she aimed to take that position for herself.
The Greenwoods were a noble family with a high reputation for their contribution to the founding of the kingdom. When Ishid was still a prince, they were a force to be reckoned with. The woman in front of him was no exception.
Ishid didn’t particularly like the nobles who now approached him with wagging tails.
Power was truly worthless. What was once so elusive was now easily within his grasp. But what meaning did it hold?
“Besides, my mother is already dead.”
Suddenly, Ishid’s expression turned cold. He couldn’t suppress the boiling anger inside him.
When his mother was dying, everyone turned a blind eye. There were no noble families willing to give their support to the fallen and decadent prince.
“And now, daring to…”
As Ishid tried to quell his anger, Ophelia prepared tea with the tea set brought by the maid. It was the moment she was about to place the tea in front of the Emperor.
“I’m sorry, but I’ll have the tea later.”
Ishid couldn’t bear to stay in his seat any longer and stood up.