Chapter 26

***

Rodelia, who was looking around the delegation, discovered that Princess Charlotte’s expression was not good and asked.

“Oh, that’s …… .”

Charlotte squirmed.

The foreign delegations could basically use the official Imperial language, but the delegation from the relatively distant and small Kingdom of Clavia could not use the Imperial language well.

An interpreter was needed, but after some time the interpreter did not arrive. Therefore, Charlotte was nervous.

‘I need to talk more often about the port opening…….’

Charlotte’s lips were tightly closed.

If only she could have successfully resolved this matter, she would be able to solidify the Kingdom of Clavia’s position in the empire. That was why she asked the king to include her in the delegation.

‘If I have to leave without producing any results after such a big talk…’

Princess Charlotte’s fingers began to tremble greatly. She quickly came to her senses and expressed her intentions in imperial language.

“Because the interpreter is not coming.”

“You don’t have to worry about that. The Empress and I know the Clavian language very well.”

Kane said in a calm voice.

Startled, Princess Charlotte replied in a high voice.

“Yes ……? But didn’t you have an interpreter with you at the welcome ceremony?”

“It was only a formality. You can’t even use another kingdom’s language in an official setting.”

Princess Charlotte’s face whitened in contemplation as Kane looked a little displeased. It was due to the thought of the bad language she had spoken so brazenly in front of Rodelia last night.

“Oh ……”

Charlotte looked at Rodelia’s wits, wondering what to do. Her eyes met with Rodelia, and her face turned red.

“…… Princess Charlotte, you have something to say, say it. You want to talk about the opening of the port, right?”

Rodelia, who had been silently watching Princess Charlotte, cut in casually.

“The port ……? Yes!”

Charlotte’s head raised at the mention of the port.

“The port?”

Kane frowned. It was because of a totally unexpected subject.

It was a natural reaction, since he didn’t think the relationship with the Kingdom of Clavia was very important. Rodelia, who was watching him silently, cautiously spoke.

“Your Majesty, why don’t you increase your exchanges with the Kingdom of Clavia? It would not be a bad thing for our empire if we open the port.”

“The port…”

Of course, it was disrespectful of Princess Charlotte to speak ill of the empress right in front of her, but Rodelia could not put her personal feelings into it. It was Rodelia’s principle that even if she had no good feelings about her, personal feelings had to be excluded when discussing diplomatic matters.

She lived to be Empress, and she spent her life doing so even after she became Empress. In order not to disappoint Kane, she lived as she watched Kane’s mood. 

She had to endure numerous disciplines and countless times when she had to overcome injustice in silence.

Dozens of times she had to live through it, rationalizing that this place was originally like that. But today, for some reason, strange feelings kept rising up.

Rodelia had to keep standing and leaning on extra brandy to the subtle sense of divergence between reason and emotion. Because the reaction was so contrived that she frowned when she said it herself.

In the meantime, the glass was empty. Even at that moment, her appearance was resolute. Her posture was straight without a trace of disorder, and her facial expression maintained its benevolence.

“I believe that this is a great stepping stone for the development of commerce as well as food.”

To Kane, who was troubled with a frown, she gave a small statement .

Compared to the Thebes Empire, a relatively cold country, the Kingdom of Clavia, a warmer country, had many different kinds of fruits. Transportation problems were key, but it was also going to be of great help in commercial development.

“Yes……! I’ve even prepared a proposal right here!”

When Kane appeared to be hesitant, Princess Charlotte quickly pulled a document from her pocket. A shaking hand turned to Kane.

She looked so cute.

Kane, with a smile on his mouth, accepted the papers. It was only because of what Rodelia had suggested that he was interested.

“Let’s consider it positively.”

Even though his slightly thin face was smiling, the sensitive appearance was felt.

Princess Charlotte’s cheeks turned bright red as she watched Kane.

Indeed, he was very handsome, so she couldn’t help but be shaken. Rodelia, who was watching Kane closely, turned away. She knew very well that that was one of Kane’s plans.

Kane has been taking advantage of his handsome appearance and using it for diplomacy, be it male or female. It had clearly worked to the advantage of the Thebes empire, and Rodelia had no ill feelings about it.

However, why did she feel so bad today?

Perhaps it was because the person he smiled at was the princess who had insulted her the night before. In any case, though, Princess Charlotte will not be able to take everything she wanted.

Rodelia tipped her brandy glass filled by the attendant while with a small sigh that no one noticed.

****

“By the way, will the emperor be attending tomorrow’s hunting competition?”

Princess Charlotte asked with reddish cheeks as they were discussing with the foreign delegation.

Originally, it was the Thebes Empire’s rule that the emperor did not participate in hunting competitions, but it was different only during the Founding Festival. The emperor and even high-ranking nobles would attend for the purpose of deepening friendship with the foreign delegation, and Kane was scheduled to attend as long as there were no unusual circumstances.

And he was sure to win. No one dared to beat the emperor of the empire.

“I am very much looking forward to it.”

Princess Charlotte clasped her hands together and stared at Kane.

Perhaps it was because she was still young. Rodelia could see her intention. She was being sweet to Kane to negotiate successfully.

Compared to Sola, Princess Charlotte was a baby bird. It became obvious that she had a soft spot for Kane.

Rodelia gave a small sigh.

Since the Kingdom of Clavia had no concept of concubines, Princess Charlotte considered Rodelia an incompetent woman who had foolishly lost her husband. She (the Princess) had no doubt that her reputation as a wise and capable empress was just a false rumor.

At least that was the case with the Rodelia she experienced. For she was an empress who had nothing to say when she was insulted. The Princess was young, so she judged on her own.

If Sola had been here, she (the Princess ) would not have been able to say anything because of her momentum, but in any case, she (the Princess) thought that the matter of the port opening could be successfully completed.

“Yes.”

When Princess Charlotte finished thinking, she looked at Kane with her lips curled up as tight as she could, and he replied with a subtle smile.

Kane believed Rodelia’s eyes. Her foresight always shone through and led to good results every time.

So he was going to put his energy into her work this time, too.

In fact, Rodelia’s entrance to the banquet with Cerdian was still in the back of his mind.

He was also concerned about the rumor that Cerdian had spoken publicly about how much he cared for Rodelia. So he treated her meanly for that, but he decided not to worry about that anymore.

Because the only person Rodelia relied on was himself, and showed her inner fear and weakness.

She was so evasive about cracks in the empress’s role to please him, so he didn’t think she would turn to Cerdian.

But, everything would be back to normal soon.

Kane’s brow furrowed.

*****

“Rodelia.”

It was after lunch. Rodelia tried to go back to the Empress Palace, but Kane grabbed her wrist and turned her around.

Rodelia, with a startled look on her face, shook off the hand that had caught her.

“You had a stiff expression just a while ago. Are you mad at me?”

So much had happened recently that there was a lump of emotion in a corner of her heart that wouldn’t go away. There was no way she could have a good reaction.

However, she answered calmly because she couldn’t make it any more obvious.

”Yes, Your Majesty. Please say it.”

“The hunting competition tomorrow…….”

Sola made another troubling request?

She could see the way he was slurring his words. Sighing, Rodelia asked with a resigned expression.

“Did Princess Aisen ask you to give her the seat at the hunting competition?”

“No….she didn’t.”

Kane, who couldn’t look her in the eye properly, looked uneasy for some reason. He nervously swept his hair up and squeezed his lips. Most of all, his eyes shook terribly.

What on earth is he trying to say that makes him so nervous? At the moment, the only thing Rodelia really wanted was to get out of here as soon as possible.

“But it won’t be long now. Your Majesty told me to wait, so I will wait for you, so don’t worry too much.”

“…….”

“If you don’t have anything else to say, I’ll leave now.”

It was the moment Rodelia coldly took over and was about to get to her feet.

“I want you to give me a handkerchief.”

Rodelia’s hands trembled at the courageous voice.

What in the world is he trying to do?

She wondered if she had misheard him, but it couldn’t be. She thought about whether there was an ulterior motive, but there was also no reason for Kane to do so.

“If I don’t give Your Majesty the handkerchief, who would I give it to?”

She tried to respond seriously, but she could not hide the sarcasm that leaked out.

It was obvious that Sola would interfere again anyway. Moreover, didn’t Kane throw away the handkerchief she gave him a while ago?

‘How can he ask for a handkerchief so casually?’

Her mouth was getting bitter. But calmed down once more, Rodelia continued her words quietly.

“Do not worry, Your Majesty. I will not forget the Empress’s duty.”