chapter 21

The Elysium was said ‘Descendants of Angels’.

The reason behind that was their ancestors’ appearance recorded in the genealogy matched those of the angels who stayed on the earth until the last remaining in the Bible, but that was just a myth that even a 10-year-old prince would consider nonsense and overlook.

However, the silver hair that shines like the Milky Way, which has been passed down from generation to generation, and the blue eyes like the sky at noon that touched the horizon of the midsummer sea in the distance, were beautiful enough to represent an angel.

Starting with the first empress of the empire, the genealogy of the imperial members, which was noble and historic, had different roots, but there was one noticeable thing.

That the names of the young girls of the last name Elysium were all written somewhere in the genealogy.

The House of Elysium pushed their carefully created daughters into wedding ceremonies, citing reasons such as “Producing the First Empress,” “Descendants of Angels,” and “No high-ranking nobles were not connected from a young age.”

It was the power and wealth that they gained from those political ties.

Naturally, at some point, the Dukes of Elysium’s generations ought to do things that are duke-like, for example, to establish a political faction within the imperial palace, or, to stand at the peak of power and confront the emperor. But instead of confronting the emperor, Dukes of Elysium began to think about how to make his daughter a more beautiful and perfect bride.

The Duke during this timeline was also such a man.

One thing that sets him apart from the previous Dukes of Elysium is that he was an exceptionally ambitious person for politics.

His arranging marriage with the Imperial family was also used as a foundation for his full-fledged entry into politics and as a final shield in case something were to go wrong.

To do that, even if he did not like it, he still had to face the emperor with a sociable smile on his face.

Even if his daughter were to become an empress in the future and his son-in-law was the soon-to-be emperor, the duke was only a shadow under the clouds in front of the imperial family.

The Duke of Elysium, who fully understood that point, was just taking a peek into the political world little by little so as not to offend the ruler in any way.

But why was the mentioned ruler directly visiting his mansion from this early morning?

A thing of this sort was unprecedented.

In a hurry, the duke bow to the emperor out of courtesy while inwardly questioned his presence at this hour.

“Yes, Your Majesty. Please give your order.”

“Go and adjust your pants first”.

The emperor ordered, waving his hand dismissively.

Only then did the Duke blush as he noticed that he was wearing his pants backward.

“I…I will get back to you soon.”

“The young Miss welcomed us in perfect manner from early in the morning. Children are called their parents’ mirrors, right?

“I’m ashamed.”

Your daughter welcomed us with a perfect appearance from this morning, but why do you — a parent, look like that?

The emperor’s profound hidden word rebuked him.

The Duke and Duchess guided the emperor couple to the lounge and went back to their for change room without a break.

“The tea is ready to serve.”

The emperor, who was sitting on the sofa in the lounge, clasped his hands neatly on his knees and stared blankly into the air, gestured the butler to stop pouring tea.

The Elysium mansion had an elegant appearance like a unique temple. However, the seemingly beautiful manor, which was like a goddess’s temple, turned cold like a stone tomb the moment they made their entrance.

‘I didn’t expect Leonhardt to kneel down and ask for a favor, but it is much worse here than I thought…’

The butler, who was wary of the emperor, tried to fill the empty cup while the emperor was deep in thought.

“Since when did the butler of Elysium become so slow-witted? Do I have to repeat myself twice?”

However, the emperor said without sparing a glance with a blunt expression.

The butler flinched and bowed his head hurriedly.

“Go and help your master.”

The emperor leaned back on the cushion as if he were his own house and spoke in a languid manner.

In an instant, the butler ran to the room of the ducal couple at a fast pace.

“When we go back, would there once again be the three of us?”

When asked by the empress, the emperor smiled softly and answered.

“No, all four of us will go back together.”

Meanwhile, Duchess Elysium was struggling in front of her most gorgeous dress.

She tightened the corset as hard as she could, but the dress simply did not fit her body.

The duchess made up a dull excuse to appease herself. It went something along the line that because she had to use up all her stamina and intelligence whenever she taught Elizabeth, it was needed to soothe her stomach with sweet things.

However, it was impossible to have an audience with the emperor and empress in an indoor outfit or even the second most glamourous dress.

Eventually, the Duke rolled up his sleeves and put his foot on the Duchess’ waist, telling her to breathe more as he tightened the corset for her.

“Ack, argh! A little more! Just a little more!”

Seeing her duke’s veins popping up clearly on her arms, the maids turned their faces to the side with confusion.

“Every day she tightens the corset to the point when it’s even too much for a lady. Frankly, I don’t feel sorry, do you?”

“Shh! What are you going to do if the madame hears it?”

The Duchess eventually managed to get her dress on thanks to her husband’s help. Following the Duke back to the living room, where the guests awaited, she tossed her glare towards the maids.

In her mind, she wanted to kick out those quirky girls right away but now was not the time.

“I am really ashamed to keep you waiting as the host, Your Majesty the Emperor.”

“Don’t worry. I’m thinking of going back soon anyway. Come and sit down. Empress, didn’t you say you have something to talk to the Duchess?:

The duke cast his gaze nervously to inspect the emperor’s wits.

Obviously, this was the lounge of the Elysium mansion, but at the words of the emperor, the lounge turned into a more suffocating place than the halls of the Imperial Palace, where the ministers were lined up on either side.

Meanwhile, the Duchess was taken aback when she heard that the Empress wanted to have a few words with herself.

‘The empress? With me? why?’

She guided the empress to another lounge, and the duchess was bitterly regretful that she wore her high-heeled shoes in vain, for no one could see them anyway because they were obscured by the hem of her long dress.

“I have heard from the Crown Prince that the duchess is educating our daughter-in-law very well,” she said.

“The Crown Prince… His Highness… .”

Seeing a proud smile could not help but form on the Duchess’s face, the Empress struggled to resist the distortion of her expression.

‘Education? That’s too good of a word for it. It’s even worse than disciplining circus animals!’

The Empress was appalled at the news about the future daughter-in-law delivered by her only son.

What was happening to the future imperial member here in the Elysium mansion, was way too horrific even for the adults, let alone a child!

“It is overrated. Elizabeth is a child who still lacks education. I mean, what would an eight-year-old know? Hoho…”

The Empress smiled benevolently and looked straight into the duchess’ eyes.

The Empress, whom everyone praised as a gentle person, but the Duchess felt that her smile was somehow colder than the winter north wind.

“Yes. The time back when His Highness the Crown Prince was around the young Miss’ age…still remains vividly in my mind. If he had something he wanted, he would lie down in the hallway of the Imperial Palace and threw a tantrum all day long. But after it has passed by, even those acts seem cute and lovely… .”

The empress deliberately paused a little and secretly took a glance at the duchess.

“After seeing your daughter, I wish to experience those lovely moments again..”

“What….what is Your Majesty talking about?”

In the duchess’ head, thoughts began to shake like a storm.

The empress was still staring at the duchess with a faint smile.

“It’s nothing. I’m just proud as her future mother-in-law. That girl has grown up so well. I’m just thankful.”

“I am grateful that the Empress is thinking so highly of Isolde. It is an honour, Your Majesty.”

‘She has indeed grown up well. She is a good child, in fact, too good for the likes of them. If it were me, I would have escaped long ago!’

The empress tried to keep calm and brought up the main subject.

“It reminds me of Elizabeth’s education…Duchess of Elysium.”

“Please, do tell, Your Majesty.”