CH 173

‘In there is the emperor and empress…’ No attendant was unaware of the reputation preceding the imperial couple. Nervous gulps could be heard everywhere as the coach approached the villa entrance. It would be the first time any of the caretakers laid eyes on the couple, so their eyes were brimming with curiosity as they stared at the coach door.

When the door swung open, the attendants all doubted their eyes. Normally, people of high rank waited for an escort off the carriage. In a villa like this, the steward would play this role. However, before he could approach the carriage, a man shot out as if he couldn’t wait a second longer.

Tall, with broad shoulders, the man’s hair and eyes were both black as night. He was dressed in the most sophisticated and splendid formal suit in the empire, which sported many decorations, but the top button of the white shirt beneath it was undone as if to show how constricted the wearer felt. Despite being covered, the sturdiness of the man’s body was still prominent, and even without the unapproachable, sharp look in his eyes, his overbearing presence made it clear to the attendants who he was.

‘It’s Emperor Estian!’ The employer they never wished to meet had finally appeared. The attendants hurriedly bowed in greeting.

‘Did I make the bed well?’

‘Did I remove the stain in the hallway properly?’

‘Did I prepare the ingredients for tonight’s dinner perfectly?’

They each swallowed dryly as they thought about their respective work assignments. They’d heard stories of the emperor beheading his attendants for no apparent reason, so he surely wouldn’t hesitate to lop off their heads should he be given a reason.

“We sincerely welcome your visit to A-Aluna Villa, Your Majesty. I-I am Claire, the steward tasked with managing the villa.”

Claire was dressed in impeccable formal wear for the first time since she could remember, and was visibly trembling as she bowed in greeting. She didn’t know why her tongue felt so stiff when she was normally quite eloquent. If it’d been up to her, she would’ve resigned on the spot and bid farewell.

“The vice-steward, Emily, shall escort H-Her Majesty. If you would please come this way, Your Majesty. F-first, I shall guide you around the—”

“No, stand down,” Estian interrupted, holding up a hand toward Emily, who was approaching the coach. Both Claire and Emily turned ashen.

“H-h-have we m-m-made a mistake…?” Claire stammered. The faces of her parents, whom she’d last seen a few months before, flashed through her mind. They’d told her that they recently signed a new contract for a family grave, and there was a spot for her too! At the time she’d thought they were preparing too early for such a distant future, but at that moment, that future didn’t seem so far off.

While Claire and Emily were shaking in fear, another voice came from inside the coach.

“Your Majesty, help me, please!”

‘The empress!’ The voice was like music to her ears. Claire’s head looked up towards the coach in surprise. The emperor’s overwhelming presence had caused the existence of the empress to slip from her mind.

The woman was said to have captivated the tyrant emperor, after which she committed all sorts of wicked deeds in the imperial palace. Word was going around that the severity of her antics had even worsened as of late, though they seemed to have quietened after the emperor’s return from Etia. Still, who knew whether that rumored temper of hers would flare up again during their visit to Aluna?

‘But is it possible she spoke up to help me?’ Claire was stunned that the empress had asked the Emperor Estian to help her… and in such an intimate tone at that! She wasn’t familiar with imperial etiquette since she’d never resided at the main palace, but she’d never heard of an empress treating the emperor in such a manner. And in front of a crowd too! Casting a timid glance at the emperor, she saw the emperor’s face stiffen.