CH 142

“His Majesty, Her Majesty, and His Highness the second prince are arriving!”

The chamberlain’s loud voice echoed through the ballroom and the great door was open wide.

The first thing that caught my eye when I took the first step with Raymond was a gorgeous chandelier.

Many jewels shone from the ceiling in the Sapphire Hall, the largest banquet hall in the Imperial Palace.

And down the stairs countless nobles watched us.

The Empress returned to her rightful place six years later.

It would be a lie to say that I wasn’t nervous.

I took a deep breath and walked slowly down the stairs with Raymond.

The nobles immediately knelt down and expressed their courtesy.

Passing through them, standing in the middle, I let go of Raymond’s hand. And at the same time, Raymond’s dignified voice echoed through the hall.

“Everyone, get up.”

The nobles rose, and everyone’s gazes turned back to us.

Envy, curiosity and secret desires. The looks harbored many emotions.

Yet their attention wasn’t my pleasure.

Suddenly, I felt a grip around my palm.

Of course it wasn’t Raymond.

Looking down, I saw Carlisle’s tense face.

This was the first time he stood in front of such a crowd of people.

But you have to get used to it.

I gripped his little hand tighter.

Carlisle’s gaze turned to me, he smiled as if everything was okay.

Raymond spoke as Carlisle regained his strength.

“Today’s party, as everyone already knows, is a celebration of the naming of the Empress and the crown prince.”

Raymond turned to me and said.

“It would be wonderful today if the Empress announced the beginning of the banquet.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

I turned my head to the nobles.

“First of all, thank you very much for the fact that you are all gathered here to congratulate us on this momentous event. There were so many tight turns on the way until I got to this place, but now I’m truly happy that the imperial family has finally found such stability. Enjoy your evening.”

As soon as I finished speaking, soft music spilled over the place. I headed to the main seat with Raymond.

While we were sitting on golden thrones, the nobles approached one by one to bow.

But my father was the first to congratulate me.

“I sincerely congratulate His Majesty and Her Majesty on the reunion.”

“Thank you, Duke Croft.”

I answered cheerfully.

Helen accepted my father’s gift. Meanwhile, the nobles continued their little ritual.

From the newly promoted Marquis Paren to the Marquis Celine, who has returned to the capital. They laid out piles of gifts to congratulate me and Carlisle.

After a long ceremony, I saw a certain man approaching and smiled at ease.

Jeremy, neatly dressed in a tailcoat, prepared a greeting according to the regulations.

“Duke Drua!”

Carlisle’s exclamation made it clear that he was happy to see Jeremy. Although not everyone here shared this reaction.

Raymond, who had been silent all the way, suddenly opened his mouth.

“Duke Drua. The work in the Duchy must still be noisy, but thank you for coming.”

It was just a casual greeting, but Raymond’s voice was somehow cold. Looking from the side, I saw displeasure on his face.

‘Raymond hated Jeremy. It would be better to somehow separate them.’

Knowing this well, I said carefully to Raymond:

“Your Majesty, since we have received our greetings here, could you please introduce Carlisle to the young nobles?”

It was polite to come up with congratulations on the part of the nobility, but Carlisle had no friends of his age who came from the nobility.

It would be nice to take this opportunity and make friends with someone.

By the time Carlisle grows up, these children will inherit the titles as their family, and become part of the ruling class.

Raymond was a little surprised.

“Does the Empress wish to arrange it personally?”

“Actually, I can’t wait to gossip with the ladies.”

Raymond glanced at Duke Drua.

He seemed very dissatisfied with leaving me and Jeremy behind.

“Please, Your Majesty, introduce the crown prince to the nobles.”

However, I didn’t care about his complaints. And as long as Raymond is around, it’s going to be hard to say hello to Jeremy.

He knows that the evidence to destroy the Sios family came from Jeremy.

He soon sighed, stood up, and walked over to Carlisle.

“Prince. Come here.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Raymond and Carlisle left hand in hand. I turned to Jeremy.

“Duke Drua, haven’t seen each other for a long time.”

“How are you, Empress?”

“Everything is fine. And for that I should have thanked you, but… I was too busy. I’m sorry.”

Jeremy shyly replied, before taking a break:

“But you sent me a letter. And I got a present from the phoenix, so that’s enough.”

“But I couldn’t tell you personally. Thank you very much, Duke Drua.”

“Your plan with the Emperor went so smoothly. Wow… And the first prince is also present today?”

At Jeremy’s words, I turned to Edmund.

“If he hadn’t come, this would have become even more shameful.”

Edmund was standing not far from my place. The nobles showed discontent with him and avoided him.

I expected ridicule, but so far it has worked out.

“Whatever the adults do… I’m not going to drown the first prince either. At least I hope that his life as a prince can continue.”

When I realized the situation and whispered it, Jeremy made a grimace for some reason.

He looked uncomfortable, but he also looked forward to the coming difficulties.

“Duke Drua?”

Jeremy smiled awkwardly at my call.

“It’s nothing. It was just that I wasn’t particularly happy to see the first prince either.”

“I just hope everything stabilizes with time.”

“I hope everything will return to its place.”

‘Its place?’

When I slightly tilted my head at his strange words, he smiled with playful eyes as if it was nothing.

“Haha, nothing. Well, I have to go.”

Jeremy recoiled awkwardly, said goodbye as if it were urgent, and then left.

‘What’s wrong with him?’

I rose from my seat, watching his clumsy figure recede. And then I turned to the first prince, and not to the noble ladies.

“Edmund.”

The first prince, who was now looking somewhere into the distance, turned at my call.

And, greatly surprised, his eyes widened..

Not only Edmund, but all the nobles around too.

It was revealed that his grandfather was plotting against the Croft House.

As the daughter of Duke Croft, it can be assumed that I didn’t like the first prince much right now.

And there was even nothing wrong with that.

However, I wasn’t going to feed the evil rumors.

“Your Majesty.”

Edmund stopped in front of me and gave a shallow bow.

At that moment, I felt the eyes of aristocrats full of curiosity looking at us.

Then, as if for show, I went over and took Edmund’s hand.

“Edmund, I heard you feel bad, but I’m grateful that you came to see me today.”

I saw Edmund’s black eyes shake at the sight of what was happening.

Edmund seems to have followed the same idea as the nobles.

Well, it would be strange if Edmund didn’t think so. After all, the entire public, now without hesitation, threw accusations against the Sios family.

I gave strength to my hand so that the prince woke up.

A slight smile appeared on Edmund’s numb face, as if his mind had returned to its place.

“Well, this is an evening in honor of Her Majesty and the Emperor. His Majesty cares a lot about me, and I couldn’t miss such a party, just because I’m sick.”

“If the prince says so, then I should also pay more attention to him in the future.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

“Don’t forget that you can always rely on me and His Majesty the Emperor. If you have difficulties in life, come to the Empress’s Palace at any time.”

I deliberately raised my voice so that the nobles could definitely hear.

After all, what was said right now was a warning to the nobles not to cross the line.

“Thank you… Your Majesty.”

Before releasing Edmund’s hand, I whispered softly that only he could hear.

“I won’t become your evil stepmother,” I said. “I promise.”

I left Edmund alone with my embarrassment and went up to the noble ladies.

“Your Majesty.”

Noble ladies and young men greeted me with bright smiles.

Looking around, the first thing I did was to speak to Marquise Paren, the most senior of those around me.

“Marquis Paren. We haven’t seen each other for a long time.”

It has been a long time since Marquis Paren arrived in the capital, but the wife of the Marquis sat quietly, and didn’t show her nose to the events of high society.

Thus, it has been almost ten years since I saw the Marchioness’s face.

“Your Majesty the Empress. I should have shown up a long time ago, but I wasn’t feeling well. I apologize.”

I have heard a lot about the long-standing Marchioness’s illness.

One of the reasons why Marquis Paren relinquished power and left the estate was his wife’s chronic illness.

“No. I’m even more grateful that you came, even if you didn’t feel well. Rather, I couldn’t pay attention to you. I will tell the doctor in the Imperial Palace to send you some medicine that is good for gout.”

“Thank you.”

The Marchioness bowed to me after these words. But then she drew attention to me and asked:

“Your Majesty, the accessory you are wearing is the famous black diamond, right?”