Chapter 122: The Stellar Gala 3

“Ah, so you are Cazeros. I have heard much about you.”

“…I am unworthy, Your Majesty.”

Facing the woman sitting across from her, wearing a black veil, Cazeros bowed her head respectfully towards Empress Rozveta.

Although she was technically her grandmother, the mother of her own mother, at this moment, Cazeros showed utmost respect to the person before her.

It was not just a simple family relationship, but the positional difference between an Empress and a duchess.

Moreover, and most crucially, unlike her mother with whom she seemed to have a rather amicable relationship, this was the first time Cazeros had actually met the Empress, of whom she had only heard.

She could not help but feel burdened to treat her familiarly.

However…

Regardless of Cazeros’ situation, the Empress spoke to her in a warm and affectionate tone:

“I have heard quite a bit about you, but this is the first time meeting you in person. Indeed… you resemble your mother’s appearance.”

Although the veil concealed her exact features, Cazeros could easily imagine the Empress wore a gentle smile.

It was the very image of a grandmother looking upon her granddaughter.

Feeling a peculiar emotion at this, the Empress continued in a slightly more composed tone:

“The letter you sent was quite intriguing. Of course, there were other factors beyond what you mentioned, but in the end, I decided to proceed based on your opinion.”

“Thank you for heeding this maiden’s request, Your Majesty.”

In response to the Empress’s words, Cazeros spoke politely, and the Empress let out a small laugh as she continued:

“Heheh… I merely judged it to be favorable from my own perspective. Of course, from your standpoint, you likely wished to aid your beloved in some way.”

“!…”

Bringing up an unexpected topic, Cazeros’s expression stiffened slightly as she turned her gaze towards her mother sitting beside her.

At that moment, her mother’s expression seemed to say, ‘Well, what can I do?’

‘She has already revealed everything, including my relationship with Lord Santana…’

It appeared that this matter had been discussed beforehand, and Cazeros felt a slight dizziness at the fact that her personal affairs, which she had hoped to keep quiet, had become public knowledge, no less to the Empress herself.

While it was fortunate that the Empress had permitted it, had she taken offense to Cazeros’s situation, it could have brought trouble not only to her but to Santana as well.

In that sense, Cazeros could only feel profound relief that the Empress, despite being fully aware of the circumstances, had accepted her words.

And seeing Cazeros inwardly sighing, the Empress spoke in a light tone, yet with a voice that did not sound light at all, as she looked at Cazeros and Duchess Catleena:

“But it is an amusing thing, is it not? The duchess of this Dragonian Empire infiltrated as a Holy Knight, only to meet and fall in love with the heir of a noble house who was concealing his identity there. Truly, a strange twist of fate.”

“I do not find it a pleasant twist of fate. I cannot fathom how my youngest daughter, a duchess, could stoop to such behavior over a man…”

The duchess expressed both apology and displeasure towards the Empress’s words.

Although the change in policy meant she had to comply with the situation for now, she still seemed displeased with the current circumstances.

No matter how important love was, the fact that it had compelled the Empress to intervene was something the duchess, who deeply respected her mother, could not view positively.

“Heheh.”

Then, looking at Duchess Catleena, the Empress let out a somewhat more amused laugh as she spoke to her daughter:

“Admittedly, it was a bit excessive… For a daughter to lose herself to a man and commit such unimaginable acts, even this mother found it quite challenging to raise her.”

“Huh?”

“Ah… Mother… That was…”

Bringing up an unexpected topic, both Cazeros and the duchess bore expressions of bewilderment…

Seeing the two of them, the Empress spoke in a nostalgic tone:

“Although not on a national scale, you too, Catleena, committed quite outrageous acts for a man’s sake, did you not? I still remember it. You clung to that man, insisting on enrolling the servant you fancied at the academy, teaching him day and night for days on end.”

“Ah… no… That was… because I thought he was capable enough…”

“Oh? But I recall you ultimately crying in your mother’s arms at the end…”

“…”

While not quite a dark history, it was an embarrassing story.

The duchess averted her gaze, her face flushing, and the Empress continued gleefully:

“Well, in the end, your fervent efforts paid off, and that servant did enroll in the academy. Eventually, things turned out as our daughter desired.”

“Ahem…”

“Ah…”

Hearing this previously unknown story about her father, Cazeros realized her mother, whom she had always seen as a perfect politician with a somewhat cold demeanor, had an unexpected side.

A side similar to herself, she felt.

‘So it seems Mother was quite the romantic, despite not showing it…’

Adjusting her image of her mother slightly, Cazeros also felt dissatisfied that her mother did not acknowledge her own love, despite having such a past herself.

Setting aside politics, as a daughter, she wished for her mother’s acknowledgment.

Meanwhile, as Cazeros was lost in thought, the Empress spoke in a light tone, yet with a voice that did not sound light at all:

“In that sense, our granddaughter too must succeed in this endeavor to attain her love, just like her mother did? No matter what difficulties arise, she must succeed, no matter what.”

“Ah… yes, of course. I will not disappoint you.”

“Good, I am counting on you.”

Whether for the sake of attaining love or for the nation’s interests, Cazeros spoke with renewed determination to the Empress, who nodded in satisfaction.

Then…

“Your Majesty. A moment, please.”

In the next moment, a figure dressed in black appeared like a shadow.

He whispered something in the Empress’s ear, and she briefly lent him her ear.

After the brief report, he disappeared like a shadow once more.

The Empress’s demeanor then shifted slightly as she addressed the duchess and Cazeros:

“Oh dear… It seems a guest I invited has arrived. Regrettably, our time together must end here.”

The Empress spoke with an unexpectedly sincere tone of regret.

Seeing this, the duchess wore a bitter smile:

“Even here, you remain as busy as ever. We lack even the time for leisurely conversation…”

“Such is the occupation of an Empress. Governing this vast land is no easy task. In that sense, I wish to abdicate and pass the throne to your elder sister as soon as possible…”

“With Elios’s temperament, she may struggle for a time? She still believes this nation cannot be led without you, Mother. Perhaps Senel has a better chance.”

“Aah. I do not even know where that child has gone or what she is doing. If she insists on being away, I wish she would at least find a good man and marry…”

These were conversations that felt somewhat distant to Cazeros.

With that, the three rose from their seats and returned to their respective duties.

Once again, they realized that the life of a national leader lacked leisure.