episode_0029

At the moment when her daughter was squirming at Louis Edmund’s suggestive remarks and the subtle flirtation embedded within.

Even Etienne, her mother, was not enjoying the time spent there.

Upon entering the Empress’s Palace, Empress Anne Rose immediately changed her demeanor.

As soon as she stepped into the reception room set up to greet guests, the Empress casually gestured towards the chairs lined up across from her.

Before Etienne could even take a seat wherever she pleased, the Empress bluntly cut to the chase.

“I heard that Duke Verbriz visited the townhouse.”

Etienne politely responded, sitting as far away from the Empress as possible.

“Due to a minor incident at the ball, I extended an invitation to the townhouse on this occasion.”

“Oh? When you say ‘incident’… Are you referring to something between a man and a woman?”

Beside emerald eyes, wrinkles around the eyes, barely concealed by heavy makeup, twitched.

“It’s a matter among young people; neither he nor I delved deeply into it. We merely shared a meal.”

Etienne relayed the words she had just heard at the entrance of the Empress’s Palace back to the Empress.

However, even if she repeated those words, unlike others, the Empress was not a woman who couldn’t grasp the underlying meaning.

Especially since she knew enough to have invited Duke Verbriz to the mansion.

If the cunning Empress wanted to know how they viewed the Duke, she already did.

The Empress carefully set down her teacup and gazed at Etienne with her green eyes.

“Although it has been long since the split from the royal family, Duke Verbriz still belongs to the Galatea lineage. If the Duke were to form a union with someone, it is only right for him to inform me, the head of the lineage.”

Etienne silently absorbed those words.

She wanted to ask if it was acceptable to leave the difficult North in such a state, but she was there as part of the expeditionary force for her daughter.

They hadn’t come to the Empress’s Palace to pick a fight.

“Madam, I will be frank. Whether Louis, that foolish nephew of yours, becomes entangled with your precious treasure or not, it matters little to me.”

His tone shifted as if trying to convince himself, adopting a gentle tone.

“Yet, as the rumors go, although my nephew may lack other talents, he excels in charming women.”

Contrary to his sharp voice, the Empress contained a bitter smile.

In that laughter, one could sense even the composure of a victor.

“So, it’s probably only a matter of time before your daughter becomes Edmund’s hostess.”

As if foreseeing future events clearly, the Empress calmly continued speaking.

Despite her tone, she maintained a sardonic smile on her lips.

“As you said. I, too, have no intention of meddling in the affairs of young people. I am here today because my nephew requested it, reluctantly playing the role of aunt.”

And Etienne simply listened quietly to the Empress’s ramblings.

“However, if your family does not align with the Princess and continues to remain neutral, I might offer a word of sharp advice to my foolish nephew.”

It was a humorous remark.

If the Empress truly felt that way, she wouldn’t have summoned the red-haired man during the debutante ball, nor would she have blushed in front of the Princess who came along as if exposing a conspiracy.

Taking the teacup to her lips, Etienne bought herself some time to think.

In truth, Etienne was not unfamiliar with the name Louis Edmund.

Utilizing the connections she had in the capital, Etie had gathered various stories about that man.

The information Etie received could be broadly divided into two categories.

Young women harbored emotions beyond mere fondness for him due to his handsome appearance, prestigious lineage, and eloquent speech.

In contrast, older women were on edge, fearing that the scoundrel might lay a hand on their daughters.

Etie found herself closer to the latter group of women.

Although her daughter seemed to have set her sights on the Duke now, deciphering the heart of a woman of that age was no easy task. After all, she had been in a similar situation herself.

Lost in thought, a maid from the Queen’s side hurriedly entered the reception room behind Etie, interrupting her musings.

#.

Originally, Seoju-ha was known as a patient individual.

However, it wasn’t due to inherent traits like patience.

He wasn’t a Buddha, Jesus, or a reincarnation of a saint.

Seoju was simply a timid commoner who couldn’t speak ill of others, a quality that naturally developed in such individuals in the society he lived in.

But Eleanor was not the same as the Seoju of the past.

From the very beginning, they were different.

Eleanor was not a commoner but a lady from a prestigious noble family.

She was the cherished youngest daughter of the influential Beaumont Viscount, who spent exorbitant amounts on daily meals alone.

As a result, her once abundant patience had gradually waned.

Especially when faced with someone so repugnant.

And if that person happened to be of the same gender, with no need to put on a show.

Her voice, tinged with annoyance, was surprisingly sharp, catching even Eleanor off guard.

“Enough. Really, Sir. I have no interest. I’d rather pick up a passing stray dog than accompany you to parties or restaurants.”

Similarly, Louis was not a patient man like the noblemen of this era.

He gazed silently at the platinum-haired woman before him.

No matter how charming she might be, this was a bit too much.

Women, no matter how enticing, should be pushed back just the right amount.

Pushing back like this only served to pique his interest.

“Younae, isn’t this going too far? I’m willing to do everything for you, so why do you keep refusing?”

“If I don’t like it, I don’t like it.”

“Don’t deceive yourself, Younae. Surely you have feelings for me!”

Finally, Louis Edmund uncovered Eleanor’s facade.

“That’s utter nonsense!”

‘What are you talking about, Sir.’

His thoughts and spoken words had switched places.

After shouting, Eleanor herself realized the truth.

Well, there was nothing to be done.

While concealing one’s true feelings was considered a ladylike trait, she was a Lady-in-Waiting, not even a week old. No, she was Lady Hosoin.

At Eleanor’s words, Louis Edmund’s emotional threshold reached its limit.

With a flushed face, Louis looked at Eleanor.

This was the first time a woman had spoken to him like this.

At least, no woman had raised her voice in front of him until now. Except for the women who whined on the bed, Eleanor was the first.

Even though her defiant stance was quite striking, there was a certain beauty in her stubbornness.

Despite being rebellious, there was a thrill in breaking down such a woman.

She was not a toy to be played with and discarded like the women before her.

She was the future leader of the Edmund Marquisate and the woman who would bear his children.

Therefore, for the sake of the future, it was necessary to tame Eleanor, who was currently running wild like an untamed colt.

Louie quietly looked around.

This place was currently the Empress’s Palace.

To be precise, it was not the Empress’s Palace itself but rather the courtyard of the Empress’s Palace.

Anyway.

The maids standing by Eleanor at the Empress’s request were also people of the Empress’s Palace.

The servants politely bowing their heads around were all people of the Empress’s Palace.

And the people of the Empress’s Palace were closer to Edmund’s people than the royal family’s people.

In other words, this was their home ground.

Even if Louie treated Eleanore a bit roughly, there was no one here to stop him or tease him.

“She’s calling for me to come see her, really!”

With those words, Louie Edmund suddenly stood up.

Eleanor’s sky-blue eyes widened as she saw the man approaching her.

In an instant, her hair gently swayed with his movement.

Louie’s hand raised high sliced through the air and landed on Eleanor’s blushing cheek—

“What are you doing right now, Louie Edmund.”

Suddenly, a man with fiery red eyes who had approached from behind swiftly caught his raised right hand.

#

The Internal Affairs security officer was not officially appointed as a bureaucrat.

The Empire’s bureaucratic appointments were based on fair examinations and procedures promoting meritocracy.

However, following the disbandment of the troops, even administrative officials.

There was a possibility that the nobles, angered by the oppression of the ruling regime taking away their privileges, might rise up.

In reality, when the new bureaucratic appointment policy began, the nobles’ unrest caused societal instability in various ways.

Therefore, to appease the nobles, the Emperor granted them the pretext of participating in imperial administration under the title of “officer.”

Through the Emperor’s lenient measures, what could have been a divided empire once again united.

And at that time, they did not know.

That being an officer meant being appointed by the Emperor.

It would further solidify the Emperor’s prerogative rather than their own privileges.

Let’s leave the backstory there.

Today marked the first day of work for the new security officer, replacing the retired Noel Saintomer, and the day the Emperor personally appointed the new security officer.

Thanks to this, Yulian was able to visit his relatives after a long time.

So, the silver-haired handsome man standing here was not such a surprising sight.

“What are you doing right now, Louie Edmund.”

Against the backdrop of a spring day’s freshness, Yulian glared silently at the red-haired man with a cold and heavy voice, which did not quite match the lively atmosphere, behind the three tense individuals, as the maid guarding Eleanor hurriedly began to run towards the Empress’s Palace.