Chapter 35
Eloise took a sip as well and widened her eyes. As if she had expected that reaction, the Empress smiled gently.
“How is it?”
“The aroma is unique, and compared to other teas, the acidity is much stronger.”
“It’s made by drying a type of berry that only grows in the northern mountains. Because of its unusual scent, it’s not very popular, so you won’t see it much in the capital.”
“I’ve never had it at the townhouse either.”
“That’s probably because it’s not available for purchase. It’s my favorite, after all.”
So she’s monopolizing it. What kind of tea was it, that the Empress would go so far as to monopolize it? I sniffed again.
It was a very peculiar scent—one I had never encountered even in my previous life.
Maybe like boiling cinnamon with mint and strawberries mixed in?
“Liget, you should try it too. Cats can drink it as well.”
“Thank you.”
A maid placed a white cup with golden trim in front of me and poured in some slightly cooled tea.
I dipped the tip of my tongue—its tanginess made my salivary glands sting.
But after a few more licks, I grew used to the taste. Once the initial sourness passed, a faint sweetness followed. It was actually quite good.
“While you’re staying by my side, it would be nice for the three of us to have tea time together.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
“I always wished I had a daughter. Thanks to you, I can at least pretend for a while.”
The Empress chuckled softly as she sliced the edge of a chiffon cake with her fork.
Eloise received the same cake from the maid and cut it into pieces as well.
She had invited us to the Empress’s Palace so suddenly, and seeing how she had addressed the Duchess by name last time, it was clear that the Empress and House Monclaire shared close ties.
“If not for that incident, we could have been having moments like this long ago.”
“Mother still misses her dearest friend.”
“Yes. I, too, miss the days when Katrin and I would drink tea together.”
So the Empress and the Duchess of Monclaire had once been friends.
That must be why Eloise and Raoul had become Marcel’s childhood playmates. Everything began to fall neatly into place.
But ever since Eloise became engaged to the Crown Prince, it seemed the relationship between the Empress and the Duchess had drifted apart.
“Eloise, do you resent Arno? I hated His Majesty so very much.”
The Empress suddenly spoke of her hatred toward the Emperor as casually as one might comment on the weather.
Perhaps she wasn’t expecting a reply, because she continued speaking while Eloise sat in silence.
“It’s been so long, I don’t know how many even remember. Arno was born just one month before my wedding. A few years later, Michelle died from postpartum complications. A tragic thing, yes. At the time, I would have gladly run away and handed over the Empress’s seat to Michelle instead. But that was impossible—so here I am.”
So Arno’s biological mother’s name was Michelle. It had never been clearly stated in the original novel, so I hadn’t known until now.
More importantly—imagine your future husband’s illegitimate child being born just a month before your wedding. Absolutely horrifying.
“To the Empire of Calenia, there is no Empress but Her Majesty.”
“And yet the Crown Prince became Arno. Appointed barely six months after being born. His Majesty did that the moment he heard I was pregnant. What was he thinking, when even a wolf beastman heir hadn’t been born yet?”
In the novel, it had only appeared as a couple of lines describing the male lead’s background. But hearing it spoken from the Empress’s own mouth made it clear—the Emperor was a bastard.
Father and son, both blind in love. Meanwhile, the one truly hurt by it all—the Empress—calmly took another bite of her cake.
“Mmm. Delicious. Marcel and Étienne would love this too. And His Majesty—didn’t he even take you away from Marcel just because Arno said he wanted you?”
The Empress mixed casual chatter with dangerous remarks so gracefully that it was hard to react.
That warm smile of hers made even her sharpest words sound gentle.
“I raised Arno with as much love as I could, but it seems I taught him wrong.”
“All of Calenia knows how well Your Majesty has supported the Crown Prince.”
The Empress truly cherished the Crown Prince and gave him everything he desired.
Even when that meant allowing him to take Marianne as his mistress.
Thinking back on it now—it must have reopened old scars, and yet she allowed it. She was an incredible person.
“Eloise, marry someone who loves you. Even better if that someone is Marcel.”
“……Your Majesty. The promise between House Valois and the Imperial Family is not up to me.”
“At least you’re not saying you dislike Marcel.”
Eloise couldn’t answer. She only fidgeted with her teacup. The Empress smiled and took another sip.
“Your Majesty, I beg you. I am already a stain upon House Monclaire.”
“The fact that Marcel—who always yielded everything to his older brother—sent Liget to you is enough.”
So the Empress hadn’t known Marcel’s feelings—and my gift (Liget) had tipped her off.
In the original novel, he was just a second male lead… so when exactly did he fall for Marianne there?
“Think about it carefully. There’s no rush.”
The Empress refilled her teacup.
I was still mulling over the original plot when a servant’s voice came from the entrance.
“Your Majesty, His Highness the Crown Prince and His Highness the Second Prince have arrived.”
“Let them in. I invited them both. I seem to have prepared too many sweets, you see.”
She claimed she was in no rush, but her intentions were crystal clear. From the beginning, the refreshments had been overflowing.
She had seemed so gentle and warm—but in truth, she was a finely honed blade.
Marcel had said he had no appointment with the Empress—yet she had summoned them suddenly.
Clearly, she had done so precisely so that one of them couldn’t avoid coming.
“Either one of you shouldn’t come,” she was practically saying.
“Mother, you called for us?”
“Mother, I didn’t think you would summon us today.”
The Crown Prince and Marcel each kissed the back of the Empress’s hand.
Knowing how fierce their rivalry was over the female lead, my heart pounded.
In the novel, Marcel had even challenged the Crown Prince to a duel to free the heroine from his grasp.
“I thought you two would be too busy with state affairs to come. Thank you for making the time—especially you, Arno.”
“My apologies for not visiting sooner.”
“You’re not here just because you have a fiancée now, are you? That would make me a little sad.”
The Crown Prince neither confirmed nor denied it. He sat across from Eloise.
He tried to sit next to her, but I made it very clear with my expression that I wouldn’t allow it—so he moved.
Which forced Marcel to sit beside Eloise instead.
“It would’ve been even lovelier if Marianne were here beside the Crown Prince.”
The Empress casually threw a stone into the already tense atmosphere.
Would I end up being the cat crushed between fighting whales—or the cat munching popcorn in the stands?
Either way, it was a suffocating moment. Meanwhile, the Empress happily continued eating her cake.
“This cake is truly delightful. Do try it, everyone.”
I wanted to applaud the author who had portrayed this woman as gentle and kind.
Marcel followed her example and took a bite, smiling as brightly as he could.
“As Mother said—it’s delicious.”
“I knew you’d like it. I’ll pack some for Étienne later, so take it with you.”
Marcel tried to steer the conversation away, but the Empress deliberately brought up Étienne.
The Crown Prince’s expression grew increasingly sour. Why had he come if it vexed him this much?
Judging by his reaction, he probably hadn’t been visiting the Empress much under the excuse of being “busy.”
The Crown Prince stared at Eloise and spoke, building more bad karma.
“Is there really any need for you to start Crown Princess lessons this early?”
“Even those who don’t attend lessons stay in the palace.”
Their gazes clashed sharply.
I had no idea how many times I’d already felt this chilling wind between them.
“I suggested it. I should have moved in sooner when I was Crown Princess. There is much to learn.”
“I see. Then you had better work harder, Lady Monclaire, if you wish to sit beside me.”
The Empress listened to the Crown Prince’s arrogant remark in silence, still smiling.
She must have invited them expecting the Crown Prince not to come.
If only Marcel and Eloise had met alone, there would have been little room for rumors.
Instead, now people would say the Crown Prince wasn’t even visiting his own fiancée.
So why did he come?!
“Brother, Lady Monclaire will become a perfect Crown Princess in no time. Rest assured.”
“Then Marcel, you should also show the proper attitude toward your future Crown Princess.”
“I shall do my best.”
Marcel smiled brightly as usual—but from my close seat, I could see it.
His eyes were trembling, ever so slightly.
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