CHAPTER 56
After reading the letter, Leticia looked up to find everyone’s eyes on her.
Including Elise’s, burning with barely contained rage.
Leticia, as if to make a point, gave her response directly to the head lady-in-waiting.
“I could never refuse an invitation from Her Majesty the Empress. I will visit her this afternoon.”
“Then we shall await your arrival, Lady Leticia.”
Leaving behind a polite farewell, the lady-in-waiting stepped back into the imperial carriage and departed.
Leticia watched the carriage fade into the distance for a moment, then turned to Elise with a sweet smile.
“Well then, I’m rather busy, so I’ll be off.”
With a cheerful wave, she turned and walked away.
She could still feel the murmurs behind her and Elise’s sharp glare drilling into her back—but none of it mattered.
That afternoon.
I arrived at the Empress’s Palace right on time.
As soon as I stepped down from the carriage, the first voice I heard was—
“Leticia!”
“…Your Highness the Crown Prince?”
Both the Empress and Prince Rudian were waiting for me with warm smiles.
Rudian immediately rushed over, his face glowing with excitement.
“Are you okay now? You’re not sick anymore?”
I blinked at the sudden question—then realized a moment later what he was referring to.
‘Ah, he remembers that I fell into the water.’
His golden eyes were filled with genuine concern. They reminded me of…
‘A baby chick. So cute…!’
Though I’d nearly died saving him, seeing the child alive and well like this made every hardship worthwhile.
Even if Rudian hadn’t been connected to the false accusations against Idrys, I would have saved him.
Because… that’s just how children are.
Kneeling down to meet his eyes, I smiled and replied,
“Thanks to Your Highness’s concern, I’m all better now. You must have been so scared that day—are you alright?”
“Mm-hmm! You and Uncle saved me, so I wasn’t hurt at all!”
He nodded confidently, his chubby cheeks bouncing adorably.
‘If I could just pinch those once… No, no—I’d be charged with lèse-majesté…’
As I stifled that dangerous impulse, the Empress finally stepped forward.
She had light brown hair and vibrant green eyes—a serene beauty.
I’d seen her from afar at a few national events before she gave birth, but this was the first time we’d met up close.
‘Oh—right! I should greet her properly!’
Having been distracted by Rudian’s overwhelming cuteness, I quickly stood and gave a formal bow.
“Leticia of Cloel greets Your Majesty the Empress.”
“Welcome, Lady Leticia. Rudian has been looking forward to meeting you again.”
“M-Mother!”
At the Empress’s candid reveal, Rudian blushed and squealed.
I couldn’t help but smile, and when our eyes met, I noticed the Empress was smiling the exact same way.
Still wearing that gentle smile, she continued,
“When I told him you’d be arriving around two o’clock, he insisted on waiting outside the moment the bell struck one. I had quite the time explaining how long an hour can be.”
Though she sounded like she was scolding him, the affection in her eyes as she looked at Rudian showed she was only teasing.
It was a heartwarming sight—the loving bond between mother and son—and I found myself smiling again.
DING—
The bell signaling exactly two o’clock rang.
“Oh my, we’ve kept our guest waiting far too long outside. Shall we head to the parlor?”
Following the Empress and Rudian, I entered the drawing room.
It seemed the maid had timed the tea to coincide with my arrival, as she quietly stepped out just as we entered.
“Please, make yourself comfortable.”
I took a seat on the sofa as the Empress gestured.
Rudian hovered for a moment, casting shy glances, before slipping into the seat beside me.
Then—
“Leticia, try this. It’s really yummy—it’s my favorite!”
He picked one of the desserts in front of us and placed it on my plate.
A completely different demeanor from when he had been too shy to meet my eyes at first.
“Oh, an egg tart? It does look delicious. I’ll enjoy it, thank you, Your Highness.”
I had to properly respond to the sweet gesture of our adorable crown prince.
So I carefully sliced the palm-sized tart, popped a small piece into his mouth, and took a bite myself.
Just as Rudian said, the egg tart—made by the palace’s head chef—was soft and delightfully sweet.
“This is the best egg tart I’ve ever had. Your Highness, you must have an excellent palate for desserts.”
Rudian beamed with pride at my praise.
Watching the blush creep onto his round cheeks, I suppressed yet another blasphemous urge.
As the Empress observed our interaction, she finally spoke.
“I hear your boutique has gained quite a reputation lately. You must be busy, yet you still made time to come—thank you.”
“Not at all. It’s an honor to receive an invitation from Your Majesty.”
After some light conversation, we shared the desserts and talked about this and that.
‘Seems like we’ve nearly finished the desserts.’
Still, I noticed that the real reason I’d been invited hadn’t come up yet.
As if on cue, once Rudian finished his milk, the Empress gently said,
“Rudian. I’d like to speak with Lady Leticia in private. Could you give us a moment?”
At her request, the sparkle in his eyes dimmed.
But instead of whining, he obediently nodded.
“…Yes, Mother.”
Perhaps he knew how fragile his mother’s health was, and didn’t want to cause her any worry—even if he didn’t like it.
Moved by that unspoken consideration, I couldn’t bear to just let him go like that.
So I offered a little incentive.
“Your Highness, after I speak with Her Majesty, would you show me that doll?”
“…The doll?”
“You know, the wooden doll that fell into the pond. What was its name again?”
“Oh! Eddie! Sir Philip saved Eddie!”
“Thank goodness. Then would you show him to me later?”
“But Eddie’s in my room…”
“Then, after I finish talking with Her Majesty, I’ll come to your chambers.”
“No! I’ll go get him. You just talk with Mother!”
Cheered up by the promise, Rudian perked up and trotted out of the drawing room.
I watched his retreating figure with warmth, then turned back to find the Empress watching me with a gentle smile.
“You’re very good with children, Lady Leticia. I was under the impression you don’t have any younger siblings or nieces or nephews.”
“I’m not. His Highness was kind enough to take a liking to me, that’s all.”
The truth was, Rudian reminded me of my own childhood. That’s why I was so drawn to him.
‘But there’s no need to share personal stories with someone I just met.’
As I gave a sheepish internal laugh, the Empress began to refill my teacup.
“I wanted to invite you today, partly to thank you—but more than that…”
Here it comes—the real reason.
‘Now that the boutique is popular, is she going to ask for some favor?’
I ran through a list of likely topics the Empress might bring up, but what she said completely caught me off guard.
“I wanted to hear your story.”
I blinked in confusion.
“What… story would that be?”
“The conflict between you and the Duke of Farnese.”
Ah.
I swallowed hard.
So Her Majesty doesn’t like me either, huh.
I’d never seen Idrys mention the Empress, but judging by how close he is with both Rudian and the Emperor, I could assume his relationship with her wasn’t bad.
Given the dignity of the royal family, she was bound to be concerned about the rumors.
“I thought it was improper of you to reveal your relationship with the Archduke without first resolving things cleanly with the Duke.”
“…”
“And even now—after receiving such a tremendous debt of gratitude—I haven’t changed that opinion.”
Honestly, I agreed with her.
Even now, I had no objection to that view.
Still… I hadn’t expected her to bring it up in the middle of a gratitude visit for the Rudian incident.
“But.”
I had been bracing for more criticism, but her next words took me by surprise.
Her gaze had softened.
“After seeing you in this situation, Lady Leticia, I’ve started to wonder…”
“…”
“Maybe… there were circumstances that left you with no other choice.”
Little Rudy!!!!!