Chapter 48 – The Butterfly Of Society (1)
Did I have a preference for foreigners? What on earth was he talking about?
I threw him a reproachful look. It was hard to understand what he ant. Was this because I spoke to Grand Duke Kapn?
“I won’t stop the Empress from paying attention to other n, but I hoped they would not be foreigners.”
As I suspected. I was about to say I couldn’t refuse Grand Duke Kapn, but then I changed my words.
“It’s not sothing you need to concern yourself with.”
I kept getting involved in strange misunderstandings, especially with Prince Heinley, but it was Sovieshu who brought in a concubine first. It was unlikely I would bring in my own lover as retaliation, but in any case, Sovieshu shouldn’t criticize in what I do. In my view, that was fair.
Sovieshu, however, he seed to have different ideas.
“How can I not care? Are you not my wife?”
“...”
I wanted to retort, “Did you consult before taking in Miss Rashta?” but I knew he would say I brought her up again because I was jealous.
Sovieshu exhaled in a dignified manner.
“Do you like Lord Kapn? To the point that he makes you sigh?”
“Don’t misunderstand. We only spoke of this one thing.”
“Yes, well, I’m glad to hear that...but I’d like you to be more mindful.”
*
*
*
After that was another eting with the finance minister and treasury officials on the annual state budget, which included the salary of the court officials, royal guards, as well as the budget for various events.
“The tax revenues are about the sa as last year.”
“While the system is expected to be unchanged, we don’t know the costs.”
“We can use last year’s budget plan.”
“Alright. Overall there is no national conflict expected, so we can set it similar to last years.”
So far, everything had gone smoothly. Complications arose, however, when it ca to Rashta. The emperor usually gave his concubines a considerable, though unfixed, amount of money each year. Because there was no standard and each emperor paid different amounts, it was difficult to reference to previous cases.
“Do you have a separate account book for Miss Rashta? It should be easy enough to calculate.”
“The books did not co to the treasury. Since there is no money assigned yet, it should be listed under your account. The Emperor is providing for her now.”
“Is that so.”
I didn’t think Sovieshu was going to give the account books sohow.
“What if we use Countess Malti as an example here, Your Majesty? She was a commoner before she beca a concubine early in the emperor’s rule.”
“Prices have gone up since then, so I don’t think they’re comparable.”
“We still have to use so precedent. Once the amount is set it will be hard to lower it, but if there is a new concubine—ah, sorry.”
“It’s fine. You’re right, we should be sure.”
The eting went on longer than I thought, and when I left the room with the finance minister, the air was already cold. The sun was still out, but the sky was not that bright.
‘I missed lunchti.’
My eting with Grand Duke Kapn went from morning until afternoon, and from the afternoon onward I missed my al when I t with the finance minister. When I realized I hadn’t eaten, I suddenly felt hungry and hastened my stride. I also wondered if Queen had dropped by.
I hurried along, and at the fork leading to the eastern and western palaces, I saw the hem of a blue skirt peeking from the bushes. Sir Artina, who was following , frowned.
“Who is that?”
“I don’t know.”
I answered with a shake of my head. As if I was heard, the owner of the protruding skirt stepped away from the bushes, revealing it to be Viscountess Verdi.
“Your Majesty.”
When our eyes t, she broke away and her eyes darted around. After making sure no one else was here, she urgently beckoned at . However, I didn’t approach and Sir Artina rebuked her.
“Rude.”
Viscountess Verdi shook her head vigorously. Desperation flickered on her face, then she looked around again and ca up to .
“I have sothing urgent to say. I may not be your lady-in-waiting anymore, but I can’t rest easy until I tell you this.”
Her lips trembled. I prevented Sir Artina from admonishing her again and signaled Viscountess Verdi to continue speaking. The viscountess pressed her hands together.
“I think Viscount Roteschu knows sothing about Miss Rashta. A weakness.”
“Weakness?”
“I couldn’t hear the details, but I think she—”
The sound of sothing snapping interrupted her. I turned towards the direction of the noise, but Viscountess Verdi had disappeared into the bushes again.
‘What was that all of a sudden?’
I looked where Mrs. Verdi had stood, then saw soone else approaching again.
It was Rashta.
“Your Majesty.”
She looked thinner than before and had dark bags under her eyes. She greeted with a short bow and spoke in a feeble voice.
“Who was there just now?”
I shook my head, and she peered closely at the bushes where Viscountess Verdi had disappeared. I didn’t know if she spotted the viscountess or not, but it was clear she suspected soone had been there.
Rashta sighed. Instead of asking more about the disappeared person, she looked back at gloomily.
“Well...Your Majesty. Is it alright if Rashta asks you sothing?”
“Go ahead.”
“It’s about the Duchess Tuania.”
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