Chapter 301: Chapter 56
My voice trembled as if I was surprised. I heard the knights, watching duelling the man, running to in a hurry. They pushed the man out and asked with a very worried look.
“My lady, are you okay?”
“Yes I’m okay.”
“Were you injured?”
“No, I was a little surprised, but I wasn’t hurt. ”
“Did you say you were surprised? Hey, what are you doing? Bring so cold water!”
Sir League shoute. The young knight, who duelled with a mont ago, rushed to get water.
I smiled awkwardly. I was not as surprised as he thought. To tell the truth, I was more surprised right now than a mont ago because they asked a barrage of questions.
“My lady, please drink so water.”
“Thank you, Sir Ecs.”
The young knight who ca back in no ti quickly offered a water bottle. I took a sip of water after receiving the cold bottle. I smiled naturally at their warmth when they looked at with concern.
Sir League looked at with a warm expression, “Lady, you are very pretty. Smile more often. You used to be cute in the past. Ti flies so fast!”
“Thank you for saying that, Sir League.”
“You’re welco. I an it. I’m a bit worried about how your father is doing these days. If you get married…”
“What did you just say?”
While I was smiling awkwardly at his repeated praise, I heard a cold voice from behind. I grinned broadly, turning to the man who asked Sir League.
“Have you been doing well, Daddy?”
“Yes, Tia. Did you have a good day today? ”
“Yes, Daddy.”
“It looks like you practiced fencing after a long ti.”
“Yes, I think I have to start over. You must be very tired. Co on in. ”
After saying goodbye to the knights who felt sorry I had to leave, I went to the mansion with my father. He didn’t have to go to the palace today, and he had just returned after welcoming back the crown prince who arrived in the capital.
Yes, today was the day he returned to the capital.
“You ca back early today, Daddy?”
“Well, If I hadn’t t Arkint in the middle, I would have co much earlier. By the way, Tia? ”
“Yes, Daddy.”
“Arkint asked how much you have learned with respect to your new work. He asked if you could co to his office to take over his work. He said if you didn’t mind, you could co, starting the day after tomorrow. ”
Ti really passed so fast. It looked like yesterday when I decided to join the 1st Knights Division as an aide to Duke Lars when spring ca, but it was already almost one year since I made that decision. Today is the 3rd day of the last month of the year. Next month would bring in a new year.
“Sure, I will co to his office the day after tomorrow.”
“Good. By the way, the crown prince has sent you a ssage”
“…His Majesty? ”
“Well, like he said the other day, he wanted to see you at the crown prince’s palace in the afternoon the day after tomorrow.”
“Ah… ”
I recalled a colorful letter paper sprinkled with gold pearls on a blue background that I received from the crown prince the other day. I rembered its contents, too.
When I thought of facing him again, I felt gloomy suddenly. With a sigh, I nodded to my father, who looked at nervously. As I can’t disobey the crown prince’s order, I had to go see him the day after tomorrow.
Two days later, I headed for the Imperial Palace after telling my father about my visit.
As my father and Duke Lars went to work every other day, they rarely t at the palace unless they made an appointnt. That ant I had little chance of bumping into my father.
‘It looks like I have no occasion to et my father during the day.’
I sighed, feeling regret about it. Although I couldn’t rely on his protection forever, I still felt a bit sad when I thought about it.
When I entered the crown prince’s palace, a servant who appeared to belong to the Central Palace ca to and asked, “Are you Lady Monique?”
“Yes. What is going on? ”
“His Majesty wants to see you.”
“Got it. Can you escort to him?”
I called the chief attendant of the crown prince’s palace and told him that I would be late because I was on my way to see the emperor at his request. I walked after the chief attendant.
There was another man in the eting room of the Central Palace. When I stepped in, the emperor, who was drinking tea with Duke Lars, turned to . I leaned slowly towards the emperor, who smiled at nicely.
“I, Aristia La Monique, am honored to see Your Majesty, the sun of the empire.”
“Co on in. In fact, I heard from Duke Lars that you would serve as his deputy as of today.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Good. In the end, did you decide to succeed the Monique family? ” The emperor asked bitterly.
He continued, “If you look at your father’s character, he will never remarry. In that respect, your succession is not that bad…”
“That’s right, Your Majesty,” Duke Lars seconded.
“Hey, Duke Lars, are you coveting her, too? Well, I hear your son has a close relationship with her. Did you say he stayed with her at the estate of the Monique family for half a year? ”
“Well, I understand you already approved it. To be honest with you, I’m interested in having her as my daughter-in-law, too, but I don’t think Duke Veria will sit on his hands.”
“That ‘s right. If I had not picked her as Rube’s fiancee, he would have declared that he would have her marry his son and stay with his daughter-in-law for the rest of his life. I could bet my whole fortune on it,” the emperor said with a hearty laugh. Duke Lars also laughed.
“By the way, why did you co here in ceremonial dress, not uniform? Didn’t you say you ca here to take over his deputy’s work?”
“Well, as I was pressed for ti, my uniform has not yet been made. And I ca at the crown prince’s order…”
“Really? Did Rube call you?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“When did he call you? I don’t think I’ve heard that. ”
The emperor asked curiously, looking at .
“Well, so ti ago when he was returning from an inspection journey, he sent a letter asking to see at his palace.”
“Oh, I see. Now, I understand what happened. ”
His face was full of a warm smile. I swallowed a sigh deep down. In fact, the emperor used to arrange etings for and the crown prince to et on purpose. In that respect, I could understand why the emperor was so happy to hear that the crown prince took the initiative to et .
As expected, the emperor said with a very satisfied expression, “Then I should let you go now. I was going to ask you whether you would be willing to think twice about the deputy position, but as the two dukes were vehently opposed to my idea, let give up. You can leave now.”
“Thanks for your consideration, Your Majesty. Then, I will leave now.”
“I’ll let you go today, but if you ever change your mind, co visit any ti.”
“… ”
“You can leave now. Have a good ti. ”
After saying goodbye to the emperor, I left the eting room and headed for the crown prince’s palace. It seed a bit far from the Central Palace, so I walked back and soon arrived at the entrance. A chief chamberlain who oversaw the palace affairs bowed to politely. Maybe he was waiting for .
“Welco, Lady Monique. I will escort you.”
While walking down the hall, escorted by the chief chamberlain, I looked around the inside of the palace again. I’ve never been to this place before because he always avoided as the crown prince. Even when I entered the palace as the queen after he beca the emperor, I only visited the Central Palace only a few tis.
But now, as soone who was back from the past, I was walking in the hallway of his palace at his order. If he had invited in the past, I would have been very happy, but I didn’t feel happy at all now. I was just nervous why he went to the trouble of sending a letter asking to see him.
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