The Emperor Who Was Chapter 18 : Chapter 18

Chapter .18

During banquets, the Empress sits beside the Emperor, but not in the Audience Chamber.

Even so, since all three had the right to sit in front of the Emperor even if it wasn't a banquet, they could have just sat in the prepared seats.

However, the Empress and the Third Prince went and stood on the Emperor's right, and the First Prince on the left.

To give up even the rights of a direct royal just because they were so conscious of , whom they usually ignored.

'What a grand welco.'

Seeing the four mbers of the Imperial imdiate family gathered except for , it was unexpectedly harmonious.

A father and son with black hair and blue eyes, a mother and son with blond hair and green eyes. A modestly dressed husband and a splendorously dressed wife, a beautiful and arrogant couple worthy of being monarchs, and brothers resembling them.

I, resembling my Mother with black hair and blue-gray eyes, felt isolated alone. An impression everyone would share.

It was a scene directed together by the First Prince's faction and the Empress's faction, aiming precisely at that point.

"His Imperial Highness Prince Leontes will have the audience first."

The Chamberlain said.

I was the only one having an audience today, and those gathered here were spectators, not other audience mbers. However, the Chamberlain implied that I was just the first, not having a sole audience.

Just like when he announced the entrance of the Empress and the First Prince, he was bribed more than a little. The Chamberlain who could touch the Emperor's body, no less.

'Is it proof that the Emperor's faction's standing is not what it used to be, or......'

It might be an intention to curry favor with the Father Emperor who dislikes , while also taking bribes.

The other three factions spread the word that the Father Emperor hated

the most among his children, but neither the Emperor's faction nor I myself objected to it.

"Father, have you been well?"

I went forward and bowed.

Unexpectedly, I felt interest in the Father Emperor's eyes looking at . As if it were fascinating that I was still alive and wandering around, having thought I would follow my mother to death at three months old.

"Leontes, you have grown a lot. You look good."

It was as if he was seeing

for the first ti since I was a baby. And to say I look good.

Although I am drinking the magic potion Goldmund obtains, my body, having overdosed on Lasilex, has not fully healed yet. There were tis I was dizzy due to anemia. Even though I must look too pale, the Father Emperor spoke empty words without hesitation.

"Oh, with skin so white and transparent that blue veins show through, his deanor is elegant. Although he is too thin compared to the First Prince."

"He is handso, though shorter than his younger brother."

"He is surprisingly a handso man. It is just that the other Princes are so outstanding that he was compared. The choice of clothes lacking sense is also regrettable."

As soon as the Emperor finished speaking, whispers arose again. Pretending to praise

to extol those they supported. To pretend to be nice to , to pretend to be good.

Before the regression, I thought I should be good to them out of gratitude even for that. Not knowing myself and not knowing the enemy, I didn't even know what was right and what was wrong.

anwhile, Empress Rhiannon looked at her niece. Because I bowed to the Emperor in the Armatia style.

She didn't glare. She just looked as if Cecile had two noses.

'Impressive expressiveness, indeed the Empress.'

The mont Cecile's face turned pale, I bowed to the Empress. With a curtsy, the bow of Roncer.

People looked at

in surprise, but I didn't care. Because I had sothing to rely on.

"How can you bow differently to Mother than to Father? It is insolent, Brother!"

It was my half-brother Desmond.

Unlike

or the First Prince, far from losing his mother young, he grew up pampered, so his blood boiled over.

"That is the bow won offer to royals in Roncer. For you, a man, to do such a bow, are you not ashad?"

The Second Prince receiving a stern rebuke from his younger half-brother in front of everyone. It was a good composition.

"Prince Desmond is correct. To use a different greeting thod is too unnatural."

"He is rude to Her Majesty the Empress."

"Indeed... one cannot help the signs of being uneducated, it is a pity."

"Is he not a pitiful Prince without a mother? Since he is soone who did not receive even His Majesty the Emperor's attention, we should look kindly on him."

People giggled.

Because the Emperor left it alone without even frowning.

Before the regression, every ti this happened, everything went dark before my eyes. I wanted to die, but I just couldn't because I thought everyone would laugh even louder.

But having experienced death, it was all aningless. Rather, I listened carefully to their laughter. Until it grew louder and louder, uncontrollable.

The Empress looked proud, but Maximilian looked angry. Because Desmond attacked

and succeeded before he did.

Realizing only now that he had beco the background for the Empress's faction; I thought that cold-hearted brother was still young now.

"Desmond, my brother."

When I called him, the youngest one frowned.

" according to your words, if an Armatia woman told an Armatia Prince that the bow of a Roncer woman was etiquette, that would also be a problem."

The atmosphere froze. Because I implied that Cecile colluded with Roncer.

"Stop, stop it!"

The Empress raised her voice.

"What are you doing in front of His Majesty the Emperor? Do not cause a commotion and keep the dignity befitting a Prince of Armatia."

It was the Empress's common tactic. Staying still when others attacked , but when I protested, telling us to stop, suppressing

with authority.

In my previous life, I could only tear up while suffering helplessly.

The Empress even cast a gentle look at .

"How could I not understand the feelings of a child who lost his mother? Also, the fact that you bowed like that only to

reveals your pure heart treating

as the mother you miss so much, so it is exceedingly lovely. Although it was regrettable that you were not bright about worldly affairs, your sincerity is comndable, so I gladly forgive you."

Indeed, a seasoned politician.

Maximilian's gaze now contained pure killing intent like a blade. Because of , the Empress ntioned our mother as a mother, and I openly committed the unfilial act of serving my mother's enemy as a mother in front of people.

Because of that, the theory that Rhiannon poisoned my mother, which the First Prince's faction had been steadily pushing, took a hit.

"But, Mother!"

At that mont, the good boy who got angry for his mom expressed dissatisfaction when his mom forgave easily.

But the boy's mom, who had smiled at the boy's half-brother, spoke strictly to the boy.

"Prince Desmond, have I not always taught you? Show tolerance befitting a Prince."

"Yes, I understand. I apologize for causing concern, Mother."

Then Desmond bowed his head, though looking resentful.

Then the briefly frozen atmosphere relaxed imdiately.

"As expected of Her Majesty the Empress."

"Indeed... how elegant she is..."

Indeed. In the past, I was moved to tears thinking she cared for

despite everything.

Since then, I believed whatever the Empress said unconditionally.

"How mature Prince Desmond is as well."

"On the other hand... Prince Leontes is......"

However, now I went my own way regardless of what those around

said.

"Your Majesty the Empress, please forgive Your Majesty's maid, not . Because that maid told

to greet Your Majesty like this, saying it was Your Majesty's will. However, seeing now that it was not Your Majesty's will at all, it is clear that the maid betrayed Your Majesty in the end."

Cecile was terrified. People turned suspicious eyes all at once.

The Empress rose to an untouchable position, but her maiden family, the Lauderdales, were not there yet.

Above all, they were receiving contempt based on jealousy for being upstarts. Because although they were an insignificant family, they rose rapidly as Rhiannon received the Father Emperor's favor.

everyone hated seeing a family that couldn't even enter the court now acting arrogantly. Outwardly currying favor with them, but inwardly dreaming of their downfall. The Lauderdale family mbers also knew this, so they flaunted their power even more ostentatiously.

If my Mother received glares for being a Princess of an enemy nation, Rhiannon also had her difficulties. Lauderdale's position could never be stable until Desmond ascended the throne.

"I am unjustly accused! Prince Leontes first told

he missed his late mother and asked

to teach him the Roncer style bow. I am only guilty of granting Your Highness's request."

Although flustered, Cecile protested skillfully befitting the Empress's niece.

"It is a lie. That maid brought

clothes embroidered with the crest of Roncer and told

to bow to Her Majesty the Empress in the Roncer style. Since this was the only outfit to show courtesy while seeing the Father Emperor, I had no choice but to wear it. Otherwise, how could I have co wearing such luxurious clothes?"

People began to whisper fervently.

"Co to think of it, Prince Leontes served plain water to the First Prince's knights, didn't he?"

"How could such a person have prepared such an outfit?"

"Indeed. He is not a nouveau riche like Lauderdale."

As the whispers spread, I continued.

"Above all, even if I miss soone, I miss my Mother; why would I ask to be taught the bow of Roncer where I haven't even been? The one actually close to Roncer would be that maid, not

who didn't even know the etiquette of that country."

Since my Mother died, Roncer was an enemy to Empress Rhiannon. Because if she beca enemies with the Father Emperor who married Rhiannon, a war would break out.

So it seed unlikely that Roncer would join hands with the Empress's maiden family.

But countless things happen where enemies share a boat or even a bed; if they can crush an upstart using this as an excuse, who cares about the truth?

People began to whisper fervently.

"For people from an insignificant family to dare mistreat a direct royal of Balaska, the state of the country is unspeakable."

"There is no need to na anyone, but vulgar people do not know how to be prudent even after rising to high positions."

If the Empress's faction made

a laughingstock of the courtiers, I had to throw them a more interesting laughingstock.

Precisely themselves. For now, starting with the Empress's entourage who are easier than the Empress.

"If that lowly bunch is acting so wildly even now, how much worse will it be later? Of course, maybe it's sothing that might not happen."

"Well, for the future of Armatia, that side would be better."

The First Prince's faction and the Bastard Prince's faction wagged their tongues excitedly, talking about how much Lauderdale would run wild if Desmond ascended the throne. Although the bastard brother is also a descendant of the Lauderdale family, his relationship with them is no better than with

or my real brother.

"...Indeed, it was a bit suspicious. Prince Leontes isn't a fool; there's no way he would do such a thing."

It was worth the effort to look like a fool only to the Empress's faction.

"That is correct. To drive him into a corner for sothing he was forced to do."

The First Prince's faction was now even defending . Because they are not courtiers if they cannot enjoy dragging down the strongest competitor using the weakest competitor.

"...Prince Leontes, is what you just said true?"

The Empress asked coldly.

"How would a Prince of Armatia lie to the Empress of Armatia? If there is anyone who says otherwise, they must be a Roncerian. Since Roncer's reach might have extended to Your Majesty's favorite subject, I am truly worried about Your Majesty's safety. I advise you to be careful."

Since she told

to think of her as a real mother, I repaid her with loyal advice.

"...Cecile."

The Empress no longer suppressed her anger.

"Your Majesty, I truly did not do wrong―"

"Yes, how can you be so rude! You dared to offend the Prince of Armatia, so as the Empress of Armatia, I cannot forgive you. You deserve to die!"

When the Empress shouted, Cecile imdiately knelt on both knees.

"I apologize. For daring to offend Prince Leontes, I deserve to die."