Chapter 223. Don’t Leave Me (2)

Translator: Aura / Editor: Maybe

The day after Duke Elgy’s visit, Rashta made a resolute decision and called Baron Lant.

Once he came, she asked unfalteringly, “When Rashta was a concubine, Baron Lant managed the money. Do you remember?”

Baron Lant immediately replied, “Of course. I am still in charge of managing the money, Your Majesty.”

Baron Lant showed a worried expression as he spoke. He could imagine for what purpose Rashta mentioned this.

‘She wants to manage the money on her own…’

As expected, Rashta broached the subject.

“Now Rashta has become the Empress. I may look young, but I’m all grown up. Besides, I’ve been studying hard.”

“Your Majesty.”

“Now I want to manage it on my own. It’s a natural right as an empress.”

Baron Lant replied with an awkward smile, “But Your Majesty, the Emperor’s approval is needed first.”

“What do you mean, the Emperor’s approval is needed?”

Rashta got angry.

“Matters related to the Imperial Palace’s budget are not under the Emperor’s authority, but under Rashta’s authority. So His Majesty’s approval is not necessary.”

“That is true.”

“Then return the authority to Rashta now, Baron Lant.”

“I am sorry, Your Majesty. It is the Emperor who has the final say in this.”

“!”

When he noticed that Rashta was really surprised, Baron Lant said in a slightly embarrassed manner, “Managing money is a terrible headache. Your Majesty won’t find it any fun at all.”

“I haven’t done it yet, so I don’t know if it’s fun or not…”

“But currently you can use the money as you wish, Your Majesty.”

“Rashta wants to manage it all on her own.”

At Rashta’s determined words, Baron Lant said with an awkward smile, “Alright, I’ll ask His Majesty the Emperor directly about it.”

***

A week before the wedding, the distinguished guests began to arrive. However, being the bride I was not there to welcome them.

Of course, even though this left me with free time, I still had a lot of studying to do. But occasionally, when I heard loud laughter in the surroundings, I couldn’t stop my heart from pounding.

The wedding.

After the wedding… I will truly become the Queen of the Western Kingdom.

Although I was already the Queen, from then on I could help Heinley by fulfilling my duties as one.

However, there was a part of me that was worried.

The wedding night…

Although I had previous experience, it wouldn’t do much good in this case.

Suddenly, I was embarrassed when what happened on the wedding night came vividly to my mind.

‘Will I be able to look Heinley straight in the eye after the wedding night?’

Just thinking about it made my face warm.

Besides, he…

“Your Majesty? Your face is very red. Do you have a fever?”

Hearing Laura’s question, I hastily closed the book. It was absurd, but I was ashamed at the possibility that Laura had noticed my thoughts.

“It’s a little warm in the room.”

Deliberately getting up from my seat, I went to the window and opened it wide.

Laura followed me and tilted her head as she continued to talk.

“It’s a beautiful day. Hopefully, it will be like that on the wedding day.”

“Yes.”

“All will be well now, won’t it?”

“Of course.”

“Yesterday, Miss Mullaney sent a flowerpot, and Duchess Tuania, no, Lady Nian, made her way into high society.”

Hearing Laura’s words, I glanced at the ageratum flowerpot on the desk. That was the flowerpot Miss Mullaney had sent with the butler yesterday, full of light purple flowers.

This was her answer— Trust.

She accepted my offer to ally with us in secret.

Besides, as Laura said, Nian also got into the high society of the Western Kingdom safely, or rather, forcefully.

She did not deny the rumors surrounding her in the Eastern Empire. On the contrary, she took advantage of them to become the main topic of conversation, receiving invitations to parties from far and wide.

She also openly used her ‘femme fatal’ image instead of hiding it. Taking advantage of it, she attended the parties with the rumored Viscount Langdel on her right and young nobles of the Western Kingdom on her left.

Regarding this, Rose expressed the following, “the nobles of the Western Kingdom were completely stunned at the appearance of this bold lady.”

Will all really be well?

Will Sovieshu come to the wedding? Rashta too? I just hope my parents will come.

Come to think of it… Sovieshu acted strangely.

Why did Sovieshu tell me that?

— Come back.

I became the first empress to remarry, did he think I wanted to become the first empress to remarry twice?

Besides, why did he want me to come back?

He loves Rashta and even married her, right? Along with that, they will have a child in a few months.

At the time it seemed ridiculous, so I simply replied, ‘no’. Now, I was really curious to know what went through his mind.

I thought I knew Sovieshu well, but now I couldn’t even imagine his reasons.

Thinking about it made me feel uneasy, so I backed away from the window.

“I need some fresh air.”

“Why not prepare something to eat? We can have a picnic, Your Majesty!”

“Should we?”

I wouldn’t have time for this after the wedding. When I finally agreed with a smile, Laura excitedly ran to Rose.

“Let’s pack lunch so we can go have some fun!”

We left with a basket containing white bread, cheese, three kinds of sandwiches, and fruit juice.

We were going to a sunny spot near the detached palace to eat and hang out. But we had to stop suddenly. One person had arrived there first.

It was Grand Duke Kapmen.

“Grand Duke.”

When I called out to him in a low voice, he turned his head in surprise. Grand Duke Kapmen stood up hastily and put the locket in his hand around his neck.

Then he tucked the end of the locket inside his clothes and greeted me with a stiff smile.

“We meet again.”

“That’s because I’m staying here.”

“Here?”

Grand Duke Kapmen frowned and looked at the detached palace in the distance.

“That’s the queen’s palace? It looks a little small.”

“I stay there temporarily until the wedding day.”

“Ahh,” Grand Duke Kapmen nodded and murmured awkwardly.

“I have been around here since I came to the Western Kingdom without knowing that, so we crossed paths again,” Grand Duke Kapmen said with a smile, looking surprised.

But soon his ears began to turn red. His rationality was tinged again by the effects of the potion.

“But that’s fine. At least I got to see you like this.”

Thud! I purposely dropped the basket in my hands to the ground.

Grand Duke Kapmen looked puzzled.

Pretending it had been an oversight, I looked at the basket and asked the ladies-in-waiting,

All the food has gone bad. Could you prepare more?”

Although my ladies-in-waiting looked at each other, they quickly left with the basket.

As they walked away, the faint sound of their footsteps on the grass could be heard.

Only after we were completely alone, I asked Grand Duke Kapmen, “You still haven’t counteracted the effects of the potion?”

“It’s not that I don’t want to counteract the effects of the potion.”

“!”

“I just can’t do it.”

Grand Duke Kapmen muttered some barely comprehensible words. He looked annoyed, probably misunderstanding my words.

But immediately after controlling his expression, he asked me dryly, “Was it Heinley who invited me, or you, Navier?”

“It was me.”

“Thank you. It makes me feel very happy. …For what reason?”

Seeing Grand Duke Kapmen first whisper with a flushed face, then continue stiffly, was strange indeed.

However, I had already experienced this a few times in the Eastern Empire, so I knew somehow how the effects of the potion affected his rationality.

He used to say some nonsense and some sensible things. I replied, pretending not to be aware of his nonsense, “I invited you to make it happen the trade with Rwibt that was not possible in the Eastern Empire.”