I Married the Terminally Ill Emperor - Chapter 78
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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I Married a Terminally Ill Emperor
Chapter 78
When the communication device connected, she could see black curtains fluttering. Unlike at first, at some point the Marchioness’s face had been replaced by black curtains.
“Marchio—”
– I told you not to call me that.
“I’m sorry.”
Anastasia quickly apologized.
If she got upset and stopped sending tea, it would be a disaster.
At some point, she couldn’t sleep without drinking the Marchioness’s tea, and her mouth would dry up so she couldn’t eat anything.
By the time she realized the symptoms, it was already too late. She had become addicted to her tea.
– I’m coming in person, so will the Princess meet with me?
“Yes. I delivered the gift well too.”
Anastasia hid her hands behind her back so the diamond bracelet she was wearing wouldn’t be visible.
– Well done. Then invite the Princess to a tea party and serve her the tea I gave you. The Princess will like it too.
“I will.”
– Make sure to contact me on the day the Princess comes.
“Yes.”
When the communication device turned off, Anastasia’s eyes filled with mockery.
Serve that tea to the Princess? It was tea she even rationed for herself because she didn’t want to keep begging the Marchioness for it.
Anastasia raised her hand to look at the beautiful diamond bracelet on her wrist.
“This bracelet, and the Emperor too. They’re all mine.”
Her red-painted nails sparkled as they reflected the candlelight.
“It would be nice if I could tear that face to shreds.”
Anastasia smiled cruelly and returned to the table to smell the fragrant tea.
* * *
A light green satin dress with subtle pearls. An elaborate hairstyle pinned high to show off the gorgeous amethyst necklace.
Dahlia looked at herself in the mirror and let out a dissatisfied sigh.
“I’ll definitely attract attention going out like this.”
“It can’t be helped if you want the Former Empress’s necklace to be visible.”
Annie said while adjusting Dahlia’s hair once more from behind.
“I know.”
Dahlia sighed and looked at the amethyst necklace around her neck. Without weight reduction magic, she would have gotten a stiff neck long ago.
“Smile. That suits you, Princess.”
At Annie’s gentle advice, Dahlia smiled brightly and confidently.
As she left the Crystal Palace to attend the tea party, an unexpected figure was standing beside the carriage.
“Captain Ethan?”
“Good day, Princess. I’ve been assigned to your guard duty today.”
Dahlia blinked with a dumbfounded expression.
“Your Majesty wanted to come personally, but he’s busy with work.”
If Emperor Gray appeared at a gathering of noble ladies, would they be too surprised to properly drink their tea?
It was truly fortunate that Ethan came instead.
Just then, a carriage quickly approached the Crystal Palace.
Soon the door opened and Princess Tiara stepped down from the carriage, holding her maid’s hand.
“Princess Tiara?”
“Dahlia. Where are you going?”
The Princess looked over those standing in front of the carriage.
“I’m on my way to attend Lady Yofron’s tea party. What brings you here without notice, Princess Tiara?”
“Lady Yofron? You’re going there?”
Princess Tiara narrowed her eyes and fell into deep thought.
“Why?”
“I heard a strange rumor.”
“Another rumor?”
Dahlia swallowed a sigh. Though they were rumors she had intended, they were still tiresome.
“Do you know what rumor it is?”
“I’d like to know, but I should get going to the tea party. It would have been nice if you’d contacted me in advance.”
“I’m coming with you.”
When Dahlia spoke with a regretful expression, the Princess lifted her chin.
“Did you receive an invitation to the tea party too, Princess Tiara?”
“No.”
Dahlia smiled awkwardly at her confident attitude.
“Then wouldn’t that be difficult?”
“Hmph. Who would dare stop me? Lead the way.”
Dahlia looked around with an expression wondering if this was okay.
Annie nodded as if it was fine.
“Going with an uninvited Princess might make the tea party end early.”
“I’ll end it quickly anyway, so don’t give hints like you want me to throw a tantrum.”
Princess Tiara looked at Annie with an expression of displeasure.
Annie innocently blinked her eyes.
“Dahlia, just trust me.”
Dahlia couldn’t bring herself to answer the Princess’s words and awkwardly raised the corners of her mouth.
* * *
“Welcome, Princess Dahlia. And… I didn’t expect Captain Ethan and Princess to come as well…”
Lady Yofron trailed off as she saw the group entering with Dahlia.
“You didn’t send me an invitation.”
When Tiara spoke confidently, Lady Yofron smiled gently with her eyes.
“I sent one before, but you declined, so I stopped sending them.”
“I didn’t want to come then, but I want to come now. Think of it as me coming with that invitation from before. You can make one more seat, right?”
At Princess Tiara’s arrogant request, Lady Yofron’s lips trembled slightly.
“Of course. Welcome, Your Highness.”
Princess Tiara gave Dahlia a triumphant look.
Dahlia suppressed her laughter inwardly and nodded slightly.
Following Lady Yofron’s guidance to the back garden, many young ladies were already seated.
“Everyone, please welcome Princess Tiara and Princess Dahlia.”
Lady Yofron introduced the two.
“We greet Your Highness and Princess.”
The greeting ladies showed fearful looks toward Princess Tiara and blatant interest toward Dahlia. Their gazes were mixed with envy, anger, and curiosity.
“You two can sit here.”
Lady Yofron pointed to the seats on either side of her.
Princess Tiara looked around the seats and bluntly said,
“No. I’m going to sit next to Dahlia.”
Lady Yofron’s red lips trembled once again.
“Since we forcibly made a seat for Your Imperial Highness, I would be grateful if you could follow my opinion as the host.”
At those words, Princess Tiara looked down intently at the noble lady sitting next to Dahlia.
“Do you really have to sit there?”
“Pardon? That’s…”
“Lady Tiara, please don’t do that.”
Dahlia looked at the lady beside her with an apologetic expression.
Meanwhile, the lady alternately glanced between Princess Tiara and Lady Yofron.
Princess Tiara’s gaze grew increasingly cold.
‘S-surely she didn’t notice?’
The lady, who had heard about Princess Tiara’s usual rough personality, trembled.
Unable to withstand the pressure any longer, she rose from her seat.
“I, I have a headache… I’ll take my leave now, Lady Yofron.”
The lady hurriedly left the Back Garden without waiting for a response.
“A seat opened up?”
Princess Tiara sat down in the empty seat with a haughty expression, dusted off Dahlia’s seat with her handkerchief, and pointed to it.
“Dahlia, you sit too.”
Dahlia sat quietly beside the Princess, not wanting to attract any more attention.
Annie, who had been watching from behind, cheered for Princess Tiara for the first time.
She had seen the lady who was just driven away place wet red flower petals on the Princess’s seat.
If she had sat there as planned, red water would have stained her dress around the hips.
Before she could clean it up herself, Princess Tiara had stepped in, so she could just watch.
“Princess Dahlia. Is that necklace really the 5th Empress’s necklace?”
One lady asked with eyes full of curiosity.
“Yes. His Majesty the Emperor gave it to me as a gift.”
Dahlia nodded with a bright smile.
“I heard that necklace can only be worn by the Empress.”
“I heard that too.”
Dahlia deliberately agreed while picking up her teacup.
“Could it be that His Majesty proposed to you, Princess?”
“I haven’t received one yet.”
Yet. Wasn’t that nuance suggesting she would receive one soon?
The whispering among the ladies grew louder.
Watching this, Anastasia hid her trembling hands under the table to suppress her anger.
Princess Tiara’s sudden appearance had disrupted her planned scheme.
The lady who was supposed to sit beside her and subtly humiliate the Princess had fled under Princess Tiara’s pressure.
Behind them, Captain of the Guard Ethan, who used to guard only His Majesty the Emperor, had come as the Princess’s escort to protect her.
And she had boldly worn the necklace that only the Empress could wear.
Heat flared in Anastasia’s eyes. Her long nails dug into her palms.
She wanted to tear apart that innocent face of the Princess.
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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