The Eldest Daughter Walks Down The Flower Path - Chapter 101

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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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The Eldest Daughter Walks the Path of Flowers Episode 101

He seemed deeply anxious about giving up presiding over the ceremony.

Olivier soothed him with a calm tone.

“Your Highness, Her Majesty the Empress loves you deeply. Even if she becomes angry, it won’t last long.”

“Yes, that must be it.”

Charle scratched his cheek.

“Sometimes I’m disappointed in myself too. How wonderful it would be if I could recite prayers fluently like you. But whenever I stand before that cantankerous High Priest, my tongue freezes. Moreover, that old man always subtly changes the content of the questions and answers. He must harbor resentment against me…”

Olivier spoke in a gentle tone.

“Your Highness, haven’t I told you many times? The sun doesn’t know how to plow fields, but its mere existence ripens the grain. Likewise, one who ascends to the throne is an excessive blessing to the Empire through their existence alone.”

At his words, a smile slowly appeared on Charle’s face.

Charle cleared his throat and said.

“Yes, that must be so. But brother, at times like this, I cannot help but realize my shortcomings. That’s what makes me anxious.”

“Your Highness must not forget that you have countless loyal subjects who exist to ease your worries. Shadows do not suit the sun. Please cast away your troubles.”

Olivier added with a slight twist of his lips.

“Brother.”

At his words, all worry finally disappeared from Charle’s face and a bright smile appeared.

Having set down his worries, Charle patted Olivier’s shoulder.

“You’re right. More than that, you must be tired from the long journey and exhausted from presiding over the ceremony. I’ve prepared a modest banquet – would you be able to attend?”

“Brother, being with you is this younger brother’s greatest rest.”

Charle laughed heartily.

“Olivier! You and mother are the only people I truly love in this world.”

At his words, a smile sharp as a blade appeared on Olivier’s lips.

“I feel the same way. Without Her Majesty the Empress and you, brother, how could I have continued breathing and living?”

Just then, a terrible stench wafted from somewhere.

Charle grimaced and covered his nose.

“What is this smell?”

Olivier looked outside the window where the smoke was drifting from.

Outside the Grand Shrine, commoners were slaughtering and burning calves they had brought.

Amid the billowing gray smoke, those absorbed in the ritual were singing songs offered to the God of the River Asel and performing strange dances.

In Charle’s eyes as he watched that bizarre scene, undeniable fear was flickering.

Watching such a Charle, Olivier opened his mouth.

“Your Highness, when you ascend to the throne, you won’t need to see such sights. I will clean up these troublesome and dirty matters for you with these two hands.”

At his words, Charle’s elongated jaw trembled.

He was deeply moved by this beautiful half-brother who claimed to be his loyal subject.

Empowered by Olivier’s sweet words, Charle was able to steady his trembling legs and take steps again.

He sent Olivier a smile filled with deep trust and said.

“Olivier, sometimes I think you understand me better than the mother who gave birth to me.”

At his words, Olivier stopped walking.

He looked at the Sacred Brazier burning brightly in the center of the Grand Shrine and opened his mouth.

“Brother, I could even swear before that sacred flame that I will never betray you.”

At his words, Charle trembled as if struck by a whip on his back.

“Olivier…”

Watching Charle whose eyes reddened as if he might shed tears, Olivier’s lips twisted upward.

He had no need to betray Charle.

With this foolish half-brother of his, there truly was no need for such a thing.

Charle, the only legitimate heir of the current Emperor and Empress, was one who had been born already wearing the emperor’s crown on his head.

While Olivier had grown up like weeds taking root in the shadows, abandoned in a neglected palace, Charle had grown up surrounded by silk and fur, expensive perfumes.

Charle used seals that only the Emperor’s heir could use, and his regalia and ornaments were the most splendid after those of the Emperor and Empress.

The Iszad Party nobles poured bribes to win his favor.

Charle had taken mistresses at twelve, and now had five dazzlingly beautiful mistresses.

The nobles offered bribes to Charle’s mistresses just as they did to the Emperor’s concubines.

Having tasted the sweet first bite of power, the mistresses were already competing for hierarchy while eyeing the Empress position.

To them, Charle ascending to the throne was already a foregone conclusion.

Fortunately for him, he had no brothers worth competing with for the throne.

“Gabriel, that fellow seems to be causing trouble again.”

Drinking strong liquor to wash away the grease from the imperial cuisine, Charle said.

“He’s apparently taking a hard line, demanding that the Sier Family hand over their land on Belet Street, saying he wants to construct a building.”

“Is that so?”

“Telling them to sell their land! And they’re not even fallen nobles. This is a matter of honor!”

Olivier nodded while wiping his lips with a napkin.

“Your Highness is correct.”

“I’d like to side with the Sier Family. Whatever Gabriel does is bound to be insignificant anyway. He’ll probably want to build another boring academic hall or relief center, and I’m just worried it might harm the aesthetics of a street with tradition and formality.”

Olivier took a sip of wine while hiding his ambiguous expression.

The 2nd Prince Gabriel was a man who knew his position quite well.

In the Imperial Court that prioritized bloodline above all else, the probability of him ascending to the throne with his lowborn mother was virtually nonexistent.

Therefore, no noble faction particularly sought to pledge loyalty to him.

Knowing this fact well, Gabriel walked the middle path without belonging to any faction or making enemies, gathering public support by working for the relief of the Empire’s citizens.

In that regard, his current move could be considered quite radical.

The Sier Family was one of the major families of the Iszad Party and also a family that fanatically supported the 1st Prince.

‘The Emperor?’

Olivier fell into thought while admiring the beautiful color of wine clinging thickly to the crystal glass walls.

‘If Gabriel is taking such a hard line, the Emperor’s influence might be behind it. The Emperor does use Gabriel in such ways, after all.’

Just then, someone’s voice was heard from outside the open door.

Soon a maid came running and whispered something in Charle’s ear.

Charle flinched and muttered.

“Jojot?”

Charle rolled his large eyes around as if unsure what to do, then looked at Olivier.

Inwardly finding Charle pathetic for being unable to decide even such a thing and passing the decision to him, Olivier nodded slightly.

“Your Highness, I’m fine with it.”

“Then… tell her to come in.”

Shortly after, a woman with long flowing golden-brown hair wearing a light blue dress with a deeply cut neckline walked into the banquet hall.

She gave an elegant greeting according to proper imperial etiquette and said.

“I greet His Highness the 1st Prince and His Highness the 3rd Prince.”

Charle nodded hesitantly.

“Jojot. Sit down for now.”

“I’m grateful for your consideration, Your Highness the 1st Prince.”

She was Elizabeth Russel, a candidate for Charle’s princess consort.

She was the beloved daughter of Duke Russel, one of the five Grand Dukes, and had deep connections with the princes having frequented the Imperial Court as a companion to the princes and princesses since childhood.

As such, her behavior was flawless like that of an experienced noblewoman.

“Your Highness the 1st Prince, you didn’t attend the ceremony again today.”

However, when she revealed her emotions like this, Olivier realized that she still retained traces of that spirited girl he had seen in childhood.

Charle shrank his shoulders.

“I wasn’t feeling well.”

Anger filled Elizabeth’s fresh light green eyes.

She glanced at the glass of strong liquor placed in front of Charle, then turned her head to look at Olivier.

“Your Highness the 3rd Prince, while brotherly affection is a joyful thing, presiding over ceremonies is His Highness the 1st Prince’s duty.”

Moving her seductive yet somehow still innocent plump lips, Elizabeth continued speaking clearly.

“If this matter reaches His Majesty the Emperor’s ears again, His Majesty will surely be disappointed.”

“Elizabeth!”

Charle flared up in anger.

“Didn’t I tell you that my body was unwell!”

“If Your Highness’s body is unwell, it must be because of that alcohol.”

“Ah, enough already!”

Charle irritably waved his hand dismissively.

“Elizabeth, if you don’t want me to increase my mistresses any further, then stop it now! You’re acting like my mother!”

At Charle’s words, Elizabeth’s lips trembled.

However, she neither got angry like Charle nor stormed out of the room.

She simply kept her eyes downcast and remained in place.

Even though he had experienced this dozens of times, Charle was at a loss and fidgeted restlessly.

In front of them, Olivier slowly enjoyed his meal as if he had heard and seen nothing.

After a long while, Charle, unable to bear the silence, spoke up.

“…I was too harsh with my words.”

Elizabeth responded with a subtle attitude befitting his half-hearted apology.

She turned her head slightly, nodded just a little—barely enough to be noticeable—then rose from her seat.

“Hah…”

After she left, Charle sighed while pressing his brow.

“I’ve made Jojot sad again.”

Olivier wiped his lips before speaking.

“Brother, Lady Ruswell is a woman who loves you deeply.”

“I know that too. But look at what Jojot says. Aren’t those words meant to provoke my temper?”

Olivier soothed him with a gentle tone.

“Lady Ruswell is still young. She simply hasn’t yet realized that the person before her is the future Emperor. Rather, she’s treating you as the arranged fiancé she’s grown up with since childhood.”

Charle let out a nervous laugh.

“You’re right. Elizabeth treats me like an ordinary man. Brother, I’m truly not certain whether I should place Jojot on the Empress’s throne.”

Instead of answering, Olivier offered Charle another glass of liquor.

Charle had as many as five mistresses, but he still had no official wife.

This was because Empress Adrianne had not yet made that decision.

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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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