The Former Empress Roughly Hides Her Abilities - Chapter 147
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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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【Chapter 147】
The Imperial Palace did not put the same effort into every national event.
Most were held regularly without much significance.
A prime example was the Emperor’s birthday celebration ball.
On the other hand, an event that was both uncommon and highly important was the Emperor’s royal wedding.
‘The Empress must be someone who can govern the state on behalf of the Emperor in times of crisis.’
As an event that granted such authority, considerable time and expense were invested.
This included decorating the Central Hall where the royal wedding would be held, as well as renovating the palace where the Empress would reside, with the latter being particularly important.
‘The Empress typically remains in that palace until her death unless there are special circumstances.’
As such, it would naturally be decorated according to the prospective Empress’s wishes.
“What do you think?”
The Emperor was asking not Yuna, but Rianel, whom he had summoned.
Rianel looked since she was told to look.
The Central Hall and Imperial Palace were decorated in a similar atmosphere.
They maximized the feeling of age to leave a classical impression while trying to achieve efficiency with a low budget.
Looking at the places decorated in the same style as when Ensilen became Empress, she felt doubt rather than nostalgia.
‘Why is he showing me this?’
Did it mean he would minimize finances and effort for this royal wedding by reusing decorations from the Former Empress’s time?
‘…Or does he have some other intention.’
Though she didn’t know what the Emperor’s true intentions were.
‘Isn’t it rather outdated?’
Ensilen had been Empress for 5 years, and it had already been nearly 4 years since her death.
So the Emperor was essentially reusing a style from 10 years ago.
Moreover, nobles who had attended Ensilen’s wedding remained. There was sufficient possibility they would recall ‘that day’ upon seeing this wedding’s familiar decorations.
But since she couldn’t point this out, Rianel gave a vague response.
“I don’t believe this is a matter for someone in my position to comment on. It would be appropriate to prioritize the wishes of the person who will become Empress regarding the interior decorations.”
As this would be the first event held after becoming Empress, the nobles would try to gauge the new Empress’s capabilities through it.
So naturally they should ask Yuna.
“I asked for your opinion.”
Perhaps because it was a cloudless day, the Emperor’s gaze fixed on Rianel was particularly clear.
Like sunlight piercing the skin, the gazes of maids pretending not to watch this place were equally piercing.
Rianel thought for a few more seconds before speaking.
“It appears to be an approach that directly reflects Imperial history, allowing one to feel a classical atmosphere unrelated to trends.”
Though she packaged it nicely, it essentially meant bringing back an outdated style.
“There must be reasons why classics are passed down through long ages. I believe it’s because the profound principles contained within have satisfied people for a long time.”
‘If you’re going to force a predetermined answer, why ask the question?’
Rianel swallowed the words that rose to her throat.
“Let’s walk a bit.”
Instead of saying she could leave, the Emperor said that. Rianel had no choice but to follow him down the Imperial Palace corridor.
As she traced forgotten places one by one, gauging what had changed from her memories.
The Emperor walking ahead stopped.
Lost in thought, Rianel took another half step before awkwardly regaining her balance.
“I came here last week as well.”
“…”
“Looking at this place, someone came to mind.”
‘Damn?’
“Someone not flashy but with a clear presence, who still lives in the Empire’s people’s memories.”
The Emperor turned around and walked back toward Rianel.
Unable to retreat, she only slightly bowed her head.
“However.”
The Emperor grabbed Rianel’s arm.
His gaze was directed at her fingers.
It was the ring she shared with Asil.
“Did you have something like this?”
When she remained silent, unable to understand his intention, the Emperor continued as if grumbling.
“I thought you had no interest in accessories until now.”
He meant wasn’t she someone who didn’t usually dress up.
“The salary I receive as a civil servant is not generous, so I have neglected adorning my appearance.”
Rianel was not someone who disliked money or jewelry.
She simply considered spending too much time on personal grooming inefficient.
The Emperor stood blankly for a moment, then burst into hearty laughter.
“Yes, there’s much I don’t know about the Princess.”
“I believe it’s perfectly natural that His Majesty would not take interest in a mere civil servant.”
Even when she was Empress, he wasn’t a man who carefully observed preferences.
“Are you perhaps resentful toward me…”
Just as the Emperor’s nonsense was about to continue.
“There you are, Your Majesty.”
A high voice came from behind.
A woman who squeezed between the two people pulled the Emperor’s arm and linked arms with him.
It was Yuna.
She who had been bedridden just an hour ago had been properly dressed up by the maids’ hands.
“Did you wait long?”
“Not particularly.”
Rianel saw the Emperor’s nose bridge furrow briefly before smoothing out.
However, that didn’t seem important to the Saint. She continued speaking without concern.
“The Imperial Palace decoration is finally finished? The maids must have worked hard.”
“It’s about bringing a mistress into the Imperial Palace. The maids would also welcome their new master and willingly endure the hardship.”
“Your Majesty, really. The maids will gossip behind your back if you say such things.”
Rianel read the atmosphere and prepared to tactfully withdraw.
“Since you two seem to have much to discuss, may I withdraw if you permit?”
Yuna wouldn’t miss the opportunity to separate Rianel from the Emperor.
“We cannot detain someone who works day and night for the Empire. Please go ahead.”
Though the sharp gaze clearly issued an order to leave, it was exactly what she wanted.
“I am deeply grateful.”
Rianel quickly disappeared.
Yuna watched Rianel disappear for a while before looking up at the Emperor again.
“Why did you try to see this vast place alone? So lonely. You should have called me.”
“Aren’t you busy?”
It was an indirect reference to her recent confinement to her room.
Yuna pretended not to know and smiled.
“I always have time for Your Majesty.”
Yuna wouldn’t have bothered coming here either if not for what the maids had told her.
[His Majesty went to inspect the Central Hall and Imperial Palace?]
At first she was moved, thinking the Emperor was trying to keep his promise, but soon other suspicions followed.
Why hadn’t he informed her about this?
Looking down from the window, Yuna saw Rianel standing beside the Emperor as he entered the Main Palace’s Central Hall and her expression hardened fiercely.
[What, why with that particular woman…]
It might have been different with another woman, but because it was Rianel, it was more irritating.
‘The Emperor has only shown interest in that woman lately.’
But she couldn’t reveal those feelings outwardly.
‘I already decided to have a loveless marriage anyway.’
She didn’t want to let those around her know that the Emperor’s favor had already cooled even before she became Empress.
Fortunately, the Emperor didn’t shake off Yuna’s arm.
He walked through the corridor of the Empress’s palace as she led him, but there were no affectionate words or sweet glances.
He simply moved his steps indifferently while looking at the hall that decorated the Empress’s palace.
Yuna, who had been following the Emperor’s gaze, hesitated.
‘Come to think of it, the Emperor showed all of this space to that woman.’
The places he didn’t show me, he showed to that woman first.
She suddenly felt irritated.
‘It feels like all of these things were prepared for Rianel.’
“Um, Your Majesty.”
Yuna swallowed her annoyance and asked while lightly shaking the Emperor’s arm.
“These decorations aren’t finalized yet, are they?”
“Why do you ask?”
“The colors are rather monotonous, and the forms are also modest, which seems somewhat insufficient to announce the dignity of the Imperial Family.”
“Yes, I thought so too.”
The Emperor didn’t insist on maintaining the current decorations. For Yuna, who wanted to completely tear down and redo any place that Rianel’s gaze had touched even once, this was a welcome response.
“As expected. I knew Your Majesty wouldn’t be satisfied with it. How do you think it should be improved, Your Majesty?”
“It would be good to change it as splendidly and grandly as possible. Enough to overwhelm anyone who sets foot in the Imperial Palace.”
To the point where the ring on Rianel’s finger would look shabby.
“You have similar tastes to mine.”
“Is that so?”
The Emperor had long lost interest in her, but Yuna continued speaking on her own.
“Your Majesty is truly meticulous.”
“It’s nothing special.”
It was a space created to welcome an Empress again anyway. Then wouldn’t it be right to decorate it according to the wishes of the one who would become its owner?
* * *
The next day was a holiday.
Rianel visited the Vincenheim Mansion with Asil.
In the quiet noon, Callen and Rupert sat facing the two across a tea table.
Callen still felt awkward dealing with Rianel, but fortunately, this time there was a topic of conversation.
“I heard you had an audience with His Majesty yesterday.”
“Yes. I was summoned during work and went briefly.”
Rianel answered shortly and picked up her teacup.
Callen’s gaze, which had been watching the cup placed on the saucer at a precise angle, turned to her hand.
It was strange that she was using a different hand instead of the one she usually used.
“What happened to your hand?”
Rianel’s right wrist, which had been fine until last week, was wrapped in bandages.
“When His Majesty the Emperor grabbed my wrist, it got bruised.”
What.
Callen stood up abruptly as if pushing the table up, then leaned his body toward Rianel.
“How deep is the wound… No, more than that, why didn’t you tell us when such a thing happened?”
“It’s an injury that has already been treated. Since the wound is minor, it’s expected to heal quickly.”
It was just temporarily covered because it looked unsightly now.
“More importantly, what kind of conversation did you have that he grabbed your hand?”
“There was no special conversation, we just toured the Central Hall and the Empress’s palace together.”
“Is he really crazy? Why would he show such places to you, sister?”
It’s not like the Saint is blind, so why would he call the wrong person and make her suffer?
The title “sister” and respectful language now came naturally from Rupert’s mouth.
“I couldn’t grasp the Emperor’s exact intentions either.”
“Was there nothing else noteworthy? Any unusual circumstances?”
Callen, worried about his daughter, pulled his chair closer.
“I didn’t identify any remarkable peculiarities.”
Whenever Rianel acted like this, something significant would usually drop, so the three men each hurriedly swallowed what was in their mouths or stopped and prepared.
“However, it’s presumed that the Emperor has figured out my true identity.”
The bombshell dropped as if they had been waiting for it.
“?!??”
“…Master?”
“Ha, I knew this would happen!”
The three men were shocked simultaneously.
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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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