Chapter 58

“Mother, you seem to be in a good mood today.”

It was the day she went to say hello to Blair as part of her morning routine.

Meredith said, noticing that Blair was in a better emotional state than usual.

“Oh my, is it obvious?”

Blair said, smiling shyly.

“Because it’s His Majesty’s birthday. I’m excited every day.”

It was a completely unexpected answer.

This was when Meredith was wondering if this was some kind of ruse.

“Prince Fabian will also be attending, it’s been a while since I’ve seen him.”

“….Ah.”

Then she understood why Blair was in such a good mood.

“When did you last see His Highness the Prince?”

“At my birthday party last year. No matter how important academics are, it’s disappointing how he doesn’t show his face so much.”

Blair added, squinting.

“Of course, my dear makes up for a lot of my loneliness.”

“When the prince returns home this time, you should ask him to stay for a long time.”

“I want to do that too, but I think he’ll probably refuse with the excuse that graduation is just around the corner. I have no expectations.”

“But if he is graduating soon, he’ll be coming to Valtejain soon.”

“…..That’s right.”

At that moment, Blair slightly narrowed her eyes and quickly changed the topic.

“Besides, you’ve never seen Fabian yet, have you?”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“I’m sure you’ll like him too. He’s a sweet and kind kid. He looks just like me and is outstanding.”

“If he takes after mother, I’m sure you do….”

At that time, someone entered the drawing room without making a single sound.

Behind Blair’s back, Catarina, who had brought the tea, was seen walking with narrow steps.

“…….”

At that moment, Meredith knew it was time to put her long-held plan into action.

“But by any chance.”

And she spoke just in time Catarina started to pour her tea.

“Is His Highness the Prince also allergic to peaches?”

“Allergic to peaches? No, I don’t think so. Why all of a sudden?”

“Actually, I was planning to give His Majesty a cake filled with peaches and strawberries as a gift at his birthday banquet.”

“Oh my, my mouth is watering just hearing that.”

“But I heard recently that His Majesty has developed an allergic reaction to peaches.”

“His Majesty the Emperor? I understand that he didn’t have an allergy to peaches.”

“I learned that too during the Empress class, but it seems like it developed recently.”

“Can allergies be developed?”

“Yes. I know it’s not uncommon.”

“Then I guess we should change the ingredients in the cake.”

“Unfortunately, I instructed them to replace the peaches with oranges. It’s a pressing issue as the birthday party is just around the corner, but it’s an important issue.”

“Good idea. But I like it. Would you please prepare a peach cake for my birthday?”

“Sure. I will remember to do that, Mother.”

Meanwhile, Meredith glanced at Catarina.

‘She definitely heard the whole conversation.’

Only then did Catarina step down from her position. It was a slightly later departure than usual.

‘You took the bait well.’

Meredith had to struggle hard to keep the corners of her mouth from rising without realising it.

***

It was just as Meredith expected.

As soon as Catarina returned to her room, she gave instructions to the maid.

“Search for a servant who works in the kitchen of the empress now.”

The birthday party was approaching, but Catarina was becoming more and more anxious as she couldn’t think of a suitable way to make Meredith suffer.

‘But I can’t believe such a windfall came in!’

She felt like she received the best gift after all the headaches she had been experiencing.

‘Stupid Meredith. Even in front of Her Highness the Empress Dowager, you have to be careful of what you say! I know how the word will spread.’

Laughing at Meredith, Catarina vowed that if she became empress, she would never speak as carelessly as Meredith.

‘Just wait and see. This time, I’m going to properly humiliate you in front of everyone!’

As a bonus, it will also have the effect of worsening the relationship between Meredith and the Emperor.

When Catarina thought about what would happen in the future, she couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

***

Time passed quickly again, and it was finally Theodore’s birthday.

‘…… Really tired.’

But on that memorable day, Meredith’s condition was not very good.

This was because she couldn’t sleep at all last night because of the final work on Theodore’s gift.

‘Still, I’m proud to see the finished product.’

Although it was made hastily over the course of a month, it still looked pretty good.

Diane, who was helping next to her, kept telling her that it was pretty, so she didn’t think he would be offended by receiving the gift.

“Pack it well, Yulia. Because it’s an important gift.”

“Of course, Your Majesty. Would you like to start preparing now?”

“I guess that way I won’t be late for the birthday party.”

The birthday party was going to be held early in the evening.

All the maids in the empress’ palace came to help Meredith prepare for the banquet.

“I think the necklace next to it would be better than this one. Wouldn’t it be too flashy?”

“What are you saying? You must be extravagant today!”

“That’s right. If anyone sees Her Majesty, the Empress, they must be adorned in such a way that your beauty will make them fall to their knees!”

It was the emperor’s first birthday since she became empress.

Because it was a highly symbolic event, Meredith’s maids did their best to doll her up.

For several hours, Meredith was busy getting dressed.

“Now- that’s it, Your Majesty.”

While getting her makeup done, Meredith couldn’t overcome her fatigue and fell asleep.

Meredith woke up to the maid’s voice and slowly opened her eyelids.

“….wa.”

And then she came face to face with her own dazzlingly beautiful image.

The pink dress with delicately embroidered lace and rich frills made Meredith a very lovely woman.

In addition, the pink diamond tiara worn on top of her head was not excessive at all, but gave Meredith the dignity and authority of an empress.

Meredith looked blankly at herself in the mirror and muttered.

“I was surprised. For a moment, I almost thought I was back on my wedding day.”

“That’s a compliment, right?”

“Of course. So beautiful.”

Meredith praised everyone with a touched face.

“Thank you everyone. Thanks to you, I don’t think I will have to bow down to anyone at the banquet hall today.”

“Of course. Your Majesty the Empress is the most precious woman in this empire.”

“Anyone who sees this today will not be able to help but love Your Majesty. You are so beautiful!”

It was a time when Meredith was chatting amicably with the maids.

“Your Majesty the Empress, His Majesty the Emperor have arrived.”

An unexpected guest came to visit Meredith.

Meredith smiled brightly and opened her mouth.

“Please guide him inside.”

After a while, the door opened and Theodore appeared.

“Meet you, the Imperial Sun, Your Majesty the……”

But Meredith didn’t finish her greeting.

Without even thinking about ending the greeting in a hurry, Meredith looked at Theodore with a blank expression.

“…….”

And it was the same for Theodore.

Without any kind of greeting, he looked at Meredith with a stern expression.

‘…… Your Majesty.’

‘…… The empress.’

The two people standing across from each other were thinking the same thing.

‘Were you that handsome?’

‘Was she that pretty?’

Of course, they didn’t know that they were thinking the same thing.

‘Of course, I knew you were good-looking from the beginning, but…’

‘Of course, I thought she was beautiful from the first time I saw her.’

Perhaps in the aftermath of the painstaking make-up, today each other looked a little different than usual.

Of course, in a positive sense.

It was a time when the newness amidst the familiarity made it impossible for the two to move.

“Your majesty.”

Yulia alerted Meredith, who was unable to finish her greeting.

It was only then that Meredith came to her senses and blinked her eyes.

…… It felt like she had done something shameful.

“I meet you, the Imperial Sun, Your Majesty the Emperor.”

Meredith hurriedly finished her greeting, and only then did Theodore come to his senses.

“…… Empress.”

“Why did you come here? Didn’t you plan to go straight to the banquet hall…”

“To go with the empress.”

“….Ah.”

After pausing for a moment at those words, Meredith asked.

“Did you come by carriage today?”

“Yes. I’m not feeling well today too.”

Theodore grinned and held out his hand to Meredith.

“Let’s go together.”

And as she looked at his outstretched hand, Meredith felt her heart pounding faster.

‘… Situations like this have happened before.’

It was like this when she attended the dinner with Blair.

‘But something is different. A little more so today….’

She was nervous, her heart was beating fast, and most of all….

‘… I can’t look His Majesty in the eye.’

It became difficult to look straight into those eyes that she always used to look at and smile at.

Surprisingly… she felt embarrassed.

It was when Meredith froze and avoided his gaze like before.

“Ah….”

Without waiting any longer, he took the still hand of Meredith.

Meredith looked at Theodore with a startled face at the unexpected warmth spreading through her hand.

“I’m going to be late.”

He whispered softly.

At the same time, he put more pressure on the hand he was holding with Meredith.

“…….”

It occurred to Meredith that what he was holding was not her hand, but her heart.

‘… Driving me crazy.’

Otherwise, the heart wouldn’t be able to beat this fast.

***