Chapter 26

Mrs. Gix's story continued for quite some time. The stress of the former empress reached its peak when her lady-in-waiting gave birth to the emperor's son. However, the emperor made the lady-in-waiting's child his adopted son and heir. It was a difficult decision for both the former empress, who could not bear a son, and the child's birth mother. The child, separated from his birth mother, grew up in the empress's palace against the former empress's will. The child learned at the age of six that the mother he thought was his biological mother was actually a stepmother who detested him. When the child visited his birth mother at the age of seven, she was already half-mad and not in her right mind. The child's core was inevitably twisted. The reason Mrs. Gix told Adele this story was only one: to improve the relationship between the emperor and the empress. After all, relationships can only be well-formed when one understands the other. So, when the story ended, she hoped that at least Empress Adelaide would feel a glimmer of sympathy for the emperor, but Mrs. Gix did not know the empress well. The empress sighed deeply and brushed her hair back. Her golden eyes, visible between her black strands, shone brightly.

"So, the reason the emperor initially treated me as an enemy is because he sees me on the same level as the former empress?"

"Your Majesty."

"I mean, I was puzzled when I came here. How did I end up with the emperor's enmity? I only saw his portrait for the first time on my way here. How absurd must I have felt about his enmity?"

"..."

"I never thought it was deep-seated resentment and grudge towards the position of empress. How am I similar to the former empress?"

"It's just an instinct that comes up without you noticing, not a rational judgment."

"An emperor in the supreme position should not let instinct override reason!"

Adele burst out in anger, and Mrs. Gix continued with a troubled expression.

"However... as you said, he is the supreme ruler."

"..."

"He is the supreme ruler and your husband."

"So?"

"..."

"Should I lower myself and cater to the emperor's mood to gain the authority of the empress? Why didn't you say this when the chancellor was appointed? Did you not think that the Duke of Baldur, who would offend the emperor, would come?"

Mrs. Gix did not answer. Adele suppressed the lava boiling in her chest and leaned towards her.

"On the first day I arrived, Diane Poitiers came to me and offered to tell me about His Majesty's preferences."

At this, Mrs. Gix's eyes widened fiercely.

"How dare he!"

"Yes, how dare he. He came to me and told me to adjust my appearance to His Majesty's preferences."

At this, Mrs. Gix bowed her head and apologized on his behalf.

"I am sorry."

"You have no reason to apologize. But what is the difference between what you told me today and what Diane Poitiers said that day?"

"Your Majesty..."

"Do you know what I answered her? I have never, not once in my life, thought about adjusting myself to someone else's preferences."

"..."

"A passive being who always complies. Someone who comes when called and goes when told to leave."

Is that all? Now that I hear it, it sounds like you want me to bear the shadow of a former empress I've never met and be a scapegoat.

"What should I do if I feel sorry? I am inherently uncomfortable. In Gotrop, no one thought of me as comfortable. I don't want that either. I despise people who think of me as easy and don't consider me. I am a very selfish person."

"..."

"You seem to want to vent all your frustrations on me, even though it's not my fault. I have no intention of accepting that."

"However, to be comfortable here, Your Majesty..."

But in front of the blazing golden eyes, Mrs. Gix trailed off. Goosebumps rose on her skin.

"Comfortable? Did you ask me what my standard of comfort is?"

The more she thought about it, the more absurd it seemed, and Adele couldn't hold back her laughter.

"Is there a child in the emperor's heart, deeply buried, who cannot vent his frustration? I probably have such a child in my heart too. A child who needs to be comforted and embraced. Unfortunately, I do not have the magnanimity to embrace the child buried deep in the emperor's heart while being hit unjustly."

"..."

"And think about it. If I always lower myself to cater to the mood of a child who cannot even recognize his own feelings, will it really improve anything? Isn't that neglect?!"

Faced with the empress's rapid-fire criticism, Mrs. Gix bowed her head and apologized.

"...I overstepped my bounds."

"You overstepped your bounds."

"I am sorry."

Mrs. Gix stood up and bowed deeply. Given the old woman's apology, Adele could not blame her further. She understood her advice, after all.

"I was the princess of Gotrop. If the 'comfort' others speak of was the same as my standard, I would not be here now."

If becoming an empress was her life's goal and everything, she would have died the day she gave up her princess title.

"But the most important thing to me, what I want to protect, Mrs. Gix..."

Adele said firmly in a whisper.

"It is me."

My ideals. My beliefs. My self-respect. My honor. My everything.

"The most important thing in the world is me, Adelaide, myself. It comes before the position of empress. So, I will not comply with the command to just breathe and be swayed by others. Do you understand?"

Mrs. Gix closed her eyes and clasped her hands tightly.

"Forgive me."

"If it is difficult to serve such a person as empress, please say so at any time."

"I am truly sorry."

Adele took a deep breath and turned around. She straightened her shoulders and entered the room with a firm step. The heavy darkness washed over her throat. She buried herself in the darkness and held her breath for a long time. ＊ ＊ ＊ Meanwhile, the emperor, who had stormed out of the empress's palace, unexpectedly visited Diane. Diane, who was about to go to bed, jumped out of bed and ran when she heard the emperor was there. Her heart, which had been wandering in hell, soared to the gates of heaven at the news of the emperor's arrival. The emperor stood there like a dark night.

"Your Majesty."

When Diane called out in a soft voice, his dark eyes met hers.

"...Is something wrong?"

"..."

"Your Majesty?"

"Come here."

Like a poisonous flower that is beautiful and splendid, the emperor was breathtakingly beautiful but dangerous. Unlike the maids who fled in a hurry, Diane approached him as if she had been waiting for his command. Karl gazed at Diane. Her wavy golden hair, delicate limbs that seemed to break at a touch, a long and straight neck like a deer, and a beautiful face. She was like a lily. Diane carefully observed Karl's expression. He seemed to be firmly angry about something. What could it be? What made him angry?

"Perhaps, Your Majesty... Did the empress upset you?"

As she approached, Karl looked up from her neck to meet her eyes.

"She has disturbed your mood again. Is it because of the chancellor issue?"

"..."

"How can you even think of appointing a chancellor for His Majesty... I really don't understand."

Diane whispered in a soft voice. But the emperor remained silent, his expression inscrutable as he looked at her neck again.

"...Your Majesty?"

As Diane tilted her head to meet his gaze, Karl bent his head towards her neck.

"!"

Startled, Diane froze, and the emperor buried his face in her neck, taking a deep breath. As if he was smelling her.

"Your Majesty?"

Diane called out, looking confused. After a moment, the emperor slowly raised his head, his brow slightly furrowed.

"Why are you doing this?"

The emperor, looking at her puzzled face with an unreadable expression, suddenly spoke.

"Close your eyes. I will kiss you."

It had been years since she became his lover, and this was the first time she heard such words, so she was surprised but obediently closed her eyes. Karl gazed at her closed eyelids and fluttering golden lashes. He didn't know why he asked her to close her eyes or why he smelled her neck. He didn't know what he was comparing or what he wanted to gain from the comparison. On the other hand, since the emperor, who said he would kiss her, did not approach, Diane opened her eyes, tilting her head in confusion.

"Your Majesty?"

"Like a feather on a quill, like a flower in a vase."

"?"

"Live like that."

With a puzzled look, she blinked a few times and then smiled.

"That sounds like a comfortable life."

"..."

"If I become a feather on a quill, will you use that quill, Your Majesty? If I become a flower in a vase, will you keep that vase by your side?"

Diane asked, clasping her hands and tilting her head, smiling lovingly, like a girl happy to receive a gift. She cautiously observed Karl's reaction, then nestled into his arms, burying her face in his firm chest and whispered.

"I like it. I like living like that by Your Majesty's side. I only need Your Majesty."

At her words, Karl slowly blinked.

"Yes... You do."

He could feel his heart pounding. Diane strongly felt the urge to offer her neck to this beautiful and captivating beast. As she provocatively looked up at Karl and stroked his cheek, Karl slowly reached out and gently grasped her neck, as if putting a collar on her. He held her delicate neck for a while, then after a moment, pressed his thumb against her lips. Her red lips were squished under his thumb. He pressed and rubbed her plump lips several times, imagining something else. Then, Diane slowly opened her mouth and gently bit his thumb.

'Those eyes will now become hazy. They will turn red and murky.'

But the emperor's next action was completely different from what she imagined. Suddenly, he pulled his hand away. Diane's eyes widened in shock.

His fingertips, like her wet lips, were clearly wet.

"Your Majesty?"

Ignoring her voice, which was a mix of disappointment and confusion, the emperor turned around and left the room without a word. His posture was not one of lingering