Chapter 32

After waking up, Empress Via said that she did not want to see the Emperor and Prince Celtes for a while.

However, her health steadily recovered, and three days later, she was energetic enough to walk and returned to her original residence, the Crystal Palace.

The rumor that Prince Celtes was in critical condition was retracted that day.

It was said that Empress Viatora, the secondary empress, had returned from her retreat in Galacia upon hearing the news of Prince Celtes' serious illness, and after nursing him for three days, she moved into the Crystal Palace. This rumor spread through the palace with considerable credibility.

“What a well-put-together story.”

The one who muttered this with a sense of admiration was Empress Via herself, who was said to have returned from her retreat in Galacia.

Only the head maid, Eimi, knew that it was not a retreat but a disappearance, and Eimi was overjoyed to serve her mistress again, whom she had thought she would never see again.

“Still, you refused to meet the Emperor just now. Are you really fine with not seeing him?”

Letters from the Emperor had arrived at the Crystal Palace numerous times.

Each time, Empress Via only replied that she could not meet him, and Eimi began to worry that Empress Via might dislike the Emperor.

“I don’t want to meet him.”

At Via’s words, Eimi murmured sadly.

“Your Highness, you must have grown to dislike the Emperor.”

“Well, that’s not it.”

Via, who was having her hair tended to by the maids, looked at Eimi in the mirror with surprise.

“I don’t dislike the Emperor.”

“Then why won’t you meet him?”

“I’m afraid to meet him.”

Via plucked a strand of her lusterless golden hair and told Eimi with a dejected look.

“When I returned to the Crystal Palace and saw myself in the mirror, I was shocked. My skin tone is poor, and my hair is dry and lifeless...

And look at my hands…”

Via stared at her hands, which were resting on her knees.

After two years of daily chores, her fingers were rough and far from the delicate hands of a princess.

“For two years, I couldn’t forget the Emperor for a moment. I always admired him.

But now I look like this…”

The last time they met, it was in a dark room, so it was fine.

But if we meet in broad daylight, Alek will surely notice.

“If I finally get to meet him and he thinks I’ve aged in these two years, I can’t bear it.”

The maids of the Crystal Palace, including Eimi, empathized with Empress Via as women.

Although she was still beautiful, her nails, skin, and hair were far from their former perfection.

Thus, a grand operation to restore Empress Via to her former beauty, involving all the maids of the Crystal Palace, began, and the Emperor was completely shut out.

The Emperor, who could not meet the secondary empress, was terribly depressed.

Although he was doing his work without any issues, his back, which seemed to carry a sadness, made his three close aides sigh inwardly.

Luitas even tried to get a familiar lady-in-waiting from the Crystal Palace to mediate, but she firmly refused.

“Please consider Her Highness’s feelings!” she declared with a determined face, leaving Luitas no choice but to back off.

On the other hand, Prince Celtes, fearing his sister’s anger, quickly returned to Antole.

He said that her anger would subside in a month, and he would wait patiently until then, sounding rather carefree.

He had never doubted his bond with his sister and was not desperate to see her face immediately.

Unable to ignore the situation, Luitas called the head chamberlain and inquired about the Emperor’s recent state.

“He seems less energetic,” the head chamberlain replied, and Luitas folded his arms with a sigh.

“Has he been drinking more?” Luitas asked, and to his surprise, the head chamberlain replied, “He hasn’t been drinking recently.”

“He stopped drinking the day Empress Via returned from Galacia.”

Perhaps he was relieved that Empress Via, who had been missing, was back.

To prevent her from disappearing again, Amon had strengthened the security at the Crystal Palace.

The focus was more on preventing her from fleeing than on general security, but so far, there were no signs of her trying to escape.

“Head Chamberlain, what do you think of Empress Via?”

Luitas suddenly asked, curious.

Although it was not yet public, Gruuk was planning to nominate Empress Via as the Empress at the next round table meeting.

If that happened, Empress Via would live in the Imperial Palace. Luitas wanted to know how she was received there.

“Whenever Empress Via is around, the Emperor smiles more.”

The head chamberlain smiled.

“I have served the Emperor since he was a child. He was a lonely child, neglected by both his father and mother. The nursemaid he adored was sent away when he was eight.”

Luitas had heard about this.

The Empress, seeing the prince clinging to his nursemaid, flew into a rage, thinking it was not good for him, and sent the nursemaid to a distant place.

“After meeting you, Luitas, Amon, and Gruuk in Antole, he finally began to look happy, but as he grew older, the sight of him laughing out loud became rare.”

However, his fake smiles were impeccable.

The noblewomen who were charmed by his handsome face and captivating smile fell in love with the prince, and the courtiers praised him for his impeccable manners and calm demeanor.

“Since Empress Via became the secondary empress, the Emperor has looked happier.

He favored her greatly, calling her to his bed every night, and when they had meals together, he seemed very happy.”

Then, the incident happened.

The head chamberlain, one of the few who knew the truth, immediately realized that the prince had deliberately distanced himself from the secondary empress to protect her from the Empress.

And then, the death of Emperor Parisis, the coronation, and the death of the Empress...

After several turning points, the day after Empress Via was welcomed into the Empress’s palace, it was announced that the secondary empress had suddenly left for Galacia.

“To the Emperor, Empress Via is indispensable.

However, one concern is that his affection for her is too deep. If he were to make her the Empress, it would surely bring disaster.

I believe she went into hiding out of fear of this.”

“That’s not a problem.”

Luitas smiled brightly at the head chamberlain’s words.

“This is something I want you to keep to yourself for now.”

Luitas whispered something in the head chamberlain’s ear, and his face lit up. Luitas watched him with amusement and then headed to the Crystal Palace to address another issue.

“It’s been a while.”

The meeting with Empress Via was granted without any trouble.

All the efforts he had taken to get this far seemed foolish now.

“To be honest, I didn’t think you would agree to meet me.”

At Luitas’s words, Via tilted her head in confusion.

“Why would you think that?”

“Because you’re angry with the Emperor, aren’t you?”

“I’m not angry.”

Via answered with visible confusion. Her expression was genuine, and Luitas decided to press on.

“Then why won’t you meet the Emperor?”

Via hesitated to answer. It was embarrassing to express her delicate feelings in front of the Emperor’s aide.

“Do I have to give a reason?”

“Certainly.”

Via sighed.

“What do you think of my hair, Luitas?”

“Your hair?”

Caught off guard, Luitas examined Empress Via’s hair closely.

Now that he thought about it, it used to be longer.

“It’s shorter now.”

That was all he could say.

“I don’t mean the length.”

Via sounded frustrated.

“It’s quite damaged, isn’t it? There’s no luster at all.”

After pondering her words, Luitas finally understood.

“Is it because your hair lacks luster, your skin is rough, or your nails are not well-maintained... those kinds of reasons?”

Luitas was impressed with himself for refraining from calling it ridiculous.

“I want to meet the Emperor in my best condition.”

Luitas felt like sighing.

He understood why he was granted an audience.

In other words, she was still focused on the Emperor, and according to her, she was still in the middle of her beauty regimen.

“You are already beautiful enough. Please meet the Emperor.”

“But what if he loses interest...”

“That’s impossible!”

The Emperor was deeply depressed, thinking that Empress Via disliked him. He looked so sad.

“Even if your fingers and nails are rough, he might think you’ve worked hard and love you even more.”

That was a certainty.

However, Via shook her head.

“I don’t want his sympathy.”

“I see.”

Luitas felt like it didn’t matter much.

The Emperor was not only not disliked by Empress Via but was also deeply in love with her. In a way, the Emperor might feel even more elated for being kept waiting.

Luitas wisely decided not to get involved in this matter.

“However, I came here today to discuss something important.”

He changed his expression, and Via also became serious. She had something on her mind as well.

So, she spoke first.

“Is it still acceptable for me to stay here?”

“The Emperor needs you.”

Luitas answered immediately.

That was something he did not want Empress Via to forget.

Luitas looked directly into Empress Via’s eyes and said calmly.

“The Emperor has decided to make you the Empress.”

Via was taken aback. She couldn’t believe Luitas’s words and weakly shook her head after a moment.

“It’s impossible. I have no backing.”

“The Emperor has already secured his rule. He doesn’t need to strengthen his position by making you the Empress.

What is needed now is for the Emperor to have an heir as soon as possible.

Since losing you, the Emperor has refused to take a new Empress. Moreover, he hasn’t called anyone to his bed for two years.

If this continues, the royal family will have no successor. That’s why we are nominating you as the Empress.

However, there is one condition.”

Luitas was aware that he was saying something harsh, but as the Emperor’s aide, it was something he had to say.

“If you become the Empress and do not have a child within two years, you must recommend a concubine to the Emperor.

If the concubine has a child, and that child becomes the crown prince, you will still remain the Empress.

We will do everything in our power to protect your position.”

Via listened to Luitas’s words in silence and then slowly spoke.

“If you give me a legitimate reason to be by the Emperor’s side, I will gladly accept.”

That was her wish.

If she could be with him, she would fulfill her duties as Empress, no matter how difficult.

“Luitas, I promise you.

If I do not have a child after two years, I will definitely recommend a concubine to the Emperor.

The Emperor needs an heir.”

Luitas sighed in relief.

If they suggested it, the Emperor might not listen, but if Empress Via asked, he would act. Just as he distanced himself from her to protect her, he would accept a concubine to protect her position as Empress.

“Thank you.”

Luitas bowed deeply.

“Please take good care of the Emperor.”

The main story will end in two more chapters. Please stay with us until the end.