Chapter 35

"Lord Ladus, are you aware of this?"

Ladus Radas, who was visiting the neighboring country of Galantia as a special envoy of Anchease, was stopped by a group of noblewomen in a stone corridor and narrowed his kind eyes slightly.

"What are you talking about?"

When he asked, the noblewomen exchanged glances and laughed like ripples in a pond. Ladus, who came from a prestigious family in Anchease and was blessed with good looks and a warm demeanor, often visited various countries as a mediator between nations. He particularly visited Galantia twice a year, and the lady who had stopped him now was one of the noblewomen he had become particularly close to.

"Lord Ladus, you are one of the most trusted by the Emperor of Anchease. There's no way you wouldn't know."

The plump noblewoman who was closest to him spoke to Ladus with a fan covering her mouth, looking delighted. She was the younger sister of the Duchess of Galantia's younger brother, Prince Pageul.

"Isn't the Empress of Anchease the stepdaughter of the late Empress Tissee, who was once favored by the late Emperor Palesis?"

"Her beauty, inherited from Empress Tissee, caught the eye of the current Emperor, and she was elevated to the position of concubine."

"The Emperor's favor was so great that, at his own insistence, she was made Empress, according to the rumors."

While feeling inwardly exasperated by the malicious gossip, Ladus maintained a social smile and affirmed, "That is correct."

Ladus's childhood friend and irreplaceable master, Emperor Alex, had taken the adopted daughter of the late Emperor Palesis, Princess Via, as a concubine and, after many twists and turns, made her Empress. This was already well-known both domestically and internationally, and he couldn't understand why it was being brought up again.

"But do you know that the late Emperor Palesis killed the Empress's real father?"

However, when the voice continued in a hushed tone, Ladus couldn't help but gasp. He forgot to maintain his composure and stared at the lady who had spoken.

He was not surprised by the truth revealed. As a close aide to the Emperor, he had long known this, as had the Emperor himself. What puzzled Ladus was why this secret had come to light now.

"Where did you hear such a rumor?"

When he asked cautiously, the noblewomen seemed satisfied with his reaction and began to speak with a smug air, "Of course, you didn't know. A maid who had once served in the late Emperor Palesis's bedchamber came to Galantia through connections."

"Apparently, she overheard the late Emperor Palesis talking in his sleep."

"Indeed, he had fallen in love with a beautiful dancer, but she was refused because she had a husband and children. So, he killed her husband and took her and her daughter into the harem."

While pretending to listen with interest, Ladus pondered the source of the story. The maid in question might be the one who had been pregnant with the late Emperor Palesis's child and miscarried when the Empress Myarl was pregnant. She had been sent back to her family with enough money to start a new life by the head of the imperial servants at the time.

While Ladus was thinking about the source of the story, the noblewomen continued their gossip. "That daughter whose father was killed is the current Empress."

"I was truly shocked when I first heard this story. I never imagined that Empress Tissee had such a past."

"Still, to become a concubine of the man who killed her husband, dancers are indeed cunning."

"Indeed. And to bear a prince so calmly."

Hearing the condescending tone, even the usually composed Ladus couldn't suppress his emotions. He thought it was despicable to belittle a woman who had been forced to enter the Emperor's bed after her husband and daughter were nearly killed. Moreover, the way they spoke also insulted the late Empress Tissee and the Prince, as well as the Duke. As a subject of Anchease, he couldn't let this pass.

"The late Empress Tissee gave birth to Prince Seltis, who is the second in line to the throne of Anchease. To denigrate his mother is an insult to our country."

Speaking with a slightly harsh tone, Ladus expressed his displeasure, and the noblewomen hurried to appease Lord Ladus.

"Please don't be angry."

One of them clung to Ladus's hand. "Of course, Prince Seltis is an excellent prince."

"Indeed. We never doubted that."

"However, there are even worse rumors circulating, and we thought it was important to inform Lord Ladus."

Ladus swallowed a sigh and asked calmly, "What are these worse rumors?"

He didn't really want to hear them, but he knew he couldn't do anything if he didn't know. However, after hearing the rumors, Ladus felt like he wanted to hold his head in his hands.

The rumor in Galantia was that the Empress of Anchease hated her current husband, the Emperor, who had killed her father. It was also said that the Emperor had made her Empress only for political reasons to please Prince Seltis, and that their relationship had already deteriorated.

Ladus had a good idea why such malicious rumors had spread in Galantia.

Galantia had once tried to marry their third princess to Emperor Alex. When Anchease did not respond favorably, they even offered the right to use their port as a dowry and bribed many of Anchease's ministers. They had pushed so hard because the princess herself was very enthusiastic about the match.

Ladus's master, the Emperor, was very popular. He was handsome, kind, tall, and had a handsome and dignified appearance. Moreover, he was intelligent and the emperor of a wealthy and powerful country, so it was no wonder he was so popular.

Princesses from various countries tried to seduce the Emperor in every way, and the princess of Galantia stood out among them. She was a beautiful princess with many admirers, and she believed she was the most suitable to be the Empress of Anchease.

However, the Emperor showed no interest in the princess. At the time, he had withdrawn from the public eye and was in love with Concubine Via, who had disappeared. Compared to his beloved concubine, other women were like pebbles on the ground (though this was very disrespectful to the princess).

No matter how many good conditions were offered, the Emperor's heart did not waver. He refused to take a concubine or an Empress and lived a clean life for two years. Concerned that the royal lineage would die out, the ministers began to urge him to have a child with anyone. It was then that Gruuk Morgan, one of the Emperor's aides, moved and successfully brought back Concubine Via from the common people to the Emperor.

When the official announcement of Concubine Via's elevation to Empress was made, the shock was immense both domestically and internationally. Some of the princesses who were candidates for Empress even fell ill, and others begged their parents to get rid of the concubine.

In short, the current Empress was carrying a lot of jealousy and resentment without her knowledge.

Therefore, Ladus was not particularly surprised to hear that malicious rumors were circulating in Galantia. ... Not surprised, but he couldn't just let it go.

During his two-day stay in Galantia, Ladus ran around desperately trying to quell the rumors, but all his efforts were in vain. People tend to prefer malicious rumors, and no matter how much Ladus tried to explain the good relationship between the Emperor and Empress, the rumors only grew worse.

Thinking about what kind of rumors were spreading in his own country, he was afraid to return, but he had to try to resolve the situation. With a troubled mind, Ladus set off for the return journey.

"How was Galantia?"

Surrounded by many courtiers, the Emperor praised Ladus's efforts and immediately asked for information about Galantia. "It seems that Prime Minister Segar is really ill. He didn't look well, and Lord Tais, who is related to the Fluegen family, has returned as the Minister of the Interior. There are rumors that Fluegen himself will soon return to politics."

The moderate Fluegen had been out of power in Galantia for about four years. The hardline Segar had become Prime Minister and had been eyeing the Baman salt mines of Anchease, but the war had been avoided due to Anchease's strong military power. Although the marriage alliance had not strengthened the ties between the two countries, Fluegen's return would likely improve the relationship even more.

While calmly reporting on the situation in Galantia, Ladus carefully observed his master's expression. Had the rumors not reached the Emperor yet? It seemed unlikely that anyone would report such a terrible rumor to the Emperor casually.

As he was about to leave the audience and head to his private room, he was stopped by Ammon Antore. Ammon, like Ladus and Gruuk, was a close aide to the Emperor. In his mid-twenties, he was the deputy commander of the Antore, one of the private knight orders that had been established since the founding of Anchease.

"Hey, have you heard the rumors?"

Indeed, the rumors had spread in Anchease as well. Ladus felt like sighing. "I heard them in Galantia. It's about the Emperor's bedtime stories being spread now."

Ammon nodded with a look of relief and looked at his friend. "Gruuk and I were waiting for you to return. We didn't know how to tell the Emperor."

Ammon was rather taciturn, and Gruuk, though eloquent, often lacked words. They must have been struggling.

"So, you haven't told him yet?"

"Who else would tell him? ... I think everyone except the Emperor knows."

Ladus inwardly groaned. This was a matter that had already been resolved between the two Emperors. The Empress loved the Emperor, and the Emperor knew it. There was nothing to be gained by bringing it up again.

"What about the Empress?"

Ladus thought the Empress must know the rumors. She was sociable, bright, and had many followers, both male and female. She was well-informed and wouldn't be discouraged by such a rumor. He believed she must have taken some action.

"She had a tea party in the afternoon with the ambassador of Sies and the prince of Sekurt."

"Did Camille attend the tea party? Did she say anything?"

Incidentally, Sies Camille was the Empress's chief guard. Originally named Sies Evak, he was appointed as the Empress's guard when she became the concubine of Prince Alex and has since sworn absolute loyalty to the Empress.

The Empress also trusted him deeply. It was Camille who, without hesitation, gave the Empress his badge, which is as important as a knight's life, when she was a commoner in hiding. Thanks to this, the Empress was able to return safely to the Emperor. The Emperor, recognizing his contribution, granted him the noble surname Camille and a position that allowed him to participate in public affairs, placing him by the Empress's side.

"He said something about his body itching, but that's all I know. I didn't have much time to talk to him."

"Did he eat something bad?"

Ladus was puzzled. He had no idea what was going on.

That evening, Ladus visited the Emperor's residence with Gruuk and Ammon. During his time as a prince, they used to gather and drink together once or twice a week, so it was not unusual for them to visit the residence on the occasion of Ladus's return.

When they arrived, the Emperor was enjoying wine with the Empress as usual. The Empress, who couldn't drink, was sipping herbal tea, and it was a peaceful scene as always.

"Empress, have you heard any unsettling rumors recently?"

Ladus immediately turned to the Empress. He found it difficult to ask the Emperor directly, but he thought the cheerful Empress might laugh it off.

The Empress Via laughed and said, "I have heard them."

To his surprise, or perhaps not, the Empress was not at all bothered. "We were just talking about it."

The Empress looked up at Emperor Alex with a smile, and Alex was chuckling beside her. It seemed the Emperor was not as shocked as his aides had feared.

"The source of the rumors seems to be a maid who miscarried the late Emperor Palesis's child."

The Empress seemed to have gathered detailed information. "Apparently, the late Emperor Palesis let it slip in his sleep."

"Didn't it upset you to have your past dug up?"

When Ladus asked, Via shook her head and laughed. "I was more annoyed by the rumors that my mother willingly became the concubine of Emperor Palesis. I have no objections. I'm sure my mother is relieved now. It was bothersome to be thought of as grateful for the late Emperor Palesis's favor."

After saying this, she looked at Alex with a bit of concern.

"But, Your Majesty, I'm sorry for the trouble this has caused."

"Don't worry. If you're not upset, then it's fine. Besides, I have no good memories of Emperor Palesis."

Thanks to him, I almost died five years ago, Alex added, and the aides returned bitter smiles.

Emperor Palesis had been a very troublesome emperor for them. He refused to name a crown prince to concentrate power in himself, and when he died suddenly, a succession war broke out between the first prince, Alex, and the third prince, Romaris.

"Still, I was surprised to hear all the rumors. Today, the ambassador of Sies and the prince of Sekurt both expressed their sympathy to me."

The Empress, sitting beside Alex, was happily counting the ridiculous rumors on her fingers, while Alex was leisurely drinking his wine.

From Ladus's perspective, the Empress was a natural optimist. The Emperor, who had spent a lonely childhood, had finally started to smile happily after welcoming Empress Via. Even now, his gentle gaze often turned to the Empress. He must really care for her deeply.

Alex, who had a striking and dignified appearance and had been seen as the next emperor since childhood, had always been surrounded by women. His aides had expected him to continue his womanizing ways, but after taking his adopted sister, Princess Via, as a concubine, he had completely changed and now lived a clean life.

The Empress, who was five years younger, was exceptionally beautiful. She had already given birth to a princess who was only a year younger than the first prince, but she looked so young and beautiful that it was hard to believe she had children.

Moreover, the three aides secretly knew that the Empress was particularly meticulous about her appearance to capture the heart of her beloved Emperor. She had once refused to let the Emperor into her bed because of trivial reasons like her skin, hair, and nails not being well-maintained, and the aides, who were childhood friends, knew how deeply the Emperor had been hurt by this.

"Since they seemed to have some misunderstandings, I was telling them how wonderful Your Majesty is and how much you care for me."

Upon further inquiry, it turned out that the Empress had been praising the Emperor to the ambassador of Sies and the prince of Sekurt for over an hour.

"I was telling them how Your Majesty has a handsome and dignified appearance that still makes my heart flutter when I see you. And how you are intelligent and always dedicated to the people. You are an excellent Emperor and treat me very well. Just the other day, for example..."

The Empress, who was now talking animatedly like a fish in water, made Ammon, who felt his body itching, realize that Camille had been listening to her praise all day. No wonder he looked so exhausted. It was almost a form of penance.

Unaware of Ammon's inner cry, the Empress sighed happily. "It's so much fun to praise the person I love without holding back."

For the Empress, who usually held back her praise, it was a joy to express it freely. Thanks to this, she felt fulfilled, and her skin seemed to have a better glow.

Incidentally, the Emperor was in a very good mood because his beloved Empress was so happy.

The three aides, watching this, felt a sense of emptiness. What had all their efforts to quash the rumors been for? If the Empress continued like this, the rumors would surely fade away. Or rather, the Empress would continue to joyfully spread her embarrassing praise until the rumors were completely gone.