Chapter 14

The place the emperor led Dianne to was his private drawing room inside the palace.

As they walked through what felt like an endless stretch of marble corridors, Dianne couldn’t help but feel a flicker of unease. A drawing room was, aside from the bedroom itself, the most personal space a ruler possessed. Only family, or those he trusted completely, would ever be invited inside.

Sensing her hesitation, the emperor spoke in a calm, reassuring tone.

“No one can overhear us here. The Grand Duchess of Ervinzel and Countess Ornin visit often, so you needn’t feel uncomfortable.”

What troubled Dianne more than anything was that the emperor placed her on the same level as his aunt and his sister’s head lady-in-waiting. Whatever his reasoning, Dianne knew she couldn’t possibly refuse his invitation.

The room was exactly what a private drawing room should be. By the standards of the imperial palace, it was modest and intimate. Still, every piece within it, from the carved chair legs to the single porcelain vase on the mantel, was a work of art in itself.

The emperor’s chief steward served the tea personally. Dianne was quietly grateful that at least someone else was attending to the ritual. If this overly courteous man had personally tried to serve her himself, she might have fainted on the spot.

She offered the chief steward a small, polite nod.

“Thank you.”

“There’s no need to thank me, my lady,” he replied smoothly, then bowed deeply to the emperor and stepped back to stand near the door. It was close enough to hear every word, but it was clear the emperor trusted him implicitly.

For a while, only the soft clinking of teaspoons and the sound of tea being sipped filled the space. It was the emperor who finally broke the silence.

“Is the tea’s fragrance to your liking?”

“Yes. It’s unfamiliar, but very excellent.”

“It was sent by the Crown Prince of Arathos. On the southernmost island of Arathos, they produce tea with a scent unlike any other.”

Dianne blinked, surprised. Of course, she’d known that Catalos was seeking reconciliation with Arathos. Everyone did. But she hadn’t realized that relations between the emperor and the crown prince were so personal that they exchanged gifts.

And this kind of gift, no less. To eat or drink something sent by the crown prince of a country that had frequently fought with them over the border… that was no small gesture. It was a declaration of trust.

The emperor gave a wry smile, as if he’d correctly guessed the meaning behind Dianne’s expression.

“The tea’s already been tested for poison. You don’t need to worry.”

“Oh, that’s not what I meant.”

“Even when I say it’s fine, they still insist on having a dozen attendants taste it first before bringing it to me. But I understand. No one in this empire trusts Ravellan Arathos the way I do.”

Ravellan Arathos, the crown prince of the Arathos Empire, was the eldest son of its aging emperor. He was also the man destined to become the future husband of Elphenlira Catalos… and the brother-in-law of Rezion Catalos himself.

‘…If I can manage to live up to the emperor’s expectations, that is.’

The memory of the fury in the princess’s face weighed heavily on her. Dianne spoke carefully.

“I didn’t realize Your Majesty and the Crown Prince of Arathos were on such personal terms.”

The emperor fixed his green eyes on her.

Meeting his gaze, Dianne found herself absurdly thinking that she should’ve spent more time on her hair that morning. Maybe if she hadn’t brushed off Cora’s suggestion to try what was in style, she’d feel a little more composed now. Before the emperor and in the eyes of all those perfectly dressed noblewomen back in the rose garden.

It was a ridiculous notion. A governess was meant to be modest, unobtrusive, and never someone who demanded attention.

Her train of thought was interrupted by an unexpected question.

“Have you read <Princess Oliana and Sir Giles>?”

“Yes. It was a fairly ordinary novel.”

After their encounter in the library, Dianne had stayed up late reading <Princess Oliana and Sir Giles>. The story was about Princess Oliana and the brave knight Sir Giles, who overcome many hardships and eventually succeed in eloping. A romance, plain and predictable, which had been her impression.

But the emperor had said he disliked it. Because of the runaway romance between a princess and her knight.

‘A princess… A knight… Eloping for love?’

Realization struck her like a blow to the back of the head. The emperor gave a subtle nod, as if confirming her silent thoughts.

“Your Majesty, you don’t mean—”

“Whatever you’re imagining, you’re likely correct.”

“If I’m overstepping with my assumptions, please do scold me.”

“You seem to be terribly afraid of being scolded by me, Miss Ortenza. In the library, too.”

He sounded amused and genuinely entertained by her hesitation. But Dianne couldn’t quite bring herself to laugh along with him.

The emperor leaned back heavily into the chair like a deflated pouch. His fingers pressed hard against his temple.

“It’s true. Just as Princess Oliana had her Sir Giles, Elphenlira had a lover as well. He was a knight.”

That alone was shocking enough, but the emperor didn’t stop there.

“Edric Reussen, the knight who was Elphenlira’s lover, died last year.”

Dianne carefully set her teacup down, because if she kept holding it she was certain she would drop it. The words had struck her too swiftly and deeply. She couldn’t even begin to grasp how she ought to respond to that kind of news.

Thankfully, the emperor seemed to have anticipated Dianne’s reaction and explained kindly.

“He was the younger brother of Sir Marek Reussen. The one currently acting as your guard.”

“…”

“Do you recall the major conflict that broke out on the western border last year? Soldiers from the Arathos border defense force committed murder within Count Baldin’s territory.”