Chapter 198 (2/2)

“I heard well what you said at this meeting yesterday. I appreciate your opinion very much.”

When I looked around, with my mouth turned up a bit, I saw the noble faction staring at me aghast and the pro-emperor faction trying to shun my gaze. It seemed they took notice of my barbed words.

After quietly bowing to the head table where the emperor was seated, I opened my mouth quickly before he said anything.

“So, I requested the emperor to break off his engagement with the Monique family.”

“What did you say? Is that true?”

“Lady Monique, what the heck is this…”

“Breaking off your engagement? How can you say that without consulting with us first…?”

With a bright smile, I looked around at them making a fuss over my announcement. I couldn’t help but smile when I watched the noble faction staring at me blankly and the pro-emperor faction getting confused. I felt like I got some heavy burden off my chest.

“Quiet! Everybody, be quiet!”

Silencing them, Duke Verita said, looking at me, “Lady Monique, can you explain once again? What are you talking about?”

“Well, I just said my position clearly. What more do you want to hear?”

“Oh my… is that really the intention of the Monique family?”

“That’s right. While my father is away, I’m expressing my opinion as the head of my family, so I’m now saying in my capacity as the head of the Monique family, not me as an individual.”

Unlike the pro-emperor faction who were still confused, the noble faction regained composure and seemed to ask for a say immediately.

I raised my voice and warned them before turning to Duke Verita.

“So, I hope you can stop slandering me and my family.”

“Who is slandering you, Lady Monique? Please refrain from…”

“When you say you are breaking off the engagement, it means you are also giving up all your bodnage with the imperial family. So, don’t argue that I should be the empress. When you once again make an argument over this, I will immediately retract my request, even if you continue to blame me. Do you understand?”

“I still don’t get it…”

“And if I retract, I will do my best to prove my qualifications. In other words, I’m going to compete with Lady Jena who is the better empress candidate, either me who has defects as a woman or her who was not recognized by the late emperor.”

As I spoke clearly, the noble faction became quiet in no time.

Looking away from them who were silent, I now turned to the pro-emperor faction.

I said with a bright smile at them, who I once felt as my reliable ally, “Now, please sort out your divided opinion and present your unified position.”

“Lady Monique.”

“Let me tell you one more thing. The Monique family won’t be involved in this matter again. So, don’t expect any cooperation on my end.”

“Lady Monique! What the heck are you talking…”

“Hummm… are you going to make our family turn against you, Earl Whir? Do you think I’m a pushover because I give it away?”

“…No, you know that’s not what I mean.”

When Earl Whir, who was trying to say something, stepped back with a puzzled look, Duke Lars said, swallowing a sigh, “I will respect the intention of the Monique family. So, please stop it, Lady Monique.”

“Sure, I will.” I smiled and took my eyes off the pro-emperor faction.

The moment I slowly turn my head, my eyes meet with the emperor’s navy blue eyes fixed on me. There was reproach, desperateness and some other feelings in his eyes.

“Your Majesty, everyone seems to have a lot on their minds, so how about taking a break?”

Only when he heard Duke Verita’s voice suggesting the intermission, he slowly looked away from me. Turning to him slowly, he nodded, “Sure, let’s take a break.”

“The meeting will be adjourned for half an hour.”

I stood up and headed for the door as soon as he announced the recess. As I quicked my pace, I felt many of them turning their eyes at me.

‘Let me count how many are looking at me.’

With a smile I began to count with silence.

‘One, two, three.’

“Lady Monique! What the heck did you do a moment ago?” somebody said angrily from my behind.