Chapter 242 (2/2)

“Your Eminence.”

“If you show me such a cynical look, I feel like I want to praise you more. Even though you have already held a ceremony celebrating your coming-of-age, you are still really cute. ”

“…”

He pleasantly looked at me swallowing a sigh and recited a prayer with a unique mystical voice.

“Praise the beauty given by the Father of Life. I give you the blessings of our lord Vita. ”

The soft floral scent was wafting around, and the pink petals were fluttering. A feeling of refreshment that I was already accustomed to wrapped around my body.

“… Thank you, Your Eminence.”

“You’re welcome. Shall we stand up now? I think I have to start working right away to meet the deadline. ”

“Ah, yes.”

Praying that this deal would come through, I followed the young man walking away, dragging his long hair on the floor.

“Lady Whir is here, my lady.”

A few days later when I was working at home after I was done with my morning assignment,

the butler knocked on the door and told me that Grace had come to visit me.

Taking my eyes off the documents, I asked him to let her in. As she didn’t say why she wanted to see me when she made the request yesterday, I was also curious about the purpose of her visit.

Shortly afterwards, Grace with her glowing hair finely twisted up appeared and bowed.

“It’s been a long time, Lady Monique. How have you been? ”

“I’ve been getting by. How are you? ”

“I’m doing fine, thanks to your concern.”

I smiled slightly at Grace who expressed gratitude and lifted the teacup brought by the maid. Grace, who lifted the mug and savored the subtle lemon scent, said, “You must have been puzzled by my sudden request for a visit. Thank you for accepting it with pleasure.”

“You’re welcome. Aren’t you and I close enough to accept such a request, right?”

“It is an honor if you say that, Lady Monique.”

Grace, bowing to express gratitude again, presented me with a small envelope.

“In fact, my sister has been engaged to the second son of the Genoa family. So, we decided to hold a banquet to celebrate their engagement ten days later. This is the invitation. ”

“I see. Please convey my congratulations to your sister. I will send an official congratulatory message soon.”

I smiled as I accepted the invitation. But my head was a mess, although I smiled at her.

‘Combination of the Genoa and Whir families?’

In fact, my family had a conflict with them over the issue of my breakup of engagement with the emperor recently. Of course, I had no intention of competing with the Whir family with respect to our relationship with the imperial family, but I couldn’t turn a blind eye to the two families’ political marriage because they were against my family.

However, in the present situation where the conspiracy of those who dared to kill the emperor was revealed, I couldn’t promote the division within the pro-emperor faction which the Whir family belonged to. It’s time to unite, not to split. So, I felt I had better wait and see for the time being.

While I sorted out complicated thoughts and drank tea, Grace said, “By the way, are you busy a lot lately? I am sorry to say this, but there is a lot of bad gossip about you because you are not appearing in social circles these days. I think it would be good for you to attend one one of these days.”

“Got it. Let me keep that in mind. Um, have you heard anything new?”

“There is nothing special about it, but there are lots of rumors that Lady Jena is working on something. According to the rumors, she was knocking her brain out to do something in cooperation with the temple, but I don’t know the details. ”

I already heard about it from Entea the other day. As I didn’t have to worry about what I was already prepared for, I felt I didn’t have to worry about Jiun.

Then Grace, who watched me nodding, said suddenly with a smile.

“But come to think of it, you don’t have to worry about it. The emperor still cherishes your love.

How can she rival you, no matter how hard she tries?”

“Pardon?”