Chapter 303 (2/2)

“Really? Well, you must be surprised by their unexpected visit. Hope you will take care of them well. By the way, did you inform my father of their arrival here?”

“Yes, I just sent the message to him.”

“Got it. Let me go upstairs for now. When they gather here, please let me know.”

After smiling at him, I went to my room and grabbed the embroidery frame. I embroidered the crest of my family on a white cloth by putting a silver thread through the needle. It would be a pair of gloves for my father as I suddenly realized that I had never given any embroidered thing to him while making a token of my love for the emperor.

How much time passed? When Lina told me it was time for me to go down to greet them, I put down the needle and went to the drawing room downstairs after quickly looking back at the silver shield I was done embroidering by half.

“It’s been a long time, Lady Monique.”

“Yes, it’s been a while, everyone. How have you been? ”

The drawing room was very crowded. Most of the vassals had come, except for the minimum number of people who had to take care of the estate. When I took a seat next to the seat reserved for my father, those who greeted me also sat down one by one.

Shortly afterwards, the maids placed tea and snacks on the table before them.

“It seems that Marquis Monique has not returned home yet.”

“Oh, he will be here soon because he’s got the message. Let’s talk about the main subject later. Shall we talk for a while? Well, how about the atmosphere of the estate these days? ”

“There is nothing special. but…”

We chatted about lots of things in a warm atmosphere for a while. According to them, the successor of a baron had a baby son, the priest at the local temple was replaced, there would be a bountiful harvest this fall, which would increase the revenue, and the mine ceded from the Hamel family was a treasure.

By the time everybody emptied their cups and had another cup of tea, my father, in a neat uniform, came in.

“Nice to see you, Marquis Monique.”

“It’s been a long time, everybody. Sit down. ”

When my father took a seat after lightly gesturing toward them, one of them on the left brought up the main subject with a serious expression.

“After we heard that Lady Monique would get married to the emperor, we have come here.

Although it’s something we have to congratulate, we are embarrassed at the same time. Marquis, what’s going on here? We understand she has clearly broken off her engagement with the emperor.”

“Well, she didn’t yet start the formal process of breaking off the engagement. Besides, the emperor loves her so much, so he has made the decision. I’m sorry that I notified you late because I made short work of it.”

“What is the status of her title? In a situation where there is no other successor, what happens if she, the only successor, becomes a member of the imperial family?”

“Well, I’ve already talked with the emperor about it, but let me make the final decision after consulting with you. Won’t you listen? ”

The agreement he made with the emperor was quite unprecedented. According to it, I could continue to act as the successor of the Monique family even when I became the empress. Besides, even after my father died in Vita’s arms, his title would not be returned to the imperial family, but bequeathed to me. In that case, the possessions of the Monique family would be mine, not the imperial family’s, and my title will be handed over to one of the babies with silvery hair, except for the crown prince baby to be born. It seemed that my father inserted that clause in the agreement just in case I broke up with him.

Besides, even if a silver-haired child is born to a relative of the Monique family, I have the priority and final say on handing over my title to him. In other words, as the empress and the marquise of the Monique family, I will have the independent authority to decide everything within the family regardless of the will of the imperial family. In that case, nobody will be able to treat me recklessly even if my relationship with the emperor goes sour.

In addition, there was a clause in the agreement that would guarantee the Monique family’s exclusive right to sell some of the products available only in the territories owned by the imperial family. The jewelry offered by the emperor in the name of wedding gifts and other material benefits to my family would also be enormous. Of course, the expenditures in the form of dowry on my end will be great, but the family vassals seemed to be ready to accept it without any opposition. Some of them even expressed satisfaction, assuming that one of the princes would be the marquis of the Monique family in the next generation.