Chapter 11 (1/2)

Chapter 11

Celestia bowed, setting an example.

“Ah, aren’t you the one? The servant my son is getting close to these days?”

‘Close servant’…..The words that her associate, Luana, had said lingered in her mind. She didn’t expect the Empress to think that way too.

“I’m here to serve you wine, Your Highness.”

“Haha, that’s so funny. Now she is here to serve me instead of her master. So, how’s it going? Is my son good towards you?”

She couldn’t understand whether she should raise her head or not, so she stayed still.

“I’m surprised how he brought a woman even though he has no one to cherish. So, he thinks he can take away my place just by bringing a woman who….visits his room.”

As Luana said, the relationship between the Empress and the Emperor seemed to be really unpleasant.

They thought that the relationship between the Emperor and Celestia was kind of intimate. But in fact, she was only a maid to provide him a treatment service.

She couldn’t believe that the Empress, who didn’t even reside in the Imperial Palace, had such an idiotic opinion. How far did this rumor spread? She could easily laugh off the matter with the other maids, but not in front of Her Highness, the Empress.

“It’s been a while since I’ve seen a toy….It’s quite laughable.”

Celestia could feel tingling malice hidden in her tone. She regretted not escaping the situation with a proper excuse.

Given that the Empress was talking to a person like Celestia with such a strong demeanor, it seemed like she was criticizing His Majesty.

“What is your name?”

“I am Celestia, Your Highness.”

“I see. Where are you from?”

“From Goldina, Your Highness.”

“Hmm, I like your pretty voice. It seems like I can give you a chance. If you become my servant, I’ll set you free.”

She said in a dignified manner.

‘She wants me to work for her? She would give me freedom? What an unconventional offer. I don’t even know the path to which my life is directed.’

Even though it was a tempting offer, it would not be any better than serving the Emperor.

At least her condition wasn’t any of those who were being enslaved and punished. And it was completely because of her stupidity that she fell inside the Magic Circle made by Serek. She was even being sold. She was now a nobody in her own country.

But she might have to live as a servant her entire life if she didn’t accept the offer.

Considering that she began her life from a back alley of Goldina, this offer, if she accepted, might be too burdensome to survive with. But if she didn’t accept, she would never be able to raise her voice.

“Sigh, answer me. Come on, tell me one or two secret weaknesses of the Emperor, and I’ll get you a good-looking husband and some gold.”

The Empress hastened.

She was going to accept it, but…..

The sight of the Emperor’s back, lying on his stomach, floated before her eyes. It was obvious that he was the sole protector of his country, but in that way, he was also becoming weak. And without Celestia’s magic, he wouldn’t be able to survive. He would become helpless.

She had never longed for an aristocrat before.

It was neither her instincts nor the reason that caused her to reject the proposal, but she eventually bowed her head again.

“I beg your pardon, Your Highness, but I wouldn’t be able to do that.”

“….Did you misinterpret my words?”

Her tone didn’t change a bit. She smiled bitterly.

“Raise your head, you don’t have to act like that. Your name, what was it again? Celestia?”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

She gulped, as the Empress told her to appear in front of her.

Slap!

It happened in a flash.

Slap!

The Empress slapped her again on the cheek. Unable to keep her balance, she fell down. Then she felt a wet substance being poured down on her head. The long scarf around her neck was colored red with wine, and it flowed down to her hands, which were touching the tiled floor.

The Empress stared down at her as if she was looking at some troublesome bug. Celestia staggered, getting up from the floor.

“Now, say those words again.”

“I beg your…..”

Slap!

As she was slapped again, she fell down on the floor. Rather than just getting hit, she felt an indescribable sense of distance being subjected to herself in front of everyone in the hall.

BANG!

With a tremendous noise, the door was pushed open on one side of the hall.

It was hard to imagine that such a huge, heavy door could be pushed open that easily.

The Emperor approached them at a slow pace but with a clear angry face. He noticed Celestia before turning his eyes to the Empress.

“What did you do?”

The Empress shrugged.

“Ha, amazing. Now, are you blaming me just because I had a sweet talk with this mere server? No, with your servant?”