Chapter 26 (1/2)

Chapter 26

Far from being selected as a slave, when she first saw the Emperor, she was being transported by carriage for several days.

“You seemed to have mistaken something, Your Highness, but I don’t know anything more. I have nothing else to say.”

She did not know how far the Empress wanted to know and how far she already knew. That’s why she decided to keep silent.

She looked up to face the Empress’ glaring eyes. The same was seen in the eyes of her servant shooting daggers directly at her. She was used to this. She was sweating in fright. Worse than the nauseous feeling in her stomach.

“It scares you, but if you can be at ease with me, I assure you you’ll have a longer life to live.”

What would she do?

No, she shouldn’t say anything. The Empress was saying that just because she wanted to know the answer. Wasn’t it too much? She could also imagine how cruel it must’ve been to hear that the Emperor was poisoned by this Empress. This old lady wouldn’t just be joking.

The queen’s servant grabbed her by the collar and forced her to stand. He looked like she was going to hit her. The memory of being beaten quickly flooded her mind. She shut her eyes tightly in fear, bracing for the impact.

But nothing happened. Instead, she heard a voice.

“Who do you think you’re holding?”

The voice of the Emperor.

When she opened her eyes, she was met with his intimidating gaze on her. He slowly turned to the Empress, who stood up beside him.

“What are you doing after coming all the way here with your acquaintance?”

The Empress took out a beautiful purple fan with rich feathers to cover her mouth.

“My, my, I didn’t know you were here.”

“My servant informed me, and it’s a surprise that you’ve forgotten my existence. I’m afraid you need to sharpen your memories.”

The Empress nodded to her servant, who released Celestia’s collar.

However, the Emperor was still glaring at the Empress Dowager.

“I asked what you were doing here. Answer me.”

“She dared to raise her eyes and mouth straight at me despite being a commoner subject, and I don’t think you’d have anything to say even if I had directly gone for her throat.”

She was right to some extent. But, it wasn’t a pleasant word to say to the subject’s owner.

Twisting his lips, the Emperor laughed.

“I didn’t forget the advice that you gave me the last time. I sure did need to treat this talent the right way.”

“Huh……”

“Thanks to your advice, I’m soon going to have a brilliant person as my secretary. Now that she’s a deputy secretary, she has obviously become popular.”

The Empress frowned with a face full of hatred.

“I don’t think she’s very talented to be a secretary who hasn’t even completed her graduation……”

“Despite not being a graduate, she caught the attention of the Empress Dowager. With that alone, there’s no reason to spare such talent.”

Celestia was feeling exhausted at the tense argument.

Meanwhile, a third person entered the room, breaking the heavy atmosphere. The Duke of Jib came in as soon as the butler announced his appearance and showed his greetings to the royalties.

The Emperor’s cold eyes shifted to the Duke.

“Ah, you’re here to talk about your daughter, I assume?”

“I agree that my daughter had been very impolite last time, but to celebrate the coalition and the birthday of His Highness, Max, I request you to dance with her at the banquet. Instead of…..”

Max was the Emperor’s brother.

The Duke continued, saying how a single dance was important for the political notions, but he stopped when his eyes fell on Celestia.

“Aren’t you a student from the Academy? Why are you here…..”

He sounded like he wanted her to get out.

She didn’t want to stay here from the beginning. The Empress came in so quickly that she didn’t get the chance to leave.

She wanted to leave.

“Then, please allow this little servant to take her leave.”

But the Emperor shook his head. His red eyes seemed to be filled with anger.

“You don’t have to. Stay here.”

“I beg your pardon..…? But….”

“You deserve to be here, so don’t worry about it.”

The queen’s frown deepened.

“If you say so, Your Highness, then it can’t be helped.”

“Have a seat, then.”

She was forced to sit and listen to the conversation while they continued.

The Empress and the Duke did not drag the conversation any longer when the Emperor retired from the conversation himself, saying he was feeling unwell.

What the hell were they doing here?

She honestly couldn’t understand the purpose of their visit at all. On the surface, it seemed like they were asking for something, but in reality, it felt strange when they left without hearing any definite response.