Chapter 11

Chapter 2. Summit Between Two Empires

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11. My Shepherd Who Smelled Sweetly of Sheep's Milk

The atmosphere in the conference room was terrible.

Of course, no sane minister would want to get involved in the Emperor's personal affairs.

What did it matter if the Emperor had an immoral and unethical relationship with a mistress, as long as it didn't negatively affect the affairs of state?

Even if the Empress Leonarda felt wronged and angry, it was an unspoken rule that she shouldn't interfere with the Emperor's favorite mistress.

They would just have to get a mistress of their own.

The favor of the supreme ruler rarely lasted until old age, but the Empress's position was eternal, wasn't it?

Since the marriage between the Emperor and Empress was primarily for political purposes, there was no reason for the Empress not to tolerate the Emperor's love affairs.

However, on the other hand, there was an implicit 'limit' to all of that.

If the Empress tolerated the Emperor and his lover for the sake of peace in the palace, the Emperor, at the very least, shouldn't engage in displays of affection in front of the Empress.

What reason was there to deliberately humiliate the other party like that?

"Many dignitaries will be attending this summit. I intend to have the Empress Palace host both the welcoming and farewell banquets."

Therefore, the disaster that occurred in the conference room before the meeting began was a very troublesome matter.

It would be nice if things in the world could be neatly divided with a knife, but the heart wasn't like that.

Besides, everyone knew that Empress Leonarda loved the Emperor and tolerated more than usual to avoid being hated… and he was showing affection in front of her?

"The Saintess has been helping me with many things because I have been seriously ill."

The Emperor, coldly exuding chilliness, the Saintess, glancing around as if troubled, and the Empress, smiling gracefully as if nothing was wrong.

All of them were currently dangerous figures.

The nobles who had eyes and ears planted in the Imperial Palace knew where this icy atmosphere came from and remained silent.

There was nothing to gain from stepping forward.

"I intend to fulfill my duties as Empress from now on, so I ask for your help."

When the Empress finally declared, the Emperor openly showed his discomfort.

It wasn't bad for the Empress to do the Empress's work. There was no reason to oppose it. However, the Emperor's faction of nobles sitting in this place had to oppose it for the sake of the Emperor's feelings.

But if they did that, they would be marked by the Empress, who would be very upset.

'Have you heard from Duke Ahillo?'

'No, I haven't.'

'So, are you saying the Empress acted unilaterally?'

'Well, His Majesty the Emperor looks completely unaware of it….'

'Isn't it because Her Majesty the Empress is angry and suddenly saying this because His Majesty was… ahem, doing that in the conference room?'

The Imperial Council was held at a large, circular table.

The nobles who were able to sit far away from the Emperor were busy communicating with each other through eye contact.

On the other hand, the high-ranking nobles who were close to the Emperor were very embarrassed.

Someone had to answer…….

All eyes turned to one place.

The savior was Duke Ahillo.

"It's not because she's my daughter that I'm saying this. Originally, the Empress should be in charge of the banquets. Until now, the Saintess has shared that role, but if the Empress has the will… it is only right that the Empress should do it."

Once he started like that, the Emperor slowly opened his mouth.

"Are you saying the Empress has suddenly become healthy?"

"She seems to be healthy enough to attend the Imperial Council."

"Indeed. She couldn't even sit in the conference room before, but today she even came first."

The Emperor's lips twisted.

The Emperor clearly disliked the Empress. He didn't even try to hide it.

Eventually, a couple of nobles from the Emperor's faction spoke up cautiously.

"Ahem, we must welcome them flawlessly, as much effort as they put into coming here."

"Um… ahem, how about slowly presiding over smaller banquets first…? Doing such a large banquet from the beginning is a bit…."

When dignitaries came from foreign countries, there were two most important banquets.

The welcoming banquet, which showcased the greatness and wealth of the Nix Empire and intimidated the foreigners. And the farewell banquet.

As it was a matter of showing the nation's dignity, these two banquets were so important that they were called the light and salt of the many palace banquets.

So, they hoped the Empress would concede and start with something else.

The nobles of the Emperor's faction prayed earnestly in their hearts.

Until now, the Empress had stepped back due to health reasons, and thanks to that, the Imperial Palace was running smoothly.

The Saintess Helene-led Temple faction. The noble faction led by the Empress's father, Duke Ahillo.

The Emperor's faction, which was only loyal to the Emperor. And other neutral families.

These four powers were in a state of delicate opposition, which was paradoxically peaceful.

But if things turned out like this, things would be different.

The Empress being ill was an essential element for the peace of the domestic situation. But if she stepped forward like this, the noble faction could gain power by suppressing the Temple faction.

In that case, the Emperor's faction would have no choice but to join hands with the Temple faction, even if only temporarily.

To prevent the noble faction from becoming too large.

"That's too much to say!"

"Isn't it the law of the Imperial Family that the Empress presides over important banquets?"

"Or do you think the Empress will definitely fail to do it?"

The Counts and Marquesses belonging to the noble faction frowned and retorted.

In fact, they were trying to stop the Empress because of political issues, but they knew what was right, so the nobles of the Emperor's faction had nothing more to say.

They couldn't step forward any further because the Empress hadn't ruined anything yet, so there was no justification.

"I believe the Empress's right to exercise is justified."

"I agree."

"The Empress has grown up as the daughter of the Duke's family since she was young and has learned a lot. She just hasn't had the opportunity to show her capabilities."

Justification was very important.

Because the side with justification could speak louder.

"I approve of the Empress's hosting of the banquet."

The Emperor, who had been silent for a long time, finally surrendered.

A change was blowing in the Imperial Palace of the Nix Empire.

* * *

'What? Approve? App-prove?'

Ha!

After returning to the Empress Palace, I distorted the face that had been smiling perfectly like a painting and let out a cold, hollow laugh.

I remembered a shepherd who had promised to buy potatoes and eggs from the market and make me something delicious.

His innocent face, saddened that he had burned everything because he didn't know how to cook well, followed.

Over the images of him that I loved, that I couldn't help but love, was superimposed the image of 'Emperor Enrique' arrogantly declaring that he would approve the hosting of the banquet.

'How can a person change so much? His acting skills are amazing. To this extent, it's no wonder I was fooled.'

Biting my lower lip, I tried to erase Enrique, who still remained within me.

The one who smiled brightly at me. The one who squinted his eyes in pleasure when I stroked his hair. The one who blushed shyly when I kissed him.

My shepherd, who smelled of freshly cut grass, the wind, and the sweet smell of sheep's milk, was no longer there.

He was gone.

"Your Majesty, it's honey water."

Derek lowered his large frame and handed me a mug. The concern concentrated in that one word soothed my heart.

"Did something happen in the conference room?"

A knight with a sword could not enter the conference room. So, Derek didn't know.

But I didn't want to tell him everything that had happened inside.

"I just felt like I was a nuisance. Like I was the villain who was interfering with their destined love."

"That's not true. How can you say such a thing?"

"That's the truth. The Emperor didn't even want to look at my face."

A sneer escaped.

Enrique really didn't look at me straight even once during the meeting.

It seemed like he was looking at me, but his gaze always strayed to my nose or ears instead of my eyes. And then he was holding hands with the Saintess, who was sitting on his left, as if to show off.

How resentful that was.

From my point of view, it was the first time in a long time that I had properly met Enrique.

But from the beginning, he showed me a disheveled appearance, and throughout the meeting, his behavior was excessive.

During the meeting, Enrique stroked Helene's hand exactly five times. In the end, Helene intertwined her fingers with his.

Anyone could see that the two were in the midst of a love of the century.

"Um, Your Majesty. Duke Ahillo has arrived."

"He would. Show him to the drawing room. Serve him tea that has a calming effect."

After briefly instructing Mrs. Bertolt, I took off all the jewels I had put on to attend the Imperial Council.

I could barely breathe when my body became lighter.

Looking at my eyes in the mirror, the number '200' floated up.

200 days of life.

That's what I have now.

'I wonder if that child returned to his country safely.'

If you want to calm your anger, it's good to think about something completely different.

Thinking of the boy whose name I didn't even know, I was fiddling with the bracelet he had left behind when I flinched and stopped my hand.

'Wait a minute. But why did the desert empire request a summit?'

Since they requested it, they would come here.

If Nix had requested it, I would be in the desert with Enrique right now.

It wasn't easy for the Emperors and Empresses of the two great powers to meet, and it was even rarer for the bloodline of the Sun God to leave the desert.

But for what reason would the desert Emperor take such a heavy step?

"Father."

"Your Majesty the Empress."

There was only one person who could give me that answer at this point. Duke Ahillo.

Duke Ahillo was so obviously the Empress's father that you could tell even if you were running backwards.

A middle-aged man with thick blond hair and a stylish mustache. He exercised regularly, so he didn't have a protruding belly and had a good physique.

Above all, he had a considerable domineering aura. Just like the lion, the symbol of the family.

"Is there a way to win?"

I liked his personality, which asked directly without beating around the bush. I nodded and sat down. And just as I was about to start talking.

"I'm sorry to interrupt the conversation. The Saintess has requested a visit."

An uninvited guest had appeared.