If You Leave Without a Word - Chapter 283

‧₊˚ ☁️⋅♡𓂃 ࣪ ִֶָ☾.

If not for the Emperor’s greed, Esther too could have been sitting here among the noblewomen, enjoying fragrant tea and spending her days in leisure and elegance.

It was truly horrifying how the ambitions and cruelty of so-called powerful people could completely crush someone’s life. Agatha suddenly wondered if, beneath her own feet, there might be other lives sacrificed, lives she’d never even known about.

“Duchess Kristin, you’ve been awfully quiet. Are you feeling unwell?”

Having sat silently in her seat for so long, the Marchioness now watched Agatha’s face. Though she sounded concerned, it was really a subtle pressure to join in the conversation rather than sit quietly.

Agatha reluctantly pulled her gaze away from her child.

“Oh, I’m sorry. I’m simply not used to gatherings like this, so I’m never quite sure what to say.”

It wasn’t entirely a lie. While Agatha was uncomfortable in such company, she also genuinely didn’t know how to join the noblewomen’s conversations. On the inside, she felt a storm of emotions, and forcing herself to feign warmth while suppressing those feelings was exhausting.

“I see. I understand. You’ve certainly had a difficult life.”

But could they really understand? The Marchioness nodded as if sympathizing, but to Agatha it was just ridiculous. What could someone who had lived their whole life in comfort and privilege possibly know? She quickly lifted her teacup, hiding her expression and feelings behind a sip.

The Empress arrived a little while later. When she finally took her place, her attention was fixed entirely on Agatha, peppering her with questions about everything from her household to her staff, making it seem as if she was genuinely interested in every aspect of Agatha’s life.

In answering the Empress’s barrage of questions, Agatha was once again reminded that her child still didn’t have an official name. She’d asked Cain to choose one long ago, but for some reason, he still hadn’t said a word.

She couldn’t be sure if it was out of guilt, naming the child was something any father ought to do, an obvious duty. If he wouldn’t do even that, did it mean he didn’t want to be a father? Agatha stirred her tea absentmindedly with her spoon.

The tea party dragged on for several more hours. In truth, it was nothing but a tedious session of flattery aimed at pleasing the Empress, and only ended when Agatha’s child, overwhelmed by the unfamiliar place and endless attention, finally began to cry.

His face turned red as he wailed, and Agatha decided it was time to go home. But just as she and her attendants were about to leave, the Empress stopped them, saying she had something to give her.

Agatha looked down at the key the Empress had placed in her hand. It was as large as her palm. It was an old, heavy key, presented as a gift. Even though Agatha tried to decline, saying the last present had been more than enough, the Empress insisted.

She accepted it reluctantly, but the key left her feeling uneasy. It was large and ancient, with no indication of what it was for. Agatha didn’t really want to unravel the Empress’s hidden intentions.

“Did Her Majesty give you that?”

“Yes.”

Liana, who had been waiting in the carriage, asked in wonder, her head tilted in curiosity. It didn’t look at all like something worthy of being a royal gift. When Agatha handed her the key, Liana quickly wrapped it in a handkerchief.

“I thought she already gave you a present last time…”

Agatha recalled the jewel that had originally belonged to the Kristin family, stolen by Stella. That gift had been more than enough. It was a clear signal that the Empress was severing ties with her old confidante and joining hands with Agatha instead.

“She said it was to commemorate and celebrate me becoming her ally.”

“What do you suppose it opens?”

“I don’t know.”

The Empress hadn’t offered any further explanation. She handed over the key as a gift, but never told Agatha where or how to use it. Even when Agatha asked, the Empress only said, “When the time comes, you’ll know.”

You’ll know when the time comes? Agatha didn’t really feel the need to find out if that was true. Taking the key, she wiped her hands and went to take her child from Charlotte.

⚜ ⚜ ⚜

Mernich’s first order was to block the supply of iron goods leaving the capital.

Outwardly, it was framed as an attempt to control the rapidly rising price of iron, but Cain immediately realized it was really to cut off supplies to Ganam.

Since Ganam, which received the most supplies from the capital, was essentially under the Grand Duke’s control, it was crucial to disrupt them by any means possible.

To do this, Cain began by conducting a population survey in the regions bordering the capital. The plan was to only permit supplies proportional to the actual population living there.