Chapter 218
“That’s my job, so I’ll do it.”
“But you put off things you don’t want to do so well…”
Hospitality was always Nicholas’s role. Recently, however, he began asking Rubens about attending such events every time.
Sometimes, he’d come to the mansion just to have tea or spend time without any reason. Rubens found Nicholas annoying.
“If you’re bored alone, pick any noble lady you know and have a meal with her.”
“What?”
“Aren’t you past the marrying age? If you’re lonely, you should have a woman or start a family. Why does a grown man keep pestering his superior like a creep?”
“That’s not it. Your Grace doesn’t understand my feelings.”
Nicholas spoke in a complaining tone, then climbed into his carriage. Was he on medication?
Rubens stared incredulously and took a cigar from his pocket.
“Good day, Duke Krygen.”
A voice called from behind. Rubens paused lighting his cigar and turned his eyes to see who it was.
“Chief Chamberlain Hudilian.”
The chief chamberlain was a close aide to the Emperor.
“His Majesty sent word that if you have no other appointments after parliament, to bring Duke Krygen to him.”
“What does he want now?”
“No indication was given as to the reason.”
Rubens openly showed his annoyance, but the chamberlain calmly replied.
In fact, Rubens already had a good guess why he was summoned. He had stirred up quite a bit of gossip this year.
The thought of being lectured by an old man made Rubens lose the taste of the cigar he hadn’t even smoked yet.
“Lead the way.”
No matter how inconvenient, one could not refuse the Emperor’s summons.
He put the cigar back into its case and set off.
* * *
A huge door framed in gold opened. A man with long golden hair leisurely rose from his desk.
“I pay respects to His Majesty, the Sun of Obelit. May your reign last ten thousand years.”
“Sit here. Have you been well, Duke Krygen?”
“Yes, Your Majesty. I hope you have been in good health.”
The Emperor guided Rubens to a wide sofa.
Emperor Franz Bertholdt, who had ascended the throne at ten and seized power before his twenties, was a capable ruler.
Though age had added wrinkles to his face, his undiminished dignity remained.
The Emperor, seated in the place of honor, looked somewhat disappointed and spoke.
“Yes. It’s been a long time since I last saw you. I called because you never visit unless summoned.”
“My apologies, Your Majesty.”
“Spare me the empty apologies. I heard the engagement to Lady Werfel went smoothly, but Count Werfel came yesterday with strange news.”
Even the annulment of a noble engagement required the Emperor’s approval.
The annulment documents had yet to be sent, but it seemed Count Werfel had leaked some information before that.
“We decided due to irreconcilable differences during the wedding preparations. Your Majesty had even promised to attend the ceremony yourself, so it’s quite embarrassing.”
“Yes. Even with a marriage promised since the previous generation, weddings often fail if there are mismatches. But recently, there’s been an interesting rumor going around.”
Rubens nonchalantly sipped from the teacup on the table. The Emperor smiled softly and continued.
“It’s about the Duke’s mistress. She stirred up more trouble than expected for the Duke.”
“I don’t know how much you’re aware of, but that relationship is already over.”
At this point, it was impossible to avoid the topic.
“So you blame Lady Werfel?”
“It’s no one’s fault. It was a matter of incompatible interests between the families. Please accept it as it is.”
“If that’s what you say, so be it. I didn’t call you here to argue about that.”
Though he pressed persistently, the Emperor accepted the answer gracefully.
“I understand you’re past the age for marriage. Are you looking for a new bride?”
“Yes. In fact, today I am to view portraits of bride candidates with my grandmother.”
“That’s the Krygen Madam for you—always so swift.”
The Emperor’s words were hard to interpret as praise or reproach. Sitting a bit straighter, he looked directly at Rubens and said,
“I’ll be blunt. How about Princess Christian as the madam of the Krygen household?”
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