Chapter 1 Part 4

She understood that her opponent was the Emperor and she should act with reverence. But still…

 

 

 

‘I can’t stand the sight of him!’

 

 

 

Anais gritted her teeth, glaring at the Emperor sitting opposite her. Emperor Rahil felt a dent in his pride as he faced Anais, who clearly detested him more than he had anticipated. It was as if he could distinctly hear the sound of crackling.

 

 

 

‘No, no. Such a reaction is almost proof that my choice is right… If she fell for me and began opposing Angelica, that would be a problem. So it has to be her.’

 

 

 

It was inevitable that rumors would spread if the Emperor formally attended marriage meetings. Thus, Rahil was meeting potential brides under various pretexts.

 

 

 

He met someone once every one or two weeks.

 

 

 

He never had multiple meetings with the same person. A single meeting was always sufficient. Although he did indefinitely postpone these meetings after Angelica’s wedding date was confirmed, he met with quite a few ladies. But this was the first time he encountered such a reaction.

 

 

 

‘I am the Emperor, after all.’

 

 

 

Isn’t her disdain a bit too overt? Her expression even seems slightly irritated!

 

 

 

Rahil forced a mild smile, even though he felt like his lips might twitch in annoyance. By now, Anais was looking at him as the man who could lead her life into chaos.

 

 

 

“Is there a reason you detest becoming the empress so much?”

 

 

 

There are so many reasons!

 

 

 

Anais pondered how she could articulate the countless reasons flooding her mind. She wanted to speak, but the first words that sprang to mind were curses, so she needed a moment.

 

 

 

“Do you remember what you just told me? That you need an empress who won’t harm the Duchess of Calix.”

 

 

 

“What’s the issue with that?”

 

 

 

Anais’s eyes narrowed when Rahil’s voice and gaze turned aggressive. The problem is that you don’t see the problem, you fool!

 

 

 

“Your Majesty, while the empress’s authority may be above a duchess’s, that authority derives from you, the emperor. If you publicly express… trust in the Duchess, then what becomes of the empress’s stature?”

 

 

 

She’d be mocked, even by other nobles. The nobility would view the empress as a poor soul who couldn’t even secure the emperor from another woman.

 

 

 

There wasn’t any need to even think when choosing between being the head of a snake or the tail of a dragon. In high society, it’d be better to live single than to endure such treatment as an empress.

 

 

 

“Angelica is a kind woman. She wouldn’t demean the empress, so I can’t comprehend why would you say such a thing?”

 

 

 

Seeing the emperor act as if his beloved was being slandered irritated Anais even more.

 

 

 

She wanted to retort, to twist his words until his stomach churned, but he was the emperor. Even if he pretended to be a just emperor, an emperor is still an emperor.

 

 

 

‘It’s a losing game if I act on impulse.’

 

 

 

With an even colder gaze, Anais addressed the emperor, her disdain for Rahil growing more pronounced.

 

 

 

“The social sphere often exaggerates flaws. This presents a great opportunity to pull down the high authority of the royals to the level of a duke. Who would pass on that?”

 

 

 

“Who are you referring to?”

 

 

 

“Those who love gossiping behind others.”

 

 

 

“I’m asking who exactly.”

 

 

 

“When you welcome the empress, you’ll clearly see. You’ll easily witness those hiding behind their fans, mocking the empress.”

 

 

 

You might not even notice, given how enamored you are with Angelica Calix, she thought silently.

 

 

 

An increasingly frustrated Anais, with anger seeping in her voice, was interrupted by Rahil, who raised his voice.

 

 

 

“You dare threaten me with events yet to occur? Which among the empire’s nobles would dare belittle the royal family?”

 

 

 

You naïve fool. It’s common for even royals to be mocked when absent.

 

 

 

However, having lived his entire life as royalty, Rahil seemed unwilling to accept this fact. Looking at his irritated demeanor, Anais wanted to punch him and give him a piece of mind.

 

 

 

“Given my unpredictability, eccentricity, victim mentality, and feelings of inferiority to Duchess Calix…”

 

 

 

Anais tried her best to produce a gentle smile as she continued,

 

 

 

“I lack too much to be the empress you desire. Your Majesty deserves a more fitting bride, so I understand that you wish to retract your earlier proposition.”

 

 

 

Rahil stared back with a furrowed brow. He had discussed Anais with his aides, one of whom had remarked,

 

 

 

“To fit your criteria, she must be someone who doesn’t want to become empress.”

 

 

 

“Why so?”

 

 

 

“Isn’t it clear? Someone not romantically attracted to you, who, knowing the empress’s status would be undermined by the Duchess of Calix, can ignore it.”

 

 

 

“Mind your words. Angelica wouldn’t belittle the empress.”

 

 

 

“Your Majesty, during the ball, even if you showed more kindness to the Duchess of Calix than to the empress, people will assume the empress is being belittled.”

 

 

 

“That…”

 

 

 

Even though Rahil wanted to argue, he wasn’t confident enough to do so. As Rahil turned his head away with a frown, another aide spoke up.

 

 

 

“Those willing to endure such treatment to become empress would either desire to raise their offspring as the next emperor or want you, Your Majesty, given your visible qualities.”

 

 

 

Although, who would like such a man, if they’re going to get treated like this? However, some people might believe they could change their partner after marriage.

 

 

 

“In this case, the former might oppress or harm the duchess using power, while the latter might harm her out of sheer jealousy. So…”

 

 

 

The aides argued that they should make the young lady, who didn’t want to be empress, the empress.

 

 

 

Yet, among all the ladies Rahil had met, none showed a genuine disinterest in becoming empress. Some might feign disinterest after hearing rumors, but only one exhibited genuine annoyance.

 

 

 

‘As expected, it has to be her.’

 

 

 

Although he’d set the premise of not harming Angelica, he had no intention of carelessly appointing an empress.

 

 

 

It wasn’t just any position; it was that of the empress. She had to be the mother of the empire and a clever woman capable of representing the emperor in his absence.