The Abandoned Empress Will Not Return

“In return for…?”

 

Rodelia’s expression wrinkled with wonder. 

 

She didn’t do anything that Cerdian needed to pay back.
In fact, returning the favour was something that she had to do from her side. 

 

Because she owed him a lot. 

 

“I am not privy to the details.”

 

When Rodelia looked into his eyes waiting for an answer, the servant answered without changing his expression.
Cerdian had always had blunt manners but this man’s etiquette was impeccable that she wasn’t even offended. 

 

Compared to Ferna, Kane’s vassal, he looked quite dignified.
Even though he didn’t seem to be an aristocrat. 

 

Rodelia’s gaze that was on him turned to the gift box. 

 

“Thank you.
I was in the middle of picking a dress so please tell the Grand Duke that he saved me right on time.”

 

Rodelia then beckoned for him to leave and he bowed his head and walked away. 

 

Lady Arden, who had just returned from sending the dress to Sola, showed interest in the newly placed box in front of them. 

 

“Your Majesty, what is this?”

 

The dress was definitely sent back but there was a box much bigger than before.
She was curious.
She could only widen her eyes as Baroness Verna explained what had happened to her.
She stomped her feet asking her to open the box quickly.  

 

“If it was indeed sent by His Highness Grand Duke, it must be the best because I know he has a good eye.”

 

“That’s right, Your Majesty.
Please open it immediately.”

 

Rodelia carefully untied the ribbon and opened the lid of the box. 

 

“Wow…”

 

The maids exclaimed altogether- as if they had agreed on it in advance.

 

On one side was a dark green dress that closely resembled Rodelia’s eye color and on the other side were accessories, shoes and a card that matched the dress.
They were all things that seemed to fit Rodelia. 

 

“Oh my gosh… Seeing that even the card matched, he is very attentive.”

 

“It certainly suits you, Your Majesty,”

 

“I knew it, it’s not simply returning the favour is it? There’s something between the two of you, right? Are the rumours true?”

 

Rodelia contemplated as to what she would answer to the questions asked by her maids with sparkling eyes.
But instead, she replied with a vaguely muffed look. 

 

“Well…”

 

Without affirming or denying, she picked up the card and slowly read the neat handwriting. 

 

This is in return for the handkerchief.>

 

A smile leaked out.
If it was about the handkerchief, it had already been returned.
Perhaps he intended to relieve her burden by making an appropriate excuse. 

 

Rodelia stared at the nicely folded dress and made a decision. 

 

Let’s continue to use Cerdian Aizen, the one who gave her favours without payment. 

 

***

 

It was a perfect spring. 

 

There was a moderate amount of sunlight and the cool breeze was blowing gently.
It made one feel good as the weather was neither too hot nor too cold. 

 

Suddenly, along the path where the flower clusters were splendidly blooming, a rain of petals started falling from the trees.
Accompanied by the noise from the people who had lined up on the path to the Imperial Palace. 

 

Wearing the green dress that Cerdian had sent, Rodelia was sitting in the middle of the march. 

 

“Didn’t you get the dress?”

 

Kane, who had arrived first, frowned and asked.
Rodelia noticed that he looked rather surprised that she didn’t wear the dress he sent her. 

 

She almost burst out laughing. 

 

It’s the first time they were seeing each other since their quarrel but the only thing he talked about was the dress. 

 

Normally, she would already have a hurt expression on her face however, her feelings for Kane had been sorted out to some extent so her heart was surprisingly calm. 

 

Rodelia responded calmly, not paying attention to him. 

 

“What dress are you talking about?”

 

“…Marquis Florence should’ve sent it.”

 

“No, I did not receive anything.”

 

“Nothing…?”

 

Rodelia nodded with an unconcerned expression on her face.
Kane was baffled. 

 

“…The Empress does not seem to care.”

 

“I do care.”

 

In an instant, Kane’s stiff expression loosened.
He had a satisfied expression on his face saying, ‘That’s right.’.
But then, his face hardened again at Rodelia’s next words. 

 

“Isn’t it the closing ceremony? It has already happened three times but I am very nervous because it is the 100th anniversary of the Founding Day.”

 

“No, that’s not what I meant… Not long ago, you left like just that and did not look for me.”

 

(T/N: …sigh)

 

Who was it that told me to leave first? What did you expect me to do?

 

(T/N: EXACTLY!!)

 

Rodelia did not answer.
It wasn’t that she was deliberately ignoring him; it was that she was speechless.
However, Kane’s expression visibly hardened as he must’ve thought that she ignored him. 

 

“Are you going to ignore me now?”

 

“How can that be? Your Majesty had ordered for me to leave then.
I merely didn’t seek you out lest it sour your mood if I dared visit you again.”

 

Rodelia’s voice was indifferent and her gaze never turned to Kane.
She even looked bored. 

 

“…That dress suits you.”

 

“It was a gift.
Thank you.”

 

Kane seemed to be trying to keep the conversation going but Rodelia showed annoyance.
He too must have been offended as their conversation no longer continued after those words. 

 

At the same time, the surroundings became abuzz as the nobles began to arrive one by one.
Among them were the Aizen siblings. 

 

The noisy surroundings then turned silent after they appeared.

 

It was because of the dress Sola was wearing. 

 

It seemed to match Emperor Kane’s attire. 

 

Wearing the dark navy blue dress, Sola proudly walked down the red carpet.
Kane’s face, as he saw this, hardened again. 

 

“Why is Sola wearing that dress..?”

 

Rodelia heard Kane murmur but she ignored him then wore a gentle smile. 

 

“Your dress is beautiful, Princess Aizen.
Isn’t that right, Your Majesty?”

 

“…”

 

“Thank you, Your Majesty.
His Majesty sent it.”

 

Sola greeted them by raising the hem of the dress with her fingertips.
The corners of her smiling eyes curled slightly. 

 

“I thought so.
I see that it matches well with His Majesty, I feel relieved that the two of you seem to be getting along well.
Please continue to take good care of His Majesty on my behalf, princess.”

 

“Pardon?”

 

“It seems that I have not been able to fulfill my duties so far so I wish to focus on my work from now on.”

 

“…Leave it to me.”

 

Sola looked perplexed as the reaction she was expecting did not come out.
Moreover, Rodelia subtly brought up her position as empress, treating Sola not as a princess of the empire, but only as the emperor’s lover. 

 

“I leave him in your care.”

 

Sola gripped her dress tightly and trembled. 

 

Rodelia almost burst out laughing again because Sola couldn’t manage to control her expression properly.
She held back her laughter and turned to Cerdian. 

 

He was wearing an almost-black with a hint of green suit, a green cravat around his neck and golden leaf patterns on his suit jacket that seemed to match with hers. 

 

Kane surely noticed it as annoyance was evident on his face. 

 

“It’s as if the Grand Duke matched his outfit with the Empress.”

 

(T/N: )

 

“It seems so.
The Empress almost became a laughing stock since Sola is wearing that dress; so it is quite a relief.”

 

“…Why would the Empress be a laughing stock?”

 

“Perhaps Your Majesty is not aware, but in an official event like this, you must always be careful, yet you still matched your outfit with Sola.
Even now, the eyes of the people around us seem to be drawn to this….”

 

Cerdian stabbed at Kane’s ego and glanced around them.
Although they weren’t being obvious, like he said, several pairs of curious eyes were pointing towards where they were. 

 

“And because of that, rather than being the subject of gossip, it would be better to say that she had matched outfits with me.”

 

He turned his gaze back to Rodelia and continued speaking with his characteristic languid smile. 

 

“Isn’t it?”

 

“It is.
Many rumours are already circulating about the relationship between me and the Grand Duke.
I’d rather it be about that.”

 

Cerdian smiled cheerily after hearing Rodelia’s response.
Kane sending Sola a dress was not something he expected.
He had been a little perplexed but it ended up being better for him. 

 

Cerdian was going to cause trouble for Kane but didn’t expect that Rodelia would take it positively. 

 

Without hiding his smile at her reaction, he expressed his gratitude. 

 

“It is an honour.
The dress looks good on you.”

 

“Thank you, Grand Duke.
You look very nice too.
I hope you have a great time.”

 

They were seated shortly after and the other nobles who arrived gave them a simple greeting and took their assigned seats. 

 

After that talk with Cerdian, Kane finally spoke after holding his stiff expression the whole time.

 

“Empress, there must have been some sort of mistake.
That dress was not supposed to be sent to Sola, but to you..”

 

“You do not need to make excuses.
Besides, it suits the princess better than me.
I think the dress has found its rightful owner.”

 

Rodelia adjusted her earrings indifferently. 

 

***

 

It was still a difficult job seeing the delegation off. 

 

It may not seem like much but it was certainly not easy to have to sit up straight, smile kindly and give proper compliments. 

 

“Your Majesty, you must send me letters.”

 

Princess Tanya, who had built a close relationship with Rodelia, planted her a kiss on the cheek to say goodbye. 

 

With the roaring sound of the band, the envoy of the Guerney Kingdom left the Imperial Palace.
After leaving one by one, only the last delegation from the Clavia Kingdom remained. 

 

Princess Charlotte, who was so expressionless in the distance that it was impossible to tell what she was thinking, approached with her typical bright gait. 

 

“Greetings to His Majesty and Her Majesty.”

 

Formal thanks and farewells were exchanged.
After talking to Kane about various things, Princess Charlotte finally said thanks to Rodelia. 

 

“Finally, I would like to express my gratitude to Her Majesty the Empress.
Thanks to you, I learned a lot.”

 

Rodelia was truly astonished when Princess Charlotte spoke to her, as she had in fact expected that she would never speak to her again. 

 

There was no longer hostility or vigilance in her voice. 

 

Sitting with her back straight and a dry expression, Rodelia looked at the Princess with a slightly surprised face. 

 

“I say this sincerely.
I am sorry for my impudence in the past.
I once had doubts, but Her Majesty the Empress is the most fitting woman for the position.”

 

(T/N: Is Sola still around?)

 

What the hell is going on?

 

To be honest, the stress she received from Charlotte throughout the Founding Day wasn’t too bad.
However, rather ironically, Princess Charlotte was the one who said what Rodelia wanted to hear the most.

 

“And also in the future.”

 

That she was the right person for the Empress’ position, supporting and encouraging her to keep her seat. 

 

“Thank you, Princess.
You too will be a wonderful member of the royal family of Clavia.”

 

After sending a hand kiss which signified blessings in Clavia, Rodelia saw Charlotte off. 

 

“We have successfully completed the 100th anniversary of the Founding of the Empire.”

 

With Kane’s declaration, all formal proceedings were over.
The nobles guarding their seats also left one by one. 

 

She thought it was the worst but it wasn’t. 

 

Rodelia returned to the Empress’ palace thinking that this founding celebration wasn’t too bad.
It also sounded like Kane was calling her but she ignored it. 

 

It felt pretty good.