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Chapter 4 – Please, Be My Empress (2)
Everyone died, and she had the worst end of her life, nonetheless, Gloria tried to look cute as she glanced at Kaien.
He was normally quiet, but those who knew Kaien’s temper would not readily approach him because of his judgemental personality. But he wasn’t always like that. It was Kaien who had escorted Gloria to her debutante ball when Erun suddenly was busy due to the death of the Marchioness.
‘Everything had been going well till then. That sly fox.’
Gloria clenched her jaw as she remembered Erun taking her from Kaien’s hand with a kind smile.
Thinking further, that childhood friendship was drastically diminished once Erun stayed by her side.
‘You coward!’
She laughed. How anxious he must have been thinking he might lose her to the Duke of Ludenberg!
‘I was stupid, too.’
Gloria was soon filled with regret. Who is swearing at whom? Her own stupidity and ignorance brought blood upon this Imperial Family.
Before the shock of the late Emperor’s sudden death dissipated, a crown of thorns came down on her head, placed by greedy men.
Solely because she was the only direct descendant she had to become the Emperor, so Erun acted as Reagent under the pretext that the new Emperor knew too little to rule appropriately. She was removed from her rightful seat so slowly she didn’t realize her authority was dwindling, and eventually she died at his hands.
In her anger at that incompetent self for not fighting back or protecting anyone, Gloria bit her lips hard.
She grimaced as she gripped Kaien’s cloak. She would never forgive Erun for assassinating the late Emperor and stealing her seat nor the nobles who supported him. Even if she became a tyrant who will go down in the history of the Empire, she would never keep Erun alive. That was why Kaien was desperately ‘necessary.’
“Duke.”
Kaien’s shoulders twitched slightly at Gloria’s authoritative call.
There was a gap between Gloria who smiled brightly like a white flower, and Gloria whose soul burned with hatred and regret of betrayal.
Kaien reached out to her unconsciously as she looked as if she was about to shed red tears.
“Your Majesty, what the hell is Her Majesty doing—”
“Your Majesty!!”
Just before his fingertips reached Gloria’s cheek, he heard the distant shouting of her name, and he slowly lowered his hand.
‘Crazy bastard.’ Kaien cursed himself inwardly while looking down at Gloria’s back facing him. He wouldn’t have extended himself toward her if he wasn’t completely insane.
Gloria pressed her cold lips together as she saw Diana and the court ladies. umbrellas in hand, running in the distance.
“What the hell… what if you catch a cold…?”
Diana and the court ladies paled when they saw the precious Glory of the Empire in her rain-drenched state.
And the worry was twofold since Gloria had long had a weak constitution and often was confined to her sickbed.
“Your Majesty!”
“Sorry.”
Diana cried as she hurriedly wiped Gloria’s wet skin with the towel she had prepared. Gloria apologized as she felt Diana’s gentle touch.
“Your brother took care of me.”
Diana opened her eyes wide when she saw the man’s black jacket covering Gloria’s shoulders. Only then did Diana notice Kaien and smiled brightly.
Could it be that smile brought him to his senses? Kaien stepped back and bowed.
“Then, I’ll take my leave, Your Majesty.”
“Wait, Duke. I still have something to say—”
Gloria turned around quickly and tried to catch him. But Kaien had already left.
“…”
She stared at his back as he strode into the distance. She had known for a long time how he viewed her.
‘The sentimental, incompetent Emperor. To him, I’m nothing more than a puppet.’
Dispirited, she cast down her lapis lazuli blue eyes. Quickly recognizing the Emperor’s change of mood, Diana told Gloria.
“Now go inside the palace. I’m afraid you’ll catch a cold if you stay like this.”
“I’m sorry for being stubborn, Diana.”
“I have caused everyone trouble.”
Gloria apologized to Diana for being genuinely concerned. But she smiled brightly and replied,
“I was surprised, but if Your Majesty is feeling a little bit better, that’s fine.”
It was the expected answer. Still, Gloria laughed weakly at Diana’s heartwarming words.
Diana had been gazing at the Emperor pityingly, but she immediately cleared her expression and said,
“I’m fine, but I don’t know about Duchess Praud.”
“I forgot about my aunt.”
When the old Duchess living in the Imperial Palace was mentioned, Gloria looked away.
Duchess Praud was the Princess of the neighboring kingdom and the younger sister of Gloria’s deceased mother, and she was famous for being very strict.
The old dowager would surely say, ‘Oh, my God! Your Majesty, how could you have done such an ungraceful thing?’
Gloria looked at Diana and said in a voice filled with longing.
“If I hear that nagging, I’m certain I’ll come to my senses.”
Reflecting conflicting emotions, Diana’s expression hardened seriously at the Emperor’s musing.
Diana, very well aware of Duchess Praud’s loud badgering, whispered in Gloria’s ear.
“Please don’t say that in front of the Duchess.”
“I’m saying this as a senior who gets scolded daily by the Duchess, Your Majesty.”
At Diana’s earnest tone, Gloria forgot the situation and laughed loudly.
***
‘You were right, Diana.’
After a warm bath, Gloria frowned while putting on her gown. Before her was an elegantly patterned partition, and beyond that stood an old woman with a bent back.
“You would be a laughingstock if others knew about it, Your Majesty! Acting like a crazy person on a rainy day!”
“It was a brief deviation, Aunt.”
Hahhh. A tired sigh escaped Gloria’s soft lips.
Pfft. Hearing the sigh, Diana couldn’t hold her laugh, but she fixed her expression as soon as she felt the Duchess’ glare.
“You will think I’m an incompetent, stupid Emperor anyway. What’s wrong with adding one more word?”
Gloria’s forceful reply startled Duchess Praud.
“Oh, my God!”
Gloria glanced at the maids holding back their laughter and said to the Duchess.
“I’m just kidding! If I add one more, I’ll be ashamed to face the late Emperor.”
“I’m glad you are aware, Your Majesty!”
Despite the rote nature of Gloria’s answer, Duchess Praud sighed heavily as if relieved.
Princess Praud came to reside in the Palace to care for her elder sister’s daughter Gloria, who was alone in the Imperial Family after the death of her mother, Empress Teresia, and she became Duchess of Praud.
At that time, the nanny also grew old and left, and the only one who stayed with an open heart was Princess Diana Ludenberg.
The only person who could lecture the Emperor Gloria was herself, so she took her role quite seriously and became a fussy old woman.
Gloria slowly rose from her seat. The maids quickly started helping her put on the dress.
“What happened to the Marquis?”
Gloria tried to conceal her fury at the mention of that name.
In response to her question, Duchess Praud started shooting questions at the Emperor.
“What kind of nightmare did you have to make the bridegroom’s face look like that? Whatever the reason, you’re being reckless!”
“Aaah.”
Gloria smirked as the Duchess started her nagging again.
‘Did you just wrap it up as a nightmare?’
She hit him so hard that it was amazing to just let it slide as a nightmare.
Haaaaa.
The Duchess’ sighs could be heard loudly through the partition, but Gloria didn’t care. It was more important for Diana to remain alive than worrying about the Duchess sighing.
Gloria watched the hem of the Princess’ skirt, visible through the gaps in the partition, and kept her mouth shut.
‘I’m alive.’
She, Diana, and the Duke of Ludenberg were still breathing in this land. She didn’t know why, but she set foot in a place that was, possibly, the past. From this time on, she had to stay alert to not be devoured by Erun again.
‘I am not willing to be caught… I can’t lose anymore!’
The strong wind that hit her whole body and the voice without any specific gender was still vivid in her mind. When Gloria finished dressing, she raised her hand and moved away from the court ladies.
“Your Majesty.”
As soon as she stepped forward without paying attention to her surroundings, Diana cautiously called her due to her odd behavior.
Gloria was strange today.
As Diana called her, the Emperor swiftly approached her and caught her in a hug.
“Y- Your Majesty?”
Diana blushed in her surprise at the sudden hug. Duchess Praud began berating the Emperor over her behavior again, but Gloria, feeling the warmth that filled her arms, spoke to Diana.
“The past or whatever, it’s fine, I don’t care! I’m so glad you’re alive!”
“Your Majesty?”
“I’m really happy.”
Diana was bewildered by Gloria suddenly hugging her tightly with her slender arms.
Gloria inhaled deeply Diana’s floral scent. Who would have known that this warmth, this fragrance, would be lost.
“Thank you for being alive.”
Gloria spoke, unable to control the trembling of her voice. Her relief was tempered by a burst of emotion that messed her up inside, but Gloria stopped thinking.
At the sight of Gloria’s childlike crying, Diana looked at Duchess Praud with a puzzled expression. Instead of stopping her, the Duchess gave her a meaningful look and left the room, taking the Emperor’s court ladies with her.
Tak.
Diana stroked Gloria’s wet, beautiful red hair, and once they were alone, she said with a lot of tenderness.
“You’re saying the same thing as Brother.”
“What?”
Surrounded by her warmth, Gloria slowly lifted her head at Diana’s unexpected words.