“...Cassian.”
The Emperor showed his annoyance.
But my boss had accumulated years of impudence, so he couldn't be afraid of this.
“Won't you excuse me, Your Majesty?”
Cassian looked at the Emperor with a truly pained expression.
“If Miss Saliss becomes frustrated by this and returns to her lands, I will have to return half the work Your Majesty assigned me.
I, after all...”
As he pretended to bow his head, he gave the Empress a strange look.
A slight smile appeared on Cassian's lips, as if he was showing off.
“It's because I'm not good enough.”
Although I don't believe it at all.
Cassian repeated the words that the Empress had grown accustomed to uttering over the past few years like a weapon, and looked back at the Emperor with pity.
The Emperor frowned even more upon seeing this not-so-hidden threat.
The amount of work Cassian was dealing with was indeed enormous, and it was true that the Emperor's workload had decreased significantly since Cassian began residing in the capital.
Moreover, if he was asked to greet the Empress first here, it would only end up damaging her reputation..
There were a lot of eyes watching...
The Emperor sighed as if he had no other choice and looked at me.
Although the Empress's cold expression was quite alarming, I took advantage of the impudence I had cultivated under my superior over the past year and paid my respects to the Emperor...
“Roslita of Baron Salis’s family pays her respects to Your Majesty.”
“…Yes, I heard that you are working hard.
Continue to help the prince well in the future.”
“Of course, Your Majesty.”
When I bowed again to pay my respects, the Emperor waved his hand as if to say that this was enough.
“The first dance is starting soon, so we have to leave.”
After Cassian achieved his goal, he smoothly led me away from the Emperor's presence.
The Emperor's voice echoed in my ears, as he muttered, “What a slut!”
It was a voice intended to please his beloved Empress.
“…I think I was just an excuse, Your Highness.”
“Lying to the Emperor is a crime of deceit, Rose.”
It seems you've lied too much today for it to be true, Your Highness.
Contrary to my expectations that I would go home straight after that, I was actually dancing with Cassian..
This was because he politely and formally asked me to dance after we withdrew from the presence of the Emperor.
“That would be a waste.”
"Sorry?"
“Because Rose wore nice clothes this time.”
“Is this a criticism of my usual clothes?”
“Of course not, I like your usual look, even the frizzy hair.”
When I frowned openly to show my displeasure, he laughed softly.
“More importantly, Rose.”
"Yes?"
“If the Empress summons you, you can refuse.”
"…Yes?"
I responded in amazement at the nonsense I heard.
How could the Baron's daughter refuse the Empress's summons?
“I will take responsibility for you.”
Even in the original story, Cassian talked about protecting Roslita, but I think he only did it right a handful of times..
Of course, unlike the original, this Cassian is quite the cunning fox.
'He made such expressions in front of the Emperor today as well.'
Cassian Artiz had a great deal of pride and did not say anything about what he hated or made others feel sorry for him.
This is partly why the original story went wrong.
He had to be upright, and he was thinking of the honor of his late mother, and he could not bow his head indifferently.
If someone described him as incompetent, he would try to suppress him by force.
'But the current Cassian is not like that.'
If he could handle the business efficiently, he would gladly use any kind of trick, and he didn't really care if he looked foolish..
Because he knew that he would be the one who would laugh in the end.
Should I say that it improved the points that frustrated me in the original story?
‘Hmm….’
I had an uneasy feeling.
I felt like I forgot something important, but...
Anyway, I thought I could trust Cassian's words about taking responsibility now.
“It's okay, Your Highness.”
I didn't want to take the circular route when there was an easy route too..
Unlike the original story, Cassian's current situation wasn't too bad, but it wasn't great either.
He had no allies in the imperial family.
So I didn't want to be a burden on him.
I thought somewhat seriously, but...
“This is a problem.”
“…why?”
“I feel so hurt that Rose would respond to someone else's temptation.”
He made me feel angry with his face...
I thought it would take a few days before she called me back.
While Cassian was talking briefly with one of the other nobles, the Empress's lady-in-waiting came to summon me...
“Her Majesty the Empress has invited you, so follow me.”
The lady-in-waiting at the Empress's palace, a viscountess, pointed to me with an arrogant and contemptuous look.
I really felt the need to blame Cassian a little and refuse, but unlike him, I'm a person with morals, so I followed suit silently..
The Empress was quietly reclining on the sofa, but as soon as she saw me arriving, she rose from her seat, with joy all over her face for some reason.
“Thank you for coming.
Miss Saliss!”
There was even a nasal tone mixed into her voice.
Why?
I came prepared to take a slap or two.
I thought it would be a very profitable deal, as Cassian would compensate me...
In the original story, Roita was almost poisoned by the Empress and was slapped several times, so I naturally thought that she called me this time to vent her anger..
But unlike her appearance in the hall, the Empress spoke very intimately, and even hugged my shoulder and whispered.
“There is no need for you to be so nervous.
Working in the Imperial Palace at such a young age must not have been easy.
You were too reckless.”
“Not at all, Your Majesty.”
So I decided to act innocently and stupidly.
When you don't understand the other person's intentions, it's best to initially appear easy to manipulate.
“I'm not sure this will suit Miss Salis's taste.
I'm old now, so I'm cutting back on my sugar intake.”
The Empress said this while offering me refreshments and beautifully arranged sweets.
Knowing the content of the original story, I was a little hesitant, but in the end I cut it into small pieces and put it in my mouth.
She has no reason to poison me now, the risks are too high for her to do so just to vent her anger.
“It's delicious, Your Majesty the Empress.”
So I deliberately chewed and swallowed more foolishly, and decided to act in an uncomplicated manner.
“I've never tasted anything like this before…”
Of course it was a lie.
Cassian fed me so many delicious things to make me work harder until my taste became very luxurious..
He knew very well that I would work overtime if I ate delicious things.
“Oh my God, it's not that precious.”
The Empress seemed pleased with my answer, and seemed more virtuous and sympathetic.
“I heard that the Sales District is suffering a lot.
Is that why you are working in the capital at such a young age, away from your parents?”
“Yes..”
I pretended to feel very embarrassed.
Usually, young noble ladies would want to hide their poverty, and most of them wouldn't even consider working out in this way unless it was an honorary position.
At this, the Empress asked her lady-in-waiting to take a step back a little, as if she was considering me.
“I was very inconsiderate, Miss Salis.
I did not mean to embarrass you.
I really wanted to take care of you as a subject of the Imperial Family...”
The Empress said this while holding my hand.
Her skin was soft because of good care, and unlike mine, her fingers were straight without any ridges.
“You understand my feelings, don't you, Miss Saliss?”
“…Yes, Your Majesty the Empress.”
I deliberately did not add any flowery words,
Although I was pretending to not be very smart, I thought that the Empress would partly realize that this was an act, given the act I had done with Cassian..
The Empress looked at me silently for a moment, then patted my hand.
“It is very unfortunate.”
I bowed my head quietly.
For some reason, what Cassian said that evening kept ringing in my ears.
“The Baron and Baroness Saliss would certainly like to be with you.
Even I feel as if my heart would break if I thought of our prince being so far away...”
That's why she always threw all the difficult, dangerous and unpleasant tasks on Cassian whenever the First Prince had to go out.
“As a mother, I feel very sorry for Miss Salis.
I don't usually say such things, but...”
The Empress put her hand on my shoulder as if asking me to raise my head.
I looked at the Empress with eyes that had grown a little warm from trying so hard to think sad thoughts while keeping my head down.
I could feel satisfied with my acting in her eyes.
“I would like to help the Salles area a little.”
"…Yes?"
I deliberately made a nervous sound, as if I didn't expect this at all.
“You must have heard a lot of unpleasant things since your arrival in the capital, and Prince Cassian is meticulous at work, so it must have been difficult.”
The Empress let out a deep sigh.
“Prince Cassian has not learned how to be considerate of the master’s feelings
Come on, Miss Saliss should understand that.
He was very busy due to His Majesty's orders.”
"I'm fine."
“No, you can be honest in front of me.”
The Empress's hand was on my shoulder, caressing me slowly.
“I will help you so you can stay with your parents.”
It was a very sweet and seductive voice.