The Abandoned Empress

“Well, I can understand this part because we have to agree with the temple first. But why is this blank here? Don’t you know the meaning of the boy attendant?”

“You are going to control the preparations anyway, right?”

I stared at her who retorted to me with an annoying voice. I can’t trust her. Why did she leave that area blank? To be the flag attendant who announces the start of the festival is the symbol of honor to the young noble boys.

“Really? How about the fourth son of the Ryan family? I think the younger son of the Freia family is also a good candidate for his age. If not, how about the eldest grandson of the Seymour family?”

“Just choose anyone you want, will you?”

Even though I tried to sound out her feelings by citing the names of the young boys of the pro-emperor faction, she agreed without any objection. So, I was more puzzled. I expected she would strongly balk at my choice, arguing for the political interests of the noble faction, but she didn’t.

‘Has her relationship with the noble faction gone sour?’

While trying to erase any wild speculation about her intention, I looked at the plan again.

Although I didn’t expect it at all, her draft plan was much better than I thought.

I even thought she looked like a different woman.

Come to think of it, however, she was very good at decorating the banquet hall at last year’s festival, although she didn’t make it to the emperor’s taste. Since I collapsed right after the start of the banquet, I couldn’t see how she hosted the banquet, but I heard that she managed to handle it well despite such a big fuss.

‘Well, I still have to verify your intention.’

Turning up my mouth a bit, I picked up a pen on the corner of the table. Then, I dipped the pen in the red ink and underlined the part for correction. I even marked an X on the part that needed little correction.

“What the heck is this red ink? What is this mark X here?”

“As you can see, this is the part that you have to correct.”

“Are you kidding me? I put this because of the budget cut, and put this here in consideration of the balance of power among the countries. Dang it! The problem is that I am working under you in the first place. You don’t even know what is important and what is not…”

“I think you are mistaken, but the organizer of this banquet is me, not you. I know you handled things on your own in the past, but you should not forget that you are an assistant who has to help me.”

“What the heck? Are you really…”

“I think you’ve got enough time until tomorrow. Fix the underlined parts before then.”

When I spoke, relaxedly lifting the mug, she grabbed the papers from me, sharply staring at me while gnashing her teeth. Watching her standing up with a fierce look, I slowly opened my mouth, “Are you already leaving?”

“Do you want me to stay here a little longer?”

“Okay. I sent a message to the temple, saying that I would like to visit with you to coordinate how to proceed with the festival, but let me go there alone, if you have to leave now.”

When I politely bowed, pretending to be courteous, she replied in a grumpy voice, grabbing the hem of her dress, “…Stand!”

“Ugh? What did you say? ”

“Stand before me and go in first! I can’t let you go there alone because I don’t know what you’re going to do with them.”

“Sure. Wait a minute because I need to get ready.”

I left the drawing room, smiling at her who was gnashing her teeth in a fit of anger.

After deliberately preparing to leave slowly, I went back to her.

“… ”

As if she was very angry, she stared at me silently for a long time, with her mouth turned up high, then turned around. Although I giggled at her icy attitude, I quietly headed to the temple without provoking her anymore.

I felt really gratified as if my jammed heart was opened.

Is it because the sun is blazing? It was very hot even though summer was almost gone.

After tidying up the hem of my dress that got stuck on my body, I got out of the wagon. One of the senior priests and an apprentice priest, who were waiting for us in advance, bowed to welcome us.

“May the blessings of life be with you. Welcome to Sanktus Vita, Lady Monique and Lady Jena!”

“Hello, Priest Omar. You don’t have to come to greet me every time. I am very sorry. ”

“Oh no, Graspe. It is our duty to serve the child of God’s prophecy.”

“Thank you. I’m always so flattered as you welcome me every time.”

As if the rumors about her frequent visit to the temple were true, she was chatting with the priest in an amicable atmosphere. When I witnessed that, I became alert in spite of myself.

Come to think of it, it was Duke Jena who proposed to hold the festival in cooperation with the temple.

Although he came up with a plausible cause, it was clear that he had another purpose in mind when he proposed that idea. Why did he make such a proposal? Did he want to block me from solidifying my position as the empress? Or to show Jiun’s influence with the temple? Or did he plan to harm the emperor?

When I stepped into the corridor, pressing my stinging temple, I suddenly saw a bunch of roses that bloomed in the doorway withering. At that moment, I frowned. How can’t they take care of things like that in the temple where they are serving the Father of life?

When I was walking away, clicking my tongue deep down, I saw a white-haired man walking toward me in the corridor. Next to him was a strange young man.

“May the blessings of life be with you. Welcome, Pioneer and Graspe. ”

“It’s been a long while, Your Eminence.”

“I’m glad to see you, Your Eminence.”

“Priest Omar, let me escort the two ladies. So, you can go back and take care of your job.”

“Yes, Your Eminence. Graspe, please stop by me after you’re done. The top priests want to see you.”

“Sure, thanks.”

When the old priest left after bowing deeply to her, who was nodding to him, the High Priest looked back at me and said, “In fact, I have been waiting for you after I got the message. Please come in, Lady Monique.”

“Yes, Your Eminence. By the way, who is this man?”

“I’ve told you about him before. He is the Fourth Foot of the Lord, Qartus. ”

“Really? But he is…”

I looked at the young man introduced as High Priest curiously because he had golden hair, unlike the white hair of the typical High Priest. He seemed to be the same age as Allendis or Carsein. Of course, his eyes were light green, something peculiar to the High Priest.

“Actually, he has dyed his hair, saying his gray hair is making him look like an old man. Quartus, say hi to Pioneer and Graspe. ”

“May the blessings of life be with you. It is an honor to meet you, children of God’s prophecy!”

“It’s nice to see you, Your Eminence.”

“I am honored to meet you, Your Eminence.”

“As we are done greeting each other, shall we move?”

When High Priest Secundus said that, the blond young man turned quickly after casting a rebellious look at him. Looking at him for a moment, I walked away with the two.

Only

“Let’s wrap up our meeting here today. Thanks for your efforts.”

“Thank you.”

Our meeting with the two High Priests and the senior priests in charge of preparing for the festival ended only in the evening when the sun was setting.

After confirming that Jiun, who had stood up prudishly, left with the senior priests, I leaned on the chair with a long sigh. Although I knew my posture was against etiquette, I was very tired after wrestling with them about the preparations all day long.

The gray-haired young man who collected the scattered papers and handed them to me, said with his eyes slanted upwards slightly, “I think you’re extremely tired. Well, I know you have had a hard day, clashing with them over small and big things.”

“… Yes, I’m all in. Thanks for caring about me, Your Eminence.”

“So, what are you going to do? I think you had better take a rest today.”

“No. As I’ve come down here, I would like to wrap up our matter. Have you taken care of my request I made the other day?”