Chapter – 23
At this point, one could roughly guess how beautiful Empress Onicia was.
She was also famous for being selective about the people she befriended.
She maintained friendships only with a few noble ladies who held central political influence. Because of this, it became natural for people to regard noblewomen connected to the Empress as belonging to a privileged circle.
An invitation to the Empress’s formal dinner was therefore a value that could not easily be measured in money.
In fact, no unmarried woman in the empire had ever been invited to the Empress’s dinner before.
Even if she was a young lady from a prestigious high-ranking noble family.
But there was now the first unmarried woman in the empire who received such an invitation.
It was Asha.
“Lady Asha! Look at this—an invitation has arrived from the Empress’s palace!”
Strictly speaking, she was almost like a married woman since she had already completed the marriage contract paperwork. (Of course, Asha did not know this.)
However, since her final signature was still missing and the documents had not been officially submitted, she was technically still in the ‘unmarried’ status.
“What? Me? Why?”
If she were an ordinary noble young lady, she would have jumped in joy, but her expression was strangely distorted.
‘So this cliché is finally going to happen…!’
The meeting between a high-status man’s mother and a poor woman.
The man’s mother would have a sharp face and coldly splash water onto the poor woman’s face while speaking in a frosty voice.
[Do you think I would accept some worthless woman who crawled out of nowhere as my daughter-in-law? Break up with my son right now!]
The woman’s eyes would turn red, her face wet from the water.
[Lady Mother, I truly love him. I cannot break up with him.]
[What?! You shameless—!]
In the end, she would be slapped.
[Ah!]
And then the male protagonist would appear.
[Mother, what on earth are you doing?!]
[Wha—?! How… how dare you raise your voice at me! This is all because of that wicked—]
As the emperor and the empress started fighting inside Asha’s imagination, she abruptly cut off the fantasy.
‘This kind of development is troublesome. Besides, she’s the Empress of the empire, right? She should be more dignified.’
If it wasn’t a water slap, then it would probably be… a money envelope scene.
[This should be enough for you to live your entire life. Go live quietly in a remote countryside where my son cannot find you.]
Asha let out a long sigh.
If she were in Korea before possessing this book, she would have bowed down obediently to a chaebol mother handing her a money envelope.
[Yes, yes. I’ll live without making a single sound.]
But she had no intention of doing that here.
She couldn’t give up the emperor’s imprisonment—arranged by the most handsome, well-built, wealthy, and powerful man in the world.
‘But what if it really turns into a money envelope scene?’
She didn’t know why, but the Empress was not yet her mother-in-law, yet she felt something similar.
It was a very burdensome and uncomfortable feeling, and if a money envelope scene really unfolded—
‘I guess I’ll run away as she wishes.’
She hadn’t even formally greeted the mother before announcing marriage, so asking her son’s lover to break up?
Ugh.
No matter how much she liked the emperor’s imprisonment, how could she endure that pressure?
Wait a minute.
But what if she got caught by the crown prince while running away?
“….”
What else could she do?
She would just say it was because of his mother.
‘Not bad.’
After several hypothetical scenarios, the shallow worry disappeared, and Asha felt much lighter.
Rose Palace of the Empress.
Today’s dinner was prepared for Asha alone.
Asha was guided by a maid from the entrance of the Empress’s palace into the backyard.
Walking deep between rows of hundreds of lanterns on both sides, the distance between the lanterns suddenly widened, revealing a large open space.
Round tables decorated with flowers and crystal ornaments were placed here and there. Judging by the statues and fountains in between, it seemed like a place where the Empress often held social gatherings.
A little farther away, musicians were playing sweet string music.
Unlike the Crown Prince’s palace, Blossom, it had a bright and cute atmosphere, but there was no time to look around.
Because there was already a silhouette sitting under a canopy draped like lace inside the garden.
‘That must be Her Majesty the Empress.’
Soon, the maid walking ahead stopped.
“Your Majesty, Lady Asha of the Herman family has arrived.”
“Come in.”
When a beautiful voice responded, the maid opened one side of the canopy.
The Empress’s first impression was truly overwhelming.
Luminous golden eyes matched perfectly with pale eyelashes, a slender and upright nose bridge, and lips that could only be described as luscious…
No, how could a person have such an elegant philtrum?
What about the skin?
It was so flawless and smooth that there were truly no pores or blemishes at all.
Even when looking at Alesto, she had thought he was very handsome, but he was not on the same level as Her Majesty.
She possessed beauty that transcended gender, the kind that could make not only humans but even animals… no, even plants fall in love.
Asha pressed her pounding heart and bent her knees slightly.
“My name is Asha of the Herman family. It is an honor to meet such a noble person.”
Her voice was probably trembling like a bleating goat due to nervousness, and the Empress responded with a short laugh and a kind voice.
“I know you must have been surprised by the sudden invitation, but thank you for accepting it willingly. My eldest suddenly started dating, and I simply couldn’t help being curious about what kind of young lady she is. Come, have a seat.”
Asha sat down awkwardly, trying to hide her unfamiliarity.
Waiting anxiously for the moment when the [Break up with my son] development would begin.
After finishing the meeting, Alesto walked out of the office with Jerold following him as they left the study.
Caster, the aide, leaned close and whispered.
“It seems the Saintess attended the Empress’s dinner today.”
Upon hearing that, Alesto’s brow slightly furrowed, while Jerold’s face turned ghostly pale.
Jerold shouted in a frantic voice.
“When?!”
“Two hours ago.”
“What?!”
Jerold, nearly jumping, grabbed Caster’s shoulders and shook him violently back and forth, asking why he was only reporting this now.
In contrast, Alesto’s expression only slightly crumpled; he otherwise remained calm.
The reason he was not too worried was not because he believed his mother had a particularly kind personality.
He simply believed she would not act in a way that directly provoked his temper.
The Saintess had clearly stated that she liked him, so she would not act rashly.
However, Jerold—the second son who, due to his tragic birth, was often beaten merely for being seen by his mother—had a different opinion.
“Brother! This is not the time! Please go to the Rose Palace immediately!”
“I am already going, you brat.”
Alesto was already walking quickly out of Blossom Palace, but Jerold seemed dissatisfied with his brother’s speed and kept urging him.
“Didn’t Mother just a few days ago discuss your marriage with the Yert family? But then you suddenly called it off! Think about it. Mother was planning to have a daughter-in-law from one of the most prestigious noble families in the empire, and suddenly Lady Herman appears. Do you think she would look kindly upon her?”
Alesto understood why Jerold was restless and acting up.
Because their mother had never been a benevolent figure to Jerold.
“If Mother is kind to you, don’t expect her to be the same to others. Especially since your wife would be a daughter-in-law. Historically, there has never been a mother-in-law in the imperial family who treated a daughter-in-law well.”
“Are you already calling her my sister-in-law?”
Jerold, who had stepped ahead of Alesto and opened the carriage door roughly, pushed his brother inside.
“Why are you so calm? Hurry and go. At least if you are with her, Mother’s mood might soften.”
The large-built younger brother slammed the carriage door shut as if trying to break it and shouted at the coachman.
“Dean! Depart! Take His Highness to the Rose Palace quickly!”
