Chapter – 31
The Empress’s Rose Palace.
At the head table of the tea party sat Onisia and her closest friend, Marchioness Catherine Eart, chatting comfortably.
“I never imagined that boy Alesto would bring a woman.”
Onisia spoke as if casually complaining about her son’s romance to a friend with whom she had no need for formality.
Catherine, mother of Cecilia Eart, let out a soft laugh as she gracefully lifted her teacup.
“Who would have thought His Highness the Crown Prince would fall in love?”
It wasn’t common for marriage talks between noble families to fall apart midway, though it did happen from time to time.
In truth, the marriage discussion between Onisia and Catherine had been closer to idle talk.
You know the kind—parents joking that if they had children, they’d marry them to each other.
Since it had never formally progressed into a real engagement, the Eart family suffered no loss when it fizzled out.
In fact, Catherine had been secretly pleased that Alesto brought the Saintess and seated her at Blossom.
When the engagement talk had first come up, her daughter Cecilia had practically exploded in protest.
“Mother, are you out of your mind? You know perfectly well who I have feelings for!”
Catherine did know whom her daughter loved.
But.
She would rather keep that boy by her side forever than ever send her daughter to marry him.
In any case, while Cecilia’s resistance to marrying the Crown Prince remained fierce, the sudden appearance of a young lady from the Herman family had been a relief.
It was better to hear uncomfortable words from the other party first than to be the one to bring them up.
Later, Catherine lightly shifted the topic, mentioning that she might ask for help with her husband’s business sometime.
“What kind of girl is the Saintess?”
Onisia’s expression softened slightly.
“I don’t know her well yet, but at first glance she seems gentle and kind… almost too much so. I’m a little worried.”
At that, Catherine chuckled quietly.
“There’s no such thing as someone who is only gentle and kind. In my life, I’ve met exactly one person like that.”
And she’s gone now.
Onisia gently patted Catherine’s hand.
The Empress knew whom her friend was remembering with that bittersweet smile.
Camilla.
The Emperor’s former wife, who had divorced him with a massive settlement, only to be found murdered in her own home.
Camilla had no family, so after her death, all her assets were absorbed into the imperial treasury.
The settlement the Emperor had paid her returned right back to him.
She had been the daughter of Laura, Catherine’s nurse.
Camilla, who had grown up like a sister to Catherine.
The news of her death had been shocking, but the death itself had not been the true issue.
Tragic, yes—but accidents could happen to anyone.
Catherine might have continued believing it was merely an unfortunate accident…
If only the city guard hadn’t rushed to close the case as a suicide.
“Suicide? That’s ridiculous!”
“We apologize, but the case has already been concluded.”
“I’m the first witness, and I haven’t even given my statement yet! How can you bury it like this?!”
“We apologize, but the case has already—”
“Hey! Do your job properly! What kind of fool commits suicide without even leaving a note when she had that much wealth?!”
“We apologize, but—”
“Hey!!!”
That evening, after she had caused a scene at the guard office, her husband said quietly,
“I know Camilla was your dearest friend. But it would be best not to dig further into this matter.”
Hearing that, Catherine realized that whoever had killed her friend, the one behind it had to be the Emperor.
If someone could make the powerful Marquess Eart persuade his own wife to stand down, there was only one such man.
She had wanted revenge.
She had wanted to take away something precious.
And at the time, what was most precious to the Emperor?
His newly crowned Empress, Onisia, and his illegitimate son, Alesto.
But.
Killing innocent people merely as tools for revenge was not something easily done.
Instead, Catherine investigated Onisia.
It seemed natural enough that a current Empress might resent her husband’s former wife.
Perhaps she had asked the Emperor to deal with Camilla.
Or perhaps she had hired someone herself, and the Emperor had merely covered it up afterward.
Catherine had sworn that if Onisia was involved in Camilla’s death in any way, she would never forgive her.
But what was this?
Onisia’s own past was a disaster.
To her, the Emperor was an irreconcilable enemy beneath the same sky.
And then—
Onisia approached her first.
“I am truly sorry for what happened to your friend.”
Catherine could not turn away from this pitiful woman.
If losing my friend hurts this much, how much worse must it be for you, forced to live beside your husband’s enemy?
From then on, Catherine became Onisia’s backing.
Until she could wield influence in high society as Empress.
Until her son grew strong enough to protect his mother.
As time passed, the two women naturally became true friends.
Asha clung tightly to Alesto’s hand as if it were a lifeline sent down from the heavens and hurried out of the tea party hall.
She let herself be led along until, gradually, her mind began to settle.
Was I so embarrassed that I lost my senses?
She had been talking about this man… and he had overheard her… and now she was holding this very man’s hand—
Once they left the Rose Palace, clarity slowly returned to her.
She felt she ought to let go of his hand now.
But why…
Why didn’t she want to?
Alesto’s large, rough hand was firm—undeniably masculine.
What was this unfamiliar sensation?
It was uncomfortable, yet not unpleasant.
Stifling, yet as if she might float away.
Embarrassing, yet she didn’t want to hide.
Her heart thumped rapidly, and the area around it tingled strangely.
“I didn’t know Miss Asha thought I was cute and considerate.”
Ah.
She took back the part about not wanting to hide.
If only she could find a mouse hole and shove her head into it.
“I actually think the same.”
Oh, really?
How wonderful for you—to think of yourself as cute and considerate.
What impressive self-esteem.
As she wrestled internally with embarrassment and flustered pride—
“I also find Miss Asha quite charming. You’re pretty and adorable. I keep feeling like I want to protect you.”
Ah?
“Don’t you think we suit each other quite well?”
Ah?
Asha couldn’t wipe the foolish expression off her face.
“…Pardon? W-wait a moment.”
She had underestimated the fluttering heartbeat of infatuation, calling it merely ticklish.
But what was happening now?
Her heart, which had been beating sweetly just moments ago, felt like it had just taken a bungee jump.
Why was it lurching so wildly?
And why did her stomach feel like it was churning too?
But the man oblivious to her turmoil had not yet finished.
In the sweetest voice in the world, he said,
“Miss Asha, marry me.”
Alesto hadn’t originally intended to propose.
He had simply felt pleased hearing her praise him.
And the way she clung to his hand had been cute.
Her flushed face looked like it would burst if poked.
And so, without thinking, the words “marry me” had slipped out.
It was an impulse he himself didn’t fully understand.
Even he couldn’t explain the cause and effect that led to the conclusion of marriage forming inside him.
Still, Alesto was certain the Saintess would accept his proposal.
There wasn’t a single reason for her to refuse.
It might not sound romantic, but this was an age of conditional marriages.
Men sought well-raised, virtuous young ladies from respectable families.
Women sought wealthy gentlemen from prestigious houses.
If it’s me, I’m perfect.
Status, background, reputation, power, wealth, appearance—he lacked nothing.
Even based purely on conditions, there was no reason to hesitate.
And if there was mutual attraction?
She’ll definitely accept.
That was what he believed.
Alesto was certain the Saintess liked him.
She had never said so directly, but he could feel it instinctively.
Yes, he had been sure of it.
And yet—
“Miss Asha?”
