Chapter – 18
“Oh! My lady, Wendy received a marriage proposal from Smith, the blacksmith.”
Amber, who had been nagging for a while, suddenly said as if she had just remembered.
So it happened like this again.
“And Wendy accepted?”
Wendy was a maid who had served Renev at the Marquess of Seiren’s estate.
Around the time Renev got engaged to Lucius and began preparing for marriage, Wendy also received a proposal.
Since commoners had much shorter wedding preparations than royalty, they could marry almost immediately.
But Wendy postponed her marriage to Smith, saying it would be improper for a maid to marry before the lady she served.
Because of that, only Smith had been left anxiously waiting.
“She said there’s no such thing as a maid marrying before her lady. Apparently she told Smith they should marry after you return to Paradium.”
Renev pressed her forehead.
Poor Smith.
In the past, their marriage had been delayed about a year, but in this life it looked like it would be delayed more than three years.
Renev decided she should write Wendy a letter. She wanted to tell her that those who can move forward first should do so.
After that, Amber continued sharing various news about the marquess’s household and the Paradium Empire.
Among them, Renev paid special attention to news about the First Prince’s illness.
“Kiernen, maybe because I talked too much, my throat feels a bit rough. Could you bring some tea?”
“Of course. I’ll prepare some flower tea with honey.”
Kiernen answered quickly and left the reception room.
Renev trusted her to some extent, but she was still a person from Bashker.
Of course, if the First Prince died, the news would quickly spread even to Bashker.
But there was no need to share Paradium’s important matters with Kiernen.
“Amber, how is the First Prince’s condition?”
When Renev lowered her voice, perceptive Amber also replied quietly.
“They say he’s become very thin, and sometimes he stares into space and says strange things.”
“I see.”
Since the Marquess of Seiren had recently been staying at the capital residence, it made sense Amber would hear such rumors.
Although Amber was sensitive to gossip as a maid of a high noble family, this also showed that the First Prince’s condition was worse than Renev had expected.
“They’re keeping it quiet, but it seems people already think there’s no hope.”
Amber shook her head.
Renev lowered her eyelashes and thought.
Is Strudel the cause again this time?
Strudel was a pastry commonly eaten by commoners. After tasting it by chance during an inspection trip, the First Prince became fond of it.
He especially liked Monstrudel filled with opium seeds rather than fruit or meat.
Opium seeds were crispy and sweet, enhancing the texture of bread.
But the problem was the addictive nature of opium.
“It’s the Monstrudel that my brother liked.”
That was something someone had once said at a royal family meal not long after the First Prince died of an unknown illness.
The First Prince probably died from opium addiction.
Since Renev knew about the danger of Monstrudel, she had suspected that.
But he had already died, so even if she knew, there had been nothing she could do.
“My lady, I brought the tea.”
At that moment, Kiernen returned with a tray.
“Thank you, Kiernen.”
After soothing her throat with the sweet flower tea, Renev sat at her desk and picked up parchment and a quill.
Interfering might lead to bad results.
Even so, the conscience of a mother who had borne a child urged her to at least give the Empress a warning.
“Phew…”
Renev shut the book she had been reading with a thud and stretched widely.
When she twisted her waist and looked back, the sky outside the window had already turned into sunset colors.
While she was looking at the distant city of Bashker, a servant came to her.
“His Majesty invites you to dinner.”
Since she also wanted to thank Ikar for the dress gift, Renev quickly prepared to go out.
If the previous dining room had been as large as a grand banquet hall, today’s dining place was smaller, with a table for about ten people.
Of course, that was only small in comparison. It was still quite large.
And the table was filled with delicacies from land and sea. Even Renev, who was used to luxurious imperial meals, widened her eyes.
“What is it? Is the food unsatisfactory?”
Ikar tilted his head, apparently misinterpreting her reaction.
“How could that be? There are just so many dishes that I don’t know what to start with.”
“That’s a relief.”
As Renev spread a napkin over her lap, Ikar dismissed the servants.
“It’ll be easier to talk this way.”
Renev nodded and looked over the dishes.
She first placed some green beans on her plate.
“It seems you don’t enjoy meat much. Last time too, I think you mostly ate vegetables.”
Ikar said this while putting a large piece of lamb into his mouth.
Renev didn’t remember what she had eaten at their last meal.
But Ikar seemed to remember everything.
She mentally noted his excellent memory.
“That’s not really the case. I eat fish well too.”
As she answered briefly and speared a green bean with her fork, Ikar pushed a fish dish toward her.
“Protein is essential. It’s good for building muscle.”
Renev nodded naturally.
Since he ate a meat-heavy diet, that must be how he got such a muscular body.
Without thinking, she remembered seeing Ikar’s bare body at the hot spring last time.
Her earlobes quickly turned red and her cheeks flushed.
“Is it warm inside? Your cheeks are red.”
Ikar didn’t miss it.
The room wasn’t hot or cold. There was no way she could blame the temperature.
As Renev fanned her face, searching for an excuse, Ikar raised his voice slightly.
“It is a bit warm inside.”
Immediately, the waiting servants entered, opened the windows, and left.
Unlike Paradium, Bashker had large temperature differences between day and night. Cool evening air flowed in.
Thanks to that, Renev’s cheeks soon returned to normal.
“Is it better now?”
“Yes, thanks to you. Thank you for your consideration, Your Majesty.”
After thanking him briefly, she put the green beans in her mouth. As she chewed, her eyes widened slightly.
The seasoning was perfect, and the texture was crisp rather than soft.
“Wow, this is really delicious!”
“That’s good. It was worth bringing a famous chef from Paradium.”
At his reply, Renev suddenly became curious.
Why had such a considerate man not married in her previous life?
“Your Majesty, do you not have a fiancée yet?”
Ikar, who had been drinking red wine, coughed lightly.
“Are you alright?”
Even if it wasn’t water, choking on a drink was still unpleasant.
Renev quickly handed him a napkin. After wiping his mouth, he said:
“Why do you ask?”
For an emperor, succession was important above all.
That was why Lucius had taken concubines besides Renev, his empress.
As the past surfaced, the food felt stuck in her chest. Renev pushed away the unpleasant feeling.
“I was just a little curious. Royal marriages usually happen early.”
Ikar nodded in agreement.
“I just haven’t found a strategically suitable partner yet. There’s no other reason.”
A strategically suitable partner…
“What are the conditions for that partner?”
“Are you curious?”
Resting his chin on the table, Ikar looked at her lazily.
She had only asked casually, but now she couldn’t say she wasn’t curious.
“Yes. I am.”
Renev answered shortly and put some grilled eggplant in her mouth.
“You know Bashker is expanding its territory, right?”
Renev held back her answer.
It was her long-standing habit to understand the intention behind a question before replying.
As empress, she had learned this naturally among nobles who would exploit any weakness.
“You don’t have to answer.”
Ikar finished his wine and continued.
“Expanding territory also means we’re always in a state of war.”
Renev nodded slightly, and he added:
“It’s not because I pity a wife who might have to wait for a husband who could die any time.”
Renev agreed.
Though he sometimes showed a relaxed side with her, Ikar was a cold and rational ruler both now and before.
As she sank into thought, a large turkey dish was placed before her.
At that moment, realization struck.
Strategically suitable conditions.
For Lucius, she had been that condition.
He had married her because he needed the military strength and the powerful support of the Seiren marquess family.
He said he loved me… Lucius, you bastard.
Realizing the truth too late, Renev’s fists trembled.
“Have you already finished eating?”
Seeing her stop eating with a dark expression, Ikar asked.
Renev looked at her empty hands and was about to nod.
Ikar frowned.
“Are you trying to control your weight? I wouldn’t recommend it. You need to eat well and build strength.”
He placed a veal steak in front of her.
“Are you planning to collapse again like last time and put me in a difficult position?”
“…You’re right, Your Majesty. I should probably eat more protein.”
Quickly organizing her emotions, Renev cut the veal steak and began chewing it almost aggressively.
Watching her, the corner of Ikar’s lips lifted slightly.
He looked very satisfied.
After glancing at him, Renev stuffed a large lettuce salad into her mouth too.
It wasn’t exactly proper table manners.
“Like a rabbit.”
But Ikar only rested his chin on his hand and watched her fondly.
“A rabbit this big…”
Renev was about to ask where such a rabbit existed, but stopped. She remembered the giant rabbit he had mentioned in the cave before.
Her cheek puffed as she chewed.
Ikar chuckled softly.
Certain he was teasing her, she glared at him with narrowed eyes.
Then she chewed and swallowed her food with determination.
“You eat well. That’s good to see.”
