Chapter 11
“Treason? Are you sure?”
“We’ve caught definite signs. We’re just keeping an eye on him for now.”
It wasn’t impossible. Karl became emperor despite being born of a concubine, so there was no reason Issen couldn’t. Especially since the imperial power wasn’t firmly established, making it an opportune time.
But that was all theoretical. The Issen Aura knew was a kind-hearted boy. No matter how much three years had passed, he wasn’t the type to turn into a traitor.
Aura said with a scoff,
“His Imperial Majesty is quite insecure. To suspect even his clueless younger brother.”
Karl retorted,
“You’re right. Issen is clueless. The problem is, he has someone backing him.”
“Backing him?”
“It’s probably one of the dead Crown Prince’s cronies. Issen was one of them, too.”
Aura was taken aback. Both Issen and Karl were ostracized by the True Bloods of the Casa Imperial Family. For Issen to have been close to the Crown Prince…
And that was another opportunity for Aura. If he was one of the Crown Prince’s men, he might know something about Finn.
Aura decided to dig a little deeper.
“But you were quite close to Issen, weren’t you? Did you two fall out?”
“As soon as I ascended the throne, Issen came to me. He asked for territory and governing rights in the eastern region.”
As the emperor’s brother, it was a reasonable request. Even to prevent imperial conflict and treason.
“So? Did you give it to him?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because he’s not capable of it.”
“……”
“If he wanted to govern, he should have stuck with the Imperial Family, even if it was dirty. Not gallivanting around.”
He wasn’t wrong. Issen’s travels from a young age were a kind of escape. There was no way he’d properly learned the art of governance.
“……Well, putting that aside, why shouldn’t I talk to Issen?”
“Because you’re in the perfect position to be exploited.”
Karl occasionally made Aura acutely aware of her situation. A foreigner, confined for three years, with an unstable mind. An easy target for those plotting rebellion.
But it was ridiculous for Karl to point that out. It was as if he had no responsibility whatsoever.
Karl looked at Aura, who was silently glaring at him, and warned,
“Promise me. You won’t contact Issen.”
Aura looked up at his shadowed face. And after a moment, she readily replied,
“Okay. I promise.”
“……Is this okay?”
Josh muttered, looking at the lounge door. Theo replied,
“I don’t think so.”
The Princess Consort and the Emperor had entered the lounge with an ominous atmosphere. And then, nothing but silence.
“Maybe they’re busy praising Her Highness in there? She’s become surprisingly beautiful these past few days.”
Josh said in his characteristically optimistic tone. Theo nodded in agreement.
“That’s true. It’s almost worth all that money. But… do you think His Majesty actually praised her?”
Karl wasn’t the type to get along well with women. It was a good thing if he didn’t cause misunderstandings with his blunt personality. Theo, one of the few married men in the Knights, found it frustrating.
Meanwhile, Tasha and Mina stood side by side. Tasha glanced at Mina. To have the position of Head Maid stolen by a girl who only managed the stables… She was so frustrated that she ended up saying something.
“Xenia people… are so vulgar.”
Mina clenched her fists tightly.
‘She’s insulting Her Highness.’
Tasha put on an innocent face and only stared at the lounge door. Mina glared at Tasha and noticed that the seam of her sleeve was torn. Upon closer inspection, the collar and hem of her skirt were also faded.
‘What is this? She was the Emperor’s nanny, so she must have made a lot of money. Doesn’t she have money to buy clothes?’
Mina smirked and sneered at Tasha.
Just then, the lounge door opened and Karl came out. Attendants and maids swarmed after him.
On the way to the office, Theo casually asked Karl,
“What did you talk about with Her Highness?”
“Necessary things.”
Of course. The problem was the uneasy feeling that he had only talked about ‘necessary’ things.
“Her Highness seems to have put in a lot of effort. Did you compliment her?”
“No.”
“Your Majesty, even now-”
“I was going to, but she refused.”
“……Ah.”
“It seems she doesn’t need my praise since she didn’t do it to please me.”
Karl didn’t seem disappointed at all as he said that.
‘I’d rather he be disappointed a hundred times over.’
Theo sighed inwardly and followed him.
The morning of the coronation dawned. The Princess Consort’s room was hectic from the morning.
The Empress’s regalia had many things to prepare. From hairstyle to shoes, everything had to follow etiquette. Mina guided the maids while looking at the etiquette book.
When the preparations were almost complete, Aura sat at the vanity and looked at herself. Her face had a rosy glow, and her platinum blonde hair had regained its shine. The dress fit just barely. In any case, the efforts of the past week seemed to have paid off.
“Mina, tell me the schedule for today again.”
“Yes. You will hold the Empress’s Inauguration Ceremony at the Great Temple, followed by greetings from the nobles. A ball and dinner are also prepared. After all the ceremonies are over, there will be a bedding ceremony.”
From the Empress’s Inauguration Ceremony to the bedding ceremony. It seemed like a long and arduous schedule. None of it seemed easy. Especially the thought of going to bed with Karl sober was more burdensome than anything else.
Just then, a maid informed Aura,
“Your Highness, His Imperial Majesty has arrived.”
“Show him in.”
The door opened and Karl entered the room. As it was the day, he was also in full regalia.
“What’s the matter?”
“I came to pick you up.”
‘He actually comes to pick me up.’
It was an unexpected answer, but she assumed it was part of the ceremony. Karl leaned against the wall and stared intently at Aura through the mirror.
‘Is something bothering him?’
Aura also looked at herself, but there didn’t seem to be anything lacking. Just then, the imperial hairdresser finished Aura’s hair.
“It’s done, Your Highness. Your hair and complexion are so beautiful that I didn’t have to do much. You are overflowing with elegance.”
“Thank you for your hard work.”
Aura responded to the hairdresser with a smile. He packed his things, bowed politely, and left.
Mina approached and quietly prompted,
“Your Highness, you must depart now.”
“Yes.”
Aura was about to rise from her seat with Mina’s help.
“Wait a moment.”
Karl approached and touched Aura’s shoulder. Mina quickly stepped back.
“Look at your feet.”
Aura looked up at Karl.
“Why my feet?”
“They’re not well.”
He had noticed after all. Unfortunately, her feet hadn’t fully healed. Even this morning, the imperial physician had come to change the bandages.
“There’s no need to look. They’re all better.”
“I’ll be the judge of that. Show me.”
She didn’t know what he was going to say this time. Aura refused once more.
“I’d have to sit on the bed and stretch out my legs to show you. It’s impossible in this dress. There’s no footstool to put my feet on either.”
“Then just sit still.”
Karl suddenly knelt down on one knee. Everyone was surprised by his unhesitating action.
The maids quickly turned their heads away. Even in front of his wife, for the Emperor to kneel… It felt like they were committing treason just by watching.
He lifted Aura’s foot and took off her shoe. He placed her bandaged foot on his knee and touched her ankle here and there.
His narrowed brow and careful touch. Those things confused Aura.
‘You dismissed the pain of the past three years as a tantrum, but you insist on seeing the burn on my ankle?’
The more she thought about it, the more incomprehensible he was. He was contradictory, difficult to fathom, and constantly made her feel embarrassed. Even though she was trying her best to look unaffected.
Karl began to unwrap the bandages.
“Who on earth wrapped these bandages so poorly?”
“The assistant that the imperial physician brings with him.”
“I’ll have to cut him.”
The swelling in her ankle had gone down a lot, but her skin was still red. He cupped the affected area with his hand.
“It’s still hot. You’re only allowed to dance one song with me. Spend the rest of the time sitting and resting.”
Karl began to reapply the bandages. The bandages clung to her ankle like a second skin. Aura, inwardly surprised, asked,
“Is this also a skill you acquired in Debla?”
“You have to learn to survive. What choice do I have?”
Karl put her shoe back on her foot. And he made eye contact with Aura.
“Keep your promise. Don’t contact Issen.”
Aura smiled faintly and replied,
“Okay. I understand.”
The coronation was held in the Imperial Palace’s Great Temple Chapel. The temple was bustling with Casa nobles and foreign delegations.
As expected, the nobles were busily gossiping about the Princess Consort who would become Empress.
“I heard she’s not in her right mind?”
“Isn’t it because of the confinement? It’s a wonder she’s still alive. They say she looks like a skeleton, I wonder if makeup will cover it up.”
“I’m very worried. The imperial power is already unstable, and to welcome a Xenia person as Empress is a bit…”
“Who would marry into such a dangerous position? Well, at least Princess Consort Aura is True Blood. Even if her country is ruined.”
The noble ladies giggled. Issen, who was watching the scene from the guest seats, clicked his tongue.
“Everyone’s being too harsh. Don’t you think so, Uncle?”
“Gossip about the Imperial Family is a hobby of the nobles, what can you do?”
Duke Ryan, who was sitting next to him, said. He was the ruler of Sutra, the northernmost part of Casa, and the late son of the previous emperor. He was only twenty-six years old, but he was Karl and Issen’s uncle.
“It’s the first time I’ve seen Princess Consort Aura since the wedding.”
“Me too. I remember her being a really beautiful person.”
“Really? I thought she was just so-so. Women who are too pure and righteous are boring, you know.”
“Uncle, your taste is really weird.”
Ryan chuckled.
“That’s why I’m getting my hopes up a bit. The rumors have to be a bit ominous.”
“Those rumors seem to be coming from over there.”
Issen pointed to Tasha, who was sitting among the attendants. Tasha still had a lot of maids following her.
Just then, the Imperial Chamberlain shouted in a loud voice.
“We will now begin the Empress’s Inauguration Ceremony!”
