Chapter 48
Chapter 48. While The Count Was Away From The Mansion
“What are you doing at this late hour, princess?”
Dietrich, with his eyes closed and a bright smile on his face, asked Marie-Jose. Just as he was about to finish his schedule and go to bed, he responded to Marie-Josée’s sudden visit request out of pure curiosity.
He had already heard from reports that she was traveling all over the palace to meet him. Nevertheless, the reason they did not meet was for him to take a closer look at the envoys’ intentions.
In many ways, visiting the empire during this tumultuous time, when it was rumored that the dethroned crown prince was missing, was extremely suspicious.
Amidst a bright smile, cold, hard eyes slowly glanced at Marie-José. Her face stiffened with nervous tension, hesitated and then opened her mouth with difficulty.
“I came here for the welcome banquet…”
“Aha…. You could have requested an audience during the day.”
“…Your Majesty seems to have been busy, so I had no choice but to come to you at such a late hour. Please forgive my rudeness.”
Marie-Jose’s resentful eyes turned to Dietrich. She didn’t want to come at such an late hour, when she too would be criticized. Dietrich astutely sensed her resentment and burst into laughter.
“Yeah, Jim was a bit mischievous.”
“Then…………!”
“But unfortunately, I don’t think we’ll be able to hold a welcome banquet for the time being.”
Marie-Jose’s face, which had been brightening at Dietrich’s words, suddenly became pale.
Her lips were quivering at her humiliation, and she grabbed the hem of her skirt.
“…Why?”
“Geez, I hope you don’t feel too offended.”
“How can I be at peace when you treat envoys from all over the kingdom so poorly for the purpose of fellowship?”
Dietrich’s eyebrows rose slightly at the unexpectedly sharp reaction. Marie-Jose, who was shocked to see his face hardening in displeasure, immediately lowered her head helplessly and muttered her words of apology.
“…I am sorry if my words and actions have offended Your Majesty.”
Dietrich, seeing her face, tapped the armrest and fell into thought. She was a woman who couldn’t hide her expressions as well as he thought. Or maybe she’s just a great actor.
Whatever he was, it was certainly rude for him not to throw a welcome banquet for envoys from foreign countries visiting his country. But Dietrich’s suspicions were growing deeper by the day.
‘Before the envoy’s visit, an intruder entered the tower where the deposed crown prince was imprisoned.’
If it was just a coincidence, it couldn’t have been a very big coincidence. The intruder, who was imprisoned in the dungeon of the imperial palace, had not yet revealed his identity despite being subjected to harsh torture.
In that case, why not set a trap instead? Dietrich, who had finished his thoughts, removed his unpleasant expression and smiled.
“I’m about to throw a grand welcome banquet. One thing… since our empire is about to enter the summer vacation period, I think we’ll have to postpone the banquet a little longer.”
“…Huh? Summer… vacation?”
“Yes. Since most of the nobles are leaving for a resort, we cannot hold a banquet.”
Marie-Jose’s face hardened at Dietrich’s words. She was familiar with her empire’s summer vacation period. That’s why she visited the empire a little early to avoid the summer vacation period.
But the schedule was delayed again due to the emperor who postponed the banquet every day.
She was so shocked by the excuse that she almost started laughing. If the summer vacation period is a problem, why not hold a banquet right now?
However, she couldn’t talk about the affairs of the empire. In the end, she had no choice but to reluctantly agree and step back.
***
“What happened, princess?”
“…He said he couldn’t hold a welcome banquet for the time being due to the summer vacation period.”
Benjamin’s face hardened in displeasure at Marie-Jose’s answer and he chewed his lip. Summer vacation. The banquet was postponed again.
“We can’t just stay like this, princess.”
“Ha… I know. But the emperor’s vigilance is too high.”
“He’s actually a conniving person, isn’t he? That’s what I expected.”
Marie-Jose, who had buried herself deeply on the sofa, remembered the emperor’s exquisitely beautiful face with her lips clenched. No matter how hard she tried to stay conscious, just looking at that face made her dizzy.
Tap, tap. Marie-Jose, who had been unconsciously tapping on the armrest with her fingers raised as if imitating the emperor, clenched her fist.
“Let’s try changing the plan.”
“Yes?”
“I need to approach the duke first. No matter who it is, as long as we achieve our goal.”
Shouldn’t I try to do it?
Marie-Jose smiled as brightly as the emperor, her blue eyes sparkling.
