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06.

"...Cassian."
The Emperor's displeasure became evident.
Yet my superior had spent years cultivating an audacity that would not yield to such displays.
"You will not grant permission, ‌‌Your Majesty?"
Cassian gazed at the Emperor with an expression of genuine distress.
"Should the lady of Salice Territory become disheartened by this matter and return to her estate, I fear I must return half of the ‌‌duties Your Majesty has entrusted to me. I am simply insufficient for the task."
He bowed his head slightly, yet cast a subtle ‌‌‌glance toward the First Empress—a faint smile playing at ‌‌the corners of ‌his lips as if to make a point.
"My abilities are lacking, after all."
Though he did not believe this for a moment.
Cassian wielded the First Empress's own habitual refrain like a weapon, turning his gaze back to the Emperor with pitiful supplication.
At this veiled threat, the Emperor's frown deepened. ‌
The volume of work Cassian managed was genuinely staggering, and it was undeniable that the Emperor's workload had decreased noticeably since Cassian's arrival in the Capital City.
Moreover, if ‌‌the Emperor were to demand that Cassian pay his respects to the First Empress first, it would only diminish her dignity.
There were far too many eyes watching.
The Emperor exhaled a resigned sigh and turned his gaze toward me.
Though the First Empress's expression had ‌‌‌‌turned glacial, ‌‌‌I drew upon ‌‌‌the audacity I had cultivated under my ‌‌‌superior's tutelage over the past year and offered the Emperor a bow.
"Roselita of the Salice Marquis Household offers her respects to Your Majesty."
"...Yes, I have heard you work diligently. Continue to serve the First Prince well."
"As you ‌‌‌command, Your Majesty."
As I ‌‌‌‌bowed once more, the Emperor waved his hand as if the matter were settled.
"The first ‌dance will begin shortly. We shall take ‌‌‌our leave."
And with his objective achieved, Cassian led me away from the Emperor's presence with unhurried grace.
The Emperor's voice reached my ears: "Insufferable fellow."
It was spoken to placate his favored First Empress.

*

"...I ‌‌‌thought it was just an excuse, Your ‌‌Majesty."
"Lying before the Emperor is a crime of deception, Rose."
Though it seems you've told quite a few lies today yourself, Your Majesty.
Contrary to my expectation that I would simply leave, I found myself actually dancing with Cassian Artez.
After withdrawing from the Emperor's presence, he had asked me to dance with such meticulous courtesy and ‌‌‌proper etiquette.
"It would be a shame."
"Pardon?"
"For Rose to have dressed up so carefully, only to leave like this."
"Is that a criticism of how I usually dress?"
"Not at all. I quite like how you normally ‌‌‌look. Even those strands of hair that escape so carelessly."
When I made no effort to hide my displeasure and ‌frowned openly, he let out a soft laugh.
"But Rose."
"Yes?"
"If the First Empress calls for you, you may refuse."
"...Pardon?"
I blurted out something foolish at such an absurd statement.
How could a mere marquis's ‌‌‌daughter refuse a summons from the First Empress?
"I will take responsibility for you."
In the original work, Cassian had spoken of protecting Roselita, but it seemed he had rarely actually done so.
Of course, ‌‌‌unlike in the original, this Cassian Artez ‌‌was cunning ‌‌as a fox.
'The way he looked before the Emperor ‌‌today was telling enough.'
Cassian Artez possessed such pride that he would never voice complaints or express need to others.
The complications in the original story stemmed partly from this very trait.
He believed in doing things honorably, and thinking of his late mother's reputation, he could not bow his head carelessly.
So whenever someone suggested he was lacking, he would forcefully suppress them with his strength.
'But this Cassian is different.'
If it meant handling matters efficiently, he would gladly employ a bit of deception, and he hardly cared if he appeared foolish.
Because he knew that in the end, he would be the one laughing.
He was like the improved version of Cassian that I had found so frustrating in the original work.
'Hmm....'
An uneasy feeling settled over me.
It felt as though I was forgetting something important.
Still, given all this, I thought I could trust his promise to take responsibility.
"It's ‌‌‌quite all right, Your Majesty."
I too had no desire to turn away from an easier path.
Unlike in the ‌‌‌original work, Cassian's position now was neither particularly bad nor particularly good.
The Imperial Family had no one on his side.
So I did not wish to become a burden to him.
I had resolved this with what I thought was admirable resolve.
"This is quite the predicament."
"...Why is that?"
"Because Rose is accepting another man's temptation. I'm terribly disappointed."
He teased ‌me with a playful ‌‌‌expression on his face.

*

I thought a few days would pass before he called for me again—or perhaps not at all.
While Cassian Artez was conversing briefly with another nobleman, the First Empress's Countess Attendant came to summon me.
"Her Majesty the First Empress has requested your presence. Please follow me."
The Countess Attendant's gaze was haughty, yet she looked down upon me with unmistakable disdain.
I felt a fleeting urge to refuse by blaming Cassian Artez slightly, but unlike him, I was a woman of propriety, so I followed in silence.
The First Empress was ‌lounging languidly against a sofa, but the moment she saw me arrive, she rose from her seat with an expression ‌‌‌of genuine joy spreading across her face.
"Thank you so much for coming, Miss Salice!"
Her voice even carried a nasal quality to it.
How strange.
I had come prepared to accept a slap or two.
At least Cassian would cover the medical expenses, so I'd considered it quite a profitable ‌‌arrangement.
In the original story, Roselita had nearly been poisoned by the First Empress ‌and had her face struck multiple times, so I naturally assumed she had summoned me for the same purpose of venting her frustrations.
Yet the First Empress, unlike her demeanor in the Grand Hall, spoke to ‌‌‌‌me ‌‌‌with surprising warmth, even wrapping an arm around my shoulders as she whispered.
"You needn't be so tense. Working in the Imperial Palace at such a young age must have been difficult. I fear I've been rather thoughtless toward you."
"Not at all, Your Majesty."
So I decided to simply play the part of an ‌‌innocent, foolish girl.
When one's intentions are unclear, appearing harmless is always the safest approach.
"I'm not certain if these refreshments suit your palate. As for me, I've reached an age where I must reduce my sugar intake."
With that, the First Empress offered me a beautifully arranged selection of pastries.
Knowing the contents of the original story, I hesitated slightly, but ultimately I cut them into small pieces and placed them in my mouth.
She has no reason to poison me now. The risk would be far too great for mere venting.
"They're absolutely delicious, Your Majesty."
So I deliberately chewed in a more foolish manner and swallowed, deciding to behave crudely.
"I've never eaten anything like this before...." ‌‌‌‌
Of course, it was a lie.
Cassian Artez had fed me such exquisite delicacies to make me work longer hours that my palate had become quite refined.
He seemed to know with uncanny precision that I would work extended shifts whenever I was treated to something delicious.
"My, my. It's nothing so extraordinary."
The First ‌‌‌Empress seemed pleased with my response, her expression growing even more sympathetic as she lamented my circumstances.
"I've heard the Salice Territory faces considerable hardship. Is that why you work here in the Capital City at such a young age, separated from your parents?"
"...Yes."
I feigned deep embarrassment.
Most noble ladies preferred to hide their poverty, and most would never even consider working outside their estates unless it were ‌‌‌some honorary position.
Seeing this, the First Empress considerately gestured for her attendants to step back further.
"I've been terribly inconsiderate, ‌‌Miss Salice. I never intended to embarrass you. I simply wanted to show proper concern as a member of the Imperial Family...."
The First Empress ‌‍‌spoke these words while taking my hand.
Her skin was meticulously maintained, smooth and flawless, and her fingers—unlike mine—were perfectly straight without a single callus.
"You understand my heart, don't you, Miss Salice?"
"...Yes, Your Majesty."
I deliberately refrained from embellishing my response.
Though I had been feigning ignorance, I suspected the First Empress had half-discerned ‌‌‌the truth of what Cassian and I had been doing, and so I saw no point in overplaying my part.
The First Empress studied me in ‌silence for a moment, then patted my hand.
"You're ‌‌‌truly pitiable."
I lowered my head quietly.
For some reason, Cassian's words from that evening echoed in ‌‌‌my mind.
"Surely the Marquis and Marquise of Salice wish to be with you as well, yet when I think of our First Prince being so far away, my heart feels as though it might shatter...."
And so whenever the First Prince had duties to attend to, I had dumped every difficult, grueling, and unpleasant task squarely onto Cassian's shoulders.
"As a mother myself, I find your situation so lamentable. I'm not typically one to speak in ‌‌‌such a manner...."
The First Empress placed her hand upon my shoulder, as if urging me to lift my head.
With my head still bowed, I forced myself to contemplate sorrowful thoughts until my eyes grew warm, and then I gazed up at her.
I could sense satisfaction gleaming in her eyes.
"I ‌‌‌‌‌would like to offer some assistance to the Salice Territory."
"...Pardon?" ‌‌‌
I released a deliberately uncertain response, as though the thought had never crossed my mind.
"You must have heard many unpleasant things since arriving in the Capital City, and ‌‌‌Cassian, being a man of thorough dedication, must have made things quite arduous for you."
The First Empress exhaled a deep sigh.
"Cassian never learned how ‌‌‌‌to show ‌‌‌‌‌consideration to a lady, Miss Salice—you must understand. He has been so occupied with ‌‌His Majesty's commands, after all."
"I am quite content."
"No, no. You needn't be guarded ‌‌‌‌‌in my presence."
The First Empress's hand resting upon my shoulder patted me slowly and gently.
"I shall ensure you are able to spend time with your parents."
Her voice carried the sweetness of a most tempting offer.

---------------
Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please ‌‌‌‌‌read directly on our official site: valirscans.org
---------------