“Are you serious, Duke of Baloa, that you will select Janet as His Majesty’s concubine?”
“Yes, Empress Dowager. None of the distinguished guests who attended today’s banquet perfectly matched His Majesty’s eccentricity, or excellent taste, like Princess Janet.”
“That said……. His Majesty seemed to have a different opinion…….”
The deep wrinkles between the Empress Dowager’s fine eyebrows revealed her age, which was a rare occurence.
“I think not only the nobles in the empire but also the royals of each country attended today’s banquet, so His Majesty seems to not have enough time. But now that the banquet is coming to an end…….”
I leaned toward the Empress Dowager and whispered sincerely.
“How about I push for a spontaneous encounter?”
The Empress Dowager also listened to me naturally, as if she was intrigued.
“How?”
“Hohohoho, if you call the princess to this lounge, I’ll try to make sure the two of them meet naturally here.”
The Empress Dowager, who was worried for a while, nodded her head as if she thought it was an opportunity.
“Yes, I’ll only trust the Duke.”
I clicked my tongue inside as I saw the disappearing Empress Dowager’s back.
Who would have thought that she tried to kill me? Now that she needs me, she is grabbing my hand quite quickly. Without conscience.
I don’t know if she’s desperate enough to hold her enemy’s hand, but I didn’t have time to curse the Empress Dowager for whatever reason.
I looked at the various perfumes and cosmetics in the lounge.
Soon after, I was able to find the item I was looking for.
Liquid rouge that you apply when you color your lips.
I picked out several barrels of different colors and opened the lid.
“Is this enough?”
Looking at all the beautiful colors made my heart feel heavy.
“Oh, what a waste. These pretty things are innocent…….”
But there was no more time to lament.
It was because Princess Janet came in as the door of the lounge burst open.
“What’s on my face….?”
The princess, who came in muttering, was surprised as soon as she saw me.
“Sorry, I’m sorry. I thought the lounge was empty, so I was mistaken.”
“Wait a minute.”
I smiled kindly and gestured to Princess Janet.
“Come on in. It’s a lounge we made for everyone to share anyway.”
Princess Janet came in timidly, as I said.
“Well, excuse me for a moment.”
“Come closer. This mirror catches the light well.”
I waited for Princess Janet to approach, like a mean hunter after a herbivore.
And when I narrowed our distance moderately, I immediately asked a necessary question.
“Princess, may I ask you a question? What do you think of His Majesty, my princess?”
“His Majesty?”
“Yes.”
I waited patiently for the princess’s answer, but she hesitated.
In the end, I had no choice but to display my counselor skills.
“If it’s hard to answer, you can choose from the following options.”
I began to recite with a broad smile.
“First, he’s wonderful enough for you to want to get married to him. Second, even though his personality is unpleasant, you can happily eat and live with his face at least. Third, no matter how handsome he is, if his personality is such a mess, you will be unhappy if you get married to him for the rest of your life.”
“What?”
The bewildered princess blinked.
I made up a kind voice to reassure her, but this time I only thought of the answer I would get.
“Do you want me to say it again? Number one–.”
“N, number one!”
Fortunately, Princess Janet hurriedly replied, as if she had noticed that I was serious.
“Yes. Number one, you mean His Majesty is wonderful enough for you to want to get married to him, right?
Janet’s cheeks flushed red.
“It’s not necessarily……, I’ve never seen anyone as handsome as His Majesty.”
“So, you want to date someone like him. Do you feel this way?”
“How dare I?”
Janet laughed quietly.
“He really fit well with the Duke.”
Ah
“We’re just in a military relationship. Compared to couples, our relationship is very superficial.”
“Ah, yes…”
She was a little flustered, and soon came up with the answer I wanted.
“Of course, I want to marry someone as handsome as His Majesty one day.”
Yes! That’s it!
Without a moment’s hesitation, I spilled all the liquid cosmetics I had prepared on Janet’s dress.
“Oh, my mistake.”
And I immediately pulled out a tissue and applied it more vigorously, pretending to wipe off the cosmetics.
The sudden situation shocked Janet, frozen and unable to move.
“What should I do? I’m terribly sorry. Look at the cosmetics, that’s.….”
I looked satisfactorily at the dress, which had been mottled from her chest to skirt.
Janet couldn’t say a word, but she was in tears while breathing hard.
“Don’t you think it’s better for you to have a colorful dress than this one?”
“Oh, why……. Why….”
Janet kept crying.
“I told you, it was a mistake.”
I raised my head and frowned, with an arrogant smile like a wicked woman.
“Well, it’s my fault, so I’ll give you one of my dresses.”
“Oh, no. I, I’ll take care of it.”
Princess Janet shook her fist as if she didn’t want my help.
“Don’t tell me… you’re not going out like that, aren’t you?”
I blinked.
“If you do that, the princess will be ridiculed…”
The princess faltered because of the facts that I spouted. She’s already attended a banquet in a dress that would have been worn by commoners, and she’s already been looked down upon by people.
If she goes out with even that smeared dress, people will be more excited and gossip.
I sighed a little.
“I hear a lot of people say I’m rude, but I can’t stand hearing that I have no conscience.”
“…….”
“So stay here first. I’ll ask the maid to pick out a dress that would suit the princess.”
“You’ll really do that for me……?”
Her slow blinking eyes seemed to have almost fell for my words.
“Yes, I told you. I also keep the minimum principle.”
I pointed to the sofa behind the curtain.
It was a space for ladies who were tired of social activities to take a nap.
“You’ll be in trouble if someone comes in, so go over there and take off your dress for now. I’ll send you a new one, so you can change your clothes.”
“Thank you, Duke.”
The princess began to tear up as if she were moved.
“Duke, you were a better person than I thought. I’m sorry I misunderstood for a moment…….”
Looking at her reaction, she seems to be a very soft-hearted person so I felt a little sorry for a moment.
“Don’t worry. I’ll send a maid soon.”
I waited until Princess Janet disappeared behind the insignia and left the lounge.
As soon as I came out of the lounge, I rushed toward the servant holding a wine tray.
Crash—
The wine glasses were scattered all over the place in a flash, and I covered myself with wine from head to toe.
“Oh, I’m sorry! I’m sorry, Duke!”
“Never mind, you don’t have to apologize.”
I scanned the banquet hall, waving to the attendant who deeply bowed.
There’s no way Cardan wouldn’t have seen…….
“Is there a problem?”
Then a pleasant voice came from behind.
I was a little surprised by Cardan, who approached me in a blink of an eye, but soon turned around with a tearful face.
Cardan glanced down at the wine marks on both my arms as well as the front of my dress, then suddenly looked away.
“Your Majesty. I had a small accident because of my carelessness. I think I’ll have to change.”
Pretending to be conscious of people’s eyes, I left the banquet hall and hid myself in the hallway at the lounge.
Cardan naturally turned to cover me up and beckoned the servant to go away.
“I’m sorry, but….”
When I bit my lip slightly, Cardan’s eyes, which slowly scanned my lips, moved back to the wallpaper.
“May I ask for the clothes in my office?”
I could’ve asked servants for that, but Cardan nodded right away.
“Yes, wait in the lounge. Never come out.”
“Yes, I’ll hide behind the curtain in the lounge.”
“I’ll be right back.”
Cardan, who reassured me, quickly strode away.
When Cardan disappeared completely, I turned my back without regret.
“I thought he was quick-witted. He has an unexpectedly sloppy side.”
I was already running when I came to my senses.
During the banquet, Knoxus, who cleaned up her office leaving only a few unnecessary books, documents, and few uniforms, headed to the carriage that was waiting.
***
Cardan was able to find a jacket, shirt, and pants hanging in the office without difficulty.
He wondered why he didn’t see the cage in the corner, but he didn’t mind it that much as the situation was urgent.
He immediately snatched the clothes and hurried to the banquet hall lounge.
Fortunately, there was no one in the private lounge for the ladies.
Cardan closed the lounge door, looking around him.
‘She must be hiding behind the curtains in the lounge.’
Sure enough, he could see someone behind the insignia.
He was embarrassed because it sounded like she was taking off her clothes, but he thought it was natural if the wine was too sticky.
“Hmm. I brought your clothes to change.”
Cardan stepped back vaguely, sticking out the clothes he had brought.
But instead of taking clothes that could be reached in arms length, the woman behind the curtain screamed.
“Ah! Why? Why are you here?”
It was not Erina’s voice.
Looking back, the shadow reflected in the curtain was quite different from Erina’s figure.
“Who are you?”
His voice became rough at once.
This was the lounge Erina mentioned.
With the ominous foreboding that something was going wrong, Cardan pulled the curtain off at once.
At the same time, the door of the lounge burst open, and the Empress Dowager and several ladies rushed in.
“Maybe it’s because I danced too passionately, but my makeup seems to have melted a little.”
“I think my lip makeup got erased while tasting this and that, too, ho-ho.”
“After chatting for a while- Whoo!”
The expressions of the ladies who arrived at the lounge quickly turned somber.
It was because they found Princess Janet lying on the sofa in her underwear and Cardan looking down at her.
“Oh, my God. E, excuse me.”
Only the Empress Dowager smiled softly without any sign of embarrassment.
“I’ll fix my makeup next time and we’ll go out.”
Clack. When the door closed, Cardan swore automatically.
“Damn it, damn it, damn it.”
He fell for it.
He was beaten up by Erina again.
“Are you serious, Duke of Baloa, that you will select Janet as His Majesty’s concubine?”
“Yes, Empress Dowager. None of the distinguished guests who attended today’s banquet perfectly matched His Majesty’s eccentricity, or excellent taste, like Princess Janet.”
“That said……. His Majesty seemed to have a different opinion…….”
The deep wrinkles between the Empress Dowager’s fine eyebrows revealed her age, which was a rare occurence.
“I think not only the nobles in the empire but also the royals of each country attended today’s banquet, so His Majesty seems to not have enough time. But now that the banquet is coming to an end…….”
I leaned toward the Empress Dowager and whispered sincerely.
“How about I push for a spontaneous encounter?”
The Empress Dowager also listened to me naturally, as if she was intrigued.
“How?”
“Hohohoho, if you call the princess to this lounge, I’ll try to make sure the two of them meet naturally here.”
The Empress Dowager, who was worried for a while, nodded her head as if she thought it was an opportunity.
“Yes, I’ll only trust the Duke.”
I clicked my tongue inside as I saw the disappearing Empress Dowager’s back.
Who would have thought that she tried to kill me? Now that she needs me, she is grabbing my hand quite quickly. Without conscience.
I don’t know if she’s desperate enough to hold her enemy’s hand, but I didn’t have time to curse the Empress Dowager for whatever reason.
I looked at the various perfumes and cosmetics in the lounge.
Soon after, I was able to find the item I was looking for.
Liquid rouge that you apply when you color your lips.
I picked out several barrels of different colors and opened the lid.
“Is this enough?”
Looking at all the beautiful colors made my heart feel heavy.
“Oh, what a waste. These pretty things are innocent…….”
But there was no more time to lament.
It was because Princess Janet came in as the door of the lounge burst open.
“What’s on my face….?”
The princess, who came in muttering, was surprised as soon as she saw me.
“Sorry, I’m sorry. I thought the lounge was empty, so I was mistaken.”
“Wait a minute.”
I smiled kindly and gestured to Princess Janet.
“Come on in. It’s a lounge we made for everyone to share anyway.”
Princess Janet came in timidly, as I said.
“Well, excuse me for a moment.”
“Come closer. This mirror catches the light well.”
I waited for Princess Janet to approach, like a mean hunter after a herbivore.
And when I narrowed our distance moderately, I immediately asked a necessary question.
“Princess, may I ask you a question? What do you think of His Majesty, my princess?”
“His Majesty?”
“Yes.”
I waited patiently for the princess’s answer, but she hesitated.
In the end, I had no choice but to display my counselor skills.
“If it’s hard to answer, you can choose from the following options.”
I began to recite with a broad smile.
“First, he’s wonderful enough for you to want to get married to him. Second, even though his personality is unpleasant, you can happily eat and live with his face at least. Third, no matter how handsome he is, if his personality is such a mess, you will be unhappy if you get married to him for the rest of your life.”
“What?”
The bewildered princess blinked.
I made up a kind voice to reassure her, but this time I only thought of the answer I would get.
“Do you want me to say it again? Number one–.”
“N, number one!”
Fortunately, Princess Janet hurriedly replied, as if she had noticed that I was serious.
“Yes. Number one, you mean His Majesty is wonderful enough for you to want to get married to him, right?
Janet’s cheeks flushed red.
“It’s not necessarily……, I’ve never seen anyone as handsome as His Majesty.”
“So, you want to date someone like him. Do you feel this way?”
“How dare I?”
Janet laughed quietly.
“He really fit well with the Duke.”
Ah
“We’re just in a military relationship. Compared to couples, our relationship is very superficial.”
“Ah, yes…”
She was a little flustered, and soon came up with the answer I wanted.
“Of course, I want to marry someone as handsome as His Majesty one day.”
Yes! That’s it!
Without a moment’s hesitation, I spilled all the liquid cosmetics I had prepared on Janet’s dress.
“Oh, my mistake.”
And I immediately pulled out a tissue and applied it more vigorously, pretending to wipe off the cosmetics.
The sudden situation shocked Janet, frozen and unable to move.
“What should I do? I’m terribly sorry. Look at the cosmetics, that’s.….”
I looked satisfactorily at the dress, which had been mottled from her chest to skirt.
Janet couldn’t say a word, but she was in tears while breathing hard.
“Don’t you think it’s better for you to have a colorful dress than this one?”
“Oh, why……. Why….”
Janet kept crying.
“I told you, it was a mistake.”
I raised my head and frowned, with an arrogant smile like a wicked woman.
“Well, it’s my fault, so I’ll give you one of my dresses.”
“Oh, no. I, I’ll take care of it.”
Princess Janet shook her fist as if she didn’t want my help.
“Don’t tell me… you’re not going out like that, aren’t you?”
I blinked.
“If you do that, the princess will be ridiculed…”
The princess faltered because of the facts that I spouted. She’s already attended a banquet in a dress that would have been worn by commoners, and she’s already been looked down upon by people.
If she goes out with even that smeared dress, people will be more excited and gossip.
I sighed a little.
“I hear a lot of people say I’m rude, but I can’t stand hearing that I have no conscience.”
“…….”
“So stay here first. I’ll ask the maid to pick out a dress that would suit the princess.”
“You’ll really do that for me……?”
Her slow blinking eyes seemed to have almost fell for my words.
“Yes, I told you. I also keep the minimum principle.”
I pointed to the sofa behind the curtain.
It was a space for ladies who were tired of social activities to take a nap.
“You’ll be in trouble if someone comes in, so go over there and take off your dress for now. I’ll send you a new one, so you can change your clothes.”
“Thank you, Duke.”
The princess began to tear up as if she were moved.
“Duke, you were a better person than I thought. I’m sorry I misunderstood for a moment…….”
Looking at her reaction, she seems to be a very soft-hearted person so I felt a little sorry for a moment.
“Don’t worry. I’ll send a maid soon.”
I waited until Princess Janet disappeared behind the insignia and left the lounge.
As soon as I came out of the lounge, I rushed toward the servant holding a wine tray.
Crash—
The wine glasses were scattered all over the place in a flash, and I covered myself with wine from head to toe.
“Oh, I’m sorry! I’m sorry, Duke!”
“Never mind, you don’t have to apologize.”
I scanned the banquet hall, waving to the attendant who deeply bowed.
There’s no way Cardan wouldn’t have seen…….
“Is there a problem?”
Then a pleasant voice came from behind.
I was a little surprised by Cardan, who approached me in a blink of an eye, but soon turned around with a tearful face.
Cardan glanced down at the wine marks on both my arms as well as the front of my dress, then suddenly looked away.
“Your Majesty. I had a small accident because of my carelessness. I think I’ll have to change.”
Pretending to be conscious of people’s eyes, I left the banquet hall and hid myself in the hallway at the lounge.
Cardan naturally turned to cover me up and beckoned the servant to go away.
“I’m sorry, but….”
When I bit my lip slightly, Cardan’s eyes, which slowly scanned my lips, moved back to the wallpaper.
“May I ask for the clothes in my office?”
I could’ve asked servants for that, but Cardan nodded right away.
“Yes, wait in the lounge. Never come out.”
“Yes, I’ll hide behind the curtain in the lounge.”
“I’ll be right back.”
Cardan, who reassured me, quickly strode away.
When Cardan disappeared completely, I turned my back without regret.
“I thought he was quick-witted. He has an unexpectedly sloppy side.”
I was already running when I came to my senses.
During the banquet, Knoxus, who cleaned up her office leaving only a few unnecessary books, documents, and few uniforms, headed to the carriage that was waiting.
***
Cardan was able to find a jacket, shirt, and pants hanging in the office without difficulty.
He wondered why he didn’t see the cage in the corner, but he didn’t mind it that much as the situation was urgent.
He immediately snatched the clothes and hurried to the banquet hall lounge.
Fortunately, there was no one in the private lounge for the ladies.
Cardan closed the lounge door, looking around him.
‘She must be hiding behind the curtains in the lounge.’
Sure enough, he could see someone behind the insignia.
He was embarrassed because it sounded like she was taking off her clothes, but he thought it was natural if the wine was too sticky.
“Hmm. I brought your clothes to change.”
Cardan stepped back vaguely, sticking out the clothes he had brought.
But instead of taking clothes that could be reached in arms length, the woman behind the curtain screamed.
“Ah! Why? Why are you here?”
It was not Erina’s voice.
Looking back, the shadow reflected in the curtain was quite different from Erina’s figure.
“Who are you?”
His voice became rough at once.
This was the lounge Erina mentioned.
With the ominous foreboding that something was going wrong, Cardan pulled the curtain off at once.
At the same time, the door of the lounge burst open, and the Empress Dowager and several ladies rushed in.
“Maybe it’s because I danced too passionately, but my makeup seems to have melted a little.”
“I think my lip makeup got erased while tasting this and that, too, ho-ho.”
“After chatting for a while- Whoo!”
The expressions of the ladies who arrived at the lounge quickly turned somber.
It was because they found Princess Janet lying on the sofa in her underwear and Cardan looking down at her.
“Oh, my God. E, excuse me.”
Only the Empress Dowager smiled softly without any sign of embarrassment.
“I’ll fix my makeup next time and we’ll go out.”
Clack. When the door closed, Cardan swore automatically.
“Damn it, damn it, damn it.”
He fell for it.
He was beaten up by Erina again.
