Reincarnated As My Husband's Mistress-Chapter 37: [] To take the first step

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"Madam, what are you so busy with so early in the morning?"

"It's nothing."

Early in the morning, I was using a letter as kindling. It was a letter from Noebian. "I have declined the position of the Empress's maid." There was nothing else, no explanation, no request, just that one line.

"Someone who will do great things in the future! Please leave such trivial matters to us!"

Maji snatched the poker from my hand, scraped up the remaining ashes, and shoved them into the fireplace. Since I received the news that I would become the Empress's maid, Maji had been more excited than I was about entering the palace.

"Madam, Madam Leblea has arrived."

Yona entered the drawing room with a startled expression and announced it. As I watched Noebian's letter burn along with the fire, I left the mansion to pass the first gate of Doris.

***

In the carriage, Madam Leblea, who had a subtle expression throughout the journey, finally opened her mouth when we reached the imperial palace.

"Madam, I will meet the Empress as you requested, but..."

"I know, Madam. I've told you many times already."

Although Madam was essentially a businesswoman, she was an eccentric who refused to do anything she didn't want to, claiming to be an artist. The reason she could do so was because she was a noble from the Kingdom of Katarina, not Ronta.

"Since I opened my fashion house in Ronta, I've seen the Empress from afar for quite a long time. Really! I don't get any inspiration at all. She was a typical Ronta noblewoman, and even now that she has become the next Empress, she is the same. Even though I've already told you this politely, you seem to know that I am your muse and are making things difficult for me..."

"It wasn't the Empress who personally selected you, Madam. I'm going to see her with you because I trust you. Countess Jusetta has a good eye for people. I don't think Her Highness directly ordered anyone to be brought."

Madam pouted, but when I praised her in return, she sighed helplessly. According to Madam, Noura had worked hard to introduce Madam to the Empress, but she had repeatedly refused.

"If you had asked me to work for the Countess, I would have done it to a certain extent. But if I force myself to make clothes for the Empress and the result is not good... I won't be severely punished, will I..."

"Don't worry about the results. Don't design for the Empress, design for me."

"...What?"

By the time Madam asked, our carriage had arrived in front of the magnificent Empress's palace. The waiting knight opened the door, but neither of us got up.

"What do you mean?"

"Exactly what I said. She doesn't want a style for herself right now."

"Then, what is it?"

Madam asked as if she didn't understand. I shrugged awkwardly.

"She wants to take what I have and make it her own."

Madam's eyes, which had been shaking greatly, began to sparkle as if she understood the meaning of my words.

"...She's the kind of person I hate the most."

"And then, clenching her fist, she jumped out of the carriage without even waiting for the knight's escort.

"I hope you won't find it disrespectful that I spoke without a subject," I replied with a smile.

***

As we entered the incredibly luxurious audience chamber, Doris, Noura, and a young lady I had never seen before were there.

"Today's interview is just a formality, so think of it as just a tea time. You can think of it as a time to introduce yourselves to the other maids."

Noura reintroduced herself as Countess Jusetta, and the young lady I had never seen before introduced herself as Countess Siscometin. The tea time was quite smooth. Countess Siscometin allowed me to call her Irene, but Countess Jusetta didn't allow me to use her name, so there was a slight power struggle. While having tea, I observed not only Doris but also Countess Jusetta without fail.

'She's just like me.'

I remembered Countess Jusetta's group, who had scrutinized me yesterday. I wanted to ask about the things I was wearing, but it seemed like she couldn't ask because of her pride. A dress that was subtly altered. I immediately realized that it was a copy of the dress Madam Leblea had designed for me. Doris was the same. Her loosely twisted hair, and everything she wore on her ears and neck was very similar to me yesterday. It was too similar to be just a coincidence. I quietly opened my mouth to Doris, who was just stroking her teacup.

"Your Highness, about the task you gave me the other day."

"...Ah, yes, that's right. When can I meet that creative talent?"

Noura's gaze followed as soon as I opened my mouth. Doris's eyes also sparkled with interest.

"There are many famous designers in the capital, but do you know Madam Leblea among them?"

"Oh my, Madam! As expected! To wear Madam Leblea's dress, you have to make a reservation half a year in advance! Your Highness! Don't you know?"

As Irene began to fuss, Noura's face grew increasingly stiff.

"I've definitely heard of her. So, should I wait about half a year too?"

As if knowing Madam Leblea's stubbornness, Doris replied with a smirk.

"She's entered the palace with me today. Would you like to meet her?"

"!"

I stood up abruptly, bowed politely, and opened the door of the audience chamber again. Leblea, who had been waiting, entered the audience chamber with the skilled face of a businessman, and Noura's face turned completely pale, and Irene rubbed her eyes, slowly got up, and covered her mouth.

"I finally meet the star of the Empire, Her Highness the Crown Princess. I am Madam Leblea."

Madam's eyes shook violently when she saw Doris and Noura's outfits, but like a seasoned businesswoman, she quickly hid her agitation.

"What do you think, Your Highness?"

I smiled shyly and said to Doris. Doris, who had been smiling faintly, scanned Madam Leblea from head to toe and replied to me with a satisfied expression.

"Even a Grand Duke cannot ignore the sincerity of wanting to have a talented person by his side. Isn't that right?"

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Doris continued, her eyes scanning the design book Madam had brought, "Congratulations, Madam. Since you've officially become my maid today, you deserve a celebration."

***

After Madam Leblea left, promising to return later, Doris, with a full smile on her face, spoke again after a long pause. "Ah, the reason I called everyone here today was partly because of the formality of Countess Acacia's interview, but also to tell you something important."

"What is it, Your Highness?"

"Soon, Grand Duke Trovika will have to leave the capital due to the matter with Elacon. I know it's not very good to give work to someone who is in mourning, but what can I do? There are not so many talented people in this country."

Doris's face did not seem to reflect that she thought so.

"Oh, then who will entertain the visitors to Grand Duke Trovika's residence or tomb?"

"Irene, you're right on the money. That's exactly why the royal family is going to send someone temporarily."

Representing the royal family and attending royal events was undoubtedly a very honorable thing. Judging by the fervent gaze Noura, whose face had been ashen, sent to Doris, wanting to do that job herself. Unfortunately, Doris didn't even look in her direction.

"So, Madam."

"Yes, Your Highness."

"I'm thinking of recommending you to Her Majesty the Empress and sending you there."

"!"

"Just one week. Take charge of welcoming visitors and managing the residence at Grand Duke Trovika's residence."

Noura's face turned as hard as stone, and Irene's surprised face came into view one after the other. Countess Jusetta was the information broker of the social world, and Irene Siscometin was the powerful one. What did Doris want from Blie Acacia? As I looked at Doris smiling kindly at me, I began to feel like I was gradually getting a sense of what Doris liked.

***

"Do you have any idea?"

"What kind of idea?"

Emperor Julius stiffened his expression at Roan's sarcastic attitude. How long had it been since he had a private meeting with his son who had avoided a private meeting with his father since coming to the capital? This was their first private meeting since they had blushed in the party hall, and the Emperor was glad to see his son. Unlike the Emperor's happy heart, a shallow contempt flashed across Roan's face. The Emperor swallowed and continued to speak to his son.

"It's about the missing woman case. You're the only one I can trust with this."

"Why are you paying the salaries of the capital guard commander and the imperial knight commander?"

"Roan."

"I need a rest."

When he uttered the word "rest," which he rarely said, the Emperor's mouth closed. As Roan himself had said, he needed a rest. At a young age, he went to the battlefield and never returned to the capital. His only purpose, his first love, had married his uncle and was no longer in this world. Knowing this well, the Emperor looked at his son apologetically. But Roan ignored his gaze. His finely sculpted profile was full of loneliness and despair. The Emperor understood this feeling better than anyone. It was the same feeling he had felt after the death of his first love and last love, Empress Retina.

"And I've been hearing some nasty rumors lately."

"..."

"People say that the victim of that case you so desperately asked me to handle, Baroness Kuroseda, was actually your mistress. I was about to have everyone's tongues pulled out, but I thought I should ask you directly."

Roan, who already knew the truth through his investigation, said so to his father. The Emperor sat silently at his desk in his office, staring at him.

"I beg you."

"It's a disgrace to the royal family."

"Roan."

"Your mother will weep in the underworld."

"You too will understand your father's heart someday."

The Emperor said in a voice filled with regret. But no matter how much he thought about it, Roan felt that he would never understand his father.

"The dead are dead. The living must live. I realized it too late and did a terrible thing to Baroness Kuroseda."

His voice, filled with regret, was not directed at his mother, Empress Retina. It was clearly directed at the 'mistress' he had secretly asked to find.

"Loss and injury caused by people can only be healed by other people. I realized it too late."

Roan could not contain the anger that suddenly surged up and opened his mouth.

"The dead are not a disease that needs to be cured."

"Roan."

"Isn't that what love is? Something that no one can replace."

"..."

"You didn't love Mother."

The aging Emperor's face visibly clouded over, and thick tears streamed down his cheeks. Roan ignored him and glared at the portrait of Baroness Kuroseda on the table. Her shining blonde hair. A similar impression to his mother, Empress Retina, who was as beautiful as a fairy. Rough breaths escaped between his teeth, and his chest ached.

'The real one is dead, and he's finding comfort in a substitute.'

But did he have the right to criticize that? Suddenly, he felt like he was falling into an endless abyss.

"...I loved Retina. And Baroness Kuroseda too..."

"...I don't want to hear it."

Roan abruptly stood up. The Emperor, admiring his son's grown-up appearance, could not bear to see his face, which resembled Retina, filled with blame and contempt, and lowered his head.

"Roan. You too will understand this father someday."

In the end, Roan stormed out of the room. He walked and walked down the long corridor. A rage that felt like his head would burst welled up inside him. Everyone living in this country was insane. Roan, who was pouring out silent criticism to an unspecified number of people, eventually stopped at the end of a quiet corridor where no servants passed. Suddenly, the existence of Blie Acacia blocked his breath.

'Why do I... why do I see you as Adrienne?'

His image of himself saying such words just a moment ago turned his mind into mush. Roan raised his head where he stood still. Coincidentally, a portrait of his mother, the deceased Empress Retina, hung at the end of the corridor. When Retina's kindly smiling eyes turned to him, he felt an unbearable shame. And...

"...Your Highness?"

As if by magic, he met Blie Acacia there.

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