Chapter 58

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 58

Chapter Title: Whispers of the Delegation

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With a satisfied expression, the emperor ordered the head steward to take custody of the prisoners before turning to her.

"So, how are the preparations for the autumn social season coming along?"

"Very well, Your Majesty. Everything is in place."

It couldn't be that he's asking me to help with the imperial ball preparations again, could it?

The emperor had shown little interest in anything beyond marriages, divorces, inheritances, and court matters. His sudden question sparked a flicker of suspicion.

The emperor took a slow sip of his tea, uncharacteristically pausing before speaking.

"It seems the Mainucor Empire is sending a delegation soon."

Agatha instinctively realized that the person she'd shared lunch with today was an envoy from the Mainucor Empire.

"Is Second Prince Fernando Mainumconti on the delegation list?"

There was no reply.

"He is, isn't he."

She'd half-expected it, but it was still an unwelcome lineup.

She could feel Enoch's gaze from beside her.

Noticing Agatha's sour expression, the emperor spoke up soothingly.

"You haven't forgotten that you're attending the welcome ball, have you?"

She'd promised to attend the welcome ball in exchange for not receiving the delegation.

The promise was still fresh in her mind, and Agatha reluctantly nodded.

"Yes, with my husband."

She added the qualifier, and the emperor nodded in approval.

"That will do nicely."

Confirming that promise appeared to be one of the main purposes of this meeting.

Enoch, grasping the situation, silently downed his tea. The once-warm pavilion grew chilly with silence.

Ahem. The emperor cleared his throat softly and continued in a subtle tone.

"With me present, the second prince won't dare act as he did before."

"Of course not. Would Your Majesty let him get away with such behavior in your presence?"

"Exactly. So, you just focus on deepening your bond with Marquis Aratus. As promised, I'll bolster his position and allow an early return home. Understood?"

Enoch's gaze bore into her again from the side, even more intense than before.

Agatha nodded earnestly without turning to look.

"I'll do my best, Your Majesty."

"Good, good. I have high expectations."

The emperor's tea time was brief, and the gathering soon ended. As Agatha and Enoch left the emperor's palace, she couldn't withstand his persistent stare and spoke first.

"You can say whatever you have to say."

"What was that last exchange with His Majesty about?"

Enoch jumped in immediately.

"It was the promise from after the last summit. He asked me to attend the welcome ball instead of receiving the delegation."

"Not that."

Her evasion didn't work. As a man of refined noble upbringing, he'd already seen through the underlying calculations and deals.

"I suspect it ties into what you told me this morning."

-His Majesty has been summoning you often, it seems.

-Occasionally? Crown Prince殿下 shared His Majesty's thoughts, so I slipped away unscathed. Hmm, His Majesty might even push for your early dismissal from court for a while.

-...I can't even imagine what was said.

-You don't need to know. And, by the way...

Agatha had changed the subject then. But that morning's conversation now connected directly to her exchange with the emperor.

"......"

Agatha fell silent, lowering her gaze. Her ears flushed red as she backed up against the corridor wall.

"Is it really something I shouldn't know?"

His low voice tickled her ear as he leaned in close, blocking her view. Her exposed lips trembled faintly under his intense stare.

"......Crown Prince殿下 said His Majesty wants stability now, tying things to the imperial family. I told him that means no more worries on that front. That if you'd been in the capital, an heir would've come along ages ago anyway."

"......"

"It's not wrong, is it? Now that you're back, it wouldn't be strange whenever it happens..."

Her cheeks burned, and Agatha turned her head aside. His long hair brushed her nape as it slowly descended.

"Can I take those words as I wish?"

"......I think you've been gentlemanly enough last night."

A hot breath ghosted over her nape in an instant. Agatha's body shivered.

"I never expected news like this."

His quiet voice carried a hint of excitement and amusement.

"I want to head straight back to the estate. That alright?"

He pressed a deep kiss to the back of her hand, his eyes gleaming. His ash-gray eyes rippled deeply in the dim light.

Agatha nearly nodded in a daze but barely regained her senses.

"......We're supposed to go to the dressmaker's."

"We'll do that first, then return to the estate."

He kissed her cheek and stepped back. The taut tension eased all at once.

As she exhaled shakily, his hand intertwined with hers.

"Shall we?"

Agatha left the emperor's palace under Enoch's escort.

In the carriage to the dressmaker's, he smiled plainly, unlike moments ago, and asked if they should have more outfits fitted en route.

"Yes. Sounds good."

"We should get some accessories matched while we're at it."

As always, they received Madam Shallet's warm welcome at the shop. While Enoch wasn't looking, Agatha selected a gold topaz tassel.

It was a blue silk one for hanging below the sword hilt, blending the colors of his and her hair.

Before sunset, back at the estate, Agatha stood before her chambers and offered him the topaz tassel she'd chosen.

"This is in thanks for the earrings."

As she tilted her head to show the earrings better with a smile...

He captured her lips and carried her into the chambers.

The next day was for the knights who'd fought hard.

"Second Vice-Captain, Huber Carwen, step forward."

At the Aratus capital estate's training grounds, Enoch called forth the knights who'd distinguished themselves on the battlefield to commend them.

With massive reward sums, new swords, armor, horses, medals, and even rotating vacations granted...

The knights' morale soared sky-high upon receiving their lord's recognition and fitting rewards.

"All together, observe a moment of silence."

The finale was a memorial for the fallen knights and soldiers.

Similar rewards and memorials would be underway simultaneously in Aratus and Noblesse territories.

With household matters handled well, all that remained was navigating the autumn social season smoothly.

The autumn social season began.

Even before the imperial ball, gatherings to enjoy the fall ambiance sprang up, along with evening events in the crisp air to show off new autumn gowns.

The event Agatha attended today was one such—a late-evening outdoor wine tasting.

The noble ladies present all wore elegant dresses with sleeves draping to their hands, thin cloaks draped over, wine glasses in hand.

Cheeks flushed rosy in the cool air from the wine.

"Have you heard?"

"What's that?"

"A delegation from Mainucor is coming. They say the prime minister went to the border to greet them."

"I've heard that too."

Along with the faint scent of alcohol, talk of the Mainucor delegation spread, fueling the autumn social buzz.

Isabel, holding a wine glass beside Agatha, whispered upon hearing it.

"It's related to the Palavi Island negotiations, right?"

"Exactly."

It wasn't a secret, so Isabel knowing was no surprise.

And if Isabel, who hadn't even properly debuted, knew, then everyone here did too.

Baroness Midant, already on her seventh glass, approached Agatha with an eighth.

"Marquise Aratus."

Her flushed face suggested she was quite intoxicated.

"Tell me about what happened on Palavi Island. You already know the delegation coming this time, don't you?"

Yet her sparkling eyes and clear pronunciation made her seem perfectly sober.

"I hear the first autumn ball will double as the welcome for the delegation. I'm dying to know who's coming."

Agatha smiled faintly at Baroness Midant's question.

The ploy was obvious, but what could she do?

Baroness Midant's hand twitched with slight tension.

Noticing others pretending to sip wine while eavesdropping, Agatha swirled her glass and spoke.

"Well, I'm not sure if the delegation this time is the same group from Palavi Island."

"Ah, of, of course. Naturally."

Regaining composure, Baroness Midant chimed in quickly. Agatha scanned the surrounding ladies, their curiosity peaked.

"As you all know, I'm not handling the delegation this time."

"Hohoho. True."

"I can't be bothered with every detail like the delegation's makeup, can I?"

Her gaze finally settled on Baroness Midant.

"Right, Baroness Midant?"

"Y-yes. Marquise Aratus."

Even hostile and neutral factions avoided openly clashing with Agatha.

But every so often, one couldn't hold back and stirred trouble—just once.

Like this.