For the One Who Hates Me - Chapter 47

The Duke’s estate was in a flurry when Josh arrived. Duke Tein received Josh in the grand garden, a look of anticipation on his face. An imperial edict was almost always used to summon a noble to the palace.

I told Elise not to leave her room, so she should be safe. She can’t see the garden from there, and the sound won’t reach her.

He had done more than just tell her not to come out. He had placed servants in front of her room, just in case.

“Is Duke Whale Tein of the Tein Dukedom ready to receive the edict?” Josh asked solemnly.

Duke Tein took a step forward. “I am ready.”

The Duke’s staff watched from a distance. No one was close enough to overhear them. Josh looked up at the mansion. All the windows were tightly shut.

So he doesn’t want Lady Elise to know the contents of the edict.

“I am ready…?” Duke Tein repeated. He was urging Josh to present the edict.

“Ahem… Understood,” Josh cleared his throat, took a deep breath, and bellowed, “Duke Whale Tein! The head of the Tein Dukedom!”

“!”

Duke Tein was startled. Why was this messenger’s voice so loud?

“Is commanded in the name of the Emperor, to present himself at the Imperial Palace at noon, in three days’ time, to discuss the future of the Dukedom!”

Josh’s voice echoed powerfully through the garden. Some of the servants in the distance even covered their ears.

Josh handed the edict to Duke Tein. “Here, take it.”

Duke Tein, in a daze, held out both hands. Josh placed the edict on his hands, turned around, and left.

“Wha- what is this…”

The Duke’s ears were ringing. He quickly looked back at the mansion.

This isn’t the time to just stand here. If Elise heard that, it could get complicated.

He hurried to Elise’s room. He dismissed the servant guarding her door and flung it open.

“…Uncle?”

Elise, who had just woken up, blinked sleepily.

“Did you hear anything outside?”

“I just woke up because of the commotion. Did someone say something?”

He scanned her room. The balcony window was tightly shut.

“It’s nothing. Go back to rest.” He closed the door and left her room.

The Next Day

Duke Tein stood in front of his mirror.

“Hmph. It seems His Majesty the Emperor has finally come to his senses.”

A servant held up a new garment in front of him. “How about this one?”

“Ugh… Don’t you have anything brighter? They’re all so dreary.”

The servant looked troubled. The clothes were of the highest quality, on par with those supplied to the Imperial family. The problem was Duke Tein’s own gloomy face.

“How’s Elise? No suspicious movements, I hope?”

“She’s in her room, as always.”

“Good. After all, what can she do in a situation like this? She’s so docile; I wonder if she’ll even survive as a consort. Empress Aura is no pushover, after all.”

Duke Tein scoffed at his niece.

Meanwhile, Elise was hiding behind the wall outside his room.

It was a shock. Emperor Karl was personally summoning Duke Tein. And to discuss the ‘future of the Dukedom.’

Even a fool could understand. The Emperor had chosen Duke Tein, not Elise.

If I stay like this, everything will go according to my uncle’s plan. But what can I do? His Majesty called for my uncle, not me.

Elise dejectedly returned to her room. What would become of her future? A consort? The wife of some noble?

It felt as though she would be forever banished from the Dukedom. A sense of helplessness washed over her. Elise slumped into a chair.

If only… if only I had been a son… It’s not easy for an unmarried woman to even request an audience with His Majesty.

In the end, she blamed herself. But at that moment, the Imperial Palace terrace came to mind. It was still a windy winter’s day when Empress Aura had suddenly appeared before her.

“You wanted to get help without anyone knowing?”

Aura’s fingertip had brushed against the curve of Elise’s ear as she tucked a stray hair behind it.

“If it were me, I wouldn’t ask for help. I’d make a deal. I’d bring something Karl couldn’t refuse.”

“!”

“Why? Are you afraid of losing what you have now? Then you’ll never have anything more.”

Empress Aura’s words were true. Elise was afraid of losing even what she had now, which was why she had been so cautious. She hadn’t even dared to think about making a deal with the Emperor.

But I have nowhere left to retreat. I have to be brave.

If she could, she wanted to be like Empress Aura. From the moment she first saw her, Elise thought Aura was an incredible person. How could she be so poised despite the painful memories of her imprisonment? How could she be so strong?

Elise gathered her resolve.

Something he can’t refuse…

A thought suddenly came to her. Her uncle probably wouldn’t dare offer this to Emperor Karl.

Her eyes lit up.

I have to… I have to meet His Majesty. And I have to do it before my uncle does.

The Next Morning

Karl was pestering Aura from the moment she woke up. Before she could even get out of bed, he had wrapped an arm around her and started to explore her lips.

“Karl, you again…!”

Aura’s reproach was swallowed by Karl’s mouth. His tongue, now familiar as his own, wrapped around hers. It was no use trying to push away the hand that was now exploring her waist. She supposed she should be grateful he wasn’t trying to take off her clothes.

It had been like this day and night. They would kiss until the early morning, and as soon as they woke up, they would kiss again. Sometimes, it was a challenge just to stop his hands from getting under her clothes. Just like now.

Smack!

Aura slapped away the hand that was trying to go under her nightgown. Although it probably didn’t hurt at all, Karl winced. But Aura was firm.

“I said you could sleep here, not that we would… you know.”

She fled the bed as if to escape. Karl looked at the back of his hand and said, “That’s so mean.”

“Your shoulder is the one that’s being mean. Why is it so slow to heal?”

“Is that what you say to an injured person? You screamed at me for talking like it was no big deal.”

“I never screamed…!”

She had. But it was too late to regret it now. Aura glared at him.

In any case, I absolutely must not give in to him. If I start, he’ll want to go all the way, and that’s obviously not good for his shoulder.

The plaster cast was off, but the cloth bandage and splint were still on. Seeing it always made her feel weak, which was a huge problem for her.

Aura opened the balcony window wide. A cool breeze blew in. Karl followed her and put his arm around her shoulder.

“I don’t want to go out.”

The arm around her shoulder was warm. It was a simple, peaceful morning. So much so that Aura was afraid she would get used to it.

“…When the bandage is off, you’re going back to your own room.”

“Do you know how many times a day you say that?”

“It’s because I know you won’t listen otherwise.”

Aura pulled Karl’s arm away and went back inside the room. As she opened the bedroom door, Minah was standing there, as usual.

“Did you sleep well, Your Majesty the Empress?”

“Yes, Minah. Good morning. Can you get us some tea and coffee…”

Aura was about to ask for something to drink but changed her mind. It felt a little wrong to just send him off with only coffee every day.

“Could you prepare breakfast?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“I’m fine with no breakfast,” Karl, who had followed her, said.

Aura felt a bit dumbfounded. He just said he didn’t want to leave.

“You don’t have that much time?”

He didn’t have that much time. Still, he was conflicted. Aura rarely offered to have breakfast with him first. Aura just shrugged her shoulders.

“If you’re busy, you’re busy.”

Karl was genuinely hurt by her simple, indifferent attitude.

She’s so cold. Couldn’t she have tried to hold me back just once?

But in the end, it was Karl who relented.

“We’ll eat tomorrow.”

“Huh?”

“Breakfast. We can do it tomorrow.”

He stroked Aura’s hair once and left the room. When he got to the hallway, Theo and Josh were standing there, as expected. They must have had a lot to report since he had been coming straight to the Empress’s room after his work was done.

“Let’s go straight to the office. If you have anything to say, do it now.”

“Yes. Shall I have a light meal brought to the office?”

The mention of a meal by Theo made Karl’s stomach churn again. His words came out brusquely.

“Yes.”

“When will you see the Imperial Physician? According to him, the bandage could have been removed yesterday…”

“I’m not taking it off.”

“…Pardon?”

“Tell him I’ll take it off when I feel like it. Any other reports?”

Josh and Theo exchanged glances. But they just nodded with a knowing look. Karl often became a bit strange after visiting the Empress’s room.

Josh subtly spoke up. “Duke Tein will be coming for an audience today, but…”

“Yes. That’s right.”

“What if… Lady Elise contacts us… what should we do?”

Karl paused.

“Elise herself?”

“…Yes. Just in case.”

Karl fell into thought. If Elise herself came, it would be a different story, even if she was a pawn in this game. It would mean she had the will to stand against Duke Tein.

“Give her an audience.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Josh let out a sigh of relief. In any case, it meant she would have a chance to meet Karl. Of course, it would all be for nothing if Elise didn’t come.

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