For the One Who Hates Me - Chapter 48

Many nobles passed through the audience hall today, too. All of them had waited for weeks to meet Karl.

The topics of their audiences were trivial—things that could have easily been handled by a letter. Their goal was the audience itself, nothing more than getting a chance to leave an impression on the Emperor.

Karl, knowing this, processed the audiences quickly.

“That seems to be a matter the Imperial family cannot assist with. If a solution comes to mind, you may contact us by letter.”

“That is not a matter for discussion here. I will mention it during the state council.”

“That topic is not suitable for discussion at a state council. Dismissed. You may leave.”

It went on like this. Even so, the line of nobles waiting didn’t get any shorter. At the end of that line was Duke Tein.

Karl glanced at him.

Elise didn’t come, after all. Though, it’s probably more accurate to say she couldn’t come.

He had heard that Josh had told Elise that Karl was summoning Duke Tein. If she was still being cautious after all that, there was nothing more he could do for her.

Josh stood by Karl’s side. He, too, felt a sense of sadness, as if the matter of the Dukedom had been decided.

Theo, who had stepped out of the audience hall for a moment, returned. He stood by Josh and spoke in a low voice.

“Josh.”

“Yeah?”

“There’s something for you outside.”

“What kind of something?”

“Nothing big, but you’re the right person for it. Want to go? I’ll explain things to His Majesty.”

Josh, who was already feeling restless, thought it was a good idea.

“I’ll be back then.”

“Alright.” Theo gave a slight smile.

Josh found it suspicious but left the hall without a word.

What could this ‘something’ be?

He looked around, then his eyes widened in surprise.

“Sir Josh.”

Elise was standing in front of the audience hall.

“Lady Elise. A-are you just arriving?”

“I told Sir Theo I wished to have an audience with His Majesty, and he told me to wait.”

…That bastard, Theo.

Josh swallowed a curse and asked Elise, “I see. Did you submit an application for an audience?”

“No. The situation is urgent… In truth, I’ve tried to get out for the past three days, but the surveillance was too tight. So I came here as soon as my uncle went to the palace, having evaded the servants. Is my uncle inside?”

“Yes. He’s in the waiting room, not the audience hall, but…”

Elise spoke, trying to hide her impatience. “I need to see His Majesty before my uncle does.”

“But Duke Tein is already inside.”

Elise stared at the audience hall door. Then, as if she had made up her mind, she started walking toward it.

“Then I’ll see him with my uncle.”

Josh quickly blocked her path. “P-please don’t do this. If you go in now…”

The Duke will really not take this well.

But Elise seemed prepared for that, too. Even though she was visibly tense, she managed a polite, cultured smile.

“I will be fine. Please move aside.”

“Ah…”

“What’s the matter?” a familiar voice came from the end of the hall. Josh’s mouth fell open.

I’m done for.

Both of them turned to look down the hallway. Aura was walking slowly toward them. Elise immediately bowed in respect.

Josh asked, “Wha- wha- what brings you here, Your Majesty the Empress?”

“I was just walking. But what a surprise to see the two of you together. You’ve become quite close since you danced together at the last party, haven’t you?”

“Ah, no. It’s not like that…”

“I was making a request, Your Majesty the Empress,” Elise said.

“A request?”

“I was asking for an audience with His Majesty the Emperor.”

“Since when are audiences arranged through knights?” Aura asked.

“Well, she seems to have forgotten to apply for one… and the situation seems to be urgent,” Josh interjected.

Aura quietly looked at Elise. A Lady of a Dukedom who came to see the Emperor without an appointment. As the Empress, she had every right to be offended by this situation. And yet, Elise was calm, even though she should have been flustered.

Aura said to Elise, “I told you to act with confidence, not to throw a tantrum.”

Elise’s face flushed slightly. “…I am sorry. The matter is so pressing that I had to come this way.”

“If it’s so pressing… is Duke Tein inside?” Aura asked Josh.

“…Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Then isn’t it already too late for you to go in?” Aura’s words made Elise look up. She spoke with a desperate expression.

“Your Majesty, I…”

“You?”

“I came here prepared to lose everything.”

“And?”

“…Please help me.”

“Ha.”

Aura let out a short, incredulous laugh at her brazenness. She had thought Elise was just a well-mannered lady, but it seemed she had this side to her, too. And it was… quite impressive.

In truth, Aura had come here after hearing that Elise had arrived at the palace. But she wasn’t just concerned about Karl and Elise meeting.

“This works out well. I actually had something to discuss with you, too.”

“Pardon?”

A pleased smile formed on Aura’s lips. “I will help you.”

“…Really?” Elise’s eyes lit up.

“But on one condition.”

“What is it?”

“Let’s take a short walk. It won’t take long.”

A walk all of a sudden. Josh, who was listening, was bewildered. But Elise replied respectfully.

“I will.”

The two women left the front of the audience hall. Josh just stood there, staring blankly at their backs.

Wh-what is going to happen now…

A Little Later

Creak…

The audience hall door opened.

Karl, who was sitting on the throne, casually looked at the door. Aura was there. When Karl stared, all the nobles turned to look.

“Wha- why is the Empress here…”

“What’s going on…”

Aura calmly took a seat in the waiting area for nobles, right next to Duke Tein, who was last in line. Her actions, as if she were waiting for an audience herself, caused a stir among the nobles.

What is she up to?

Karl was also very curious. But he was still working. He said to the noble he was talking to, “Continue speaking.”

“I was thinking that perhaps we could receive a little assistance from the Imperial family for the waterway construction in my domain…”

The noble kept talking, but he glanced at Aura. Aura widened her eyes and looked at him intently, as if urging him to finish quickly. The noble swallowed hard.

“…On second thought, I believe I can handle that matter within my own domain.”

“…I see. You may leave then.”

The noble quickly walked out. After that, the line of nobles shortened noticeably faster. Some nobles just bowed and left. The pressure was one thing, but they hadn’t had anything important to discuss in the first place.

Only Duke Tein and Aura were left in the waiting area.

Duke Tein said to Aura, “Your Majesty the Empress, please see His Majesty the Emperor first.”

“Are you yielding to me?”

“How could I make Your Majesty wait?”

His words were polite, but his intention was obvious. He didn’t want Aura to hear his conversation with Karl.

Aura smiled sweetly. “But I have something to discuss with His Majesty in private. That’s why I chose to come last, so please don’t mind me and have your audience.”

Duke Tein was flustered.

I was planning to offer Finn in exchange for making Elise a consort. I absolutely cannot let the Empress see that.

“…Then I will wait outside for a moment. I will return after Your Majesty’s audience is over.”

“Oh, my. How kind of the Duke.”

Aura gave Theo a look. Theo quickly approached them.

“Your Majesty the Empress, do you have a command?”

“The Duke has yielded his place in the audience to me. We cannot make him wait outside, so please escort him to the rest lounge attached to the audience hall. It would be even better if you could keep him company with some pleasant conversation so he doesn’t get bored.”

The subtext was to keep Duke Tein confined in the rest lounge. Theo immediately understood and relayed the message to Karl. Karl nodded in approval.

Theo then escorted Duke Tein into the rest lounge. Only Karl and Aura were left in the audience hall.

“Come here,” Karl said, gesturing to the front of the hall.

Aura got up from her seat in the waiting area and stood before him. Karl spoke to her as if she were a noble.

“So, what brings the Empress to me without an appointment?”

“There seems to be a special guest outside. Are you aware?”

“A special guest?”

“Elise.”

Karl took a moment to choose his words. “I see.”

“Will you meet her?”

“If she comes to me, I have to meet her. Isn’t that why you had all the nobles leave and Duke Tein put you in the rest lounge?”

“That’s right. Then you should go meet her now. I’ll be leaving, so good luck.”

Aura turned and started to walk away. Karl watched her back and then spoke.

“Aura.”

She turned around.

“Why are you helping Elise?”

Karl didn’t quite understand. At the Spring Ball, Aura had stopped Elise from meeting Karl. Of course, Karl had given his half-hearted approval to meet with Elise. But for Aura to personally arrange the meeting was strange.

Aura smiled without saying a word. Then she walked out of the audience hall.

A moment later, Elise entered the audience hall with Josh. She bowed respectfully.

“I greet His Majesty the Emperor.”

Karl stared at her, his gaze seemingly probing her intentions. Elise, controlling her nervousness, added, “Thank you for meeting with me, Your Majesty.”

“I summoned Duke Tein, so I am a little surprised to see Lady Elise here.”

“My uncle is not aware that I have come to the palace. …Though he will be soon.”

“The Duke won’t take that well.”

“Precisely.” Elise met Karl’s eyes directly. “That is why I wish to settle this matter here and now.”

Karl’s eyebrows went up slightly. Elise’s attitude was clearly different from before.

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