The Empress Tames the Tyrant - Chapter 35

Agnes wore an awkward smile, clearly assuming it was merely a strange joke, which left Alicia feeling a bit self-conscious.

“No, what I meant was… well, don’t your ears ever itch when someone far away is talking about you? It was just a feeling like that.”

“Ah, I see.”

Alicia had once envied those whose even unfunny jokes were met with laughter, but now that she was experiencing it herself, nothing felt more awkward.

“Well then, shall we begin with your adornment for the day?”

“No. I look fine as I am.”

After Alicia had taken the initiative to wear the sapphire necklace and apply rouge yesterday, Agnes had hoped things were finally progressing, but it seemed a person did not change completely overnight.

“Well, His Majesty will likely visit late, so it should be fine to delay your dressing.”

“No, I meant…”

“More importantly, you have a guest this afternoon.”

Alicia looked puzzled. The Emperor had said he would visit at night, so who else would be coming to the Empress’s Palace?

“That was my little joke. In truth, Madame Emma said she would come to deliver a few things to you.”

One could not traditionally call a servant a guest of the Empress. However, it was also difficult to dismiss Madame Emma as a mere servant.

“Really? When?”

“She said that since she has no duties attending His Majesty today, she would come whenever you find it convenient. Shall I bring her in now?”

Alicia nodded. Having just finished a simple lunch and a walk through the garden, she had nothing particular to do. Moreover, knowing clearly now that Emma was the one governing the palace in the Emperor’s stead, she wanted to meet her and speak more.

“The first-floor parlor would be best.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. Nancy, come and attend to the Empress. Maren, prepare the refreshments.”

Perhaps because Agnes was such an excellent teacher, the young maids were shedding their greenness and beginning to move with impressive discipline.

“Your Majesty, the weather is lovely, so I shall open the curtains.”

Nancy gave a deep curtsy before pulling back the curtains to let the brilliant sunlight pour in. Maren soon arrived with refreshments, placing them modestly on the table.

“I have brought the herbal tea and apple jam cookies you praised previously.”

Seeing the Empress’s Palace gradually regain its proper dignity, so unlike her previous life, Alicia could not help but smile.

“Everyone has worked hard.”

“We are honored, Your Majesty.”

Not long after the two maids curtsied and left, there was a knock at the door. It was so prompt it felt as though Emma had been waiting nearby for Alicia’s summons.

“Enter.”

As Alicia’s clear voice rang out, Agnes opened the door and let Emma in first, signaling that the two should speak alone.

“I greet the Empress. I trust you are well today?”

Despite being an elderly woman, Emma dropped into a deep curtsy just as the younger maids did.

“Dispense with the formalities and sit.”

Alicia offered the seat first as a gesture of respect toward Emma.

“I am honored.”

Emma bowed again and took a seat slightly away from the head of the table. If their previous meeting had been somewhat informal, today felt as though she was showing thorough reverence to the Empress.

“Your attitude seems to have changed a bit, Madame. Or is it just my imagination?” Alicia asked brightly, pretending not to notice the reason.

“Though I am old, I believe that positive change is always necessary.”

A pair of wise brown eyes looked at Alicia from amidst a face of wrinkles.

“What is that bundle?”

At Alicia’s question, Emma carefully produced a package and placed it on the table. They were notebooks bound in high-quality red leather.

“These are the journals from the time the late Dowager Empress governed the palace. Also, the humble ones beneath them are notes I have kept in my own way, so please do not scold me for their insignificance.”

Looking closely, beneath the red leather were several thin, unadorned notebooks.

“Why are you giving these to me?”

“Since the true mistress of the palace is here, I felt it was not right for someone like me to keep them.”

Emma’s intention was clear.

“You don’t know me that well yet.”

“True. However, I have seen His Majesty become much warmer and more comfortable thanks to you.”

One did not necessarily have to be inside the Empress’s Palace to know what kind of person the Empress was. Emma had confirmed Alicia’s capability simply by the changes in Cayenne and the fact that he was still lingering at the Imperial Palace.

“I appreciate your sentiment, Madame. But I don’t think this is a matter I should decide hastily.”

“Do not worry. My own humble records aside, the Dowager Empress’s journals are locked, as you can see.”

Alicia looked puzzled.

“Forgive me, but I do not have the key.”

“Then why did you bring them to me? I cannot bring myself to break something left behind by the Dowager Empress.”

“Of course not.” The old woman gave a benevolent smile. “According to the tradition of the Darius Imperial House, you will receive the key on the day your marriage is perfectly consummated.”

“Pardon? The wedding was quite some time ago, yet I received nothing.”

“Yes. You will receive the key only when the marriage is truly finalized.”

Watching Emma’s kind smile, Alicia belatedly realized the true meaning and cleared her throat. She knew well enough what was supposed to happen on a wedding night, but having it brought up in the bright light of day was incredibly embarrassing.

“In truth, a finalized marriage begins the morning after the engagement, the ceremony, and the wedding night are all completed.”

Emma continued calmly despite Alicia’s blushing cheeks. To bring up the topic of the bedchamber in such a sunlit room was truly a testament to the old woman’s years of experience.

“Madame, that… there were complicated circumstances.”

“Yes. It is a great pity that the marriage could not be finalized then because His Majesty had urgent business in Rubeo to look after the people.”

Alicia realized she would not be able to win a battle of words with this woman.

“It was all due to His Majesty’s devotion to his subjects. However, even this old woman knows that your heartbreak was deep.”

Alicia did not know exactly what had happened in Rubeo at that time. But what was certain was that Cayenne had not wanted this marriage. No matter that it was a past life, she could never forget that ice-cold wedding ceremony.

“As you know, Madame, I don’t remember much from before the fever.”

“Ah, that is right. I have made a grave slip of the tongue.”

“No, I know of those events through what I have heard.”

Alicia told a white lie. Back then, under the pressure to adapt to this world, she had tried to talk to the Emperor just as the Great Sage of Lucan had instructed, only to be rejected on her wedding night. Thinking about it now was still humiliating. Their married life and Alicia’s remaining years had been a mere extension of that cold day.

“His Majesty must regret that day.”

It was something she had heard from the man himself. She had been ignorant and lacked intuition, becoming a mere parrot for Lucan, so her resentment had already faded.

“But His Majesty is returning to Rubeo soon, is he not?”

It was a bitter thought, but based on the memories of her past life, it was impossible for Cayenne to stay much longer.

“Rubeo already has a reliable knighthood and subjects who serve him. If they are loyal, they surely won’t interfere too much with His Majesty’s once-in-a-lifetime honeymoon.”

It was a logical statement, but it only made Alicia’s mind more chaotic.

“The fact that the two of you have grown closer recently is a joy for all the people.”

When she first realized she had returned to her twenty-year-old self, she had already lost all affection for Cayenne, or more accurately, for the entity known as her husband.

“I doubt it is to the extent that the Madame and the subjects expect.” Alicia wore a bitter smile.

It wasn’t just the marriage or her husband. Having experienced a lonely death so vividly, she never wanted to live that kind of life again.

“I am not an Empress who can promise hope to everyone.”

She understood that Emma, the servants, and all the subjects wished for harmony between the Imperial couple. But she did not want to torment the old woman before her with false hope. She felt too much pity for her past self, who had once believed her life would eventually change.

“I do not have the right to judge you, Your Majesty. But allow me to say one more thing.”

Alicia lifted her gaze to look at Emma.

“It was His Majesty who commanded me to deliver these records to you.”

That was something she had not expected.

“Why?”

Even if something had happened with Cayenne to make her blush, it had nothing to do with this.

“How could I know the inner thoughts of His Majesty? Furthermore, this is not the only thing he sent.”

“Then what else?”

“It was quite bulky, so I delivered it to Agnes.”

“What is it?”

Emma smiled again.

“Most of the jewels currently in the Empress’s Palace belong to the Darius House, but the pieces previously used by the Dowager Empress were kept separately by His Majesty.”

To Cayenne, his mother was a source of great affection and a deep wound. It was natural that he had kept her belongings. But Alicia had no idea why he was giving them to her now.

“Today, he commanded that they all be delivered to you.”

Alicia blinked in a daze.

“Thus, I have been waiting for your summons with a very joyful heart.”

Emma carefully stood and offered another respectful bow.

“Your Majesty, I congratulate you on fulfilling one requirement of a finalized marriage today.”

It was a tradition of the Darius House for the Dowager Empress’s jewelry to be passed down to the Empress. Although the Dowager Empress had passed away long ago, it was even more meaningful that Cayenne had given the items he had been personally keeping to Alicia.

“Now, only one step remains until the perfect finalization of your marriage.”

Alicia, faced with a reality so far removed from her original plan, could not bring herself to smile.