Chapter 59. Ofcourse. It’s That, Isn’t It?
When I returned to the Empress’ Palace—
“Your Majesty the Empress!”
Marie, the exclusive maid of the Empress’ Palace, came running with a loud voice.
“Sniff… You don’t know how much I missed you!”
She threw herself at me like reuniting with a family member after years apart, burying her face in my arms and crying.
Starting with her, the other exclusive maids of the Empress’ Palace ran over and surrounded me.
Soon, their heartfelt worries poured out in a rush.
Were you okay during the long trip?
Did you eat properly?
You look like you’ve lost weight.
I held each of their hands and exchanged greetings one by one.
“Of course, I was fine. I made sure to eat well too. Lost weight? Not at all. It was just a long journey—I’m just a little drowsy.”
The maids thought I had gone to my family estate, the Schwaben Duchy.
Their reaction seemed a bit intense for someone who just returned from a brief vacation.
“Truly… I can’t express how relieved I am that you returned safely, Your Majesty the Empress.”
Said Countess Chloe, who had been standing beside me.
Though she didn’t show it, she must’ve worried a great deal as well.
Her eyes looked slightly red.
Of course, I had missed them too.
The feeling of not having those always by my side—it brought a kind of homesickness I couldn’t quite describe.
Even while being treated with the utmost hospitality in the Kingdom of Kalus, I often thought of them.
While eating delicious food or enjoying the festive atmosphere of Kalus—
If only Countess Chloe, Marie, and the others were with me—it would’ve been so much more enjoyable.
That thought never left my mind.
At some point, I had come to think of the Empress’ Palace as home.
I smiled and said,
“I ended up being away from the palace longer than expected. You’ve all been doing well, haven’t you?”
“Of course. Everyone has been waiting eagerly for Your Majesty’s return.”
“I missed you all too.”
The maids looked visibly moved at my words.
With the help of the maids, I changed clothes and asked about everything that had happened during my absence from the palace.
Above all, what I was most worried about was Marie.
After all, she was the reason I had made up my mind to go to the Kingdom of Kalus to resolve the drought.
I turned to Marie and asked,
“Marie. How are things these days? Don’t tell me those annoying people came back again?”
The day I visited Marie’s house—
Those loan sharks had trashed her home and treated her family cruelly.
I was worried they might’ve come back to bother her again.
Marie shook her head firmly.
“Not at all. I haven’t seen a single hair from them.”
Apparently, after I left, Leonard had sent people over.
They guarded her home, inside and out, for several days.
Because of that, the loan sharks never had a chance to return.
‘So Leonard was concerned too, huh.’
It was unexpected, considering the personality of Leonard Hilbert as I knew from the original story.
He was endlessly kind to those close to him, but extremely cold to others.
Did he help because Marie was my maid?
If I get a chance, I should thank him.
“My brother was also very pleased. He kept saying he wanted to thank Your Majesty in person.”
“Just hearing that is thanks enough.”
Starting with Marie’s story, the maids began to unpack a whole bundle of stories.
What had happened in the palace during my absence.
Entertaining stories among the maids.
The new furniture and decorations added to the Empress’ Palace.
But the event that intrigued them most—
Was the Emperor Jerome leading the knights outside the palace.
“His Majesty the Emperor leaving the palace caused a huge uproar.”
“And not alone either—he brought a whole battalion of Royal Guards with him.”
“Rumors of war spread like wildfire through the palace.”
“There’s even talk that some officials secretly told their families to evacuate just in case.”
War?
Well, I had been surprised too when Jerome appeared with the entire Order of Knights.
I guess even within the palace, his departure was seen as the start of a war with the Kingdom of Kalus.
“But just when everyone was trembling in fear…!”
Marie clapped her hands and exclaimed.
“Wouldn’t you know! His Majesty came back with Her Majesty the Empress!”
The surrounding maids all seemed to agree.
“Of course. Of course. That’s what it is, right?”
“Of course, of course. It has to be that.”
The ladies-in-waiting exchanged subtle glances and nodded.
Hmm? I tilted my head.
Was it really that strange that I returned with the Emperor?
Well, if I had to be precise, it was unusual.
Originally, Jerome the Emperor had little interest in Empress affairs.
‘But for someone like him to bring the Imperial Knights and personally escort the Empress back…’
It seemed not just the ladies-in-waiting, but the entire Imperial Palace was abuzz.
“His Majesty the Emperor didn’t show it outwardly, but it seems he was very worried about Your Majesty.”
“Of course. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have led the knights himself and escorted Your Majesty back.”
“See? His Majesty the Emperor has finally realized the charm of our Empress!”
It was just one escort.
But the ladies-in-waiting were using all their imagination.
You think Jerome left the palace just to escort me?
No. That can’t be it.
There’s no way he led the knights out for me.
Maybe if it were for the Imperial Consort.
Anyway, I can say with certainty—it definitely wasn’t for me.
“What on earth happened, Your Majesty?”
The ladies’ eyes sparkled.
They were expecting some juicy tale between the Emperor and me.
Unfortunately, there was nothing like what they were imagining.
There wasn’t even a speck of the romantic situation they were hoping for.
The trip back to the palace was awkward and uncomfortable beyond words.
That cold atmosphere.
The air was so dry and dreary it could wither even a budding sprout.
“There was nothing special. We just happened to be on the same path coming back.”
At my words, the ladies’ shoulders drooped slightly.
They had probably hoped for something deeper and more thrilling. I felt a bit bad for ruining their excitement.
Countess Chloe, ever the perceptive one, changed the subject.
“Your Majesty, while His Majesty’s departure from the palace was certainly a hot topic, the most talked-about figure right now is in fact… you.”
“Me?”
“Yes. They say you didn’t visit your family in the Duchy of Schwaben, but rather traveled to the Kingdom of Kalus?”
At her words, my eyes widened.
“How did you…?”
Officially, I had gone to the duchy for rest.
Of course, my trip to the Kingdom of Kalus was a secret.
I believed it would be disastrous if the truth leaked out.
So I hadn’t even told my closest confidantes—Countess Chloe or Marie.
Yet, somehow, they already knew my whereabouts.
“Two days ago, a messenger carrying a personal letter from the King of Kalus arrived at the capital. He offered to dismantle the upstream dam to help relieve the Empire’s drought.”
So, the Kalus diplomatic envoy had already come during that time.
Karsen… that man.
He acted carefree, but clearly he had moved fast behind the scenes.
“The delegation advised the relocation of riverside residents. They said this goodwill gesture may not completely resolve the drought, but it would greatly aid in securing drinking water. And lastly, the envoy…”
Countess Chloe continued with a meaningful look.
“…said this was entirely thanks to Your Majesty’s diplomatic efforts. That the Kingdom of Kalus respects Your Majesty and will consider you a lifelong friend of the kingdom. They made that statement clearly.”
Ahh.
I nodded.
Now that I heard Countess Chloe’s explanation, I understood.
That’s how everyone knew about what I had done.
“Right now, inside and outside the palace, praises for Your Majesty are sky-high.”
“The long drought couldn’t be broken even with fasting and prayer. But Your Majesty didn’t give up and traveled all the way to the Kingdom of Kalus to negotiate…”
“Everyone was so surprised when they heard!”
“They say the King of Kalus is an arrogant man. And yet he called Your Majesty a lifelong friend…!”
“Not to mention, the Kingdom of Kalus has historically had bad relations with the Empire. There were frequent wars too.”
“How did you do it? Please tell us the full story, Your Majesty.”
The ladies were as curious about what had happened in the Kingdom of Kalus as they were about my return with Jerome.
Of course, there were also some worried voices.
“They say you only brought Sir Leonard and Lord Cedric with you? What if something had happened?”
“You should have given us at least a hint. We were so worried.”
Indeed, taking only those two with me was reckless.
There were several dangerous moments.
But had I not taken such a risk, there’s no way we would have achieved this outcome.
If I had told them I was going to Kalus to resolve the drought, no one would have believed me.
And if I had crossed the border with a contingent of knights, Karsen the King—who’s known for his aggressive nature—would’ve surely responded harshly.
So I still don’t regret that decision.
Though, seeing the worried faces of the ladies-in-waiting, I did feel a little sorry.
Fine, next time I’ll at least let Countess Chloe and Marie know in advance.
Still, the fact that the ladies-in-waiting knew about the Kingdom of Kalus situation actually felt like a relief.
There was something I needed their cooperation for anyway, and now I wouldn’t have to explain everything from scratch.
“With the cooperation of the Kingdom of Kalus, we’ve managed to slightly ease the drought’s burden, but it’s not over yet. I believe this drought will continue for some time.”
At my words, their expressions turned serious.
Securing just one water source wouldn’t resolve a drought.
“To save even a single drop of water, we’ll need extraordinary measures.”
“What should we do?”
Countess Chloe asked.
“I thought of a few things on the way back…”
Fortunately, I had a plan in mind.
—
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