“You’re late.”
“Yes, Your Majesty. I’m late.”
The voice of her answer was so confident.
It was really rude, but the other ladies didn’t think it was strange considering that the two had a ‘mother-daughter’ relationship.
“Of course, I am well aware of the habits of Duchess Schwartz.”
“What?”
“You are habitually late for other social gatherings.”
Duchess Schwartz rebutted immediately at Meredith’s words with a displeased look on her face.
“Your Majesty, what do you mean? Although I’m late today, it’s too much to nail it as my habit.”
“Too much?”
“Yes, it’s a stretch.”
The Duchess Schwartz’s complaints ensued.
“Besides, to say something like that in a place where so many people gather. Are you trying to embarrass me?”
“Your mother is right, Your Majesty. I was just late for today. Only today.”
Even Catarina stepped in.
What is the reason for repeatedly emphasizing that you were late for ‘only today’?
Her intentions were so transparent that she(Meredith) didn’t even feel like laughing out loud.
‘You’re doing all sorts of things.’
Meredith raised the corners of her lips sullenly and smiled.
I was just trying to cover it up. Oh, I probably can’t now.
“No way. You must have forgotten that I attended social gatherings with you two for three months before I became Empress.”
To lie in front of the most accurate witnesses.
Meredith continued as if she were in a trance.
“You were always late for your appointment. You always said it was okay if I urged you to go quickly.”
Meredith finished the sentence without losing her smile.
“Who would dare express dissatisfaction with the Duke of Schwartz?”
And it was a clear disregard for the ladies who were here now.
Because during those three months, there were quite a few meetings hosted by the ladies who were invited to attend today.
‘Of course, it is undeniable that the Schwartz is a prestigious family, but……’
However, the Schwartz was not the only power of the Empire.
There were also a few ladies from families similar in strength to the Schwartz today.
As Meredith expected, their expressions darkened at once.
And when the Duchess of Schwartz saw it, she quickly opened her mouth with a bewildered expression.
“Yo-Your Majesty, when did I say such a thing……!”
***
“Does the Duchess want to say that my memory is wrong?”
The Duchess of Schwartz knew it was rude to say such a thing to the empress.
The Duchess of Schwartz was eager to say yes, but she kept her mouth shut.
“Of course, Your Majesty.”
However, Catarina, who had a shorter social experience, was still free from such social etiquette.
She answered proudly on behalf of her mother.
“Of course, my mother would not lie…”
“Stop it, Princess Schwartz.”
Then someone interrupted with a heavy but sharp voice.
It was the Duchess of Wilkins.
The hostess of the prestigious Wilkins family, comparable to the Schwartz.
At the sudden situation, Catarina looked at Duchess Wilkins with a puzzled look.
“You were late for Madam Veneta’s birthday party a week ago. I’ve heard that the cake cutting ceremony was delayed by an hour because of a young lady.”
“No, Duchess Wilkins, it’s…”
“Do you think I’m lying that I went there? You don’t seem to know that Madam Veneta and I are old friends.”
“……”
“And you think no one here attended Madam Veneta’s birthday party? If I was late for the first meeting hosted by the Empress, I would apologize for being late. What rudeness is this?”
“We are family, Duchess Wilkins.”
Catarina eventually pulled out a card that she didn’t want to take out when things went bad.
“What kind of family apologizes? That’s embarrassing.”
“I think you are misunderstanding something.”
The Duchess of Wilkins responded with cynicism.
“Her Majesty is the mother of Baltic Jane… before she is the princess’ sister.”
(t/n: For consistency’s sake, I will keep translating 발트제인의 as Baltic Jane, the same way the previous translator did)
“……what?”
“How far are you going to ask for such indulgence despite the princess’s disrespect using the excuse of being family?”
“Exemptions! If anyone heard it, they would have thought we had committed a very big mistake.”
“If this was a tea meeting hosted by the Empress Dowager, the two would have been scolded greatly.”
Madam Walkins pointed out sharply.
“Are you being biased?”
“I beg your pardon? Duchess of Wilkins, be careful with your words. How can you say I’m being biased?!”
“Madam, are you done talking?”
“Stop it, both of you. In front of Her Majesty!”
Eventually, someone intervened.
Only then did the Duchess of Wilkins realize that she had also been rude, and she quickly shut her mouth.
But Catarina didn’t seem to want to keep her mouth shut.
“Why are you silent now? Are you avoiding talking to me now? Do you feel like you are going to lose?”
“That’s enough, Princess Schwartz.”
And at the sound of Meredith’s voice, Catarina turned her head with an even more displeased face than before.
“The tea party hasn’t even started yet.”
It was Meredith.
As she looked at Catarina with a cold subdued look on her face, Catarina felt indescribably displeased.
‘…. you dare.’
For Catarina, Meredith was and still is, a vulgar, worm-like illegitimate child.
Even if she became the Empress, that fact did not change for her.
‘Once a worm, forever a worm.’
Thus, Catarina could not bear this situation at all.
But now, the eyes of the people around her looking at her were not nice.
‘Let’s be patient for now, Catarina.’
Moreover, even her mother, the Duchess of Schwartz, was sending her a look for her to restrain herself.
“……”
Eventually, Catarina had to shut up.
‘I won’t apologize until the end.’
Meredith decided to quit after trying to hold on to this situation until the end.
It was because she decided that the real benefit she would get would not be that great.
‘I can’t spoil the atmosphere of the first meeting anymore here.’
Meredith decided to settle for the fact that Catarina had her mouth shut.
She raised the corners of her lips gracefully as if she had never put on a cold expression.
“Anyway, thank you all for coming. Hopefully, the tea will suit your taste.”
* * *
Fortunately, the tea meeting went smoothly afterward.
Although it was a tea meeting hosted by the Empress, Meredith had no intention of monopolizing the right to speak.
On the contrary, she thought that she should only say what was necessary as much as possible in order not to make unnecessary mistakes.
Therefore, the atmosphere was similar to other social gatherings.
Meredith responded to the story, feeling unexpectedly comfortable, even though she was in the same space as the Schwartz family.
“Then why is Your Majesty so quiet?”
At that time, the Duchess of Schwartz mentioned Meredith.
Meredith looked back at Duchess Schwartz.
She had an elated look for some reason.
Just like someone who rejoices at the thought of bringing Meredith down to the ground from now on.
Meredith replied without a hint of embarrassment.
“It’s more fun and interesting to hear other people’s stories. Life in the imperial palace is quiet, so I don’t have a particular story to tell.”
“Oh, come on, don’t do that.”
“Yes, Your Majesty. Why wouldn’t you have nothing to say?”
Catarina also helped my mother.
“Tell me how you are with His Majesty the Emperor.”
And all the ladies who were invited looked at Meredith at her words.
The subject was like a taboo to them.
Everyone who knew that the emperor’s body was not normal knew.
This was enough to predict an unsatisfactory marital relationship.
However, Meredith’s answer that followed was beyond everyone’s thoughts.
“Ah, this.”
Meredith replied with a smile on her face, not at all embarrassed.
“I don’t think that kind of story fits this place.”
Catarina’s eyebrows narrowed at the unexpected reaction.
‘Why are you so confident? There’s not much you can say.’
It was a fact known in the royal court that the emperor was ill and that it was difficult for a normal couple to have a relationship.
Catarina felt that Meredith’s attitude was some sort of a bluff.
“What do you mean, it’s not right? Come on, you should say something, Your Majesty.”
“Yes, it’s a pleasure for us to hear the story of the two of them getting together.”
The Duchess of Schwartz also chimed in.
Meredith stared at the two and opened her mouth.
“Well, there’s nothing special about married life. It’s just…”
“Just?”
“We stick to doing our work all day and lie in the same bed at night.”
“In the same bed?”
Catarina snorted at Meredith’s answer.
Meredith asked, staring at such a Catarina.
“Why are you laughing, Princess Schwartz?”
“Oh, no, Your Majesty. My nose was just itchy.”
Everyone would have known that it was just a lie, even if she didn’t point it out.
‘Then there is no need to do anything that hurts my mouth.’
It’s Meredith who says nonsense anyway.
(t/n: it’s Catarina’s thoughts)
So Catarina just smiled innocently and showed that Meredith’s story was very funny.
“Anyway, I’m glad you two are on good terms. Isn’t that right?
“That’s right, Your Majesty. Actually, I was a little worried.”
“Worried?”
“Yes. I heard that His Majesty was not very interested in women, so I was very worried about what would happen if the relationship between you and your husband was not going well.”
“He is not interested in women.”
Meredith readily admitted.
Duchess Schwartz and Catarina looked at her with a look of surprise.
Meredith added with a smile on her lips.
“Other than me.”