Chapter .18
During banquets, the Empress sits beside the Emperor, but not in the Audience Chamber.
Even so, since all three had the right to sit in front of the Emperor even if it wasn't a banquet, they could have just sat in the prepared seats.
However, the Empress and the Third Prince went and stood on the Emperor's right, and the First Prince on the left.
To give up even the rights of a direct royal just because they were so conscious of me, whom they usually ignored.
'What a grand welcome.'
Seeing the four members of the Imperial immediate family gathered except for me, it was unexpectedly harmonious.
A father and son with black hair and blue eyes, a mother and son with blond hair and green eyes. A modestly dressed husband and a splendorously dressed wife, a beautiful and arrogant couple worthy of being monarchs, and brothers resembling them.
I, resembling my Mother with black hair and blue-gray eyes, felt isolated alone. An impression everyone would share.
It was a scene directed together by the First Prince's faction and the Empress's faction, aiming precisely at that point.
"His Imperial Highness Prince Leontes will have the audience first."
The Chamberlain said.
I was the only one having an audience today, and those gathered here were spectators, not other audience members. However, the Chamberlain implied that I was just the first, not having a sole audience.
Just like when he announced the entrance of the Empress and the First Prince, he was bribed more than a little. The Chamberlain who could touch the Emperor's body, no less.
'Is it proof that the Emperor's faction's standing is not what it used to be, or......'
It might be an intention to curry favor with the Father Emperor who dislikes me, while also taking bribes.
The other three factions spread the word that the Father Emperor hated me the most among his children, but neither the Emperor's faction nor I myself objected to it.
"Father, have you been well?"
I went forward and bowed.
Unexpectedly, I felt interest in the Father Emperor's eyes looking at me. As if it were fascinating that I was still alive and wandering around, having thought I would follow my mother to death at three months old.
"Leontes, you have grown a lot. You look good."
It was as if he was seeing me for the first time since I was a baby. And to say I look good.
Although I am drinking the magic potion Goldmund obtains, my body, having overdosed on Lasilex, has not fully healed yet. There were times I was dizzy due to anemia. Even though I must look too pale, the Father Emperor spoke empty words without hesitation.
"Oh, with skin so white and transparent that blue veins show through, his demeanor is elegant. Although he is too thin compared to the First Prince."
"He is handsome, though shorter than his younger brother."
"He is surprisingly a handsome man. It is just that the other Princes are so outstanding that he was compared. The choice of clothes lacking sense is also regrettable."
As soon as the Emperor finished speaking, whispers arose again. Pretending to praise me to extol those they supported. To pretend to be nice to me, to pretend to be good.
Before the regression, I thought I should be good to them out of gratitude even for that. Not knowing myself and not knowing the enemy, I didn't even know what was right and what was wrong.
Meanwhile, Empress Rhiannon looked at her niece. Because I bowed to the Emperor in the Armatia style.
She didn't glare. She just looked as if Cecile had two noses.
'Impressive expressiveness, indeed the Empress.'
The moment Cecile's face turned pale, I bowed to the Empress. With a curtsy, the bow of Roncer.
People looked at me in surprise, but I didn't care. Because I had something to rely on.
"How can you bow differently to Mother than to Father? It is insolent, Brother!"
It was my half-brother Desmond.
Unlike me or the First Prince, far from losing his mother young, he grew up pampered, so his blood boiled over.
"That is the bow women offer to royals in Roncer. For you, a man, to do such a bow, are you not ashamed?"
The Second Prince receiving a stern rebuke from his younger half-brother in front of everyone. It was a good composition.
"Prince Desmond is correct. To use a different greeting method is too unnatural."
"He is rude to Her Majesty the Empress."
"Indeed... one cannot help the signs of being uneducated, it is a pity."
"Is he not a pitiful Prince without a mother? Since he is someone who did not receive even His Majesty the Emperor's attention, we should look kindly on him."
People giggled.
Because the Emperor left it alone without even frowning.
Before the regression, every time this happened, everything went dark before my eyes. I wanted to die, but I just couldn't because I thought everyone would laugh even louder.
But having experienced death, it was all meaningless. Rather, I listened carefully to their laughter. Until it grew louder and louder, uncontrollable.
The Empress looked proud, but Maximilian looked angry. Because Desmond attacked me and succeeded before he did.
Realizing only now that he had become the background for the Empress's faction; I thought that cold-hearted brother was still young now.
"Desmond, my brother."
When I called him, the youngest one frowned.
" according to your words, if an Armatia woman told an Armatia Prince that the bow of a Roncer woman was etiquette, that would also be a problem."
The atmosphere froze. Because I implied that Cecile colluded with Roncer.
"Stop, stop it!"
The Empress raised her voice.
"What are you doing in front of His Majesty the Emperor? Do not cause a commotion and keep the dignity befitting a Prince of Armatia."
It was the Empress's common tactic. Staying still when others attacked me, but when I protested, telling us to stop, suppressing me with authority.
In my previous life, I could only tear up while suffering helplessly.
The Empress even cast a gentle look at me.
"How could I not understand the feelings of a child who lost his mother? Also, the fact that you bowed like that only to me reveals your pure heart treating me as the mother you miss so much, so it is exceedingly lovely. Although it was regrettable that you were not bright about worldly affairs, your sincerity is commendable, so I gladly forgive you."
Indeed, a seasoned politician.
Maximilian's gaze now contained pure killing intent like a blade. Because of me, the Empress mentioned our mother as a mother, and I openly committed the unfilial act of serving my mother's enemy as a mother in front of people.
Because of that, the theory that Rhiannon poisoned my mother, which the First Prince's faction had been steadily pushing, took a hit.
"But, Mother!"
At that moment, the good boy who got angry for his mom expressed dissatisfaction when his mom forgave easily.
But the boy's mom, who had smiled at the boy's half-brother, spoke strictly to the boy.
"Prince Desmond, have I not always taught you? Show tolerance befitting a Prince."
"Yes, I understand. I apologize for causing concern, Mother."
Then Desmond bowed his head, though looking resentful.
Then the briefly frozen atmosphere relaxed immediately.
"As expected of Her Majesty the Empress."
"Indeed... how elegant she is..."
Indeed. In the past, I was moved to tears thinking she cared for me despite everything.
Since then, I believed whatever the Empress said unconditionally.
"How mature Prince Desmond is as well."
"On the other hand... Prince Leontes is......"
However, now I went my own way regardless of what those around me said.
"Your Majesty the Empress, please forgive Your Majesty's maid, not me. Because that maid told me to greet Your Majesty like this, saying it was Your Majesty's will. However, seeing now that it was not Your Majesty's will at all, it is clear that the maid betrayed Your Majesty in the end."
Cecile was terrified. People turned suspicious eyes all at once.
The Empress rose to an untouchable position, but her maiden family, the Lauderdales, were not there yet.
Above all, they were receiving contempt based on jealousy for being upstarts. Because although they were an insignificant family, they rose rapidly as Rhiannon received the Father Emperor's favor.
everyone hated seeing a family that couldn't even enter the court now acting arrogantly. Outwardly currying favor with them, but inwardly dreaming of their downfall. The Lauderdale family members also knew this, so they flaunted their power even more ostentatiously.
If my Mother received glares for being a Princess of an enemy nation, Rhiannon also had her difficulties. Lauderdale's position could never be stable until Desmond ascended the throne.
"I am unjustly accused! Prince Leontes first told me he missed his late mother and asked me to teach him the Roncer style bow. I am only guilty of granting Your Highness's request."
Although flustered, Cecile protested skillfully befitting the Empress's niece.
"It is a lie. That maid brought me clothes embroidered with the crest of Roncer and told me to bow to Her Majesty the Empress in the Roncer style. Since this was the only outfit to show courtesy while seeing the Father Emperor, I had no choice but to wear it. Otherwise, how could I have come wearing such luxurious clothes?"
People began to whisper fervently.
"Come to think of it, Prince Leontes served plain water to the First Prince's knights, didn't he?"
"How could such a person have prepared such an outfit?"
"Indeed. He is not a nouveau riche like Lauderdale."
As the whispers spread, I continued.
"Above all, even if I miss someone, I miss my Mother; why would I ask to be taught the bow of Roncer where I haven't even been? The one actually close to Roncer would be that maid, not me who didn't even know the etiquette of that country."
Since my Mother died, Roncer was an enemy to Empress Rhiannon. Because if she became enemies with the Father Emperor who married Rhiannon, a war would break out.
So it seemed unlikely that Roncer would join hands with the Empress's maiden family.
But countless things happen where enemies share a boat or even a bed; if they can crush an upstart using this as an excuse, who cares about the truth?
People began to whisper fervently.
"For people from an insignificant family to dare mistreat a direct royal of Balaska, the state of the country is unspeakable."
"There is no need to name anyone, but vulgar people do not know how to be prudent even after rising to high positions."
If the Empress's faction made me a laughingstock of the courtiers, I had to throw them a more interesting laughingstock.
Precisely themselves. For now, starting with the Empress's entourage who are easier than the Empress.
"If that lowly bunch is acting so wildly even now, how much worse will it be later? Of course, maybe it's something that might not happen."
"Well, for the future of Armatia, that side would be better."
The First Prince's faction and the Bastard Prince's faction wagged their tongues excitedly, talking about how much Lauderdale would run wild if Desmond ascended the throne. Although the bastard brother is also a descendant of the Lauderdale family, his relationship with them is no better than with me or my real brother.
"...Indeed, it was a bit suspicious. Prince Leontes isn't a fool; there's no way he would do such a thing."
It was worth the effort to look like a fool only to the Empress's faction.
"That is correct. To drive him into a corner for something he was forced to do."
The First Prince's faction was now even defending me. Because they are not courtiers if they cannot enjoy dragging down the strongest competitor using the weakest competitor.
"...Prince Leontes, is what you just said true?"
The Empress asked coldly.
"How would a Prince of Armatia lie to the Empress of Armatia? If there is anyone who says otherwise, they must be a Roncerian. Since Roncer's reach might have extended to Your Majesty's favorite subject, I am truly worried about Your Majesty's safety. I advise you to be careful."
Since she told me to think of her as a real mother, I repaid her with loyal advice.
"...Cecile."
The Empress no longer suppressed her anger.
"Your Majesty, I truly did not do wrong―"
"Yes, how can you be so rude! You dared to offend the Prince of Armatia, so as the Empress of Armatia, I cannot forgive you. You deserve to die!"
When the Empress shouted, Cecile immediately knelt on both knees.
"I apologize. For daring to offend Prince Leontes, I deserve to die."