Chapter 51 The person who always works hard (Sujeong)
Chapter 51 The person who always works hard
We returned to the imperial palace by carriage.
The floor of the carriage was dirty because Cecilia and her maids’ shoes and dresses were covered with mud.
Ah, of course the condition of my shoes wasn’t good either.
“After dressing up, let’s gather in the dining room.”
Come to think of it, it’ll be lunchtime in a while.
I felt empty inside, probably because I had been walking outside since morning.
Cecilia went back to her own room first. Me, Flora, and Mulia decided to wash our bodies first.
No matter how much I put an umbrella over it, it was because I got caught in the rain while walking around.
“Mr. Luke. Then see you later.”
In front of the entrance to the women’s bath, Flora waved her hand at me. She had a smile on her face, so I responded by waving her hand lightly with a smile.
After taking her bath, she changed into a uniform prepared by the maid.
It was almost lunchtime, so I quickly headed to the dining room. But when I arrived, no one was there.
‘Well, because it takes a long time for women to dress up.’
I sat down and waited patiently. Not long after, Flora and Mulia arrived at the dining room.
“Oops. Did you arrive first?”
“Men are usually faster at things like this.”
Flora smiled, furrowing her eyebrows.
“Your Majesty seems to need more time.”
“I think so.”
The two of them, like me, sat in their respective seats.
Cecilia showed up in the dining room after more time had passed.
“Oops. I must be a bit late.”
“No, Your Majesty. We also met a little while ago.”
Flora said with a sad expression. Mulia and I also added strength to her words.
Cecilia didn’t seem particularly trusting, but she didn’t say anything more.
She sat down and waved her bell, and soon her food was served.
After lunch, Cecilia asked me.
“Luke. Was it the noble meeting at 2 o’clock?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Whoa.”
Cecilia’s sighs were clearly marked by her reluctance to do so.
Well, I felt the same way as her. She just doesn’t tee off.
If the aristocrats hadn’t had troublesome people like Montersen and Marlborough, the aristocratic meeting would have been okay…….
“You have suffered a lot.”
Flora, as if recognizing her expression, quickly comforted her.
“It’s okay. My secretary will be with you.”
“Yes. I will do my best to assist you, Your Majesty.”
I bent my back again. When he raised his upper body again, he could see Cecilia’s expression.
She showed a slightly satisfied expression.
When she saw that, she was seized with a strange feeling.
This is so strange. What she said was nothing more than saying that it was okay as long as I wasn’t the only one dying.
The fact that I gave lip service again seemed to cheer me up.
‘Well, good is good.’
I thought so and decided to move on.
* * *
I went to the office before the recess was over. Cecilia, who was sitting on her throne, got up as soon as I entered.
I took a document with today’s agenda written on it.
“When we are ready, we move.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
We headed straight to the conference room.
Since it was nearly 2 o’clock on the clock, all the nobles were seated. They all rose from their chairs as soon as Cecilia entered.
Soon, Cecilia headed for the throne, and I headed for the seat below it.
“Meet Her Majesty Empress Cecilia, the mother of the Eckhart Empire.”
“Everyone take your seats.”
As Cecilia sat down first, the nobles took their seats again.
“Luke. Today’s agenda…….”
“Your Majesty! Can God just say one thing before that?”
I turned my gaze towards the one who spoke.
The Marquis of Marlborough again.
I checked Cecilia’s complexion just in case. His expression seemed to be contemplating whether to allow the right to speak or not.
But her troubles didn’t last long.
“Yunheohaji.”
The Marquis of Marlborough stood up.
What kind of fault are you doing this time?
“I heard that you visited flood-affected areas in the morning.”
“I did.”
“Because of that, you postponed the schedule of the noble meeting that was scheduled in the morning.”
“What do you mean?”
Cecilia cast a sharp glance at her marquis.
It’s actually a blatant warning.
However, the Marquis let out what he wanted to say.
“Isn’t the flood-stricken area a place where commoners live together? It seems somewhat incomprehensible to postpone the scheduled time to visit such a shabby place.”
‘Wow… ….’
Inwardly, I was quite surprised.
So you’re a real aristocratic guy to the core.
In addition to that, it’s a bonus that I ate it in soup…….
I was well aware of the fact that he was that kind of guy in the beginning, but this case was nothing short of proof of how bad his human nature was.
“Marquis. Are you serious about that?”
A look of exasperation appeared on Cecilia’s face. Even so, the Marquis steadfastly teased her muzzle.
“A flood is only a few houses submerged, isn’t it? It means that the matter is not serious enough for His Majesty to make a fuss about it.”
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“You’re talking too much, Marquis of Marlborough.”
Someone on the other side, the imperial faction, raised a voice of opposition. I couldn’t help but open my eyes wide when I checked the person.
Because it was Duke Kailos, an elder of the imperial faction!
Besides, he even stepped up at the right time.
I was able to realize that I was not an elder for nothing.
“No matter how common they are, they are also members of the empire. At the same time, they are also the children of His Majesty the Emperor. When their children are in trouble, how can parents take it lightly?”
As soon as Kylos finished speaking, voices of sympathy echoed from the imperial faction.
“Duke Kailos seems to have misunderstood my remarks somewhat. I always wished for His Majesty to pay a little more attention to important matters…….”
“Be quiet, both of you.”
Cecilia commanded in a low, dignified voice.
Then the Duke of Kylos and the Marquis of Marlborough simultaneously shut up.
“Marquis. I hope that what you said today was just a slip of the tongue.”
“… ….”
“Because there are commoners, there are nobles, and furthermore, I and the empire exist. You seem to have forgotten this basic thing.”
“…… I apologize, Your Majesty.”
Only then did the young Marquis speak the words of apology.
I recognized you from the moment you showed up without notice, you human being.
On the other hand, it was also strange. How did the Marquis of Marquis come up with the idea of appointing such a poor man as the head of the household?
“This statement has gone too far, Marquis of Marlborough.”
Even the Duke of Montersen bruised him.
No matter how much Marlborough gets mad, I usually just let it go…….
It was to the point where I thought about giving him a bruise like this.
“… ….”
The conference room was as quiet as a rat. It’s all because of the big sh*t that Marlboro shot.
I checked Cecilia’s expression.
A calm face as usual.
Maybe it looks that way to others.
But I could tell that she was watching her all the time. That she is in a very upset state right now.
Because, right now, her hand on the armrest of her throne is clenched into a fist.
“I don’t like it.”
After a short complaint, Cecilia jumped up from her throne.
“Today’s noble meeting will end with this.”
After declaring to them in a cold voice, Cecilia jerked her body toward the door. I quickly followed her.
Even after leaving her conference room, Cecilia did not slow down her stride.
‘Are you feeling a little bit offended?’
At the moment I was at a loss as to what to say,
“Whoa.”
Cecilia sighed and stood tall. Then she turned towards me.
“Luke.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“What do you think?”
What are you asking?
A question crossed my mind for a moment, but I quickly realized what it was.
“I could feel once again how much Your Majesty cares for the people of the Empire. They will never forget His Majesty’s benevolence for the rest of their lives.”
“Is there more than that?”
“… ….”
I don’t really understand the intent of the question this time.
I couldn’t come up with any answers, so Cecilia asked a more specific question.
“From your point of view, I am asking what kind of emperor I am.”
“I think he is kind and benevolent, and always strives for a better governance. Otherwise, there would be no way to personally visit the flood-stricken site, right?”
“I see.”
Cecilia answered in a low voice.
A slight smile appeared on her face shortly thereafter.
I thought it was fortunate that my answer seemed to soothe her upset.
* * *
The Marquis of Marlborough took the documents he had researched on Luke Nedville a few days ago and headed to the Duke of Montersen’s residence.
Montersen greeted Marlborough in the office of the duke.
“Duke. As I said before, I checked Luke Nedville’s identity.”
The Duke opened the document the Marquis had handed him and quickly skimmed through its contents. The Marquis waited slightly nervously for the Duke’s reaction.
“As expected, his father was Harold Nedville.”
“Yes. You’re right.”
The Duke then made a statement that the Marquis had never expected.
“And I think I have a little idea why the empress chose this guy as her direct secretary.”
“Is that so?”
The Marquis showed an unexpected reaction. Then the Duke raised his eyes and stared at the Marquis.
“Looking at that face, you don’t seem to know anything.”
Then the duke tut tut and clicked his tongue.
“Duke. Could you please let me know?”
“What do you mean?”
“Why did Her Majesty Empress Cecilia appoint a man of low status as her direct secretary?”
The Duke let out a short sigh.
“Isn’t it written in the document here? That Baron Harold saved the imperial family from being kidnapped.”
“No way, that royal family…….”
“I can’t believe that.”
I never thought our relationship would continue like this.
The Marquis is surprised by a strange coincidence.
Isn’t it that Cecilia was kidnapped by pirates and that Harold saved her?
‘Now the puzzle is fitting.’
The Marquis thought things were going well.
“By the way, the imperial faction was actively defending that girl yesterday for some reason.”
“Yes. Because I’ve been talking too much nonsense…….”
“Next time, don’t even do anything that won’t work. Got it?”
“Yes…… Sorry.”
Montersen threw the document he was holding onto the desk.
“But it bothers me. That guy, Kylos, wouldn’t be that kind of guy.”
“I will look into it.”
“No. I’m going this time.”
The marquis involuntarily swallowed a thick saliva at the fierce glare in the duke’s eyes.
-Continued