Chapter 75 The Empress’s unique encouragement
Chapter 75 The Empress’s unique encouragement
I had lunch in the dining room with Cecilia and her maids.
“Your Majesty. I’ll go straight into the room.”
“Yes.”
I greeted Cecilia.
“I don’t think you have time to rest these days.”
“You have a lot of trouble.”
Toward me, not only Flora but also Mulia gave me a worried look.
“This is no big deal. Anyway, I don’t have much time, so I’ll just go.”
I was able to leave the dining room only after saying goodbye to the two maids.
In about two hours, Duke Kailos will arrive at the Imperial Palace with Count Clusio.
Because the day before yesterday, I confirmed that Cecilia had sent a reply to the Duke, saying that she would have an audience around 3:00 PM.
By the way, actually meeting the duke and count is not a problem in itself.
The real problem is…… The Count said he would test my ability to speak the Sergel Kingdom language!
‘If I don’t do it right, I will lose my chance to learn properly.’
As I headed to my room, the thought ran through my head nonstop.
I shook my head vigorously to get rid of the negative thoughts.
Shouldn’t you be scared before you even try!
I clenched my fists and shouted fighting in my heart.
After returning to my room, I went straight to the desk and sat down. After that, I opened the book 「The Language of Sergel Kingdom」.
There are a total of 300 pages, and about one-third of them have already been studied.
Some of it was self-taught, but thanks to studying with Cecilia every night.
“I have to review it again today.”
What’s the use of slowing down when there’s an exam ahead?
In this case, it is more efficient to review what you know so that you do not make mistakes.
“… ….”
As I was concentrating on my book for a long time, a knock broke the silence in the room.
There’s no way someone will come to visit us at this hour?
I tilted my head once before speaking out.
“Who are you?”
“Luke. Grow.”
…… Why is Cecilia suddenly?
I was dazed for a moment, but I quickly regained my senses. I can’t keep the empress standing at the door all the time.
As if I had been hit by a spring, I quickly jumped out and opened the door.
“I came here once because I was worried.”
Cecilia looked around her room, rolling her eyes.
“I was studying.”
“Yes. I was reviewing it.”
After hearing my answer, Cecilia nodded her head. A satisfied expression was on her face.
Are you proud of your passion for reviewing?
“Go inside.”
I stepped aside. Before long Cecilia came into my room, the hem of her dress rustling lightly with each step she took.
The place where her steps stopped was in front of my desk. Then she looked down at the book.
Did you come here to study like me?
But in the next moment, my doubts were quickly cleared.
“Since you said you were going to review it, why not check it out?”
“Are you going to give me a quiz?”
“Yes.”
She nodded her head once and sat down in her chair. She then cleared her throat, holding the book up so that only she could see it.
It wouldn’t be bad to experience the actual battle like this beforehand.
Anyway, I didn’t expect to come and check it in person like this.
…… Well, this will never worry me.
As an emperor, it would be reasonable to say that he was sincere enough to make achievements to win the support of the imperial faction.
Cecilia was turning through a few pages, but at some point her hand stopped.
“Make a problem. We are going to have dinner and would like to recommend a restaurant.”
Now I have to say that sentence in Sergel Kingdom.
Fortunately, I was able to quickly come up with an answer thanks to my memory of the example sentences in the book.
“Hmm. Also.”
Looking at the reaction, you answered correctly.
After that, Cecilia brought up a few more problems. I said the correct answer each time.
“Luke.”
Cecilia set the book down on her desk and stared straight at me.
“Your memory is extraordinary.”
“It’s too much praise, Your Majesty.”
“It is not an exaggeration. I was just telling the truth.”
For some reason, I could feel that there was not a single lie in her ruby eyes.
Cecilia took a step closer to me.
Then, raising her index finger, she carefully poked her in the middle of my chest.
“So, I have no doubt that you will easily pass the count’s test.”
A confident expression and voice.
I was momentarily bewildered.
“Why is that?”
“Ah…… I was both happy and embarrassed when His Majesty said that…….”
“Just as I trust you, you just have to trust yourself.”
I only realized then.
The fact that she didn’t just come to check if I was doing well in my studies.
“I will surely live up to Your Majesty’s expectations.”
“Yes. That’s why you’re my secretary.”
Cecilia put her index finger on my chest and smiled, raising the corner of her mouth.
* * *
Two days have passed since Duke Kailos sent a letter to Cecilia saying that Count Clusio had arrived.
During the two days, Duke Kylos and Count Clusio spent their time strolling around the gardens around the duke’s residence and walking around Dellesson’s Square.
At the same time, we shared stories accumulated over many years.
As well as what happened in the past, what happened during the period we couldn’t meet, and so on.
Thanks to the conversation that lasted until late at night, Count Clusio was relieved of many of the problems he had accumulated over the years.
It was because he realized that there was something he had been misunderstanding.
Even so, I didn’t have the slightest thought of returning to the political arena.
Around 2:00 PM, Kylos called Count Clusio to his room.
“Count. Are you ready?”
The reason Kylos called him was to go to the imperial palace and have an audience with Her Majesty.
“Yes.”
Duke Kyloth took one look at the Count from head to toe.
Even when he arrived at his mansion, Count Clusio’s outfit was no different from that of a commoner. Besides, the clothes he brought were all tattered.
The duke, who decided that he could not go to an audience with the empress at this rate, lent a set of clothes he had to the count.
“It looks good on you.”
“Thank you.”
“Two thousand.”
The two old men stood side by side and moved on.
A navy blue carriage with a pattern symbolizing the duke’s house stood outside the entrance of the duke’s residence.
They struggled to get into the wagon with the help of the coachman.
“If it was like before, I would have jumped so fast… ….”
Count Clusio let out a heavy sigh. The duke looked at the white porcelain sitting across from him for a moment, then turned his head.
“Let’s go.”
The coachman started driving the wagon slowly.
It was 2:15 pm when they left Duke Kailos’ residence.
Considering that the promised audience with the Empress was 3:00 PM, it was a leisurely start.
“Count. Was this your first time seeing Her Majesty?”
“Yes. Even though I almost stopped paying attention to worldly affairs, I heard that a young empress had ascended the throne in the empire.”
“It was so unusual.”
At the Duke’s words, the Count said yes and agreed.
“By the way, Count. Do you really intend to test the secretary’s language skills in an audience with Her Majesty today?”
“A caution not to say anything that is not in your heart.”
There was a firm will in the Count’s voice.
The Duke stared at Count Clusio and suddenly recalled his past memories. He brought with him memories of his time as a member of the Imperial Faction.
I never thought I’d see that strong look in his eyes as he told the members of the emperor faction about his convictions here again.
“His disposition has not changed in the slightest.”
“Where can a person’s personality change?”
“You are less likely to be hit by people.”
“Well, I won’t deny what the duke said.”
Still, compared to before, it seems to be more rounded.
The Duke thought as he looked at the Count shaking his head. After all, as he gets older, everything changes like that.
“I’m just saying this just in case, but be careful with your tone in front of Your Majesty.”
“Don’t worry. I still vividly remember the etiquette of the imperial family.”
The face of the count who answered was full of confidence.
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‘It makes me more anxious when you say that… ….’
But the duke didn’t bother to say that. Instead, he tried to calm his anxiety with a heavy sigh.
From then on, the two remained silent until they arrived at the imperial palace.
* * *
Me and Cecilia headed to the drawing room in time for 3:00 PM.
When I went inside, I was able to meet Duke Kylos and Count Clusio standing next to him.
“Meet Her Majesty, Empress Cecilia, Mother of the Empire.”
The two old men all bowed toward Cecilia.
“Nice to meet you both.”
Duke Kailos properly introduced Count Clusio to Cecilia.
After waiting for the introduction to finish, I was able to say hello to the two of them.
“I am Luke Nedville, the direct secretary to Her Majesty Cecilia and the second son of Baron Nedville.”
“Oh, you are the secretary.”
There was a light of interest in Count Clusio’s eyes looking at me.
Anyway, when you look at the first impression…… He seemed to be a person who seemed quite close to my father’s disposition.
He had a shaggy beard like a bandit and was bigger than Duke Kylos.
“Let me take a seat first.”
The place Cecilia headed was the round table she sat at every interview with Kylos.
As all four of them sat around, the maids served tea and dessert.
“Count Clusio.”
Cecilia called for her count without paying attention to her car.
“Yes.”
“Do you really remember all of the Sergelian language you learned 30 years ago?”
Looks like you’re going straight-forward, like you won’t allow wasting time.
I rolled my eyes to see the count’s expression. I’m not sure…… Cecilia’s speech did not feel uncomfortable.
Rather, I’d say it’s interesting.
“Yes. It was one of the few tricks that a small person could do.”
“I see.”
You seem to have a rather peculiar way of speaking.
I felt like I knew a little bit why Duke Kylos said he had an odd side.
“It has been more than 30 years since trade with the kingdom was cut off due to the fault of our empire.”
“Yes. It was the result of those in the political arena not doing it right.”
“… ….”
At this point, Cecilia also seemed to notice.
This person had no hesitation in speaking even in front of the emperor, even when meeting for the first time.
“The original language is like that. Please understand with a generous heart, Your Majesty.”
Luckily, Duke Kylos relieved the atmosphere at the right time.
“I have been living in the mountains for a long time, so that is understandable.”
Cecilia nodded her head.
Actually, this was closer to a bit of sarcasm about not being polite than the nuance of understanding.
“Ah. Since I was in charge of trade with the kingdom at the time, my feelings became a bit rough. Please forgive the rudeness.”
Still, I understand it because I had time to roll in the political arena.
“I do.”
It was only then that Cecilia relaxed her stiff expression.
“There are a few people I know on the kingdom side. I still know how to speak the Kingdom language because I correspond with them occasionally by correspondence.”
“Whoa… …. Since the Count said that, it seems like I have won thousands of troops.”
After her remarks, Cecilia cast her glance at me for a moment.
“By the way, Count Clusio. Didn’t the duke say in the letter that he would take my secretary’s Sergel Kingdom test?”
“Yes. I was just about to tell you that.”
Count Clusio’s eyes turned to me.
“Secretary. Try to speak the sentence I am saying properly in Sergel Kingdom.”
Now is the time to show my skills.
I swallowed a thick gulp.
-Continued