The Abandoned Empress

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. Were you buying muslin? Reported to the government? Were the merchant groups controlled by Duke Jena involved in corruption?”

“You told me not to act dumb with me!” She was burning with anger.

While staring at her, who was extremely upset with me, I just giggled pitifully.

Then I said, pulling my mouth up slightly, so people around could not notice it, “When you ran around wildly like that, you should be ready for the consequences.”

“What?”

“You were the one who disturbed me who wanted to live quietly. And you’re the only one who knows what my life was like in my previous life. Why are you surprised?”

“You are really…”

“Hey, you must be mistaken a lot. It’s me who should be angry at you! It’s me, not you, who was deprived of everything, and it’s me who was poisoned! ”

“Shut up! What are you talking about? ”

Although she was huffing and puffing in anger, I responded sarcastically because I didn’t care about how she reacted, “I hear you are doing relief work for the poor these days in cooperation with the temple.”

“So what? A privileged noble like you doesn’t know there are poor people in the capital, the best place to live in the empire. Are you going to blame me who is giving a meal for free to those who have trouble making ends meet day after day? Do you know what you did to me? You tried to cut off the funds for the relief work to satisfy your own greed!”

“Personal greed? What nonsense are you talking about when you don’t manage your own affairs?”

“What? What do you mean?”

I said, clicking my tongue toward Jiun who looked at me as if she couldn’t understand.

“How can you dare get angry with me when you started a big project that you couldn’t even manage? You were fattening the wallet of the temple even if you never lost any money.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Do I need to spoon-feed you when I have already given you a fork to eat? I don’t want to be generous enough to you. If you are curious, just find it out by yourself.”

I retorted coldly to her, who seemed very confused.

A recent report from Baron Carot gave details of Jiun’s relief work. Although she asked the temple for some help by donating a huge amount of money, the temple not only embezzled the money, but began to sell the food for money instead of providing food for free, and as a result, her efforts benefited not the poor but the commoners who tried to enjoy the cheaper meals.

I was dumbfounded by her sloppy job. She initiated the relief work, but the end result was messed up, which she couldn’t solve at all.

To be honest, I thought about her a bit differently because of that. I thought she was just plain stupid, so I was surprised to know that she thought about relief work.

But what she did to me and her relief work were different. I didn’t have any intention to be kind enough to explain to her the situation and how to solve it.

At that moment, I saw a protocol officer who visited on behalf of the emperor walking up to the platform.

Under the imperial law all the noble titles were given by the emperor. It was customary for the emperor to give back the title to the recipient who inherited it, and the son of the Mirwa family was no exception.

The protocol officer opened a piece of paper and read a simple congratulatory sentence to the son of the Mirwa family who bowed on one knee, then picked up a brooch. Although I could not see clearly, the brooch was probably engraved with the crest of his family. The title succession ceremony ended when the protocol officer pinned it on his collar.

When I looked at the guests coming to him to congratulate, who was now reborn as a marquis, I saw a blonde woman in a bright dress exiting the banquet hall.

As I was so bored during the ceremony, I felt my body was refreshed the moment I saw her leaving. I hurriedly put down the cup I was holding and approached Sir League.

“Sir League, let’s leave now. I think I stayed long enough.”

“Really? Aren’t you here for some purpose?”

“Well, yes. Half my goal was achieved. So, let me take care of the rest.”

“Pardon? What do you mean? ”

“I’ll explain the details as I go. So, let’s get out of here first. ”

As if he noticed I was in a hurry, Sir League no longer asked and followed me silently.

When I said goodbye to Marquis Mirwa, he nodded with a very regrettable expression.

But he didn’t hold me persistently like before because he had other people around him.

When I climbed into the wagon with Sir League and arrived at the neighborhood of my house, I told the horseman where to head.

Sir League, who remained silent until the wagon changed its direction, asked carefully after getting out in the commoners district in the northeastern capital.

“My lady, what are you going to do here in the commoners district?”

“Well, actually, I have been shadowing Countess Dias. I’ve heard an interesting rumor about her recently. ”

I had to tip him off on the story, just in case. Looking cautiously around, I began to explain quietly.

“This is a rumor circulating among the lower nobles. It is rumored that the successor of the Dias family was born through her extramarital affair. It looks like such a rumor is getting around because her son doesn’t look like the earl. Besides, the earl was old.”

“Hmm. So what? ”

“You know, Earl Dias and his wife are known as a very happy couple. So, I dug into them a bit, and found out something suspicious about her. The place I’m now going to is her secret meeting place, but I don’t know if I can spot her there.”

“I see. By the way, why do you care? I don’t think you are doing it just because you are curious…”

“Shush! Wait a minute.”

As I saw the red roof of a house at a distance, I put my index finger on my lips and monitored the surroundings of the house. I couldn’t see clearly due to the streets, but it was certain that there was somebody there, given the light leaking out of the window.

According to Baron Carot, it was usually an empty house. Was half of my goal achieved already?

I quickly explained with a satisfied smile, “You asked me why I was shadowing her. It’s because her son’s father was presumed to be the black rose bud. ”

“… Really? Are you sure?” He asked back urgently, with his eyes wide open.

After giving him precautions, I continued, “We might have to use force. So, please pay attention. Got it?”

Sir League nodded heavily.

After exchanging eye signals with him for a moment, I headed for the red roof house with him.

As if Countess Dias wanted to keep her secret to as few as possible, there were only a few keeping the house. I and Sir League knocked out a couple of them who seemed to be a servant and a maid, then headed for the place where the lights came out.

Touching his ear to the door quietly, he whispered, “My lady, please stay here. Let me go in first.”

“Pardon? But…”

“… It is not a scene you want to see. So, please come in after a while. ”

“Ah yes.”

I blushed and stepped back, covering my face with hands. Smiling at me gently, he moved one step closer to the door.

Bang!

“Oh my God!”

“Who the hell are you?”

I heard the sound of the door crashing, followed by a woman’s screaming and an astonished man’s voice.

Only

“You bastard! How dare you come into this place…!”

“I don’t care. Why don’t put on your clothes first? It’s disgusting to see you naked like this.”

When Sir League retorted sarcastically, the man shouted with an angry voice, “Do you think you can survive after storming this place? Get lost right away!”

“Tut, tut. You are the successor of the duke family. You’re so slow in assessing the situation. You can’t afford to punish me now. Anyway, put on your clothes first. Someone is outside to see you.”

“Dang it…’

I heard him making a suppressed moan and putting on his clothes slowly.

After I waited until the rustling sound stopped, I slowly entered the room. I saw a man and a woman, roughly dressed up, staring at Sir League. The man, who finally noticed me under the light, opened his eyes wide in surprise.

“You must be…!”