I Will Surrender My Position as the Empress - Chapter 29.2
While the Empress and her advisor were conversing, a group of merchants with travel permits appeared at the Empress’s palace. Startled, the maidservants waved their hands at the person leading the group.
“Hold on a moment! I didn’t summon their leader!” one of the ladies-in-waiting exclaimed, taken aback.
Currently, Her Majesty the Empress is not in the mood to entertain merchants. However, their leader,, spoke assertively, her eyes gleaming with a sense of opportunity that couldn’t be missed.
“I understand. Her Majesty the Empress can choose only the items that interest her. Consider it a form of gift-giving,” the leader explained confidently.
“Gift…?” The court lady couldn’t help but feel a sense of foreboding, her back drenched in cold sweat. It seemed unwise to inquire further. Nonetheless, the lead merchant continued his speech with great enthusiasm.
“Indeed! It is a gift,” he affirmed.
The empress, her curiosity piqued, inquired, “And who sent you?”
“It was Diane Poitier who sent us. He mentioned that you could make the payment at the Ivory Palace,” the merchant revealed.
The ladies-in-waiting exchanged contemplative glances, silently communicating their thoughts.
“You go ahead and tell her.”
“No, you speak up first.”
After much deliberation, the ladies-in-waiting relayed the message to the empress through Mrs. Giggs. Following the cancellation of the supplementary budget for the Empress Palace, a “gift” had been sent to the empress from the Ivory Palace. It even came with accompanying cards. Adele accepted the card offered by Mrs. Giggs and read it without missing a beat.
“What does it say?” Mrs. Giggs cautiously inquired, while Lionel also observed the empress attentively.
Adele casually placed the beautifully decorated card on the table and rubbed her forehead with her hand. The energy that had filled her chin and fingertips seemed to fade, replaced by a simmering frustration.
“They are giving me a loan. I am to use the funds to purchase whatever I desire, up to the value of the previously allocated budget supplement. A gesture, perhaps, in preparation for the upcoming national holiday? Since they are known for their skilled craftsmanship, I should be able to find something that satisfies me. It’s enough to bring tears to my eyes,” Adele muttered, her voice tinged with a mixture of gratitude and irritation.
In essence, it entailed indulging in the acquisition of desired possessions, utilizing the funds previously allocated in the supplementary budget. These individuals hail from the esteemed ivory palace. Mrs. Giggs’ countenance contorted with fury, while Lionel reclined in her chair, his mind adrift. Adele, pausing momentarily to regain her composure and suppress her anger, promptly rose from her seat and issued a swift command.
“Mrs. Giggs, I shall draft the order. Prepare the pertinent documents. Go and notify the merchants. Your presence is not required, so refrain from setting foot within the empress’ sanctuary.”
As the two men nodded in acknowledgment of the directive and hastened out of the empress’ chamber, Adele turned her gaze towards Lionel.
“I intend to challenge this matter officially,” Adele said.
“Are you proposing an immediate eviction order?” Lionel answered.
“Is there any other viable alternative?”
When Adele, having risen from her seat, posed the question while settling back down, Lionel responded with earnestness etched upon his face.
“If he is expelled unconditionally, it may evoke sympathy for Diane Poitier instead.”
“Instead?”
Adele leaned closer, her eyes shimmering with intrigue. As her exquisite countenance drew nearer, his ears inadvertently flushed crimson, causing him to instinctively retreat.
“Come now, do tell.”
Prompted by Adele, Lionel whispered his thoughts in a hushed tone. And as he concluded, Adele’s eyes widened with immense satisfaction, and she gently tapped her chin with her finger. With an authentic countenance, as if traversing solely in search of the righteous path, it was truly remarkable, was it not?
“What do you say?”
“Was it truly your own notion to apply for the position of aide?”
“Did I not mention it to you?”
Adele nodded, thoroughly pleased with Lionel’s viewpoint, and she requested one more thing from him. Lionel contemplated it for a while, recognizing the challenge it posed, and responded that he would attempt to present the proposal to Theseus at the earliest opportunity. With a central press conference scheduled for today, Adele exited the room, leaving behind the assurance that she would lodge an official objection there. Adele turned and settled herself at her desk within the office. With a resolute demeanor, she opened the tome of archery, seeking the pertinent section to refresh her memory. The path’s conclusion and the outcome remained elusive, yet who could truly foresee them? Adele tapped the weighty archery book with her right hand and directed her words to the faceless empress of yesteryear, who had once engaged in a fierce battle with her spouse.
“I too wish to engage in a fierce battle. Please lend me your support.”
Even if it meant wading through a mire of putrid filth, it was preferable to surrender.
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Meanwhile, Diane, surrounded by an array of opulence, received word that the merchants had returned without even venturing past the threshold of the Empress Palace. Gazing upon a platinum necklace, she mumbled as she adorned it around her neck, while the shop owner discreetly stole glances at her reflection in the mirror.
“Your Majesty, you are truly too much. Canceling the Empress’ Palace budget. How upset Her Majesty the Empress must be. So, I sent the merchants to buy a necklace with the amount of money that was supposed to be spent on the budget. What will you do on the national day in a few months?”
While Diane was examining a platinum necklace, muttering to herself, the court lady who had been holding a mirror in front of her silently looked at her face.
“I am truly puzzled. He gave me the budget proposal for the Empress’s Palace and told me to buy what I want.”
“Your Highness, your kind heart is as beautiful as your face. It is natural for His Majesty the Emperor to devote his heartfelt affection to Your Highness, isn’t it?”
The court lady praised Diane, seeming deeply moved, and the attendants standing by also expressed their agreement without anything to do.
“I am impressed by the beautiful heart of Your Highness.”
“It seems that His Majesty’s love for Your Highness is growing deeper day by day.”
Compliments never failed to please. Diane pointed her finger towards a pair of earrings that had been recommended, eliciting excitement from the higher echelons. The resounding clink of gold coins falling seemed to echo in their ears. Although he had been scorned at the gates of the empress’ palace, instead, he ended up selling more goods within the ivory palace than ever before.
“Princess, you are truly exquisite, radiating beauty. It is no wonder you are considered the flower of the imperial court.”
“Please refrain from making such comments! I have expressly expressed my embarrassment and concern.”
“Ah, yes, of course, Your Highness.”
Diane roamed through the gathering of merchants, who revered her like the sovereign of a nation, in a state of intoxication. For her, amassing precious jewels was not merely a display of affluence; it represented her lofty position, while the act of spending money itself symbolized her authority. Originally, the funds bestowed upon her by the emperor were a single gold bar and a single silver bar, constituting the supplementary budget for the empress’ palace. However, the exorbitant sum quoted by the merchants exceeded twice that amount. But what use was there in fretting over such trivial matters? She possessed the ivory palace’s budget, after all. It encompassed not only the funds allocated for the bond but also served as a convenient pretext. With no need for meticulous record-keeping or meticulous expenditure justification, Diane unabashedly withdrew the money and indulged in her spending spree without a trace of hesitation.
