I Will Surrender My Position as the Empress - Chapter 33.1
“!!”
In the time they hadn’t seen each other, wrinkles had formed around their eyes and mouths. They would probably increase over time. With a face that had thin skin, prone to wrinkling easily.
Lady Giggs leaned toward Diane, whispering into her frozen ear.
“I know what you’re trying to use as a weapon to cling to His Majesty’s side. Yes, you certainly resemble her. It reminds me of her.”
“Stop playing with your snake-like tongue. Shut up.”
Diane tried to escape Lady Giggs’s grasp, but the old woman didn’t let go so easily.
“When did Queen Beatrice leave?”
“……”
“Twenty-nine.”
“……”
“Indeed, she hasn’t had a single wrinkle for such a long time. To His Imperial Majesty, she is forever frozen at twenty-nine, an age of beauty that never ages. But for you, at twenty-nine, at thirty, at forty, time will pass for you, unlike Queen Beatrice.”
Finally releasing Diane, Lady Giggs took a step back. With a frigid expression on her face, she scrutinized Diane’s eyes closely, as if giving advice.
“Wouldn’t it be wise for Her Majesty to summon a skincare specialist with the money intended for sending traders? Shouldn’t you prevent wrinkles from appearing? How many young women with blonde hair and blue eyes younger than twenty-nine are there?”
And how many schemers like you, with hearts just like yours, trying to seize the Emperor’s side, are there? I will thoroughly mock your foolishness as you twist the remains of the dead and desperately seek my meager favor. After ruthlessly piercing Diane’s heart with her cruel words, Lady Giggs calmly departed from the Ivory Palace. Even after Lady Giggs had left,Diane remained standing in the study, motionless. And after a long while, she slowly turned her head, surveying the study. Sky-blue velvet wallpaper, golden moldings, a ceiling adorned with masterpieces, and a dazzling, massive chandelier create a luxurious and beautiful space.
“It’s mine.”
“It’s where I gained and achieved.”
How much had she cherished this palace? Was there any place in this palace untouched by Diane’s touch?
“Dare you try to expel me from this palace?”
The more she thought about it, the angrier and more unjust she felt. How dare they try to kick her out of the Ivory Palace just because she bore the name of Empress? How dare they! What did that woman have? What did she possess besides that name? In all the time she had protected the palace by His Majesty’s side under the guise of the Empress, this couldn’t be reduced to a mere moment. Empress, just with that name.
“What on earth is that name?”
Your Majesty, I want to be your one and only wife.
Her sincere words were barely whispered after countless hesitations. But it seemed that His Majesty had an answer that wasn’t subject to hesitation. As soon as he heard her plea, he replied.
“No, you cannot.”
“Why? Why was I not enough?”
She couldn’t bring herself to ask for the reasons. Although Lennox prattled on as if he knew everything, it was merely her own thoughts. The Emperor was someone who didn’t like to be questioned or probed for reasons.
“Why? Why wasn’t I enough? That insignificant Empress. Why couldn’t I have the position of Empress, even if it was just in name?”
She was infuriated. More so than when she wandered the cold streets with Lennox. It was colder now than during that harsh winter when she had nothing.
“That name meant something to me.”
Diane expressed the sincerity that had stirred in her heart and let the words escape her mouth. As soon as she spoke, tears surged forth. Diane sat down and wept, repeating her words over and over again. That name meant something to me. I wanted to be your rightful wife and the pinnacle of this nation. So why wasn’t I enough? Endlessly posing the question that scraped at her soul, Diane suddenly stood up and hurriedly ran somewhere. Trembling hands opened the vanity, and she took out a mirror, hastily reflecting her own face. Just like Lady Giggs had said, wrinkles had indeed formed around her eyes and mouth.
“If I cry, they’ll deepen even more.”
Diane gently wiped away the tear stains with a handkerchief and mumbled to herself. Then she quickly stood up and called for Lorraine.
“Summon a skincare specialist right now! Quickly!”
“How many young women with blonde hair and blue eyes younger than twenty-nine are there?”
Lady Giggs’s final words echoed in her ears like a curse. No, it was undoubtedly a curse.
* * *
Meanwhile, at the Baldr Mansion, the visit of the Empress was shrouded in secrecy. She even insisted that no maids were needed. The absence of appropriate attire was a significant problem for a woman who suddenly arrived at a hostless house, but that was quickly resolved as well. Lady Giggs was truly a resourceful person. She secretly delivered Adelle’s suitcase to the mansion. And Adelle hadn’t even managed to inform her of her visit to the mansion.
“Is there anything else you need?”
“This is sufficient for now.”
Placing the necessary books on one side and a cup of coffee on the other, she smiled with great satisfaction. She seemed completely content. If she continued to have timely meals delivered, she thought everything would go smoothly without anyone knowing, as if it would naturally fall into place after a few days. After guiding the Empress to her quarters, Lionel made his way to the Duke’s office. When he conveyed, “The Empress is satisfied,” the Duke nodded.
“Well then, let’s have a light meal in her quarters and take the opportunity to ask a few questions.”
“She promised to answer any questions you have with utmost sincerity.”
“I never would have thought that the Empress was the founder and chief executive of the Gottrov Tower Resistance Headquarters.”
