I Will Surrender My Position as the Empress - Chapter 36.1
Adele sprang out of bed with a cheerful disposition, stretching her body with a newfound lightness. The previous night’s rest had been so blissful that she felt as if she could soar through the air. Expertly changing and dressing herself, she exited her room to find her butler patiently waiting on the other side, having been there for some time.
“Well now,” she teased, raising an eyebrow. “You acted as though you were already here, but were you simply waiting?”
“Since I couldn’t assign a lady-in-waiting to you, it’s only natural that I serve you in this manner, Your Majesty. Please forgive the less-than-ideal treatment,” the butler replied.
Adele felt a mixture of embarrassment and difficulty, as she was unaccustomed to the cultural norms of Ehmont. In Gottrov, a lady-in-waiting was more like an errand runner, and she paid little attention to the every move of the imperial family.
“Don’t worry. I was perfectly comfortable,” she reassured him.
“Fortunately,” the butler sighed in relief. “I’ve prepared breakfast. Would you like to have it?”
“Of course,” Adele replied.
That’s exactly what she had been waiting for.
* * *
The meal was set in the Duke’s private drawing room. As Adele entered, his brother, Lionel, who had already arrived, stood up and greeted her politely. A delighted smile adorned her face as the delicious aroma of the food wafted to her nose.
“You’ve gone to great trouble to prepare such a delightful meal for your guests,” she praised.
“We’ve only just arrived. Please have a seat,” Lionel replied.
Adele glanced at Lionel for a moment before settling into her chair. He didn’t show any signs of fatigue, so she directed her attention to the delectable spread before her. The breakfast consisted of a well-arranged selection of hot soup, bread, and fresh fruit.
“Dig in, Your Majesty,” Theseus urged.
Encouraged by Theseus’s words, the three of them began to enjoy their breakfast. Adele tore off a piece of the warm, fluffy bread, dipped it into the soup, and savored the taste. The bread soaked up the savory and comforting flavors, satisfying her hunger. The butler made sure to keep her plate filled with more bread, ensuring she could continue to eat without interruption. Adele ate with gusto, not hesitating until she was completely full. After a while, Theseus, having finished eating first, seized the opportune moment to speak with the empress.
“Do you have any particular plans for today?” Theseus inquired, taking a sip of water to cleanse his palate.
Adele delicately swallowed her own sip of water, then nodded. “Indeed, there is something I wish to accomplish. However, I require assistance.”
“Tell me,” Theseus urged, intrigued by her request.
Adele turned her gaze towards Lionel, her voice barely above a whisper. “Lionel, do you have some free time today?”
Lionel looked puzzled. “Why do you ask?”
“I apologize if it inconveniences you, but I would greatly appreciate it if you could assign me one or two knights who are both reliable and familiar with the local geography.”
Theseus interjected, his curiosity evident in his expression. “May I inquire as to why?”
Adele shifted her attention to Theseus and answered with determination.
“Today, I intend to explore the capital city. More specifically, I wish to visit the slums that we discussed earlier.”
Lionel interrupted, his voice tinged with surprise. “You want to go to the slums?”
Adele’s eyes sparkled with a question. “Why not? What good is it to merely skim the surface? I am not embarking on a leisurely sightseeing excursion.”
“In that case, count me in,” Lionel responded swiftly, while Theseus nodded in agreement. The notion that the empress should avoid such dilapidated areas was dismissed without a second thought. Adele couldn’t help but grin, appreciating her brother’s open-mindedness.
“Thank you,” she expressed with heartfelt gratitude.
***
With swift efficiency, Adele and Lionel departed the cozy breakfast setting just before it concluded. Knowing that a carriage would attract unwanted attention in the slums, they opted to traverse the area on horseback. Lionel addressed the restless butler, observing Adele as she mounted her horse.
“He rode a warhorse faster than me,” Lionel remarked, referring to Adele’s equestrian skills.
Both of them concealed their identities, shrouding their faces in oversized hoods and masks. Adele couldn’t help but inquire with a hint of concern, “Did I ask someone in a position of importance to engage in something inappropriate?”
Lionel responded lightly, reassuring her, “Fear not; the time has come for you to witness it firsthand.”
A soft chuckle brushed against Lionel’s ears like a gentle breeze. The slums greeted them first with a pungent odor that pervaded the air. The stench clung to their nostrils, and before long, an expanse of squalor sprawled before their eyes. It resembled a colossal heap of filth. Pointing towards a small river that flowed between the slums and the nearby residential areas of the common folk, Lionel explained, “That river is called Niabara. Its name signifies cold, clear water, but now it’s impossible to find any semblance of purity there.”
Soldiers guarded each bridge spanning the river, diligently inspecting those who crossed over from the slums. Adele peered down as she traversed the bridge, witnessing people washing their clothes and bodies in the murky, foul-smelling water.
“It appears that access to clean water is scarce,” Adele commented.
“Very limited,” Lionel confirmed. “As for the bathroom facilities…”
“They say that after performing their tasks within the household, waste is discarded outside,” he replied matter-of-factly.
In a single word, the entire slum seemed like an expansive cesspool. Once they crossed the river, despite the arid autumn climate, the nauseating stench overwhelmed Adele, nearly inducing her to retch. And as if that wasn’t enough, a pervasive smoky odor filled the air, prompting Adele to inquire, unable to bear it any longer.
“What in the world is that burnt smell?” she asked, her voice laced with disgust.
“It’s likely the scent of burning corpses. With no space for the living to rest, there is also no place for the dead,” Lionel replied.
Adele halted abruptly, her eyes fixated on the immense slum that stretched beyond her line of sight. The sight gripped her throat, constricting it as if someone were choking her. Removing the mask that concealed her face, she uttered, “Please, do not worry about me wearing the mask.”
Lionel’s response was tinged with concern. “It’s for your own protection. Who knows who might recognize you here? To these people, the empress would be deemed worse than the scraps of bread they ate today.”
Adele fell into silence, the weight of the words weighing heavily upon her. Finally, in a murmured voice, as she resumed guiding her horse forward, she uttered, “…I have walked into hell.”
The pain and sorrow were palpable, lingering in the air. Lionel, his eyes tightly shut, stared ahead at the empress steering her horse, his expression darkening. Then, following her lead, he continued onward.
