'You finally said something…' Rose shifted her gaze away from the Archduchess to the pink-haired lady on her side.
The second wife of the emperor, the queen.
And also, the female lead of the novel.
'You're really the female lead…' This has been Rose's thoughts ever since her eyes had landed on the female lead. Though she had seen the latter from the memories of the empress, experiencing the sight was different.
Exactly like the description in the novel, everything about the female was pink. Pink hair, Pink eyes, even her skin was somewhat flushed resembling the color Pink.
However, these features accentuated her beauty. Unlike the empress who was outstanding beauty, the female lead was more like an innocent beauty, capable of triggering anyone's protectiveness.
'More like a twig unable to withstand the wind…' Rose suddenly had this thought when describing the beauty of the female lead in her heart. This kind of beauties, she absolutely hated them because of her experiences in the entertainment industry.
Any small commotion involving them and herself, she would always be painted as the evil one until she had proved them wrong.
''Assistance?''
''Yes your majesty.'' Hearing the rose's question, the queen answered with her head slightly lowered.
''Hmm...If the queen says so, then this empress applauds the Archduchess for her assistance to the imperial family.'' Rose glanced at the Archduchess, feeling very amused with the queen's choice of words.
''But queen….''
''Yes, your majesty?''
''It seems you also need to learn your etiquettes again.'' Rose narrowed her amethyst eyes on the pink-haired, catching the subtle flinch from her shoulders. It seemed the queen had not expected to be called out this way.
'How hilarious.' Rose laughed to herself.
''This empress was speaking with the Archduchess and not you, queen. Who gave you the right to interrupt the conversation?''
''...'' The queen had no words against rose. Because of her silence, there was a sudden rise of tension in the atmosphere. The standing madams suddenly felt like turning to statues in order not to attract the attention. To think they would witness this between the two highest noblewomen of the empire. Something that had never happened in the past.
Perhaps the empress was determined to shed all pretenses, for she was the one who started all this.
Meanwhile, the Archduchess had cast her eyes on the queen from the moment the woman stood up for her. Her gaze held vigilance, as she would never believe that the queen did that out of sincerity.
''This empress will suggest this to his majesty.'' Rose continued as though unaware of the tension that she caused the moment she stepped into the garden. ''In order not to sully the name of the imperial family, you need to retake your etiquettes, queen.''
''A-As yo-your majesty wishes. P-Please pardon my insolence.'' The voice of the queen shook as though she were trembling in fear.
''There is nothing to pardon, queen. This empress is only giving you an advice as a wife of the imperial family.'' Rose's words were sharp and concise in contrast to the voice of the queen that made it seemed as though she was bullied.
''Archduchess, it seems this empress is apparently not welcomed to this tea party.'' Not giving the queen any more face, Rose moved her sight to the Archduchess. There was no way she would allow others to paint her as an evil person in this world.
''This empress is glad to be here for the last one.'' With those words said, Rose turned around, about to step out of the garden. Her idle life in the palace was waiting for her. Her eyes were also feeling a little droopy from all these engagements of words.
''Your majesty is always welcome to a tea party of House Windsor. Please forgive my family for their insolence to your majesty.'' A new voice halted her in place and Rose turned her gaze to the young lady bearing a great resemblance to the Archduchess. The memories in her head instantly clicked when recognizing the young lady.
''Since this will be your majesty's last tea party in House Windsor, it will be a great honor if your majesty remains.'' Renee continued her words, feeling a bit nervous in her heart. To think the empress, who she deemed stupid and a fool, would make her feel this way.
Anyway, she couldn't allow the empress to sully the reputation of her mother since her mother was the head and face of House Windsor. Even if she and her mother had some disagreement, she just couldn't be a standby as her family was being dealt with, unless people would call her heartless for not trying to do anything when the queen, a non-blood relative, stood up for her mother.
'I'm also glad that the commoner was put in her place. A peasant trying to ascend as a phoenix, keep dreaming!' Renee snorted heavily in her heart, hoping for a positive reply from the empress.
''Then do entertain this empress, Young lady Windsor.'' Knowing that she couldn't just leave, Rose turned back with a small smile. At the same time, she repeated many curses on the members of the Archduchess family for taking up her idling time.
''As you wish, your majesty.'' Hearing the reply, Renee was visibly relieved and happy. At least, her mother would be grateful to her for saving the reputation of the family.
*****
*Some minutes after the tea party ended*
''That slut!''
''How dare she?!''
''I am an elder of the imperial family!''
''She is supposed to respect me!''
''She doesn't have any power in the imperial palace, yet she acts as an empress!''
''I am the one who brought up the reputation of the imperial family! How dare she! How dare she!!''
Outside the room of the Archduchess, the maids shut their eyes in fear of their mistress calling them in to clean up the mess. They absolutely knew that was an excuse for her to enact her anger on lowly people like themselves.
*Clang*
The breaking sounds of antiques and ceramics terrified the maids as they awaited their fate in the hands of the raging Archduchess.
''Y-Young lady…'' One of the maids caught the sight of their mistress's daughter, feeling a little relieved that their lives might not end today.
''Leave.'' Renee only said a word. She couldn't bother with the relieved faces of the maids who immediately scurried away under her command.
''I am the Archduchess, an elder of the imperial family! How dare she!'' Listening to her mother's voice like that of a shrew, Renee's face held no sign of surprise.
To think that her mother would be grateful for saving the reputation of their family. It was yet another absurd thought of hers.
''Haha…'' Renee silently laughed at herself. Her lips twisted into that of a mocking smile. Many young ladies of her age had always envied her for being born of imperial blood and having a perfect and beautiful mother like hers. They absolutely did not know what she had to deal with every single day of her life.
''What a fool I am, as well.''
****
''Your majesty, this servant has done the assignment.''
In a moving carriage, Rose could be seen seated opposite Vance with her gaze on the passing scenery beyond the window.
''And what did you find?" She asked without moving her gaze.
''Archduchess Windsor was a viscount's daughter, and her husband, Archduke Windsor was his late majesty's elder brother. His former title was the First Prince of the imperial family.'' Vance disclosed the information that he had gotten from old servants and historian books from many common libraries in the imperial capital.
''Hmm…Is that all?''
''...''
''It seemed you didn't do a lot of digging, Vance.'' Rose expected this kind of answer to her question. ''However, you did work hard to get the exact family of the Archduchess. It has been a long time since anyone could recall that the only Archduchess of the empire was just a mere viscount's daughter. This brings this empress to another assignment, Vance. Why did his late excellency, the Archduke, marry a mere viscount's daughter when he was the First Prince of his late majesty?'' Saying this, Rose turned her gaze to Vance with a knowing smile.
A mere viscount's daughter had gotten married to the First prince of the empire. Most people would have speculated that love was involved, but Rose knew that wasn't it.
The memories of the empress told her something else and she wanted Vance as her personal butler to find out the answer.
''...''
''As this empress's personal butler, you need to be well-informed of matters of the imperial family.'' Rose did not want someone ignorant by her side. She wanted someone well-informed, quick on their feet and sharp.
Her experience with the queen at the tea party made her feel this way. If the queen was like those women who couldn't just leave her alone in the entertainment industry, then she had to be prepared for any possibility of schemes. Until the emperor deposed her from the empress's position, she would never endure any unfairness like the empress had done.
''Won't knowing too much endanger this servant's family, your majesty?'' Unknowingly to Vance, his sharp gaze had betrayed him.
''It will, and at the same time, knowing that much will protect your family.'' Rose wasn't intimidated. Rather, this look on Vance made her to think of the vigilant cat once again. ''Either way, it doesn't change the fact that your family is in this empress's hands, Vance.''
''...''
Seeing no reaction from the vigilant young butler, Rose returned her gaze back to the passing scenery. If Vance did not meet her expectations, then she would have to remove him from being her personal butler. She had no need of someone that would just be a burden on her shoulders.
''Hm…'' A low hum came from her lips as her gaze lowered to the itchiness hidden underneath the net gloves of her hands.
'I guess this is your first time wearing something like this….' Rose thought, leaving aside her folded hand fan on the cushion and used her fingers to rub the areas that were itching on the back of her hands.
Thinking back to the astonishment of those madams at the tea party, Rose chuckled to herself, feeling pleased with herself. Those were the kind of reactions that she had always elicited as the empress of the entertainment industry, and it would surely continue as long as she was the empress of the empire.
Besides that, their reactions were to be expected since the outfit on her body was not common amongst the noblewomen.
Rather than a puffy gown and corset, Rose settled for a black long flowing skirt with high waist and a white top with net gloves. Rather than complicated hairstyles with trinkets and clips, Rose settled for a derby hat embellished with artificial flowers. The only accessory on her body was a pair of earrings that complimented the simplicity and uniqueness of her style.
'Valerie did a good job.' Rose complimented the maker of this outfit. To think a seamstress was as skillful as this. Then, there was no need for a famed fashion designer like the famous Madam Giselle.
Valerie was someone who understood what she wanted.
'Now then…my idle life awaits me.' Rose thought, just imagining herself sipping tea and enjoying the sight of the beautiful nature of the garden.
The Idle empress did not expect that her next days would not be so idle anymore.
>Enjoy!<