Chapter 63

Iris, on her way to the audience chamber, was overwhelmed with a considerable sense of unease.

Even though she had been in and out of the chamber countless times, this time felt strangely different, leaving her increasingly unsettled.

Have I grown too comfortable spending time with Sir Theo and Estelle, just the three of us?

If she were to choose the most comfortable time in her life, it would undoubtedly be the time since she had met Theo.

Before that, her life had always been one where she constantly had to read the room, and as a result, being mindful of others had become second nature to her.

But things were a little different when she was with Theo or Estelle.

She found herself in situations where she didn’t have to worry about how she acted, and because both of them seemed to dislike seeing her fret over others, she had tried even harder to avoid showing that side of herself.

Of course, she wished for more time alone with Theo, and it was true that her first encounter with Estelle had been rather uncomfortable. But no matter how she looked at it, she had become at ease around the two of them.

So now, visiting the audience chamber without either of them after so long only heightened her discomfort.

Iris tried to convince herself that this was the reason for her unease as she stepped into the audience chamber.

However, the moment she set foot inside, she immediately realized why she had felt that way.

“Welcome, Crown Princess.”

The Emperor was nowhere to be seen; instead, only the Empress stood before her.

And the Empress’s figure revealed a noticeably rounded belly.

“Your Majesty the Empress… Are you with child?”

Although she was supposed to greet the Empress first, Iris who was shocked blurted out the question that came to her mind before anything else.

“How rude. Even if you are the Crown Princess, I am still the Empress. Shouldn’t you offer a proper greeting before asking such a question?”

“Ah, my apologies. I beg your pardon, Your Majesty the Moon of the Empire. It is an honor to be in your presence.”

Only after hearing these words did Iris realize her mistake and bow her head in greeting.

“That’s better, Crown Princess. You must have many questions. For example, I wonder whether I am truly with a child or why His Majesty the Emperor is not present here.”

The Empress spoke so casually, listing everything Iris might have been curious about as though it were nothing at all.

“…Yes, I am curious.”

She couldn’t help but wonder what had happened within the imperial family during her absence.

Above all, the Empress’s pregnancy was something she found impossible to comprehend.

If the Empress was pregnant, the news would have spread throughout the empire, leaving no chance for Iris not to know about it.

“It is true that I am pregnant. However, because I am in poor health, I have done my best to keep the news quiet. We must prepare for the worst should I lose the child. Although I pray such a thing will not happen.”

The Empress had always been known for her frail health.

Of course, whether that reputation was true or not was something only the Empress herself could confirm, but it was the perception she had built publicly.

Given that, if she instructed her closest aides to keep the matter quiet and excused herself from public appearances by claiming poor health, it would be nearly impossible for anyone outside the palace like Iris to hear about it.

“I see… Congratulations on your pregnancy, Your Majesty.”

She didn’t feel any particular urge to offer congratulations, but she couldn’t avoid saying the words.

After all, the Empress had made a point of revealing herself to be congratulated.

If Iris said nothing, she would most certainly be rebuked for her rudeness once again.

It was disgusting enough to call someone not much older than herself mother, but now the disgust she felt had reached its peak.

Suppressing her feelings as much as she could, she asked the second question that had been on her mind.

“So, could you tell me why His Majesty the Emperor is not here?”

Iris, trying her best to speak as politely as possible, felt suffocated and nauseous. As if she might throw up at any moment.

“Well… It seems His Majesty was busy with official duties. Even though the Crown Princess has come all this way, he still hasn’t shown up. In any case, I will hear what you have to say on behalf of His Majesty today.”

“That’s… not possible. This is a matter that must be discussed directly with His Majesty.”

The Empress would, of course, not be pleased to hear that the Crown Princess had brought a relief proposal.

As Empress of the Empire, it was only right for her to support a means of helping her people, but she was not that kind of person.

She was utterly unfit to be Empress of the Empire, a woman who indulged in nothing but selfishness and luxury.

“I specifically said that I am acting as His Majesty’s representative, Crown Princess.”

The Empress, seemingly taking this as an affront to her authority, wore a very angry expression on her face.

“Your Majesty, please calm yourself. For the baby’s health, you must always remain calm.”

The Empress’s personal maid grew startled and quickly stepped in to try to soothe her.

If she needs to remain calm, she should just stay holed up in the Empress’s Palace. Why on earth is she out here behaving like this? And what in the world is Father thinking?

Iris had clearly told him that she needed to visit on an important matter.

Yet, under the excuse of being too busy, he had only sent the Empress in his stead. Iris couldn’t help but feel somewhat upset about it.

“Well then, go ahead. Crown Princess. What matter have you come to discuss?”

The Empress insisted on continuing, making it clear that she intended to act as the intermediary and hear everything first.

Iris let out a small sigh, careful not to let the Empress notice, as she watched her continue to casually engage in behaviors she shouldn’t, especially if her health was truly fragile and she cared about the baby’s well-being.

“…I’ve come to inform you of my intention to launch a pilot project for a relief plan.”

“Relief plan? It’s not as if there are that many people starving to death right now, and it’s not like winter is upon us with freezing temperatures. Why should we bother implementing something like that?”

Relief measures were, of course, necessary when there were people on the brink of starvation. But ideally, they were implemented before that point, as a means of prevention.

If such measures were put in place early enough, even during difficult times, no one would have to starve to death.

But the Empress was someone who only saw the trees and not the forest.

“If we start the pilot program now, it will take time before the relief measures are fully implemented. That’s why it’s important to begin as soon as possible.”

“The imperial budget cannot be allocated to something like that.”

Iris knew full well that the budget designated for the people’s welfare still had ample funds remaining.

Even so, she wasn’t asking to use that budget.

“I intend to use my personal budget for this.”

“Your personal budget, Crown Princess?”

“Yes.”

At the mention of not using the official imperial budget, the Empress’s expression softened slightly.

However, she still had lingering doubts.

“If you’re planning to use your personal budget, why not simply handle it yourself? Why do you feel the need to inform His Majesty about it?”

“Because I intend to propose a plan that ties these relief measures to His Majesty.”

“And what plan would that be?”

“I will inform His Majesty about that myself. You must be tired, so please rest, Your Majesty the Empress.”

Although the Empress was angry at the words of Iris who continued to treat her as anything but a stand-in for the Emperor,

“Ha! Truly, I wonder if this stubbornness comes from taking after your mother. Fine, though I doubt he’ll come; go ahead and wait endlessly if you wish.”

The Empress snapped in frustration before storming out of the audience chamber.

Iris briefly worried if she would have to remain in the Empress’s presence until the Emperor arrived.

Fortunately, it didn’t seem to be the case, and she felt relieved.

Did His Majesty really send the Empress here as a representative? That Empress?

As far as Iris understood, the Empress’s temperament was completely unsuited to acting as the Emperor’s representative.

Surely, the Emperor would know this well, which made it all the more puzzling that he would send her in such a role.

On top of that, considering the fact that the Empress had entered the audience chamber slightly earlier than the scheduled time of her meeting with the Emperor, it was highly likely that the claim of her being a representative was a lie.

I shouldn’t have just talked about the relief measures so easily.

She couldn’t help but hate her earlier self for spilling everything so freely after she got caught off guard by the mention of a “representative”. She should have drawn things out a bit longer.

Of course, the Empress seemed uninterested in Iris’s plans, so it was unlikely she would do anything about them.

As time passed and the appointed hour of her meeting with the Emperor arrived,

“It’s been a while, Crown Princess.”

The Emperor finally made his appearance.

As expected, it became clear that the claim about the Empress being a representative had been a lie, and Iris let out a small sigh under her breath. Though she was careful not to let the Emperor notice.

“I greet His Majesty the Sun of the Empire.”

“Haha, it’s fine. It’s just the two of us here, so why bother with formalities?”

The Emperor wore the same benevolent expression as always. It was understandable, considering the rows of personal attendants and maids standing nearby.

“I’d like to have a private conversation with my daughter. Everyone, leave us.”

Once even the guards had been completely dismissed, the Emperor no longer seemed like the kind and gentle figure he had been moments before.

Fixing Iris with a sharp gaze, he asked the question that had been on his mind first.

“So how are things going with Estelle, the Saintess?”

“I thought you’d already know everything from the rumors”

When the Emperor abruptly asked about her relationship with the Saintess first, Iris responded without backing down.

“Yes, I’ve heard that the two of you are getting along well. However, I also heard that you’re just as close with that commoner I saw with you last time.”

“Isn’t that exactly what you wanted, Father? You saw his remarkable abilities firsthand and told me to make sure he doesn’t leave for the Holy Empire.”

Iris had more than enough justification to explain that her being close to Theo wasn’t purely personal.

“Yes, I did say that. It’s true, that commoner doesn’t seem ordinary. I’d like to meet him. I heard he’s here at the palace right now?”