Teatime and Birthday Party

Yawwwwwn.

After a long yawn, I walked out of my room, rubbing my eyes.

It is currently 7am.

Its time to start the morning at the Empress palace.

After eating lightly as always, I placed the prepared breakfast for the Empress on my trolley

I was going to do what I normally do each day.

But this time, one of the maids stopped me, shaking her head.

Charlize, you dont have to bring her Majestys breakfast today.

Pardon?

I couldnt hide my surprised expression.

Today, Her Majesty is going to visit the Empress dowagers palace, so shell have breakfast there.

Oh really?

I blinked blankly.

I suppose so.

With the invitation to breakfast as a starting point, the Empress and Empress dowager are slowly trying to restore their relationship.

Well, its a good thing in many ways.

Just when I nodded.

With a gentle voice, the maid dropped a bomb on me.

Oh, by the way, you have to go too.

Whaaat?

And about two hours later.

I was anxious with every step I took as I followed behind the Empress and we neared the Empresss dowagers palace.

How do I describe the Empress dowagers palace during my first visit there..

Old. It was clear that the palace hadnt been maintained properly.

It looked too shabby for a palace where the current Emperors birth mother, the Empress dowager, resided.

Although there was an effort to touch up the place, we could see old and worn-out facilities everywhere.

I guess theres no denying, it must be true that the Emperor despises Her Majesty, the Empress dowager.

The Emperor is very strange.

For the way he treats Damian and Her Majesty, the Empress dowager.

Why Emperor, are you so mean to the few people who share the same blood with you?

I narrowed my eyes.

Of course, power has the ability to change people in many ways.

Does it make sense to persecute your family for the sake of power?

Its completely bonkers, there are a lot of people in the world who live without being able to know their familys relatives.

If I had a family, I would love them to the fullest.

Id do the best I could for them .

Welcome, Empress.

I was so lost in my thoughts till I heard a gentle voice.

Ah.

Is that Her Majesty, the Empress dowager?

I politely put my hands together and bowed my head.

A dignified old lady, who must have been very beautiful in her youth, stood before us.

Her posture was very straight, and her eyes were clear, uncommon for people her age.

Hmm, did Damian get his looks from the Empress dowager?

The Empress smiled at her.

Thank you for your hospitality.

Youre welcome. Thank you for accepting my request.

The Empress Dowager who said so, suddenly turned her attention to me.

Hello, are you Charlize?

.Hold on.

Her Majesty, the Empress dowager knows me? How?

Your Majesty, Empress dowager. This is Charlize, a maid of the Empresss palace.

I tried hard to conceal my embarrassment and hurriedly greeted her.

Yes, nice to meet you.

Her Majesty, the Empress dowager, who nodded her head, looked at me quietly.

It felt odd, the way she looked at me as if my appearance reminded her of someone she knew.

After a while, the Empress dowager turned around, gesturing with her hand.

Come inside. I prepared a small meal for you.

Thank you.

The Empress moved lightly.

Hmm, so I guess Ill just have to wait outside until the two of you finish eating, right?

Thinking like that, I eased up a bit, relaxing my body.

Her Majesty, the Empress dowager who looked back, added a word in a delicate voice.

Ah, lets have Charlize join us as well.

Err, me?

Why me all of a sudden?!

I quickly tried to catch up with them, almost spraining my foot in the process.

There I was, sitting at a table as stiff as stone with breakfast in front of me.

Opposite of me, Her Majesty, the Empress and Her Majesty, the Empress dowager, seated side by side.

From cleaning up after his Highness, the Crown Prince and sleeping in the same bed with Her Majesty, the Empress..

Am I also going to be a maid to Her Majesty, the Empress dowager as well?

I think Im going to get indigestion from the very thought!

Thank you, Empress for coming. Im very happy to have breakfast with you. Please enjoy your meal.

In contrast to how I felt in this situation, the atmosphere around both Empresses was fortunately mild. It wasnt terribly tense or awkward but it also wasnt exactly brimming with gaiety.

Dont mention it. I should have visited you more often

The Empress let out a short sigh.

If I may be so bold to say, I was worried that I would make your Majesty feel troubled by visiting you on short notice.

As the Empress held the tableware, one could see her nerves stand out from her wrist as she truly struggled to get out what she wanted to say.

Perhaps because I I am the Emperors wife.

At those words, Her Majesty, the Empress dowagers eyes sank deeply.

Dont say that. How can I fault you, Empress, when youve done nothing wrong?

But

No noblewoman can be free from political marriage.

It was a voice laced with deep remorse.

The Empress is also a victim.

Empress dowager.

Also, pertaining to the matter of Damian, I am still indebted to you, Empress.

After saying that, Her Majesty, the Empress dowager showed her wondrous bright smile.

Debts aside, Im just grateful that the Empress herself came to see me here. So dont frown, you did nothing wrong.

Thank you so much for saying that. It means a lot to hear you say that. From now on, Ill make sure to smile more and have a joyful face more often.

The two of them had a friendly conversation.

I just rolled my eyes and looked at the two of them. Relieved that things went well, I even might have smiled slightly.

Alls well that ends well.

As it is, if theres nothing else, I can just wait for the meal to end .

So, darling. Is the food good?

But right then.

Her Majesty, the Empress dowager snuck in a question.

My pupils were shaking as if there had been an earthquake.

Thank you for your concern but you dont have to pay any attention to me, is what I wanted to say but I couldnt do that.

I meanaaah! This is embarrassing! Too much for my liking!

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