The Young Male Protagonist Who is Destined for Ruin Fell for Me - Chapter 52
After building rapport with the Countess of Burk, I began occasionally attending tea parties held in the imperial palace.
I was still avoiding private tea parties hosted by individuals, citing the burden of the setting, but judging by the sheer number of invitations piling up, I might need to accept one soon.
The biggest reason I continued to endure the tense and stifling atmosphere of the palace tea parties was my mother.
Though I’d responded thoughtlessly at the time to the Countess of Burk, the more I reflected, the more I realized: my occasional appearances at social gatherings would ease the burden on my mother when she eventually returned to high society.
‘Claire once said that for women born as noble ladies and raised to be refined women, a lack of social activities is like having a major pillar of their life missing.’
Thinking of my mother stirred a sense of unease, but I maintained my smile as Princess Nadia, the sender of today’s invitation, approached me.
“Lady Diane, thank you for joining us.”
“The honor is mine, Princess Nadia. Thank you for your kind invitation.”
“I hope to see you at more of these gatherings in the future.”
“I will do my best to attend.”
Princess Nadia offered a polite smile before moving to greet other guests. According to Kyle, Nadia was the younger sister Bered cherished most.
‘She’s seventeen, isn’t she? So young, yet already so mature.’
Hosting a party was no small feat, and her composure while greeting me was admirable. It only made me feel more sympathy for her.
While I attended a few more tea gatherings, the political situation surrounding the Hail Empire and Keltman took a sudden turn.
Reports of Count Gargoyle aligning with Keltman flooded the newspapers.
Journalists, frustrated by their failure to capitalize on the Harmonia necklace scandal, scoured the border regions and unearthed testimonies confirming that Count Gargoyle was heading to Keltman.
‘Even Mr. Pringles asked if I’d consider writing a column about Keltman.’
The Hail Times, where I contributed columns, had all but monopolized the exclusives on the Harmonia necklace scandal. As a result, they gained no advantage from the Gargoyle reports.
The rival papers, who had united to gather this intel, would never share it with us.
Meanwhile, Keltman’s leader acted swiftly, announcing through local newspapers that an invitation had been sent to the Hail Empire for a delegation to attend their festival. It was a thinly veiled challenge for Bered to make a swift decision.
But who would dare venture into Keltman’s heartland under these circumstances? So far, the only confirmed delegate was Princess Nadia, conscripted as the imperial representative.
‘Bered must have asked Kyle to join the delegation. If I haven’t heard about it, Kyle must have refused.’
It made sense. Despite his influence, Kyle was still a noble of the Hail Empire. There was no reason for him to attend a festival hosted by Keltman, a rising rival. The risks—being held hostage or worse—far outweighed any potential benefits.
‘This has nothing to do with me. I should focus on exploiting the situation for profit. I wonder if any related goods have hit the market yet.’
As I pondered ways to capitalize on the political climate, Vanessa called out to me.
“My lady, an attendant from His Majesty has arrived. What should I tell them?”
“…His Majesty? Then there’s no way to refuse, is there? What is this about?”
“The Emperor wishes to see you.”
“Hmm…”
If this were the Chaield mansion, I might have found a way to decline. But within the imperial palace, there was no escaping the Emperor’s summons.
However, rushing to him without hesitation would undoubtedly put me at a disadvantage during negotiations.
I told the attendant to wait until the party ended and took my time before heading over.
Bered sat in the Emperor’s study, his eyes fixed on the door. Nearly an hour had passed since he’d sent for Lady Dian, yet she had not arrived.
‘This could be disastrous if she doesn’t show up.’
Drumming his fingers on the desk, Bered prepared to summon another messenger, but then he heard the distinct sound of heels clicking in the distance.
“Is that Lady Diane?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Let her in at once.”
Amel entered and offered a polite greeting to the young Emperor, who was visibly anxious. When she provided a suitable excuse for her delay, Bered’s tense expression softened.
‘If the Emperor waited for me so impatiently, his request must be predictable.’
Still, Amel kept her composure and tilted her head innocently, feigning curiosity about why she’d been summoned. She wore the expression of someone blissfully unaware, like a young bride seeing the world for the first time. Bered, delighted, couldn’t hide his pleasure as he spoke.
“Lady Diane —no, Amelia. I had the others step out so we could speak privately. You and I have some history, don’t we? The time you rejected me left me in quite the predicament. Do you recall?”
“…Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Good. Given our history, I’d like you to think of me as a friend from now on. There’s no need for such formalities between us.”
“How could I, a mere subject, think of His Majesty as a friend? Please, I implore you to take back your words.”
‘As expected, she won’t take the bait so easily.’
Bered observed Amel with interest, finding her demeanor similar to that of Kyle. Breaking the stiff atmosphere with some light chatter wouldn’t be the worst idea.
“Well, in that case, I’ll think of you as a friend, Lady Diane, and you may do as you please.
You probably know, but with the recent issues, I’ve been having frequent meetings with Duke Chaield. Every break we take, he ends up talking about you.”
That was a lie. Kyle wanted to monopolize his fiancée, not share stories about her. But Bered didn’t care about the truth; his goal was to gauge Amel’s reaction.
“He talks about you so much that I feel like I’ve developed a sense of closeness to you on my own.”
“…I had no idea His Grace spoke about me.”
Bered tilted his head at Amel’s choice of words. His Grace? Wasn’t that overly formal? It was the complete opposite of how Duke Chaield spoke about her, dripping with possessiveness and obsession, always calling her “my fiancée.”
“Ugh, you wouldn’t believe it. He can’t stop praising your radiant beauty.”
Bered then spent a good while showering Amel with compliments on her appearance. Kyle had never actually praised her looks aloud, but Bered had no qualms about lying.
Amelia Diane was one of the most beautiful women in the capital’s social circles, always adorned in the finest dresses and jewels. Any man would be able to recall the color of her eyes and hair with ease. Bered, who had once been kicked in the groin by her, was no exception.
“Ah, but don’t mistake this for personal interest. Every time I see you, I freeze up, terrified of being kicked again.”
“…I sincerely apologize for that incident, Your Majesty.”
Amel was more than willing to apologize for the time she’d metaphorically kicked away the future of the Hail Empire.
The two exchanged a few lighthearted remarks.
Mostly, Bered asked questions, and Amel responded with short answers. Once Bered felt the atmosphere had sufficiently relaxed, he cleared his throat and spoke.
“Lady Diane, you must be curious about the reason I summoned you. I called you here because I have a request—a proposal, if you will.”
“A proposal…?”
Amel feigned innocence, and as expected, Bered’s expression eased, becoming more confident.
“You’ve likely read in the papers about the invitation Keltman sent to the imperial court.
I’d like to propose that you join the delegation.
The royal treasury will cover all expenses, including lodging and meals. What do you think?”
“…”
Does this emperor think I’m a pushover?
Although irritated, Amel maintained her composure.
“I lack the skills to fulfill such a role. I must humbly decline.”
“Don’t decide so quickly. Take your time to think it over; you don’t need to answer today. In my view, you’re the perfect candidate.”
“May I ask why you think so?”
“When the necklace scandal broke, I observed your behavior. You handled yourself far better than other young ladies or noblewomen. I also have a feeling you might enjoy exploring new places.”
“You flatter me, Your Majesty.”
“And… let’s not forget the financial rewards and prestige that come with this role. If you volunteer, I’ll use my authority to grant the Diane family unrestricted access to the palace.”
“…”
“Of course, Duke Chaield, with his overflowing wealth, must have extended his generosity to the Diane family. I assume your parents declined out of pride and honor.”
Amel couldn’t deny his words.
“As you know, only I, as Emperor, can uphold the honor of a knight’s family. Surely you understand that.”
Amel remained silent. She had noted before that Bered’s sharpness had grown since he ascended the throne. Today was no exception. His understanding of the situation and his ability to identify her needs were surprisingly precise.
“In the original story, he was almost frustratingly clueless. I suppose the crown truly changes a person.”
Amel thought back to her parents, the Diane family, who had persistently refused Chaield’s lavish gifts, despite Hild the butler’s relentless urging. She didn’t blame them. Even those with little to their name have something they hold dear.
Writing columns and saving money was partly for her own sense of identity in this world, but it was also for the sake of the family that had lovingly embraced her as one of their own.
“I knew Bered would make an offer like this. And yes, the Diane family could use the Emperor’s support. But that doesn’t mean I’ll let him dictate my actions.”
Instead of complying, Amel decided to turn Bered’s proposal to her advantage.
“Of all the noblewomen, Bered needs only me.”
Resolving the Diane family’s issues of palace access and finances was undoubtedly important, but it wasn’t an urgent matter. In contrast, the Emperor was the one in a hurry. He needed her.
Scarcity always enhances value, and Amel knew this better than anyone.
Unaware of her intentions, Bered grinned widely.