The Tyrant Couldn’t Fall Asleep

However, the words that came out of Izaya's mouth were quite different from what she expected.

“It is my negligence. I'm sorry I made you hear an insult you don't need to hear."

She lowered her head slightly, but the Duchess couldn't help but be astonished that it was the Empress of the Empire who was doing this.

"Why…are you doing this?”

The imperial family does not lower their heads to the nobles. That was the hierarchical order inscribed in this society.

However, the Empress was daring to break that.

Soon, Izaya slowly raised her head and stared at the Duchess.

“The Duchess did not turn away and she was willing to advise.”

The Duchess' eyes fluttered at those words.

At first, she was honestly surprised when the empress contacted her, citing her relationship with her deceased mother. And even more so when she looked at the contents.

[It is early summer with fresh greenery.

I remember a summer tea party at the Duke of Hollis when my mother was alive.

Are the green hydrangeas in the garden still there?

The reason I contacted you despite my embarrassment is because of the banquet I am holding this time.

I do not have a chaperone to advise on social events, so I would like the advice of an elder.

According to others, the Duchess has a high reputation in the social world, and is well-known for her outstanding eyesight.

I would like to get your advice about this banquet.

I hope you can help me as you think about your relationship with my mother.]

The empress asked the duchess for help.

It was rare for her to be so open and candid.

The tone in her correspondence was polite and unassuming, and showed respect for elders.

Moreover, it was sad to learn that the person the Empress is seeking help from was not someone from her family, but a friend of a long-dead mother.

‘Because there are not that many people to depend on.’

To be honest, she felt pity for Izaya because she is also a mother with children.

But, like the viper of the social circle, the Duchess quickly regained her composure.

'Still, I can't relax this much. The Empress, her sister, and her family...'

"The duchess helped me because of good faith and loyalty with my mother, right?”

The empress sighed quietly and continued.

"That's why I organized this meeting to express my gratitude, and you must have been upset to suffer this humiliation."

It was as if she had seen through her mind.

In addition...

"So I wanted to apologize as my mother's daughter, not as an empress."

Although she was lowering her head, the empress did not look servile at all.

Moreover, by making her apologetic subject not as Louisa's stepsisters or the empress, but her friend's daughter, she removed the element that would make the Duchess uncomfortable.

'Really, Layla raised her daughter well.'

The Duchess soon replied with a soft smile.

“How could this be the fault of His Majesty the Empress? It's just that the present Duchess of Lauchen has mis-educated her children."

It was like her reply that she would not ask her about her disrespect of Louisa. But Izaya shook her head.

“Still, it is my responsibility to call Louisa here. My apologies to everyone else for ruining the mood.”

Everyone else who quietly watched the situation also smiled.

"It's okay. I was thinking the same thing as the Duchess of Hollis.”

“It’s a shame.”

When even the two of them came out like this, Izaya's face was filled with embarrassment.

“Ha, but I’m sorry it turned out like this…”

Until just a moment ago, Izaya skillfully calmed the situation down, but when she finally accepted the apologies, she looked embarrassed.

She was cute with that immature look.

'How does her stepmother see her?'

The kind of treatment the Empress would have received in her parents' home could be answered just by looking at Louisa's arrogant attitude.

Contrary to popular rumors about her, it was clear that Louisa was trying to demean her by looking down at her older sister.

Even so, the Empress had the appearance of a straight, ideal lady whom they thought was right.

So she was more interested in the Empress..

‘I got an apology, so there’s no need to keep feeling sorry.’

Soon, they quickly changed the subject, as if they were old-fashioned elders in the social world.

“Didn’t you invite us today for something good?”

"Yes. It’s been a long time since we’ve had a good cup of tea, and we have a good chat.”

A faint smile formed on Izaya's face.

Obviously, the temperature of the ladies towards her has changed.

Izaya then stared at the place Louisa had left.

‘I was worried about how to make friends with these people… It made things easier because Louisa acted more stupidly than I thought.’

Basically, the best way to make friends easily with others is to make a public enemy.

And now, the ladies in front of me were the ones who would somehow tear the public enemy to pieces.

‘Especially this person. Veroka Ethylene Camellia.’

Currently, most people do not know her identity, but Izaya knew the true identity which will be revealed later.

'Now that Louisa touched the head of the largest media outlet, it's not clear what her reputation will be like. Furthermore…'

The relationship between the Duchess of Hollis and Louisa was completely broken.

In other words, it was said that the link between the two dukes in the future was also broken.

‘In the original way, those two families would have been very annoying enemies, but I’m glad it was resolved so smoothly. And apart from that, Grand Duchess Tares…'

“Your Majesty, please tell me whenever you need my advice in the future.”

Having won the sympathy of the weak-hearted Duchess, it will be easier for her to communicate with her children in the future.

‘Then, can we quickly convince Duke Tares to join Ern’s side?’

"Yes, Thank you. Grand Duchess.”

* * *

Time passed and the tea party was over.

Izaya sent the ladies off.

“Your Majesty, I really enjoyed today.”

Izaya replied with a bright smile.

“I really enjoyed it.”

The long chatting with the ladies was a useful time for Izaya as well.

This was because she clearly grasped the friendship and relationship of the current nobles, and got the rumors of an outcast in the social circles.

'This precious meeting cannot be over in one go.'

Soon, Izaya looked at the ladies with a sad expression on her face.

“I felt a hole being filled after a long time, thanks to all of you.”

Although she didn't mention her mother, the ladies knew.

“I will often visit Your Majesty the Empress.”

“I’ll be there for you anytime, so call me.”

Izaya smiled contentedly at the ladies' answers.

'Now that's it.'

"Empress."

Izaya hardened her face when she was called.

‘Why is Ern here…'

And Izaya wasn't the only one who recognized him.

“I see the Sun of the Great Empire.”

The ladies all bowed their heads at once, but Ern's gaze was fixed on Izaya.

“Why did Your Majesty come all the way here?”

As soon as Izaya asked, he answered with a hard voice.

“Empress, have you forgotten what you promised me?”

'A promise...?'

Soon, Izaya recalled that she had promised to practice dancing with him for an hour each day.

'I'm sure he came here because of that.'

For a moment, Izaya was conscious of the ladies.

'If I show a close relationship with Ern, it's sure to spread throughout the social world.'

Although not yet, she will have to divorce him someday.

It was better to be seen as a bad relationship than to get along well.

So Izaya spoke to Ern sternly.

“There are still guests. So maybe next time...”

“I will go to your room and wait.”

Izaya, puzzled by the answer, hurriedly spoke.

“But what if it takes a long time?”

“It doesn’t matter.”

After saying that, Ern entered the Empress Palace.

Izaya was stunned.

Because she never thought that he would answer that he would wait.

‘No, you should have rolled your eyes as usual and gone back to the Imperial Palace. But why all of a sudden...'

Then, the sound of laughter broke Izaya's thoughts.

“Ho-ho-ho, it’s a great time.”

“That’s right. The Emperor himself is waiting...”

"I’m jealous. If it were my husband, he would’ve left”

Izaya was startled by the words of the ladies.

'It's difficult if I look good with Ern... Even in front of these ladies.’

One is the master of the information world, and the other is the queen of the social world.

Izaya said as an excuse for fear that they might move into the social world.

But the ladies still had a smile on their faces.

“Ho-ho-ho, when I was younger, I was shy, so I was not honest about expressing my affection.”

Upon hearing the words of the Duchess of Hollis, Duchess Tarres smirked and said:

"That's right. The way the Emperor looked at Your Majesty the Empress was very special, wasn’t it?”

Izaya smirked.

‘No, you got it wrong.’

But the reason was not because he loves her, but because she is now his family.

‘I know how cold he is when he turns around.’

Before the return, after the breakup.

He never smiled at Izaya.

Even if by mistake he ran into Izaya, he left the room disgusted.

‘Maybe it will change like that when we get divorced.’

So Izaya listened to the fluttering of the ladies with one ear and let it out with the other.