I Won’t Accept Your Regrets

At noon around a beautiful garden with warm sunlight, in the Empress's garden was tea time with the ladies.

“The roses bloomed really beautiful.”

"The roses in the garden of the Imperial Palace will be the most beautiful in the Empire."

"Hoho, that's right."

Under the large gazebo that covered the sun, the lips of the ladies who enjoyed the Empress's garden with the roses in full bloom continued to exclaim.

"Thank you again for inviting me to see this beautiful sight, Your Majesty," a noblewoman, who was looking at the rose garden with ecstatic eyes, inclined her head towards Ellie.

Ellie saw a noble lady raise her head. The lady's blue eyes, looking up at her with her hands on her chest, sparkled with wonder and anticipation. With the desire to win her favor.

"You are welcome. I’m most grateful to you for taking your precious time to come to the Palace of the Empress, Countess Evitail.”

‘The County of Evitail.'

It was a county on a small estate located in the far east, but it was a county that had recently emerged through trade with the desert kingdom. Pleased with Ellie's response, Countess Evitail's face brightened.

“It is Your Majesty's invite. If you invite me, I will always be happy to come.”

“Then I will invite you more often in the future. Oh, come to think of it, it's Count Evitail's birthday soon. He will be busy preparing for the party.”

"Oh my. How can Your Majesty remember the Count’s birthday? …Did I tell you before?”

"No. I'm more interested in aristocrats than I thought. Furthermore, Count Evitail is a family that His Majesty is interested in these days… I’m also paying more attention to him. I will send you a nice present for the Count's birthday."

“A gift… I am so grateful. Your Majesty," Countess Evitail slightly tilted her head with an excited face.

She could feel the gaze of the other noblewomen who were envious of Countess Evitail. Ellie pretended not to know their looks and picked up the cup of tea.

She could see the ladies flinch as if they wanted to talk to her, but in Ellie's eyes they weren't bright ladies.

There were especially two nobles who, unlike Countess Evitail and other nobles, don't even look at the Empress. Unlike the friendly atmosphere of the tea party, the faces of the two were troubled. They were rolling their eyes impatiently as if they wanted to leave this place as soon as possible.

That's understandable. The two of them were noblewomen from the noble family who had been instigated to publish the reproachful article on the Empress.

Marquis Borretti and Count Vishtein'.

Two weeks ago, an article was published in the newspaper criticizing the Empress who was unable to give birth to more imperial heirs. Ellie, who prevented Raymond from investigating himself, ordered Jed to find the back* of the newspaper the next day. (tl/n: refers to the source, or the intellectual authors)

‘And I was able to easily find two families who had written the article for me.’

The two families that published articles aimed at the Imperial Family weren’t unexpected. Marquis Borretti was a last historical Marquisate who had been opposed since the day the first Commoners Academy was established, and Count Vishtein was also a member of the family who recently suffered heavy losses in the tea leaf business when the imperial family opened trade with the Eastern Office.

Ellie thought about what to do with them and sent invitations to both families. Through Helen, the Empress's maid, so they wouldn't dare refuse. So they couldn't even make an excuse that they were sick, so now they were sitting in front of her like they were going to die.

They also know why Ellie called them. They weren't the core members who often attended her tea parties and suddenly, the Empress sent an invitation through the imperial maid, so they would have thought of the Empress's intentions unless they were fools.

Why did an article come out like that with such courage and now they can't even make eye contact?

After posting the article once, when the response wasn’t good, there were no more articles related to it, but Ellie had no intention of letting it slide. If you don't look at those who cross the line, there will be more useless words.

Ellie put down the teacup gracefully, looking at the two people who were just looking at the teacup. And she opened her lips to them.

“You are not the only family His Majesty is interested in these days, therefore you are not the only one I am interested in. His Majesty told me a few days ago that he seems to have neglected the nobles too much for taking care of the commoners. In particular, he seemed to pay more attention to some aristocrats who expressed disappointment in His Majesty's hard-line policy."

Ellie's gentle voice shook the Marchioness Borretti and Countess Vishtein noisily. Even the maids would have understood the word ‘interested’, but that interest was never good interest.

Raymond wasn’t a generous Emperor. Although the people of the Empire praised him as a saint, he was originally famous for his brutal nature. Although peace has continued in recent years, some nobles seem to have forgotten this for a moment.

Therefore, Ellie was trying to inform them personally.

‘Unless you consider your life a waste, don't fight against the imperial family.'

“In particular, he mentioned Marquis Borretti and Count Vishtein. These are the families that must have been most disappointed in recent years. That is why I invited you to a tea party in response to your profound wish."

Ellie smiled kindly at the two people who raised their heads. However, when they saw her smile, the faces of the two turned white as if they had seen a ghost. Marchioness Borretti's hand was trembling, holding a cup of tea.

“Your Majesty, did we disappoint you? Our family always respects and is loyal to Your Majesty and the imperial family.”

"We are too," Countess Vishtein quickly added.

"Respect and loyalty to the imperial family…"

Ellie lowered her gaze, blurring the end of her speech. She continued quietly, her fingertips fiddling with the handle of the teacup.

“In fact, in recent days words of concern have been heard about the succession of the imperial family, and I have become sensitive. It may be a natural concern that comes from the Empress's precious hands, but it seems to criticize me, the Empress."

As if waiting, the other ladies raised their voices.

“Criticizing Your Majesty? How dare anyone do such a thing?"

“How could they say that they are looking forward to the succession of the imperial family when His Highness is growing splendidly? …That's silly."

“It's great to just give birth to His Highness the Crown Prince in poor conditions and raise him well. It is speculation to criticize Her Majesty the Empress for the succession and slander to attack the imperial family.”

"Yes, that’s right. That's how it is."

The angrier and more sympathetic the ladies became, the more they gazed into the faces of the Marchioness Borretti and Countess Vishtein. Ellie, who was still looking at the two strangling ladies, opened her mouth just before they both collapsed.

“Listening to them, I feel more comfortable. But Marchioness Borretti and Countess Vishtein haven’t said anything. Do you think differently?”

The Marchioness Borretti was surprised that Ellie would ask so directly. The Marchioness spoke hurriedly with an awkward smile.

“What do you mean different? It can’t be, Your Majesty!"

“I feel the same as the others! There are rampant rumors in the Empire that His Highness' ability is developing day by day, but it is ridiculous to say that the succession is unstable. Furthermore, the great character of His Highness the Crown Prince resembles Her Majesty the Empress. Now and in the future, no one will be able to blame Your Majesty."

The Countess, who spat out long words, swallowed.

The corners of the mouth of the Marchioness and the Countess, who were smiling awkwardly, twitched. Ellie raised the corners of her mouth, looking at the two of them with satisfied eyes.

“I guess I was really worried about nothing because you two said so, therefore I will continue to do my best as Empress, so please look forward to it.”

"No, that's what we have to say."

"Yes. If you need help, call me, Your Majesty.”

"It would be an honor to be a partner of Your Majesty."

Except for the two pale women, the other ladies bowed to her.

At that moment, when Ellie smiled moderately at the sweet words, she heard footsteps entering the flower garden. The first lady who turned her head widened her eyes.

"Oh my. It is His Highness.”

The rest of the ladies who saw Carlisle let out a small exclamation.

Hair black as the night sky hair and shining black eyes. Carlisle, who gradually resembled Raymond, glowed as he grew older.

Hearing the ladies' admiration, Ellie turned to Carlisle's voice calling her name.

"Mother," Carlisle, who arrived next to her, bowed with a slight silence.

When he had just entered the Imperial Palace and became the Crown Prince, his etiquette was awkward and childish, but now his awkwardness can no longer be seen.

"Welcome."

Ellie smiled and the ladies greeted him.

"I greet Your Highness, the greatest Star of the Empire."

Ellie took Carlisle's hand and told the ladies.

"The Crown Prince came to me and it's been a while, so I think it's best to end today's tea party here."

"Yes, Your Majesty, the Empress."