I Married a Sick Husband - Chapter 47

In the end, the friendly dinner ended in disgrace.

 

The envoys from Partille left first, leaving only the Valtejains at the banquet.

 

“What the hell are you going to do about this, Your Majesty the Empress?”

 

As if waiting, someone poured out their complaint.

 

“To think that such an unsavoury thing would happen at an important place…! You should have known that it could have a serious negative impact on our relationship with Partille.”

 

“I apologise for what happened today.”

 

Meredith didn’t bother to apologise.

 

“But as I said, I will take responsibility for solving this problem.”

 

“Will the Queen of Partille accept the apology?”

 

Someone gave a sceptical opinion.

 

“She is the one who lost her child because of a rose. She must have been very heartbroken, but I don’t know if an apology will work.”

 

“There is no willfulness in this matter.”

 

Meredith made it clear once again.

 

“Therefore, I intend to sincerely apologise and seek forgiveness from Her Highness the Queen.”

 

“You look at the situation very positively. If this is a diplomatic loss, what are you going to do about it?”

 

“Stop it.”

 

Then, Theodore, who had been silent, intervened.

 

Everyone looked at him with their mouths shut.

 

“It’s still before the empress solves the problem. Nor has the diplomatic loss been visible.”

 

Theodore spoke calmly.

 

“Holding the empress responsible for this is quite possible even after we have suffered losses.”

 

“But Your Majesty…!”

 

“So don’t get too ahead of yourself, Earl Stern.”

 

The last words sounded much heavier and sharper than the previous ones.

 

Earl Stern recognized it as a warning from Theodore.

 

He himself warned, not to commit disrespect beyond this.

 

He was the emperor who even sentenced the duchess to death for insulting the empress.

 

Earl Stern, realising that he had spoken too much, hurriedly shut his mouth.

 

Only then did the banquet hall become quiet again.

 

“….”

 

After a while, Theodore spoke again.

 

“Anyway, the empress has claimed that this was not intentional.”

 

With that, Theodore looked at Blair.

 

“According to the empress’ claim, there’s a good chance that someone plotted this incident to discredit the empress.”

 

As if asking if that’s not you.

 

“… Please, I hope that is not the case.”

 

Meredith, who had been silent, finally opened her mouth.

 

“I don’t think that possibility can be ruled out either, Your Majesty.”

 

“I think so.”

 

Theodore concluded with a nod of his head.

 

“Then, a thorough investigation into this matter would be necessary. The Marquis of Breggs.”

 

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

 

“You shall take responsibility for this matter and investigate.”

 

Theodore ordered with a firm voice.

 

“You will have to thoroughly investigate who dared to do this.”

 

“I will obey Your Majesty’s orders.”

 

Due to Theodore’s decision, the mood in an instant changed to the fact that the empress had been unjustly caught up in this situation.

 

“Everyone must be tired, so let’s break it here.”

 

So, the ministers of each department returned back, and there were only three left at the banquet again.

 

Meredith, Theodore.

 

“Your Highness Empress Dowager.”

 

And Blair.

 

“How do you feel about this situation?”

 

Theodore spoke to Blair first.

 

Someone had to play the villain.

 

It shouldn’t be Meredith.

 

“That question makes it sound like Your Majesty is suspicious of me.”

 

“You seem to be perverting it.”

 

Theodore sighed in exasperation.

 

“I was just asking Her Highness’s opinion on this situation.”

 

“…..”

 

“Do you have anything that stings you?”

 

“Stop it, Your Majesty the Emperor.”

 

Meredith stepped in at the right time.

 

“It was a question mother could have accepted that way.”

 

“Empress.”

 

“It’s all my fault. Whoever tricked me..”

 

Meredith complained through her teary eyes.

 

“It must have happened because I couldn’t embrace them. So blame me.”

 

“I firmly believe that the empress never planned this.”

 

“….”

 

“So no need to worry. I will definitely reveal your innocence.”

 

Theodore left after saying that.

 

“…..”

 

Finally, only Meredith and Blair were left.

 

‘Clearly, Her Highness the Empress Dowager also participated in this.’

 

Even if Catarina had taken the initiative, she would not have been able to succeed without Blair’s support or bystanders.

 

However, Meredith concealed these feelings and apologised to Blair.

 

“I’m sorry, mother. Because of me, His Majesty…”

 

“No, dear. It’s nothing for you to apologise for.”

 

Blair shook her head and replied.

 

“Even if His Majesty thinks so, there’s nothing strange about our relationship.”

 

“…..”

 

“More than that, I’m worried that you’ll be surprised.”

 

“I don’t know who is doing this.”

 

“The truth will surely come out. Because His Majesty also promised.”

 

“I hope so.”

 

“Don’t worry too much.”

 

“… Yes.”

 

If you seem to be speaking confidently like this, it means that she has made all the loopholes to escape.

 

… Apparently, she seemed to be on the sidelines.

 

 

 

***

 

 

 

On the other hand, Catarina’s mood was good.

 

“… So, in the end, the dinner ended in a mess.”

 

It was because of the maid who had heard of the affair at the banquet hall.

 

Her plan worked!

 

“Tsk, tsk, tsk! I knew it! What will Meredith do with this?”

 

Catarina left her room as she laughed.

 

She said,“For her to commit such a diplomatic mistake as an empress. I’m sure the punishment will be worse too, right?”

 

“Perhaps she will become distraught. It happened and the atmosphere at the banquet hall was very bloody.”

 

“Okay. I want that girl to be gone to the afterlife.”

 

Catarina’s eyes were burning, as she continued.

 

“She was in the wrong to begin with.”

 

Even if he just made another woman his empress, he couldn’t make that miscreant an empress.

 

‘My father made a mistake. It would only be possible if he made a young lady from a lowly family into a scarecrow empress.’

 

I don’t know what made things so complicated.

 

“Meredith, because a girl who didn’t even know her place became empress, my mother went into exile!”

 

“She said that when I become an empress, her crime of contempt for the empress will naturally disappear. She will no longer be the Empress of the Empire.”

 

“Yes! Then her mother will be able to come back to the capital again.”

 

Isn’t this like killing two birds with one stone?

 

It was when Catarina, who was excited, was humming a song in her excitement.

 

“But what if something gets discovered?”

 

She had been asked by the maid a question that broke her mood.

 

Catarina’s brow furrowed in an instant.

 

“No way, it can’t be.”

 

“But His Majesty the Emperor ordered Marquis Breggs to find out the truth of this incident.”

 

“Okay, so we won’t get caught. Her Highness, Empress Dowager, will help.”

 

“Really?”

 

“Okay. Did Her Highness, Empress Dowager, really not know that I was plotting this affair? She must have known.”

 

“Even so, the princess didn’t let that happen.”

 

“That’s right. So, I am on the same boat as Her Highness, Empress Dowager.”

 

Catarina said with her triumphant face.

 

“I’m getting closer to Her Highness again through this incident.”

 

“But there’s something else I’m worried about.”

 

“What else is it this time?”

 

“Her Majesty said she would take responsibility for this matter and solve it.”

 

“Hah!”

 

“If anything like that happens… All of the Princess’s efforts are going to go to waste, aren’t they?”

 

“You really worry too much.”

 

Catarina again dismissed her concerns with a snort.

 

“Do you know how much the Queen of Partilles cherished the princess who died a few months ago?”

 

She gave birth to five sons, but she was the first princess.

 

A precious princess who grew up not worrying about whether she would fly away if blown or break if squeezed.

 

After the death of such a princess, she was faced with this situation while barely managing her grief.

 

“The Queen of Partille will never forgive Meredith.”

 

Catarina asserted in a confident tone.

 

In fact, most people, including her, thought so too.

 

 

 

***

 

 

 

And the next day, the unexpected happened.

 

“Greetings to the Great Sun of Valtejain.”

 

Duke Christon came to see Theodore.

 

Originally, there was no schedule with him today, so Theodore welcomed the duke while puzzled.

 

“What is going on?”

 

“I came to see you because I have something to tell you.”

 

“Tell me.”

 

“Actually, I visited and greeted Her Highness this morning.”

 

Hearing that, Theodore naturally couldn’t help but be nervous.

 

‘He had heard that the empress went to see the queen as soon as the dinner was over.’

 

He was not told about the results.

 

It was because Meredith didn’t visit the Central Palace yesterday.

 

He didn’t specifically call her, as Theodore had often since his health improved.

 

It was a consideration for Meredith, who must have been very tired from what happened yesterday.

 

“How is the queen?”

 

Even if things turned out badly, Theodore had no intention of abandoning Meredith.

 

She is his empress whom he chose to keep.

 

Moreover, he would never cut his own helper with his own hands, when it was certain that it was not her intention.

 

“Your Majesty the Emperor, Her Highness the Queen….”

 

Duke Christon opened his mouth cautiously.