Queen of The Scalpel - Chapter 5
Elise had never called her stepmother ‘mother,’, all this time. The Marquess was a bit sad that Elise, whom she considered her own daughter, kept a distance from her, but recently, that had all changed.
‘How happy I was that day when she first called me mother.’
And she hadn’t just called her mother. Elise treated her like she was her actual mother, warmly, and lovingly. The Marquess was pleasantly surprised.
‘But why does Elise look concerned about something?’
Her daughter always had a gentle expression these days, but today it was strange. The girl’s face was clouded as if she was weighed down by heavy concerns.
‘Even the strawberry cake that she likes is out, but she hasn’t touched it.’
“Elise, is something the matter?”
“No, No.”
Her daughter shook her head, but anyone could see that something was going on. Everyone had weird expressions.
“Keum, what’s wrong?”
“Yes, Elise. If there’s anything wrong, just tell me. This brother of yours will solve it all.”
Her father and her second oldest brother worriedly asked her. Her eldest brother just looked at her without any words.
“That’s…”
Elise hesitated, and sighed.
“The Royal Birthday Ball, father.”
“Ah…!”
Her father nodded her head. He realized what she was worrying about.
“Oh. Don’t worry about that too much.”
“…..!”
The Marquess solemn face had a smile.
“I have already spoken to the Emperor. Everything has gone as you wanted.”
Elise internally screamed. ‘No!!’ Her father continued.
“During the ball, the Emperor will officially announce engagement between you and the Crown Prince. Like you wished.”
She blanked. But it was at that moment. A cold voice split into the air.
“Father, I’m against this engagement.”
“…!”
An emotionless, hard face. But still a handsome one. It was her eldest brother, Baron Ren de Clarence.
“Ren, what are you talking about? Against the engagement?”
“I’ll be frank. Father, do you honestly believe Elise is a good match for the Crown Prince? No, do you think she’s fit to be the mother of all the citizens of this empire?”
“You….! What do you mean?!”
At the rude words, Marquis El raised his voice.
“I can’t say anything since I’m lacking, compared to the Emperor’s decision, but I really don’t know if this child is fit to be the Empress.”
The dining area became so quiet one could hear a pin drop. ‘Haa…brother. He’s being like this again after returning home after one month.’ The second older brother sighed internally. ‘He’s always out to get Elise.’
The vice captain of the Emperor’s Rifle Knightage, Baron Ren, always thought lowly of Elise. ‘She’ll throw a tantrum again after that. Elise will never go over it smoothly.’
But he was surprised, when seeing Elise’s face. ‘Hm??’
Elise didn’t have a hurt expression at all! Actually, it was slightly wistful. ‘What? Am I seeing things?’ But as he saw like the first time, Elise wasn’t upset at all. Rather…
‘Eldest brother’s tongue is still sharp. I used to hate that tongue before.’ After she had become the Empress, her brother used to scold her every time she made a mistake. She thought it was a nuisance, but now she knew why her brother had said those things. ‘And he’s completely right. That seat isn’t for me.’ She thought of her past life. Every single tragedy had begun after she became the Empress. ‘I have to stop this engagement, if it’s the last thing I do.’
The marriage was a tragedy for everyone. Not only for her, but it was a tragedy for the Crown Prince. Putting it in perspective that way, the Crown person was also a martyr through that marriage. ‘As for me, I was able to be punished as I deserved, but he had to be responsible for everything he didn’t do. ‘
She let out a sigh.
‘Let’s just think about how to stop this engagement. And I’ll live my life as a doctor who doesn’t have anything to do with the Palace.’
And she was locked in her thoughts.