‘They probably didn’t like the idea of a stupid woman becoming the mistress of the Cardia Duchy.’
From ancient times, the Cardia Duchy held a very important position within the Empire.
The Cardia Duchy was almost the only place in the Empire with a population density comparable to the imperial capital.
Of course, even if a somewhat stupid woman became the mistress, the Cardia Duchy wouldn’t collapse as long as the vast wealth accumulated over time remained, but it could be a cause for concern.
“It’s quite an old story, but there was a time when an extravagant duchess led her husband’s family to ruin. Given this precedent, they might have wanted to raise their voices about the need for caution.”
As Lindsey and Ola still looked unconvinced, Jieselgrante cited a past example.
“If they knew how smart our lady is, they wouldn’t dare open their mouths…”
Lindsey grumbled, pouting her lips, and Ola agreed.
“That’s right!”
Jieselgrante burst into laughter at their reactions.
“I’m hesitant to say this, but I actually think a bit differently.”
While combing through Jieselgrante’s glossy hair coated with fragrant oil, Lindsey offered a different opinion.
Ola, who was tidying up the wet towels, also chimed in with Lindsey’s words.
“Me too. I just think they might be jealous of our lady.”
“That could be the case.”
Jieselgrante didn’t add anything, but instead, Lindsey and Ola took the initiative to criticize the behavior of Countess Minster.
[This is the timeline separator]The Duchess of Vratnik walked into the spacious dining room of the imperial palace, prepared for entertaining precious or important guests.
The Empress, who had arrived earlier and was waiting, quietly observed her appearance.
The light green, fluttering dress was arguably the best choice, complementing the Duchess of Vratnik’s pale skin perfectly.
The accessories she wore were neither too large nor too flashy, shining modestly yet subtly.
Young ladies who had just had their debutante ball didn’t know how to dress elegantly.
They would proudly display overly large and shiny accessories, and choose dresses with excessive lace.
In that respect, the appearance of the Duchess of Vratnik was very satisfactory.
“I greet Your Majesty the Empress.”
The Duchess of Vratnik stopped exactly twelve steps away and greeted the Empress with courtesy.
The Empress’s red lips curved into an arc.
“Let’s sit down and talk first.”
The Duchess of Vratnik turned her head towards the table with a faint smile.
Her head, which was naturally heading towards the opposite side of the Empress, suddenly stopped.
At one end of the long rectangular table sat the Empress, with tableware prepared in front of her.
The tableware on the table was prepared for two people, with one set placed diagonally to the right, right next to the Empress.
The Duchess of Vratnik’s gaze, which had briefly rested on the tableware, soon turned to the head of the table where the Empress was seated.
“I assume no one else is supposed to come?”
She was asking to confirm if this spot, very close to the Empress’s seat, was indeed her place.
“I didn’t invite anyone else, as I wanted us to have a quiet conversation just the two of us today.”
When the Empress answered calmly, the Duchess of Vratnik raised the corners of her mouth and sat down.
Starting with pre-meal drinks and appetizers, the maids brought out the dishes one by one.
The two enjoyed the food prepared by the imperial palace’s head chef while engaging in light conversation.
The meal continued in a rather convivial atmosphere, and finally, after-dinner tea was prepared on the table.
It was a moment when the tension in the dining room, which had been somewhat relaxed, heightened.
Both the Empress and the Duchess of Vratnik knew well that there was no reason to call her here separately just to have a meal.
The Empress wiped her mouth with a napkin before getting to the point.
“I’m sure you’ve heard the recent news about the engagement of Duke Amaterasu’s daughter and the Duke of Cardia?”
“Of course, Your Majesty.”
The Duchess of Vratnik answered, also wiping her mouth with a napkin.
“I’d like to hear the Duchess of Vratnik’s opinion on this matter.”
“Since it’s the fruition of a long unrequited love, wouldn’t it be a very happy occasion for Duke Amaterasu’s daughter?”
The corners of the Empress’s lips rose slightly at the Duchess of Vratnik’s answer.
“Do you really think so?”
Her voice was full of doubt as she asked again.
“…I’ve been taught that it’s better to be cautious with words in such matters, so I’m very hesitant to add anything.”
Only then did the Empress raise her lips in satisfaction.
She was pleased with the Duchess of Vratnik’s answer.
The news of the engagement between Duke Amaterasu’s daughter and the Duke of Cardia had become a major topic of interest among all the nobles in the Empire.
The Empress thought it wasn’t wise to express opinions on issues that were on everyone’s lips.
Especially for someone from an influential family like the Duchess of Vratnik, it was better to be cautious with words.
Even more so if she was aiming for the position of the future empress.
“But since it’s just between us, it wouldn’t be bad to reveal your true thoughts honestly.”
“……”
“In fact, I’m not very welcoming of the alliance between the Cardia and Amaterasu duchies. I think the Duchess of Vratnik understands the reason well enough without me having to explain.”
The Empress revealed her inner thoughts without hesitation. This rather made the Duchess of Vratnik look perplexed.
“I understand Your Majesty’s intentions well. However, as someone dull-witted as myself, I don’t quite understand. Why are you discussing such a difficult topic with me?”
“Cardia and Amaterasu, these two duchies will have an enormous influence on the Empire in the future. If that happens, the balance that has been precariously maintained so far will be broken.”
The Duchess of Vratnik nodded at the Empress’s words.
It was a bit ambiguous whether she was agreeing with her opinion or just showing that she understood the meaning, but the Empress continued speaking.
“I think we need to prepare for that. His Majesty the Emperor has no objections to this part as well.”
After finishing her words, the Empress looked straight into the eyes of the Duchess of Vratnik.
It meant that now that she had shown her hand, she wanted to hear the opinion of the Vratnik Duchy.
The Duchess of Vratnik remained silent for a while, her eyes lowered, as if lost in thought.
Then, as if she had organized her thoughts, she raised her gaze to meet the Empress’s eyes and opened her mouth.
“So Your Majesty is saying that I, as a person from the Vratnik Duchy, should get involved in this matter?”
“Yes. There could be various ways to lend strength to the imperial family, but…”
Trailing off, the Empress observed the Duchess of Vratnik’s reaction.
She judged that any change in her state of mind would be visible outwardly.
But the Duchess of Vratnik merely wore an expression that seemed simply frightened.
“I’m truly grateful for your suggestion, but it’s such a sudden proposal… Besides, I don’t think it’s something I can decide on my own.”
As she had anticipated that the Duchess wouldn’t accept immediately, the Empress gave a relaxed response.
“Of course. I understand. It’s not too late to decide after careful consideration.”
As she said this, the Empress gently placed her hand on top of the Duchess of Vratnik’s hand resting on the table.
It was to appeal to the Duchess of Vratnik that she was a generous and inclusive person.
“Then, if I may, there’s something I’d like to ask before that. Would it be alright to speak?”
The Empress gave a faint smile, indicating for her to go ahead.
“I’d like to meet His Highness the Crown Prince.”
When one of the Empress’s eyebrows raised, the Duchess of Vratnik hastily added.
“I think it would be better that way… Ah, of course, His Highness the Crown Prince’s opinion is important too.”
Nodding as if she understood, the Empress immediately looked at the attendant standing behind her.
“Could you find out what the Crown Prince’s schedule is for today?”
[This is the timeline separator]“The Duke has requested to see you.”
The butler of the Cardia Duchy came to find Jieselgrante.
Jieselgrante, who was about to go for a short walk after lunch, turned her steps to follow the butler.
“Please enter.”
When they arrived at the location where Cabelased was, the butler opened the door and stepped aside.
As she entered, Jieselgrante looked around the interior.
The ceiling mural, which looked as if the starry night sky had been directly transferred, was so classic that it well represented the long history of the Cardia Duchy.
It was indeed a masterpiece that could be said to have been completed by the most renowned painters of the time, investing considerable time and effort.
While Jieselgrante’s gaze was captivated by the ceiling mural, Cabelased spoke.
“It seems the Empress’s side has urgently summoned the Duchess of Vratnik to the imperial palace.”
“Is it the Vratnik Duchy this time?”
Count Preston asked with an expression of disbelief.
Recently, Jieselgrante had been allowed to participate in the meetings between Cabelased and Count Preston.
The benefits Jieselgrante gained after becoming Cabelased’s fiancée were clear.
Thanks to this, she could now grasp the changing situation of the Empire more easily and quickly than before.
Certainly, Cabelased was indeed a powerful ally for Jieselgrante.
“The Empress must be quite cornered as well.”
It was as Count Preston said.
The Vratnik Duchy was one of the families that even the Emperor couldn’t easily manipulate, a powerful family comparable to the Cardia and Amaterasu duchies.
There was a reason why the Empress had left such a formidable family alone until now.
The Duchess of Vratnik was a close friend of the former empress, and after the former empress died, she rarely appeared at official events.
The majority opinion, which was close to the truth, was that she didn’t want to face the current empress, who had seemingly seized her friend’s position as soon as she could.
Moreover, the Duke of Vratnik was known in aristocratic society as an uncommonly devoted husband, to the extent that rumors about it were widespread, so he respected his wife’s wishes.
In addition to this, there was recent friction between Duke Cardia and Crown Prince Joshua, and then the news of the engagement between Duke Amaterasu’s daughter and Duke Cardia.
All circumstances were turning unfavorable for the Empress.
Top Celebrity Younger Brother Bears Her Child (Female-dominant)
One-line summary: Forced to live stream romance with a top celebrity in a female-dominant world.
Yan Jin transmigrated into a brothel, with a fellow transmigrated junior beside her.
Hearing the obscene words coming from outside, the unfortunate junior covered his ears tightly, his cheeks flushed red, and whispered to comfort her, “Don’t worry, I will definitely help you escape.”
“Don’t worry, I will definitely defend your chastity.” Yan Jin looked at the flawless and delicate features of the unfortunate junior and gently comforted, “Because we have transmigrated into a female-dominant world.”
※※※
Top celebrity Yu Shu suddenly fell into a coma during a concert.
Research scientist Yan Jin fainted in the lab after working overtime.
Two people with no connection were rushed to the same hospital.
Three days later, neither of them had woken up.
Suddenly, the entire nation discovered that a live streaming app had been forcibly installed on their phones.
Upon opening it, they heard the two discussing how to escape from the brothel.
The entire internet was in an uproar.
After the two successfully escaped from the brothel, Yu Shu’s fan group rushed to make a banner and sent it to the hospital overnight.
“Big sister bravely took action to defend the chastity of our idol!”
※※※
When Yu Shu was diagnosed with pregnancy, Yan Jin stared at his belly for a long time.
Covering his stomach, he muttered gloomily, “If you don’t like it, I’ll go get an abortion.”
“It’s not that I don’t like it.” Yan Jin hugged Yu Shu and said softly, “I just feel like I’m not human.”
Yu Shu comforted Yan Jin, “I was already an adult when we got together.”
Yan Jin hesitated, “But you won’t be of legal marriageable age even after giving birth to the child.”
At the same time, a flood of bullet comments appeared in the live streaming room that the two couldn’t see.
[Although it’s inappropriate, I also want a young and handsome boyfriend to have my child.]
①Male pregnancy (highlighted)
The female lead is five years older than the male lead, and the male lead is already an adult when he appears.
