The Empress' Scandalous Paramour (5 Chapters Left to Complete) - Chapter 11
Chapter 2. The Summit Between Two Empires
The atmosphere in the conference room was dreadful.
Naturally, no minister in their right mind would ever wish to meddle in the Emperor’s private affairs.
After all, what did it matter if the Emperor engaged in any immoral or unethical relationship with his consort, as long as it didn’t negatively impact state affairs?
It was an unspoken rule that even if the Empress felt deeply wronged or furious, she must never criticize the consort favored by the Emperor.
If she insisted on keeping a consort of her own, so be it.
Though rarely did the favor of the supreme ruler last until death, the Empress’s seat itself was never permanent.
Given that the marriage between Emperor and Empress was largely political from the outset, the Empress had no reason not to tolerate the Emperor’s affections.
Yet, on the other hand, there existed an unspoken ‘measure’ to all this.
If the Empress tolerated the Emperor and his lover for the sake of peace within the palace, then the Emperor, at the very least, should never display affection before her eyes.
Where exactly was the need to humiliate the other so blatantly?
“There will be many distinguished guests attending this summit. The Empress intends to host both the welcoming banquet and the farewell banquet at the Empress’s Palace.”
Consequently, the incident that occurred in the conference room before the meeting even began was an exceedingly troublesome matter.
It would be wonderful if worldly affairs could be neatly severed like cuts from a blade—but hearts were not so simple.
Moreover, everyone knew that Empress Leonarda had been enduring far more than usual precisely because she loved the Emperor and wished to avoid his displeasure… and yet he flaunted his affection right before her?
“All this while, due to my illness, the Saintess has assisted with many duties.”
The Emperor, radiating icy coldness; the Saintess, casting uneasy glances as though deeply troubled; and the Empress, smiling gracefully as if entirely unaffected.
All of them were currently dangerous individuals.
Nobles who had planted their eyes and ears within the Imperial Palace understood the origin of this precarious atmosphere and remained silent.
There was absolutely nothing to gain by stepping forward.
“As Empress, I intend to fulfill my duties properly from now on—I shall expect much support from all of you.”
At last, when the Empress made this declaration, the Emperor openly displayed his displeasure.
It wasn’t inherently wrong for the Empress to perform her duties—there was no justifiable reason to oppose her. Yet the Emperor-aligned nobles seated here seemed compelled to oppose her for the sake of the Emperor’s mood.
But doing so would surely earn them the Empress’s lasting resentment.
‘Did you hear anything from Duke Achilo?’
‘I did not.’
‘Then does that mean the Empress acted unilaterally?’
‘Well… His Majesty the Emperor appears completely unaware of this matter.’
‘Could it be that His Majesty’s… ahem… conduct in the conference room so enraged the Empress that she suddenly declared this?’
The imperial council was held around a large, circular table.
Nobles seated far from the Emperor were busy exchanging silent messages through glances.
Meanwhile, the high-ranking nobles sitting close to the Emperor found themselves in a very awkward position.
Someone had to respond—but who?
All eyes converged on one person.
Their savior was Duke Achilo.
“It is not because she is my daughter that I say this. Hosting banquets has always rightfully been the Empress’s duty. Until now, the Saintess graciously shared this burden, but if the Empress is determined… she ought to assume this role herself.”
After this opening remark, the Emperor finally spoke, albeit slowly.
“So the Empress has suddenly recovered her health, has she?”
“She appears healthy enough to attend imperial councils.”
“Indeed. In the past, she couldn’t even sit through meetings—but today, she not only attended but arrived first.”
The Emperor’s lips twisted bitterly.
He clearly despised the Empress—and made no effort to hide it.
Eventually, two Emperor-aligned nobles cautiously interjected.
“Ahem. Since they are going to the trouble of coming all the way here, we must receive them flawlessly.”
“Perhaps… ahem… it would be wiser to begin by hosting smaller banquets gradually… undertaking such a grand banquet right from the start might be a bit…”
When foreign dignitaries visited, the two most critical banquets were:
The welcoming banquet, meant to showcase the greatness and wealth of the Nix Empire and humble the foreigners; and the farewell banquet.
These two events, essential for demonstrating imperial dignity, were considered the salt and light among countless palace banquets.
Therefore, the Empress really ought to yield on this and start with something else first.
The Emperor-aligned nobles fervently prayed inwardly.
Until now, the Empress had stepped back due to health reasons, and thanks to that, the imperial court had functioned smoothly.
The Temple faction led by Saintess Helene. The Noble faction led by Duke Achilo, the Empress’s own father.
The Emperor-aligned faction loyal solely to the Emperor. And the remaining neutral houses.
These four powers maintained such sharp opposition that, paradoxically, peace prevailed.
But if things proceeded this way, everything would change.
The Empress’s illness had been a necessary factor for domestic political stability. Should she now step forward, the Noble faction might overpower the Temple faction.
In that case, the Emperor-aligned faction would have no choice but to temporarily ally with the Temple faction.
To prevent the Noble faction from growing too powerful.
“Your words go too far!”
“Is it not imperial custom for the Empress to oversee such important banquets?”
“Or do you assume Her Majesty is incapable of handling them?”
Earls and marquises from the Noble faction hardened their expressions and rebuked sharply.
In truth, the Emperor-aligned nobles had tried to block the Empress for political reasons, not because they doubted the validity of her claim—and so they now had no further retort.
Pushing harder would lack justification, as the Empress hadn’t yet caused any mishap.
“I believe Her Majesty the Empress possesses the rightful authority to organize this event.”
“I share the same view.”
“Since childhood, the Empress has been raised as the noble lady of a ducal house and has learned much. She simply lacked the opportunity to demonstrate her capabilities.”
Justification was an immensely powerful thing.
Those who held justification could speak boldly.
“I approve the Empress’s oversight of the banquet.”
After a long silence, the Emperor finally surrendered.
A change was stirring within the Imperial Palace of the Nix Empire.
[This is the timeline separator]“What? Approval? Ap-pro-val?”
Ha!
Back in the Empress’s Palace, I distorted my perfectly painted smile into a cold, bitter laugh.
I recalled a shepherd boy who once swore he’d buy potatoes and eggs from the market to cook something delicious for me.
Right after that came his simple, remorseful face when he’d burned the meal—apologizing sorrowfully because he didn’t know how to cook.
Over these cherished memories—the very ones I once loved so deeply I couldn’t bear to part with them—was now superimposed the arrogant face of ‘Emperor Enrique,’ smugly declaring he’d grant approval for me to host the banquet.
“Can a person really change so drastically? His acting is impressive. At this rate, maybe I’m the fool for being deceived.”
Chewing my lower lip, I tried to erase the lingering traces of Enrique still within me.
The one who used to smile brightly at me. The one who’d narrow his eyes happily when I tousled his hair. The one who’d blush shyly when we kissed.
My shepherd boy, who always smelled of fresh-cut grass, wind, and the sweet scent of goat’s milk—was gone.
Truly gone.
“Your Majesty, honeyed water.”
Derek bowed his large frame and offered me a mug. His single sentence, laden with concern, soothed my heart.
“What happened in the conference room?”
Knights bearing swords were not permitted inside the conference room—so Derek couldn’t know.
But I didn’t wish to recount everything that had transpired there.
“I just felt like an intruder—like the villainess obstructing their fated love.”
“That is not so. How can you say such things?”
“It’s the truth. The Emperor couldn’t even bear to look at my face.”
A mocking laugh slipped out.
Indeed, throughout the entire meeting, Enrique never once looked directly at me.
Whenever he seemed to be meeting my eyes, his gaze always veered toward my nose or ears instead—and then he brazenly held hands with the Saintess seated to his left.
How infuriating that was.
From my perspective, this had been my first proper meeting with Enrique in a very long time.
Yet from the very beginning, he presented himself with disheveled attire, and his behavior throughout the meeting had been utterly excessive.
During the meeting, Enrique stroked Helene’s hand precisely five times. The last time, Helene interlaced her fingers with his.
To any observer, they were clearly engaged in a legendary romance.
“Um, Your Majesty. Duke Achilo has arrived.”
“He would. Escort him to the reception room and serve him tea with calming effects.”
After giving this brief instruction to Mrs. Bertolt, I removed all the jewelry I’d worn merely as pretense for attending the imperial council.
With my body lighter, I could finally breathe.
Staring into my own eyes in the mirror, the number ‘200’ surfaced in my mind.
Two hundred days of life.
That was all I had left now.
“I wonder… did that child return safely to his homeland?”
To quell anger, it was best to shift entirely to unrelated thoughts.
As I recalled the nameless boy and fiddled with the bracelet he’d left behind, I suddenly froze.
“Wait a moment. Why did the Desert Empire request this summit in the first place?”
Since they made the request, they would come here.
Had Nix initiated it, I’d be traveling to the desert with Enrique right now.
It was no simple matter for the emperors and empresses of two great powers to meet—especially since the descendants of the Sun God rarely left the desert.
Then what possible reason could the Great Desert Emperor have for taking such a momentous step?
“Father.”
“Your Majesty the Empress.”
At this moment, only one person could answer that question: Duke Achilo.
Duke Achilo’s resemblance to the Empress was unmistakable, even from behind.
A middle-aged man with rich blond hair and a stylish mustache; his figure remained lean and impressive, clearly from regular exercise.
Above all, he exuded an overwhelming aura of dominance—much like the lion, his house’s emblem.
“Do you have a way for us to prevail?”
I appreciated his directness—no beating around the bush. I nodded and took a seat. Just as I was about to begin speaking—
“I apologize for interrupting, but the Saintess has requested an audience.”
An uninvited guest had appeared.
Male lead first thought she played hard to get, only to realize she
really disliked him
Short intro:
What she can’t stand the most is the streets full of effeminate men, especially that so-called top beauty whom she avoids at all costs.
Shen Yaoxing looks at Jiang Mingyue, who keeps approaching her with coy shyness.
Shen Yaoxing: Bro, don’t be like this, I’m really about to throw up!
She fears nothing in heaven or earth, except for him getting close to her.
*
At first he thought she was just using the trick of feigning indifference to attract his attention. Later, he learned that she truly despised him.
This dealt a heavy blow to Jiang Mingyue, and he vowed to make her, like everyone else, fall at his feet in worship!
***
Synopsis:
Before transmigrating, Shen Yaoxing only wanted to find a reliable man to spend her life with. Who knew that after transmigrating, she would become a reliable woman herself…
A forced misandrist, highly skilled, and reliable female lead
vs.
An initially aloof and arrogant, later morbid, obsessed male lead
_____
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Leonarda really said “I’m done” and meant it 💀 queen finally clocked in and chose violence. Enrique only interested now?? too late bro.
Meriem down BAD already and bro hasn’t even met her again 😭 meanwhile Leonarda fighting the whole empire solo… yeah this banquet bout to be chaos fr.
She really said “fix yourselves or I will” 😭🔥 empress about to run bootcamp fr, Valkyrie redemption arc loading…