A man's resolve

After being comforted by John, I went back to my room to rest as he go to the diamond palace to make a report to the empress about the prime minister's arrival here in the emerald palace.

Bringing back dark memories put a much heavier mental toll on me than I thought.

"You are such in a sorry state"

"I am not perfect. I too have my own weaknesses as I am a human"

"How, how were you traumatized? You are a daughter of duke. Although you came from a small country it doesn't change that fact"

"You really think I would tell you after mocking me"

"Yes"

How shameless of him.

"No"

"Hmph"

Xavier pouted and went back to his cat form. A moment later, Monica came in with a letter address to me.

"From baron Olbrecht?"

"Yes my lady. The messenger immediately left which is I wasn't able to gather more information about it"

Any messenger would run for their lives since the empress is on edge right now after I got poisoned so it isn't her fault.

"That is fine"

I opened and red the letter. After the apologetic part from Julius about the incident some time ago, baron Olbrecht said that the rest of the medicinal herbs that I have requested will be delivered as schedule which is a month from now.

I then wrote a reply to Sir Julius so that he won't worry anymore regarding about the incident as it is in the past already.

Knock, knock.

"Come in"

"My lady...."

"John, is something wrong?"

John was avoiding eye contact and was looking depressed for some reason.

"The prince of Chejada has woken up from his coma"

"Okay. I will go to the palace tomorrow. Send someone to relay that message to the empress, after that you can rest"

"Understood"

Originally, the majority of Chejada should have turned to ruins after the first prince of Vanifi won by using tactical orders from the rear.

Although Chejada's soldiers are stronger than the empire's, their ability to grasp the situation and the upper echelons ability to command their soldiers are lacking that one would think everything they have done so far was a waste.

But now, prince Diego was able to deal with Chejada much faster than what happened in the novel because he wanted to go back and see me as soon as possible.

In addition to that, the prince of Chejada, prince Trevor Otto Chejada never had a coma nor did the Chejada kingdom became a vassal state of the empire.

...

At noon of the next day, we went to the diamond palace to visit the war prisoner which is the prince.

"I greet the light of the empire, her majesty the empress"

"Baroness Emond, I am very irritated right now so don't mind the formalities when it is just us"

She's mad because I am being formal to her? Wow~

Bam.

"Baroness!!!"

The door was opened violently and it none other than the first prince, prince Diego. He walk forward as he catch his breath.

"I'm sorry I wasn't able to come to you when you were bedridden"

"It is fine. Her majesty would have punished you if you went to see me"

Oh, shit. My words just now were-

Prince Diego swiftly but gently grabbed both of my hands and interlocked it with his.

"You were worried about me?"

He misunderstood what I just said.

"Yes, I was worried about you. Now that I answered your question, will you please let go of me now?"

"Oh, of course. I am sorry for my rudeness"

He quickly let go of my hands and offered me to sit on the chair nearest to the fireplace.

"I would like to have your permission to meet the prince of Chejada, your majesty"

"So, you are here to seduce another prince yet again?"

"I am not, your majesty. I would like to simply talk to him purely based on business"

"Do you even know how to speak in Kedarain?"

(Note: Kedarain is the language that is use in Chejada)

"Yes. I had a lot of time learning it since there was nothing much for me to do here in the empire"

"Really?"

"Yes. I am somewhat in the intermediate level"

Since the original Dianna already knew how to speak the empire's language and Loate's, I just had to learn how to speak Kedarain over the past several months I was here.

"My answer is no"

I looked down and stared at my fluffy rat.

'Almas did I heard that right?'

-Yes, master. She did indeed rejected your request.

I looked back up.

"May I ask why, your majesty?"

"My future king consort reported that the prince of Chejada has a handsome face. I am afraid of you falling for him instead of my brother"

Hearing her majesty's words, each of us had a different reaction.

Sir Aiden had a flushed expression when he heard the empress say "My future king consort". Meanwhile, prince Diego was happy to see that he has the support of his elder sister. And I... I don't really like what she is doing.

"So you are doing this to support your brother, the first prince your majesty?"

"Yes"

"I do not think that you are respecting him based on your words just now"

Sir Aiden and prince Diego look at me as their happy expressions faded away.

"How so?"

"If a man were to court a lady, it is only proper to do it fairly"

"Are you saying that I, his sister, am not allowed to help him?"

"That is not what I am trying to say. What I mean to say is that, her majesty is obstructing me from meeting someone I have never met just because you think that the prince of Chejada will fall for me. That is the same thing as getting rid of potential rivals which is the same thing as to tarnish prince Diego's pride and resolve as a man"

"His pride and resolve?"

"Yes. As proof of that, you can take a look at him"

The empress, Sir Aiden and John turn towards the prince.

"As you can see, prince Diego went as far as to cut his hair just to court me which is taboo unless that individual was exiled by the ruler"

"...."

Thinking things through, the empress was pondering while the rest of us stayed silent.

"What do you think about this, Diego?"

Her majesty ask the prince with a fierce look.

"After thinking about it, what baroness Emond said is true. Please do not obstruct her movements under the guise of helping me, your majesty"

The empress look back at me and she said with a smile, "Alright, I will allow you to meet with the prince of Chejada"