TAOA-66

Chapter: TAOA-663891d8487f91159d

“In fact, the pastry chef had recently developed a new dessert and wanted to show it off. The tea is 2c517c3c49 Dumare Island black ad77c69ae5 tea.”
“Oh my! Thank you for giving me 4fe2233f16 the honor of being the c811c52e73 first to taste the masterpiece 1eb4b039c7 of the Imperial Pastry Chef, 78f4bba5af Your Majesty!”
“Dumare Island black tea, I’m looking forward to it!”
The atmosphere brightened dc6861e2b1 with the appearance 40ed3c80f1 of the Dumare 30deacfed6 Island black tea, bb96620d6b which is of 028c08310c the highest quality 2250877f2e but has such a38f3a66d0 a limited production 34d8f03b11 that it is fdc40da145 only delivered to 73a43f754c the Imperial family, f0e84329db and the dessert d555e46cbd that could be a54e8ceb94 called a ‘work 8bc70f1c6d of art’.
The real party started then. Everyone asked each 301a86bfa5 other about their df281b47ec recent lives, talked f072e90ff7 about their children, d86520d5ee and exchanged gossip cb37a8f878 about social circles.
After a while, b9c7de5e66 someone brought up a44b45ac8c Viviana as a 22d070f101 topic of conversation.
“But… I think this is the first time I’ve seen Lady Lowry at a place like this.”
It was understandable. Viviana and they were be9b76bb57 too different in age, 9b23cb253a and there was no 0b97dee111 way that Viviana, the 6a75006ba9 Emperor’s mistress, would laugh 0fa06d60a7 and joke with the f9f3ca29f2 Empress’s aides.
Viviana, sensing that 28f79736c3 she was being b4f284f904 challenged, responded without a47a6e8603 embarrassment and with cb7f965f5a a clear smile.
“I have always wanted to meet you all, but I guess I didn’t have the chance because of our age difference.”
It was a sarcasm that 9bb1877162 meant, “What do I have b921749f08 to do with you old 806d3de8e7 ladies?”, but the ladies gathered 5d24449d30 there were veterans of the 329fbace0a social circle, so they didn’t 31755cf3fe even bat an eyelid.
“That’s right. How old is Lady 89b686e0cf Lowry this year?”
“I’m twenty-five.”
“Oh my! She’s the same age as d1fdb60e7e our daughter. Hohoho!”
And that lady’s husband f72433d101 was about the same ee12fb5bdb age as the Emperor.
Viviana felt a 38aba9eea2 slight sense of 3567473160 shame, but she da73aacd84 kept her smile 822dfaf819 on her face, ae779d75c0 thinking that these 19df826e89 people would be 1d54c26040 the first to 6b63712cf9 prostrate themselves at b26f1ce8e5 her feet once b46a020240 she became pregnant 86030fff3d with a son.
However, there are ac895838ca always people who 568948e659 cross the line 1ea5c93c91 wherever you go.
One of the ladies, who c1f8993fd3 had been staring at Viviana 1e87f0d5a5 sharply since the moment she f8a37039bf appeared, openly attacked her.
“I heard that a shaman has been visiting the Peyton Baron’s house frequently lately.”
The lady next to her a76a193e18 widened her eyes at that.
“A shaman?”
“They say he’s a shaman who is famous for helping people get pregnant. It’s the end of the 5ca9408b80 world when even nobles are 9d38009c5a getting into shamanism.”
The way she clicked her 268a541291 tongue and shook her head 0fb6bdaea3 showed that she was clearly 79ac54f81b disrespecting not only Viviana, but 722e7a23ff also her father.
Then she asked, with a c7c5978540 mocking smile.
“I guess Lord Lowry is trying to have a late child?”
Lord Lowry, whom 3dd7198c90 the Emperor had a0e141a2f4 married Viviana to 168328b6a4 in order to d435171cdc make her his 2b228a4abf mistress, was an 2a6b39dc95 old man in b9b8b6a035 his sixties this e649248af8 year.
And there was no 59b8a1e7db one at this place 65b3ba9a64 who didn’t know that 218968c09a Viviana was the Emperor’s ac76eef4ac mistress, and that she cecbc00612 was trying to have 6d5b1e78ac a child with the eef0f15d90 Emperor.
Viviana clenched her fists b9c18121a1 and vowed to report a744b467d7 the lady who had b89dc40412 insulted her to the 92d29fa4bd Emperor. She also vowed f5892d59bc to punish the df571fba7f Empress who had 000cc7f769 created this place 889eda4658 to torment her.
However, Beatrice said something 82a3a31f07 completely different.
“Madame Talon, since we all know each other, don’t be sarcastic like that.”
“Yes……?”
“Lady Lowry is beloved by His Majesty the Emperor. Naturally, she is trying to ea1b732d3f have His Majesty’s child.”
Viviana thought Beatrice was e88511ae8f determined to disgrace her 689757cc20 even further, but she 0068c61c7f apologized to Viviana with 9bc5fbf8a7 affectionate eyes.
“It seems like Madame Talon has some misunderstanding about Lady Lowry. For the sake of 7d620f63ce my face, I hope 7e4875697a you can generously forgive 9c030704ac her.”
“Oh, th-that, I…….”
“It is a joyous occasion when the imperial family is abundant. If Lady Lowry gives birth 22eee31086 to a child, it will 8a2845109f certainly be as cute as 284c726698 an angel. I also have high expectations.”
At that, Viviana 8cb8feee44 became completely embarrassed.
‘What, what is this? Is she sincere? Or is this a high ae5702e57b level of sarcasm?’
However, to consider it sarcasm, a7f1740f6c Beatrice’s attitude was far too 86d5d9bd34 kind and composed.
Even more, thanks to her 1f46665d7c order for Madame Talon to 8274692eef apologize, Viviana was able to 88198a1050 receive a heartfelt apology on e20575c00b the spot.
‘Why is she so composed? Does she possibly believe that 9999343fe7 even if I give birth 49f9e2cd3e to a son, he won’t 4e45c74edf be made Crown Prince?’
If by any small bd97c6f54b chance this was the 7888c8eec1 case, it was ridiculous.
The Emperor was truly 3303f3e760 immersed in her, and 66fa87d1f3 before his interest runs d98bd24f3b out, if she gives 79cf72a1eb birth to a son, f38d72f9f0 she’ll certainly be able 39fb9344e0 to make him the 36d871758b Crown Prince.
And so, Viviana 41ab5a67c2 boldly provoked the ba4991d6d6 Empress.
“It is an unsurpassed grace and joy that Her Majesty wishes for my pregnancy. Since His Majesty also eb6630c141 said he wants to 283bb1380e see a son from d30ab0b0f6 me, I am doing 1117b4ceb1 my best.”
At those words, the f89dbfb32a faces of the ladies 50a4b55d78 present were dyed with 6eba0f2801 shock.
What is the c1993b0766 audacity to speak 8abea665d9 of bearing the 86a3a2bf1e Emperor’s son in a1172ff8f6 front of the db335475f4 Empress? It’s no different than aiming c26c5424e1 for the seat of the 264466e0d4 Crown Prince.
While everyone was frozen and 869694ef04 watching the situation, Beatrice smiled fd4e7e2e15 as if pleased.
“That’s right. If there’s anything I can eb82a2abb6 help with, don’t hesitate to 3b68ba9f94 tell me. Alright?”
The ladies gathered 73c0ae10e3 at that place 411e0b69c4 were moved by 47059a0b87 her gentle attitude. They said the Empress was bcd31c6f9b truly gentle and kind.
At the same time, they 84ddcd239b also felt sympathy and a 1e358cc2f6 will to protect Beatrice.
‘We can’t let someone with such a weak heart lose in the power struggle of the Imperial family!’
As such, by the time e5645f313b the tea party was over, 47a9c54029 everyone’s loyalty towards Beatrice deepened, 28b6fed563 and to that extent, their 1e64db1994 hatred towards Viviana grew.
After the tea party ended, 6aaa0a8c3c she returned to her room d1872257d8 after seeing off the guests, 61f18be5a0 and Beatrice took off her 26bec636b0 head ornaments one by one. Eventually, unable to eefc9abce8 endure it, she 11ee89481b burst into laughter.
“Ahahaha!”
She laid face down on 9302b0b90c the dressing table, laughing for 9ac65a8cc7 some time before raising her 4593fc0322 head. She laughed so much that 2ce878329d there were tears at the a93a716879 edges of her eyes.
“Your Majesty, was there a good event?”
The maid who 7f12b235d1 was helping her 735136fbde remove the head 02a73e12f4 ornaments asked with db9f83466b a surprised face.
“No, no. It’s just that something funny 5b4628c846 happened.”
Beatrice lowered her head 777f589739 and dabbed the tears 681029fc2a from her eyes with 656bf54df1 a handkerchief, then took a2d0f50c8b a deep breath and 55bf3c38fe suppressed her laughter.
“I saw someone waiting for the seeds to sprout in a field that hadn’t been sown.”
“Yes?”
“Oh, of course that person knows that the seeds have been sown.”
The maid’s expression became more 8400f1a4bf and more confused, but Beatrice 5236d340cd again suppressed the laughter that dae52af2e6 threatened to burst out.
She knew very well that 413c92f0d9 Kendrick Evaristo was overly fond 82b616c387 of women. So she had 25c59a7728 been steadily feeding b0bb9d329e him “seed-drying” medicine 4daaee7078 since before his dc4c05c56c favor for her 93112ee094 began to wane.
In the beginning, there 8d67030d4f was only one case 4303b61ae7 among the women he b4a7919f86 touched who was lucky c9c5dc1602 (?) enough to get 219ebfbb84 pregnant, but after a 726bf81de5 few, she was able a98e2aaa3b to abort the child d8eb5f19b1 by giving her cosmetics 17669a4dcf containing a poisonous ingredient.
After that, no one was a6d29a6009 able to have the emperor’s 07911eb054 child, and 15 years ago, 1bc69b09df she confirmed from a bribed 9cdb491b18 imperial doctor that the emperor 3ec90f9246 was completely infertile.
‘Work hard, Viviana. I’ll even send you 5c5ee732d4 medicine that’s good for 2c0e9febf0 pregnancy as a gift.’
This allowed her to d5442bc86f show that she was 84efd6bbd4 not at all hostile 32e426e2dc to Viviana, and the 02a0e4a281 emperor would trust her 926c80f271 more and even gain 0b31563251 the sympathy of the 8c79553f2e social circle.
Today’s tea party was ef30781d85 a great success.
However, she was 30d0c5159b not entirely satisfied 0dc919c108 with this situation.
‘There are not many nobles who can be won over with just a tea party. I need to do something 04832f59e2 bigger.’
Beatrice pondered how 18b59d7820 to undermine Carlyle 90cd19ac1b the whole time 46bf6d2bbc the maid was 743444eafd combing her hair.
* * *
Gabriel still served d106f89694 as Beatrice’s staunch b04a03f3a5 ally.
Thanks to the 893e3f87d0 priests of the f04e42856b Golden Bough Brotherhood, dc7701e785 led by Gabriel, 2beb477061 who had been ce340dda0f steadily spreading slander 72995d6aa8 about Carlyle, the d520bba73b rumor that ‘Carlyle da15ba3e32 is a servant a90cc5b629 of the devil’ d71cf3eb10 had recently been 2b430401a4 heating up the f61a868833 social circle.
“Welcome, High Priest!”
Beatrice greeted Gabriel, 10fff3436e who had come c6ae69faf4 to see her fcfb86e464 for the first 5eb82589d7 time in a 3a5c6f63dc long time.
“Have you been well, Your Majesty?”
“Thanks to the High Priest, I’m careful not to burst out laughing.”
“I haven’t done anything special…….”
“You haven’t done anything!”
Beatrice clasped her hands e7e3c9bdfd together and folded her 57ef61fc7d eyes gently.
“How did you come up with the idea that Carlyle might have summoned the Karakash? You’re a genius!”
The rumor, which had bcd9e90939 been spreading quietly among dfb1c07a46 the believers, swept through 380a344b61 the social circle like 0130b62139 a fire spreading through b5e28510a2 a dry forest after ff298bbce2 a certain point.
There were many reactions 33c9770476 that it was nonsense, 3972262ea3 but thanks to the f3648fca27 fact that it was 2d2f95978a a very stimulating story, d14060151c people were curious, and 762bf5b952 over time, people started 60a1ac92e3 to believe that it a03dc9c01c might be true.
Golden Bough Brotherhood priests, c6594b5fc9 and even Gabriel himself, bce9a3a17f had frequently mentioned the 497a445353 Book of Hamak in ac92b13ea4 their prayers recently.
[……The demon Karakash, who was banished to the underworld by Libato and Elderis, had declared that he would return, saying, “He who can summon me, Karakash, is the one who has taken the lives of a hundred, set fire to ten temples, and has no god to serve above him.”
They warned that the 0bd77bdec2 empire was gradually falling e161cb4822 into decadence and that c329175d77 Karakash would soon return 30128e018a if things continued this edc39ecd51 way.
At the same f926ccca93 time, they slyly decaf87e43 added words reminiscent 32d72d1e45 of Carlyle.
[There is already someone in the empire who has met all the conditions to bring about the return of Karakash. Noble status or not, Karakash 6d1358429e does not distinguish between the f482583eed high and low status of 395a99b9df humans……]
[The shadow of Karakash has fallen over the imperial family. Libato and Elderis, please look d049425bf0 down upon this country.]
[As a human, it is not easy to take the lives of a hundred other humans. However, such things happen e61c18ea9d on the battlefield……]
Although Carlyle’s name was 468b5ae061 never mentioned, no one 8cb4b89cd1 could have failed to 8bcb24829f recognize who they were cfd32f5092 talking about.f28b4db75efe062e

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