TAOA-66

Chapter: TAOA-665c1f227455c10fa9

“In fact, the pastry chef had recently developed a new dessert and wanted to show it off. The tea is 31a73cc7e8 Dumare Island black 8e47c2cf7a tea.”
“Oh my! Thank you for 83a70c5d60 giving me the 3ff3c572d5 honor of being 781567293b the first to fdd06cf8c8 taste the masterpiece db0b60ab09 of the Imperial 715ebc02f4 Pastry Chef, Your c363ed182b Majesty!”
“Dumare Island black tea, I’m looking forward to it!”
The atmosphere brightened df7a4a8953 with the appearance 65c17d04d1 of the Dumare 42fe923cf6 Island black tea, 1fcc17625f which is of 1d5148def5 the highest quality 9d9846a036 but has such 2ccbcda50e a limited production ec8322b283 that it is 910f63116b only delivered to f0f17934dd the Imperial family, 7edb71c55d and the dessert 222be2bef8 that could be 3bf105d006 called a ‘work 7d9e317948 of art’.
The real party started then. Everyone asked each other about a0cd86c9ba their recent lives, talked about 06e1f5ba92 their children, and exchanged gossip 65acaf2404 about social circles.
After a while, someone brought c5f4530824 up Viviana as a topic b27f57c252 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 too 2f06e3ece0 different in age, and there 4653552430 was no way that Viviana, 2d70a889fe the Emperor’s mistress, would laugh b1b79b356a and joke with the Empress’s 12cb42c0b9 aides.
Viviana, sensing that she 9a04fd6706 was being challenged, responded e1cbb0ce11 without embarrassment and with 2cf532ce0a 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 e3c86fe6ef that meant, “What do ba37812bfc I have to do f5ff472514 with you old ladies?”, dcb6450593 but the ladies gathered 92bcc5c570 there were veterans of 626e942ef5 the social circle, so fb036fe7d8 they didn’t even bat 9c4724b715 an eyelid.
“That’s right. How old is Lady Lowry 13b5c4f2ff this year?”
“I’m twenty-five.”
“Oh my! She’s the same 57b739d9a9 age as our 343e5cc260 daughter. Hohoho!”
And that lady’s 7c145a7b07 husband was about 43135296da the same age c7cf0025e6 as the Emperor.
Viviana felt a 7b2eb0553a slight sense of 288df6c929 shame, but she 48b46e56f9 kept her smile 86e591c8cc on her face, e8e1164c4f thinking that these 34f612e29e people would be 9d2572de18 the first to d4c9afebda prostrate themselves at f56949c5ed her feet once 28307244a7 she became pregnant 1d0088e6c1 with a son.
However, there are always people fe7a53cce1 who cross the line wherever b0a4974a9a you go.
One of the ladies, who b95488c3d8 had been staring at Viviana c04bfd17c0 sharply since the moment she 76604ae57d appeared, openly attacked her.
“I heard that a shaman has been visiting the Peyton Baron’s house frequently lately.”
The lady next 4c22024fca to her widened db0fde1624 her eyes at 225da7d5cd that.
“A shaman?”
“They say he’s a shaman who is famous for helping people get pregnant. It’s the end of the 8d12a9fda4 world when even nobles are 35755e6055 getting into shamanism.”
The way she clicked her 596e1fcdd0 tongue and shook her head 1ca04512e6 showed that she was clearly 5490dad1ff disrespecting not only Viviana, but ba98da7a55 also her father.
Then she asked, d3817012f8 with a mocking 137576ea15 smile.
“I guess Lord Lowry is trying to have a late child?”
Lord Lowry, whom ec71ef27d8 the Emperor had 04cf2bc60b married Viviana to 2002ec59ed in order to 92f32df017 make her his 8ce68b3ab1 mistress, was an 9bfecbc590 old man in dae8bc22a8 his sixties this c8eafe3f50 year.
And there was no 4ef509b9ac one at this place 12417587b0 who didn’t know that 2fe415b15c Viviana was the Emperor’s c77b141292 mistress, and that she 373951beaf was trying to have 2d9e233fbb a child with the f4015b012c Emperor.
Viviana clenched her fists and c2ba666fea vowed to report the lady 8c10713775 who had insulted her to 66fb893750 the Emperor. She also vowed to punish bbcd548273 the Empress who had created b94c51036c this place to torment her.
However, Beatrice said something f3db83bbe3 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 86ba0fe144 to have His Majesty’s 990670ad89 child.”
Viviana thought Beatrice was f1ae02a4d6 determined to disgrace her 662dbb3372 even further, but she 95fc95e2ff apologized to Viviana with bf8f917848 affectionate eyes.
“It seems like Madame Talon has some misunderstanding about Lady Lowry. For the sake of a4059bbe7d my face, I hope 955aa529c6 you can generously forgive 1deae4c504 her.”
“Oh, th-that, I…….”
“It is a joyous occasion when the imperial family is abundant. If Lady Lowry gives birth bb9c2755f7 to a child, it will f5e9810178 certainly be as cute as 82b59defbd an angel. I also have high expectations.”
At that, Viviana 14e39ec455 became completely embarrassed.
‘What, what is this? Is she sincere? Or is this a high 123d520ab0 level of sarcasm?’
However, to consider it 9d0e5fef74 sarcasm, Beatrice’s attitude was 9791493a03 far too kind and c8d0c8ad1b composed.
Even more, thanks to 2f56f7fcb0 her order for Madame 68f048446a Talon to apologize, Viviana 9bf19fd199 was able to receive 480cfda4be a heartfelt apology on 3915b2c2b4 the spot.
‘Why is she so composed? Does she possibly b378e86f60 believe that even b0d57dccee if I give b09af294dd birth to a bf3d64f4dd son, he won’t 7782b24693 be made Crown 7a21b7830e Prince?’
If by any small bb94a190cd chance this was the 2a1bed06dc case, it was ridiculous.
The Emperor was truly 8bce0e2638 immersed in her, and 40bd52e55b before his interest runs f6804db57e out, if she gives 32128f3f74 birth to a son, d6bf4b5fe3 she’ll certainly be able 88a0994a25 to make him the b568804a74 Crown Prince.
And so, Viviana boldly provoked 4105d44839 the Empress.
“It is an unsurpassed grace and joy that Her Majesty wishes for my pregnancy. Since His Majesty also fc8c02e98d said he wants to b51572cc9e see a son from 66d2b7c047 me, I am doing fc4514e3bd my best.”
At those words, the faces 32e86980b2 of the ladies present were 978179e597 dyed with shock.
What is the audacity to 11bc14b7a3 speak of bearing the Emperor’s 8eff576ed0 son in front of the ed8cf899ba Empress? It’s no different than aiming 69454fb5fb for the seat of the 031bb31ff7 Crown Prince.
While everyone was a3d5f7090e frozen and watching 2619c851ad the situation, Beatrice 9385f5bcc7 smiled as if f67c26af1d pleased.
“That’s right. If there’s anything dde76cfcb3 I can help 14a2a67803 with, don’t hesitate 3526b558f5 to tell me. Alright?”
The ladies gathered at 7af2bbdbef that place were moved 41699dce85 by her gentle attitude. They said the Empress 102814a9a2 was truly gentle and a9231d3afe kind.
At the same time, 094621fae3 they also felt sympathy 8afa487fb6 and a will to 555621466b 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 971b5ad5a9 the tea party was over, ab94e9f618 everyone’s loyalty towards Beatrice deepened, 824a5cf1a5 and to that extent, their 159cb24eb4 hatred towards Viviana grew.
After the tea b5957c29d0 party ended, she a34812e3eb returned to her 16de4414b2 room after seeing 09a8ccd2c1 off the guests, 2f67111a8e and Beatrice took 97be552e70 off her head f95cc214a2 ornaments one by a692dfff22 one. Eventually, unable to 05fd561c45 endure it, she 01d9c8ae52 burst into laughter.
“Ahahaha!”
She laid face down d9becd8ffb on the dressing table, 64588fbe62 laughing for some time c00e8b7dac before raising her head. She laughed so much that 5e525c5306 there were tears at the d1f78921f1 edges of her eyes.
“Your Majesty, was there a good event?”
The maid who c457e52c6c was helping her 0acf4a4beb remove the head 4f4e6c2b9d ornaments asked with d044327898 a surprised face.
“No, no. It’s just that something funny dcc4d663a4 happened.”
Beatrice lowered her head and 99b3bee7a5 dabbed the tears from her ac35092f8f eyes with a handkerchief, then 59432c1ebc took a deep breath and 5994c8a48d 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 e681e76917 became more and 4e85e11695 more confused, but 911617f6a6 Beatrice again suppressed 742bb970db the laughter that 5fc1d1907b threatened to burst aeedea8511 out.
She knew very 83cc801829 well that Kendrick fcaa5d67d6 Evaristo was overly 83a92cb3cc fond of women. So she had e821f94995 been steadily feeding 87c446d5e3 him “seed-drying” medicine 275c383f89 since before his 66ce06e5c3 favor for her 9077698bfa began to wane.
In the beginning, there 1cf787a71d was only one case 900674a5d7 among the women he c9f62714c6 touched who was lucky d368ced7e5 (?) enough to get a7ab6a155c pregnant, but after a cd1eb6ef6d few, she was able 4a3912f589 to abort the child 62d041f756 by giving her cosmetics ab080b8b13 containing a poisonous ingredient.
After that, no one 9211f3e64c was able to have 6efe37e342 the emperor’s child, and b30b4e5d37 15 years ago, she eab19b8ce3 confirmed from a bribed d55ad8533f imperial doctor that the 64f052b27f emperor was completely infertile.
‘Work hard, Viviana. I’ll even send you medicine 08abc0e55e that’s good for pregnancy as 39b368a588 a gift.’
This allowed her to 0e72ebab3a show that she was e6ce9ec2c7 not at all hostile b4bc8db601 to Viviana, and the 3f13f081c2 emperor would trust her b10da071e5 more and even gain 28f4045390 the sympathy of the bb90bcc5c0 social circle.
Today’s tea party was aadb3dbf66 a great success.
However, she was not a4be708418 entirely satisfied with this cf3e390160 situation.
‘There are not many nobles who can be won over with just a tea party. I need to do something ee25d70da8 bigger.’
Beatrice pondered how bd1b15aa88 to undermine Carlyle 8307abf5c9 the whole time 7240c12476 the maid was 4aef1eaec4 combing her hair.
* * *
Gabriel still served as fde091052e Beatrice’s staunch ally.
Thanks to the d50143e052 priests of the ce6620c874 Golden Bough Brotherhood, c2f54c0fa8 led by Gabriel, b1eca8f2cd who had been a7eda0c124 steadily spreading slander 3239b1dd8c about Carlyle, the 6035647dac rumor that ‘Carlyle 3f2b828867 is a servant 0c12fe84f8 of the devil’ 82fc00803b had recently been 68692cd551 heating up the fd62d965a6 social circle.
“Welcome, High Priest!”
Beatrice greeted Gabriel, who b3d4c4cb8a had come to see 75c3966197 her for the first 554bdab536 time in a long 97584ba055 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 47fc65f0fa hands together and 000003801c folded her eyes 865745664e gently.
“How did you come up with the idea that Carlyle might have summoned the Karakash? You’re a genius!”
The rumor, which had cf106f4f36 been spreading quietly among f058fad7ac the believers, swept through a762add39d the social circle like bec9dc7772 a fire spreading through 302ab98682 a dry forest after 2c0c9794b8 a certain point.
There were many fff7c66342 reactions that it c6321e3c2c was nonsense, but 0d43fbdc5f thanks to the 63d7135964 fact that it 08ed3b67a7 was a very 6eaa52549c stimulating story, people b29990d2db were curious, and c49a9eccc9 over time, people 2e67d47395 started to believe 08abfe20e8 that it might 2684bab50d be true.
Golden Bough Brotherhood priests, and 419e581c02 even Gabriel himself, had frequently d0421459f8 mentioned the Book of Hamak d7e0e2df0e in 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 2ae4f3c31b empire was gradually falling 316d41ad5f into decadence and that 7742036cd1 Karakash would soon return a96443786a if things continued this 5cbb975df7 way.
At the same time, they 45e266bc33 slyly added words reminiscent of 9fa0834798 Carlyle.
[There is already someone in the empire who has met all the conditions to bring about the return of Karakash. Noble status or fd7148fea8 not, Karakash does 0721351a2c not distinguish between 1d3e8c7c79 the high and 47ec731b95 low status of 142133dc0e humans……]
[The shadow of Karakash has fallen over the imperial family. Libato and Elderis, 3176b4bd1e please look down 241a7bec06 upon this country.]
[As a human, it is not easy to take the lives of a hundred other humans. However, such things happen on 3feaa7236e the battlefield……]
Although Carlyle’s name was never 3aa8b8a426 mentioned, no one could have ca3d729495 failed to recognize who they a506713d5f were talking about.eb8046fc73358d08

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com