How to divorce the male lead- chapter 30

With a mischievous glint in his golden eyes, he spoke, "Are you surprised by such a meager reward, Duchess?"

Responding to the Emperor's seasoned banter, Yuliana shot back as if she was never caught off guard, "If one can snatch even a single thing from Your Majesty, isn't that remarkable enough?"

Lucian grinned as he looked at the fragile Duchess, who seemed like she might collapse any moment from the cold sweat dripping down her forehead.

The Duchess was quite an amusing woman. The same woman who openly ignored her husband was now suggesting audacious methods to entertain herself with the Emperor, all in an attempt to save her husband.

Lucian spoke with narrowed eyes, "Fairy tales always have a happy ending. When two people who have cast aside their status and nobility finally come to a fight, the victor rewards the loser."

"And that victor would naturally be Your Majesty?" Yuliana quipped.

"Isn't that the ending everyone here knows?" Lucian chuckled, shrugging. Eirena, who was still wiping her hands, noticed their exchange. At the same time, she glanced at both of them before suddenly lowering her gaze with a hint of loneliness.

Even in the same place, they couldn't engage in conversation. The "Blue Rose" given to him, supposedly for me, was just an excuse. Knowing full well the Emperor's mischievous intentions to openly test the rising nobles, and even though she was being used as a pawn in the Emperor's game, she couldn't bring herself to intervene.

On the first night, the Emperor had chuckled at how fragile and delicate his bride was.

It must have been out of pity. "I like you, but you won't like me. I'm sorry. Kind and courteous as you are, I'm sorry for saying that."

"Empress Mama."

"Yes, yes?"

Startled by Yuliana's voice, Eirena, who had been trapped in her inferiority complex from the past, lifted her head.

Her hands, already washed clean, were being held by Lucian, who was looking at Eirena instead of Yuliana.

Golden eyes that she had always thought sparkled like a mischievous fairy were now piercing Eirena. She looked at Lucian before looking at Yuliana. Her heart raced. For the first time, he was showing interest in her. Why, though?

"P-please speak."

"As I mentioned earlier, Empress Mama, I've heard you're very skilled in horseback riding."

"W-well, compared to ladies of the capital—"

Eirena blurted out her innermost thoughts before quickly sealing her lips shut.

She had foolishly spoken of her hidden inferiority complex. Her face flushed red, and without taking her eyes off the blushing Empress, Lucian flashed a smile.

Eirena realized his interest and snapped back to attention. Even if it was fleeting, she felt a sense of bravery in her heart.

So, she changed her response.

"Y-yes. It's a specialty... "

And as if waiting for that response, Yuliana smiled coyly and spoke again.

"Our ancestors never neglected equestrianism as a virtue. Just like men, women also competed with each other in equestrian and spear skills."

What was that supposed to mean?

As Eirena blinked with an expression of not understanding, Yuliana finally got to the point.

"Since Empress Mama has come here like this, how happy would it be if you could encourage me to learn equestrianism? It would be fitting for today's entertainment, which continues the culture of our ancestors."

"Yes, yes...?" 

Eirena's innocent brown eyes were clouded with fear.

She had learned that she must abandon the customs of the rural countryside when in the capital.

She had to appear as a woman of the capital and pretend to be proficient in things she had never learned as the Emperor's wife.

But for a year, she had not shown any presence as Empress.

To be precise, she had not. It was because she guessed that the Emperor wouldn't want her to.

"I-I..."

"Empress, do you want to?"

However, Lucian unexpectedly smiled gently. And as if testing, he held Eirena's small hand in his.

It was the first time.

"Are you saying it's okay for me to do what I'm good at?"

It had been days of merely lying down flat, breathing and loving the Emperor silently, mouth shut.

Whatever she excelled at and enjoyed, Lucian von Ariakne didn't seem to need it, sighed Eirena, feeling troubled.

But maybe that wasn't true.

Emperor Lucian von Ariakne was a cruel ruler who enjoyed testing others. As someone trying to win the love of a ruler, Eirena's heart pounded for the first time.

Eirena shouted out as if vomiting, "I-I want to!"

Lucian, with an intrigued look in his eyes, addressed his wife, the Duchess, "Hmm. Since I've piqued the Empress's interest in equestrianism, how shall we proceed? Duchess, are you willing to take responsibility as her opponent?"

"T-the Duchess, me, as your opponent...?"

Eirena looked at the pale Duchess standing before her, visibly trembling.

Equestrianism wasn't something you could excel at after just one or two tries. And there were plenty who broke their necks riding untrained horses.

Even with a face clearly displaying her frailty, Yuliana smiled.

"Though it's a pity to spoil the gentlemen's competition, still, wouldn't it be enjoyable to offer a rose that you've personally won to your husband?"

Profit—

Yuliana whistled. And then, thud—, in response to the familiar whistle, a horse neighed and stomped its foot.

Startled, Eirena looked at the Emperor. Lucian gently stroked the cheek with a slight bruise and nodded.

"I heard the Duchess put quite an effort into bringing the horse the Empress usually rides. It's a gift just arrived yesterday, and I wanted to present it to the Empress today as a gift."

"I-I'm so happy!"

Eirena's flushed cheeks showed her excitement. And then, even if a few of her hair adornments fell off, she didn't care as she dashed out of the tent, embracing the beautiful brown-furred horse's neck.

"Kendal!"

Hee-hee—.

The horse affectionately snorted, as if rejoicing at seeing a long-lost friend. Eirena held onto the horse's neck tightly, not letting go even as her makeup smudged and her clothes became disheveled.

While the two friends were reuniting, Yuliana observed the Emperor, who was not seated in his authoritative position but was instead wiping sweat and catching his breath.

Seeing this, Lucian erased his kind smile and adopted a haughty attitude, crossing his legs as he spoke, "The Empress's homeland is very far north. If you hadn't kindly mentioned in your letter the numerous instances of using teleportation to transport a single horse from there, I would have been clueless."

"I presumed that the Empress Mama's joy is the Emperor's joy, and I thought my efforts would be recognized."

"...Considering that the Empress is finally happy, I won't be upset even if I lose the bet."

"Your Majesty."

Yuliana slightly bowed her head.

'He talks a lot about being the supporting male lead. How dare he, who seems to care so tenderly for the Empress, dare to flirt with the supporting female lead? It's still early since the female lead hasn't appeared yet—.'

She muttered inwardly, trying not to show her frustration, then calmly continued speaking, "Empress Mama has the rightful privilege of being the idol of the nobles. It's an honor for me to set the stage for that."

That's when it happened.

"I have a question."

"Yes?"

For some reason, Yuliana deliberately blinked her eyes, as if expecting the Emperor to struggle to answer, thinking it would be easier to seem innocent.

However, unlike Yuliana's cunning, the Emperor showed no particular reaction. Instead, his once fairy-like golden eyes turned cold, and his cheeks were filled with mischief.

He brought up the topic, "I don't understand why the Duchess suddenly changed her attitude after enthusiastically cheering on her husband's departure. Before Duke Evan Hillcen goes further here and stirs up more trouble with the Duchess, wouldn't it be better for him to run away before igniting a century-long grudge with her?"

What did he mean by that?

Yuliana took a deep breath inwardly and calmly responded, trying not to lose her composure.

"Evan Marquis and Hillcen Duke have been betrothed for a long time. I thought it would be satisfying for the two strong families to unite even in the royal family."

"That's the Duchess's opinion."

As Yuliana abandoned her pretense of innocence and spoke cunningly, Lucian immediately responded.

A passionate stare-down ensued between them, sparks flying in the air.

Yuliana was the first to avert her gaze. Ignoring the conversation between the Empress and her consort, she stepped back.

"Then, instead of the Empress and the consort's fencing competition, I will withdraw and let the Empress Mama and me determine the winner with our horsemanship."

"Who do you think will win?"

'Who do you think? The baby Empress who supposedly rode up and down the northern mountains before even learning to walk!'

Suppressing her impending smirk, Yuliana smiled sweetly.

"Don't you also hope to win the Blue Rose? Just wait this time. Your Majesty's Empress will personally present the Blue Rose."

"The Marquis will also wait with anticipation."

Despite the Emperor's sly response, Yuliana merely nodded inwardly and gracefully walked out of the tent.

Having used teleportation magic numerous times, she felt drained as if she had been running up and down the northern mountains. 

Seeing her horse eating heartily, she sighed deeply.

"…Well, well. Eat well. Make sure your mistress doesn't become a villain and things go smoothly with the supporting male lead."

Entangled with a ridiculous Emperor, the baby Empress was truly adorable.

She waved her hand to her friend, whose face shone brighter than the sun, full of joy and abandon.