Please Provide Compensation Through Divorce

Chapter 5

Episode 5.

After Madame Marais, Leto entered.

Dressed in a blue uniform with silver epaulets, he looked unusually cold, strong, and honorable.@@@@

“The Empress is looking even more beautiful today, isn’t she?”

Madame Marais asked Leto softly, like a mother showing off her daughter.

But I’m sorry, Madame Marais.

I don’t think that man cares about my appearance.

Look, he’s just staring at me without a word of compliment.

I laughed and walked over to Leto.

“Are you here to greet me?”

I know. He’s not here to greet me; he’s here to spy. Still, I decided to play nice. I wanted to do better than he expected, even if it meant coming.

He didn’t answer; he just stared at me, his blue eyes wide. After a moment, he spoke.

“That outfit-”

Ah. A luxury I hadn’t seen before. Did he spend the imperial family’s money on it?

“My brothers gave it to me. Every last bit of it.”

He pauses. I swallowed hard and muttered, “I see.

“...I see.”

“It looks like you’re ready to go. Shall we go?”

“Sure.”

Leto held out his arm. I took it lightly, as was customary. We headed to the ballroom together.

Walking formally.

Straightening my waist according to etiquette.

I clasped my skirt according to etiquette.

I greeted each nobleman we passed with a proper bow.

It was a moment where the past week of hard work paid off. Leto whispered to me.

“The Viscountess de marais has been working hard.”

My hard work is not appreciated, but I am not hurt. I’ve been treated like this often enough in my life.

I’m lucky if it doesn’t take away what’s mine.

“Yes. You’ve been very helpful.”

He smirked, his voice perfectly tuned to imperial etiquette.

“You’re better off than livia.”

“Thank you, Your Highness.”

“We’re about to go to the banquet hall; I hope you haven’t forgotten.”

“Quietly and still, you mean?”

“Yes. You’re getting to the point.”

Of course, I do. I’m the desperate one, not you. I’m the one whose life is on the line.

* * *

“The Emperor and Empress are entering!”

The gatekeeper shouted. The music, fragrance, and splendor of the ballroom assaulted my senses. The chandeliers were dazzling.

The banquet was beyond words. It was the imperial family’s biggest event, a grand affair.

We walked across the ballroom. Nobles politely moved out of the way. They weren’t polite enough to stare at me.

We sat side by side at the head table. The nobles nudged me and whispered.

‘The resurrected empress.

‘The Empress came back from the dead, all decked out in all her glory.

All good gossip, I suppose.

It’s not easy being in such a high position, I suppose, requiring such boldness and shamelessness.

The Founding Festival began with a toast from the Emperor. Leto raised his wine glasses.

“Imperials, nobles, and clerics gathered today to welcome the 154th founding of the great Set Empire. Welcome, all of you, and may you continue to be the men and women who will give your lives for the glory of the Empire and the well-being of the people.”

It was a toast that called for sacrifice and pride rather than the sharing of rights and privileges, and the tension in the faces of those who had been so comfortable was palpable.

They all raised their glasses to Leto, but my table was empty of teacups. Ewarton, standing next to me, whispered.

“I apologize, sir. Her Majesty has forbidden the Empress to drink, so I’ve brought an assortment of court teas instead. We have bergamot, Ceylon, Nilgiri, Assam, milk tea, and tea trees, both cold and hot, so please take your pick.”

He blushed at the disdainful gaze. He clenched his fists to keep from itching.

I glanced at ewarton. Ewarton, quick on the uptake, whispered.

“That’s Baron Fahram Sannuel. He’s been missing in action since he developed an unexplained skin disease some time ago. The High Priestess blamed his illness on a curse from the goddess, and from what I hear, he’s moving to a remote island tonight.”

Baron Fahram. I heard about it in Mrs. marais’s class.

When Leto was crown prince, he traveled to the north to exterminate demons. It was a life-threatening journey, and Fahram was a member of his staff and did great work. In recognition of his service, he inherited the title, even though he was the second son.

How could such a public servant be treated so poorly by the High Priest?

The High Priest was drinking leisurely in the distance. As if Fahram’s misfortune had nothing to do with him.

Leto spoke to him as if to say.

“Fahram, come closer.”

Just then, a nobleman called out urgently.

“Your Majesty, you must be careful; he is cursed.”

“Who just said cursed?”

Leto glared at the group of nobles, who fell silent at his outburst.

“Fahram was invited by me. Isn’t it proper to invite a public figure to an important event in the Empire?”

No one spoke up. fahram dropped to one knee in front of Leto.

“Fahram, Your Majesty. I thank you most sincerely for your invitation. Your Majesty.”

Fahram spoke in a dignified tone. He was a straight man at first glance. Leto said to him:.

“Welcome, Fahram. Enjoy the banquet with Euthene.”

“No, I think I will return home now that I have seen the king.”

“What do you mean? You have only just arrived.”

“Huang Songhao, but I have a lot of work to do with the migration. Please allow me.”

Fahram said it eagerly.

Not the migration, but Leto. The more Leto puts himself in the middle, the more he’ll be in trouble.

Leto looked at Fahram with frustration. There was a hint of sadness in his eyes.

“I’ll allow it. But if anything happens in your new home, write to me immediately.”

“I would be honored.”

Fahram came toward me.

“To Your Majesty, Fahram salutes you.”

He dropped respectfully to one knee. I glanced at his hand on his knee. The scales were dead skin.

Flaking, spots, and itching.

“This looks like... ‘psoriasis’.

Psoriasis is a common, albeit unexplained, condition. A simple ointment would do the trick, and yet this was called a ‘curse of the goddess’.

Fahram hid his hands in his sleeves, ashamed of my stare. Leto, sensing something unusual, spoke up.

“Fahram, you should leave. The Empress is not feeling well today.”

No.

“I must tell her that this man’s illness is not a curse, or he will live the rest of his life as a sinner.

There’s only one chance.

In my urgency, I grabbed Fahram’s wrist. Fahram’s eyes widened.

“Oh, my God, the Empress has touched him!”

“This is bad. The curse will spread!”

The crowd gasped in horror. Fahram tried to pull his hand away. I gripped his hand tighter.

“Empress, let go of my hand.”

Leto spoke in a low, gravelly voice. As if to warn me for the first and last time.

It was then that I noticed the teacups on the table. Pots of cold tea tree tea, to be exact.

“That’s it.

Chwaak.

He poured the entire pot of tea and ice into his hand.

Silence fell over the banquet hall. Even the court musicians stopped playing.

Leto grabbed my wrist.

“Empress.”

He said it, his face expressionless.

“Let me see you for a moment.”