Chapter 8. Living up to expectations

Afternoon tea is usually a relaxed affair, but here no one was relaxed. There were quite a lot of people at tea time. It's only natural. This is the palace where the empress lived.

— I've had too many reasons to worry lately.

Julia Ravelia Ashelot looked like someone who was struggling to keep her anger under control. The Crown Princess thought that it had been a long time since she had seen her mother in such a bad mood.

And there was a reason for that.

— What's wrong with me? Even after becoming the empress of the empire, I still have to remain vigilant when some bastards try to take away what is mine.

'...'

The Crown Princess looked at her mother with a detached look.

— Isn't it problematic that there's so much noise around that damn bitch right now? Worse, you never know where the next blow will come from.

The empress broke out into motherfucking words. A fierce glint appeared in her violet eyes, and after waiting for a while for it to disappear, Aveline Nevita Ashelot finally dared to open her mouth.

— Mother, you might feel ill again, so you shouldn't worry.

Although the princess said it with the best of intentions, the empress looked annoyed that her daughter stammered about what she should do.

— It's not for you to say what's best for me.

The empress said in a cold voice. The girl in her twenties across from her silently lowered her gaze. Soon, the empress continued her angry tirade, which was gaining more and more strength.

— Who would have thought that this cursed brat could climb so high? — Julia's voice had always been filled with anger since some time ago, whenever it came to the senior princess of the empire, - Even such lowlifes could sometimes get lucky. But in the end, this whole thing just added to our troubles.

— .....

— Anyway, as long as I'm alive, I'll make sure that bitch can't steal anything from you, — Julia said, setting down her cup of tea. — I won't let her occupy even the edge of your shadow.

Even though these words were said more in the interests of the empress herself than the crown princess, Aveline still thanked her mother for showing her 'care'.

— I will always be grateful to you, Mother, — the princess replied meekly.

— But, of course, it will not depend on me alone. You must not disappoint me either. At least once.

As she said these words, the empress looked at her with undisguised irritation in her gaze, and Aveline felt uneasy. During their entire conversation, she had never once been able to feel at ease, even if it was about her own mother.

— Mother, I will do my best…

— Ha. Isn't that what I hear every time? What is it? How long are you going to feed me empty promises? — The woman snapped back, continuing to speak in a neutral voice. All because there were too many outsiders around them right now. Otherwise, if they were alone, Aveline wouldn't be able to get off so easily.

Julia's stomach boiled again, but she was also an empress who represented the dignity of the royal family. If you get angry and lose your face, everything will go wrong. She calmly opened her mouth.

— Why aren't you accepting the transmission?

'...'

Aveline kept her mouth shut. The surrounding people looked as if they had no idea what was being discussed. The empress spoke in a tone that only the two of them could hear those words.

— I will ask again.

The quiet discontent in her voice grew stronger.

— Why aren't you accepting the transmission?

Only then did the princess raise her head. Unfortunately, she could not give her mother the answer she expected.

— I'm sorry, mum, — was all Aveline said.

— Sorry? — She chuckled coldly, — Do you think your apology will be enough to resolve this situation? After you become the monarch, no one will be able to harm you. No more excuses. No matter what happens, you must take the throne this year.

— ...

The irritated expression on the empress' face was reflected in her empty brown eyes. As always, she was adorned with all sorts of colourful outfits and jewels.

If she was talking to a powerful nobleman or an official of the imperial palace, she would pretend to be a kind and sincere person.

However, Julia had never shown such warmth to her own child. As always, what the empress wanted to say to her was nothing more than demands and admonitions to behave decently and not tarnish the honour of the imperial family.

— Mother, you…

— What is it?

Her parched lips were suddenly tickled.

Aveline wanted to talk to her mother about something other than properly fulfilling her duties as Crown Princess for once in her life.

— Do I have any other significance to you besides my role as Crown Princess? — She finally asked the question that had been bothering her for a long time.

Aveline knew that even if the empress said yes, it would be a lie. However, she wanted to hear that lie.

But Julia Ravelia Ashelot didn't say that.

— You're talking rubbish.

A cold sneer appeared on the woman's face. She took a few sips of tea.

— You're a useless nothing. Do you know how hard it was for me as a concubine from a humble family to reach this position? — she said with a calm face.

Aveline didn't answer.

— It's all my endeavours. I only got here through my own efforts. If you were an outstanding princess, no, at least if you had any ability, it would be good for me. Then I would love you. But it's not like that.

— …

Julia wiped her lips with a silk handkerchief. Even though she had said horrible words, she didn't look worried at all. It was as if she had said something natural.

— You're nothing, right? So why should I love you? It's not worth it. If you don't like it, do what I say. Because that's your only value and the only way you can be loved by me.

Her fingertips turned cold. The Crown Princess looked at the empress with a confused face.

What other answer could she expect from this man?

— Do you understand what I mean? My daughter, — Julia asked sternly. — Now that you have come of age. You must take the throne as soon as possible. So…

— …Yes.

Aveline's voice broke.

— I… understand. I understand perfectly.

Her moist brown eyes twitched. The princess had a face like she was about to cry, but the empress paid no attention. As always.

***

After talking to her mother, a strong wave of apathy came over the Crown Princess. Back in her bedroom, Aveline, whose legs had become weak, sat down on the floor.

— My goodness, princess! Why are you sitting here?

The agitated personal maid tried to lift Aveline up.

— Wait a minute. I'm just going to sit here for a moment.

— No, don't sit on the floor, sit on the chair.

— It's all right.

The Crown Princess shook her head.

'.....'

The maid looked at the haggard face of the princess and hesitated.

— Your highness, is there something wrong? — She awkwardly suggested, — Perhaps something happened during the tea party?

Aveline pressed her lips together and didn't answer anything to that question. Instead she said:

— Zoe, I'm sorry, but could you prepare the bathroom? I'm a little tired today and would like to bathe.

— Sure… Please wait a moment.

The maid was puzzled by the princess's unclear state, but still did not exceed her authority and ask unnecessary questions. After bowing, she left the princess' bedroom.

Left alone, Aveline Nevita Ashelot took a deep breath.

— Phew!!!

She felt her stomach tense up and her eyes begin to water. The girl had learnt well enough to silently dispose of her food without worrying about being caught by the maids, but it was still very agonising every time. Along with today's breakfast, which was already very little, quite a lot of stomach juice had also come out of the princess.

Aveline remained in this agonising position for a while longer, trying to recover after getting rid of the food. The princess was also experiencing severe weakness.

Her mother's words that she had dropped recently were still echoing in her mind.

'No matter what happens, you must take the throne this year.'

'.....ha.'

In a normal situation, the heir to the throne should have accepted the transfer of the throne shortly after the coming of age ceremony. However, Princess Aveline's inauguration ceremony had continued to be delayed for a year since the laws of the empire required her to officially accept the succession. The Council of Ministers had made a total of six attempts to bring up the matter in a meeting. This meant that the girl had refused to accept the transfer of the throne for some reason six times.

The excuses varied.

She was too young, she was unprepared and had only recently come of age, so she lacked the skills to be a monarch.

Even the fourth excuse was the recently concluded war with a neighbouring empire. The princess said that in such difficult times for the empire, she just wanted to support her father and do her best for the good of the country. In other words, it was an unfavourable time to hand over the throne.

In the capital, people were talking about the Crown Princess as a responsible and serious girl who did not take the passing of the throne lightly. Some even scolded the emperor behind his back, accusing him of deliberately holding on to the throne and not wanting to hand it over to his daughter. In fact, there were all sorts of rumours about this situation.

But the real reason was this.

Anxiety rose to Aveline's throat, and she felt like she might vomit again.

…She was simply afraid to take the position.

— I don't want to… I don't want to become empress at all…!!!!!

A pitiful groan escaped from the Crown Princess' mouth, witnessed in the entire imperial palace by only an empty bedroom.