I Won't Accept Your Regrets

Side Story: Part 1

At noon around a beautiful garden with warm sunlight, in the Empress's garden was tea time with the ladies. 

"The roses bloomed really beautifully."

"The roses in the garden of the Imperial Palace will be the most beautiful in the Empire."

"Haha. That's right."

Under the large gazebo that covered the sun, the lips of the ladies who enjoyed the Empress's garden with the roses in full bloom continued to exclaim.

"Thank you again for inviting mee to see this beautiful sight, Your Majesty." 

A noble woman, who was looking at the rose garden with ecstatic eyes, inclined her head towards Ellie.

Ellie was a noble lady raise her head. The lady's blue eyes, looking up at her with hands on her chest, sparkled with wonder and anticipation. With the desire to win over her favor. 

"You are welcome. I'm most grateful to you for taking your precious time to come to the Palace of the Empress, Countess Evitail."

'The country of Evitail'

It was a country on a small estate located in the far east, but it was a country that had recently emerged through trade with the desert kingdom. Pleased with Ellie's response, Countess Evitail's face brightened. 

"It is your Majesty's invitation. If you invite me, I will always be happy to come."

"Then I will invite you more often in the future. Oh, come to think of it, it's Count Evitail's birthday soon. He will be busy preparing the party."

"Oh my. How can your Majesty remember the Count's birthday? .... Did I tell you before?"

"No. I'm more interested in aristocrats than I thought. Furthermore, Count Evitail is a family that His Majesty is interested in these days.. I'm also paying more attention to him. I will send you a nice present for the Count's birthday."

"A gift.. I am so grateful. Your Majesty."

Countess Evitail's slightly tilted her head with an excited face. 

She could feel the gaze of the other noble woman who were envious of Countess Evitail. Ellie pretended no to know their looks and picked up her cup of tea. 

 She could see the ladies flinch as if they wanted to talk to her, but in Ellie's eyes they weren't bright ladies. 

There were especially two nobles who, unlike Countess Evitail and other nobles, don't even look at the Empress. Unlike the friendly atmosphere of the tea party, the faces of the two were troubled. They were rolling their eyes impatiently as if they wanted to leave this place as soon as possible. 

That's understandable. The two of them were noblewomen from the noble family who had been instigated to publish the reproachful article on the Empress.

Marquis Borretti and Count Vishtein. 

Two weeks ago, an article was published in the newspaper criticizing the Empress who was unable to give birth to more imperial heirs. Ellie, who prevented Raymond from investigating himself, ordered Jed to find the back of the newspaper the next day. 

The two families that published articles aimed at the imperial family weren't unexpected. Marquis Borretti was a last historical Marquisate who had been opposed since the day the first Commoner's Academy was established, and Count Vishtein was also a member of the family who recently suffered heavy losses in the tea leaf business' when the imperial family opened trade with the Eastern office. 

Ellie though about what to do with them and sent invitations to both families. Through Helen, the empress's maid so they wouldn't dare refuse. So they couldn't even make an excuse that they were sick, so now they were sitting in front of her like they were going to die.