My Destiny To Be Loved By The Villains [part 2 ]

Chapter 189-192: Social Gathering (1-4)

"..."

"..."

"..."

Somehow, I managed to explain everything, but the awkward atmosphere didn't seem to subside at all.

All of the people sitting around the table kept their mouths shut.

Meanwhile, the Empress, who had elaborated on her plan of using me as her 'consort', was smoking with a pipe in her mouth.

...A pipe?

I knew that Saintess Lucia also smoked sometimes, but unlike this person, she didn't let out such a thick smoke.

Quite bold of her considering that she was someone bearing a rare curse in Sera.

"...Your Imperial Majesty, are you okay?"

"Hm?"

It seemed like I wasn't the only one thinking that. Eleanor asked so with a hint of worry in her voice.

The Empress' stared at her, as if wondering what she was trying to say, though.

"...Ah, are you talking about this?"

She took the pipe out of her mouth for a moment and smiled.

"Don't worry about it."

"...Pardon me?"

"If anything, I'll die if I don't smoke."

"..."

She said before putting the pipe back in her mouth. Eleanor just clutched her head at the sight. She didn't seem to understand what the Empress was trying to say.

Well, gotta say that it was a rare sight. Usually, it was me who'd suffer from a headache because of her, after all.

As expected from the Empire's Supreme.

[...How could you hyping up her dignity in that regard?]

Caliban grumbled, but I wasn't joking. This scene literally showcased her dignity, that wasn't an exaggeration.

Like, Eleanor had a 'nobody's more precious than me in this whole universe' kind of mentality, to the point that she even tried to go up against Chancellor Sullivan. But even that Eleanor would give in to the Empress.

Maybe the fact that she had grown up with Cecilia the 11th ever since she was still the 'Imperial Princess' played a big part in this.

"..."

But, as close as they were to each other...

As I've said many times before, Cecilia the 11th's death had a huge impact on Eleanor.

Enough to cause a cataclysm in the whole scenario.

"...Speaking of, you said that you're going hunting?"

As I let my thoughts wander, Eleanor asked that question after struggling for a bit.

Unlike Iliya, those two were acquaintances.

That was why, even though she looked doubtful, unsure if the Empress was trying to do the right thing, she at least tried to ask a question. Meanwhile, Iliya couldn't even try to say anything.

"I am. Is there anything you are curious about?"

"...Are you sure it is safe?"

There were two other questions behind this question of hers.

First, was it okay to do this, considering the current situation of the Empire?

Second, she was trying to ask about 'my safety'.