I’m Sorry I’m Not Qualified to Be Empress - Chapter 43

Chapter 43

“Emma! You should be holding a ladle instead of a flower!”

“No, you have to lift a pigtail to look a little prettier.”

“Please draw a pig too, Your Majesty.”

Another wave of laughter swept over him. Maxim furrowed his brows and looked at Janssen.

“What the hell are they talking about?”

“It seems that the Queen is here.”

“What?”

Maxim looked back at the kitchen to see what he meant.

“After Sir Hans left, the queen has been having fun drawing these days.”

“So?”

“That’s why she goes around the castle and draws people.”

“Ha.”

Maxim snorted as if he understood now.

“It must be nice to have spare time.”

As he rushed on his way back, Janssen quickly followed Maxim and added on.

“The atmosphere between the servants and maids who felt uncomfortable with the Queen has changed a lot. Painting is an excuse. I think that’s how she’s approaching people in her own way.”

As Janssen admired her behavior and tried to praise her, Maxim stopped again.

“I like interpretations more than dreams.”
[tl/n: this means he likes the explanation of the situation rather than the situation itself.]

“Really? Still, I felt good.”

“You felt good? Did she draw you too?”

Maxim asked, crossing his arms.

“Yes. Well, she said she only draws the people she likes the most, but I’m number one.”

When Maxim glared at him as if he was about to kill him, Janssen rolled his eyes and avoided his master’s gaze.

Maxim looked back to the side where the laughter was coming from. The people in the castle were getting to know her one by one. The action of protecting Rose in front of him, starting with his closest aide, Janssen, was annoying. She had an innocent face, but she was for sure a really weird woman.

* * * 

The work was in full swing even on the sunny terrace.

Hannah was sitting in her chair looking at Rose. Suddenly, her face hardened like a stone. Was Secretary Janssen approaching this way?

The Queen was drawing her, so it seemed that she didn’t even know he was approaching.

“Ah… I’m sorry, Y-your Majesty…”

As Hannah flinched and tried to get up from her chair, Rose stopped her.

“You can’t move, Hannah.”

Hannah was forced to sit back down.

“It looks like it’s Miss Hannah’s turn today.”

When she heard Janssen’s voice, Rose turned around.

“Oh, Janssen.”

He, who was standing next to Rose, looked at Hannah sitting in front of Rose as if she were the main character. A bright smile hung on his face as he looked at her.

As Janssen’s gaze turned straight to her, Hanna broke into a sweat. Her breathing became erratic and her body felt like it was paralyzed. She felt like she had nowhere to hide from his gaze in the empty field.

She wanted to run away immediately because she was shy, but it was painful because she couldn’t.

“What brings you here?”

At Rose’s words, Janssen turned his gaze away from Hannah.

“It’s not a big deal. I was just passing by and saw Her Majesty and Miss Hannah and decided to stop by for a while.”

Rose glanced up at Janssen with suspicious eyes.

“Just passing by?”

He was kind to everyone and was always smiling, but Rose knew Secretary Janssen was quite thorough. It wasn’t like him to say words like by chance and accidentally. That was why even a man like Maxim, who was picky, kept him close and trusted him.

“Come on, tell me what your real purpose is.”

When Rose asked the question again, Jansen smiled and spoke.

“Yes. Actually, I’m going out the day after tomorrow, so I came to ask if you have any other requests.”

“Going out. Where?”

Rose asked with curious eyes.

“About this time every year, I secretly go with His Majesty and look around the land outside of the Castle.”

Rose, who was busy painting, stopped and held the brush in midair.

“So do you mean that you hide your identity and come back after looking outside the castle? Are you going to inspect people’s livelihoods?”

“You can think of it like that. I felt that I should inform the Queen in advance.”

As if thanking him for letting her know, Rose nodded her head once to Janssen with a meaningful look.

The moment Rose picked up her brush again and was about to paint Hanna’s eyes, Janssen quickly pointed to the drawing board.

“Your Majesty! Miss Hannah’s eyes are a little wider and more transparent green like water droplets gushing out of the coral sea.”

Rose looked up at Janssen rather than trying to paint. A light smile spread across her lips as she looked at him.

“…Like water droplets gushing out of the coral sea?”

Janssen nodded his head slightly as if that was it.

“Ohh. It seems that’s how it is. It’s green like water droplets gushing out from the coral sea. That’s what colour Hannah’s eyes are to Janssen.”

She smiled as if it were very interesting and added paint to adjust the color again.

She continued mumbling about the coral sea.

* * * 

Late at night, when Hans’ horse arrived at the Etoile mansion, the servants rushed out.

Count Jared and Countess Audrey, who should have already been asleep, were anxiously waiting for their son. The couple asked Hans as soon as he entered the house.

“Hans! How about Rose?”

“Is she okay? How is she?”

Hans, who had travelled a long distance, looked tired, but his expression wasn’t too bad.

“I just arrived. Let me catch my breath.”

As Hans smiled, the Count and his wife eased up and relaxed.

“I have something to tell you. Come here.”

Count Jared took his son by the arm and led him into a quiet room. The Count entered the room, looked around and he spoke to Hans with serious eyes.

“The Crown Prince is marrying the young Lady Montara.”

Hans narrowed his eyebrows, trying to remember who she was.

“If you mean Marquis Montara– No way!”

“Yeah, that’s right. She originally decided to go to the North instead of Rose.”

“Ha!”

Hans let out a dejected laugh as if he was stunned.

“That’s not the problem now.”

“Yes?”

Hans looked at his father with puzzled eyes. It was strange that his father, who was not usually anxious, was so nervous.

The answer came out first from Madam Audrey’s mouth.

“He said he’ll invite Rose to the wedding, along with that northern king!”

“Is he inviting Rose?”

“What do you think Cassiax was thinking?”

Count Jared and Madam Audrey looked nervously at their son’s face. It was something Hans had never thought of, and his head suddenly became complicated.

‘Cassiax, that bastard is plotting something.’ He didn’t get too upset, thinking that he had to reassure his parents first.

“You don’t have to take it seriously. Just because he sent an invitation doesn’t mean she has to come. I’m sure he will send it out as an act of courtesy. Even if she comes, there’s nothing strange about it.”

The count was impatient because his son seemed too relieved.

“What if there is a conflict in the Capital?”

No one could tell with the temper of Crown Prince Cassiax, but it was even more unknown what could happen with that king of the North, who was part of many of those heinous rumors.

If anything went wrong between Solstern and Helevant, the Etoile household would be in the middle of the collision.

Count Jared was afraid of that. The family line that had been passed on by his ancestors for a long time could be cut off in an instant.

Hans fiddled with his chin as if he was in trouble.

“Cassiax is very fickle, but he’s not that reckless. Besides, it’s his wedding.”

“That’s a relief. But what about the king of the north? Is he as vicious as rumored? Is our Rose really okay?”

Having already married his daughter, he was actually the son-in-law of the Etoile family.

However, to the Count and the Countess, Maxim Lancert was still a stranger and someone that was more scary than others. It was hard to approach him.

They fully desired to rescue their daughter from him and put her back in her place whenever the opportunity presented itself. Hans smiled bitterly at the reaction of his parents. Not long ago, he had the same thoughts.

“Don’t worry. Rose is doing well, and when he comes,”

The couple looked closely at their son.

‘When he comes? What if he comes? What does he mean?’

Instead of answering, Hans pursed up his lips as if he could already imagine that situation.

“I don’t know if Maxim Lancert will accept the invitation, but it will be very interesting if he comes.”

“What?”

“Interesting? What does that mean?!”

The Countess had no idea what the nonsense that came out of her son’s mouth meant.

“You will see for yourself.”

Hans only smiled strangely.

“I’m really tired today, so I need to take a nap first. Let’s talk about the details again when the sky is bright.”

“Hans! Hans!”

The couple called out the name of their son who had already left the room. They waited so long for him to come, and it was frustrating that he only said strange things and ran away.

* * * 

Maxim, who had come out of the office for swordsmanship training, stood there. As soon as the door opened, Freddie and Rose were standing right in front of him.

Before Freddie, whose eyes grew wide after seeing Maxim, could even open his mouth, Rose first stated her business.

“I’m here for a request.”

As Rose looked up at him, her lively purple eyes twinkling, Maxim looked down at her with alert eyes. What was she up to?

When Maxim blinked at Freddie, he stepped behind her and she entered the office.

Even after entering his office, Rose took a leisurely tour of the interior without saying what was going on. It was her first time visiting this space, so she was amazed.

‘I mean, this is Maxim Lancert’s office.’

Sitting on the window with his arms folded, Maxim watched Rose silently. With interesting eyes, she looked at what books were inserted into his bookshelf and what the family’s insignia on the wall looked like.

“What’s the matter?”

“Ah! I want to go out to buy paint.”

Rose turned to him and said in a cheerful voice. It was said lightheartedly, as if she was taking a walk around the garden instead of talking to him.

Maxim remembered Janssen saying that she was interested in painting these days.

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