Chapter 55

"From what I can see, these dresses are the best, don't you think?"

Before I could get even more frustrated, Rozan stepped in and narrowed down the choices to three.

"Let's buy all three and choose which one to wear tomorrow from among them."

Any of them would do.

Since all three were excellent designs, any of them would look great on Therese with her perfect beauty.

I asked with a relieved expression.

"Is that it now?"

Rozan tilted her head.

"What do you mean? We haven't even looked at the head accessories, jewelry sets, gloves, shoes, bags, parasols, fans, and handkerchiefs yet."

"……"

Only after buying all the items from head to toe did the long shopping spree finally end.

It was such a tiring time that I never wanted to receive an invitation from the emperor again.

However, the shopping experience was well-received by everyone except me.

"Therese's debut in society comes to mind. Isn't that right, dear?"

"Of course I remember. It was the day Therese pulled Wycombe's hair."

Rozan quickly changed the subject.

"Oh, look at this, dear. It's so pretty."

Ding!

[Throne 'Romance Addict' has donated 10,000 coins.]

[Wow. I've never felt so satisfied.]

Before I could be forced to buy anything else, I fled to my room.

'The [Advanced Etiquette] I actually need isn't in stock at the store.'

Since the necessary skills have always been stocked just before I needed them, it should be available by tomorrow, right?

Thus, the much-anticipated Sunday arrived.

* * *

The imperial palace is a large-scale building.

Even the Saint Trio Hotel and the magic school Valhalla seemed somewhat shabby in front of this massive and grand palace.

I entered up to the point where the carriage could go, and got out where the palace attendants, dressed identically without a single wrinkle, stood in rows.

They greeted me with expressionless faces, like puppets being manipulated.

"We have been waiting for you, Lady Therese Squier. Welcome to the imperial palace."

It was a rather mechanical welcome.

At that moment, a man in a neat uniform approached.

"Welcome, Lady. I am Geoffrey, the chief advisor to His Majesty the Emperor. Was your journey not too long?"

"Hello, Mr. Geoffrey. It's a pleasure to visit the palace I've been looking forward to, and I didn't feel the journey was long at all, especially since it's within the same capital."

"Ha ha. You speak so beautifully, Lady. I will escort you to the Sun Palace, so please don't refuse."

I took Geoffrey's arm and started walking.

Geoffrey brought up various topics to keep me from feeling nervous or awkward.

"You seem quite different from the last time I saw you. You seem much calmer."

"Is that so?"

My insides were in turmoil, but my outward appearance was fine.

'System, stock the items!'

This was the 200th time I had said it.

I was getting increasingly anxious.

Surely I don't have to meet the emperor with just [Intermediate Etiquette]?

"His Majesty has also been eagerly awaiting this day, just like you."

"…Is that so?"

It didn't sound sincere at all.

I was so focused on waiting for the notification that I had no interest in the fantastically beautiful palace.

'Does the system think that [Advanced Etiquette] is not necessary right now?'

I was so engrossed in my thoughts that I absentmindedly blurted out when I saw familiar things.

"Already at the Sun Palace, I see."

Geoffrey asked curiously.

"You recognized it before I mentioned it. Have you been here before?"

I was the first of the empire's young ladies to visit, so there was no way I had been here before.

This was just information I knew as a developer.

"The palace attendants wear different clothing for each department. Since the attendants here and those following me are dressed the same, I deduced it was the Sun Palace."

Geoffrey was impressed and praised me.

"Ah… You have a keen eye."

Ding!

[Throne 'Romance Addict' has donated 10,000 coins.]

[It seems I'm one step closer to the empress position.]

What a terrifying thing to say.

"We are almost at the VIP reception room. Ah, I can see the head butler there. I will take my leave here."

As soon as Geoffrey turned, a butler with a neat appearance approached and greeted me.

"It is an honor to meet you, Lady. I am the head butler, Bain."

"I am Therese of the Squier family."

My gaze briefly fell on the tightly closed reception room door.

I asked the butler as if I wanted to make sure I looked perfect for the moment I had been looking forward to.

"Head butler, may I check if there are any issues with my appearance?"

He nodded.

"Of course. This way to the powder room."

"Thank you."

Thud.

As soon as the door closed, I muttered in despair.

"It's over."

[The thrones are curious about the reason.]

"Did you see the palace attendants' feet? They were wrapped in cloth. When the emperor is in a very bad mood, the servants in the Sun Palace wrap their feet in cloth to avoid making any noise."

This meant the emperor was in a very foul mood.

Was it because of me?

'Why would he be in a bad mood when he called me? If he didn't want to see me, he shouldn't have called me.'

Ding!

[Throne 'Romance Hater' has donated 10,000 coins.]

[What's different from usual?]

"When this behavior pattern appears, someone is bound to get seriously hurt or die."

I was probably the one who would get seriously hurt or die.

The store still hadn't stocked the item I needed in this situation.

"Everyone, it seems today might be my last broadcast."

The thrones seemed even more interested in my death announcement.

They all urged me to go to the reception room.

[The thrones are curious about 'Ujis'.]

[The thrones want the BJ to go to the reception room.]

'Sigh. Well, dying is my problem.'

There was no other choice now.

I had to use all the knowledge I had to deal with the emperor.

With a determined resolve, I left the powder room.

As I approached the reception room, the head butler spoke.

"Your Majesty. Lady Therese Squier of the Squier family requests an audience. Shall I let her in?"

I was waiting for a response, tense.

Click.

Instead of a response, the door opened.

'Oh…'

His cold, violet eyes, almost blue, stared down at me.

He was a man exuding a languid arrogance, as if he owned the world.

Emperor Ujis Rodrigo.

He had opened the door himself.

"I've been waiting, Lady."

I quickly bowed.

"I am in the presence of the great Emperor, the ruler of the world."

Ding!

[Throne 'Romance Addict' has donated 10,000 coins.]

[He truly has a regal appearance.]

Ding!

[Throne 'Face Connoisseur' has donated 10,000 coins.]

[Not my type, but strangely attractive.]

Ujis smiled and said.

"Come in."

Perhaps the greeting was passable.

Now it was time to check the next obstacle.

'Character information.'

▼

[Ujis Rodrigo]

Age: 31

Height: 190cm

Birthday: January 31

Likes: Gambling, alcohol, cigarettes, storytelling

Dislikes: Deception, Squier, boredom, triviality

Affection: ♥♥♥♥♡

▲

"……?!"

Four black hearts from the start?

Ding!

[Throne 'Facts are Violence' has donated 10,000 coins.]

[Oh… This seems X-rated?]

No matter how hard the mode is, this is too much!

Ujis went to a place where refreshments were lavishly arranged and pulled out a chair for me.

"Sit."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

I sat down with stiff, rigid movements.

Ujis pushed the chair in and whispered in my ear.

"Are you nervous?"

The slow, deep voice sent shivers down my spine.

I tried to say I wasn't, but the moment I met his violet eyes, I couldn't help but be brutally honest.

"…Yes. I'm quite nervous."

It was a stupid answer, regardless of etiquette.

'He won't kill me for being stupid, right?'

Ilya might, but Ujis didn't particularly mind stupidity.

In fact, he hated overly intelligent and boring types the most.

'If you raise your intelligence too high, it becomes difficult to complete the Ujis route.'

Therefore, this was a strategic stupidity. …Anyway, that's how it was.