BXBX NOVEL Chapter 277 277. Epilogue, Part V
Editor: Aelryinth
Earlier this year, the Emperor formally abdicated the throne to Killian. Because Julietta lived in the main castle with Killian, instead of using the palace for the Empress separately, the former Emperor moved to the empty palace of the late Empress, not the living quarters for the former Emperor. He had a leisurely time reading books or coming to see Philip.
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It was the third summer since Julietta met Killian. There would be a summer social season soon. This was the first social season since the new Emperor took office, so this year it would be more spectacular and grander than ever. Julietta asked Killian’s aunt, the former Second Queen, to take care of the preparations.
Since the Duke of Dudley was stripped of his title and retired to the countryside, the former First Queen had lost all power. Now that the Emperor was gone, her strength was falling. So Julietta thought it would be okay to leave everything to the former Second Queen to take care of, as an elder of the imperial family.
Maribel was unhappy with that, but Julietta was very busy because of Killian’s Bertino Business Group, the tea business of the Kiellini family, and her own dress shop and cafe business. It was fortunate that Simone was in charge of the financial management and affairs of the Kiellini family.
It would have been really hard if she wanted to manage the Imperial Banquet, because she had a lot to do as an Empress. For her, it was too comfortable for the former Second Queen to deal with the talkative noble ladies.
Philip had fallen asleep in Julietta’s arms. Maribel handed him to Vera and asked, "You don’t have to go there yourself, do you? It’s going to take a few days to visit the Southern Territory and get back. I don’t know if His Majesty will allow it."
Julietta looked down again at Oswald’s letter and said as if it were passing, "I’m wondering how Phoebe is doing. Maybe it’s time to take a look."
Phoebe had been receiving various training after she went down to Tilia Territory, and lived in the annex there.
"You’re not trying to make her debut this season, are you?"
"No, that’s not what Phoebe wants."
Julietta didn’t meet Phoebe in person, but letters had been exchanged steadily. Phoebe didn’t seem to have any desire to debut or get married. She only implied that she wanted to stay with Julietta.
"Now that I’m having my second child soon, I think Phoebe will come and help me."
Maribel knew Phoebe was different from Dian, so she left only a word. "First, get His Majesty’s permission."
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Preparing to go to bed after a day’s work, Julietta told Killian about her plan.
"You want to travel for a week?" Killian asked, his face indicating that he wanted to oppose.
"Yes, I’m going to stop by Vicern and go to Tilia on the way."
Killian quickly drew his schedule into mind. Nothing else mattered, but the meeting of continental leaders in three days was a problem. Austern and Vicern held it every year, and he couldn’t leave because it was their turn to host the event in Austern.
As his forehead furrowed more severely, Julietta said soothingly, "I feel a pressure on my chest. I’m going to get heavier soon because of my second child, so I’d like to go get some fresh air before that."
Killian immediately gave up his claim when his heart sank at the sight of Julietta’s sighs, looking out of the window. " Promise me you’ll be back as soon as possible. A week is too long."
"I’ll try."
Killian sat next to Julietta and hugged her and their child. "I’m sorry I can’t come with you."
"It’s okay. If you, the Emperor, move, the tour schedule will be longer. I will try to hide my status as the Empress and pretend to be Maribel’s relative, so as not to attract attention."
No matter how free travel between countries was thanks to the Magic Square, it was necessary to use a process when the Empress of the Empire visited other countries. Julietta leaned her head on his shoulder.
"And I think I’ll bring Phoebe on the way."
Killian nodded at the words. "Three years will be enough to reflect. Now, if the second child is born, it would be too much for Mrs. Grayson and Vera alone, so I’m in favor of bringing her in."
Killian put Julietta on the bed and gently massaged her belly with perfume. The belly massage was a unique ritual for the two that took place before bed every day.
"I don’t think that your belly is as full as you were with the first baby. Is it a daughter?"
At the voice full of hope, Julietta complained bitterly, "You said you wouldn’t discriminate against a son and a daughter!"
"It’s not discrimination, but a wish. I want to have a pretty princess who looks like you."
Mumbling with greed for his daughter, Killian worked hard to massage Julietta’s belly until late at night.
***
Vicern’s shopkeeper, who had been so obstinate, quickly agreed and sold his shop when Julietta came and offered some suggestions. That was the start of construction of the Raefany’s branch in Vicern, which had been ready and waiting.
Julietta marked the glass display case on the site of the small triangular general store. "This is how we have a site where we can use three sides as a display case, just like the Raefany’s on Eloz Street."
"It took longer than we thought. I thought the original size was pretty big, but it was hard to buy the next stores out because you said it had to be bigger," Duke Oswald sighed as he looked into the drawings of the site, where their biggest store was to be built on the Lechant Street.
"Vicern’s Raefany’s will have a more advanced strategy than Austern."
"I don’t understand that part. Is it necessary to be more advanced than the fashion hub in Austern?"
"That is because the capital of Austern is the center of fashion. Austern’s Raefany’s deals in a variety of items, including pet ornaments, small jewelry, and furniture. So, a lot of customers come and go every day. They even come from across the ocean to buy things. But it can be a distraction for customers who come to pick out more expensive ornaments."
Julietta indicated a small room in one windowless area in the drawings. "We will create small rooms like this in Vicern that will allow them to enjoy top-of-the-line products and purchase them. It’s going to be a totally different kind of Raefany’s."
A bright, energetic Raefany’s and a quiet, calm Raefany’s; she planned to open a completely different style of Raefany’s and Chartreu at each branch.
Oswald nodded his head in admiration. "Then I’m sure you’re planning to have a new feel for Raefany’s in Bertino."
"That’s right. Bertino is a relatively small place compared to Austern and Vicern. Most people will visit Raefany’s while they’re in Bertino, but they won’t feel the need to go there for it."
Julietta pointed to an area in Bertino. "I’ve heard that a special mineral has been found here."
"Yes, we haven’t crafted it yet, but they say the color of the crystal varies from day to night."
Recalling a kind of gem she had seen on the Earth, Julietta exclaimed, "Maybe it depends on what kind of light it gets. Can I see the mineral? I am wondering if Bertino could be the only one handling jewelry made from that mineral."
Oswald replied to Julietta, "The collected ore has been sent to His Majesty. For now, we don’t know whether it has a value as a jewel or not, and development of the mine has stopped until permission has come from His Majesty."
"Then I’ll have to ask His Majesty!" Julietta stood up and bowed to Duke Oswald. "I’ll go, then."
"I’ll see you back in Austern."
Julietta was seen off by Oswald and boarded a waiting carriage. While the carriage ran to use the Magic Square outside the capital of Vicern, the Vicern Temple was visible outside the window.
"It was three years ago," Julietta muttered, recalling the Proof of Blood at the Vicern Temple.
Maribel gave Philip to Vera, as he was anxious to play, and looked outside.
Three years ago, Dian had confessed to killing Regina and her nanny. Her plan was obvious from the nanny’s body hidden under the bed, so it was judged intentional and could not be taken as an accident.
Julietta thought Regina had died naturally, and was surprised by Dian’s cruelty when the nanny’s body was found. ’How could such a good and innocent girl change like that?’