Don’t Concern Yourself With That Book

“Who are you?”

“I am just a humble servant and a follower of Bacchus, the God of alcohol and wine. Wherever there is pleasure and fun, I will be there.”

The man smiled languidly and tapped on the wine goblet.

“This is it. This is the first time I’ve smelt an aroma deeper than that of wine aged for 900 years.”

His red lips that looked as if they had been soaked in red wine itself smiled thinly.

“An aroma?”

“Yes. Any templar of wine will be able to tell when delicious grapes are ripe for picking. From you, I can smell an inscrutable enchanting aroma. One day, you’ll become more beautiful than any other, Amadema.”

His introduction sounded ridiculous and was as dramatic as a clown.

“You will be given the ‘Blessing of Beauty’ in the future.”

The man kissed my finger.

“I honour you in the name of Bacchus.”

Templars of wine were commonly the templars of symposiums as well. They would host meetings, fill empty goblets, create excitement, manage the drunk and provide the greatest amounts of pleasure for their guests as they find strength in satisfying such pleasures.

Given that the Empire was also a large exporter of wine, wine itself had a great influence around here.

“Other than my brothers, you’re the first man to say I was beautiful to my face.”

Even now, I could feel the glimpses at my cheek. He tilted his head as if he did not know. Then, the templar of wine leaned over and whispered softly so only I could hear.

“Don’t trust the wicked words of those who cannot see your true value. I can see the future through pleasure. And I know you are going to be very beautiful.”

As he lowered his back and laid a kiss on my cheek, Rebecca’s gaze grew fierce.

‘I’m really sorry to say this but has it gotten windier than before?’

But with the man’s back blocking most of it, it became easier to breathe.

“Hm, Aias, you surprised the princess. Don’t you know she’s still not used to such actions?”

“Is that so?”

The templar let out a hearty laugh.

“The night I spent with you in the Temple of 10 Rites was unforgettable.”

“Hmph, did you actually think you managed to spend a night with me?”

“Well then, why don’t you give me permission so we can do it tonight instead?”

The templar lowered his back towards the woman next to him and kissed her inner wrist. Thoroughly entertained, the woman laughed and blushed immensely. Seeing how naturally the two of them were acting, such behaviour seemed to be tolerable at these banquets.

‘It certainly is quite hedonic.’

Symposiums were special spaces where women who were forced into submission could speak of sex freely and take pleasure to their own accord.

They would exchange some provocative and sultry words before spending a time of secrets and seduction at night.

Since this was a symposium held by the Empress herself.

<Ladies must remain pure and not let any word of indecency leave her mouth. They must show their respects to their husbands.>

The Emperor disapproved of such symposiums, saying how women should maintain their duty of submission. Only the Empress had the power to act against the Emperor’s will.

She would hold such banquets several times a month, inviting nobles, their wives and other ladies in the Empire.

‘In short, the Empress is guarding tradition.’

I did not know why she kept going against the Emperor’s will to hold these symposiums.

“Rebecca, can I drink this?’

“No. This is too strong.”

She frowned and shook her head slowly.

“The princess can’t drink?”

“Hahaha, how could she not? She’s Auresia’s daughter.”

“Hm, that’s true. I heard something, can I share it here?”

The brunette blinked before smiling slowly.

“Lady Auresia is really beautiful.”

To put it simply, I realised that the expression she was making had nothing to do with what she said.

“This girl, seriously. The princess is listening.”

I could clearly feel their malice, as if they were mocking me.

The boundaries the Empress was setting earlier as well as the unpleasant curiosity of these women made sense now. I could see why the Empress prepared this spot for me now.

Fuck her.

“Seriously? Was your mother really that beautiful?”

I widened my eyes.

‘I’ve already heard this many times before when I was a child.’

It did not even graze me.

“Oh my! Of course she is. Even a moonflower dare not compare to her beauty. Why else would she be deemed the most beautiful woman in the Empire? That’s why I was a little shocked when I saw you here today, Amadema.”

I did not shy away from the curious glances and neither did I lose my smile.

‘I wonder how you’re going fuck me over this time.’

Only questions remained. They thought I was an immature girl who did not know anything. Those greedy animals were eyeing me as if I was a harmless sheep that was ripe for eating.

‘Did they think I would not understand or did they think it did not matter if I did.’

All kinds of sweet rhetorical compliments were thrown at me.

“Well, the Princess is pretty too. Right?”

“Right, the colour of her eyes are beautiful.”

They said those words so calmly and gently as if they did not realise how condescending their words sounded so that they did not seem rude.

“Really? You think I’m pretty? Other than my brothers, no one has ever told me that before! Just as I thought, it is good to be stubborn. I did not want to come at first.”

“You didn’t want to come?”

“Yeah! I couldn’t find a dress I liked.”

After vainly stating my piece, a roar of laughter burst amongst women. I could feel their derision and ridicule under the guise of their laughter. I refused to meet the girls who were supposed to be the most powerful women in the Empire solely because of my dress. They were enjoying making fun of me.

“As I expected.”

The girl who looked as adorable as a puppy flashed a smile.

“I guess the vulgarity from a birth does not disappear that easily.”

The girl spoke before cackling.

“I cannot believe a certain someone can remain so shameless even after taking all the riches and treasures of the nobles for their own. And even dared to say it would be an honour for the nobles if they were to take them.”

She slightly covered her lips with her fan.

“That certain someone is so naive and adorable that they can’t tell what’s the difference between laughter and mockery.”

I stared at her before grinning. My finger tapped on my goblet.

Then, as if I did not feel like drinking it anymore, the goblet slipped out of my hands. Rebecca caught the goblet and placed it down next to her. Their giggling was obnoxious.

Mirroring them, I smiled and laughed.

“My mother must really be a beautiful woman.”

Auresia was a beauty. A beauty that reminded people of the pale moonlight. If Rusbella could be compared to the splendid bloom of a rose, Auresia, whom I saw before in a portrait of her, was beautiful in a subtle yet seductive manner. Her silverish purple hair was so beautiful that I could not forget it once I had seen it.

My mother whom I had only seen in painting was burdening me with her name alone.

“Our precious princess, how can you be as thin as a small bush branch?”

“I have never seen someone as small as you. Or have your cooks left your palace?”

Auresia had many enemies. And this was where her enemies had gathered. The Empress hated Auresia and I was Auresia’s daughter. Naturally, the Empress’ subordinates would dislike me no matter what I said. There was nothing much I could do here.

Even if the Empress had been beaten by Auresia and only called me here to be humiliated for payback.

So instead of caring about the taunts and insults thrown at me, I stared at the women’s faces one by one.

‘It’ll be better to memorise their faces precisely so I can remember who I’ll have to deal with in the future.’

A voluminous chest and a tight waist. In an Empire which considered women to be attractive only if they had a certain amount of flesh, the standards of beauty here was a woman who was curvy, sexy and mature.

The women of the Empire grew quickly so they were very tall. Therefore, young girls could be considered adorable here.

That word could only be considered mockery or disrespectful to someone as grown as me.

These snakes were starting to wrap themselves around my ankles, baring their small venomous teeth that they had hidden.

“I thought we were meeting a 13 year old child at first.”

“13? That’s too old. Even my child was not that small when he was 13, Ione.”

“Hm, let’s not fight on such a good day. The Empress is watching, isn’t she?”

“The Empress is not the only one. Since a little while ago, a lot of gazes have been directed here. Like that man’s tongue?”

“Ione.”

Rebecca called out that woman’s name as a warning. The brunette furrowed her eyebrows and frowned.

“Hmph.”

Seeing her turn her head away, she seemed to be scared of Rebecca for some reason.

“Oh my. It’s the 6th Prince.”

Another woman fluttered her fan gently with her eyes widened.

“What’s going on? The cold-hearted 6th Prince is looking this way? Is he finally going to propose to Heira?”

“Kya. Please, Lumoa.”

I turned my head around and saw.

‘Fleon?’

I did not notice him because it had been so hectic when I entered. Not too far from here, on a long sofa across the room, Fleon was glaring this way with his arms crossed.

‘Right. He said he was going to be in the Empress’ banquet today.’

Dane and Lord Ray could also be seen flanking his sides.

Right after talking to the woman, I met gazes with Dane. With an expression I had never seen in his face before, he frowned slightly.

That gaze made me feel as if my heart was being squeezed by a scorching pain that surrounded it.

‘Don’t look at me like that. I had no choice but to come.’

I turned away from them naturally.

“How can siblings be so unalike?”

“Well, is it because they have different mothers?”

Someone smirked.

“As expected, vulgar western blood is nothing compared to our noble bloodlines.”

“This Amadema doesn’t look like Auresia at all. Furthermore, the prince is a mature and handsome man. The Princess, on the other hand, is pretty cute, right?”

“Amadema was not born only from Auresia but also the Emperor. I can’t believe there was once a rumour that Auresia had a child out of wedlock.”

‘Out of wedlock?’

I lowered my head as if I was embarrassed being as praised as such but I was ashamed.

“My brothers are indeed really handsome. They’re really good-looking men! And you’re all so nice to me!”

The Empress’ intentions as to why she placed me here were obvious. She thought I was some ignorant girl.

I was at the bottom of the steps. As if they were just the spectators and I was the comedian.