The Abandoned Empress Will Not Return

Translator: Pashinator

Editor: Sahsahsah 

 

“You’re too skinny, Lady Rodelia!”

 

The maid named Sally, who had brown hair the same color as her skin color, exclaimed like she was upset.
She snatched Rodelia’s arm with her plump hand and sighed deeply.

 

“Oh my God, what have they done to such a weak person….”

 

“No….”

 

“Look at this! Skin and bones, is this the body of an adult woman? I would’ve believed it if you told me it’s a child’s.”

 

The maids who washed Rodelia together nodded vigorously to show their sympathy.

 

Do the women of Luvenia have an extreme aversion to skinny things?

 

They treated Rhodelia’s wrist as if they were seeing something strange as they wiped it.
Her delicate skin tended to turn red quickly.

 

Rodelia was strangely offended by their attitude.
Weren’t they using the vulgar method used on young noble ladies who have just entered society, skillfully degrading the other person?

 

However, because she did not know the life of the common people of Luvenia, she blindly misunderstood.
Since there are a lot of brash women, it might just be that they were trying to curry favor and she’s worrying a little too much.

 

Having concluded that alone, Rodelia murmured softly.

 

“I don’t think it’s that bad….”

 

“No, it is very serious right now!”

 

“Right, are all the women of Thebes like this?”

 

They spoke in an even more exaggerated tone.  As if to make her realize the gravity, they opened their eyes wide and raised their voices.
Rodelia’s eyes, which had been lingering on the maids with a slightly bewildered look on her face, descended to her arms.

 

‘No matter how much I think about it, I don’t think I’m that skinny…..’

 

Rodelia tilted her head.

 

This was just right in Thebes.
She wasn’t forced to wear a corset but it wasn’t a very free place either, as she would get stinging glares if she gained even a little weight.

 

There were many women who were thinner than she was.
In her own way, she thought that she had a good body and all of her ladies-in-waiting said so too.

 

But, if they’re saying it like this…

 

“Am I that skinny?”

 

It must’ve been so.
They then erupted and squealed at her, as if they had been waiting for Rodelia to ask.

 

“Of course! You’re too skinny! Even b*st*rds won’t be satisfied if they beat you to death.”

 

Would Cerdian think the same?

 

Thinking so made her a little worried.
Not just because of Cerdian.
She will be living in Luvenia from now on, so, shouldn’t she adapt to their norms?

 

Rodelia looked at them and opened her mouth.

 

“In Luvenia… Do Luvenian men prefer plump women?”

 

“I guess.
It looks good and healthy.”

 

Rodelia, with a complex expression on her face, moved her gaze to the window.

 

It was late in the afternoon and the sun was setting.

 

 *

 

Cerdian still hasn’t visited.

 

From time to time she’d hear that he was very busy with work.
Trouble broke out near the Bator Mountains.

 

But if he really valued and cared for Rodelia, he would have looked for her even if it took only a moment.
All the servants thought so.

 

“Didn’t he bring her here because he felt sorry for her?”

 

“Maybe.
Or to play with something…? She is pretty.”

 

Thanks to this, the treatment of the kind maids gradually changed.
Even though she came as Cerdian’s guest, they must have felt that there was no need to treat a guest he never visited.

 

“Lady Rodelia, dinner is ready.”

 

The meals were getting smaller and smaller until finally, a loaf of hard bread was served.
However Rodelia said nothing.
It wouldn’t make any difference if she said anything here.
Wasn’t she just a stranger?

 

She couldn’t run nor reach Cerdian.

 

As Rodelia stayed still, their bullying intensified.
The warm bathwater turned into ice-cold water and the tone of the conversation also became irritated.

 

[T/N: Remember, keep your stress balls handy]

 

“Hurry up and eat some.
Stop annoying people.”

 

Still, she didn’t show any reaction.
The more pleasant the reaction, the greater the satisfaction in bullying that person; it was simply human nature.

 

However, the maids thought it was a pretense, and kept badmouthing Rodelia.
They looked down on Rodelia wearing the clothes of a luxurious aristocrat wondering where it came from.

 

“You still think you’re the empress,” one of the maids said.

 

“You’re just a commoner who was demoted due to poisoning charges.”

 

“He brought you here because he liked your face but I’m sure he doesn’t think that anymore right? So show some sincerity, the dress…….”

 

“Noisy!”

 

They talked about various things right to her face but Rodelia did not respond to the insults.

 

No, what would she have to complain about? Their words weren’t wrong.

 

She was of the same status as those maids now.
That’s why she mustn’t create trouble and put Cerdian in a difficult position.

 

There was no reason for him to visit her.
He may have just morally helped the empress because he felt sorry for her for losing her husband to his sister.

 

Again, Rodelia struggled with loneliness today and went to sleep.

 

 *

 

The twentieth day of Rodelia’s stay in the Grand Duke’s castle.

 

Cerdian finally looked for Rodelia.
He sat down in the chair by the window, tipped a glass of brandy and gave a short order to Bruce, the butler.

 

“I’m going to Rodelia, so get ready.”

 

Bruce’s eyes widened.
He truly found it odd.
After spending so much effort to bring Rodelia, he left her alone without visiting her even once.

 

He didn’t know what the hell it was but Cerdian didn’t go looking for her with the excuse that he was busy.
In fact, he wasn’t even that busy.

 

[T/N: he doesn’t have hero materials]

 

He also handpicked new maids.
They looked ill-tempered but Cerdian was satisfied.

 

He didn’t look for Rodelia but he sent her a different dress every time.
He carefully selected only the best ones.

 

But the interest ended there.

 

Even though the newspapers brought from Thebes were full of the wanted announcement of the Marquis of Florence and Rodelia Florence, he showed no sign of agitation.
Rumors also circulated that servants secretly harassed Rodelia in the castle but he did not step in.

 

He had no idea what in the world his intention was.

 

He could only guess that his calm eyes were like a beast biding its time.
And based on Bruce’s theory, it seemed that that time was now.
Finally, Bruce replied briefly, “I will make the preparations.”

 

News spread and reached Rodelia’s room.

 

The attitude of the servants towards her drastically changed due to that single news.
All of the maids who had been mistreating Rodelia became kind and brought her a gorgeous dress from somewhere and made her look beautiful.

 

Of course, it would only be this time but their touch was no longer rough.
It was as gentle and attentive as the day she first came to the Grand Duke’s castle.
Rodelia was reborn as a noble woman again.

 

Her wavy blonde hair was lusciously curled and her skin was also slightly radiant with a little balm.
No one could dispute her beauty.

 

Even the maids who had been harassing Rodelia were stunned.

 

“You have to be careful about your words and actions like a noble, Lady Rodelia.”

 

“No, you are a commoner now.
What noble?”

 

“Yes.
Anyway, it’s us, not His Highness Cerdian, who will continue to live with Lady Rodelia… You have a noble background, so you must be smart, right? I’m sure you understand.”

 

 “Will His Highness Cerdian believe our words or will he trust Lady Rodelia, who has just arrived here?”

 

It was an obvious threat.
No, can it even be called a threat? It made sense.
She was also outnumbered….
In fact, all the servants of the mansion have colluded.

 

Of course, there were only a few who directly harassed her but the mere fact that they were bystanders was in and of itself an agreement.

 

With everyone turning their backs on her, telling Cerdian their wrongdoings, she would only end up being the strange one.

 

‘If that happens, I will be kicked out of here…’

 

Rodelia swallowed her sigh and gently closed her eyes.

 

She did not want to return to the abominable Thebes again.
Rodelia had no choice but to keep her mouth shut despite their low and cowardly behavior.

 

Even though Cerdian came to visit.

 

 *

 

Cerdian leaned on the door outside and smiled faintly.

 

He was very happy to see that the situation was going his way.
But he didn’t like their words either.

 

[T/N: Gosh, I hate his schemes]

 

There was a deep gap between his straight brows as he once again recalled the conversations they had been chatting about without thinking.

 

Thinking that he should stop doing this and have the maids replaced with others, Cerdian stood in front of the door and knocked.

 

After two knocks, the tumultuous interior quieted down.

 

“His Highness the Grand Duke has arrived.”

 

He gave a cold glance to the maid who opened the door for a moment then looked at Rodelia.

 

Her expression, which seemed uncomfortable somehow, disappeared as soon as she made eye contact with Cerdian.
As expected, she was good at life skills having been a former empress.

 

But the relief behind it was one thing she couldn’t hide.
Perhaps it’s the relief that he hadn’t abandoned her.

 

In any case, if these days continued, Rodelia would become dependent on him and that fact satisfied Cerdian.
If that happens, he will be able to say goodbye to this terrible pain.

 

He faked a friendly voice and looked at Rodelia.

 

“I came too late.”