“What is your name?”

“My name is Barton,” he replied, his hands trembling violently.

“Aha, Barton. Okay. You came out for this journey for a happy event, so the emperor will forgive you this time, but you shouldn’t make the same mistake.”

“Yes, madame! This will never happen again!”

“As you have made efforts for me, I’ve begged the emperor for your mercy. But I can’t save you from any punishment to save his face,” she said in a soft and firm tone.

Barton lay face down again and replied, “I’ll accept whatever punishment you give me. Just save my life. I have a wife and children. They would starve without me. Please..”

“Oh, you have a child. Is it a daughter or a son?”

“I’ve got one son and one daughter.”

Hearing his words, she bit her lip gently as if she was thinking of something.

“Good. Then let’s do this way.”

She raised herself upright as she made a decision. Her red diamond on the neck shined brighter in the sunset.

“Barton and his son shall work for three years in the stables of the Elior Mansion. Barton’s wife and daughter shall help the Elior kitchen for three years.”

Her order was an overly benevolent command than punishment. He would not be beaten or punished at all, but he and his family members would be working at the Elior Mansion for only three years. Although they are supposed to work for free, they would be provided with room and board, just like other staff at the mansion.

In the end, her order was like giving him a new job and cutting his salary for three years.

Too generous a mercy, those around him began to whisper. Even Barton shook his head as if he couldn’t believe his ears. The marquise frowned after covering her face with a fan while Beatrice had a happy smile on her face.

Marianne just looked at the emperor quietly, folding her fingers as if she were waiting for his approval.

“..”

Eckart looked at the men around him with a firm expression. Though he was casual amid their attention, he had no choice but to be conscious of her order to Barton.

Eventually, he let out a short sigh and nodded lightly.

“Oh, madame!”

Barton repeatedly bowed to her as he was overjoyed. Her shoulders, stiffened when she was tense, drooped. Eckart handed the sword back to Grand Duke Christopher. In any case, the matter was solved satisfactorily, and the knights and men were pleased with Marianne’s mercy. If she became the empress, there might be people who could depend on her for her mercy. For them, the more generous their master, the better.

“My hat is off to you for your generous decision. By the way, Your Majesty, don’t you think you need a new wagon as her wagon was broken?”

As if she didn’t like the peaceful atmosphere, Mrs. Chester stepped forward and said, “I wonder if Marianne can sit next to me as I have a vacant seat in my wagon?”

Stepping aside a bit, she pointed to her gorgeous carriage. In fact, there was no extra carriage, but they had to travel further. Even if they found another way to get to the destination after arriving at a local official residence, Marianne’s taking the vacant seat in Mrs. Chester’s carriage right now was the most efficient way.

Marianne knew it well. But she couldn’t answer quickly. She didn’t want to travel with her uncomfortably.

“As you have two maids in your carriage, I think my wagon might be a better choice because I didn’t bring any maid.”

As if she read Marianne’s mind, Beatrice kindly suggested to her to take her wagon.

It was hard to say that Marianne was very close to Beatrice, but she felt much more comfortable to be around her than Mrs. Chester. Besides, she remembered Eckart’s request that she maintain a very good relationship with Beatrice.

“Given the choice, I think you might feel more comfortable in a more spacious carriage. We have to get there before sunset, so we better hurry up.”

Duchess Lamont fanned it gently, pressing on them. Though she didn’t intend to have Marianne share her wagon, it seemed she thought it was better for her to get in Beatrice’s wagon.

“Alright, get in my carriage. You can let the maid get off and walk along,” said Mrs. Chester.

“Madame! Don’t the maids belong to the noble family? Even if we are not far from the local official residence, it’s unreasonable to have them walk along,” quipped Beatrice.

“Oh, how generous you are! If you think so, why don’t you give them a ride in your wagon? You said you didn’t bring any maids, right? It would be better if you shared your wagon with my two maids as well as yours, so they could chat on their way,” Mrs. Chester retorted.

“I thought you were only very good at ruining the atmosphere, but I think you are also very good at making things complicated, Mrs. Chester. Why are you making so many people uncomfortable?” Duchess Lamont cut in, making a frustrated expression while Beatrice and Mrs. Chester were having a quarrel.

“Duchess Lamont, it’s not me but Miss Beatrice who is making things complicated. Don’t you know Marianne’s taste? Beatrice’s carriage is too simple. Maybe even the knights over there will find it more comfortable to get in my wagon.”

Mrs. Chester narrowed her eyebrows a bit and laughed with a strange look. When she mentioned Beatrice’s wagon as ‘simple,’ it meant her wagon was shabby and uncomfortable. After all, her description of Beatrice’s wagon was nothing but mockery.

Beatrice raised her glasses once with her mouth closed.

Of course, her carriage was not old or shabby. It was a carriage used by the daughter of an influential marquis in the empire. Naturally, it was made with good wood and a soft insignia. Books piled up inside were rare books, along with soft blankets and portable tea utensils that were among the best. Since Beatrice hated unnecessary luxuries, she did not decorate her carriage with cute accessories or carry luxurious items in the wagon like other girls. For example, there were no fancy props or ornaments, finely-crafted glasses, or a fan made from peacock feathers. The fact that she didn’t bring a maid showed how frugal she was.

“How could you invite Marianne to get in a carriage like yours, Beatrice? She would most likely feel uncomfortable. But you don’t have any available space in your wagon, Duchess Lamont..”

Mrs. Marquis Chester made fun of the duchess furtively as if to tease her who had no intention to share her wagon with Marianne.

“I have a very nice wagon here. Is it wrong for me to have a seat available for Marianne?”

The duchess and the marquise looked at each other sharply. The atmosphere eased by Marianne’s merciful decision was frozen again.

Marianne sighed while looking at the two women.

As the marquise said, it was only a matter of personal taste after all. And she had no intention to insist on her own taste for someone else’s wagon, which was only a means for her to travel to the destination.

“Well, I appreciate your kind offer..”

The problem was that the situation was already overheated. Either side would be offended, depending on her final choice. Although the reasons were different, she hoped that Mrs. Chester or Beatrice would not offended by her decision. In particular, she did not want to give the impression that she sided with either of them.

‘What should I do? Can I just tell them I want to walk? But it will cause inconvenience for others because they have to follow me by walking. I hate that.’

While she put her brain to work quickly, Eckart in a dark red cloak came behind her and said, “Thank you for your goodwill, but she will come with me.”

Eckhart wrapped her shoulders.

“Don’t you like it?”

Of course this was not a question, but an order.

“Oh, sounds good! I’d love to.”

Marianne replied quickly with a smile because she felt that perhaps this was the wisest option.

“Your Majesty, don’t you have the deputy chamberlain and his men in your wagon? I’m afraid you are going to move them into the ladies’ wagons..”

“It does not matter!”

When the marquise tried to find fault again, Marianne stepped in unconsciously. She didn’t want to make things complicated anymore.

At that moment, she saw several knights putting the horses driving the broken wagons back into the procession.

“I’m going to get on a horse!”

At her unexpected announcement, not only the duchess and the countess but also Eckart and Cordelli looked at Marianne in a suspicious way.

“Well, I hear the local official residence was around the corner, and I didn’t really want to get in the wagon again. I’m scared if it breaks again. Besides, the weather is so good..”

Her hurried excuses, however, didn’t appeal to them. She was faced with their cold look in an instant.

“But you will feel a bit uncomfortable if you ride a horse in your condition, and it’s also dangerous.”

“I understand that, but..”

“She will be alright if we ride together,” Eckart said conclusively.