I Married a Sick Husband

Chapter 16: Bat 

Catarina and Meredith.

 

The reunion of these two people was not a simple matter of just meeting.

 

“Did Princess Schwartz really return from the monastery this time?”

 

It was already a hot potato for everyone in Valtejain’s higher society.

 

“She invited Her Majesty the Empress to the tea party next week. Her Majesty declined.”

 

“Of course, she wouldn’t go. What would Her Majesty the Empress do there?”

 

“Besides, the Schwartz mansion isn’t a very nice place for her.”

 

“I think she handled it well. She called to apologise for what happened, but I wonder if a person would really change after spending a month at the monastery?”

 

“It’s not easy to stay at the Rimorsy monastery for a month.”

 

“That’s right. A relative of mine once stayed there for a while and told me it was not a place to live. There’s not much to eat and they have to work tirelessly every day. You sleep less too. It’s terrible.”

 

“That’s great to a degree. How could Princess Schwartz have survived all that with her personality?”

 

“Yes. Did she really change her mind?”

 

“I don’t know. We’ll just have to wait and see. After all, people don’t change that easily.”

 

“But personally, I hope Princess Schwartz won’t be rude to Her Majesty the Empress anymore.”

 

“Yes. I wish the social world would become more peaceful. Honestly, if Princess Schwartz keeps causing friction with Her Majesty the Empress…”

 

“Wait a minute.”

 

At that moment, someone spoke.

 

Everyone stopped talking and looked at the same spot.

 

“Actually, I have something to tell you.”

 

***

 

“We have arrived, Princess.”

 

Catarina Schwartz stepped out of the carriage with her family crest engraved in gold.

 

She showed a very proud expression.

 

‘Finally, it’s happening today.’

 

The day when Meredith’s mask will be torn apart and, then, Catarina will once again be revered as the jewel* of high society!

(T/n: The text says ‘saint’, but changed it to jewel because saint does not fit as a moniker for high society)

 

Catarina walked towards the Empress’s Palace with a smile that she couldn’t hide.

 

Just thinking about what would happen in a few moments made her heart beat faster with anticipation.

 

“Welcome, Princess Schwartz.”

 

Yulia greeted Catarina.

 

“I hope you met with no inconvenience on the way.”

 

“It was fine, Marchioness Renedy.”

 

Her concept today was a repentant saint.

 

Catarina responded to Yulia’s words in the most friendly voice she could muster.

 

“It’s nice to see you after such a long time.”

 

“…..”

 

And Yulia couldn’t get used to Catarina’s sudden change in appearance.

 

She tried hard to hide her nervousness and guided Catarina.

 

“Come this way.”

 

Eventually, Catarina arrived at the reception room.

 

‘… huh?’

 

But the inside was empty.

 

‘What? Did I come too early?’

 

Catarina naturally recalled the past when she saw this.

 

It was that embarrassing moment when she held a tea party at the Empress Dowager’s Palace, and not a single person showed up!

 

She ground her teeth involuntarily as she recalled that time.

 

‘When I think about that time, I’d be happy even if I tore Meredith’s clothes to pieces!’

 

But it was all in the past.

 

Catarina took a deep breath and tried to calm herself down.

 

‘Or maybe, no one came except me?’

 

After all, it was the Empress’s tea party?

 

‘She didn’t invite me alone, did she?’

 

She was thinking of many strange scenarios.

 

With a creaking sound, the door opened and someone came inside.

 

“Princess Schwartz.”

 

It was Meredith.

 

Catarina frowned reflexively when she saw Meredith.

 

It wasn’t just because she didn’t like her.

 

‘… why are you wearing a white dress?

 

In order to keep up with the concept of a ‘repentant saint’, Catarina was wearing a white dress, symbolising purity.

 

However, it was quite jarring that Meredith was also wearing the same colour.

 

However, instead of showing her true feelings, Catarina smiled pretentiously and paid her respects.

 

“Greetings to the beautiful moon of the empire, the mistress of the imperial family.”

 

“Princess Schwartz.”

 

“It’s been a while, Your Majesty the Empress.”

 

“Indeed. It’s been quite some time.”

 

Meredith approached Catarina with a faint smile.

 

“How have you been?”

 

“……”

 

Catarina felt a sudden surge of  ‘anger’ at that question.

 

‘That arrogant thing dares ask me that question?’

 

It was clearly an attempt to tease her.

 

Even after being completely well aware that she would not have had a good time in the monastery, she still dared to ask that question!

 

‘I should have sent that girl Meredith to the monastery a long time ago.’

 

No matter how much she thought about it, it was a fatal mistake.

 

If she had, she would not have become the empress, and the situation would not have reached this point.

 

‘… well, it’s not too late. After all, when I become the empress, she will either go to the monastery or be beheaded.’

 

Personally, she wished to make her suffer in the monastery before killing her instead of killing her right away.

 

Meredith must suffer the same way as she did, but with more pain!

 

“Yes, Your Majesty. I have been very well.”

 

With her sinister intentions completely hidden, Catarina answered politely.

 

“I spent a lot of time reflecting on myself during my stay at the monastery.”

 

“It seems you had a meaningful time. It was a good thing. You must have experienced a lot.”

 

“Of course. But why am I alone here? The others…”

 

“Oh, the others are not here right now. They are somewhere else.”

 

“… is that so? But why did you call me here?”

 

“I wanted to have time to talk alone with the princess.”

 

Meredith said calmly.

 

“To be exact, it seems like the princess has something to say to me.”

 

“… so.”

 

Catarina’s eyes lit up.

 

“The others are somewhere else, right?”

 

“Yes. After you finish talking with me, we can head there.”

 

Meredith looked at Catarina intently.

 

“You said you wanted to meet me in person and apologise, right?”

 

“I was going to do that. In front of everyone.”

 

Catarina smiled brightly and her expression changed.

 

“But if there’s no one here, then there’s no need to do that.”

 

“What do you mean?”

 

“You don’t have to act fake in front of me, Meredith. It’s just the two of us right now.”

 

The door was firmly shut.

 

No one could hear their conversation.

 

The mere fact completely disarmed Catarina.

 

“It’s been a long time since I’ve had a comfortable conversation. All this time, I thought my mouth was going to rot from being polite to you.”

 

“… … .”

 

“Earlier, you always bowed your head in front of me and trembled, and now that you’re the empress, you act so proud and annoying.”

 

“I thought you had considered such a situation when you had agreed to let me become  the empress.”

 

“Back then, I did not know that you would behave so arrogantly now. As an illegitimate child, you should be ashamed of yourself. If I were you, I would have hidden my existence as much as possible. That’s what we expected when we made you the empress.”

 

“…..”

 

“You have no shame, do you? No conscience? It’s obvious that you even dared to frame my mother, who raised you, and dared to exile her.”

 

“False accusations… Putting that aside, don’t you think it’s a bit unfair to state that Madam Schwartz raised me?”

 

Meredith asked with a hollow laugh.

 

“She may have abused me, but she probably didn’t discipline me.”

 

“Shut up. I could beat up a bastard like you. What’s the big deal? You drove a nail into my mother’s heart, so you should live your whole life in atonement. Shouldn’t you be at least grateful that she saved your life?”

 

“…..”

 

“Well, your vixen mother lured my father into giving birth to you. The bastard status is obvious. She couldn’t even speak, so how pitiful must she have acted with those big eyes of hers? Such a revolting thing.”

 

“… Princess Schwartz, you just crossed the line.”

 

“You were born to a mother like that, so your nature is very obvious. You must have learned from your mother and excelled at seducing men. That’s why even His Majesty the Emperor, who is so sickly, fell for you…”

 

That was all Catarina could say.

 

-SLAP!

 

Unable to contain her anger, Meredith finally slapped Catarina hard on the cheek.

 

“Kyaaak!”

 

Catarina, who was slapped on the cheek unexpectedly, screamed loud enough for it to be heard outside.

 

“Your Majesty, why are you doing this to me…?!”

 

“The princess’s presumption has reached a point where I can’t even look at it.”

 

Meredith glared at Catarina in a cold, sullen tone, as if she was really angry.

 

“I thought you had changed since you returned after spending a month at the monastery. But, I see people don’t change so easily.”

 

“Your Majesty, you will definitely regret what you just did.”

 

“Regret?”

 

“Can you see the handprint on this cheek?”

 

Catarina proudly pointed to her cheek with her finger as if she was showing off a medal.

 

“Anyone can see that it is Your Majesty’s. Because my hands are smaller than Her Majesty the Empress’.”

 

“…..”

 

“Everyone will think that Your Majesty has slapped me. Your Majesty’s ridiculous pretence ends today.”

 

“It sounds like you’re trying to make me look like a bad person.”

 

“You just realised that now?”

 

Catarina laughed at the foolish Meredith.

 

“Thank you, Your Majesty. Judging by my flushed cheek, I can see that the handprint is very deep. It’ll last a long time. I like it.”

 

“…..”

 

“I’ll go out now and tell everyone about Your Majesty’s atrocities. How shocked do you think will everyone be?”

 

“No.”

 

Meredith snickered, which was inappropriate for the seriousness of the situation.

 

“You don’t have to go to such trouble.”

 

“What….”

 

A zipping sound echoed.

 

At that moment, the sudden sound took Catarina by surprise.

 

“….!”

 

It was a sound she shouldn’t have heard and, the sight before her was a sight that never should have been there.