Volume 1 Chapter 84

Volume 1 + Chapter 84: Chancelianne

“Miss Eve, you really know how to speak. I already have a child. I’m not young, and I’m far from being beautiful.”

Chancelianne smiled softly, but Eve’s compliment still made her very happy.

After all, she rarely heard anyone praise her like this.

The reason was actually simple. Just as everyone assumed Qianzhi’s shyness was a cold, aloof kind of elegance, others also looked at the Empress through a filter.

Ordinary people could not—and had no opportunity to—praise the Empress for her beauty.

After all, the Empress had been carefully selected by the royal family, her looks naturally didn’t require external validation.

But even a carefully selected royal is still human and still needs emotional affirmation.

The definition of beauty or ugliness is ultimately determined by people. For the Empress, who rarely received recognition from others, it was natural that she would gradually feel a bit insecure about her own remarkable beauty.

After all, can beauty that is not acknowledged by others truly be called beauty?

However, to outsiders, the Empress was unquestionably one of the most beautiful women in the empire. But precisely because of her elevated status, no one dared to praise her looks in front of her.

After all, one wrong move could cost someone their head.

“Not at all, Your Majesty is truly beautiful. I was thinking just yesterday—if you stood next to Alice, one could easily mistake you for sisters.”

Even Eve only dared to praise the Empress like this in relatively private moments. It was clear that the compliments the Empress normally received were extremely rare.

“You flatter me. Alright, time is tight, so let’s get going.”

“Follow me.”

The Empress said, leading Eve toward another room. Eve had no idea where they were going and could only follow behind.

From Eve’s perspective, the Empress’s delicate, graceful hips, covered lightly by sheer fabric, swayed with her elegant steps, making Eve’s eyes nearly pop.

One had to admit—the Empress’s figure was truly outstanding.

A carefully selected royal—truly lived up to the reputation.

However… the Empress seemed to be wearing only a lightweight sheer nightdress.

So bold?

Thinking this, Eve quickly averted her gaze. Perhaps sensing something, the Empress slowly stopped walking.

Her half-stepped forward fair feet withdrew, and she turned her head to look at Eve, who had been distracted and almost collided with her.

“Are you nervous?”

“A little… after all, your attire…”

Eve glanced at the Empress in front of her, then immediately recoiled as if electrocuted.

Seeing Eve’s slightly adorable shy reaction, Chancelianne couldn’t help but laugh.

“Indeed, I am dressed somewhat inappropriately.”

“Inappropriately…?”

Eve considered the Empress’s choice of words. She felt that “inappropriate” wasn’t quite right—“revealing” would probably be more accurate.

“I sincerely consider you a friend, and for your first formal visit today, I am dressed so inappropriately. I truly apologize.”

“But there is no other way—I rested too late yesterday, and today’s schedule is too tight.”

Chancelianne looked at Eve and couldn’t help but show a slight apologetic expression. Her words left Eve momentarily stunned.

So, in the Empress’s heart, Eve had always been treated as a friend?

No wonder she was so informal…

But even as a friend, would one really sway in front of them wearing just a sheer nightdress?

You’re not worried your friend will say… “Sister, you smell so nice”?

Eve could roughly understand why the Empress was so unguarded around her.

One reason was her deep connection with Alice, giving the Empress a natural layer of trust.

Second, Eve herself had a daughter, and Chancelianne thought highly of her, hoping she could develop within the imperial family in the future.

Additionally, Eve was undeniably beautiful herself. Even a carefully selected Empress appeared to gain an advantage in her presence.

Eve’s beauty was such that it could redefine people’s standards of aesthetics.

While others were still constrained by conventional beauty, Eve, with her looks, had already redefined it.

From Chancelianne’s perspective, she likely wouldn’t feel the need to guard herself against Eve, the soft, white-haired, melancholy-looking lady.

On the contrary, letting Eve glance at her a few times would be to her own advantage.

Thinking this, Eve relaxed considerably. Her hesitant eyes, unsure where to look, now confidently rested on the Empress’s shapely hips.

It’s just a friend’s hips—what’s the harm in a glance?

“By the way, Your Majesty, where are we going? Aren’t we measuring?”

Eve followed the Empress, enjoying the view immensely.

Unfortunately, whether it was due to the Empress’s deliberate, formulaic walking or just Eve’s bad luck, the sheer nightdress—already short enough to barely cover the thighs—remained just out of full view. No matter how Eve anticipated it, she couldn’t see what she wanted.

The angle was always perfectly teasing—every time just a little out of reach, leaving Eve… well, flustered.

“Yes, we are measuring. But my time is tight—could you help me measure while I bathe? It shouldn’t trouble you too much, right?”

“And also, don’t call me Your Majesty anymore. Outside, you can just call me Chancelianne.”

The Empress looked at Eve with a hint of a smile in her eyes. The more she looked, the more she liked Eve.

Ordinarily, she had no close friends. Apart from the head of the Lorin family who occasionally chatted with her, she had no one in this vast palace with whom she could share her thoughts.

Women, after all, usually like gossip.

Chancelianne, deep in the imperial palace, was constantly exposed to gossip.

After all, the nobles of the empire lived flamboyantly.

Like a bucket constantly filled to the brim, eventually it would overflow.

Alice was a perfect example…

The higher one’s status in the imperial family, the more one needed a safe and efficient outlet for venting.

Finding a friend of similar status and age, who could keep secrets, was a luxury for the Empress.

“Yes, Your Majesty, it won’t be troublesome. Wait—what did you say?”

“Measure while bathing?”

Eve felt her hands start to tremble. She almost dropped the measuring tape in her hands.

Chancelianne noticed Eve’s slight trembling and adorable reaction, and couldn’t help but laugh.

“Don’t be nervous, it’s fine. I’ll be careful not to get your clothes wet. If you’re worried, you can undress and join me in the bath.”

“Sorry for troubling you. Let’s hurry.”

Chancelianne, pressed for time, gave Eve no chance to hesitate and entered the bathroom first.

Leaving Eve alone, holding the measuring tape, unsure what to do…

She had thought entering the Empress’s bedroom was shocking enough—now this? The Empress was inviting her into the bath herself!

“B-but is this really okay?”

Eve asked softly, her voice almost a whisper, barely audible even to herself.

Seeing no response from the Empress, Eve took a deep breath and bravely stepped inside.

If the Empress didn’t say anything, lingering would only appear impolite.

Right, what’s the punishment for acting inappropriately in the empire again?

No! What am I thinking? She’s Alice’s mother! The Empress of the empire!

I can’t think this way… I must uphold justice and not let desire control me.

“Come in quickly.”

Chancelianne’s slightly seductive voice came from the bath.

“Oh, okay, just a moment.”

Done…?

The imperial palace’s bathroom was as spacious as Eve’s luxurious apartment. Even the steamy bath alone was larger than Eve’s living room.

The shower and changing area were fully equipped, even with a place for tea.

And Chancelianne truly didn’t treat Eve as an outsider. Already in just a sheer nightdress, a simple gesture of her hand left nothing remaining.

Unfortunately, the warm bathroom and steam obscured Eve’s view. The heat made her thighs, clad in a black silk skirt, slightly uncomfortable.

She should have removed the black silk—this was far too uncomfortable.

Eve lifted her high-heeled foot, noticing the black silk wet with steam, now glistening.

Through it, her fair legs were visible, looking extremely…

Unbeknownst to Eve, she was being subtly mesmerized by Chancelianne’s movements, while Chancelianne secretly observed Eve.

As the Empress, Chancelianne was naturally more reserved.

Yet seeing Eve adjusting her wet stockings while lifting her heels, Chancelianne couldn’t help licking her lips.

“Don’t worry. I bathe like this every day. Just start measuring, no need to be reserved.”

“My schedule is tight, and there isn’t much time to enjoy the bath. Later we will go directly to Alice for a trial lesson. If all goes well, this girl will be entrusted to you.”

Through the steamy bath, Chancelianne glanced at the slightly embarrassed Eve and thought to herself… she’s really cute. So pure. She would get along well with my daughter, I think.

Unfortunately, she likely couldn’t have a deep connection with her.

Compared to her obedient and pure daughter, she, as a mother, was clearly more unconventional.

Simply put, she oddly liked mothers with children who were beautiful, just like herself.

But such an “XP” was clearly hard to maintain.

A mother with a child as old as Alice might not be beautiful, and a beautiful mother might not have a child.

Without a doubt, Eve fit her expectations perfectly.

Single, white hair, blue eyes, melancholic face, good figure, graceful, mothering, and raising a daughter so well. Perfect.

“Are you nervous?”

Chancelianne teased Eve from the bath, sprinkled with red rose petals, in a relaxed tone.

“It’s fine. Here, it’s just you and me. Don’t be nervous. Let’s treat each other as friends.”

Eve still couldn’t suppress her nervousness.

But no matter how nervous, she had to proceed—she couldn’t waste the Empress’s precious time.

“Alright, I’ll start measuring… the ch-chest…”

“The bust, right? Should I stand up to help you?”

“N-no need.”

Eve felt extremely tense. Looking at the measuring tape, she honestly couldn’t see the markings.

And she really didn’t know how to use it.

Eve was only good with hands…

Maybe it was nerves, or maybe the steam affected her vision…

A “slap” sound echoed.

Eve accidentally struck the Empress’s back with the tape. Even through the mist, she could see the bright red mark.

Eve was terrified. She flung the tape across the huge bath.

In the vast water, the small tape left only tiny splashes before disappearing completely.

The atmosphere became instantly awkward…

“I-I didn’t do it on purpose, do you believe me?”

Eve’s voice trembled.

“It’s fine.”

Chancelianne’s tone remained calm, though her breathing had quickened slightly.

In the earlier fluster, aside from hearing the tape splash, Eve also thought she heard a faint, almost imperceptible moan.

The sound seemed familiar—Eve’s mind went blank, but she still subconsciously paid attention.

It sounded like something she had heard from Alice’s mouth…

“I said, don’t be nervous. The tape probably… can’t be found, right?”

Chancelianne looked at the steamy bath, feeling slightly embarrassed.

In such a huge bath, with scattered rose petals, finding a small measuring tape was no easy task.

“Do you have any other tools? Today is the only time you’re free to help me. And if the dress isn’t ready before leaving for another country, it would be disastrous…”

“By the way, Miss Eve, do you know how to measure using your hands?”