I Married a Sick Husband

Catarina’s overdressing is probably a struggle to make up for what had happened the last time.

 

‘Even so, it would be like digging her own grave….’

 

While Meredith was staring blankly at Catarina who was trying to talk to the other noble ladies, Yulia approached her.

 

“Your Majesty the Empress.”

 

Yulia called out while approaching Meredith with a nervous look on her face.

 

“Your Majesty the Empress, it is time to present the birthday gift to His Majesty the Emperor.”

 

Usually, the birthday banquet begins with the Emperor or Empress officially giving a gift to their spouse.

 

Meredith spoke to Theodore after nodding at Yulia.

 

“Let’s go to the podium, Your Majesty.”

 

As the two moved towards the podium together, nobles who knew the order also gathered around them.

 

In an instant, almost all the nobles paid attention to the podium where the two people stood.

 

“Thank you to all the nobles who are attending His Majesty’s birthday banquet tonight.”

 

Meredith spoke in a sonorous voice.

 

“To wish for your health and to congratulate you on your birthday, we have prepared a gift for you.”

 

After finishing speaking, Meredith gestured gracefully.

 

Soon servants appeared, pulling a huge red cloth-wrapped cake on a serving cart.

 

Meredith approached the cart and opened her mouth with a smile.

 

“This is a gift I personally prepared for Your Majesty.”

 

Meredith clapped her hands.

 

At the same time, the servants removed the cloth.

 

Inside a transparent glass box, a gorgeous 10-layer cake was revealed.

 

It was covered in a generous amount of white and pink whipped cream and decorated with numerous red roses, reminiscent of their wedding reception cake.

 

Exclamations burst from everyone’s mouths as it reached a height where they could barely see the top of it unless they raised their heads.

 

“Congratulations on your birthday, Your Majesty.”

 

Meredith bowed her head deeply to Theodore, and at the same time, applause erupted around them.

 

Theodore said to Meredith with a very touched face.

 

“Thank you, Empress. I can’t believe you prepared such a big cake for me.”

 

“Do you like it, Your Majesty?”

 

“Of course. But I think it would be too much for me to eat alone.”

 

Theodore asked, looking around.

 

“I want to share this cake with everyone. What do you think?”

 

“It is an honor, Your Majesty!”

 

“Thank you, Your Majesty!”

 

Of course, the response was good.

 

There would be nothing more glorious than being able to taste the Emperor’s birthday cake prepared specially by the Empress herself.

 

Meredith smiled and said to Theodore.

 

“Your Majesty cut the cake with me and then we can share it with everyone.”

 

“Good idea.”

 

After a while, a servant brought out a huge bread knife for the two of them.

 

Meredith grabbed the knife with Theodore and cut the bottom layer in half.

 

“Your Majesty the Emperor, congratulations on your birthday!”

 

“May your reign last forever!”

 

At the same time, the congratulatory wishes from the people around them sounded like thunder.

 

Amidst the many well-wishers, Meredith watched as the attendants cut the cake into tiny pieces.

 

Eventually, her eyes turned to Catarina.

 

She was staring at the cake on the podium with great anticipation on her face.

 

It was obvious what she was thinking.

 

Meredith burst out laughing without even realizing it.

 

After a while, pieces of cake were handed out to everyone, including the Emperor and the Empress.

 

“Try it first, Your Majesty.”

 

“It looks very delicious.”

 

With an expectant look, just when Theodore was about to taste the cake, someone stopped him.

 

“Just a moment, Your Majesty.”

 

“I don’t think you should eat this cake.”

 

It was Catarina.

 

Everyone murmured in confusion over her sudden behaviour.

 

Meredith looked at Catarina with her brows narrowed.

 

“What’s going on, Princess Schwartz?”

 

“This cake smells like peaches.”

 

“But this cake doesn’t have any peaches in it.”

 

Meredith asked back, her brows still narrowed.

 

“Why are you doing this all of a sudden?”

 

“I am aware that His Majesty the Emperor is allergic to peaches.”

 

Catarina spoke confidently.

 

“So wouldn’t it be a big deal if this cake contained peaches?”

 

“I have been telling you that there are no peaches in this cake.”

 

“But there’s no way to prove that, is there, Your Majesty?”

 

“Let’s directly question the pastry chef who prepared this cake.”

 

Meredith strengthened her voice as she continued.

 

“As far as I know, this cake only contains strawberries and oranges. No other fruits were added.”

 

“Great. Then, let’s call the pastry chef and ask him.”

 

“….”

 

Although Meredith looked very absurd at this situation, she eventually called the head of the Imperial Confectionery Department and asked, “What fruits were used to prepare this cake?”

 

“Just strawberries and oranges, Your Majesty.”

 

“Are there peaches in it?”

 

“Originally, we were going to use peaches instead of oranges, but after Her Majesty the Empress belatedly requested, we changed them to oranges.”

 

“Just as I said.”

 

Meredith asked Catarina with a look on her face as to what she was going to do now.

 

“So is the problem resolved now?”

 

“I’m glad I realised.”

 

Catarina quickly changed her attitude.

 

“I guess I smelled wrong. I apologize, Your Majesty.”

 

But even as she was spitting out her apology, Catarina was laughing at Meredith in her mind.

 

‘Stupid girl, you’d better believe me.’

 

If the emperor were to eat the cake, he would definitely have an allergic reaction due to the peaches in the cake.

 

She had ordered someone to add peach juice to the cake batter, so there was no doubt about it.

 

Catarina watched Theodore putting the cake into his mouth with great anticipation.

 

“Just a moment, Your Majesty.”

 

At that time, an unfamiliar voice stopped Theodore once again.

 

Meredith and Theodore, as well as Catarina and Blair, all looked at the owner of the voice with puzzled faces.

 

“I think we should listen to what Princess Schwartz says.”

 

The owner of the voice had dark green hair and red eyes that resemble rubies.

 

The facial features were as gorgeous as the contrast between the strong complementary colors. He had a beautiful appearance.

 

Meredith had definitely seen that face before.

 

‘That man…’

 

Clearly, he was the man from back then— the man who had found her purse stolen by the pickpocketer.

 

But why was that man here?

 

‘Was he a nobleman?’

 

She thought it was deafening in its appearance.

 

‘Still, I never thought I’d see him in a place like this again…’

 

But what surprised Meredith even more was Theodore’s next words.

 

“… Fabian.”

 

“Your Majesty the Emperor, it’s been a while since I greeted you.”

 

Fabian Valtejain came up to Theodore and his wife and bowed.

 

“Greetings to the sun of the empire. Also….”

 

Soon, Fabian’s eyes turned to Meredith.

 

The two people’s gazes collided under the stage.

 

Last time, before he left, there was a situation similar to now.

 

Even back then, his eyes were so intense.

 

“Greetings to the new moon of the empire as well. Fabian Valtejain, greets your Majesty the Empress.”

 

So, the man in front of Meredith was none other than Fabian Valtejain, Theodore’s half-brother and Blair’s only son.

 

A prince who is first in line to the throne of the Valtejain Empire.

 

In other words, Theodore’s biggest enemy.

 

“This is my second time seeing you.”

 

He added softly in a voice that could only be heard by Meredith, but naturally the words were also heard by Theodore, who was nearby.

 

‘… Second?’

 

He narrowed his eyes as he failed to understand what Fabian meant.

 

However, due to the circumstances, he asked a different question instead of asking about it straight away.

 

“It’s been a while since I’ve seen you, Fabian. But may I know why you stopped me?”

 

“The health of His Majesty, the Sun of the Empire, is an important matter for Valtejain.”

 

“However?”

 

“If this cake indeed contains peaches, as Princess Schwartz said, and if His Majesty is truly allergic to peaches….”

 

Fabian finished his sentence by looking directly into Theodore’s eyes, “Then, isn’t it a very big problem?”

 

“Of course it is. But hasn’t it already been confirmed by the pastry chef?”