"Queen Regina was supposed to be the Empress," Erin went straight to the point.

My eyes blinked at her and I got a little confused for a moment. I heard something about Queen Regina being the empress but did I really hear it right?

"What? Really?" I wanted to confirm because that's a piece of juicy news.

We all know who the current reigning Empress is and that is my aunt who I've been meeting for a casual afternoon tea in the garden from time to time. So hearing that she wasn't the first choice was eye-opening? I don't know, really...

"It was the talk of the town for so long that it lasted for over a year. It was still even talked about discreetly within the social circle," Erin added, fully donning her gossiping mood.

The others also stopped mulling within themselves and their attention went to us.. The two girls especially seemed very curious as they listened.

Mari suddenly piped in, "I remembered our neighbors gossiping about it every time they met. I was about 15 that time," she said, looking thoughtful.

15? So how old is Mari right now? She doesn't look older than 22 to me...

But wait, back to the topic. If Queen Regina was supposed to be the empress, then what happened? Why did she become Queen?

Looks like I don't have to voice out my concerns anymore because Erin started talking.

"Queen Regina and the Emperor were engaged to each other when they were still kids. Or that's what they said," Erin then refilled my cup with tea but still continued explaining nonetheless-- "It was already decided that Queen Regina would be the emperor's consort at that time and everyone was just waiting for the royal wedding to happen. Until the current Empress came into the picture."

"Auntie," I mumbled.

To what I have known. Father and the current Emperor were childhood friends so it wouldn't be weird that His Majesty would also get to meet his sister. And then they would run into each other which would then create more interactions between the two, and then during those interactions, they probably got closer and learned things about each other.

Then upon knowing more and more about the other person, they then started to feel something that wasn't there in the first place. They'll get curious and confused, they would want to know what these emotions are. These feelings that give them weird chills every time they think or see them, the longing they feel for the other person... They will eventually get more and more curious.

'What is this feeling? Why am I thinking about her? About him? Who am I? What is love?'

All that... And then when they see each other again, the feeling goes stronger than ever that even them would be bewildered. They would then---- okay wait. Let us stop right there.

Why am I creating a scene out of their love story right now? Seriously...

'Ahem...'

"Yes, milady. I really have no idea what happened by then because it was already so long ago but one day, the Emperor who was only the Crown Prince that time had a change of heart and started pursuing Empress Yulia," Erin divulged. She also lowered her voice for some reason, seemingly being careful so no other person would hear her except for our group.

Her worries are really not that serious because there's only us on my balcony and also, we are inside the Herman manor. Who would tattle against us?

"I heard that the Marquis's sister was very reluctant because the Emperor was already engaged," Mari jumped in, who had also lowered her voice just like Erin.

Because the two were purposely toning down their volume, the three had come closer to hear them clearly. Now, we truly looked like a bunch of gossiping ladies.

"Yeah but the Emperor chased her," Erin countered.

She sounded so sure as if she was there in the scene and had experienced it herself. Now that I think of it, how old is Erin? When I first met her, she had said that she was already working with us for five years and now, eight years.

But wow... so the emperor did the chasing? How romantic... But kind of sad if I was in Queen Regina's shoes. I mean, my fiance suddenly reverted his attention to another woman, what would I feel knowing that?

"The nobility at that time was also torn into two sides," Erin added some more.

"I heard of that too! There was a faction where they supported the Majesty to take Empress Yulia as his wife instead. Because you know, Empress Yulia came from a Marquis household," Mari affirmed in an excited voice.

There was a solemn nod that came from Erin, confirming it.

"How about Queen Regina? Which household did she come from? I never heard a thing about Edinbeyers," I inquired.

If the noble factions are torn with who's to install in His Majesty's side, then what was the reason? Are the Edinbeyers not enough for them?

"Ohh, I also don't know about them, milady," Mari answered sincerely.

Erin nodded her head, "Me too. All I know is that Queen Regina and the Emperor were already engaged before anyone knows of it." She then hummed to herself, maybe trying to think if there's something she had missed.

'How mysterious...'

The Edinbeyers... I really have no clue what kind of family they are even though I had prided myself for knowing every noble family out there that exists. I memorized all of them because it is my duty as a lady of high standing. Therefore, I would know what to do when a time comes that I would get acquainted with any of them.

To be honest, I might have only focused on the powerful and prestigious ones. So maybe it's also part of my fault. Then again, if Queen Regina got betrothed to the Emperor, that just meant that she came from an influential family as well. I mean, that's palace matters 101, you know. Royals get engaged with other royals or influential people because what is the point?

But I never heard of that surname before... until last night, of course.

Just like the Von Brandts and D'Angelo's.

Hmmm... Really fishy...