I Have To Take It From You (2)
Chapter 109 – I Have To Take It From You (2)
Duke Elgy leaned down to rest his arms on his knees, and he whispered conspiratorially to her.
"Now imagine it. Your parents were looking for a lost baby. Then, when you became the Emperor’s concubine and rumors of your beauty spread, they came to see you."
"It’s like a fairy tale…"
"It is a fairy tale. That’s why people like it, right?"
A gleam entered into Duke Elgy’s eyes.
"Miss, do you have family?"
"…No."
"That doesn’t matter. There are plenty of poor nobles who can serve as your parents."
Duke Elgy gave a chuckle of satisfaction.
"It may look too obvious if we choose a noble family from the Eastern Empire, so I’ll arrange one from my country."
Rashta was too dazed to answer properly.
False parents…not criminal parents who made their daughter a slave, but proud ones. The status that she considered a shackle on her life, was so easy to replace!
At the same time, she felt regret regarding Sovieshu. She wished she had lied and told him about the false noble parents from the start. Why didn’t she?
‘Because the Emperor didn’t intend to make Rashta the empress, that’s why.’
"Miss."
The duke waved his finger in front of Rashta, drawing her focus away from her thoughts.
"Oh, I’m sorry."
"Do you understand what I’ve said?"
"I do…"
"It may seem easy, but it’s dangerous. However, I think this is the only way you can protect yourself from the empress."
"I’ll do it."
She spoke with a resolute expression on her face, and Duke Elgy covered his mouth and chuckled.
"Very well. But you must promise me one thing."
"Rashta will pay you back when she becomes empress!"
"No. It’s not that."
"?"
"No matter what anyone says, don’t ever accept a paternity test. Otherwise, everyone will find out that you are not related to your parents by blood."
"Of course."
Rashta smiled and agreed. She twisted her fingers nervously when she asked her next question.
"Well…what happens after that? What should I do after I change my background? Just because I’m a noblewoman doesn’t mean I become empress."
Duke Elgy replied to her question with his own.
"I heard that you couldn’t read. Can you read now?"
Rashta blushed and answered in a small voice.
"I can read simple books. I can also write."
"Keep studying, and take a lot of classes."
A strange expression crossed Rashta’s face when she heard those words.
"Why that look on your face? Do you hate studying?"
"It’s not that…it’s just that studying doesn’t seem to be a way of attacking…"
"You don’t have a choice. Empress Navier has a good reputation."
"She’s packaged well."
"Whether it’s the packaging or not, a direct attack on her would only cause backlash. The first thing you need to do is raise your profile as high as the Empress’, and at that point you can fight."
Duke Elgy’s words implied that Rashta, as she currently was, was not at the same level as the empress. She became sulky, but was forced to acknowledge the reality of it.
"The nobles ignore Rashta because of prejudice. But will it stop just because I study?"
"Of course not. That’s why you will go for the common people. Make them think you can represent them."