🔊 TTS Settings
Chapter 109
The Ball Partner
Even at a time when rumors about the Saint were rampant, parties continued to be held one after another in the imperial capital. No matter how serious an incident occurred, the most important season for the social circle could not be missed.
It was on one such day.
“Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to introduce a very special guest.”
The Saint, who had been under house arrest due to the imperial trial, suddenly appeared at the party.
Dressed in a simple white dress befitting a Saint, she looked very fragile. Coming alone without a partner, she appeared pitiful.
“I don’t know if I should be attending such an event, but there is something urgent I wish to tell you all, so I had no choice but to come.”
Stella smiled gently at the nobles she knew.
“In three days, I will be able to conduct a purification ritual in the Fescallos Forest.”
“A purification ritual… you mean you will actually perform it?”
“Yes. I hope you will pray with me in the Fescallos Forest. When everyone’s prayers reach the goddess Athea, she will bestow her blessings all the more joyfully.”
The Saint, currently on trial, did not have the freedom to move as she pleased. Moreover, since she had been accused as a culprit in the imperial trial, it was hardly the time for a purification ritual.
Naturally, one noble, unable to contain curiosity, asked:
“But isn’t it dangerous during the trial?”
“Oh, that…”
A fleeting sadness crossed Stella’s cheerful face, but she soon regained her composure and spoke.
“The Emperor, deeming the trial too difficult for me, has indefinitely postponed it.”
“Is that even possible?”
“Of course, it would have been impossible if His Majesty had not trusted me.”
Stella, subtly emphasizing the Emperor’s favor, clasped her hands gracefully and nodded resolutely.
“So I will make sure the purification ritual succeeds as a way to repay His Majesty.”
I attended the Royam Kingdom’s party, to show support for the kingdom, which had lost public favor due to Princess Diana.
“Thank you for attending my party,” Queen Isabella welcomed me warmly.
‘She doesn’t look well.’
Though she knew Princess Diana had escaped safely, the fact remained that the princess had lost her status and fled.
‘She must be upset inside.’
“I’m fine. As for Princess Diana…”
“It’s alright. Thanks to the Duchess’ favor, we were able to stay safe,” Isabella Queen said, though her expression remained grim.
‘I wonder if Diana is doing well…’
Since Johan hadn’t explained the full situation, I was also concerned about Diana. The Queen handed me a glass of wine.
“Has the Duchess been well recently?”
“I’ve been fine. After the purification ritual resumed, I returned to the palace.”
It seemed a dramatic agreement had been reached between the Saint and the Emperor. We would soon witness the purification ritual and return to stay in the palace.
‘Now I’m really curious about just how grand this purification ritual is.’
Of course, imagining the Saint’s exuberance after the ritual already gave me a headache. I deliberately changed the topic with Queen Isabella, not wanting to add her more worry.
“Have you read a book called The Beautiful Monster? I’ve been reading it a lot lately.”
“Oh yes, it’s quite popular for its beautiful illustrations in the capital,” Isabella nodded.
“I hear they even hold discussions about it in salons recently.”
“Really?”
“Yes. If you’re interested, I’d recommend you join the discussion. You’d be surprised how much there is to talk about—”
Queen Isabella frowned. Pressing her temple lightly with her index finger, she spoke in a restrained voice.
“Forgive me, Duchess. I stayed up preparing for the banquet, and now I have a headache. I’ll take some medicine for a moment.”
“Shall I accompany you?”
“I don’t want to trouble our guest. Just wait a moment.”
But the Queen, heading to see a doctor, looked as if she might collapse at any moment.
‘I need to tell her about Princess Diana as soon as possible.’
As I watched the party from the side alone, a steward approached carefully.
“Excuse me, Duchess Blanchett, a distinguished guest wishes to see you.”
“A distinguished guest?”
“Yes. They requested a meeting by chance. How would you like to proceed?”
There weren’t many people I would consider “distinguished.”
‘Royalty.’
But the Crown Prince Carlos wouldn’t summon me with such formalities. The only possibilities were the Emperor or the Empress.
‘Either way, it’s odd.’
I tilted my head, following the steward. It seemed the guest had a private room prepared by the Royam Kingdom for the banquet.
“Your Majesty, I’ve brought Duchess Blanchett.”
“Let them enter.”
Inside, behind red curtains, sat a woman of simple appearance.
‘It’s the Empress.’
Brown hair, brown eyes, a delicate impression—the Empress was often criticized as the weakest among past Empresses.
‘She hardly participates in society and lives almost invisibly in the palace. No wonder they say she’ll eventually be ousted.’
Yet, as an Empress, she still held dignity and presence. She looked me over disdainfully and spoke slowly.
“Thank you for coming on such short notice, Duchess Blanchett.”
“Not at all, Your Majesty.”
The steward bowed and left, closing the door. Now it was just the Empress and me.
“Don’t just stand there. Would you care for some tea?”
She gestured toward a teacup in front of her. I smiled and sat across from her.
‘The tea is already prepared.’
To suddenly invite someone in a non-official setting and serve lukewarm tea—that was a way of showing disregard for me.
‘Looks like she wants to assert herself.’
It seemed odd for an Empress reputed to be humble.
“The Crown Prince has quite the connection with you, hasn’t he?”
“A little, yes.”
“I know he can be reckless, but Duchess, I hope you show a demeanor befitting your status. In other words, I think you should behave differently than in your youth.”
I didn’t touch my tea and stared at her.
‘So that’s why she summoned me because of the Crown Prince.’
Curious about how the Crown Prince lived so carelessly, I now understood a bit. It seemed the Empress was covering for him.
‘Convenient that she revealed the truth herself.’
The Empress set down her cup with a sharp clink.
“Duchess, do you understand what I mean?”
Something familiar appeared near her wrist.
‘A bracelet? No…’
Feeling strangely drawn, I clenched my hands under the table, drawing on fairy power.
‘Is this how it’s done?’
I had been learning from Isidore how to use fairy power.
Thump, thump—
I felt something that had been tightly bound near my heart slowly rise in response to my will.
‘This will make what I’m looking at clearer…’
The object on the Empress’s wrist glowed with fairy power.
‘So it really is her weakness. But that…’
It was the Emperor’s old jade seal. The same seal I had used to make a deal with the Emperor.
‘Why would this be her weakness?’
I was startled, speaking to the trees in my mind.
-
Can I check if I used the fairy power correctly?
-
Huh? What do you mean?
-
Exactly! What did you see?
-
No, right now…
It was pointless explaining the seal to the trees. The Empress pressed her cup, her voice low and threatening.
“Duchess, are you ignoring me?”
-
Um…
“The imperial seal…”
Clink!
‘I’m doomed!’
Distracted by talking to the trees, I messed up my words.
The Empress, startled, dropped her teacup. An awkward silence followed.
‘What should I do?’
Pale-faced, the Empress didn’t notice the broken cup and stared at me.
“How… how do you know that, Duchess?”
“Ah, that…”
“Are you trying to blackmail me?”
She swallowed nervously.
‘Too late to cover it up.’
There was no choice now. I had to act as if this was my plan all along. I picked up the cup and spoke.
“Well…”
As if I had intended this from the start.
“It depends on what Your Majesty thinks.”
“Indeed, the daughter of Libertan is truly her daughter. I didn’t expect you to reveal all of this.”
The Empress shook her head in despair.
‘Was there something between the Empress and Libertan?’
Anyway, the imperial seal was clearly a huge weakness for the Empress—something that must never be exposed. She glared at me, gripping the table.
“Tell me what you want. What should I do?”
“I want nothing from Your Majesty.”
“Are you joking with me?”
The Empress’s brown eyes flared.
“I know you wouldn’t reveal that ‘secret’ without reason. So stop dragging this out and tell me your demands honestly.”
The Empress bit her lip in fear.
‘I’m serious.’
But she seemed unwilling to back down until she heard my objective.
‘I need to appear composed, like Johan.’
I sipped my tea calmly, imagining Johan’s demeanor.
“What do you think I want?”
The carriage jolted.
Crown Prince Carlos, sitting inside, frowned, thinking irritably of the Saint.
‘I will help the Duchess win over the Crown Prince.’
‘Is it okay for the Saint to act like that?’
‘I am just helping ensure a proper connection. Everything is the will of the goddess Athea.’
Yet, in reality, the Saint couldn’t do anything. She only made things more complicated. Despite this, she ignored the Crown Prince and seemed to make a deal with the Emperor using the purification ritual as leverage.
‘I wonder if I should keep you as Crown Prince. All the ministers are warning you about your faults.’
‘…Father!’
‘If you act recklessly one more time, you will no longer hold the title of Crown Prince.’
Even the Emperor’s previously unwavering support seemed to waver. Honestly, I hadn’t anticipated such a crisis.
‘Luckily, Mother will step in.’
If the Empress negotiated with the Royam King’s representative, Carlos would have more freedom. Carlos arrived at the banquet and immediately sought the Empress.
“Mother, I’ve discussed with the Royam Kingdom—”
Carlos froze. A completely unexpected woman sat in front of the Empress.
“……Estelle?”
“That’s enough!”
The Empress shouted sharply at Carlos.
“Crown Prince, are you sane?”
“Huh?”
“Can’t you see me?”
The Empress scolded Carlos with anger. He was flustered by her reaction, which he had never experienced before.
“I was just surprised by the unexpected guest.”
“Don’t speak nonsense. I know you were going to mistreat the Duchess as well.”
“Mother, why are you—”
“As your mother, I came to clean up your mistakes, but I cannot allow this.”
Ignoring Carlos, the Empress turned to me.
“Duchess, my son’s crimes are my responsibility. I will report what he has done to His Majesty to be of great ‘help.’”
The Empress stood and left. Carlos shouted, “Mother!” but bit his lip and hurried after her.
Left alone, I stretched.
‘The Empress must be acting to stop the Crown Prince.’
It seemed the Crown Prince wouldn’t interfere with this purification ritual.
‘Come to think of it, the Saint’s ball partner was supposed to be the Crown Prince.’
But he isn’t in a position to attend the party.
‘Then who will be the Saint’s partner?’
She’s been forced to attend alone.
