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Chapter : 16
Perisian merely wore a clear, gentle smile as she looked at Lysianthus and me.
Even that smile made me uncomfortable, but because of appearances, I smiled back in return.
“It seems the inner court can only be at peace when Her Majesty the Empress and Her Highness the Empress Consort are so harmonious.”
“I hope you will visit the imperial palace often as well, Grand Duchess. I, too, will be waiting for you.”
“I will keep that in mind, Your Highness.”
After offering her greetings, Perisian disappeared from before our eyes.
In the end, Perisian—the villain—and the fall of the Marquis of Dotena end in such an unsettling way. Is there something I don’t know?
Thinking of the villains in the novel whose stories ended with nothing more than their mysterious deaths and the discovery of their bodies, I remained silent.
“Estellin?”
“……”
“Estellin!”
When I failed to hear Lysianthus calling me because I was lost in thought, she called my name again, a little louder.
“Huh? You called?”
“What were you thinking about so deeply that you didn’t even hear me?”
“Nothing in particular. I guess I got tired because I woke up early to get ready.”
I answered casually when Lysianthus asked with curiosity.
“You? Saying the preparations were hard, when you love banquets so much?”
It was a poor excuse.
The original Estellin, who loved banquets, apparently even enjoyed the preparation process.
Lysianthus looked at me strangely.
I can’t let her notice.
“Maybe it’s because I haven’t fully recovered yet. I felt especially exhausted today.”
I forced a smile, trying to escape the situation.
Fortunately, the excuse seemed to work.
Perhaps worried about my condition, Lysianthus tightly held my hand.
“Your hands are so cold. Are you still unwell?”
“I think I’ll be fine if I rest properly after the Founding Anniversary Festival, so you don’t need to worry.”
“I’ll tell the imperial physician to prepare medicine. Stop by the Empress’s Palace after the banquet.”
As soon as she finished speaking, Lysianthus seemed to remember something urgent. After asking my understanding, she headed toward the nobles.
Left alone, I could feel the noble ladies glancing at me.
This is… overwhelming.
Feeling my face heat up and turn red, I opened my fan and lightly covered my face.
Just then, someone called out to me from beside me.
“Pleased to meet you, Your Highness the Grand Duchess.”
Turning toward the gentle, warm voice, I saw a noble young lady.
Seeing an unfamiliar face, I simply stared at her.
“I am Alise Dangel of the Count Dangel family. It is truly an honor to meet you, Your Highness.”
I didn’t know why she had suddenly approached me, but I returned the greeting.
“It’s nice to meet you, Lady Dangel.”
I merely smiled once, yet Lady Dangel’s face flushed innocently.
She’s unusually pure for a noble lady.
Lady Dangel then led me along, saying she would introduce me to her friends.
“We greet Your Highness the Grand Duchess.”
Just as expected from Lady Dangel’s friends, they were all brimming with innocence.
“Your Highness. His Grace the Grand Duke is looking for you.”
“Is that so? Let’s go.”
After asking the young ladies for their understanding, I headed toward where Luciano was.
“I heard you were looking for me, Luciano.”
“His Majesty the Emperor wishes to see both you and me regarding the orphanage. Shall we go together?”
I took Luciano’s arm, and we headed to Khalid’s office.
“Your Majesty, His Grace the Grand Duke and Her Highness the Grand Duchess have arrived.”
“Let them enter.”
At the Emperor’s permission, the attendant bowed, signaling us to go in.
“Please, go ahead.”
As we entered, Khalid welcomed us warmly.
“Sit down, Grand Duke, Grand Duchess.”
“We greet Your Majesty.”
“We greet Your Majesty.”
As soon as we sat, Khalid got straight to the point.
“I hear the two of you intend to establish an orphanage?”
“Yes, Your Majesty. That is correct.”
“Looking at the plan the Grand Duke submitted, you’ve already selected the land and personnel. I’ll entrust everything to you both—handle it as you see fit.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“We are deeply honored.”
“And regarding the succession—there’s no movement from the Emperor’s faction?”
Why would the Emperor’s faction move?
That faction also belonged to Lysianthus.
I couldn’t understand why he would even ask.
“There are signs that some wish to bring in a daughter of the Count Dangel family as an Empress Consort.”
Count Dangel…?
The face of Lady Dangel, whom I had just met, flashed through my mind like a picture.
“Is that so?”
“Yes, Your Majesty. It’s only a small number of families, so it’s nothing you need concern yourself with.”
“Continue to keep watch. And be careful that it doesn’t reach the Empress’s ears.”
“Yes, Your Majesty. Understood.”
I could say nothing and merely darted my eyes around.
“Grand Duchess, do lend your strength to the Empress as well.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“No one is having a harder time than Her Majesty the Empress right now.”
Luciano spoke sincerely.
“Yes. That is precisely why it troubles me all the more. Despite her efforts and regular examinations by physicians, there’s still no sign of an heir.”
Khalid pressed his temple as though the matter gave him a headache.
“And I have a favor to ask of you, Grand Duchess.”
“What might it be, Your Majesty?”
“My cousin, Ariel, will be arriving soon. Would you accompany the Empress and keep Ariel company?”
I couldn’t grasp why the Emperor would suddenly ask me to be a companion to a princess.
Lysianthus will be there too…
But I couldn’t oppose the Emperor, so I quietly agreed.
“Yes, Your Majesty. I will do so.”
“Then you may go.”
When we exited the office, I saw Lysianthus waiting outside.
“Oh—Sister…”
“Come with me.”
Putting on a stern expression, Lysianthus led me to the Empress’s Palace.
Why does she suddenly look so serious? Did she hear what we were talking about…? No, that can’t be. The Emperor’s office must be soundproof.
“Estellin. You must never trust Princess Ariel!”
Lysianthus gripped my shoulders tightly, as if she’d heard something.
“Ah—Sister, that hurts. Who exactly is Princess Ariel?”
“This will be your first time meeting her. You know that the late Empress—His Majesty Khalid’s mother—was originally a princess from another kingdom, correct?”
“Yes, I know.”
“After the late Empress came to the Empire, her younger sister—the second princess—ascended the throne. And that queen’s daughter is Princess Ariel.”
“Then why should I be wary of her?”
“She never reveals her true intentions—not even once. I’ve met her several times since marrying into the imperial family, yet I’ve never seen her true feelings. Her words are filled with thorns sharper than blades.”
“I’ll be careful, Sister.”
Only then did Lysianthus release her grip.
“Remember my words. Still, I’ll be by your side, so you don’t need to be too intimidated.”
She tidied my hair, her eyes full of concern.
After that, Lysianthus sent me back.
The Founding Anniversary Festival passed quickly.
By the time the banquet ended, it was already past midnight, and I collapsed the moment I entered my room.
“Madam, were you coughing?”
“Yes. Is there anything else to do today?”
“No, Madam. The Founding Anniversary Festival has ended, so you may rest well.”
“Then you should all go and rest too. You must have been exhausted from winter preparations through the festival.”
At my words, the maids brightened.
Truthfully, the tight schedule must have been very hard on them as well.
“We’ll take our leave, Madam. Please rest well.”
“Yes.”
As the bustling maids left, the room fell silent in an instant.
Was it always this quiet?
I’d always been surrounded by maids, or noble ladies when they weren’t around. Only now did I realize how large and quiet my room truly was.
Lying down made my body feel heavy, so I threw on a simple shawl and went out into the garden.
“Madam, the weather is very cold. Please go back inside.”
“I’m fine.”
“You’ve only just recovered.”
The maids urged me to return, worried about my condition.
“Madam.”
Just as I gave in to their pleas and was about to head back inside, I heard Luciano’s voice.
“Luciano? I thought you went to the imperial palace.”
“I will not be attending tonight. Why are you outside in such cold weather, Madam?”
Unlike his formerly indifferent demeanor, Luciano carefully draped my disheveled shawl properly over my shoulders.
“My body felt heavy and tired, so I came out for a walk. But it’s cold, so I was just about to go back in.”
“Is that so? Then shall we take a walk together, Madam?”
At the unexpected suggestion, I looked up at him.
Why would Luciano suddenly suggest walking together?
As I pondered that, Luciano extended his hand and began escorting me.
“Princess Ariel will arrive in the Empire in two days.”
“So soon?”
“She is very close to His Majesty the Emperor. She likely wishes to arrive as soon as possible.”
I was deeply curious about Princess Ariel, who never appeared in the novel.
“Her Highness wishes very much to meet you.”
“Me?”
“She wrote a letter to His Majesty, saying she wished to meet you—the Empress’s younger sister.”
It felt strange that someone I’d never had any connection with wanted to meet me, but I was curious about her as well.
“I’d like to meet her at least once.”
Just then, a cold wind swept past.
“Brr…”
As I shivered, Luciano looked at me.
“The wind is too cold, Madam. If we continue walking, it may harm your health. Let us go back inside.”
He gently pulled my hand.
Perhaps because of the cold, Luciano’s hand felt even warmer.
“I enjoyed this, Madam. Please go inside.”
After bidding him farewell, I returned to my room.
“Madam, we’ve prepared warm bathwater. Please go in and warm yourself.”
“Yes. Thank you.”
As soon as I stepped into the bath, my body—stiff from the cold—quickly warmed.
It’s gotten much colder than when I first possessed this body.
Time passes so quickly.
The thought that I would soon reach twenty-one—the age at which Estellin dies in the original story—was utterly despairing.
When will I divorce…? No—can I even divorce at all?
