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~Chapter 11~
The next day, Elenor met the Emperor.
Sitting beside him was Grand Duke Ainhart, and the atmosphere between them was still stiff and uncomfortable. Naturally, being in front of the Emperor only made it worse.
“Have we met somewhere before, young lady?”
“I… I have never met Your Majesty before.”
The only time she had seen him was in the forest, when he was unconscious.
“I was told you saved me. Was that not true?”
“It wasn’t that I saved you—people just thought I did. In fact, I was involved in an incident where I was suspected of trying to harm Your Majesty…”
“Mind your words!” shouted Count Shyman as he cut her off.
Alen’s expression darkened as he interrupted him.
“Your Majesty, I was not informed that these people were with the Emperor.”
Ren also frowned slightly and said to Emperor Claiyan, “Your Majesty, what if something had happened to you? You went to meet her alone.”
“And what, do you think a powerless young lady could harm me?” the Emperor replied calmly.
“That is not something we can be sure of…”
“Are you doubting me now?”
A sharp killing intent leaked from Ren’s voice, and Elenor flinched.
“Enough! All of you, stop!” the Emperor struck the sofa armrest. “What is your name?”
The nobles were about to protest again.
“If this continues, all of you will leave. I do not believe this young lady intends to harm me.”
“Your Majesty, you must not judge by appearances!”
“Please reconsider, Your Majesty!”
“Enough! I said leave!” the Emperor’s voice turned cold.
The nobles were dragged out by the guards. Once silence returned, the Emperor looked at Elenor again.
“Now then. Your name?”
“I… I am Elizabeth en Ricardo, Your Majesty.”
Alen’s eyes widened. Ren also froze slightly.
She had given a completely different name.
“I see… Elizabeth, was it? Then why are you here?”
“I was… traveling. Yes, traveling. I was curious about the Austrian Principality, so I was traveling.”
Another lie. She is terrible at lying.
“Your sister,” Alen suddenly spoke.
“My sister?” the Emperor asked.
“Yes. My younger sister.”
“But your surnames differ.”
“Before I was adopted into House Filémon, I was also Ricardo,” Alen replied calmly. “Our family situation is… complicated.”
After a few more exchanges, the Emperor finally allowed her to leave.
Once outside, Alen immediately turned to her.
“Why did you use your sister’s name?”
“…Because I didn’t want to say my real one,” she muttered.
“Why not?”
“Because… I don’t want to.”
Alen sighed deeply. Something felt off. The Emperor had clearly noticed her lies—but had chosen to ignore them.
That was not like him.
Still, he said nothing further and left.
After he was gone, Elenor sat down heavily, exhausted.
“I don’t know what to do anymore…”
Later
In another place, Grand Duke Ren spoke with his knights.
“Her Majesty the Emperor will return soon,” one reported.
“And the girl?” Ren asked.
“Still under observation.”
Ren frowned. “Do not let her escape your sight.”
That Night
Elenor dreamed again.
But this time, she was not herself.
She was the Imperial Concubine Elenor.
Across from her stood Elizabeth—the future Empress.
“Why did you bring me here?” Elenor asked.
“For you,” Elizabeth smiled faintly. “You also liked His Majesty, didn’t you?”
The words twisted like a knife.
“That’s not true…”
“You were the one who saved the Emperor,” Elizabeth continued. “Not me. You just… agreed to stay silent.”
“What are you talking about?”
But the dream continued anyway—showing lies, manipulation, and a truth Elenor had never read in the book.
Elizabeth leaned closer.
“You think I became Empress fairly?”
And then—
Everything began to break apart.
Elenor realized something terrifying:
This world was not exactly the story she had read.
It was something deeper… and far more dangerous.
