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CHAPTER 20
The Next Day
I sent a letter to the Emperor suggesting it was time to end Evgenia’s birthday celebrations and, for the first time in a while, left the palace.
Ilia hurried along behind me and spoke up.
“Your Highness, have you heard the news? About the blockade of Torel Port and the Marquess of Sarman, Igeller!”
“I know about the port blockade—it was such a big event. But what’s going on with the Marquess?”
Feigning ignorance, I asked casually. Ilia glanced around and whispered.
“Last night! The Marquess of Sarman rented an inn near Torel Port. People staying there said he was screaming like mad when he was dragged off by the Imperial Knights. It’s already causing a huge stir!”
So that’s why the palace was in such an uproar.
The likes of Marquess Taksiden and his crew must have believed Igeller Sarman would escape safely and return later to rescue them.
But with my intervention, that plan went up in smoke. They must be foaming at the mouth by now.
I chuckled silently and kept walking. As I left the 1st Princess’s palace and headed elsewhere—
“Your Highness, aren’t you going to walk in the garden today?”
I didn’t answer Ilia’s question—just gave a slight nod.
She quickly quieted, seeming to guess where I was headed.
I arrived at a crumbling old palace.
A place I hadn’t visited since I was five years old.
“There’s no guard posted.”
“…Should I report this dereliction of duty to His Majesty?”
“No need. It wouldn’t matter anyway.”
Because this was my mother’s palace.
The Empress would never agree to overhaul the palace of a woman who used to be her rival—and whose loyal attendants she surely had already infiltrated.
“Ilia, could you wait here for a bit?”
“But, Your Highness…”
“Sir Blonmind will be with me. If waiting’s too much, you can go back ahead of me.”
Ilia drooped her shoulders and nodded. With my back to her, I stepped into the palace that was just as shabby as my own.
Not a single maid in sight as I walked down the corridor.
It reminded me exactly of my own palace before my return.
I swallowed my bitter feelings. Before long, I reached her room.
Ayla Scharf Kaliburg, Second Consort.
The mistress of this palace—my mother.
When I knocked, someone suddenly yanked open the door. Recognizing me, her eyes went wide.
“…1st Princess Lirien?”
“Hello, Iolde. How have you been?”
“G-Good heavens! W-What brings you here, Your Highness?”
Iolde.
Once my nanny, and my mother’s long-time confidante. When my mother was essentially sold into the Imperial Palace, Iolde was the only one she brought with her.
I glanced at Iolde’s worn face, then looked past her into the room.
Though somewhat maintained, the room was clean and tidy—that was all. It hardly seemed fit for a consort.
My gaze rolled toward the center of the room—toward the large bed where my mother lay.
The bed was grand.
A white canopy flowed like waves, and beyond it, a faint silhouette could be seen.
“Sorry. Did I come at a bad time?”
“N-No! Not at all! Please, come in! Her Grace will surely be overjoyed—!”
Iolde’s voice cut off abruptly.
Her lips quivered, and then a pained groan escaped. She bowed her head deeply, her eyes dropping.
“…She just fell asleep after taking her medicine. I should’ve remembered… My memory must be going. Is that alright?”
“It’s fine. More importantly—have you gotten any sleep?”
“…Pardon?”
“I asked if you’ve been sleeping.”
Blinking in surprise, Iolde awkwardly shook her head. Just as I expected, I gently pushed her outside the door.
“I’ll stay and care for Mother. You go rest.”
“B-But Your Highness! You’re of noble birth—I can’t let you do such things…!”
“Even if it’s a royal command?”
Disobeying a royal order could mean death.
I looked at her plainly, then pushed her fully out of the room.
“Go on.”
And shut the door.
The room without Iolde was cold. But even with her, it would’ve been cold anyway.
I approached the bed, gently pushing the canopy aside.
A woman long abandoned lay inside.
She was thin—terribly so.
A cold sweat remained on her forehead, likely from a fever. Next to her was a silver basin of warm water and a cloth, probably prepared by Iolde.
With familiar yet clumsy hands, I took the cloth and gently wiped her forehead.
By age five, I was already adept at nursing the Consort.
‘That’s why I used to envy Evgenia—I just wanted to live easily under the Emperor’s love.’
But what was the end result?
I was betrayed—by the Emperor’s affection and by my own younger sister—and poisoned.
As I wiped the pale forehead of the sickly consort, I whispered softly.
“Mother, did you know?”
Since I gave up on the Emperor’s attention, he’s finally started to look my way.
“He even assigned me new maids. I was invited to breakfast. The nobles who once gave me headaches now listen to what I say. Even my palace staff look upon me more kindly now… How about you, Mother?”
Ayla was always frail. Soft-hearted, and ill-suited to be an empress.
The only reason she became Consort was thanks to her maternal family, the powerful Counts of Epsilon.
That’s why I had to struggle even harder from now on.
Because Ayla Scharf Kaliburg, the 2nd Consort, is destined to die one year from now.
The Empress Dolores’s “poisoning scheme” would claim its first victim: my mother.
“I’ll raise your salary, so please take full responsibility for preparing and serving Mother’s meals from now on—every step.”
“…Sorry? What do you mean, all of a sudden…?”
As I finally left in the late afternoon, Iolde hurried after me. I looked at the few maids trailing behind her and whispered low.
“The Empress Dolores is making moves. There are loyalists here too. Even if food is brought in, pretend it was eaten—but don’t actually feed her. Whether it comes from inside or outside.”
“…Understood, Princess Lirien.”
“Good. Then I’ll get going. It was nice seeing you again.”
“Y-Your Highness…!”
Just as I turned to leave, Iolde grabbed my wrist and asked desperately.
“You’ll come again… won’t you?”
“…”
“Next time, Her Grace will surely be awake. Please… please let her see your face.”
“…Alright.”
Her grip weakened and fell. She bowed deeply.
And even as my back disappeared down the corridor, she remained in that bow until I was completely gone.
A dull ache twisted in my chest.
After leaving the 2nd Consort’s palace, my steps began to falter.
“How foolish I must’ve looked, acting like a daughter only now…”
Just like the Emperor turned his back on her, I, Lirien Scharf Kaliburg, had also abandoned her—twice.
Even though Iolde wasn’t one to hold grudges, the thought gnawed at me like a black dot staining a white canvas.
Ilia, who’d been silently following me, finally stomped her feet at the sight of my gloomy expression.
“Y-Your Highness, when we return, shall we have something sweet?”
“…”
“His Majesty sent a dessert made by a famous patissier in the capital, apparently…”
“…”
“D-Doesn’t that sound good? Right, Your Highness? You like sweets, don’t you…?”
Ilia’s tone shifted from hopeful to pleading. When I didn’t answer, she grasped my hand and started dragging me.
That’s when I saw him.
A familiar figure, walking toward us in the breeze.
A boy with black hair approached and asked cheerfully,
“I’m a bit lost. Would it be alright if I joined you?”
Blue eyes like a serene lake curved into a crescent. The boy—Richard—bowed slightly and smiled.
“So you’re Princess Lirien. I knew you looked familiar. Fate must be nudging us—won’t you be my guide?”
“…Ha.”
I let out a dry laugh and looked him over.
“You’re lost?”
“Yes, I was… running away.”
“Why is it every time I meet you, you’re running from something? So who is it this time? Some lady? A noble couple? Or both?”
“Hmm… I might tell you—if you lead the way.”
“…Did you forget I told you not to speak to me?”
Ever since crossing the third boundary with Richard, I’d done everything to avoid eye contact.
He hadn’t approached me since—but today, he seemed determined to close the distance.
He beamed playfully and said,
“Why not show me the same mercy you showed your staff?”
“Staff…?”
“I heard the entire 1st Princess’s palace was reorganized. Every time I pass, your servants speak so highly of you—I couldn’t help but notice.”
It was true I forgave them—but only to improve my image and position.
‘So there’s no reason to extend that kindness to you…’
But Richard, oblivious to how his attention suffocated me, tilted his head and sweetly pleaded,
“I’ve only just realized this, but I’m quite sensitive… When you ignored me, I felt terribly down. Doesn’t everything seem… a bit gloomier now?”
I didn’t understand at all.
‘And I don’t want to.’
“You can follow me if you like—but don’t speak.”
I glared briefly at Richard and resumed walking with Ilia.
“Let’s go, Ilia.”
“Y-Yes…!”
Ilia hurried to keep up, but her eyes sparkled as she glanced back at Richard’s lazy smile.
“Your Highness… is that the young Lord Elliette everyone talks about?”
“He’s even more ridiculous than the rumors. No need to flatter him.”
“But… I heard he’s only twelve this year. He’s already got the charm to make ladies cry!”
Annoyingly, she wasn’t wrong.
That boy would one day be known as the Iron-Blooded Black Lion. I hugged my arms to suppress the chill.
Thankfully, the nickname eventually reached his ears and became an imperial taboo.
‘Though it did suit him.’
I glanced at Richard. With his height, refined features, and well-built frame, he looked more like fifteen.
‘I see why I fell in love once.’
Our eyes met.
Richard raised his eyebrows and mouthed, “Will you forgive me?”—so I quickly looked away.
‘What is with this kid…’
Trying to calm my pounding heart, we finally reached the 1st Princess’s palace.
Just as I turned to say goodbye—
I noticed a faint scratch below his right eye.
‘He’s hurt…?’
I blinked. Then suddenly, I remembered—when we crossed the third boundary, I left him there alone.
Reaching out, I grabbed his hand.
“You didn’t treat that wound?!”
Richard froze slightly at my sudden outburst. When I stared intently at the scratch, he chuckled softly.
“You’re only noticing now?”
“Is this a joke?! What if it leaves a scar? Did you disinfect it? Apply ointment? Didn’t the Duke and Duchess ask about it?!”
As I fired off questions, Richard tucked my stray hair behind my ear and murmured,
“If you’re worried, please don’t avoid me anymore.”
“I wasn’t avoiding you. I was mad. Anyway, I forgive you. Now go to my palace and get treated.”
“Then, I’ll take you up on that.”
Taking his hand, I pulled him inside.
Never imagining someone was watching.
Thud…!
Far away, something hit the ground hard.
“Princess Evgenia…!”
Evgenia stood pale, trembling, her parasol—the same color as her hair—fallen at her feet.
“W-Why… why is the Young Lord going into Lirien’s palace…?”
She trembled as tears welled in her eyes.
Throughout the party, who had she been desperately looking for?
Not her brothers. Not even the Emperor.
But him—the boy she’d secretly loved for so long.
Richard Wil Elliette.
“I thought he avoided me because he was shy…”
Even during the gift ceremony, he only made a brief appearance. After that, only his sister and parents attended the banquet.
‘But now… why!’
When I searched for him, he was nowhere. But now, he looks so comfortable with Lirien?!
Evgenia clenched her teeth, burning with jealousy.
Watching silently, Lanya and Blemi quickly reached out to console her.
As the maids’ indifferent chatter faded into the background, Evgenia muttered darkly to herself:
“I won’t let her have him.”
