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CHAPTER 100……………..
By the time I arrived, the situation had already ended, and by now, I had come to realize that the Empress’s behavior was suspicious.
My mother and I exchanged a look, our eyes narrowing at the same time.
“It seems the information I brought might be correct.”
“Indeed. I wasn’t sure before, but after seeing the Empress today, it’s clear she’s hiding something….”
Mother spoke as though something weighed on her mind.
“Still, even if the Empress did meet someone back when she was just a young lady, it wouldn’t be enough to seriously tarnish her position. It’s in the past, after all. People might gossip for a few days, but it would soon die down.”
“That’s true.”
“More importantly, without concrete proof, no one aside from gossips would believe it. Back when she was Dolores Alpes, whether she had acquaintances or not, she was every bit as meticulous as the current Emperor.”
“But Mother, every person has small weaknesses.”
No matter how hard the Empress had worked to be chosen as Crown Princess, could she truly have never strayed, not even once, during those difficult years?
In times of hardship, one naturally wishes to lean on someone’s shoulder.
That’s simply human nature. As if agreeing, my mother nodded.
“Well, yes. Even I leaned on you when I was struggling….”
Mother gave a wistful smile as she finished.
“In any case, this proves the Empress has some kind of weakness. What will you do now? Keep digging for her secret?”
“I must. As long as she remains strong, Mother and I can’t expect a peaceful life.”
“You have my support. I only wish I could be more help.”
“You already are. Without you, I would never have known that Hermo d’Vich might have been the Empress’s lover.”
“Thank you, my dear.”
Mother smiled gently.
Since our talk seemed finished, I rose to return to the hall.
But Mother caught my wrist, gently pulling me down beside her.
Puzzled, I turned to her, only to see her mischievous smile replacing the seriousness from before.
“So then, my dear, what’s going on between you and young Lord Elliet? Weren’t you interested in young Lord Idrea before?”
“…What?”
“The child who always clings to you said so—Ilia, wasn’t it? Whenever I run into her, she talks about you, and I kept hearing Idrea’s name slip in.”
“….”
“So, which is it? Who’s your sweetheart? To me, it seems more like young Lord Elliet than young Lord Idrea.”
“It’s not like that…!”
I panicked, but as my face grew redder, my lips moved soundlessly.
That was when Mother’s eyes sparkled.
“So it is young Lord Elliet?”
“I—I should be going now! Mother, you should get some rest too…!”
“How shy you are.”
“I’m not!”
I denied it to the end, quickly unlocking the latch and fleeing the lounge.
My face felt hot, the flush spreading.
Pressing the back of my hand to my cheek, I muttered quietly,
“It’s not like that….”
A fragile voice, heard by no one.
* * *
“Y-Your Majesty, please calm yourself…!”
“How am I supposed to calm down…!”
Dolores had sent Yevgeny straight back to the banquet, then returned to the Empress’s palace to summon someone.
The one called in haste was Duchess Rinaba Calypsa.
Her face was as pale as Dolores’s own.
Barely able to steady her trembling body, the Duchess stood before the Empress.
“I—I truly don’t know anything. Surely it was just a coincidence? Lady Ayla must not have known anything real when she asked that question—”
But Rinaba’s words were cut short by a teacup hurled mercilessly at her.
Screaming, she clutched her head.
The cup shattered against the wall, fragments scattering to the floor. Wide-eyed, Rinaba stared at it trembling.
Her crumpled posture looked like a vision of her own ruined future. She bit down hard on her lip.
Why did I have to react like that in front of everyone…!
If not for the Empress, the banquet would never have gotten so out of hand!
Rinaba gripped the hem of her dress, leaving deep wrinkles.
The Empress let out a cold laugh and walked slowly toward her.
Grabbing Rinaba’s chin harshly, Dolores forced her to look up.
“Tell me—are you truly on my side? Have you really been keeping that reckless mouth of yours under control…?”
“I swear I don’t know anything…! How could Your Majesty suspect me? If that were exposed, I’d go down with you!”
“Then why did the Second Consort say such a thing to me?”
“I—I’m sure it was just chance! Only you, I, and Marchioness Rubiz know of it! Unless… unless the Marchioness—your sister—spoke out…!”
“You always let that mouth of yours run.”
At the mention of her sister, Dolores’s face turned icy cold.
Frightened, Rinaba quickly pressed her mouth with her hand to stop herself.
Tears welled at the corners of her eyes.
Judging from her demeanor, she really didn’t know anything. Still, Dolores clenched her fists until her knuckles turned white, grinding her teeth.
Has Deina betrayed me?
No—why would Deina side with the Second Consort?
She had nothing to gain. Besides, as of today, Dmitry had been chosen as the heir apparent.
Then it means information leaked somehow.
But how?
She had witnessed with her own eyes the destruction of all evidence.
Unless… the evidence wasn’t completely erased….
Dolores bit her nails, glaring at Rinaba. The Duchess flinched under her gaze.
She’s going to bring me down…!
“Go back to your house immediately and burn any remaining evidence!”
“Y-Yes, Your Majesty.”
Rinaba hurriedly bowed and left the Empress’s palace.
Dolores, still unsettled, summoned her shadow, Misha.
“Misha! Misha!”
“You called for me.”
From the darkness appeared Misha, kneeling before the Empress with reverence.
Dolores wanted to pat her like a loyal hound, but more important was whether Rinaba truly destroyed the evidence.
So she ordered Misha to follow Rinaba and make sure of it.
Without a word, Misha nodded, leapt through the balcony window, and vanished into the night.
Dolores, still trembling, rang the bell furiously.
“Yes, Your Majesty, you summoned me?”
A maid hurried in.
Dolores glared at her with bloodshot eyes.
“Tell me—are you completing the task I assigned you?”
“T-That… it is difficult to find. The trail was too well hidden. Worse, the late Emperor erased all records of that man—”
“Then you should have investigated properly in the first place!”
“I—I beg your forgiveness, Your Majesty!”
The maid dropped to her knees in terror.
Dolores stared at her with burning eyes, then beckoned her closer with one finger.
Crawling forward in fear, the maid knelt before her.
Dolores said,
“Prove your worth.”
“M-My… worth?”
“I entrusted you with this for eight years. And in all that time, you’ve given me nothing about him.”
“….”
“So now I give you one last chance.”
“W-What chance…?”
The maid quivered, looking up at her.
The room was dark, the lamps unlit. Only the Empress’s red eyes gleamed ominously in the gloom.
Her voice was low and chilling.
“We will strike Count Epsilard.”
* * *
The next day, the second day of the banquet dawned.
Nobles flocked to Dmitry, bringing lavish gifts in hopes of favor.
Even so, rumors buzzed through the crowd.
“Did you see Her Majesty yesterday?”
“She didn’t attend today. I heard she’s unwell.”
“I heard directly from a lady who stood near her—”
Two parts of the gossip concerned Dmitry; the other eight parts were all about the Empress.
Yesterday’s incident still lingered uneasily in their minds, and though they tried to flatter Dmitry, whispers about the Empress didn’t cease.
I watched it all with delight.
Keep talking. Until the Empress can no longer move a finger to stop it.
As I reveled inwardly, I sensed someone approach from behind.
Turning, I saw a young lady with lustrous red hair elegantly styled, smiling at me.
“Lady Calypsa?”
“An honor, Your Highness the First Princess. Are you alone today?”
Nakari curtsied politely, smiling languidly.
She seemed surprised not to find Emily and Viante by my side, glancing around for them.
“Lady Gricilla and Lady Rolovian said they would arrive later. I have much to do, so I came only for the morning.”
“Oh, I see. Then it seems Your Highness and I are both without companions just now.”
She smiled slyly.
“If you don’t dislike me, might you spend some time with me?”
“….”
“I like you, Your Highness. I want us to be friends.”
Ha.
I stared at her in disbelief.
Didn’t she often appear side by side with Yevgeny, looking ever so close?
Frowning, I eyed her suspiciously.
“I don’t particularly dislike you, Lady.”
“That pleases me.”
“But I’d like some clarity. Isn’t your faction centered around the Second Princess? I am her elder sister, yes, but also a separate royal.”
“Of course. That’s exactly why I wish to be close with both of you.”
After all, the more options, the better.
Her intent was plain as day.
“I respect you, Your Highness. And you and I have something in common.”
“You and I?”
“Yes.”
Nakari nodded without hesitation, her eyes curving slyly.
“Our common trait is this.”
“?”
“You dislike useless people, don’t you?”
“….”
“As do I. I can’t stand those who obstruct me or waste time pointlessly. Especially—there’s one person I feel exactly as you do.”
What was she getting at?
Still, I found myself agreeing. After all, to me, the most useless person was none other than Yevgeny, my half-sister.
…Then, who was it for Nakari?
If my useless one is Yevgeny… who’s hers?
Maybe, by targeting that person, I could draw Nakari to my side.
Just as I considered this, she said,
“But for now, the two of you appear equal.”
“….”
“Don’t worry. I support you both. I won’t take sides.”
“…I see.”
I nodded.
Her meaning was clear: unless I fully crushed Yevgeny, she would not choose me.
I glanced at her, then pushed a piece of cake from the catering table toward her.
Nakari blinked slowly, then gave a faint smile as she accepted it.
* * *
By afternoon, I left the Diamond Hall as planned.
Back at the Princess’s Palace, Ilia and Mullin greeted me with food in their hands and a comfortable dress ready.
I quickly changed and flopped onto the sofa with a groan.
“You must be exhausted. Should I bring the documents?”
“No, not yet. What about the notices?”
“Oh! Those?”
Ilia hurried off and soon returned with a pile of documents, placing them before me.
“This many came in! Of course, your identity is perfectly hidden. But… do we really need this many people?”
“Yes. Otherwise, we’ll never find it.”
“Ah, I see.”
Ilia nodded.
“I investigated as you ordered. See here? This adventurer is notorious for cheating his clients.”
“Then he’s out.”
“And this one—”
As Ilia explained, I sorted through the stack, setting aside the useless and keeping the promising, my eyes nearly spinning from the effort.
If Mullin hadn’t reminded me, “Your Highness, at this rate you’ll die of overwork,” I might have skipped dinner entirely.
At last, with the list narrowed down, I lifted my pen.
This one goes here… that one should investigate there… the auction house might be worth checking, too…
It would take more manpower than expected.
With Hamt Macreong, it should work out somehow. But truly, I must thank Zeron.
Half the people I was using came from him, after all.
As I worked late into the night, I wondered how best to repay him.
