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CHAPTER 88……………
It was just when I was about to send a letter to Mother, telling her the tea party had ended without trouble.
“My dear…!”
I thought it was getting noisy outside, when suddenly, Mother burst through the door.
Her neatly tied-up hair was disheveled, and from rushing over, the hem of her carefully adorned dress was a mess.
I blinked and looked at her.
“Mother…?”
“Where are you hurt…! Where…!”
“W–what? Mother…?”
Ack!
Mother lifted me up into the air, and I floundered, completely caught off guard.
Mullin and Illia, realizing the supposed intruder was in fact my mother, were at a loss.
The two of them even looked like they were about to decide by rock–paper–scissors who should be the one to peel her off me.
One chaotic scene after another.
‘In short, it’s a total mess!’
I quickly grasped the situation and shouted inwardly.
‘Someone told Mother what happened at today’s tea party…!’
“Call a physician! At once—call a physician!”
“I’m fine, Mother…!”
I barely managed to stop her from dragging a physician away from his evening rest.
And so, I was being scolded.
But why…?
“How could you not tell me about something so serious…!”
“I–I wasn’t hurt, so I thought it was fine not to say anything.”
A lie. The truth was I had completely forgotten.
Mother, unaware of this, hugged me so tightly I could hardly breathe, tears glistening in her eyes.
“I almost stormed up to His Majesty to grab him by the collar, thinking I might lose you again.”
Gasp…
‘I really need to be careful….’
I promised myself never to do anything reckless again, wriggling until she finally released me.
She looked at me with lingering regret, but let go obediently.
Her eyes still brimmed with deep concern.
Feeling awkward under that gaze, I exaggeratedly flailed my arms and legs to show her I was fine.
“See? Perfectly fine.”
“…Then that’s a relief. But are you certain we don’t need a physician?”
“Someone protected me. I wasn’t hurt.”
“Oh my, and who was this gracious savior?”
Mother asked brightly, but I dodged the question, instead placing my hands on her knee.
“My tea party ended early, unfortunately. How was yours? I heard you gave those noble ladies quite the blow.”
“Ah, well…”
“Mother?”
“N–nothing. It’s just a little embarrassing, being seen like that by my daughter.”
I shook my head firmly.
“You were amazing!”
And as for that noblewoman who had been put in her place—she would be abandoned to the Empress’s wrath.
‘The Empress must have only allowed her faction to attend in order to ruin Mother’s first debut in society as Consort.’
Since she failed her task, she would surely be discarded.
I smirked inwardly but kept my face innocent as I continued.
“Did she attend as well?”
“Yes. In fact, she was the very first to arrive, or so Marchioness Iollin told me.”
“As expected. Did you manage to speak with her?”
“Well… that’s the thing.”
Mother hesitated, then admitted, “Every time I tried to approach, somehow the timing went awry.”
“Timing?”
She nodded and explained.
In the end, she spilled wine on her dress and couldn’t have a proper conversation.
‘So she’s still testing the waters, huh?’
Of course. The Empress’s people wouldn’t switch sides so easily.
Not for nothing were they Dolores’s retainers.
They were quick-witted, even if overly cautious.
Naturally, they’d be wondering whether this was a lifeline to salvation—or a rotten rope that would drop them straight into fire.
I sighed and muttered, “It’s fine. There will be other ways. More importantly, did you get along with the noble ladies?”
“The Empress’s side was testing me, but the ladies brought by Marchioness Iollin suited me well. Thanks to them, the tea party flowed smoothly.”
“We must reward the Marchioness generously.”
“Indeed.”
Mother and I shared a bright laugh.
“Is there anything else this mother can do for you?”
Without hesitation, I answered.
“There’s something I want!”
Time to finally reclaim what was taken from me.
“Violette was humiliated, you say?”
“Yes. Another noble lady who attended Lady Ayla’s tea party just sent word.”
Misha handed the letter to the Empress, who snatched it roughly.
Breaking the wax seal, she read, then scoffed.
“That woman never does anything right…! How many times have I tolerated her incompetence?”
“What shall we do?”
“Dispose of her quickly, before she comes crawling to me.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Violette—the lady who had earlier insulted Consort Ayla.
Misha, writing in the Empress’s hand, composed a dismissal letter, effectively expelling Violette from society.
“I shall have it delivered to Marchioness Deina Rubiz.”
“Do it.”
The Empress nodded.
Once Misha departed, the Empress lost all restraint and hurled something.
Clang!
“Why does everyone bungle their tasks!”
She thought Lirien was dead, but the woman had returned alive.
Because of that, Consort Ayla had begun moving socially.
And worse, the Emperor had changed as well. With him, even Count Epsilard had begun to stir quietly.
As if that weren’t enough—
‘How dare Rius accept Ayla?’
Dolores’s fury mounted.
That Consort had once been so timid, trembling at the slightest intimidation. Easy prey.
Proof: even after becoming consort, she never stepped foot in society.
All it took was Duke Alphe’s pressure on Count Epsilard to silence her.
But now—
Lirien changed. Then the Emperor changed. Then even the Alphe family began to shift.
And now her daughter Ayla was standing tall.
“…That woman dares act so boldly, hiding behind her daughter. What should I do about this?”
Dolores twisted a smile, gripping her teacup.
“Poison failed. Hiring assassins is risky with the Emperor watching.”
So—false charges, perhaps?
The Empress chuckled darkly, tugging a bell cord.
A maid entered and bowed.
“You called, Your Majesty?”
“I need someone found. Can it be done?”
“I have a contact in the Information Guild, famous for knowing everything—so much so they’re called the ‘Repository of Knowledge.’”
“Bring them here. I have a task for them.”
The maid bowed and hurried out. Dolores stared out the terrace window into the night.
“Worms may squirm, but they remain worms.”
“Now that I think about it,” Illia muttered suddenly, “the Princess’s birthday is coming soon, isn’t it?”
I blinked at her.
“That’s in winter. It’s summer now. Illia… did you forget my birthday?”
“What? No, no! That’s not what I meant! I just thought, even if it’s months away, time flies. Shouldn’t we start preparing already?”
“Too early.”
“Not at all.”
Mullin chimed in, “Princess Yevgeni began preparing last autumn for hers. If anything, we’re already pressed for time.”
“See? Invitations, budgets, dresses—you’ll need them all!”
“And the Emerald Hall design must be arranged. Preparation should begin now.”
“….”
I poked at my cake, grimacing.
‘It’s nice having a grand banquet in my honor, but the preparation… it’s exhausting enough to make my nose bleed.’
“I’ve never hosted a birthday banquet before.”
“….”
“….”
Illia and Mullin fell silent, realizing belatedly that I had only recently gained the Emperor’s favor.
Their faces went pale, as if they had said something inappropriate, and they busied themselves cleaning the windows and table.
“Now you make me look pitiful for even mentioning it.”
“S–sorry…”
“…M–maybe I can help with preparations!” Mullin clenched her fists, determined.
I glanced at her flatly.
“No need. I’m not alone anymore. I can ask Mother. When she was bedridden, I had no choice but to handle things myself.”
Now that she was well, I wouldn’t need to.
They brightened instantly.
“Then what kind of banquet do you wish for? You’ll receive plenty of partner requests from the young men that day!”
“If you already have someone in mind, I can discreetly handle it.”
“I don’t.”
Illia’s disappointment was obvious, and Mullin, though pretending otherwise, couldn’t look away either.
‘No matter how you stare, there’s really no one.’
I gently pushed Illia aside. She sulked, but said, “Then we should inform Her Highness the Consort. Please think about what theme you’d like.”
“I’ll prepare a list of party planners to assist her.”
“Oh! I have a recommendation too!”
Suddenly cheerful, they both bustled out, chatting together like close friends.
“How chummy.”
They had once disliked each other, but now they couldn’t stand being apart.
I lowered my gaze back to the papers I hadn’t yet reviewed.
“Kingdom of Pamale and Duchy of Sorien seek trade…”
It was good news from the guild recently appointed as distributor of orichalcum.
Pamale and Sorien were known for fertile lands despite small size—potential allies should famine ever strike the Empire.
‘Connections are everything.’
I signed the papers and carefully tucked them into a small pouch on a messenger bird’s back.
“Take care of it.”
I stroked its head; the bird fluttered happily, circled once, and flew off beyond the terrace.
Stretching, I groaned.
Then—Vrrm, vrrm. The comm-stone vibrated.
I drew it from my pocket and checked the sender.
“Duke Sorcier?”
It was Orca Sorcier. I frowned slightly but accepted.
“My lord? What is it? Weren’t you busy?”
[My work ended sooner than expected. I also have a report for Your Highness.]
“A report? About the Empress?”
[Yes.]
It seemed he was receiving her movements quickly.
He cleared his throat.
[I hear Her Majesty expelled Lady Violette from society through Marchioness Deina Rubiz. Have you heard?]
“Oh. Lady Violette Matra?”
[So the news reached you already. Yes. Many saw her driven out from Deina’s estate this morning, during tea.]
“I see.”
I nodded, then asked, “That can’t be the only reason you contacted me. What else is there?”
[…]
He hesitated, then carefully asked:
[Are you well?]
“…What?”
[The Hunting Festival. I didn’t hear much, being busy, but I know you suffered a grave incident.]
“I’ve recovered. I’m fine.”
[What I mean is… this is not the end. Today, both Marchioness Deina Rubiz and Duchess Linaba Calypsa were seen visiting the Empress’s palace.]
“…What?”
Both Deina Rubiz and Linaba Calypsa?
I scowled, tightening my grip on the comm-stone.
Deina Rubiz—Duke Rubiz’s wife, and Deina Alphe, the Empress’s younger sister.
It wasn’t strange for siblings to meet, but…
“Why would Duchess Calypsa be there?”
[I don’t know either. They met briefly, and then she left. I thought I should inform you—perhaps it means something.]
“…I understand. Thank you, Duke Sorcier.”
Ending the call, I muttered,
“…Looks like I’ll need to find Geron.”
I felt sorry for the Alea Guild members, who were surely already overworked. But they’d have to endure one more grueling task.
