🔊 TTS Settings
Chapter 5
Illain’s words brought a satisfied smile to Delzaya’s lips.
“I can’t allow Ricardo to gain the support of a powerful family. I need to cut off every possible threat to your future before it can even sprout.”
Though she spoke gently, venom dripped from her voice.
There was hostility toward the son she had not borne herself—
and beneath it, an invisible fear.
“Then when will this unfortunate bride arrive in the capital? Ricardo is still away at war.”
At Duane’s question, Delzaya lifted her wineglass to her lips.
“She’ll arrive soon. The wedding must take place immediately after Ricardo returns.”
Delzaya and Illain clinked their glasses together with pleased smiles.
Meanwhile, Duane raised a hand to his mouth, trying to suppress another fit of coughing.
Delzaya watched her son’s strained expression with complicated emotions.
The weaker Duane’s health became, the more irritating Ricardo’s endless victories from the battlefield sounded to her ears.
Even if something happened to Duane, she absolutely could not allow Ricardo to covet the Crown Prince’s position over Illain, the legitimate heir.
Her lips hardened coldly.
“We’ll arrive at the Imperial Palace shortly.”
A polite yet chilly voice sounded from outside the carriage window.
Exhausted from days of travel, the maid Molly suddenly opened her eyes wide.
“Finally!”
With excitement shining in her gaze, Molly pulled back the curtain and stuck her head out the window.
I caught a glimpse of the scenery outside as well.
Unlike the rural roads we had traveled before, the capital looked vibrant and crowded.
The wide streets were packed with people, carriages, and horses.
What stood out most were the enormous mansions lined up along both sides of the avenue.
It seemed even nobles who governed distant territories maintained luxurious estates near the palace and frequently stayed in the capital.
So I’ve finally arrived in the capital.
Reaching the primary setting of the original story gave me a strange feeling.
And realizing that the Zenkis Ducal Estate existed somewhere nearby only made me more nervous.
“The capital really is different. Just look at how those women are dressed. There’s no way they’re commoners or maids, right?”
A dreamy smile spread across Molly’s lips, as if she could already see her glamorous future unfolding before her.
“We’re entering the Imperial Palace now.”
A brief announcement came from outside before the carriage passed through the heavily guarded palace gates.
After traveling much farther past rows of guards, enormous doors finally opened before us.
“We’ve arrived.”
The carriage stopped, and attendants immediately lowered the steps.
Even Molly—who had talked nonstop the entire journey—grew stiff with intimidation at the sight of the massive golden Imperial Palace as she climbed down from the carriage.
The man who had escorted me here treated me even more respectfully than before.
“When you meet Her Majesty the Empress, speak as little as possible and mind your manners.”
Apparently, he was worried I might do something reckless.
But I understood that much already.
Right now, I needed to stay quiet and quickly grasp the situation I was in.
“Don’t worry. I understand.”
Thinking about meeting the Empress—Ricardo’s greatest enemy in the original story—made me oddly tense.
If the novel’s description was accurate, she’s probably terrifying and vicious-looking.
Expecting the cruelest face imaginable, I walked down a corridor lined with dazzling chandeliers.
After passing through several doors, we finally reached the audience chamber.
“Your Majesty, I have brought the daughter of the Enrio family.”
At his announcement, the Empress sitting on the sofa turned toward us.
“Ah!”
A small gasp escaped me without realizing it.
The woman walking toward me was different from what I had imagined.
The original novel had described her as glamorous, but despite being middle-aged, she was astonishingly beautiful and elegant.
Her dark green dress accentuated her flawless skin.
Her pinned-up blonde hair gleamed under the light.
There was something so graceful and refined about her that simply calling her vicious felt insufficient.
Her presence alone made others shrink instinctively.
“So you’ve finally arrived. You must’ve had a difficult journey.”
Smiling warmly, she approached me.
“It is an honor to meet you, Your Majesty. I am Stella Enrio.”
As I curtsied lightly while holding my skirt, she gently raised me back up.
“So even though you’re technically a distant relative, this is our first meeting. Tell me, are your parents doing well?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“I’ve heard many stories praising their excellent character.”
A quiet scoff rose inside me.
The Empress almost certainly hadn’t even known the Baron couple existed until recently, let alone heard glowing stories about them.
Yet here she was pretending we were affectionate relatives.
“Just as I heard, you are truly graceful and beautiful, Keila.”
She called me Keila while complimenting me.
Meaning she hadn’t listened to my introduction at all.
“Thank you. However, I—”
When I glanced toward the man who had brought me here, he cleared his throat softly and stepped toward the Empress.
“Your Majesty. There is something I must report.”
After whispering something into her ear, a faintly irritated crease appeared between the Empress’s brows.
But only for a moment.
When she turned back toward me, her smile became even brighter than before.
“So there was such a complicated situation. Even if you’re illegitimate, there’s no denying that you carry Enrio blood. Yes, indeed.”
She gently clasped my hands and continued warmly:
“Your circumstances are similar to the Duke’s. Perhaps you’ll understand each other better this way. In fact, this may be for the best.”
I instantly understood her meaning.
The Empress had never intended to give Ricardo a proper bride in the first place.
Whether it was Keila or Stella—
Even if an actual maid had arrived, she likely wouldn’t have cared at all.
The more pathetic Ricardo’s bride was, the happier she’d be.
That was why my substitution didn’t bother her in the slightest.
And the reason her trusted subordinate had brought me here instead was probably because he’d anticipated exactly this outcome.
Still, I was relieved she hadn’t exploded in fury over the bride being changed.
Part of me had genuinely feared I might die before even meeting Ricardo.
At the same time, though, a small rebellious feeling rose inside me.
“Your circumstances are similar to the Duke’s. Perhaps you’ll understand each other better this way. In fact, this may be for the best.”
Maybe those words ignited something buried deep inside me.
Her attitude irritated me.
As if two lowborn bastards should simply get along together.
I couldn’t deny that Ricardo was a terrible person.
But realizing he had received treatment similar to Stella’s within the imperial family stirred an unexpected flicker of pity in me.
Maybe that was why his personality became so twisted.
No. That bastard is still trash.
Realizing I was actually sympathizing with him for a second, I quickly snapped myself back to reality.
“I am deeply honored, Your Majesty.”
The Empress stroked the back of my hand with satisfaction before offering her advice.
“Ricardo is not particularly affectionate, but he isn’t the kind of pathetic man who mistreats his wife carelessly. So fulfill your duties properly and perform your role as his wife well. From now on, think of me as your own mother.”
But what I actually heard was this:
Ricardo isn’t affectionate and will probably treat you like you don’t exist. So know your place and do your best as a decorative puppet wife. And from now on, you belong to me.
I barely suppressed the urge for the corner of my mouth to twist upward.
Instead, I smiled obediently.
“I will keep your words close to heart, Your Majesty.”
For now, it was most important that she viewed me as harmless and naïve.
If she became wary of me, things would become dangerous.
“As expected, Sir Knox never disappoints me. Even in such an urgent situation, you managed to secure a replacement bride. Your handling of the matter was excellent.”
The moment she spoke the man’s name, my ears twitched.
Knox? Kno…x?
The name felt incredibly familiar.
Where had I heard it before?
Ahhh! Knooox!!
Only then did I remember.
My gaze immediately snapped toward the man who had brought me here.
Knox Valkyrie.
Commander of the Empress’s guard, her loyal hound, and one of her closest confidants.
A deeply unpleasant character who, by the end of the novel, even engaged in shameful acts with the Empress herself.
No wonder I didn’t recognize him.
In the original story, he had always existed beside the Empress like a shadow.
I secretly glanced between Knox and the Empress.
Pretending to be so noble and elegant in public while rolling around like beasts behind closed doors. Seriously.
Of course, neither of them knew I was silently mocking them.
I had no intention of openly antagonizing the Empress for now, so I decided to pretend ignorance.
Though someday, if they became obstacles in my way, I might reveal what I knew.
Just as my brief audience with the Empress was nearly over—
something completely unexpected happened.
