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chapter 29
A single grape slipped between red lips. Each time its flesh was chewed, the maid flinched.
The tale of the maid who was punished and driven away for placing a seeded grape on the table was well-known. The empress was notoriously strict and merciless, but fortunately, the grapes had no seeds.
“Big fish play in the sea.”
Among her lush, violet curly hair, her purple eyes glimmered coldly. Her sharply upturned eyes gave her a fierce look, and her actual temperament matched the appearance—ferocious. Her name was Cordelia, the First Empress of the Empire and the woman who could be called the mistress of the imperial household.
“The prince is destined for greatness, so don’t dwell on trivial matters. This hunting competition wasn’t an official duel affecting rank; it was merely an event meant to pray for the empire’s prosperity, wasn’t it?”
It was supposed to be just an event.
But from the moment Cordelia assigned her personal guards, it was no longer just a simple gathering.
Mother. You didn’t trust me. And yet, you subtly pressured me not to miss first place.
There were many things Diego wanted to say, but none he could. Swallowing his dry words, he answered with a cracked voice:
“I shall not concern myself with it.”
“Good. Right now, there’s something more important than dwelling on the past. You must find a match befitting the prince’s dignity.”
In the royal household, where the fight for rank was intense, it was wise to hurry marriage plans. Forming alliances with other noble houses not only strengthened support but also, according to the empire’s social norms, a prince with a consort left a more stable impression than one without.
Though the Cordelia family was influential, Diego had delayed finding a suitable bride. But now that Prince Rosinante was beginning ties with the Duke of Grimalore’s house, Diego could no longer postpone finding a princess.
“Choosing a consort is the prince’s right. Unless there’s a special disqualification, even I, as empress, have no right to interfere. Moreover, I support Prince Rosinante’s choice of Princess Levietta.”
Every move Diego made was reported to the empress. Naturally, she also knew that Levietta had rejected him.
‘Mother. Do you intend to bring Princess Levietta into the royal household just to trample her, so that my honor may be restored when her reputation falls?’
That plan was… remarkable.
“How splendid. Truly a fitting pair.”
“The prince says that, and this empress is relieved. Speaking of which, it’s about time we decide on the prince’s consort. Since there was no suitable candidate, Prince Kaulen kindly came to the empress’ palace.”
With a cheerful clap, the maids pulled back the curtains.
As the heavy fabric parted, Kaulen and Eve Maria came into view behind the curtains.
For the puzzled Diego, Eve Maria extended her hand forward to display her magical aptitude.
“That star… could it be—”
It wasn’t the healer’s flower but the magician’s star. Meaning Eve Maria had shifted her aptitude from healer to magician.
She was a magician, the true princess of Grimalore by blood, and younger than Levietta.
There was no better candidate for a bride.
“I knew the princess could do it!”
Diego strode forward and grabbed her hand firmly.
To become emperor, empress, head of the family, and grand empress dowager, the two had to unite.
Though the atmosphere was warm and cheerful, each person smiled for different reasons.
Despite waiting, news of the personal guards’ punishment never arrived. Not a trial, not a reprimand—nothing.
I suspected it, and indeed…
The empress must have intervened behind the scenes. She wouldn’t hesitate to cheat to ensure her eldest son’s victory. Since Diego ruined her plans, the farce was complete.
‘It’s been half a year since that incident.’
After reincarnation, I thought time would drag because the same events repeated, but apparently, it did not.
To achieve revenge, to live a successful life… there was no time to be bored while constantly chasing my goals.
Even six months after the hunting competition, I was still staying at the Duke of Grimalore’s residence. A year had passed since my reincarnation, so I must be ten years old now.
In the whirlwind of time, Eve Maria finally awakened her magical powers. Naturally, becoming a magician meant she abandoned the path of a healer.
The absurdity of it made me laugh uncontrollably.
‘I suppose I truly am the author of my own fate. Ha!’
With the only cure gone in the face of immediate advantage, I already looked forward to the day Diego would suffer from an incurable disease.
One peaceful noon, as I laughed on my bed, the maids knocked and entered.
They placed a sparkling gem on a cushion.
“What’s this?”
“It’s from the royal household. I think it’s a trophy Prince Rosinante is giving to Miss Levietta.”
“The hunting competition prize, huh? I thought it might have been sold somewhere since there was no news for so long.”
“Perhaps it took time to craft it into a gift. Refining high-quality scales into a gemstone would have taken more than a month just to shape it.”
“How do you know so well?”
“My father is a jeweler.”
I smiled faintly at the proud maid.
Whether it was a gem or a rock from Rosinante didn’t matter. What mattered was that the royal household officially approved it and sent it to me.
‘The empress has judged it’s fine for me to become Rosinante’s consort.’
She probably thought it wasn’t just fine—it was an opportunity to ruin my honor.
Since I had rejected Diego’s offer to make me princess consort, my reputation had to be tarnished for his position to remain proper.
Finally.
With Eve Maria turning into a magician and becoming the likely consort, entering the royal household became a necessity, not a choice.
Whether at the duke’s residence or the palace, as long as it blocked the enemies’ path, it was enough—though apparently, that wasn’t true for everyone.
“Ahem. May I come in for a moment?”
The one knocking politely on my door was Wilhelm, head of the Grimalore family, who could enter anywhere in the house without my permission.
“Yes, of course.”
The surprised maids, relieved at my command, scurried out.
Though I’d met Wilhelm often in his office, this was the first time we met privately in my room.
Trying to ease the tension, I considered offering a drink, but Wilhelm’s hand gesture stopped me, and I remained seated.
“I’ve exchanged marriage talks once with Empress Cordelia. Removing all unnecessary formalities, to put it simply, I respected Eve Maria’s choice, and I intend to respect yours as well.”
Overwhelmed by his weighty gaze, I swallowed and spoke:
“Th-thank you, Head of the House. I will do my best not to bring shame to our family.”
“The one who should do his best is the prince.”
“Eh?”
“Taking not just my granddaughter but even you, Levietta… tsk. Those thieving brats.”
“….”
I forced a laugh. Even if Wilhelm was a duke, I couldn’t comment on the princes’ antics, so laughing was all I could do.
“Still, with Gilbert in the royal household, at least one worry is eased.”
“Eh? What do you mean?”
“He returned to the knight order after his leave. Didn’t you hear?”
Not at all. Now that I think of it, I haven’t seen Gilbert these past few days.
I recalled our last conversation:
“Uncle, about my marriage with Prince Rosinante…”
“Handle it yourself. I’ll do as I please too.”
Doing as he pleased… could it be?
Did he return from leave to the royal knights because of me?
That lazy human?
‘Good heavens, there’s a limit even to a doting uncle!’
