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chapter 36
And the next day.
When the time for instruction arrived, Himena Grimroar spoke to the ladies-in-waiting of the Etiquette Department—those of lower rank than herself—in an excited tone.
“Have you all memorized the contents of today’s lesson? This is all for the honor of the Empire. Show no mercy—just carry out the orders as given.”
“Yes, Lady Himena.”
When the disciplined maids responded in unison, Himena nodded, satisfied.
It was a joyous day. Once Lady Revieta, the Thirteenth Prince’s consort, arrived at the etiquette hall, she could finally instill “proper manners” into that lowborn girl who dared to climb above her station.
Her anticipation swelled—then the long-awaited Thirteenth Princess Consort appeared.
Revieta, the Thirteenth Prince’s wife.
With every step she took, her silver hair brushed against her waist, rippling softly like light.
That dazzling hair was irritating to look at. Should she cut it off completely under the pretext of tidiness?
Or would it be even better to burn it away? Just imagining Revieta clutching her scorched hair and sobbing made Himena’s heart thrill with delight.
As that malicious thought writhed inside her, Revieta, walking steadily, stopped directly before Himena.
“Good day, Lady Himena. I’m sorry to say this, but I won’t be receiving your instruction today.”
“…What?”
What nonsense. Himena let out a short, incredulous laugh, but Revieta continued to look straight at her.
The reason for her confidence was revealed quickly.
“I’ve found someone who will serve as my chaperone,” Revieta said firmly. “From now on, I’ll be receiving etiquette lessons from her.”
“I wondered what nonsense you were spouting… It seems lowborn blood truly can’t be hidden. You must be confused, dear. The Empress herself entrusted me with the instruction of all royal consorts. Who dares to overstep that authority?”
“I do.”
A new voice cut into the conversation.
Unfamiliar yet unmistakable—one that Himena could never fail to recognize. Slowly, she turned toward the source.
“Minister… What did you just say?”
“I said I’ll do it, Lady Himena,” the woman replied. “I’ll personally complete the etiquette instruction of Her Highness Princess Consort Revieta. You will simply report my decision to Her Majesty the Empress.”
The speaker was a dignified middle-aged woman—refined yet commanding, her presence alone enough to make one bow instinctively.
Constancia Barnov.
Who was she?
Head of the illustrious Barnov Ducal House, which had overseen imperial ceremony since the previous emperor’s reign—and the current Minister of Etiquette herself.
From consort evaluations to imperial coronations—there was no corner of the palace untouched by her influence.
So of course, not only someone as precariously placed as Himena, but even the Empress, dared not speak to her carelessly.
“…As you command,” Himena murmured, lowering her head.
“Before that, I’d like to confirm something,” Constancia said, turning toward Revieta. “Your Highness?”
Revieta stepped forward and stood beside her.
The lowest-ranked of the imperial consorts—connected to the formidable Minister of Etiquette?
How could that be…?
Himena’s mind raced, but no plausible answer came to her. And right now, survival mattered more than speculation.
Constancia asked calmly, “What did your ‘special instruction’ entail, again?”
“Training for how to respond to unexpected situations.”
“That sounds fascinating. In that case, I’d like Lady Himena to give us a demonstration of what sort of ‘training’ that might be.”
Thud—!
Himena felt as if Constancia’s gaze fell heavily upon her bowed head.
“You can do it, can’t you?” Constancia’s tone was polite, but laced with iron.
Two maids from the Etiquette Department stepped up beside Himena, their faces pale as they gripped her arms.
Without the slightest hesitation, Constancia gave her order.
“Show no mercy. Carry out the command as given.”
“Yes, Minister.”
A spoonful of hot soup was forced between Himena’s clenched lips.
She gagged and thrashed, her nails clawing at the air, but there was no chance a single woman—even one as trained as she—could overpower several attendants.
“Mmph—ugh!”
While her stomach burned and filled, a corset of decorum was drawn tightly around her slender waist.
Constancia and Revieta watched the scene—torture in all but name—with expressionless faces.
So that’s what you intended to do to me, Revieta thought, feeling a chill crawl up from her abdomen.
This was the same humiliation she had suffered countless times at Himena’s hands in her past life.
And yet now, at her first act of retaliation, Himena glared back at her with a look of utter injustice, as if she were the victim.
When all Revieta had done was repay her—once.
If Constancia hadn’t been here, the situation would have turned out very differently.
But why had Constancia chosen to take Revieta’s side?
To answer that, time must turn back—to one day earlier.
* * *
I gathered my things and went to find Constancia.
It was near sunset in the colonnade.
The low light filtered between the garden trees, shadows stretching long across the stone floor.
Everyone else preferred quicker routes—but there was one who always chose this quiet, old-fashioned path.
Meeting Constancia as she left the Administrative Palace was no coincidence. I knew she would pass this way.
But that didn’t make things easier. The real challenge wasn’t the guards—it was her pride.
To someone like Constancia, the Thirteenth Princess Consort was a trivial being, unworthy of notice.
“Good evening, Minister.”
“This passage is used by gardeners. What brings you here…?”
Used by gardeners—in other words, no place for a royal consort.
She seemed to already know who I was before I even introduced myself.
“Were you following me?” she asked.
Under her neatly coiled gray hair, her calm eyes gleamed sharply.
I waved my hands in panic.
“No! I just took a wrong turn and happened to see a familiar face, so I greeted you.”
“Then, since you’ve greeted me—please step aside.”
Cold as ice.
Even if the Emperor himself had come, he might have struggled to catch her attention.
And it was clear why—she was on her way to visit her ill daughter.
Anyone could tell by the restless way she kept glancing at the clock tower, though surprisingly few knew the reason.
“I said—step aside.”
Instead of moving, I loosened the drawstring of my pouch and revealed what was inside.
Inside lay what I had asked Zerodines to procure for me: a bundle of herbs.
But not just any herb.
As I’d expected, the bait caught her attention immediately.
Though she had likely never seen it in person, her eyes widened the instant she recognized the plant she’d read about countless times in herbal compendiums—one she must have long dreamed of finding.
Her voice, normally composed beyond measure, trembled slightly.
“…Where did you obtain that?”
“I can’t disclose the source.”
“So, it wasn’t coincidence or error that brought you here after all.”
“No. I’m sorry I lied. I just wanted to be cautious—there’s danger in this.”
“That sounds as though you want to cooperate with me. Don’t worry. I’m not the sort of person who would sell the Empire’s secrets.”
“Neither am I.”
“…I’ll take your word for it.”
It might have sounded like a foolish exchange, but in truth, it was essential.
The herb I showed her—Serenis—was not something that could be found anywhere within the Empire.
It grew only in the Holy Kingdom of Erindor, far beyond imperial borders.
Just owning such a plant could invite suspicion, even accusations of espionage—
the same kind of doubt I myself harbored toward Rosinante.
Though in my case, my suspicions are based on truth.
I decided to test Constancia one last time.
“You know where Serenis grows, don’t you, Minister? Aren’t you curious how I obtained it?”
“You said it’s a secret. Everyone has something they wish to protect.”
Her gaze finally settled on me—truly seeing me for the first time.
“Tell me what it is you want.”
“Please protect me from Himena Grimroar’s harassment—and become my chaperone.”
From experience, I knew it was best to say these things while the moment was still warm.
Human hearts are fickle, like reeds swaying in the wind.
“Very well,” she said. “I want only one stalk of Serenis. Does that make our bargain complete?”
“Yes, of course, Minister.”
As the sunset of suspicion faded, our two shadows merged into one.
