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Chapter 14
The Empress had always used maids to subtly torment me.
Since matters concerning the women of the palace fell under the Empress’s jurisdiction, it must have been easy for her to manipulate things.
More than anything, the harassment was always kept at a level I could just barely endure, making it awkward to report it to my parents every time.
If I went to them saying I was being tormented daily, they would certainly take issue with it—and then the Empress would likely start targeting me in an even more persistent and underhanded way.
I had always been afraid that the Empress, backed by the Duke of Zhelon’s family, would retaliate.
Since I never ran straight to the Emperor to complain, it must have made it all the more enjoyable for her to harass me in small, petty ways.
[“It’s fine. Her parents aren’t around anyway.”]
How could they be doing exactly the same things as those children?
But now, I was no longer afraid of the Empress like before.
“Is it really that hard to check the temperature of the wash water?”
I tilted my head and urged the maid.
She looked flustered and cautiously gauged my expression.
Of course, she couldn’t possibly dip her hands into steaming hot water.
Swoosh—
I tipped the entire basin of hot wash water over.
The maid, narrowly avoiding it, stiffened as she looked at the instantly soaked rug and shoes.
“Since this accident happened because of the water you prepared, don’t send someone else—clean it up yourself and restore everything to how it was.”
“……”
“Can you manage that before I return? I can’t sleep without that rug, so dry it today and bring it back to my room.”
I waved my hand dismissively, as if telling her to get lost.
“What’s your name?”
“…Nora.”
“Nora. I will report today’s incident to His Majesty. You will have to explain in detail why you did something like this.”
As I spoke rather shamelessly, Nora’s eyebrows twitched.
‘What? She’s going to report it to the Emperor? Does that mean she’s no longer afraid of the Empress’s retaliation?’
That was clearly the kind of expression she had.
But in my view, deliberately bullying someone while knowing they cannot report it to someone in power was an even worse crime.
‘From my father’s perspective too, discovering later that his daughter was being bullied would break his heart.’
Though perhaps my parents in my previous life, who entrusted me to my cousins and then disappeared without a trace, were no different.
“I’ll also make sure to mention that you looked at a holy-powered imperial princess that way, Nora.”
After briefly recalling her physical features again, I waved my hand toward the door.
Nora left in a dazed state, carrying the dripping wet carpet.
After she left, another maid rushed in. This one was a familiar face.
Emma.
Fortunately, it seemed she hadn’t been replaced—she had just been away for some business.
“Your Highness, I’m sorry I’m late. On the way here, the Empress’s maids spoke to me…”
She was watching my reaction nervously.
Unlike when dealing with Nora, I softened my expression and lifted my brows.
“It’s fine. I have an appointment with Her Majesty the Empress, so help me prepare.”
“P-pardon? About the punishment for being late…”
“It’s not late enough to warrant punishment, is it? You don’t need to be so nervous.”
She looked like she would die of guilt if I kept treating her that way.
‘I should treat Emma better from now on and repay her for how sensitive I’ve been toward her.’
She was one of the few people who stayed by my side even after my mother passed away.
After helping me prepare, Emma also brought food.
I watched her quietly before speaking.
“What did the Empress’s maids call you for?”
“Ah, well—”
Emma, who usually kept her mouth shut, seemed happy that I had spoken to her first.
So she wasn’t someone who preferred silence after all.
While getting ready to go out, this was one of the first proper conversations I had with a maid.
Until now, I had kept my distance from everyone, always anxious about the possibility of sudden death.
I had even deliberately avoided people to keep them from being harmed because of me.
‘But now I have the luxury of interacting with others.’
Imperial bloodlines were truly something else.
According to my father, my current level of divine power was already enough to save someone from curses or poison.
Even if Daniel Proust were subjected to an assassination attempt, I would likely be able to save him.
‘Still, it would be useful if my divine power became stronger.’
Power is power.
And power? The stronger, the better.
Then my next step was already decided.
‘I need to meet the Spirit of Knowledge.’
I recalled a scene from the game’s tutorial.
When you first launch the game and log in, you are immediately presented with a desperate situation: the world is on the brink of destruction, and you are told to save it.
‘Just like that?’
And then—
[The Spirit of Knowledge will tell you what you need to know.]
A line of light appeared like a lifeline, and the Spirit of Knowledge (the tutorial guide) appeared to explain various things.
‘I heard the Spirit of Knowledge exists in this world too. I think you had to touch a specific book to summon it.’
If I followed the tutorial, touching that book would allow me to consult the spirit whenever I was stuck.
I would be able to learn about my physical condition, and how to grow my divine power.
And once I built enough affinity with the spirit, I could even share its unique abilities—an enormous advantage.
Fortunately, I still remembered the appearance of that book and its owner.
The problem was how to contact the person who possessed it.
‘I don’t really have any connections.’
As I was thinking this over, Emma approached again.
“Your Highness, I’ve narrowed the dresses down to five options.”
“Mm. I’ll pick the one that’s easiest to wear and most comfortable to move in.”
Daniel wouldn’t care whether I wore rags or a proper dress while running laps in the training grounds anyway.
“Greetings to the Moon of the Empire.”
“You’re late, Frey. Did you sleep in again today?”
The Empress’s voice was gentle, but it carried thorns. Her complexion was pale.
Just as Frey’s acquisition of divine power had begun to raise tensions, the Emperor had recently used his Absolute Obedience Authority, leaving her unable to sleep properly.
Her deep navy eyes—identical to Tahar’s—moved quickly up and down.
‘She looks just like her mother, flaunting her beauty without even realizing how vulgar it is.’
Striking red eyes that drew attention, and radiant golden hair flowing down to her waist.
Frey Ovelire was so breathtakingly beautiful she looked as if she had been crafted from the sunset spilling over gold.
That resemblance to the Emperor only irritated the Empress further.
Frey smiled faintly and thought to herself.
‘She’s more annoying than Tahar, who openly shows hostility.’
There was only one reason the Empress, who clearly disliked her, had sent for her.
‘She really cares a lot about her image.’
As expected from the noble among nobles, the Zhelon Ducal House, the Empress valued appearances above all.
What better way to display imperial authority than to summon the Emperor’s illegitimate daughter before her?
‘…She probably smiled like that even when she heard about my mother’s death.’
A tightness formed in her chest.
But Frey had no choice but to come.
After all, her opponent was the Empress—second only to the Emperor in authority.
Knowing this well, the Empress gestured toward the table with a composed smile.
“I did use the Absolute Obedience Authority… but still. I prepared this for you, Frey, who is soon to marry as you always wished. I hope it suits your taste.”
“……”
Frey inhaled the scent of the prepared tea and frowned.
A bitter, suffocating aroma followed by an unexpectedly sweet chocolate scent.
‘So this is the herb I only read about in books.’
Even a small amount of this would cause reproductive dysfunction for years, typically used by middle-aged couples as contraception.
If not for its distinctive scent, she would have drunk it unknowingly.
“I heard the Grand Duke Proust already has two children. Three would be too many.”
The Empress casually brought up Daniel Proust’s illegitimate children.
‘She’s really trying to make me infertile outright.’
Frey clenched her fist under the table while smiling.
“I haven’t discussed family planning with him yet. It might be too early to drink this tea.”
“Well, of course. You haven’t had time to speak privately yet. The Grand Duke must have been summoned without understanding the situation.”
Having scored the first point, the Empress lifted the corner of her lips.
“The reason I called you today is to assign a maid to accompany you to the North.”
“A maid?”
“Yes. You’ll need to attend social events in the North. You can’t go without a trustworthy attendant, can you?”
So she had been the one meddling with her maids all this time.
Frey gritted her teeth internally.
But the Empress wasn’t done yet.
“I’ve personally selected candidates. Choose from among them.”
With a gesture, the doors opened.
Young noblewomen, clearly unsuited for social life in the North, entered hesitantly.
They were Southern nobles who had likely never even set foot in the North.
‘We should’ve met these ladies in a library, not here… huh?’
As Frey examined their family crests, she narrowed her eyes and smiled slightly.
‘That crest… I remember it.’
She traced one emblem with her gaze.
An owl spreading its wings—the symbol of wisdom.
The Holt Barony, a small southern noble house.
Had Frey not remembered her past life, she would never have paid attention to such an insignificant house.
But knowing the course of this world, she could not forget it.
“I am deeply grateful for your consideration, Your Majesty the Empress.”
Unlike usual, Frey’s voice now carried sincerity.
