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Chapter 07
Chloe honestly wished she could lower the price of refrigerators as much as possible and distribute them even to commoner households and slums, but she suggested a price range that seemed realistically achievable.
The Duke was surprised that Chloe had such admirable thoughts and readily agreed.
“You can already consider the circumstances of the people living in the territory at your age. She’s my daughter, but truly, you’re exceptionally clever!”
The Duke took charge of mass production and sales of the refrigerator on behalf of the still-young Chloe.
Watching the business built around something she had invented, Chloe personally experienced how it affected her family, the territory, and the people.
“Thanks to the refrigerator, we can keep ingredients fresh, so there’s no longer food spoiling and being thrown away.”
“As His Grace ordered, refrigerators were placed in orphanages and clinics, and they say illnesses among children and patients have greatly decreased!”
Chloe had only acted because she didn’t want to eat bad-tasting food, but she was surprised that her actions had such a huge impact.
And one thought settled firmly in her mind.
‘There are so many people living in conditions far worse than my previous life.’
Even the Garnet Duchy, whose lands were fertile and comparatively well-off, was like this.
There were countless people who couldn’t eat the foods Chloe disliked—not because they tasted bad, but because they simply didn’t have any.
What had begun from her desire to eat delicious food had turned into something that could help others too.
‘I should keep doing things like this. I get to eat tasty food, my parents are happy, the territory develops, and I can help people too.’
Even if it wasn’t magical items like refrigerators, improving crops or creating recipes would be enough to turn into businesses.
Then the territory would become wealthier, and Chloe could devote even more effort to researching ingredients and recipes.
At that moment, Chloe’s goal evolved from “making delicious food to eat” into “developing the territory using memories from her previous life.”
***
“Huh? The Imperial Palace?”
At dinner, while sitting at the table, the Duke delivered shocking news to Chloe.
Out of nowhere, a letter had arrived from the Imperial Family to the ducal residence—and it was addressed to Chloe.
“That’s right. It’s a personal letter sent directly by Her Highness the Imperial Consort.”
It was even sealed with the Imperial Consort’s private seal rather than the Imperial Family’s official seal.
With the Empress—Shuel’s mother—dead and the position vacant, the highest-ranking person in the palace after the Emperor was the Imperial Consort.
After taking a deep breath, Chloe opened the letter with a paper knife.
In summary, it said:
“I heard that a young lady created something called a refrigerator. I admire such remarkable insight and would like to invite you to the Imperial Palace.”
After reading it, Chloe blankly muttered, unable to hide her despair.
“But… why would Her Highness the Imperial Consort want to see me…?”
“Perhaps because Prince Shuel Cyclamen attended that banquet and spoke favorably of you to the Imperial Family.”
No, Shuel Cyclamen! Why would you do something nobody asked for?!
Chloe screamed internally.
She had been certain they parted ways casually, indifferently, cleanly.
‘He talked about me all the way at the Imperial Palace?’
Her vision darkened.
If she went to the palace, the original novel’s male lead would be there, the Imperial Consort would be there, and countless other original characters too…
“C-can’t I refuse to go…?”
“Oh my, what a silly thing to say. We need to prepare at once.”
The Duchess laughed as though Chloe’s wish to decline the invitation were a joke, but Chloe couldn’t laugh.
Only Chloe had been invited, so even if the Duke and Duchess accompanied her, they wouldn’t be allowed into the palace together.
Of course, someone of ducal rank could request an audience with the Imperial Consort, but without scheduling ahead, they would have to wait a long time. By then, Chloe’s audience would already be over.
So the Duchess would accompany her on the journey, but Chloe had to enter the palace alone.
‘I have to go into the Imperial Palace by myself.’
Chloe remembered that many episodes from the original story took place there. Naturally, that meant many original characters were present too.
The people she most wanted to avoid were Shuel and Shuria, but she didn’t want to meet the others either.
And once again, this wasn’t something she could refuse simply because she wanted to.
“Travel safely, Chloe. And you be careful too.”
“I’ll be back, Father.”
“Don’t worry, dear.”
The Duke looked disappointed that his many duties prevented him from coming.
Leaving behind her father, who was seeing them off outside the carriage, Chloe headed toward the Imperial Palace with her mother.
***
“Your Highness, Lady Chloe Garnet has come to request an audience.”
“Let her enter.”
After parting ways with the Duchess at the palace entrance, Chloe entered alone.
A servant who had received prior notice came to guide her, and she followed them to the audience chamber.
When the doors opened and Chloe stepped inside, two people were already there.
‘Her Highness the Imperial Consort and… Shuel?!’
Chloe nearly froze but barely managed to maintain her composure. She immediately lifted the hem of her dress and bowed.
“Chloe Garnet, daughter of Duke Garnet, greets Her Highness the Imperial Consort for the first time.”
“Yes, sit. You’ve met Prince Shuel before, haven’t you?”
“Yes. I’m pleased to see you again, Your Highness.”
“Mm.”
Shuel nodded back, looking strangely more displeased than when they’d last met.
Chloe carefully sat in the chair indicated by the Imperial Consort.
The Imperial Consort sat at the head of the long table, with Shuel to her right. Chloe sat opposite him.
Swallowing nervously, Chloe watched the Imperial Consort’s expression.
“So. I heard the ducal family developed and sells something called a refrigerator, and that you created it.”
“I merely thought something like that would be useful. There was also a mage who helped.”
“A wise person is someone who thinks of what others cannot. You’re remarkably intelligent for your age.”
Chloe couldn’t understand why the Imperial Consort had summoned her only to praise her.
Just as she sat there uncertain, the Imperial Consort abruptly changed targets.
“And yet, the Prince—despite being His Majesty’s son—cannot even think as this young lady does.”
…Suddenly?
Chloe was startled that praise directed at her had become an excuse to belittle Shuel.
The Imperial Consort glared at him and scolded harshly, while Shuel lowered his head under her cold stare.
“Other than status, is there even a single thing the Prince surpasses this ducal lady in?”
Chloe’s mouth fell open.
She knew it was improper to react this way, but this… wasn’t this too much?
‘Praising me is fine, but why are you putting down the male lead?!’
Cold sweat ran down Chloe’s back at the blunt and shameless comparison.
Wouldn’t this, regardless of Chloe’s intentions, plant hostility in the future Crown Prince toward her?
‘I was trying to avoid the villainess route from the original story, and now I’m becoming a villainess because of someone else? Is this for real?’
Worse, this cruel condemnation violated etiquette.
No matter that the Imperial Consort held a high position and was older, in the imperial hierarchy she was never above the Prince.
She was respected because she was the Emperor’s woman, but she could never be equal to the Emperor, Empress, or their children.
Even the Imperial Consort’s own son, while treated as quasi-imperial due to carrying the Emperor’s blood, would always rank below the Empress’s son in succession.
The Imperial Consort herself was neither of imperial blood nor possessed the authority of an Empress. In truth, her rank was effectively below Prince Shuel’s.
Yet despite that, such arrogant behavior…
Since the Empress had died and the Prince no longer had anyone to protect his position, it seemed the Imperial Consort’s power had risen without limit.
Whether Chloe was bewildered by the ruined hierarchy of the Imperial Family or not, the Imperial Consort’s criticism continued.
“Honestly, I cannot understand it. Someone inferior to a mere noble girl is the only legitimate imperial prince of this nation? Ridiculous.”
Clicking her tongue in disapproval, the Imperial Consort smiled like a snake and added:
“Isn’t that why even His Majesty the Emperor always hesitates to appoint the Prince as Crown Prince—because he is so incompetent?”
