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Chapter 14.
“Glory that shines upon the Empire—Leviang’s Rosia greets Your Majesty.”
“Ha ha, sit down.”
It wasn’t the first time the Emperor had summoned me.
But usually, such calls only came after the Crown Prince had begun showing genuine interest in Merina.
The story hasn’t even started properly yet—so why has the Emperor called for me already?
At first, I was thrilled by how different my life had become, but now that things are too different, I can’t help feeling uneasy.
“Come, have some. The imperial chef is quite talented.”
Unlike the Crown Prince, the Emperor pretended to be kind, offering me tea and cake. I thanked him politely and lifted the cup.
“I’ve heard many rumors about Lady Leviang, but truly, you are composed and bold. Most young ladies can’t even sip their tea properly in front of me—they just flutter their lips.”
Well, if you’d shared tea with His Majesty about a hundred times, you wouldn’t be nervous either.
The Emperor lightened the mood with idle talk about which desserts were fashionable these days. By the time I had finished half my cup, he finally got to the point.
“Have you decided on your partner for the upcoming ball?”
“Pardon?”
“I was wondering if you might consider being the Crown Prince’s partner.”
I calmly set my cup down.
I had a bad feeling about this from the start—and of course, I was right.
“The Empress mentioned that you and the Crown Prince would make a fine pair.”
The moment the word Empress left his lips, I understood the situation.
Merina, who couldn’t stand seeing the man she fancied paired with another woman, must have begged her sister—the Empress—to let her partner with Duke Lysianthus at the ball.
My name must have come up in the conversation, and to separate me from the Duke, the Empress likely whispered something to the Emperor.
But the Crown Prince? Really?
I’d probably vomit before even taking his hand.
“Seeing you in person, I agree with the Empress’s opinion. What do you think?”
The Emperor’s tone suggested this was more than a mere invitation—it was almost a proposal for the future position of Crown Princess.
Any normal person would have leapt for joy, but not me.
And honestly, it wasn’t a proposal so much as an order.
Who could refuse the Emperor’s wishes without offending him?
Duke Lysianthus? Even if I asked him to partner with me, who knows if he’d accept.
And if I named any other nobleman, the Emperor would surely take offense—how dare someone reject the Crown Prince for a lesser match?
Then I suddenly remembered: Madame Anthe had sent a telegram asking me to stop by her salon.
“I’m deeply honored, Your Majesty,” I said gently. “But I already have an engagement—it would be difficult.”
“What? With whom?”
I tightened my hands under the table.
“With the Tower Master, Your Majesty.”
“The… Tower Master?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“The Tower Master? That man? How…?”
The Emperor, visibly taken aback, rubbed his chin. Then his eyes flashed sharply.
“I did hear a rumor that the Tower Master was seen in the capital… Was it to meet you?”
“I don’t know why he came to the capital, Your Majesty. We simply crossed paths and formed an acquaintance.”
When I curtly added that I knew nothing of the Tower Master’s whereabouts or intentions, the Emperor fell silent.
The Tower—an institution that proclaimed absolute neutrality—and its master, the most powerful magician alive, were often likened to an independent kingdom unto themselves.
In truth, the Tower Master was treated with more reverence than most kings of small nations.
If I had prior arrangements with him, even the Emperor couldn’t insist on pairing me with the Crown Prince.
“Such a pity… truly a pity…”
The Emperor rose from his seat.
“Well, there will be other opportunities.”
As always, he seemed pleased with me, and as always, I merely curtsied politely.
On the way home, I stopped by the salon as planned. Madame Anthe greeted me with delight.
“Welcome, my lady!”
She looked positively radiant with excitement.
“The Tower Master came by again! He said we were to spare no expense on your dress and even paid extra!”
“Is that so?”
“He even offered to personally procure any materials we might need!”
What is that man’s deal, fussing so much over the dress I’ll wear?
According to Ted, the Tower Master—Shila—was completely unpredictable, a lunatic of sorts.
Normally he’d lock himself away in the Tower, but once he set his mind on something, he’d never let go.
A genius who became Tower Master at twelve, with power beyond comprehension.
“I see. And the dress?”
I had originally planned to gather more information before asking him to be my partner, but my plans keep getting derailed.
Then again, maybe now is the perfect opportunity.
“Not that I have much of a choice,” I murmured.
Between the Crown Prince and the Tower Master, the choice was obvious. The Tower Master, at least, was unentangled—for now.
There’s no need to tie myself to the Crown Prince at all.
“Pardon, my lady?”
“I said I can’t wait to try the dress on.”
“Ah, of course! This way, please.”
Following Madame Anthe into the fitting room, I was soon presented with a sky-colored gown.
“It’s not completely finished yet,” she said. “Once the final decorations are added, it will truly shine.”
Then I remembered—the Tower Master had requested that the dress be lavish.
“My eyes are red. Will this color really suit me?”
“Of course, my lady. Look here—this fabric isn’t pure sky blue. It has a red undertone.”
When she held it up to the light, the faint shimmer of crimson appeared beneath the blue.
“I’ll be wearing it to the Imperial Ball, so please have it ready before then.”
“Understood, my lady.”
Madame Anthe’s eyes gleamed.
“We invited you today for a fitting, after all.”
She personally helped me dress and adjust the gown.
“The finished dress will be stunning on you, my lady. It’s a shame I won’t see you wearing it at the ball. Hold that there, dear.”
“Like this?”
“Yes, pin it here… and we’ll add more embellishment there.”
Madame glowed with passion for her craft. The spark of life that comes from pouring one’s heart into something—that was beautiful.
Maybe it looked all the more beautiful to me because it was something I could never have.
Because all I can do is struggle not to die anymore.
“The documents have been sorted by category, my lady.”
“They look good. Well done.”
Ted, who’d been hired as my secretary, now handled the organization of my study as well.
He was loyal and incapable of betrayal—perfect for the job.
Of course, I wouldn’t tell him everything I knew, but as an assistant, he was ideal.
With his hair now a dry-straw color and his eyes somehow changed to green, his once-conspicuous appearance was gone.
“You’re still too handsome, though. Be careful.”
“I’m… handsome?”
“Right?”
He wasn’t supposed to be a major character, yet he’d been described as stunningly good-looking—so yes, he’s handsome.
Even Cassie had asked who my new secretary was and gushed about how handsome he was.
“I’ve been called handsome before, but hearing it from you feels new.”
“What was that?”
“Nothing. Anyway, what should I investigate first?”
“Keep digging into the Tower Master and Blue Bird. And get me some Vitalin.”
“Vitalin…? You don’t mean that drug, do you?”
I nodded lightly.
“Who’s going to take it? Don’t tell me it’s you, my lady.”
“It’s me.”
Ted shook his head in disbelief.
“You must’ve only heard the good rumors about it. You shouldn’t take that drug lightly.”
“It stimulates metabolism, gives energy, but it’s highly addictive and causes severe strain on the body if taken continuously, right?”
“…The more I look at you, the stranger you seem, my lady. You know too much.”
“And the more I look at you, Ted, the more curious you seem about your employer.”
Isn’t one of the basic rules of the information guild to never pry into clients’ affairs? I added pointedly.
Ted chuckled dryly.
“I expected you might look into me, but I didn’t think you actually would. Though I suppose investigating a client can be a skill in itself.”
After all, the fact that he’d been lingering near my estate and had jumped in front of my carriage meant he’d already done his research.
“I’m sorry. But I haven’t told anyone about you.”
“I’ll overlook it. After all, you have to know who you’re dealing with before deciding whether to sell information.”
That was one of the peculiarities of Spider’s Web, the information guild he ran: they refused to sell intel for immoral purposes.
That principle came straight from Ted himself.
“…Just who are you, my lady? You even know about that?”
“Instead of wasting time wondering, go get me the Vitalin.”
At the mention of the drug’s name, Ted’s face stiffened.
