“That insolent bastard!”
buzz-!
The servants of the First Prince's Palace trembled at their lady's sudden cry.
Until the morning greeting meeting with Her Majesty the Empress, Glenna seemed to be in a good mood.
But she came back with a face as rigid as a rock.
As soon as her bedroom door closed behind her, she screamed.
“How dare you make fun of me—when she is nothing but a bastard sold for money!”
“Your Majesty!”
“That vase—no, please!
It was a gift from Her Majesty the Empress!”
“Leave me!”
Glenna pushed the maid who tried to stop her from throwing the vase.
The maid fell to the ground, and Glenna exhaled before returning the vase to the table.
“I'm not that stupid.”
She sighed deeply, then lay down on the couch and straightened her hair.
She raised her chin proudly and began tapping the sofa's armrest with her fingertips.
Her expression was calm, as if she had not exploded in anger moments ago.
“It's not what the rumors say.”
Glenna remembered Mrs.
Ambrose's appearance.
She was expecting a vulgar country girl—but the woman was dressed in the latest fashions.
Usually, when a girl from the countryside tries to imitate the fashions of the capital, she looks like she is wearing clothes that do not suit her.
But there was no embarrassment or contradiction in Mrs.
Ambrose's appearance.
Even with the Empress's diamond necklace around her neck, she remained composed and confident.
Her speaking style, although delicate, was sharp - as if she were a woman of long standing in aristocratic society.
“Where's Charlotte?”
“You summoned me, Your Majesty.”
No sooner had Glenna spoken than a brown-haired maid approached and bowed deeply.
Glenna stared at the maid for a while, then slowly opened her mouth.
"So, your information could be wrong too, right?
Lady Ambrose wasn't a simple-minded villager who couldn't even appear in society.
Rather, she received a diamond necklace from Her Majesty the Empress."
Glenna was examining her nails carefully as she continued to talk.
“And you did not know that Prince Franz had brought it himself.
Because of that, my position seemed extremely ridiculous.”
“I—I apologise, Your Majesty.”
“You know what to do, right?”
“Yes, Your Majesty!”
Charlotte responded immediately, hitting her forehead on the marble floor.
Without hesitation.
Glenna watched her for a long time as the maid's forehead hit the floor—tak, tak, tak.
When blood began to pool on her forehead, Glenna clicked her tongue.
“Don't pollute the earth.”
“I-I'm sorry, Your Majesty!”
“I will forgive you because I know your loyalty.”
“Thank you!
I will never make this mistake again!”
Charlotte was shaking her head violently, blood running down her face.
Glenna narrowed her eyes as she watched the maid contentedly.
She saw fear and submission in her eyes, and that satisfied her.
“Watch Mrs.
Ambrose closely.
I want reports on everything—what she does, who she meets, where she goes, everything.”
“But Lady Ambrose resides in the Second Prince’s palace...
It is difficult to plant a maid there.
As you know, the Second Prince’s knights are the ones who personally guard the palace...”
“Are you testing my patience?”
Glenna raised an eyebrow.
A cold flash appeared in her frozen blue eyes, and Charlotte quickly bent down and said in a panicked voice:
"N-No!
I'll find a way to do it!"
Glenna waved her hand at her half-heartedly.
Charlotte jumped up and quickly left when she was given permission to leave.
Glenna watched the door close, her eyebrows frowning.
Charlotte had done nothing wrong.
No…something must have happened before she left Ambrose's lands.
For Glenna, the Second Prince was a major obstacle on her way to becoming Crown Princess.
That's why I felt so relieved when the daughter of an obscure baron was chosen to be his wife.
The more gullible a girl is, the easier it is to destroy her socially.
According to gossip, Mrs.
Ambrose was subservient to her stepmother and never properly entered high society.
It is true that she appeared officially, but that was only because her stepmother planned to sell her to a wealthy nobleman.
From what Glenna knew, the girl wasn't just naive — she was downright stupid.
She is the legitimate heiress of a late baron, yet she did not claim her inheritance, but rather allowed herself to be mistreated and sold to the imperial family.
Where did that confidence come from?
Lady Ambrose showed no awe before Glenna, the precious jewel and first wife of the Princess.
On the contrary, her behavior was bold, even provocative.
How was she able to get the empress wrapped around her finger?
Glenna rubbed her temples in frustration.
When Her Majesty the Empress visited to greet her in the morning, she was shocked to see that necklace adorning that girl’s neck.
She recognized it immediately.
It was the necklace that the Empress wore at her wedding to the Emperor — the last masterpiece made by craftsman Richer.
It was also the necklace that Glenna had always wanted so badly.
The Empress had gifted her some jewelry before.
But that diamond necklace remained carefully preserved, and was never shown to anyone.
Glenna thought she would not get it until after the Empress died.
But...a frivolous girl who was dragged from the countryside got it first.
I'll get that necklace — whatever it takes.
Glenna gritted her teeth.
She's used to always getting what she wants.
This time will be no exception.
Especially... when her opponent is a peasant woman like Elisia Ambrose.
Alicia stared at her reflection in the mirror.
A sparkling diamond necklace adorned her neck, but her features were expressionless.
“Ma’am, are you okay?”
“…Sara”
Elysia turned her head toward the maid.
Sarah had come with her from the Ambrose mansion.
When noblewomen married into the imperial family, they were allowed to bring a maid from their family.
This is to facilitate the transition to life in the palace.
Elisia chose Sara without hesitation.
Sarah was her wet nurse, and they grew up together as sisters and friends.
There was no one Elysia trusted more than her.
“You don't look well.
Can I get you chicken soup?
You like it.”
Sarah said with a sweet smile.
Elisia shook her head and pointed to her neck.
“No soup.
Just help me take off this necklace, please.”
“Of course.
Just one moment.”
The clamps clicked.
The sparkling diamonds came loose from her neck.
Sarah placed the necklace gently in its box, her eyes contemplating its beauty with innocent admiration.
“It is very beautiful.
You have truly become part of the imperial family now.
There is no doubt that Her Majesty the Empress loves you very much.”
“Really?”
“Of course!
I heard that Princess Glenna wanted this necklace too.
But Her Majesty gave it to you.
This is not an easy matter at all.”
Sarah smiled happily as she handed the box to another maid.
“Isolde, put it in the locker room safe.
In the farthest place—right in the deep, okay?”
"naturally."
Isolde answered with a slight smile and headed to the dressing room.
She was one of the maids that Lucius had assigned to the palace - and he had carefully selected her as the most worthy of them all.
Indeed, Isolde was exactly as Lucius described her.
Cautious, efficient, and discreet.
In her previous life, Isolde stayed with Elisia and walked until the end in the isolated palace.
That's why, even though they met recently, Elisia did not hesitate to trust her.
After Isolde left the room, only Elisia and Sara remained in it.
With Sara's help, Elisia took off her formal clothes and put on a more comfortable home dress.
As she turned around, her eyes fell on the side door leading to Franz's room.
See...what is Franz doing now...?
“Sara, do you think maybe—”
“Yes?”
“...Nothing.
Just tie the tape loosely around my waist.
I feel tired.”
“Of course.
Don’t worry.”
Sara skillfully adjusted the ribbon around Elisia's waist, her hands graceful from years of practice.
Elisia sat on the edge of the bed, sighing, and slowly combing her hair, lost in thought.
'He was the one who brought me here himself… but he hasn't come to see me since then.'
They hadn't really talked since they arrived at the Second Prince's Palace.
Franz said he had work, and left immediately.
That was two days ago.
Of course, she wasn't expecting a romantic relationship.
Their engagement was originally a political arrangement.
But his complete distance from her...was unsettling.
'He didn't even ask me if I was okay...'
Elysia pursed her lips.
Her chest was weighing her down, but she had gotten used to this heaviness for a long time.
She was always alone, even in her home.
No one cares about it unless he has an interest in it.
She turned to Sarah, who was folding her discarded dress and putting it in the clothes box.
“Sara.”
“Yes, ma'am?”
“If anyone comes from the Empress’s Palace again, don’t open the door without asking me first.”
Sara blinked in surprise, “Did something happen?”
“No.
I just… I don’t want to be surprised again.”
“…Understood.
I’ll be careful.”
Elisia nodded lightly and leaned back slightly on the pillows.
She wanted to rest, but her thoughts were clouding her mind.
When her eyes drifted to the closed door leading to Franz’s room, she muttered in a low voice: “…Franz.”
Then... there was a knock on the door.
Knock-!
Knock-!
Elysia turned and walked in amazement.
“Who is knocking?”
“It's me, Gerard.”
Her brother's voice came from behind the door.
Elisia quickly got up, “Come in.”
The door opened slowly, and Gerard Ambrose appeared.
He was wearing formal clothes, as if he had just returned from the palace council.
His face looked calm, but the tension around his eyes was evident.
“I have just returned from a meeting with His Majesty the Emperor,” he said in a composed voice.
“What happened?”
He pulled his lips into a straight line.
“…As I expected, His Majesty fully supports Prince Franz.
The nobles are all silently watching how things will develop.”
Elysia's gaze hardened, "What about the Empress?"
“She doesn't seem satisfied.
Especially after today's visit...
Glenna must have made a noise back in her suite.”
“Yes, I did.”
Gerard looked at his sister carefully, “Are you okay?”
Elisia smiled faintly, “I’m fine.”
“...You've changed.”
She raised her head to look at him, “What?”
"You've become different.
Stronger.
More balanced.
The old Elysia wouldn't have stood face to face with a woman like Glenna."
Elysia laughed a soft, dry laugh.
“Maybe I'm just... tired of losing.”
Gerard's face softened slightly.
He approached her and gave her a small envelope.
"What is this?"
“Information.
About what is happening in the capital... and about the Empress’ Pavilion.”
Elysia opened the envelope and glanced at the carefully written notes.
Her eyes narrowed.
“…So the Empress tried to arrange a marriage between Franz and cousin Glenna.”
“Yes.
But Franz refused.
That’s probably why Glenna has such animosity toward you.”
“I see.”
She closed the note and put it in her drawer.
“I'll be careful.”
Gerard hesitated, then said in a low voice: “Do not trust anyone easily.
Even those close to Franz.”
Elisia looked at him steadily, “I won’t.”
“I will stay in the capital for a while.
If you need anything, send via Sara.”
“Thank you, Gerard.”
With a final nod, Gerard walked out and closed the door behind him.
When silence returned to the room, Elisia looked again at her reflection in the mirror.
Her eyes, once filled with hesitation, now radiated with cold determination.