The carriage set off.
When I saw the man sitting across from me, my anger cooled and reality came flooding back.
I was riding in a carriage with a man I barely knew.
It wasn't like me to act impulsively like this—but that man was equally strange.
When a woman he didn't know very well asked him to go to the imperial palace, he'd quickly summoned a carriage without question.
Nevertheless, I felt strangely reassured when I was with him.
Perhaps it was because of his thoughtful actions—like lending me his robe when we left the coffeehouse.
No one would know I'm Princess Madeleine now.
I played with the black robe that covered my knees.
Bouquets and cards filled my mind again. Gifts pretending to be from Leopold. So many flowers and presents that they filled my room.
Who dares? With what intention? How could they impersonate the Crown Prince? Who would dare look down on Madeleine—and me—like this?
"Take this."
"Pardon?"
While I blinked in confusion, the man held out a purple velvet box.
I picked it up hesitantly, then paused.
"Where did this come from?"
"From this carriage, of course."
"What is it?"
"You'll find out when you open it, won't you?"
The man smiled mischievously and settled back.
The conversation felt like wordplay. I opened the box.
Inside was—
"Gloves?"
I murmured. They were a unique and pretty design I'd never seen before. The tightly woven lace sparkled whenever it caught the light.
Suddenly, the man cleared his throat.
I looked up from the gloves to find him narrowing one eye endearingly at me.
"At this rate, you won't believe what I said last time, will you? I only have things that are truly valuable—so just tell me what you'd like."
Before we knew it, the carriage had entered the single road leading to the imperial palace.
I spoke in a low voice after seeing strong castle walls and armed guards of the Imperial Knights instead of gorgeous streets:
"Please drop me off up ahead—a little distance from the gate."
"As you wish."
The man relayed my words through the small window connected to the driver's seat.
The carriage headed to a spot slightly away from the imperial castle gate—close enough to walk, but not so close as to draw attention.
As the carriage slowed to a stop, the man pulled the hood of his robe all the way over his face without being asked.
Since his features were hidden, he appeared to be just a family knight.
The man stepped out of the carriage first, then held out his hand to escort me.
Feeling awkward being escorted by him, I looked at his large hand for a moment before lightly placing mine in it.
His hand—touching mine through the thin layer of lace gloves—was much harder, larger, and warmer than I'd expected.
Knights from the Imperial Guard were approaching. I looked back at the man for a moment.
"Olivia Madeleine. My name."
"Olivia. It's a pretty name."
The man spoke as if the surname after the first name didn't matter at all.
It sounded like he already knew I was a princess.
His attitude gave me a little more courage.
"When I come back out, will you tell me your name?"
The man didn't answer. I added softly:
"It won't be a bad deal for you."
Madeleine is thorough in repaying favors. And even clearer in taking revenge.
"Of course it would be a very nice loss—but unfortunately, that will be difficult today."
I thought he'd say, 'Yes, of course.'
The man who'd seemed so kind was drawing a line.
I tried to hide my embarrassment.
"All right, then. Thank you for your help."
"It's not that I don't want to tell you my name. I just have to leave for today."
Only then did I remember what I'd actually said:
"When I come back out, will you tell me your name?"
With what confidence did I assume this man would naturally wait for me?
I tried to pull my hand away, my face flushing with embarrassment.
But the man's hand—which had been touching mine as if escorting me—didn't let go.
As I turned back, the man spoke with laughter in his voice:
Our hands separated, and I walked toward the imperial palace.
The knight recognized me and bowed his head.
"Greetings, Princess. What brings you here today?"
"I need to visit the Crown Prince's Palace. May I borrow a carriage?"
---
"Princess! What brings you here today? His Royal Highness went to Rahein Street to see you..."
As soon as I arrived at the Crown Prince's Palace, the chief chamberlain looked confused.
Did our paths cross? Or did Leopold not show up at the appointed place at all?
Worry passed over the chamberlain's face.
"I'm here on other business besides seeing His Royal Highness, Chamberlain. More importantly—there's something I need to verify."
"Yes, Princess."
The experienced chamberlain guided me into a private drawing room.
Immediately, the door to the reception room—soundproofed so not a whisper could escape—closed behind us.
I sat on the sofa and looked straight at the chamberlain.
"The chamberlain knows, I'm sure. Whenever His Highness didn't come to our Wednesday appointments, flowers and gifts were always sent in his name."
"Yes, Princess. I'm aware."
"However, His Royal Highness himself doesn't know about them."
An expression of 'Oops' passed across the chamberlain's face.
"Was it the chamberlain who tried to mock me?"
"Princess, no! Mock you? I would never—I simply—"
The chamberlain was speechless.
"Was it also the chamberlain who sent the cards?"
"What cards are you referring to?"
The chamberlain's words cut off, as if genuinely surprised.
I smiled coldly.
"It's true that the Crown Prince's Palace sent me gifts. But I cannot reveal who specifically sent them. As for cards—I know nothing about any cards."
"..."
"Is that all the chamberlain can say?"
"I'm deeply sorry, Princess."
"...I can hardly believe it. That someone from this palace would dare send cards pretending to be from a member of the royal family—specifically the Crown Prince—to a princess."
"It happened. And the chamberlain didn't even know the cards were being delivered. That's why I came all this way on a day like today."
"..."
"Nevertheless, if the chamberlain doesn't come forward, there are limits to what I can uncover myself. You know better than anyone that I—a princess but not yet the official Crown Princess—lack the authority to give direct orders to His Highness the Crown Prince's chief chamberlain."
I laughed bitterly. The chamberlain made no reply.
"But what about exercising authority over the servants at Tiase Palace? At best, rumors would only spread that the Princess was in a foul mood."
"And as you may know—two months ago, the chamberlain's youngest son entered the palace as an apprentice chamberlain at Tiase Palace."
"...!!!"
The chamberlain's face—which had been like a hard mask—cracked instantly.
I should have realized.
The chamberlain brought his trembling hands together and squeezed them tightly.
A year ago, the Princess was granted real authority in Tiase Palace—the Crown Princess's palace. It was a much later start compared to previous fiancées, who usually gained power within two years of engagement.
The Empress used the Princess's supposed lack of skill as an excuse. But all the chamberlains knew the Princess was skilled enough to handle those duties.
The first thing the Princess did upon gaining power was select apprentice chamberlains. After hearing that even children without experience could be sent to Tiase Palace, all the chamberlains sent their family members.
This chamberlain had sent his youngest son—a boy born late who was unlikely to inherit the title or property.
All the chamberlains thought they were planting limbs in the Crown Prince's palace. No one knew it would eventually return as shackles.
Just as the chamberlains calculated—so did the Princess.
I looked at the chamberlain calmly. Beneath that calmness, my frosty rebuke poured out:
"How dare anyone insult House Madeleine? Should I still remain silent about this?"
"Oh, Princess—"
The chamberlain desperately bowed his head toward me.
"Mercy! Just once, Princess—please show mercy just this once!"
I spoke even more kindly:
"Chief Chamberlain, you don't need to go that far. As I said, I'd like to maintain a good relationship with you. So, considering the chamberlain's position, I won't ask who sent the flowers and gifts."
"Thank you, thank you, Princess!"
"Instead—find out who inserted the cards."
"Yes, yes, of course, Princess!"
"Naturally, this is my request to the chamberlain."
I smiled faintly.
The chamberlain hurriedly left the drawing room.
I maintained my upright posture until the door closed, then sighed quietly in the empty room.
I was lucky.
The chief chamberlain of the Crown Prince's palace pitied me more than any other chamberlain in the four palaces.
If he hadn't underestimated me, this wouldn't have worked so easily.
Suddenly, the image of the chamberlain turning pale when I mentioned his youngest son came to mind.
I felt strange.
Are all fathers like that? Would they go that far to protect their child?
My own father came to mind. It had already been days since I'd last seen him.
Father always frowned at me.
I pursed my lips and hoped the chamberlain would catch the culprit quickly.
However, contrary to my expectations, the maid brought in by the chamberlain as the culprit opened her mouth quite easily:
"I just did what Countess Chase told me to do! Please help me, Princess! I was wrong!"
The maid on her knees—crying and begging—was so young she seemed only thirteen or fourteen years old.
The culprit is Countess Chase.
She was the Countess who had looked down on me at the Crown Princess's palace tea party.
The Empress's handmaiden.
I pressed my hand to my chest.
It looks like the Empress is cutting off the lizard's tail.
---
At that very moment, Duke Giovanni Madeleine entered the drawing room of the Empress's palace.
The Empress smiled warmly and welcomed the Duke.
Though she had a face as beautiful as a rose, the Duke knew very well that the Empress's true nature was like a poisonous thorn.
"Greetings to the Imperial Moon. I see you, Your Majesty the Empress."
In response to the Duke's greeting, his aide Lord Huxley presented a bouquet of flowers to the Empress.
"Oh my, what wonderful flowers! It may have been a sudden summons, but thank you for visiting, Duke. I heard you had something to tell me."
The Duke got straight to the point.
The Empress looked behind the Duke with an exaggerated, embarrassed expression.
The Duke felt disgusted by that obvious performance but looked behind him anyway.
Among the Empress's maids, one woman in particular was trembling with a pale face—an unfamiliar face even to the Duke, who knew all of the Empress's people.
The new maid. Countess Chase.
The Empress spoke as if troubled:
"It's an embarrassing rumor, but the Duke must have heard it. Olivia, that sweet girl, spends her Wednesday afternoons quite alone..."
Olivia.
As soon as that name was spoken, the Duke's expression hardened.
The Empress was truly amused by this—the only weakness of Giovanni Madeleine, a man who otherwise showed his emotions like a statue.
Oh my. Who would have known that Giovanni Madeleine—the most upright man in the Empire, sincere to his wife—would create an illegitimate child?
The Empress recalled the rumor that had caused an uproar throughout the Empire fourteen years ago.
It's my greatest joy to see Madeleine—a pillar of the Imperial faction opposing the Aristocratic family—struggle like this.
"I'm truly sorry. I need to speak with the Prince more firmly about this."
"If that's all you wished to say, I'll take my leave."
"Really—how should I put this..."
The Empress continued dragging out her words to gauge the Duke's intentions.
"To appease Olivia's disappointment, I instructed the chief maid at the Crown Prince's palace to send her gifts. But the maid added her own words of consolation without permission."
"..."
"I understand how she feels, but if she goes on a rampage out of disappointment, won't she start saying all sorts of things? Still—if it's what her father says, she'll listen. I just don't want us to lose Olivia over something like this."
She went round and round, but there was only one conclusion:
Put pressure on Olivia to stay silent.
The Empress's eyes suddenly twinkled with malicious delight.