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A week had already passed since the wedding of Grand Duke Erzet, but newspapers and journals still teemed with articles about this event.
Today in a journal a detailed analysis dedicated to Grand Duchess Erzet was published.
The article extolled her beauty, calling the marital pair ideally suited to each other, as if created by the gods themselves.
After endless ecstatic phrases having consumed not a little ink, the text finished with a provocative sentence:
*It was the day when the true lily of Traon was born.
Now we with impatience wait how Grand Duchess Erzet will enchant the high society of the capital.*
The journal, squeezed in Ornella's hand, trembled.
Having reread the last paragraph several times, she with effort slightly lifted the corners of her lips in a semblance of a smile.
But in the end she couldn't withstand it and flung the journal on the floor.
Before her eyes again and again scenes from that wedding surfaced.
Eileen Elod, who pretended to be a modest girl, and on the day of the ceremony eclipsed her with her magnificence, having put her in an unfavorable light.
Memories of that terrible moment when all attention went not to her, but to *that one*, drove her out of mind.
"Calm down."
Parbelini, sitting opposite his daughter, restrainedly tried to comfort her.
He looked at Ornella, heavily breathing from rage, and with an underlined soft voice pronounced: "Is it worth being angry because of such a trifle?
People always pay attention to something new.
As soon as the hype subsides, they will again admire you."
He with a gesture ordered the servant to remove the thrown journal, lit a cigar and unhurriedly continued: "What significance has the title 'lily of Traon'?
For me most important of all is your happiness."
Ornella glanced at the Duke with eyes full of blood.
Having seen her gaze, Parbelini briefly tutted.
His only daughter usually was cute and good-natured, but, having inherited the character of the late Duchess, at times lost her head from anger.
Now was exactly such a moment.
Ornella, not tearing her gaze from her father, as if burning him with eyes, finally spoke:
"It was *you* who wanted this." Ornella trembled as if in a fit.
Not in a state to restrain rage, she shouted: "You wanted me to become a daughter of whom one could be proud more than a son!
So that I would become the most noble woman of the empire!"
Her piercing voice forced the Duke to wince.
He laid the cigar in the ashtray, having shifted thick brows.
"Was it really only my desire?
You too wanted this, Ornella."
Although his words sounded cold, in Parbelini's eyes paternal love was read.
"Calm down.
Well and character..." In his reproach tenderness was sensed.
From the side he looked like a caring father adoring his only daughter.
But Ornella knew the truth.
The happiness of which Parbelini spoke existed only in those frames which he himself established for it.
If she had stated she wanted to go out in marriage for a street poet, the Duke would have been the first to send that one to the guillotine.
And after this he dared to speak of her happiness?
Ornella slowly took a breath.
After the shout the storm in her head a little subsided.
She carelessly lead a hand over the disheveled hair and, looking at her father, quietly spoke: "How many times have I said that I must go out in marriage for the Grand Duke Erzet, and not for the emperor?"
"Even Duke Parbelini doesn't possess the power to force the Grand Duke to marriage against his will.
Besides then he was on a hair from death—how could I give you to such a one?"
Ornella snatched the cigar from the ashtray and took a puff.
The Duke watched the smoking daughter with tenderness.
Her face blazed from offense when she exhaled smoke and answered: "But now you see?
I was right."
She was sure that this man would rise to the very top of power.
Such was her flair, honed by years in high society.
And yet Ornella had made an incorrect choice, and now reaped the fruits.
Grand Duchess Erzet eclipsed her, although that one could have become empress.
Even having become empress, she would have received only a title, while love and attention of the people would have gone to Eileen.
Like Leone, who had been deprived of all glory in favor of his twin brother.
Having remembered the good-for-nothing emperor, Ornella squeezed her teeth.
Parbelini got a new cigar and pronounced: "This is still unknown.
In the end, he is only a Grand Duke, and not emperor."
Ornella snorted, having heard her own words said back to her.
"A Grand Duke who *at any moment* can become emperor?"
"Think your father will allow this to happen?" Having applied a cutter to the cigar, the Duke spoke as if all this had no significance.
"His majesty too is not deprived of ambitions, Ornella.
Say the Grand Duchess Erzet is arranging a tea party?
Act as usual."
*Click.* The sharp knife evenly cut off the cigar tip.
Looking at the daughter with a smile, Parbelini pronounced: "The rest I take on myself."
***
It was the first official outing of Grand Duchess Erzet.
The servants of the residence applied all efforts so that Eileen looked flawless.
They brought a multitude of jewelry and dresses, asking about her preferences.
For Eileen, who in all her life had dressed up only for the wedding, these questions were a true trial.
She didn't thoroughly sort out in such things, therefore simply trusted the maidservants and allowed them to do all they considered necessary.
And the result turned out magnificent.
The dress was sewn in the same atelier as the wedding one, and, as she heard, over it again three masters worked.
Eileen thought their words on the day of the wedding were simply a courtesy, but it turned out the atelier owners sincerely wanted her to wear their outfits.
The dress decorated with exquisite laces and ribbons was so luxurious that it was scary to put it on.
Blinded by the tints of expensive silk, Eileen moved with extreme caution, fearing to spoil such a precious thing.
Holding the hem, she slowly, like a snail, descended the stairs.
In the hall Sogno was waiting for her and a man who, having seen her, rounded his eyes and clapped his hands.
"Wow, Eileen!
Today you are simply irresistible!"
Not accustomed to compliments, Eileen embarrassedly thanked: "Thank you, Diego." It was Diego, appointed her escort for today.
He was too valuable a person to spend time on such duties, but today Eileen made out she didn't notice this.
It was her first public outing as Grand Duchess Erzet.
In such an agitating moment the presence of Diego gave her strength.
"You are so beautiful that all will gasp." Diego for some time more admired her, encouraging and instilling confidence.
Sogno too encouraged Eileen, whose anxious expression didn't escape from him: "When you return, tell me all details."
Thanks to them Eileen finally smiled.
Having conducted Sogno, she sat in the carriage together with Diego and set off for the Imperial Palace.
Last time they utilized the corridor intended only for the imperial family, but today, since it was an official visit, they had to go through the main entrance.
Scarcely had Eileen come out of the carriage accompanied by Diego, as tens of gazes fell on her.
Diego tutted and murmured: "Oho, directly a swarm has flown together."
"Swarm" was too soft a word—the people gathered were incredibly many.
Even more than at the imperial banquet.
Eileen went pale from tension and, holding on to Diego, uncertainly stepped forward.
He corrected her train and whispered: "They are all here to see you."
It turned out the aristocrats not invited to the wedding had specifically come to the palace on the day of her visit.
Eileen couldn't believe so many people gathered for her sake.
Fortunately, thanks to Diego no one dared approach closer.
They had already nearly passed through the crowd when Eileen collided with those whom she least of all wanted to see.
"Eileen!" Ornella with luxurious platinum hair ran up to her, gaily calling by name and widely smiling.
Having approached closer, she unexpectedly hugged Eileen.
"I so missed you!
How are you doing?"
From the side it looked like a meeting of two close friends.
While Eileen stood in stupor, Ornella continued sweetly to speak: "This is my father." She laid a hand on the sleeve of the middle-aged man standing nearby and smiled.
He had green eyes a bit darker than the daughter's.
Slightly having smiled, he bowed.
"Very pleasant to meet.
Duke Parbelini, Asef von Parbelini.
At the wedding I saw you only from afar, so today—our first true meeting."
"I thank you for such kind attention, your grace." Eileen answered with awkwardness, and he, not tearing away his gaze, studied her.
His gaze was attentive, but cold.
Down Eileen's back an unpleasant chill ran.
She instinctively tensed legs so as not to retreat, when Ornella suddenly rounded her eyes.
"Oh, by the way, has Baron Elod not yet arrived at the palace?" She playfully pressed to her father and smiled.
"On such a festive day he will surely come, is it not so?"
Now Eileen understood what Ornella was achieving.
That one was boasting of what Eileen could never have.
Eileen was silent, intending to gather thoughts, when Diego, standing behind, quietly jerked her by the dress and nodded to the side.
Looking there, she saw a man going through the suddenly quietened crowd.
It was Cesare, having come to meet his wife.
But Cesare was not alone.
Nearby him, pale and covered with cold sweat, went her father—Baron Elod.