In contrast, the current Empress Onisia is wise.
She entered the palace as a commoner, first making Lady Marquise Herret her ally.
That was the beginning.
Starting with Madame Marquise Airet, Onisia attracted most of the ladies of influential noble families to her side.
It took a long time to gain control of the community, but it has survived to this day where Alisto Berens the Crown Prince holds power firmly.
Ruby wanted Atha to become a powerful empress like Onysia.
So that she remains firmly by her side.
The fate of the owl is already so.
No choice but to share fate with the master.
Now, her lady Atha.
What if Atha is kicked out of the palace by divorce?
I'll go down with her.
In her eyes, this is why [Hayat] makes the owl's task so difficult.
So, you must help Atha by any means to become Empress safely, and keep the seat for a long time.
In Ruby's eyes, all Atha had now was the Crown Prince's attention, nothing else.
So, now is an important time to attend the dance party, expand your network, and gradually build up your position.
So Atha comes to the dance now?
All invitations of influential women can be collected!
Ruby tried hard, hoping for Atha's presence.
“Yes, a dance party.
Decorative flowers, chandeliers, dancing and excitement, beautiful paintings and playing, really an art square?
The Rose Alley is also decorated as an art museum now, going to just look is good.”
A bright curiosity filled Atha's eyes for a moment, but it quickly disappeared.
“…I can’t go”
Ruby almost convinced her, but was surprised when it suddenly turned around.
"Yes?
Yes?
Why, why?"
Atha murmured lowly, looking up at the ceiling.
“His Highness the Crown Prince said, ‘Don’t go out of Almond’s room.’”
A large question mark appeared above Ruby's head.
It can't be...right?
Ruby.
Gray, but owl-owl.
Did you go to the head maid Watch asking for information on the [Life] Paper?
no.
She went with a report on how to help Atha adjust in the palace, what her role as a servant was in the process of Atha becoming empress.
Moreover, what virtues are necessary for a servant to Her Majesty the Empress.
Please take pity on this miserable gray owl and give all the necessary information for the mission.
Fortunately, the kind and generous Head Maid Watch shared high-level information.
Well, she gave because she could.
anyway.
Watch clearly said that Atha is the “ideal type” for His Highness the Crown Prince.
It's not love, but he wants to possess her so badly.
To the point that he actually concluded the marriage contract with Count Hermann (this is my secret from Atha).
But, imprisonment?
His Highness the Crown Prince isn't... that stubborn?
There must be a reason.
If His Highness the Crown Prince really intends to imprison Atha?
He would signal her as a servant, and put up enough guards.
First, the situation must be calmly understood.
Ruby began to seduce and calm down as she watched Atha's expression.
“How could it be… you must be so frustrated.
Aye, really.”
“No choice, at that particular time...”
“Especially...?”
“No, while talking to His Highness, I closed my eyes for a moment...”
Ruby listened a lot.
Ruby clapped her knee and said confidently, “Jealous.”
Astonishment appeared in Atha's eyes.
"… jealousy?"
“Yes.
Definitely a momentary jealousy made him say that.”
Jealousy of His Highness the Crown Prince's excellent emotional control is a little surprising, but good for Atha.
And good for Atha?
Good for me too!
“Don't worry, Atha.
I'll take you to the dance somehow.”
“…No, it’s okay if I don’t go to the dance party?”
truly.
Hard to say, but... getting locked up isn't my problem, Ruby.
But Ruby doesn't know her heart.
She took the unsure-looking Atha into the bedroom and asked, “Can you cry?”
There was astonishment in Atha's expression.
"Suddenly?
Why?"
“If you cry in the bedroom, I will bring His Highness the Crown Prince here.
Men are weak to the tears of the woman they love.
He will not continue to be locked up after seeing Atha cry.”
It seems logical, but...do tears help a candidate for a cold tyrant?
No, more than that.
Is it really okay if I don't go to the dance?
When Atha didn't move, Ruby asked roughly.
"Call me a bluff and trust me for once.
Just cry until I say 'done-' out the door."
Eventually, Atha entered the bedroom, prompted by Ruby.
I thought for a moment in front of the closed door.
“Am I, maybe, bad at rejection?”
Good.
No one had been asking as nicely as close as Ruby until now.
The process of both has begun.
Ruby put her ear to the door of Almond's room, scanning the corridor whenever she heard footsteps.
Then, yes.
Finally, she met His Highness the Crown Prince.
***
Alisto paused for a moment before entering Acalia's room, and looked at the door of Almond's room next door.
What is the saint doing now?
When curiosity began, the door to Almond's room opened and the maid came out.
New Designated Owl.
She immediately bowed down, and he asked unwillingly.
“Atha?”
The maid answered politely without raising her waist.
“Don't leave the bedroom.”
“…why?”
Ruby performed with all her might.
“She hasn't eaten anything since yesterday and is just crying.”
She was bent over, seeing only the ground, but she did not take her eyes off His Highness's shoes.
Come on move!
To Atha!
But she heard a nearby door open.
The entrance to Almond's room is next to it, so Akalia's door?
Does His Highness intend to ignore Atha?
to fail?
When she closed her eyes in regret—
Tk—, Tk—
The sound of shoes moving away approached, then stopped beside her.
I heard the voice of HH who was in front from the side.
“Don't come in”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Tak—!
The sound of the door closing is really pleasant.
Ruby straightened her waist and sighed proudly.
thus!
What man lets the woman he loves cry?
“Him.
From now on until His Highness comes out himself.”
No one will bother them.
***
Atha entered the bedroom as Ruby said and started crying.
Crying is easy.
Just thinking about her little dead mother brings tears.
The face is in the pictures only, the sound is faint.
But remember to lie on her arm.
Maybe during a nap.
Only one memory of the mother.
No memory of the father.
Mom, I miss you.
Do you miss me too?
This one question is a crying button.
I don't know how much she cried.
When the crying begins, various sadness comes.
When the crying almost turned into wailing.
Knock—knock—
Huh?
I finish?
Atha waited for Ruby's "done-" for a bit, but what she heard.
“Will you open the door for a moment?”
Alisto's voice.