CHAPTER 028
“Three days from now, the banquet will mark the beginning of the competition. You'll escort the lady into the competition hall. Do you understand?”
“Yes.”
“From what I see, she seems to be the weakest among the candidates, so we shouldn't have to take any extra measures ourselves. But don't let your guard down.”
“Yes.”
Millie stood in Bridget, the head maid’s room, answering her instructions with short replies.
“What is the lady doing right now?”
“…She went for a walk because she felt stuffy.”
“At this late hour? The separate palace was built on the side of a mountain, so it’s not easy to find your way if you stray too far from the pond. That’s why we marked the perimeter with vines.”
“She goes for a walk whenever she has time… She hasn’t gotten lost yet. From now on, I will follow her more closely.”
Bridget narrowed her wrinkled brow and spoke slowly.
“I thought you were smart, but I guess not. What I mean is that if the lady accidentally strays outside the separate palace… it would benefit us. Candidates are not allowed to leave the palace without permission. If she is found outside for any reason, she could lose competition points or, at worst, be expelled.”
As Millie bowed her head, realizing something she hadn’t thought of, the head maid added.
“From now on, pretend to follow her, but if she strays too far from the pond, don’t follow. If she accidentally crosses the vine boundary and leaves the palace, it will make things much easier.”
“Yes.”
Millie answered while holding the pouch containing thirty silver coins given to her by the head maid.
‘This will cover my youngest sibling’s medical bills for three months.’
As Millie left the head maid’s room and walked past the side door of the separate palace towards the annex, she saw Rosa carrying new bedding.
However, she stopped walking towards the eleventh annex on the right and, after a moment’s thought, turned around and started walking in the opposite direction.
Hiding quickly behind a magnolia tree, Millie watched Rosa’s back. Rosa’s head was busy looking around.
After confirming that no one was around, Rosa quickly ran to the third annex, and the door opened without even a knock, swallowing her up in an instant.
Millie’s lips pressed into a straight line as she emerged from behind the magnolia tree.
‘The third annex is where Princess Lilibet of the Seville Kingdom is staying.’
So that's it. You are no different from me. You have to side with the advantageous party to survive, especially for those of us who have nothing.
Millie’s lips twisted into a sneer.
Pretending to flatter our lady, only to switch sides.
It must be eating her up inside to be serving a lady who is ignored by all the other candidates and who has fallen out of the Emperor’s favor. She must regret her poor choice of allegiance.
From what I heard, she wasn’t even originally serving our lady. There can’t be any loyalty or attachment.
Touching the pouch of silver coins in her apron pocket, she muttered to herself,
“This is perfect for causing discord. Things are too easy.”
She headed towards the annex.
***
“I’ve been watching because I couldn’t stand how you kept fussing over that girl.”
Princess Lilibet, lounging diagonally on the sofa in the drawing room, looked Rosa up and down.
“A meticulous plan is essential for achieving great things, but so is the boldness to execute that plan. I really like your reckless determination to act.”
Princess Lilibet, twirling her wavy, shiny blonde hair around her finger, lifted her chin. As if on cue, the princess’s maid placed a small silver box on the table.
“Open it.”
When the princess spoke to Rosa, who was standing there blankly, Rosa hesitated before carefully opening the box.
Rosa’s dark eyes widened at the sight of the contents. It was an egg made of pure gold.
“When I become Empress, I promise you’ll be able to work in the first maid division of the Empress’s palace in recognition of your service.”
“What do you want me to do?”
Rosa swallowed nervously and asked in a trembling voice. The corners of Princess Lilibet’s lips curled up in satisfaction as she saw the maid’s eyes light up at the sight of the golden egg.
“First, prove your ability. Switch Arabelle’s dance shoes at the banquet. The candidates have to change shoes for the dance, so make it so she can’t dance at all. Succeed, and I’ll accept you as my own.”
Rosa, her face white with fear, hesitated and said,
“I heard that the banquet doesn’t count towards the competition…”
“What does that matter? It’s the appetizer before the main course. There’s no better way to break someone’s spirit. If she’s humiliated in front of the crowd, she won’t be able to compete properly in the main competition. Do you know how many girls I’ve sent away this way in the first competition? Haha.”
As if just thinking about it made her happy, Princess Lilibet’s beautiful blue eyes gleamed cruelly. A sharp laugh escaped her alluring lips.
After tucking the silver box with the golden egg into her undergarment pocket, Rosa left the princess’s annex and disappeared into the darkness.
"Are you serious? You’re going to put that country bumpkin in the Empress's first maid division?”
“Are you crazy? Where’s your sense of quality? We’ll get rid of her by framing her for a crime as soon as the competition is over, just like the last ones.”
“Then, that golden egg is also…”
“Of course, it’s fake, just flashy on the outside. The maids aren’t allowed to leave the palace during the competition, so how could she possibly get it appraised? She’ll find out when she tries to sell it later. Ah, what a shame. I wish I could see her face when she realizes, haha.”
Princess Lilibet burst into laughter, clutching her stomach, while the maids around her forced smiles, eager to please the princess.
***
“Is it true?”
“Yes, it’s information gathered from all possible sources, so it should be accurate.”
“With this, I can secure an overwhelming victory in the first competition. Thank you, Aunt!”
Grace clapped her hands, unable to contain her joy at the information provided by Grand Duchess Caroline Le Sang.
Despite the Grand Duchess and Empress Dowager Natalia’s influence in the royal family and social circles, they couldn’t reach the final competition committee for the Empress selection.
Contrary to their wishes, they were not even given honorary judge positions on the final competition committee. This was a decision by the Emperor and the council of senior nobles to ensure the fairness of the competition, and the Emperor had also pledged not to exert any influence over the competition.
The nine-member competition committee was composed of representatives from the cultural and artistic circles that the Empress would oversee, as well as the greatest scholars of the time.
In the final round, two honorary judges, whose identities were kept secret by royal regulations, joined the nine judges.
Since six months ago, the judges had been staying in the Crystal Palace, a former ancient temple, with all external contacts strictly prohibited.
Choosing a consort for Emperor Helterd Maxwell was a matter of great importance not just for the empire but for the entire continent. The choice of which family or kingdom the Empress came from would shift the geographical and political landscape of the continent.
Just as Empress Dowager Natalia’s home kingdom, Seville, had transformed from a minor kingdom into a wealthy and influential nation on the continent.
And the resulting butterfly effects would influence not just one kingdom but the entire continent.
“The first task involves Agrité.”
“Yes, that’s what I heard. I’m not sure in what form it will be presented, but it’s certain since a large number of Agrité books have been moved from a judge’s residence to the palace.”
“When I was studying Agrité every night, you told me it would be useful in the Empress competition. You were right, Aunt!”
Seeing Grace take out a poetry book in Agrité and start reciting, the Grand Duchess smiled bitterly.
She and her husband had used every means to dethrone Maxwell and place their only son, Jeremy, who was two years older, on the throne. What she got in return was her son’s corpse, who had died while studying abroad.
They had sent him abroad to avoid the royal duty of going to war, fearing he might also be sent to the battlefield like Maxwell. However, he succumbed to a plague that swept through that year.
From then on, she adopted her orphaned niece, Grace, and trained her to be the most suitable candidate for Empress. With twelve tutors by her side, she turned Grace into the empire’s finest lady.
Finally, the moment to see the fruits of her efforts was approaching. The Grand Duchess closed her eyes, listening to Grace’s clear voice reciting poetry in a language she herself did not understand.
***
A silence hung between the man and woman walking down the long corridor.
The Emperor was quiet because of the small, soft hand he held in his, and Arabelle was silent because of the warm, large hand enveloping hers. They walked, each aware of the other’s warmth.
Emperor Maxwell, who had grabbed Arabelle’s hand and started walking forward, clenched his teeth as he felt her in his grasp.
I should let go… but I don’t want to. Knowing that we’re connected, even like this, reassures me.
The Emperor shortened his long strides to match Arabelle’s pace.
Watching her run wildly, stepping on fallen ginkgo leaves, made his throat tighten with anxiety.
She wants to leave this place… this palace where I reside… she wants to escape.
Seeing Arabelle call out the name of that ‘teacher’ and run, Maxwell felt his heart twist.
Reason tells me she can’t leave until the curse is broken… but the curse isn’t the issue. I’ll never let her leave. I’ll never let her escape.
Even if she never smiles that sweet, pure smile at me again, I’ll keep her in the palace at all costs. The palace is… where I am.
Twisted logic screamed at him to bring Arabelle from the separate palace to the main palace immediately. Better to have her close and prevent her from escaping.
As he reached out to touch her slender neck, Arabelle’s smile came into view.
Her clear eyes, free of deceit, reflected his distorted self. Her words, that she was so happy to see him she felt like her heart would burst, made his heart sink.
He felt a chill run down his spine at the thought that he might never have seen that smile again if he had acted wrongly.
“Why don’t you ask for my help? You came here to help me, so it’s only fair that I help you too. I value fairness greatly as an Emperor.”
Reaching the end of the corridor, the Emperor bent down to meet Arabelle’s gaze and asked.
After pursing her lips for a moment, Arabelle met the Emperor’s eyes and replied.
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