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Her teeth ground together in frustration. Why Lara? Why would someone like her end up with Alec? Valerie’s thoughts turned to the young maid who had once served her.
A girl with lashes like spun gold and sand-colored hair, a face as pure and beautiful as if molded from glistening gold dust. Even sullied with dirt, her features remained pristine and flawless. Hers was a beauty too rare for a life of servitude.
“Perhaps that’s why. Because she couldn’t bear to live such a lowly life, she schemed to ensnare a noble man like the prince.”
But such women rarely met a happy end. Valerie didn’t have to look far to see proof; her father’s concubine was a prime example. They said the more beautiful, the more tragic their lives.
Yet, in Valerie’s eyes, such fates stemmed from failing to know one’s place. Greedy souls always met disastrous ends, and Lara would be no exception.
“How should I get rid of that woman?”
Valerie mused as she continued brushing her hair. The girl who had once been her maid had stolen from her—the man she never gave permission to have, and his child.
“Lara…”
Her green eyes gleamed like the scales of a snake. Valerie wanted to act before the child was born; it was uncomfortable to think of harming an already-born child, though not impossible. A miscarriage would simply be more convenient.
As she murmured the name of the woman who had stolen from her, Valerie stared at her reflection in the mirror. She knew Alec was not her husband. But he wasn’t Lara’s either. No one had granted Lara the right to bear his child.
Thus, the child was illegitimate, and Valerie was simply reclaiming what was hers. If she threatened both the child and the mother’s place, Lara would surely flee in fear. Perhaps she would run away even before Valerie had to act.
“I hope you run soon,” she muttered.
It’s what you’re good at, like the little rat you are.
When Diane reappeared, she was lively and radiant. It was a stark contrast to the somber farewell in front of the carriage a few evenings prior. Now, she approached Lara with the cheerful smile characteristic of young noblewomen.
“How was the mansion’s ball? I heard all the prominent figures in Dranberg were in attendance. I had planned to go myself, but my father’s illness prevented me, even though I had the invitation.”
“I see. Is your father feeling better now?”
“Yes. He’s always had a chronic heart condition, but he’s been overexerting himself lately…”
“Oh dear…”
Lara’s expression softened with sympathy. Diane averted her gaze from Lara’s face to the dress and jewelry she had chosen. Compared to when she first met Lara, she seemed like a completely different person.
At a glance, one might not notice much change. But Diane was a quintessential noblewoman, born and raised in the upper echelons of society.
As the daughter of nobility, she had grown up watching the most refined and high-ranking women of the land alongside her mother.
Empostium was one of the most advanced countries on the continent. Its vast expanse made it a crossroads of various cultures from both large and small nations.
Because of this, its currency system developed early, and its industrial sector flourished far ahead of its neighbors. Diane, who had observed the highest echelon of Empostium’s women with a discerning eye, could not possibly miss the subtle changes in the princess consort.
It was hard to say that it was merely a change in attire. The neatly clasped hands, the graceful smile as if painted, and her composed yet warmly detached demeanor evoked a sense of tension within Diane.
Diane pressed her lips together, feeling the weight of the calm, piercing blue eyes that seemed incapable of tolerating complacency. She took a sip of the red tea before glancing around the room. Unlike its barren state just days ago, the interior was now filled with furniture.
Rather than feeling like a home, it gave the impression of being decorated to reflect the prince’s status and dignity. While the master of the household is said to be the lady of the house, in this case, it should be the princess consort managing the home…
Had she chosen all of this herself? Likely so. After all, the sofa and table, crafted by the late master artisan of Salézien as a limited edition for the emperor’s birthday, were not the kind of items that could simply be purchased on a whim.
The handcrafted wooden table, engraved with the artisan’s signature, had unique and exquisite carvings that had once been the talk of noblewomen for some time.
“There’s no way the prince selected this,” Diane thought as she admired the table adorned with the royal symbols of a stag and falcon, beautifully combined into exotic and geometric patterns, before lifting her gaze.
“How have you been, Your Highness?”
“Thanks to your concern, quite well.”
“My, what have I done to deserve such credit?”
“You mentioned before that you worried for me. I believe the prince must have chosen you and sent you to me because he thought you would guide someone as lacking as I am.”
The princess consort took a sip of her yellow chamomile tea, lowering her gaze. Her upright posture and the elegant lines of her shoulders exuded refinement and dignity.
Diane’s eyes caught on the small pearl earrings swaying from the princess consort’s earlobes.
Just a few days ago, the princess consort had worn a plain indoor dress of dull blue and accessorized herself with tacky spinel earrings. Leaving aside the quality of the jewelry, the braided hairstyle, along with the mismatched dress and accessories, had been so out of place it was almost laughable.
Though Diane had answered the prince’s call, she’d felt at a loss about where to even begin teaching this woman. Was she supposed to serve such a person as her master? The thought had been overwhelming.
On the very day of her arrival, while still unpacking, the princess consort had not displayed even a hint of irritation when Diane came to meet her. Even after Diane spent the entire day chatting away thoughtlessly about unfamiliar topics, the princess consort’s gentle, sincere eyes betrayed neither annoyance nor weariness.
She was undeniably kind. So kind, in fact, that it was almost infuriating.
When Diane finally got up to leave, the princess consort had said:
“It’s getting late. Why don’t you stay for dinner?”
What incredible kindness. Yes, incredibly, irritatingly kind. If she had anything worth boasting about, it was her boundless kindness. Diane could see a trace of admiration mingled with fear in the way the princess consort looked at her.
Meeting someone like her might warm the heart regardless of status, but the thought of having to serve such a person as her superior was agonizing.
It wasn’t about the political clout of the fifth prince or the signals he had sent about his revival in court. It was about how Diane was supposed to handle this overly kind, provincial girl.
And yet…
While it was plausible that she might have chosen her furniture and accessories with the help of a skilled maid over a few days, completely erasing her distinctive accent was a different matter.
“This is practically a transformation into a whole new person.”
Diane stared at her in awe, unable to conceal her emotions despite her efforts. The princess consort held her teacup with practiced elegance, her straight posture and poised demeanor resembling someone who had lived in the palace for years.
It felt as if they had swapped her out for someone else entirely. Her hair, now elegantly pinned up with small violet-shaped hairpins, was not only stunning but also demonstrated exceptional taste.
Her light purple indoor dress and even the ball gown she had personally selected were flawless. There was nothing to critique, leaving Diane silent, her smile lingering on her lips.
“If Your Highness speaks of me this way, then I will gladly dedicate myself wholeheartedly to assisting you,” Diane said with a steady bow.
The fifth prince had instructed Diane to serve the princess consort with reverence, as though she were serving the prince himself, treating her with the same respect owed to one’s parents. Diane, who had already pledged herself to the prince upon meeting him, was willing to devote herself entirely. Yet, she couldn’t stomach the idea of becoming the servant of an unworthy woman, regardless of her lineage or status. But now…
“Thank you, Diane,” the princess consort said with a faint smile.
Her smile was pure, as if painted with a brush, but it no longer revealed her inner thoughts. Diane found herself genuinely pleased, feeling as though she had finally encountered a proper mistress.
“It seems we’ll need to send word to the Mobillen atelier,” Diane said.
Diane was diligent, perceptive, and exceptionally skilled. From the outset, she had insisted on handling all matters related to the upcoming ball, and she gradually worked with Lara to prepare every detail.
Lara showed Diane the dress, shoes, and accessories she had already chosen for the evening ball and discussed the dress code. To Lara’s surprise, Diane interfered far less than expected.
Unlike her initial impressions, Diane now seemed to regard Lara’s choices as consistently tasteful and praised her insight endlessly.
Not only did Diane refrain from criticism, but she also applauded every option Lara presented, declaring them all outstanding. This left Lara wondering if Diane was secretly mocking her or deliberately setting her up. Yet, Lara shook off such suspicions.
After years of navigating palace life, Lara had developed a knack for discerning between those who approached her with malice and those who didn’t. Moreover, Diane’s changed attitude seemed genuine upon closer reflection.
The qualities Diane now praised as exceptional—taste, refinement, and poise—were not things Lara had acquired overnight. They were the result of years of enduring humiliation and painstakingly building herself up.
She had learned royal etiquette, how to interact with noblewomen in social circles, and how to manage a household befitting her status. She had done all of this not to outshine others like Valerie but simply to avoid being looked down upon.
Lara remembered the grueling efforts she had made to live as Alec’s empress and his first wife. Alec had once told her he wanted her to remain unchanged, to stay as she was when he first fell in love with her: a pure, innocent maiden.
He had promised to protect her so that no one would dare look down on her, as long as she stayed the same. It was a naive promise.
Regardless of his words, Lara had wanted to change. She couldn’t understand why she shouldn’t, and she couldn’t accept it. Perhaps Alec had said those things out of concern for how difficult she might find life in the palace, but Lara had wanted to grow and adapt to match his transformation.
She had no desire to live in the palace as a naive country girl. Thus, she had worked tirelessly to learn. Even without Alec’s help, she had pushed herself to acquire knowledge and skills.
She had mimicked Alec’s mannerisms wherever she could and, when she couldn’t, she had followed Valerie’s example.
But the result had been malicious rumors: the first empress was accused of deliberately imitating the second empress.
“Does she think she’ll amount to anything just by copying the noble Lady of the Second Empress?”
The laughter and cruel ridicule tore at her heart. It wasn’t until then that Alec arranged for her to have tutors.
Soon after, the noblewoman who had spread those malicious rumors committed suicide. It was said that the woman had been involved in a scandal with an occult sect resembling voodoo, which conducted human sacrifices as part of alchemical rituals.
This horrifying case involved the abduction of newborns from the capital’s orphanages, who were used as sacrifices. Though the Empire’s security agency initially conducted a lax investigation, the case gained national attention when it was revealed that a renowned noblewoman from the social scene had participated in these rituals. The subsequent re-investigation exposed her actions, leading to public outrage.
The noblewoman eventually took her own life, and her husband was demoted to an insignificant post.
Their children were scattered, their family’s reputation tarnished, and their once-proud lineage became a cautionary tale in high society.
And the person who had orchestrated the noblewoman’s downfall? None other than Alec himself.
“If he can’t kill them, does he make them kill themselves instead?”