episode_0014

The news of the arrival of the carriage from the House of Bayern reached the Empress’s Star Palace.

The Empress, tilting her teacup with a casual expression, abruptly raised her head at the news. A spark of vitality soon emerged on her face, painted white with age to conceal her true years.

“That child. Survived the brink of death only to become a foolish fool?”

Despite the words flowing past her crimson lips, the Empress’s voice somehow carried an unexpected edge.

A middle-aged maid standing politely beside the Empress responded, “She simply lost her memories. Speaking, hearing, and thinking pose no difficulty for her. That’s what I’ve heard.”

“Is that so? Hmm… Well, it’s a pity. It would have been more advantageous to move her like a chess piece,” the Empress remarked.

Licking her moist lips with a sip of tea, the Empress did not bother to hide her disappointment.

Between the wrinkles on the Empress’s skin, each crevice was filled with greed.

The maids of the Empress’s palace, renovating the audience room for the debutante, turned their heads in case their gazes met hers.

The maid standing next to the Empress elegantly poured tea into the empty cup from the teapot.

Gazing at the brown tea leaves gently floating on the surface, the Empress organized her thoughts.

In the selection of the heir, the Count of Bayern was a thorn in the side of the Empress’s faction.

The nobles vying for the Princess and their respective powers were evenly matched in strength.

Her husband, who should rightfully support their son, was entangled in governmental affairs and showed no interest in the issues of the royal family.

As a result, neither the Princess’s faction nor her own could move rashly.

The capital’s politics delicately maintained a balance.

And the Empress found the current situation frustrating.

To counter this awkward situation, the power of the Bayern Count was necessary.

“The folks in the west will turn everything upside down at a word from the Lord of Bayern.”

It was an old saying in the political arena of the capital, and it still held true today.

More than ever before, the western nobles of the empire rallied around the Count of Bayern.

At the center stood the Count of Bayern, representing neutrality in the selection of the heir.

If she could bring them to her side.

The finely balanced scale would undoubtedly tip in one direction in an instant.

However, it was regrettable that there were debts to be repaid in the west as much as borrowed strength.

What the Empress needed to demand was not just a simple political matter.

It was support in the succession struggle, participation in a zero-sum game.

For the western folks who had maintained neutrality, it would be a significant step, and they would have much to lose.

Therefore, if her son ascended the throne, the westerners would surely present a bill beyond what they had given.

Yet she could not abandon the west.

Even if they couldn’t become allies, she couldn’t send the Count of Bayern to the Princess’s side.

Originally, there were ties between the western folks and the former nobles.

If the west fell into the hands of Princess Dominique, that cunning fox of a woman, there would be no turning back.

The teacup in her hand swayed gently from side to side.

Ripples spread across the crimson surface of the liquid.

Through the gentle wrinkles around her eyes, the Empress’s green pupils shifted towards a man chatting with the maids in a corner of the audience room.

“Louie, is everything ready?”

Like fish scattering in a lake, the maids dispersed swiftly at the Empress’s voice, leaving only the man who remained, smiling slyly as he gazed at the Empress.

“Yes, Your Majesty. When it comes to Lady E, I’m always prepared.”

“Good. This aunt trusts only you, Louie.”

Louis, known as a man, swept back his red hair, reminiscent of the empress, and flashed a fresh smile.

“Don’t worry. Even though my abilities may be lacking in some areas, when it comes to handling women, I am second to none.”

It was certainly a vulgar thing to say boldly in front of the empress.

Nevertheless, the empress simply responded with a smile.

The marriage within the royal family was purely a matter of diplomacy.

Therefore, for someone like himself, a noble from Galatea, becoming the empress was merely a stroke of luck.

The former empress, who bore the first daughter, tragically passed away at a young age.

The emperor was left with only one child, a daughter.

With no spare heir, the imperial family urgently sought a new empress.

However, women of childbearing age were already married.

If they were to find an empress from abroad, they would have to dress a child who had just weaned from its mother’s milk in gowns.

Naturally, the imperial family began searching for an empress within the empire.

The daughter of Edmund, Marquess of Edmond, who struggled to live on the past glory, became the empress of the Galatean Empire.

Under her protection, Edmund could once again reclaim his former glory.

The empress now aimed for even greater heights.

Therefore, she considered pairing her seemingly incompetent nephew with the youngest daughter of the Beauregard family.

Looking at her overly confident yet incompetent nephew, the empress cautiously spoke, “But you never know. The Beauregard women have always been… peculiar, to say the least.”

Covering her mouth with a fan, the empress recalled a memory from the past.

“Moreover, this eldest daughter of the Beauregard family… Yes, she is particularly exceptional. That child.”

In response to the empress, Louis sparkled his green eyes and said, “I heard that the youngest daughter is different. They say she is the true gem of the Beauregard family, or something like that. She looks quite intriguing, half and half.”

The empress scolded Louis softly, “Louis, it must not end with just playing around. This is important. Until Felix ascends the throne, or at least until he becomes the crown prince, you must stay with that child till the end.”

“Aunt, although I have shared affections with many women, I have never let out a word of complaint from any of their mouths.”

The casual remark from her nephew made the empress gently furrow her brow.

Judging by his character, he will surely cause a big problem someday.

However, at present, there was nothing the empress could do but hope that her nephew wouldn’t cause trouble until her son ascended the throne.

Soon, there was a commotion outside the door.

The hurried courtier announced the arrival of Lady Beauregard and her daughter to the audience chamber.

The Empress, Anne Rose Edmond of Galatea, straightened her posture and adjusted her voice.

However, the loud proclamation from the courtier beyond the door contained a name she had never expected.

“Lady Princess and Etienne Maria de Beauregard, Baroness, along with her daughter Eleanor Arène de Beauregard, are entering.”

A princess? What is that fox-like woman doing here!

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“Hmm. Rumor has it that her dress is as beautiful as her appearance.”

Dominique Aria Galatea, with her characteristic dark hair, looked intently at the platinum-haired beauty before her, Princess Dominique Aria Galatea.

Under her steady gaze, Eleanor shrank back nervously.

A peer, and such a beautiful one at that…

No, no. When such a noble figure as the princess herself looked down at her, Eleanor didn’t know what to do.

As the girl stood frozen in place, Etienne, standing beside her, answered on behalf of the princess.

“Since there are many places to move around, I came in comfortable attire.”

“Oh, really? Hmm… well, you can see me in a dress later at dinner. By the way, madam, why do you seem so frozen, Yeong-ae?”

With her beige hair swaying, Dominique approached Eleanor even closer.

Her golden eyes filled with sky-blue irises, the princess cautiously raised her hand and shook it in front of Eleanor’s eyes.

“It might be because the palace is still unfamiliar to me. It hasn’t been long since I arrived, and…”

“Ah… right, that’s true. I’m sorry, Yeong-ae. I must have been a bit annoying.”

Neatly groomed eyebrows soon formed a beautiful curve.

The princess smiled widely at Eleanor. Gradually thawing from her frozen state, Eleanor lifted her lips into a slight smile.

“Oh, no. Your Highness, I’m fine.”

“My goodness! Your voice is as gentle as your appearance. Hey, Eleanor! How about we visit my palace for a drink after stopping by the Empress Dowager’s Palace? Some excellent tea leaves just arrived.”

Upon hearing the vulgar words from the princess’s mouth, Eleanor once again became like a child, grabbing her mother’s right arm.

The princess before her was the kind of person who had always been difficult for the courtiers to approach.

Vibrant and lively women exuding an insider vibe.

Women who interacted freely with everyone regardless of gender, always smiling.

To Seojuha, who majored in electrical engineering at a male-dominated university, they were particularly challenging individuals.

Rorsua was like that, and now the princess was too.

However, the princess, Dominique, was slightly different from Rorsua.

Rorsua didn’t recklessly approach like this.

It was more like approaching stealthily like cats that like people. Unobtrusively getting closer and suddenly rubbing against them.

But the princess before her was truly a retriever.

Shouting “People lover!” and rushing forward recklessly. With her hair color as it was, she looked even more similar.

Feeling her daughter’s touch on her left arm, Etie coughed a few times and turned the princess’s gaze towards herself.

“Your Highness, why do you want to enter the Empress Dowager’s Palace with us?”

“Oh! That’s right. Um… I heard a rumor that something interesting will happen at the debutante ball today. They say a red-haired dog is wandering around the Empress Dowager’s Palace barking.”

A red-haired dog? What’s that all about?

The princess grinned broadly.

Then, she pulled Eleanor’s confused left arm.

“I can’t miss it either. Cute Eleanor Yeong-ae. And also, Madam’s husband. The nobles from the West too.”

Etie met the princess’s golden eyes, subtly emitting light.

In the princess’s eye smile, traces of the emperor’s charisma from the time when he vigorously controlled the state affairs were slowly emerging.

“Come on, let’s go. I’m curious about what expression the capital’s ruffians will make when they see our Eleanor’s face!”

During those days, the emperor never let go of what he wanted.

That’s why Etie had to let go of her precious daughter’s right arm that she was holding onto tightly.