Beatrice took leave, promising she’d come back again next time. She assured Hilaria she would bring back the investigation results before the tea party.
After accepting the polite apology from the Canary Palace received the day earlier, along with the request for a visit, Hilaria was getting dressed appropriately for the first time in a while. Her red hair was braided and decorated with fresh flowers, perfectly matching the spring weather.
Katie clapped her hands in joy at Celeste’s craftsmanship.
“Your skills are unbelievable.”
“Wow, I agree. Celeste, take care of all my adornments from now on,” said Hilaria with her eyes shining.
‘Is this enough to get things done?’
She had borrowed Celeste’s fashion senses. To be at the center of the social world, she could not be influenced by others’ fashion ideas. Instead, she had to get others to imitate her.
Everyone seemed to be hesitating to see the Empress, but soon invitations would pour in. Some of these invitations were from places where attending would be very useful.
“It’s an honor, Madam.”
Celeste politely answered and opened the jewelry box. It was the necklace Beatrice had brought yesterday.
“How about wearing this necklace?”
Celeste had chosen a bold off-the-shoulder dress to bring out the soft silhouette of the collar bone. So it would be a perfectly splendid choice to fill that void.
“I trust in Celeste’s sense of fashion.”
With Hilaria’s permission, Celeste put the necklace around her neck. Hilaria gently touched the sapphire; sitting in the mirror was a woman who covered her usual appearance, dressed stylishly and brightly.
Hilaria smiled.
She said as she met Celeste and Katie’s eyes through the mirror.
“Come on, everyone, cheer for me. Way to go!”
“Good luck, Madam! Madam is the best!” said Katie loudly.
Celeste joined in and cheered.
‘Do I have to…?’
Even without her support, Hilaria would still be able to press Lady Silotte to the floor. But, Hilaria smiled as if Celeste’s cheering was important.
‘Sigh. I really don’t know.’
Her smile was like that of an innocent child who knew nothing. This master of hers was mysterious in many ways.
“Now, shall we go to war?”
Hilaria said gracefully.
***
As Hilaria said, there was an unprecedented cloud of war in the drawing room where Silotte and Hilaria were seated. Hilaria was a beauty reminiscent of a rose in midsummer, and Silotte was a beauty reminiscent of a cold blue rose in winter.
Silotte broke the silence festering from the moment the cliché greetings had been exchanged.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Hilaria.”
Only then did Hilaria speak.
“A pleasure to meet you too, Silotte.”
“It seems that I was rude yesterday.”
However, the tone was not an apology at all. Hilaria smiled and shook her head.
“No. I think it was quite expected.”
It is only natural that she has acted like a king in an arena with no rivals. After all, Silotte had never met a woman of higher status than her except for Empress Dowager.
Silotte bit her lip at Hilaria’s words.
‘Who are you to understand me?’
Hilaria smiled as she found Silotte’s fierce eyes.
‘Will it take a long time to tame her?’
But even that was interesting. It seemed like it would bring new energy to this imperial life, which was not easy to manage.
“I wish you all the best in the future, Silotte.”
“I look forward to your kind cooperation, Hilaria. To do that, I think we need to have a conversation.”
Hilaria nodded in agreement.
“For some reason, you’ve just entered the Palace, so you may not be familiar with the Imperial Palace yet. Therefore, I hope you can learn a lot from me from now on.”
Hearing her words, Celeste and Katie let out a small sigh. Celeste, who followed Katie, shrugged her shoulders.
Hilaria folded her arms and smiled.
“Yes. I’ve just entered the palace, so I’m very busy adjusting.”
Hilaria wiped her lips.
“So,”
Hilaria stared at Silotte provocatively.
Silotte’s heart sank unconsciously at the blue eyes.
‘W, what?’
In an instant, the little woman seemed to be a massive flame in front of her. Silotte blinked. Hilaria leaned forward slightly and said.
“Silotte, help me.”
Hilaria’s hand circled the teacup. However, her eyes hadn’t moved away from Silotte at all.
“To organize the internal affairs of this Imperial Palace.”
Before Silotte could say anything, she deliberately cut off her words and smiled softly.
“I’m sure you’ll help me.”
Their roles had been reversed.
Silotte trembled at Hilaria’s words and blinked.
“There are two more Empresses in this Palace beside me and you. So, you will introduce them to me. Maybe we should reconcile so that the Emperor is happy too, agreed?”
Silotte, biting her lip in shame, withheld her answer.
However, the momentum had already passed to Hilaria.
‘Try me. You’ll come to your senses if you’re humiliated. Hah, let’s wait and see.’
Yes, it might be better to let Hilaria take the lead and get her into a messy situation. That way, Hilaria would quickly understand who she was dealing with.
Silotte answered in a stern voice.
“Yes, Hilaria.”
“Let’s keep up the good work, shall we?”
Silotte grabbed the hand that Hilaria had reached out mercifully. Hilaria’s eyes flashed. Hilaria pulled Silotte closer.
“Hmph!”
Silotte took a breath as Hilaria drew her body closer without realizing it.
“It’s only fair that someone like you does this, Silotte. After all, all this small court politics doesn’t interest me. You may have been at the top in the capital, but not now, not when I am here.”
Hilaria whispered gracefully.
“Do you know why?”
“W, what do you mean.…”
“Silotte, I didn’t come to the Imperial Palace to play stupid games. I have one or two secrets that could send you to jail right now.”
When she saw Silotte’s trembling face, she smiled.
“You’d better choose quickly; whether to bow down to me or bend over, Silotte.”
The reason she was giving such a gentle warning was that she liked Silotte’s trembling eyes. It was clearly unusual for Silotte to be in a position like this After all, she was one of the few intelligent enough to be in a similar position as her. Nevertheless, she knew Silotte would have made a move if she stood still, so she made a preemptive attack first.
Hilaria licked her lips.
“I wish I could be good friends with you.”
Hilaria whispered, hoping that the other Empresses would be as enjoyable as Silotte.
Silotte’s face turned white.
Silotte quickly pulled her hand away at the cold threat she felt from the nape of her neck. No matter how she looked at it, those were not human eyes. They were the eyes of wild beasts!
Hilaria gently let go of her hand and smiled.
“Silotte, will you be a good friend?”
It was a new threat.
Silotte looked around. No one was looking at her. There was no one to save Silotte at this moment.
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‘Let’s see.’
Silotte ground her teeth inwardly. However, this was a story where the future was yet to be written. Right now, the priority was to get out of this room safely.
“Of course, Hilaria.”
Hilaria smiled.
“I’m having a tea party next week. Other noble ladies from outside the Palace have been asked to attend. Silotte, will you join me?”
“Of course,” answered Silotte with her eyes lowered.
She could guess what she was thinking. Hilaria grinned.
‘So cute.’ thought Hilaria.
“Before that, please introduce me to the other Empresses.”
“Yes, Hilaria. When would be a good time?”
“Tomorrow is fine. We live in the same Palace, so I have to learn and remember their faces quickly.”
Silotte schemed to humiliate Hilaria by telling the Empresses to refuse her invitation tomorrow.
“Of course, everyone will be there. After all, it’s a request from such a pretty and competent friend of mine. You are my friend, aren’t you?”
Hilaria touched the tulips in the vase that decorated the table with her fingertips. She plucked the flower with a gentle expression until it made a cracking sound. Seeing that the thick tulip was easily bent, Silotte quickly revised her plan.
‘Damn it, not tomorrow then. All right, I’ll show you next time.’
Hilaria lifted her hand from the tulip that had dropped its head to the table.
“Of course, Hilaria. They will love meeting you, too.”
That’s how tomorrow’s meeting was scheduled.
Celeste swallowed her breath at the sight of Hilaria, who was quickly taking control of the Imperial Palace. Even if she thought about it one hundred different ways, no matter what, it was good to be on Hilaria’s side.
She just hoped Empress Silotte would realize that soon. Hilaria clenched her chin and smiled as if it was fun.
‘I’m glad I came to the Imperial Palace. There are quite a few adorable people.’
The only thing that she couldn’t understand was the Emperor. It’s funny, but she has no idea what he was thinking. For now, she would have to believe what the Emperor had promised her.
She was thinking of setting a trap for the Emperor as well. However, the only thing that bothered her was the butterfly she had sent his way had melted to nothing. She hadn’t even been able to get one into his room.
Hilaria tapped her cheek.
‘Many interesting things are going on at once.’
She wondered what the Emperor’s intentions were.
***
The story of Hilaria defeating Silotte was quite an exciting piece of music to Ebenezer’s ears. Ebenezer couldn’t help but burst into a laugh at the news of Silotte’s return to the Canary Palace, acting like a cat with its tail bent down.
Hilaria was faster and more aggressive than he had expected. She picked out targets and obstacles and removed them efficiently. In fact, the biggest obstacle for Hilaria to keep her promise to Ebenezer had been Silotte.
Silotte had played a good role in keeping the Empress Dowager in check.
However, that wasn’t the only problem.
‘Your Majesty the Emperor, I will give birth to a son. I will give you this empire.’
The most significant challenge Silotte had given herself, who had said that the first night of her arrival.
“Who will win?” asked Svein with great interest.
“Who do you want to win?”
Svein grinned at Ebenezer’s question.
“How dare I presume? I am only following the will of the Emperor.”
“I’ll bet on Princess Hilaria,” said Duke Van Eyck with a chuckle.
“It’s the first time I’ve seen someone making things this fun every day.”
“Even though Silotte is your half-sister?”
“She’s a fool,” said Duke Van Eyck sternly.
Ebenezer smiled.
He was looking at a detailed report on the Duchy of Guinevere and the Marquis of Genesis. It was a report that Svein had posted in a hurry yesterday when Beatrice had visited the Steel Rose Palace.
According to the report, the relationship between the two began at the academy. Beatrice and Hilaria graduated from the Riona Academy in the Duchy of Guinevere.
Ebenezer’s eyes narrowed as he read the paragraph several times.
‘Riona Academy.’
He closed the file folder.
“I also bet on Princess Hilaria,” said Ebenezer.
The sunlight seeped into Ebenezer’s blue eyes. Svein and Duke Van Eyck bowed their heads in front of his seemingly holy appearance.
Ebenezer was thinking of Hilaria.
She had blue eyes that attracted people.
They had only met once, but Ebenezer was sure. If he had been an ordinary man, he might have sacrificed his heart to Hilaria. It was indeed fortunate that Hilaria was born in Guinevere.
‘If she had been born a commoner, there might have been a sword fight to take her hand.’
They would have rushed in to take her, regardless of age or gender. People were safe because not many people could even meet eyes with her.
Silotte, who was weak, would soon be possessed and controlled by Hilaria.
“Why do you think so?”
At Svein’s question, Ebenezer murmured with a mysterious look.
“Because she is pretty.”
Van Eyck burst out laughing at his words, and Svein sighed.
“I don’t think Empress Silotte will be beaten so easily. At all,” said Svein, who had the opposite opinion to Ebenezer.
“I suppose so. However, she will not pose any threat to Princess Hilaria, who has Beatrice’s support.”
“I am curious about the source of that belief, but I will not ask.”
“It’s because she’s pretty.”
Ebenezer giggled.
He thought it was inevitable that he would choose Guinevere, but he praised himself for making that move. Although, it had always been dangerous to attract tremendous powers such as theirs.
Hilaria, who boldly said she would catch the raccoon, flashed through his mind. She was a person who drew Ebenezer’s interest more and more as time went by, all just from the first meeting.
“Princess Hilaria is having a tea party soon, isn’t she?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“My princess is having a tea party; I must prepare a nice present.”
“Yes?” answered Svein while frowning.
Ebenezer, who had never paid attention to the affairs of the Empresses, caused Svein to feel a sense of incongruity.
“I said a present. A gift.”
Ebenezer pursed his lips.
“What would be a good present?”
Svein examined Ebenezer’s expression.
However, his expectations were cast aside, and Ebenezer’s blue eyes were full of interest and showed no affection. Feeling the tension slipping away, Svein answered.
“Anything that will raise Princess Hillaria’s status in the Imperial Palace.”
“I think so, too. We can think of it as a reward for making my days enjoyable,” said Ebenezer as if he had figured out what Svein was thinking.
Svein wiped his dry face as if to wipe away his embarrassment.
“We will select and send appropriate accessories for her to wear on the day of the tea party.”
“That seems like a good choice.”
Ebenezer smirked.
It was clear that something was going to happen at that tea party. Silotte wouldn’t be idle either, and the nobles of the capital would indeed have their five senses focused on Princess Hilaria.
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If Hilaria could easily overcome this obstacle…
‘Let’s invite her to breakfast again.’
He wondered what kind of expression she would make.
Would she have an expression full of a sense of victory or an idiomatic expression that seemed natural, like nothing had even happened?
He thought it might be the latter.