Chapter 86
Sitting to the left of the Empress, smiling gently, was Shavia.
[Come to think of it, it wasn’t said that we were the only ones invited.]
Eluana chastised herself for being careless. With Shavia present, the “I know nothing” strategy was already ruined. Standing beside Kazar and greeting according to etiquette, the Empress returned their bow with a warm, red smile.
“I invited Shavia because I wanted her to meet Miss Spes. I hope that’s alright. Please, feel free to talk to her.”
Who could possibly answer that it wasn’t alright?
‘Perhaps Father or Sir Kieran might say something like that,’ Eluana thought, forcing a smile onto her face.
“Your Majesty, it is an honor just to be invited. And it’s nice to see you again, Shavia.”
Eluana’s eyes met Shavia’s. Shavia smiled sweetly, but she didn’t hide the sharpness in her gaze.
“It seems we keep running into each other. People might think that you’re following me around, Eluana.”
“Shavia may be beautiful, but I already have His Highness Kazar.”
Eluana replied with a cheerful smile.
As the Empress and Shavia exchanged amused glances, Eluana and Kazar took their seats, guided by the attendants.
The formal dinner had officially begun. Once the meal was underway, the Empress raised a champagne glass and spoke.
“So, Miss Spes, I hear you’ve become close with our Kazar.”
Our Kazar?
The invitation already referred to him as “my son.” Was she trying to play the part of a mother?
“Yes, Your Majesty. I have promised to share my destiny with His Highness.”
Eluana’s confident answer made the corners of the Empress’s eyes lift slightly. Though it could be dismissed as a naive remark from a young girl, there was an underlying sense of determination in her words.
“Miss Spes hasn’t even had her debutante ball yet. Don’t you think it’s premature to talk about destiny?”
“She saved my life several times. And… he’s handsome, too.”
The Empress had not expected the answer “because he’s handsome” and was briefly taken aback.
“Our prince is indeed remarkable. He’s very popular among young ladies. Come to think of it, he received a sword from me yesterday.”
The Empress and Shavia’s gazes turned toward Kazar. Anticipating the question, Kazar answered without hesitation.
“I consider it an honor.”
Within his brief response, there was no hint of the information the Empress sought. Eluana, smiling brightly, diverted attention back to herself.
“His Highness Kazar was delighted to receive such a meaningful sword. Now that Your Majesty has congratulated him, I’m sure he’s even happier. I can feel how much you care for ‘our’ Kazar, Your Majesty.”
Although the words were the same—“our Kazar”—the tone carried a very different feeling. Kazar, noticing the brief flicker of sharpness in the Empress’s eyes, responded.
“Miss Spes was worried. She wondered what would happen if Your Majesty opposed our relationship.”
“I would never oppose it. Miss Spes is a fitting match for my son. I only worried that, being young and inexperienced in noble society, she might make a rash decision. Choosing someone to spend your life with requires careful consideration. Talk of engagement can come afterward.”
Eluana bowed her head, unsure since when engagements in the royal family required such “time.”
“I will remember your words deeply, Your Majesty.”
“Yes. It’s best to finalize the relationship after your debutante ball.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Despite her polite response, Eluana’s mind spun. It was suspicious that the engagement was postponed rather than outright opposed, almost like a veiled warning of some action to come.
“Your Majesty, it’s a bit warm.”
Suddenly, Shavia took out a fan. It was a feathered fan attached to a branch, and each flutter made Eluana’s heart beat faster.
The Empress glanced at the fan and said,
“It’s an unusual fan.”
“It’s made from a branch of the World Tree. Prince Regis gifted it to me.”
Only then did Eluana realize that her racing heartbeat was a reaction to that branch. Just a branch.
Kazar, sensing something amiss, leaned toward her to gauge her expression.
[Poison? Describe your symptoms.]
[Fan. Branch.]
Her words didn’t form proper sentences, just fragmented statements.
[Why a branch from the World Tree?]
[I was hit with it.]
Cracks appeared in Kazar’s previously calm expression. He remembered how Eluana had been the first time they met in the prison, and his anger toward Prince Regis surged again. He even felt it toward Shavia, who had brought a fan made from the branch.
Eluana forced herself to focus elsewhere, spearing a piece of steak with her fork. She chewed methodically, though it had no taste. Her mouth was dry, her throat burning.
If she continued like this, they would notice something was wrong. She put down her cutlery and hid her trembling hands under the table.
‘Perhaps I should just scream “poison” and collapse.’
It might be embarrassing if it turned out not to be poison, but it seemed better than letting them manipulate the situation.
Then Kazar’s hand covered hers. Eluana felt the warmth seep into her and realized: she wasn’t trapped in Aden’s dark prison. She could leave at any time. Outside, she had Seung and Lynn to rush to her aid.
And then—
[Shall we dance a waltz and leave? I’ll lead.]
Kazar was there.
Hearing his words in her mind, her tension eased slightly. Inside the brooch on her chest, the small sphere rolled reassuringly.
‘Right. You’re here too.’
Eluana slowly scanned the dining hall. There were knight armors in the corner, and next to them two decorative swords and a shield. If needed, the shield could be sent toward the Empress, the swords toward Shavia.
‘Cleanup will be difficult, though.’
They hadn’t realized her skill. If even the mice that had sneaked into the house had been caught, she was prepared.
Eluana felt her heartbeat calm. Shavia’s fan no longer felt threatening—just a fan, just a branch.
The Empress raised the corners of her mouth.
“Miss Spes, are you nervous?”
Regaining her composure, Eluana answered.
“Perhaps because I’m meeting Your Majesty, who is like a mother to His Highness Kazar. I noticed when you said ‘our Kazar’ earlier.”
The Empress’s expression stiffened slightly. She seemed to have noticed her reaction to Shavia’s fan, but quickly regained composure.
“That’s right. Kazar is practically my son.”
“I’m impressed by Your Majesty’s magnanimity.”
Eluana smiled again, speaking smoothly.
“It feels like a dream to meet you. You hold the highest position in the Empire. I was so happy when I received the invitation this morning. My father was angry, saying it disregarded the Spes family. He tends to get a little angry.”
“I see.”
“Yes.”
Eluana smiled coyly and picked up her water glass.
At that moment, Shavia’s eyes glimmered with anticipation. She was no novice to poisoning royal dinners. What she had chosen was the ‘Truth Potion,’ which compelled the drinker to speak only the truth, without hiding anything. The concentration was low, but enough to overwhelm someone like Eluana, who was neither a mage nor a scholar.
The fan’s effect wasn’t as strong as expected, but it was just a device to unsettle her. Naturally, a nervous person would reach for water.
Once Eluana finished the water, Shavia set the fan down—a signal.
The Empress, smiling warmly, spoke.
“Duke Spes is a caring father to you, isn’t he?”
This was the main point. As expected, Eluana’s green earrings sparkled near her right ear.
“You mentioned I resemble someone.”
Directly mentioning Princess Stella made both the Empress and Shavia’s expressions shift.
“Really? It must just be a coincidence.”
“I think it’s lucky. If I didn’t resemble her, I probably wouldn’t receive such favorable treatment. She’s usually rather stern, but sometimes smiles when she sees me.”
The Truth Potion made it impossible to lie. The Empress, now relaxed, said,
“Duke Spes used to smile a lot. When he was with Princess Stella, he always looked completely carefree.”
Eluana asked innocently,
“Do you know her personally? Her portrait was very accurate, but I wondered if I truly resemble her.”
The Empress studied Eluana’s face closely. Even her expression resembled Stella’s—it was almost unsettling.
“Yes, you do. Now I understand why Duke Spes cares for you. Some believe you might be Princess Stella’s biological daughter, but if that were true, you wouldn’t have been sent here alone.”
“Is that so?”
Eluana deliberately extended the last word.
“You must feel a bit slighted.”
“How could I? I still think I am being treated too generously.”
“Indeed.”
The Empress made up her mind. She regretted not meeting this girl sooner; if she had, she wouldn’t have even considered eliminating her.
It was fortunate she wasn’t killed. Even if she weren’t the princess’s biological daughter, Duke Spes would have gone into a frenzy if she had died. The Empress reassessed Eluana. She was no ordinary country bumpkin; her talent was evident. While her etiquette and speech sometimes lacked polish, time would correct that.
‘It might be better to pair her with Regis.’
Among the high nobles, there were those who still longed for Princess Stella. Stella had been special, not just because she was a Cantio, but simply by being Cantio.
Eluana, a perfect copy of Stella, would stir a commotion not only in the Spes household but also within the palace. Even the Emperor would be reminded of Princess Stella upon seeing her.
During a brief pause in conversation, the Emperor’s attendant entered.
“Your Majesty, the Emperor wishes to see Miss Spes.”
The four faces seated at the dining table stiffened simultaneously.
