Chapter 17
“Why are you just standing there? Sit down.”
At the Empress’s expression—like she was asking why I was standing there stupidly—I bit my lower lip. As always, Kaillen’s expression didn’t change.
When I followed Kaillen and sat on the sofa across from the Empress, she took a sip of alcohol and asked lazily,
“Are the wedding preparations going well?”
“Thanks to your concern, everything is proceeding without delay.”
The Empress spat out the alcohol she was drinking and laughed, wiping the corner of her mouth with the back of her hand.
“When did I ever worry about you two? Say it correctly.”
Her aide quickly handed her a handkerchief. It was a silk handkerchief that would cost a commoner an entire month’s living expenses. She wiped the spilled alcohol roughly, then tossed it on the floor.
The Empress spun her glass with her finger and laughed at Kaillen’s words. Slowly, her gaze shifted toward me.
“So. What did you say your name was?”
“Eliana Rudd.”
“Right. Juliana Rudd. I remember asking my aide to look into that family because I had never heard of it before. Well, anyway. The reason I called you two today is…”
Whether she did it on purpose or was simply too drunk, the Empress changed my name however she wanted.
Either way, it was not something a woman sitting in the highest position of the Empire should be doing.
The Empress downed the remaining alcohol in her glass and stood up. The glass she tossed onto the table made a loud noise.
At the noise, the puppy sleeping nearby suddenly lifted its head. But soon it buried its nose back into its paws as if nothing happened.
Staggering forward, the Empress held out her right hand. Her aide immediately placed a lit cigarette between her fingers.
She inhaled deeply and exhaled. Her purple eyes—briefly hidden behind the thick smoke—reappeared.
“Since the Crown Prince is getting married, I suppose, as Empress, I should give you some words of blessing.”
Her drunken, unfocused gaze sharpened instantly—sharp enough to cut skin with just a brush.
“Live quietly, okay? Don’t make trouble.”
With the cigarette still between her lips, she inhaled again and added softly—so softly it nearly disappeared into the smoke.
‘Unless you want to die.’
A bit of ash dropped from her cigarette onto the floor.
The sound of shoes striking marble filled the hallway. Quick footsteps. Then—
Bang!
The door swung open.
“Hm. Leave us.”
Seeing her son suddenly appear, the Empress blew out smoke and dismissed everyone around her.
The muscular men massaging her, and the aides who moved at the slightest flick of her hand, all left the room quickly.
“Don’t just stand. Sit.”
Her son looked furious.
Others might say his expression looked the same as usual, but the Empress—who had given birth to and raised Ferdinan—knew instantly that he was deeply irritated.
He pushed a single sofa back with his foot and sat, crossing his legs.
“You should’ve stopped him, Mother.”
The Empress let out a small laugh and crushed her cigarette into the ashtray. Her son was usually cynical, but anything involving Kaillen made him emotional.
“And why should I?”
“Mother.”
Leaning back against the sofa, the Empress tilted her head.
“The girl’s family isn’t impressive. They’re not wealthy either.”
She crossed her legs, lightly shaking the blue slippers on her toes.
“And she’s not even as beautiful as Lady Florence.”
“He was discussing marriage with the Hernia duchy. And now he suddenly chooses a girl with nothing? It’s too suspicious.”
One of the Empress’s eyebrows rose.
“My son. Men sometimes do unbelievably stupid things.”
She got up, tied her gown belt tighter, and walked to the console table. Staring blankly at her reflection in the mirror, she opened a drawer and took out another cigarette.
Lighting it with her torch lighter, she inhaled deeply.
“He’s just another foolish, ordinary man.”
The smoke briefly hid her son’s disgruntled face. She smiled brightly at him.
“Don’t worry. You’re the rightful heir anyway. You’re different from that half-blood born from a filthy woman.”
“Mother.”
Ferdinan Livriden stood up. He walked toward the Empress and snatched the cigarette from her hand, crushing it in his palm.
“Who said I was worried?”
“My son.”
“Who he marries means nothing to me. But…”
He threw the crushed cigarette on the floor and stomped on the remaining ember.
“This thought keeps bothering me—this feeling that the marriage must not happen. It irritates me.”
He usually had good instincts. At his words, the Empress frowned.
When her expression hardened, Ferdinan clicked his tongue, shoved his hands into his pockets, and growled,
“His Majesty will make sure that brat gets Winterford. So you watch the girl.”
“…Fine. I understand.”
Satisfied, the Crown Prince turned and headed for the door.
With his hand on the doorknob, he paused and looked back.
“Stop smoking. And be more selective with the people you bring into your chambers.”
The Empress lifted her red lips in amusement.
“Winterford?! But that’s—!”
“Shh. It’s His Majesty’s gift. Be careful with your words.”
Rumors spread all over the capital.
The Emperor had given his second son a piece of land he was throwing away.
Kaillen would become a Grand Duke on the day of the wedding. And the land granted with the title—Winterford.
People whispered that the Emperor was being cruel. Others speculated that Kaillen was being thrown out by the Imperial Family.
“Miss.”
Mia held my shoulders and shook me lightly.
“Hm? Why?”
“What are you thinking about so deeply?”
Her shaking snapped me out of my thoughts.
After visiting the Empress, Kaillen and I had become even busier. Days passed so quickly, it felt like time had disappeared.
Summer ended, and the colorful leaves began falling to the ground one by one.
At night, when I breathed out, white fog filled the air. This autumn felt unusually short.
Since that day, the Empress never called for me again.
Our family was summoned by the Emperor once, forced to endure a suffocating meal together, but even then the Empress didn’t attend.
I drank the tea Mia brought for fatigue and shook my head.
I hadn’t told anyone what happened in the Empress’s palace. There was no need to tell my parents or Mia the things I heard inside the palace.
“Of course you’re stressed, since you’re marrying a Prince…”
Seeing my tired face, Mia sighed in worry.
She muttered about how I’d collapse at this rate, how my already thin body would blow away in the wind, and so on.
I smiled quietly at Mia—who worried more than my family ever did.
Realizing what my smile meant, Mia blushed and began neatly packing my things into bags.
“I’m packing what you won’t need right away, but please check them later.”
“What about yours, Mia? Are your things packed?”
“How much do you think I own?”
Our wedding was in three days.
“But, my lady…”
“Hm?”
I sipped the last of my tea, watching Mia pack. Her quick hands began to slow down.
“What kind of place… is Winterford?”
She glanced at me, then continued packing. The worry and fear in her expression were obvious, even though she tried to hide it.
I stood up and walked toward her.
“Let’s leave this behind. I won’t need it.”
I pointed at the wide-brimmed summer hat decorated with fabric flowers. I wouldn’t need it anytime soon.
“They say it’s really cold there. I haven’t been there, but that’s what books say.”
Mia froze in place, hat in hand.
“Are you worried?”
“…Yes.”
I gently touched the end of her lowered eyebrow with my finger.
“You don’t have to worry too much. Even if it’s cold, people still live there.”
“But my lady, it’s your first time going somewhere that cold…”
“Humans adapt. I’ll adjust quickly. And besides…”
I glanced at the pile of luggage stacked in the corner.
“We prepared everything we could.”
Our family, Mia, and even our butler, Sian—everyone ran all over the capital, buying warm clothes and expensive down bedding as soon as we heard Kaillen would receive Winterford.
“But… are you sure you want to come with me? If you stayed here, you could travel between the capital and the estate comfortably.”
“My lady!”
“Okay, okay, I won’t ask again.”
I had intended to leave Mia behind. It was far, and this was only a one-year contract marriage.
Since we planned to make Kaillen Emperor, the path ahead would definitely be dangerous.
Mia could get dragged into it. That was why I tried to keep her here—but she threatened me with teary eyes, saying she would hide in the luggage carriage and follow me secretly if I left her.
In the end, I surrendered to her adorable threat.
As I watched Mia begin packing again—
Knock, knock.
Someone tapped the door, and it slowly opened.
