Chapter 18
Iana had definitely asked the same question before, and Azelina had answered without hesitation that it was true.
And yet, she couldn’t stop wanting to ask again. To be honest, she still couldn’t believe it.
“Even if you’ve been busy lately preparing for Lady Rankeia’s birthday banquet… normally, you would still have made at least a little time to see His Majesty…”
Objectively speaking, the relationship between Rashid and Azelina hadn’t suddenly improved compared to before—but it hadn’t gotten worse either.
So why did it feel as though Azelina no longer loved Rashid?
Rashid may not have had a good relationship with Azelina, but that didn’t mean he treated the Empress’s maids poorly.
Not long after Iana first arrived at the imperial palace, she had been harassed repeatedly by other servants who were trying to assert their dominance. The one who resolved that issue was Rashid himself.
She could still vividly remember how he had lightly reprimanded those servants, asking who had given them permission to mistreat a maid serving in his palace.
Beyond that, Iana had seen many gentle sides of Rashid over time, and it was only natural that she came to think well of him.
Still, she couldn’t say she felt no resentment toward the Emperor.
No matter how kindly Rashid treated the maids of Selina Palace, he was always ruthless and cold toward Azelina.
Of course, Iana knew the reason why Rashid disliked Azelina.
But still… the Empress was the only master Iana served. There was no way she wouldn’t harbor resentment toward the Emperor.
“I need to know everything about Your Highness. Only then can I properly support you by your side.”
Iana, who had been nervously darting her eyes around, spoke with sudden determination.
Azelina, who had been staring blankly, came back to her senses a moment too late and forced her lips to part.
“So…”
Trying to unravel her tangled emotions one by one, she found herself repeatedly at a loss for words.
Iana didn’t rush her and waited patiently.
“…It’s nothing special. I just realized that the one-sided love I’ve been clinging to all this time wasn’t really love at all.”
At those words, Iana stared blankly at Azelina. Then, as if something had occurred to her, she suddenly smiled and stepped closer.
“If I may dare to say one thing, I think it’s a good thing that Your Highness no longer has lingering feelings. It’s true that His Majesty has often caused you pain.”
“…I didn’t know you thought that deeply about it.”
Hearing such words from Iana left Azelina feeling oddly uncomfortable.
“It’s not just me! All the other maids think the same way! Eve does, and Mabel too…”
“…”
She hadn’t expected mending her relationship with the maids to be this easy.
She had thought her efforts were woefully insufficient…
But Iana and the other maids had placed their trust in her simply because she no longer screamed, threw things, or vented her anger on them.
In the darkened room, something inexplicably warm flickered in Iana’s trembling eyes, and Azelina gently curved her lips upward.
At Azelina’s smile, Iana quickly took her hand and spoke.
“I don’t know what happened to make Your Highness change so suddenly. But I’m glad—because you look much happier now.”
Iana meant every word.
Azelina smiled softly and nodded.
The next day.
“Your Highness!”
At the urgent cry of a maid echoing from early morning, Azelina thought that yet another peaceful day had already slipped away.
“Your Highness, something—something has happened in the imperial palace today.”
“What could possibly warrant that much fuss?”
“Well, um…”
The maid hesitated, as if the matter was extremely delicate.
“Princess Shulia, the Second Princess, has lost a precious jewel… and it was found in Princess Melissina’s room…”
“……”
The moment she heard those words, Azelina felt as though her heart dropped heavily.
This was something that had happened before her regression—something she clearly remembered.
And yet, foolishly, she hadn’t anticipated it. She had been so focused on improving her relationships with the maids and the young ladies that she had overlooked what would happen with Rashid.
“I request an audience with the Empress.”
At that moment, Maria’s voice came from beyond the door.
Hearing it, Azelina quickly regained her composure and accepted reality.
“I’ve already heard. There’s no need to explain. Let’s go.”
Maria looked at Azelina with a puzzled expression, as if wondering how she already knew, then hurried ahead.
At the place Maria led her to, Rashid and Princess Melissina were waiting.
“Why is Your Highness here…?”
Princess Melissina looked at Azelina with startled eyes.
Rashid briefly glanced at Azelina, then turned his gaze back to Princess Melissina.
“You don’t need to concern yourself.”
Princess Melissina nodded as if she understood.
“I know the princess wouldn’t dare do such a thing. However, others will not think the same.”
Though his tone was gentle, every word felt edged with thorns.
Princess Melissina, clearly wronged, waved her hands vigorously.
“Your Majesty, I don’t know why the Second Princess’s belongings were found in my room. I…”
She hesitated, then ultimately couldn’t bring herself to continue.
“It may have been someone’s scheme. Still, the fact remains that the missing item was found in the princess’s room. There’s nothing that can be done about that. However, I believe the princess is innocent, and the Second Princess has agreed to understand as well, so it won’t affect relations between the Igritta Empire and the Ophelia Empire. Once again, there’s no need for you to worry excessively.”
Watching Rashid exchange gentle eye contact with Princess Melissina, Azelina desperately wanted to excuse herself from the scene.
She was used to situations like this. After soothing Princess Melissina with utmost care, Rashid would surely turn to Azelina…
“Then it would be best for the princess to take her leave.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Princess Melissina left, her expression noticeably more relaxed than before.
As the door shut with a soft thud, Azelina knelt and offered her greeting.
“I greet Your Majesty.”
The silence in the room was icy, yet the atmosphere surrounding the two of them was strangely charged with heat.
At last, Azelina rose and lifted her head to meet Rashid’s gaze.
A trace of laughter still lingered around his eyes.
Perhaps it was because servants were present, but there was a distinct chill hidden within that smile.
Azelina didn’t care. She hadn’t dressed properly or offered her greetings in order to look good in Rashid’s eyes to begin with.
“…Did you think I wouldn’t know it was you? I summoned you to the imperial palace to keep you under watch, yet you still pull something like this.”
Rashid stepped closer to Azelina.
She had only just learned that such a commotion had occurred in the palace today, but Azelina had nothing to hide. She looked up at him calmly.
She had already lived through this once, and she was now accustomed even to that cold gaze Rashid reserved solely for her.
Staring at Azelina’s unflinching expression, Rashid continued sharply.
“Wasn’t it you who stole the jewel from Aprilly Palace, and then deliberately planted it in Princess Melissina’s room to harm her? I see you more often with the princess than with you—so you got jealous, didn’t you? You almost caused discord between two nations. Are you pleased with yourself?”
Before her regression, worn down by Rashid’s accusations, she had ultimately confessed to a crime she hadn’t committed. She hadn’t wanted to damage her relationship with the Emperor over Princess Melissina.
“I didn’t do it. I only found out about this just now. Whether Princess Melissina is falsely accused or not, and whatever nonsense Your Majesty is talking about regarding jealousy—I honestly don’t care. I didn’t do it, so I have nothing to be ashamed of.”
Now, there was no reason to falsely admit guilt.
She didn’t care if Rashid came to hate her even more over this. Even if he were to kill her today, she had no intention of bearing an unjust accusation.
