Chapter 80
Sophia, the mistress of the luxurious and grand Lily Palace, was busy humming in an especially good mood today.
No matter how she thought about it, she was thoroughly pleased with what had happened last time. It seemed she would reap the benefits without lifting a finger.
Both the Emperor and her own elder brother were fools beyond compare.
As Sophia savored that pleasant feeling from before, she reflected on what had happened at the time.
When she heard the news that Hamilton had been captured and thought of going to see him, someone had come to visit her at just the right timing.
A man with snake-like eyes. Her half-brother, Cloud Rominov, had visited the Lily Palace. If he had come to see her so boldly, there was no doubt he had some business to discuss.
“What brings you all the way here?”
Still playing the role of a kind and gentle younger sister, Sophia asked as she served tea. The Marquess Rominov did not even lift his teacup and immediately brought up the main point.
He was in a hurry. He had to resolve everything before the Yusupov family tightened the noose around his neck.
To do that, he needed Sophia. From the beginning, he had known that Hamilton had worked with him because of Sophia.
Sophia might turn pale the moment she heard his request, but Hamilton was the type of man who would even pretend to die if it were at Sophia’s asking.
‘So I must make sure Sophia accepts this request no matter what.’
Sophia would definitely comply. She was a child who understood the oppressive weight carried by the name Cloud Rominov.
Even when she had first come to the Rominov marquessate, she had known her place.
She must have been aware of the gazes directed at her by the people of the marquess’s household.
Their father, who had then been the marquess, admitted his wrongdoing and declared he would raise Sophia, but their mother hated him for it.
In a single moment, her reputation as Marchioness had been tarnished by her husband’s mistake.
The rumors brought by an illegitimate child were tremendous—enough to overturn all the praise that the marquess had loved and cherished his wife dearly.
‘So the marquess was just like any other noble in the end. To cheat on the marchioness. And even after she bore him a son to carry on his line. That makes it even more meaningful.’
‘Still, she’ll go on living as the marchioness. It’s not as though having an illegitimate child is such a grave matter these days, is it?’
‘Even so, I do pity the marchioness.’
A woman who had always been the object of respect and envy fell in an instant into someone looked upon with pity and sympathy.
She tried not to be swayed by those words, but how great a shock must it have been for someone who had grown up sheltered and then married into a prestigious family?
Cloud could never forget the expression on his mother’s face the day she first confronted Sophia. Not even now.
A mother who had always been kind even to the servants was merciless only toward Sophia.
Under the pretext of teaching her manners, she even struck her, yet Sophia always meekly accepted those hands without protest.
As a child, Cloud too had been eager to torment Sophia, just like his mother.
Anyone could see that Sophia’s hair color and features, identical to their father’s, tormented his mother. Knowing that, he could never look upon Sophia kindly.
‘Sophia, clean my room at once.’
‘Pardon? B-But that’s something a servant can do….’
‘Is that a problem? It’s what I want, Sophia. You must do everything I want if you’re to have the right to call yourself my sister.’
How could one cherish a child who had rolled in from who knew where?
Cloud Rominov had always hated Sophia. He thought even the pitying gaze their father gave her was more than she deserved.
Thus Sophia lived in the Rominov marquessate unable to lift her head. And that, in its own way, was a comfort to Cloud.
Only after the marquess and marchioness died in a carriage accident at a relatively young age did Sophia begin to receive some semblance of proper treatment in the household.
Cloud was busy with the procedures to inherit the marquessate, and Sophia, as the young lady of the marquessate, attended banquets and social gatherings here and there.
And on the day Cloud Rominov became marquess, Sophia came to him with a request—the only time she ever did.
“Um… My Lord Marquess. I have something I wish to ask of you.”
“A request?”
Cloud was in an exceptionally good mood that day. At last, at last he had ascended to the position he had long desired.
He had known how much their father had concerned himself with Sophia, the illegitimate child standing before him, and though he had told himself it was impossible, he had always been uneasy.
Afraid that one day their father might hand everything over to Sophia.
Of course, that day had never come.
In any case, on the day the glittering wealth and honorable prestige of the Rominov marquessate fell into his hands, Sophia had cleverly chosen to approach him while he appeared to be in high spirits.
“I am well aware that my engagement must soon be arranged.”
Ironically, Sophia did know her place well.
Soon, she was to be betrothed to whichever family could bring the greatest benefit to the Marquess Rominov.
She knew that perfectly well.
“Yes, you are well aware.”
“There is someone I desire.”
“You mean there is a family you desire?”
“Yes, that is correct.”
“Let me hear it.”
“…I wish to become engaged to Young Duke Liam Yusupov.”
“…What?”
Though Sophia knew her place, perhaps she was nothing more than a fool blinded by love.
The moment he heard that, Cloud Rominov let out a scoff.
Of all people, why Liam Yusupov?
That man he was endlessly compared to.
A genius of swordsmanship, they said. As if any member of the Yusupov family couldn’t handle a sword to that degree. Yet unlike Cloud, who thought as much, the entire world praised him.
A man who had reached the pinnacle of swordsmanship. And to make matters worse, he possessed a dazzlingly handsome appearance.
Hair like molten gold was his trademark.
A man praised by all in the Empire, possessing not only good looks but also a cold personality.
He was Cloud Rominov’s weakness. Just hearing about him made jealousy burn through his body.
‘Cloud. Never allow Young Duke Yusupov to grasp your weakness. It is difficult to defeat that family.’
It was something their father, when he was still marquess, had always said. How could he forget those words?
What was so great about the Yusupov ducal house, the so-called symbol of integrity and steadfastness?
What was so great about that man?
And now even the half-sister standing before him claimed to like that very man.
“Ha… Haha. Sophia. Do you truly like that man?”
“…Yes. Embarrassingly so.”
“And if I say no?”
“Pardon?”
“If I say that under no circumstances will the Yusupov family do? Would you still claim to like him? Dare you?”
Sophia stood with her lips pressed tightly together. But Cloud was startled by the stubbornness he felt in her eyes for the first time. Even after he spoke so harshly, the longing for Young Duke Yusupov engraved in her gaze was formidable.
Yet Cloud found her laughable. Yes. Struggle all you like until you die.
And astonishingly, just a few days later, after a banquet held at the Imperial Palace, an absurd rumor spread that the cold Young Duke Yusupov had fallen in love.
Liam Yusupov, in love.
What words could be more ill-matched? he thought—but the rumor was soon proven true.
Liam Yusupov had fallen in love. The object of his affection was Lady Elrea Royne, daughter of Count Royne.
A young lady renowned for her beauty.
Hair the color of sunset—somewhere between the brightness of midday light and the noble shade of darkness.
Softly shining light-green eyes.
Even Cloud could feel the impact of Elrea Royne’s beauty. Even he, who thought only of power, found her lovely enough to set his heart racing.
And the one who claimed that beautiful and lively young lady was Liam Yusupov.
That day, Cloud Rominov could not suppress the laughter that kept escaping him.
He wanted to see Sophia at once. He wanted to see the despair and regret on her face before those emotions faded after learning everything.
So he summoned her—and as expected, her face bore exactly the emotions he had anticipated.
Misery and despair, the collapse of a woman who realized the man she loved loved someone else.
“Oh my… Sophia has suffered a broken heart.”
“……”
“This elder brother thought so. That you were never suited to such a man from the start. So do not be disheartened. Your brother will find you a far more splendid match.”
“……Do I look sorrowful?”
“Of course… Pfft… You look utterly sorrowful. Seeing you like that tears my heart apart.”
Contrary to his words, the expression on Cloud Rominov’s face made Sophia’s own face twist for a moment. But she quickly composed herself and, with vacant eyes as though she had lost everything, merely nodded at his words.
“Very well. Please decide my marriage partner, My Lord Marquess.”
“Of course. I shall find you a match more than worthy of you.”
And as if by divine timing, the prince who had ascended the throne after killing all his brothers was in need of an empress. The Marquess Rominov persistently promoted her to the Emperor.
Though she was illegitimate, few families could withstand the fervent push of the Rominov marquessate.
The Yusupov ducal house had no daughter to put forward in the first place.
Thus Sophia powerlessly ascended to the position of Empress.
Sophia had always been nothing more than a pitiful doll playing in the palm of Cloud Rominov’s hand.
Which was why she would grant his request even now.
“Your Majesty the Empress. There is something I require your help with.”
“My help?”
At those words, Sophia adjusted her posture with interest. Her red eyes gleamed.
The Marquess Rominov continued.
“Do you remember Hamilton?”
“Hamilton….”
Sophia nearly let out a small laugh.
How could she not remember Hamilton—the man who had liked and followed her, and who had been manipulated under her command until now?
“I hope you do.”
“Oh, I believe I do remember. He was a friend I knew before I entered the Rominov marquessate as a child. But how does the Marquess know of that?”
“I came to know by chance. As Your Majesty is aware, Hamilton was once a commoner famed for his remarkable magical talent, even called a genius. Though that is all in the past.”
“And why bring up such old stories now?”
“The time has come to bring them up. We have learned that Hamilton is using dark magic. He is threatening this Empire. I require Your Majesty’s assistance.”
Sophia could only feel laughter rising within her. Did he not know who it was that had manipulated that very Hamilton?
But she feigned ignorance and merely acted surprised.
“R-Really? What kind of help could I possibly provide?”
“Please persuade Hamilton. So that he will take his own life of his own accord.”
