The egg would convey its intentions by forming letters on the surface of the shell.
It repeatedly demanded magic from Liliana, saying that once its magic was sufficient, it would be able to break the shell and come out.
When the tedious procession of gifts ended, the Emperor rose from his seat and gave a toast.
All the nobles and distinguished guests gathered in the Grand Banquet Hall raised their glasses and toasted.
After that, the Emperor left his seat.
Once the Emperor departed, the banquet became even livelier.
Liliana saw Mikael in the distance, surrounded by nobles.
The nobles gathered around him were great nobles belonging to the Central Council.
The Central Council was the core of the nobility.
Centered around the two Ducal Houses of the Empire, House Dayan and House Ifriden, the Central Council was the focal point where major Imperial policies were discussed.
Estevan and Mikael each had ties with House Dayan and House Ifriden.
Unfortunately, House Ifriden had no daughters.
‘They only have sons, so they can’t form marriage ties.’
Duke Ifriden was an opportunist man. Someone who could betray at any moment if things turned against him.
He could turn his back on Mikael at any time.
That was why Consort Isabella tried so hard to hide Mikael’s flaws. She didn’t want to provide them with any excuse.
‘Seizing control of the Central Council is impossible for now.’
First, Estevan’s reputation had to be raised and achievements accumulated. Meanwhile, Mikael’s reputation had to be lowered, and Consort Isabella’s faction weakened.
‘Once the funds from the abandoned mine are gathered, we can proceed step by step.’
Securing the funds necessary to accomplish all of that was the top priority.
Therefore, they absolutely had to gain the upper hand in the deal with the Magic Kingdom, Baharus.
At that moment, Liliana noticed a familiar figure.
‘Elisha?’
Elisha had appeared in the Grand Banquet Hall, dressed in elaborate attire.
***
On the day the Founding Festival was held, Elisha carefully dressed up to go to the Grand Banquet Hall.
She wore the most beautiful and splendid red dress she owned, adorned herself with expensive accessories, styled her hair up, and even applied makeup.
But she couldn’t leave the room.
“What are you doing, Shuna?”
Because her maid, Shuna, was standing in front of the door, blocking it.
“It is Her Highness the Imperial Consort’s order. You are not allowed to step out of the room, my Lady.”
“What? What is this supposed to mean? Is it okay to lock someone up like this during the Founding Festival that everyone is enjoying?”
In fact, Elisha had expected that Consort Isabella would stop her from leaving through Shuna.
‘That’s why I prepared for it.’
At that moment, Shuna staggered.
“Ah…”
Elisha looked down at the collapsing maid.
“Did you think I wouldn’t do something like this?”
“W-What…?”
“I mixed a little sleeping medicine into the water you drank earlier. It works well.”
Shuna’s eyes widened.
“Stay asleep. I’ll be back soon.”
Shuna stretched out her arm to grab Elisha’s foot, but Elisha lightly kicked her hand away and opened the door.
Since the maids of the Emerald Palace had all left their posts to enjoy the festival, Elisha was able to leave easily.
“See? There’s nothing money can’t do.”
It had been possible to obtain the sleeping medicine because she had bribed one of the maids of the Emerald Palace.
When she tossed over an expensive accessory, the maid eagerly bowed and brought her the sleeping medicine.
With an excited expression, Elisha headed toward the Grand Banquet Hall.
“Locking me up alone on a day like this, that’s too much.”
The Founding Festival was a celebration enjoyed by all citizens of the Empire. So she also had the right to enjoy it.
The Grand Banquet Hall wasn’t far from the Emerald Palace, so she arrived quickly.
Since entry was possible even without an invitation, Elisha easily crossed the threshold of the Grand Banquet Hall.
“My goodness…”
The Grand Banquet Hall was dazzlingly splendid and beautiful. It was enough to leave her spellbound.
Elisha looked at the people dancing under the brilliant lights.
It was a scene she had dreamed of.
Then her gaze landed on the women seated in the places of honor.
The two Imperial Consorts, the Concubines, and Liliana.
She was sitting beside Estevan. Seeing her seated in that high position, looking down at everyone and enjoying the banquet, made Elisha angry.
Originally, that seat should have been hers, yet it felt as though Liliana had taken it.
At that moment, Elisha’s eyes met Liliana’s.
Liliana looked surprised, while Elisha looked confident as they faced each other.
Elisha smiled at her. Then she walked around the banquet hall, searching for Mikael.
Mikael was engaged in an animated conversation among the nobles.
Purple hair, ruby-colored eyes, sweet lips, he truly shone.
She felt proud that he was her man.
‘He’s my man.’
Elisha went straight toward him. Then she waved her hand to show she had arrived.
Mikael, seeing Elisha, was shocked. He glanced at the people around him and excused himself to the nobles.
“Excuse me for a moment.”
Approaching where Elisha stood, Mikael ground out through clenched teeth.
“Go back.”
“I do not want to.”
“What?”
“I also have the right to enjoy the Founding Festival. I am also a noble of the Empire.”
Elisha deliberately linked arms with Mikael. At that, all the nobles’ gazes turned toward them.
The nobles began whispering among themselves.
Mikael gently removed Elisha’s arm and, forcing a polite expression, spoke.
“My Lady, this is inappropriate.”
“Ah, I apologize. I admired Your Highness so much that I acted without thinking.”
“It is alright. That can happen. If you do not mind, shall we speak somewhere quiet?”
He was telling her with his eyes to follow him without any unnecessary talk.
“Alright, it would be an honor.”
Mikael led her to a lounge. After locking the lounge door, he glared at her sharply.
“You, what are you doing?”
“I just came to enjoy the Founding Festival. Why are you so angry?”
“Then you should have enjoyed it quietly and left. How dare you speak to me?”
Elisha linked arms with him again and said with a coquettish smile.
“If I do not speak to my man, who should I speak to?”
“There are distinguished guests from foreign nations in the Grand Banquet Hall. Did you intend to embarrass me in front of them?”
“I only wanted to enjoy the banquet with Your Highness. It is not like I went around telling people I am Your Highness’s concubine, yet this kind of treatment is too much. You even locked me in my room.”
At those words, Mikael seemed to remember something and asked,
“How did you shake off your maid, Shuna?”
Elisha answered casually.
“I gave her some sleeping medicine and put her to sleep.”
“You gave her sleeping medicine?”
“It turns out there is nothing one cannot get with money.”
“You…”
Mikael pressed his forehead as if he had a headache.
“Go back immediately.”
“I do not want to.”
Elisha stepped closer, kissed him on the lips, and pulled away.
“I will stay by Your Highness’s side. Because I am Your Highness’s woman.”
Then she spun around once, as if telling him to look at her.
“Am I not beautiful? I dressed up carefully for Your Highness, just to show you.”
Mikael stepped closer and grabbed her chin.
“I admit you are pretty. There was a time I was drawn to your beauty.”
Elisha looked at him with a fluttering expression.
“But the moment I saw Liliana, I realized. True beauty refers to her.”
“What did you say?”
He grabbed her silver hair.
“I realized your beauty is nothing compared to hers.”
Elisha’s pupils trembled.
“Everything about her is beautiful. From head to toe, there’s nothing that isn’t beautiful. It makes me feel like I’m going mad wanting to have her.”
“But Lily already has someone.”
Mikael curled the corner of his lips.
“I told you, an engagement can simply be broken.”
Furious, Elisha shouted.
“What exactly am I lacking? What do I have that is worse than Lily?!”
“Lower your voice. Someone might hear.”
Mikael covered her mouth with his hand and growled quietly.
“Don’t act recklessly. Remember your place.”
Just like that, she bit his hand.
“What are you doing?!”
“What do you mean what am I doing? You are the one doing something. How can you do this to me? I love you this much… how can you treat me like this?”
Elisha tightly wrapped her arms around Mikael’s waist.
“I love you, Your Highness. You are the only one for me.”
He shoved her away roughly. Elisha, who tumbled onto the floor, looked up at him in shock.
“Did you already forget what you did to me?”
Elisha spoke tearfully.
“I-I only did what Your Highness told me to do.”
“You should have handled the aftermath properly. When I think about the trouble I went through because of your carelessness, I still get angry. And love? You say you love me?”
“Your Highness…”
“After daring to do that to me, how can you speak of love?”
Mikael grabbed her by the neck roughly.
“Listen carefully. You became my concubine because of your own greed. But my tolerance has its limits. Don’t covet anything beyond that. That is not your place.”
Tears filled Elisha’s clear eyes.
“If you understand, get out of here right now. Unless you want to die at my mother’s hands, behave yourself.”
Elisha clutched her aching throat with both hands and collapsed to the floor.
Mikael sneered at her with a mocking smile.
“You’re not even a drop compared to Liliana. Know your place.”
With those words, he turned away coldly.
Shocked, Elisha’s eyes filled with venom.
