Chapter 9
Ten days after Aiden’s departure, Evelyn was finally released from the Tower under Mary’s orders and moved to a residence in the Imperial Villa.
“This will be Your Highness’s room. Servants will be assigned shortly, so you shouldn’t experience any inconvenience.”
After delivering the message, the head attendant left.
“Haa…”
Evelyn released a shallow breath and looked around.
Sunlight poured through the wide-open windows.
The curtains, embroidered with blue silk, were elegant yet luxurious.
The moment her tension eased, the strength left her legs.
She hurried to the nearby sofa and practically collapsed onto it.
“Evelyn, from now on you’ll live in the Imperial Villa.”
“The villa…?”
“Yes. It was such a comfortable place that even I lived there as a child. I’m sure you’ll find it pleasant enough.”
Mary’s malicious gaze lingered vividly in Evelyn’s memory.
So it’s this place again.
The villa was where Emperor Philip had once confined Mary.
Unlike her first life, where she remained trapped in the Imperial Tower until death, both her second life and this one had led her here.
“I hope you enjoy your time there, just as I did when I was young.”
The unspoken meaning behind those words had been clear.
Live in fear every moment.
Your life depends entirely on me.
The memory felt like a blade pressed against her throat.
At the same time, images of flames from her previous death flashed through her mind, making her fingertips tremble.
Evelyn clenched both fists and took a deep breath.
Don’t be afraid.
This time is different.
I can do this.
I can endure it.
Hadn’t she already lived through this twice before?
This life would be different.
Filling her lungs with air, she slowly calmed herself.
The anxiety eased little by little.
Knock. Knock.
“Your Highness.”
A delicate voice sounded from beyond the door.
The voice was so familiar that Evelyn almost called out the girl’s name immediately.
After steadying herself, she answered quietly.
“Come in.”
The door opened carefully.
A petite girl stepped inside.
“Hello, Your Highness!”
The girl bowed energetically.
“My name is Morian Hartson. I’ll be serving you from now on. Please feel free to call me ‘Mori’!”
Bright eyes.
A cheerful voice.
Rough ginger-colored hair tied tightly into a single ponytail.
She was the first maid Evelyn had ever opened her heart to during her second life.
Mori had been her only source of comfort within the icy palace.
At least until Evelyn learned the truth.
Until she discovered that Mori had been Mary’s informant all along.
“That foolish girl worked very hard delivering reports about you.”
Despite Mori’s bright smile, Evelyn’s expression darkened.
“I see.”
“Yes! Please take good care of me, Your Highness!”
There was no reason to feel betrayed anymore.
Mori had merely struggled to survive in her own way.
That didn’t mean Evelyn intended to forgive her.
“I look forward to working with you as well.”
This time, she would simply use Mori as Mori had once used her.
Nothing more.
“Mori.”
“Yes, Your Highness! Do you need something?”
“I think I need some new dresses. I’ve lost quite a bit of weight.”
“Ah…”
A shadow crossed Mori’s face.
Her round eyes drifted toward the slightly loose waist of Evelyn’s dress.
“Should I contact LeBlanc immediately?”
Fashion throughout Strovana tended to follow the trends of Brang, where religion and art flourished.
And LeBlanc was the most famous boutique specializing in those styles.
But that wasn’t where Evelyn wanted to go.
“No.”
She smiled faintly.
“It’s been a while since I’ve been outside. I’d like some fresh air.”
“In that case…”
“I’d like to walk around the city. Would that be alright?”
As a princess, Evelyn technically didn’t need permission from a maid.
Yet she asked deliberately.
Although she had left the Imperial Tower, she still didn’t know how tightly Mary controlled her movements.
Mori’s reaction would tell her everything she needed to know.
“Wouldn’t His Majesty dislike that?”
“Hmm…”
Mori thought for a moment.
“The head attendant didn’t mention any restrictions, so I think it’ll be fine! Shall I summon a carriage and an escort?”
“Please do.”
“Right away!”
Mori hurried from the room.
As the door closed, Evelyn narrowed her eyes.
Not the Emperor’s informant… the head attendant’s?
The current head attendant had actively helped Robert secure Mary’s succession.
Originally the second son of a minor noble family, he had been rewarded with the title of Viscount Hopnagen for his contributions.
A short while later, the door reopened.
“Your Highness, everything is prepared.”
“Let’s go.”
Evelyn strode past the still-breathless Mori.
Meanwhile—
Beside the training grounds, beneath a crimson canopy, Mary sat watching the knights with a bored expression.
The knights struggled to focus while training.
The Emperor herself was observing them.
And the imperial crown resting atop her striking red hair felt like an overwhelming weight.
They kept glancing toward her.
Unable to concentrate.
Mary watched them and spoke lazily.
“Head Attendant.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“If they train like that, how much stronger can they possibly become?”
“They are elite soldiers, Your Majesty. Several are already considered among the strongest warriors in the Empire.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. Though none could compare to Your Majesty’s strength after receiving the Blessing.”
“Ah.”
Mary answered indifferently.
Her gaze drifted downward.
The Blessing on the back of her hand shimmered faintly in the shade.
Chosen.
Had she heard that word in the past, she would have laughed.
As if God had chosen her.
Her own parents hadn’t.
Her father had abandoned her long ago.
Her mother couldn’t even care for the daughter she had left behind and instead died consumed by grief.
At only twelve years old, after being cast out of the palace, all Mary had possessed was rage and vengeance.
She had abandoned her humanity to punish those who ruined her life and reclaim what had been stolen.
Yet in the end—
Those people died far too easily.
Ah…
How am I supposed to fill this emptiness?
“Head Attendant!”
A servant approached from the distance.
“What is it?”
The servant whispered something into the head attendant’s ear.
Moments later, he returned to Mary’s side.
“Your Majesty, Princess Evelyn has left the villa.”
Mary raised an eyebrow.
“Evelyn?”
“Yes. She wishes to have new dresses tailored personally.”
The attendant continued.
“She’s accompanied by guards and observers, so escape shouldn’t be possible.”
The question was obvious.
What shall we do?
A small ripple spread through the bottomless emptiness inside Mary’s heart.
Philip and Blair were dead.
But their daughter remained alive.
A weak, fragile creature who could be killed with a single command.
Instantly, warmth flooded the hollow place inside her.
“Leave her alone.”
What could Evelyn possibly accomplish?
A spark of life returned to Mary’s emerald eyes.
Slowly, she tilted her head back and stared at the sky.
Her absent gaze seemed focused on someplace far beyond the clouds.
What expression would you wear if the daughter you loved so dearly broke apart?
How much joy would her screams bring me?
A faint laugh escaped her lips.
She sank deeper into her seat.
“Head Attendant.”
The greatest amusement should be saved for later.
For now, a smaller entertainment would suffice.
The attendant immediately noticed the change in her voice.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Tell them to begin live-blade sparring.”
The corners of Mary’s lips curved upward.
“The one who sheds the most blood will be demoted to a lower unit.”
Her smile widened.
“And the one who draws the most blood…”
“…will receive a reward from me personally.”
“Understood.”
The head attendant hurried to the commander overseeing the training grounds.
The commander’s body stiffened.
After a brief hesitation, he relayed the order to the knights.
“You will fight for your honor!”
“Yes, sir!”
The knights answered in unison.
At the mention of rewards, murderous determination entered their eyes.
Everyone knew this sparring match existed solely for the Emperor’s entertainment.
Only one month had passed since Mary’s ascension.
Already more than ten people had died by her command.
The Emperor possessed overwhelming strength.
The Blessed One.
The Chosen of God.
The Reincarnation of the First Emperor.
Many titles were used to describe Mary.
The knights had a different one.
The Bored Tyrant.
Their new Emperor was a monster who could break human lives as casually as snapping twigs if it relieved her boredom.
Yet they still obeyed.
Not because they admired her.
But because they coveted the power granted by the Blessing she possessed.
“Begin!”
At the commander’s shout, the two knights standing in the center of the training grounds charged toward one another.
