ISMFB 26

CHAPTER 26

The woman who naturally stood beside Linaria at first glance looked like an ordinary noblewoman.

But Linaria knew who she was.

There was no way not to know.

She was the Empress.

As Linaria quickly prepared to greet her with proper courtesy, the Empress waved her hand to stop her.

“No need for that. I simply spoke because I was pleased to see a young lady who suited my son so well.”

Linaria swiftly glanced around. The Empress must have cleared the area, as no one else was nearby.

“……”

The Empress wasn’t extraordinarily beautiful.

But she wasn’t unattractive either.

There were women more beautiful than her, more intelligent, even more gracious in character.

Still, the Emperor—who once had a reputation as a womanizer—had chosen her.

It couldn’t have been just because of her noble lineage.

“Right. Since fate has brought us together like this, let me gift you the blue dress.”

“I must decline,” Linaria said firmly.

“My father gives me more allowance than I could possibly need.”

The Empress, who had been staring at her, softened her tone.

“I was a classmate of your late mother at the Academy, and a dear friend. Would you accept the gift if it were from your mother’s friend, not the Empress?”

This was news to Linaria.

“I thought Madam Perini was my mother’s only friend.”

“Oh, Meryl.”

The Empress chuckled.

“She was indeed a friend. Your mother was sociable and had many friends. But I was the only one she was truly close to.”

Yet, not even in her mother’s scribbles had there been a mention of the Empress.

Linaria was still trying to gauge the truth when—

“Maximilian must have proposed to you again, hasn’t he?”

Linaria had thought he only did it to spite her.

But the Empress seemed to know something.

“When you suddenly changed your mind, I, too, felt it was a shame. If you resemble Margaret, you would be a diligent and capable daughter-in-law. That’s why I persuaded him.”

“You did so personally, Your Majesty? May I ask why you went that far?”

“Because if my dear friend’s daughter married my son, it would bring me immense joy.”

The Empress took Linaria’s hand.

It was a kind gesture.

“It must’ve been hard growing up without a mother. Even with a nanny, a nanny can’t replace a mother.”

“……”

“I shall be like a mother to you from now on.”

Then why did you treat me that way when I was engaged to him?

The words rose to her throat.

“Of course, I won’t just make empty promises. As a token of sincerity, I’ll give you all the dresses in this boutique.”

The Empress was flaunting her wealth and status.

She was tempting Linaria, saying, “You too could live like this.”

“I see. I’ve just learned something new.”

“Learned what, dear?”

The Empress asked kindly.

In her usual tone, Linaria said,

“That the position of Crown Princess is worth no more than that.”

So calm, it didn’t even sound like sarcasm.

Then she turned and called for the manager.

“Yes, my lady?”

“From today, Ovel will purchase this boutique. From the ground I’m standing on to the top of the chimney—everything.”

“I’m sorry, what did you say…?”

Linaria showed the manager the Ovel signet ring.

This wasn’t an order from the daughter of House Ovel—it was from Ovel itself.

Though Ovel’s influence had waned, it was still more than capable of buying a single boutique in the capital.

The manager’s face turned pale.

“Bring in a legal expert to handle the details. The boutique will be owned by Ovel, but you’ll remain in charge, so don’t worry.”

She didn’t give the bewildered manager a moment to recover.

“And I’ll also be buying all the dresses here.”

“Pardon? Y-Yes.”

Then she looked at the Empress.

“It wouldn’t be proper for me to remain idle in front of Your Majesty. Imagine if rumors spread that the Empress’s gift was trivial—how disgraceful would that be?”

“……”

“I was planning to buy the dresses anyway, so I’ll postpone accepting your kind offer.”

Right then, Linaria showed it clearly:

That she could enjoy the wealth and status the Empress flaunted—all by her own means.

At that moment, the Empress realized no proposal could sway Linaria.

“Oh, by the way—you liked the blue dress, didn’t you?”

“Yes, I did.”

“You gave such a thoughtful offer, I’d like to return the favor. Is there another dress here that Your Majesty fancies?”

“Hah.”

The Empress let out a dry laugh.

“No young lady has ever tried to gift me something before.”

“If such a small gift pleases Your Majesty, I’m glad.”

“You’re bold.”

Now, the Empress seemed to realize that Linaria wasn’t someone to be underestimated.

“Must be because I take after my father.”

“How is the Duke of Ovel’s health?”

Implying: Your house has crumbled because of your father’s illness, and yet you refuse to marry the Crown Prince?

“He’s slowly improving. But as his only daughter, I must stay by his side.”

“How devoted of you.”

Though the Empress’s voice was cold, Linaria did not flinch or avoid her gaze.

“Oh yes, Your Majesty said you pitied me for growing up without a mother. But my father’s love alone was enough—I never truly felt the absence.”

“……”

“And in return for his love, I’ve decided not to marry until he recovers.”

A firm rejection.

“But I’m grateful for your wish to care for me like a daughter.”

As the Empress stared at her, Linaria smiled—like a beloved only child.

In the end, it was the Empress who backed down.

“Such devotion is beautiful. I suppose I was being thoughtless.”

She had assumed a girl unloved all her life would jump at a dangling lure.

But this was a fish too big for such bait.

As the Empress withdrew, the boutique’s staff—who had been holding their breath—began moving busily.

“Thank you, my lady!”

Like a storm passing, Linaria swept through the boutique.

Just as she was about to leave—

The Empress, who had been quiet, spoke again.

“By the way, Lady Ovel. I hear you enjoyed your exploration of the Imperial Palace?”

“Exploration, Your Majesty? I don’t understand.”

“That’s odd. I heard that during the ball, when everyone was leaving, you were the only one who vanished and then suddenly reappeared.”

“……”

“So I assumed perhaps you were exploring the palace.”

“That couldn’t be. It must’ve been so crowded someone was mistaken.”

Without blinking, Linaria replied calmly.

“Now, if you’ll excuse me. May the light’s glory always be with Your Majesty.”

She gave a perfect, flawless bow and exited the boutique.

The Empress watched her retreating back without looking away, and gave an order.

“Follow her.”

“She suspects me.”

Now it was certain.

Kaath had escaped.

Otherwise, the Empress wouldn’t have left the palace on her own like this.

“Surprising that the Empress moved instead of Maximilian…”

But it made sense.

Kaath had been imprisoned beneath the Empress’s quarters.

“Sir Collin.”

“Yes, my lady.”

“I want the boutique acquisition finalized quickly. Go there right away.”

“My duty is to protect you above all else, no matter what.”

“I’m not going far. I’ll just browse another boutique nearby. Don’t worry about me.”

“But…”

“My father ordered you to protect me, not to watch me like a hawk. Isn’t that right?”

“…Understood.”

As soon as she parted from her guard, Linaria did not head toward another boutique as promised.

The moment he disappeared from view, she moved in the opposite direction.

“But those people…”

She had a feeling someone was following her.

She deliberately turned into a deserted alley.

Turning a corner, she glanced back—and sure enough, strangers were following at a distance.

“I’m being watched.”

Already on edge from her encounter with the Empress, her suspicion turned to certainty.

Her slow steps quickened.

“Must be the Empress’s people. I need to lose them.”

If both the Empress and she were after Kaath, then she had to shake them off.

She twisted and turned through complex alleys.

She thought she’d lost them, but—

A dead end.

Unlike the palace, which she knew like the back of her hand, she was unfamiliar with the streets outside.

If they caught her—would they interrogate her?

Or maybe kidnap her, torture her—and officially declare her missing?

Linaria knew how ruthless the Imperial family could be.

The group was closing in.

Sweat beaded on her palm.

Just as she was cornered with no options—

“Mmph!”

Her mouth was covered.

And someone yanked her into the shadows.

In a nearby café, the Empress sipped tea on the terrace when a plain-clothed royal guard approached.

He had been tasked with following Linaria.

“Where is Lady Ovel?”

“Well…”

The café had already been cleared of all other customers—no eavesdroppers nearby.

Still, the guard hesitated before confessing:

“She disappeared.”