Chapter 14
In contrast, the current Empress Onisia was wise.
She had entered the Imperial Palace as a commoner, and the very first thing she did was win over the Marchioness of Eart.
That was the beginning.
Starting with the Marchioness of Eart, Empress Onisia gradually drew numerous influential noblewomen to her side.
It had taken her a long, long time to seize control of high society, but regardless, she had survived up to the present day—when Crown Prince Alesto S. Burns held stable power.
Ruby wished for Lady Asha to become a steadfast empress like Onisia.
Because only then could Ruby herself remain securely by her side.
That was the fate of owls.
They were bound to share the fate of the masters they served.
And now, her master was Lady Asha.
If Asha were to be divorced and driven out of the palace, what would happen to her?
‘Then I’d fall into ruin with her, of course.’
That, Ruby thought, was why her mission had been classified as [관]—a task of high difficulty.
No matter what it took, she had to make sure Lady Asha safely became Empress, and help her hold onto that position for as long as possible.
From Ruby’s perspective, the only thing Asha currently possessed was the Crown Prince’s affection—and nothing else.
That was why attending the ball, expanding her network, and gradually establishing her position were crucial right now.
If Lady Asha were to attend the ball?
‘She could sweep up invitations from every influential lady in the court!’
With that thought, Ruby put her heart into persuading her.
“Yes, the ball! It’s a splendid event—full of flowers, chandeliers, dancing, joy, beautiful paintings and music! Truly a festival of the arts. And I hear the Corridor of Roses has been turned into an art gallery this time. It would be lovely to take a light stroll through it, don’t you think?”
For a brief moment, Asha’s eyes sparkled with curiosity—but the glimmer soon faded.
“…I can’t go.”
Ruby, who thought she had almost succeeded, was thrown off guard.
“What? What do you mean, you can’t? Why?”
Asha muttered lazily, still staring up at the ceiling.
“His Highness told me not to leave Almond Palace.”
A huge question mark popped up in Ruby’s mind.
‘That can’t be right… can it?’
Ruby might have been a gray owl, but she was an owl nonetheless.
Would she have gone to the head maid, Madam Watch, waving around a document stamped [관], demanding information?
Of course not.
Instead, she had gone humbly, bringing with her a report she’d written: how she could best help Lady Asha adapt to the palace, what role she should play in Asha’s journey to becoming Empress, and what qualities were required of a truly indispensable maid to an empress.
She had pleaded earnestly for pity—begging the kindhearted and generous Madam Watch to share whatever knowledge she could so that this poor gray owl could fulfill her duty.
Thankfully, Madam Watch had a gentle heart and had shared quite valuable information.
Well, information she was allowed to share, at least.
Anyway—
Madam Watch had said that Lady Asha was exactly the Crown Prince’s type.
She didn’t know if it was love, but he was apparently desperate to have her.
Why else would he have already concluded a marriage contract with the Herman family? (Though that was still a secret.)
But now he was confining her?
The Crown Prince wasn’t… that stupid, was he?
There had to be a reason.
If His Highness truly intended to lock Asha away, he would’ve at least given Ruby, her maid, a heads-up—and stationed plenty of knights around her quarters.
Clearly, Ruby needed to assess the situation carefully.
She began watching Asha’s expression, coaxing her gently.
“How could he do such a thing… You must be so upset, my lady. Oh dear, oh dear.”
“It can’t be helped. It’s just that…”
“Just that…?”
“Well, while I was talking with His Highness… I looked away for a moment…”
After much coaxing and piecing things together, Ruby finally slapped her knee and exclaimed confidently,
“It’s jealousy.”
Asha blinked, puzzled.
“…Jealousy?”
“Yes. I’m certain His Highness spoke rashly out of a sudden fit of jealousy.”
Even though it was surprising to imagine the usually composed Crown Prince acting out of jealousy, this was still good news for Lady Asha.
And if it was good news for Lady Asha—
‘Then it’s good news for me too!’
“Don’t you worry, my lady. I’ll make sure you attend that ball.”
“…No, really, I’m fine not going.”
She meant it.
She couldn’t quite bring herself to say it aloud, but—I’m not even that upset about being confined, Ruby.
But Ruby had no way of knowing that.
Seeing Asha’s refusal as a sign of low confidence, Ruby guided her gently toward the bedroom and asked,
“Would you be able to cry, my lady?”
Asha looked puzzled.
“Cry? All of a sudden? Why?”
“If you cry in your room, I’ll bring His Highness here. Men, as you know, are weak against the tears of the woman they love. Once he sees you crying, he won’t be able to keep you locked up.”
It sounded convincing enough at first—but would tears really work on the man everyone called a cold, merciless tyrant in the making?
And besides—
“I really don’t mind not going to the ball.”
But since Asha showed no intention of moving, Ruby almost begged.
“Please, my lady, trust me just this once. All you have to do is cry until I say, ‘It’s done!’ from outside the door.”
In the end, Asha let herself be pushed into the bedroom.
As the door closed right before her, she thought briefly,
‘Am I… maybe just bad at saying no?’
Well, perhaps.
After all, it wasn’t as though anyone had ever stayed close to her long enough to ask for things so kindly before—like Ruby did.
And so, their operation began.
Ruby pressed her ear to the Almond Palace’s door, checking the hallway every time she heard a sound.
Then—there he was.
She finally spotted the Crown Prince.
Before entering his own quarters, Akalia Palace, Alesto paused and glanced at the room beside it—Almond Palace.
What was the saint doing now?
Just as the thought crossed his mind, the door to Almond Palace opened and a maid stepped out.
‘That must be the new owl assigned to her.’
The girl bowed low, and before he knew it, he was asking casually,
“How is Lady Asha?”
Still bent low, she answered respectfully,
“She hasn’t left her room, Your Highness.”
“…Why?”
Ruby gave the performance of her life.
“She hasn’t eaten since yesterday, and she does nothing but weep.”
With her head bowed, she couldn’t see anything but the floor—and His Highness’s polished shoes.
‘Move! Toward the door!’ she prayed silently.
Then came the sound of a door opening nearby.
The entrance to Almond Palace was right next to her, so it couldn’t be that one—had the door to Akalia opened instead?
Was His Highness planning to ignore Lady Asha?
‘Did I fail?’
Just as she squeezed her eyes shut in despair—
Step. Step.
The sound of footsteps, which had been moving away, returned.
They stopped right beside her.
Then the Crown Prince’s voice came from right next to her.
“Don’t let anyone in.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Click.
The sound of the door closing was almost cheerful.
Ruby straightened up proudly and exhaled in satisfaction.
Of course. No man could ignore the tears of the woman he likes.
‘Now then—until His Highness comes back out, no one disturbs them.’
Asha had gone into her bedroom as Ruby instructed and started to cry.
Crying was easy.
All she had to do was think of her mother, who had died when she was little.
The only image she had left was her mother’s face in a photograph; even her voice was blurry in memory.
But once, she remembered resting her head on her mother’s arm—perhaps when she’d been trying to nap.
That was the only memory she had of her.
As for her father—there was nothing at all.
Mom, I miss you.
‘Do you miss me too, Mom?’
That single question always pressed her tear button.
She didn’t know how long she cried.
Once you start crying, all sorts of sorrows tend to rise up with it.
And just as her quiet tears were about to turn into full-blown sobs—
Knock, knock.
Huh?
Was it over?
She waited for Ruby’s cheerful “It’s done!”—but instead, she heard:
“Would you please open the door for a moment?”
It was Alesto’s voice.
