Chapter 78…………………….
“Rebellion? What nonsense is this?!”
The Emperor reacted in disbelief, and the others had similar expressions.
They assumed the Empress was simply throwing a baseless tantrum.
But the Empress had come prepared with her own logic. She had no intention of backing down.
Pointing her finger at the western nobles, with the Grand Duchess at their head, she began.
“Among those present, did anyone receive official permission to enter the palace today, or undergo a body search by the Imperial Knights?”
“……”
“……”
A heavy silence weighed down the hall.
The Empress was not wrong.
Naturally, there were strict security procedures for the Imperial Palace.
And when meeting the Imperial family directly, the measures had to be even more thorough.
Permission for entry and a completed body search were the most basic requirements.
And indeed, Imperial law decreed that admitting anyone without this process would be punished as treason.
This law had been established during the turbulent founding years of the Empire and was still in force.
That was when Hylia spoke up.
“Please don’t put it so harshly, Your Majesty the Empress. They only came because I invited them to attend the banquet.”
Though she was smiling, tension flickered across her face.
The Empress laughed at the young girl.
That child thought she could outwit Evangeline by throwing caution to the wind—only to stumble into a mistake.
And yet she stood there, flaunting herself beside the Emperor and the Crown Prince?
The sight was too disgusting to tolerate.
As the Empress’s argument gained credibility, murmurs began to spread.
“Well, Her Majesty the Empress does have a point.”
“She’s right. Anything that could endanger the Imperial Family must be strictly investigated.”
“I thought the Crown Princess was calm and prudent, but perhaps she was rather short-sighted this time.”
Clearly, the mood was turning against Hylia.
As she was driven into a corner, the usually quiet Grand Duchess Axxion stepped forward.
She openly opposed the Empress and sided with Hylia—defending her own party in the process.
“By that reasoning, are you saying that I, and all the western nobles who entered here in secret, are traitors, Your Majesty?”
The Empress slowly turned her head toward the Grand Duchess.
“You deliberately avoided entering the palace all this time, only to sneak in like thieves today. How can we be sure you harbor no treacherous intent, Grand Duchess Axxion?”
“…!”
The Grand Duchess’s eyes trembled at the pointed insult.
Meanwhile, a clear sense of delight flickered in Empress Isabel’s eyes.
After all, the Grand Duchess had once been her mistress.
She was the very one who had opposed Isabel’s rise to Empress, rallying nobles against her.
Now Isabel could speak down to her—this reversal of power was deeply satisfying.
Almost intoxicating.
When the Grand Duchess had last defied her and stormed out of the palace, they had not faced each other directly.
That’s why I never got to hear her call me “Your Majesty the Empress.” Not even once did she show proper respect.
But now things were different.
The Grand Duchess was forced to address Isabel with honorifics—because Isabel truly was the Empress.
For that alone, I may owe thanks to that little girl.
But the Grand Duchess did not retreat easily.
“If you truly doubt the loyalty of the western nobles, shouldn’t you arrest us all as traitors rather than slandering us to ruin this banquet?”
The Empress sneered and replied,
“My mercy is the only reason I don’t. Be grateful for it. To think people of age and honor would debase themselves by following a child’s game of power—pathetic.”
She clicked her tongue.
The Grand Duchess’s wrinkled face flushed red with humiliation.
“You…!”
The Empress ignored her.
At that moment, Evangeline stepped closer and chimed in.
“Her Majesty the Empress is absolutely right! How fitting of an Empress!”
It seemed she judged the situation to be in her favor.
Her eyes gleamed with predatory hunger, like a hyena eager to share in a lion’s kill.
Then, boldly, she pressed the point.
“Can someone who acted out of personal ambition—simply to have her position recognized—truly be worthy of the title Crown Princess?”
The one who lashed out on Hylia’s behalf was the Grand Duchess.
“Watch your tongue, Lady of House Rus!”
But Evangeline had already regained her composure.
With a sly smile, her mocking tone grated on every ear.
“Of course you would say that, Grand Duchess. You’re her accomplice. Naturally, you wouldn’t want to share in her punishment.”
“Enough, Eva.”
“But—!”
The Empress stepped forward again.
“Still, Evangeline is not wrong. Even if there was no intent to harm His Majesty, this is a serious issue.”
Her eyes swept over the gathered nobles, pinning them down one by one.
“I find it hard to believe that none of you thought to point this out.”
The central nobles wilted under her gaze, shoulders hunched in shame.
“Our insight was too shallow…”
“How could we ever match Her Majesty’s wisdom?”
Some scrambled to excuse themselves.
“To ignore such a vital procedure is unthinkable. And for the one responsible to be the Crown Princess—surely she is unfit for the role.”
The Empress, brimming with confidence, turned to the Emperor with a solemn request.
“As the mistress of the Inner Palace, I beg Your Majesty for a wise decision.”
Everything hinged on his answer.
All eyes turned to the Emperor.
At last, the Emperor spoke.
“The Empress is wrong.”
“…What?”
A stunned whisper escaped her lips.
She had never imagined the Emperor would so flatly reject her plea.
For a moment she tilted her head in disbelief—then her face twisted.
“Even if you dote on your daughter-in-law, the mistake remains.”
Her eyes—so like Evangeline’s—burned with hostility and jealousy.
But the Emperor slowly shook his head.
“No. This is not favoritism. All the procedures were followed.”
“…What?”
Her face, moments ago so confident, now looked utterly vacant.
The Emperor had the secretary bring forth a document.
“See for yourself. The list of western nobles attending today’s banquet. It bears my signature and seal, granting their entry.”
The Empress’s eyes flew wide.
She snatched the paper and read through it.
Just as the Emperor said:
The names of the Grand Duchess Axxion and the western nobles present were all written there.
And at the bottom was the Emperor’s command and seal of approval.
The document was dated three days prior.
“Th-then… what about the body searches…?”
It was Arpad who answered.
“The Imperial Knights of the Crown Prince’s Palace conducted them all. There is no procedural issue whatsoever.”
The Empress lifted her pale face.
Beside the Emperor and Crown Prince, towering like unyielding walls, a small head popped up.
Soft pink hair swayed cutely.
Their eyes met.
And the Empress saw it.
Hylia was laughing at her.
Of course, this had all been my doing.
If such a large group had entered the palace unnoticed, of course it would raise suspicion.
In fact, it would have been strange not to question it.
And that, precisely, was the bait I had laid to lure the Empress in.
