Episode 6
A few days later, just like Polian had said, Brianna entered the imperial palace.
As the coachman helped her down from the carriage, she walked carefully—her legs were trembling so badly it wouldn’t be strange if she collapsed at any moment.
She had lived in the palace for years, so it was familiar… but also revolting.
How could she walk into the place where her life had been taken without feeling sick?
On top of that, Polian had made her wear a vulgar dress—low-cut and overly tight—that made her even more uncomfortable.
Taking a deep breath, she stepped onto the ground and clenched her fists.
Don’t do anything to draw attention.
She quietly followed behind Polian until they stopped in front of the audience chamber.
The huge doors opened, revealing the golden throne deep inside… and sitting on it with an arrogant air was Cassius.
With every step she took toward him, Brianna’s hands shook harder.
“I greet the Sun of the Empire,” Polian said.
Brianna followed his lead and bowed as well.
Cassius’s gaze landed on her.
“Hm, a familiar face.”
Even with her head bowed, she could feel his eyes on her, sharp and heavy.
“Yes, she served as a maid to the Empress, so Your Majesty must have seen her often,” Polian explained.
“Ah, so this is your daughter?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Polian glanced at her, signaling for her to step forward. She did and bowed again.
“Embarrassing to say, but my daughter was born mute.”
“Raise your head.”
At his command, Brianna slowly looked up. His crimson hair and ocean-blue eyes swept over her.
“She’s not as stunning as Anastasia, but her beauty isn’t far behind.”
“Your praise is an honor, Your Majesty.”
Polian sounded pleased, as if things were going exactly how he wanted.
Cassius went on, “Today I called Count Clark here to reward you for helping prove Anastasia’s crimes.”
After that, his attention left Brianna. She quickly lowered her head and stepped back.
Cassius studied Polian for a moment, stroking his chin.
“I’m thinking of granting you the title of Marquis.”
“What…? Marquis?” Polian’s voice trembled, clearly displeased with the offer.
Brianna hid a smirk.
Of course. Cassius would never hand over the Empress’s seat so easily—especially not to a woman with flaws.
“Brianna, you may leave,” Polian ordered.
She bowed and exited the chamber.
Once the heavy doors shut behind her, she staggered.
“Are you alright?” a nearby knight asked, reaching out to help.
She refused and kept walking, sweat beading on her forehead, head throbbing painfully.
I need to get away.
The memory of Cassius’s gaze made her whole body twist in discomfort. She hurried her steps—
—and ran straight into a man with sharp metal decorations on his clothes. Already unsteady, she fell to the floor.
Looking up, she saw a man with striking white hair, blue eyes, and bronze skin: Sebastian Leonhart.
The imperial family usually had red hair and blue eyes, but because his mother was a slave, Sebastian’s hair was white.
Unlike Cassius’s approachable charm, Sebastian’s aura was sharp and cold.
When she just stared at him in shock, he said, “I’d like you to move.”
His voice was as cold as his eyes.
Startled, Brianna quickly stood. She was about to bow when he walked right past her.
What was that? His eyes had been full of contempt.
Realizing this might be her only chance, she hurried after him and grabbed his arm—only to have it shaken off immediately.
“What is it, Lady?” he asked.
She pulled out paper and a pen from her sleeve and wrote:
[I’d like to speak with Your Grace.]
He actually laughed at that.
“I don’t have a hobby of reading.” His smirk was full of mockery.
Brianna ignored the insult and wrote another message:
[Shouldn’t you be putting those soldiers you’re raising to better use?]
She knew something that would make him take her seriously.
As he read, his brow furrowed, and his expression turned wary.
[Now do you feel like talking to me?] she wrote.
“What exactly do you want to discuss, Lady?” he asked, holding back his emotions.
[Tomorrow morning, I’ll visit the Leonhart ducal estate.]
With that, she bowed and left first.
Sebastian stayed where he was for a long time, staring in the direction she had gone.
Later, inside the carriage, Polian was fuming.
“What? Marquis? That’s it?”
Given what he’d done, he had expected more.
Idiot, Brianna thought.
Cassius only saw him as a disposable pawn—how could he not realize it?
“This is all your fault,” Polian snapped, glaring at her.
“Who would want a defective woman like you?”
A “defect.” That’s what he called his own daughter.
Brianna barely kept herself from laughing bitterly.
“If you weren’t flawed, it would’ve been easy for you to become Empress,” he went on.
“With a useless daughter like you, what sins did I commit to deserve this suffering?”
Brianna stayed silent, head lowered.
Brianna, she thought, So this is how you’ve lived—enduring this treatment from the people who should have cared for and loved you the most.
Don’t worry, Brianna. You’re a miracle, and you’ll become a greater miracle. No one will dare insult or look down on you again.
Ignoring his scolding, she thought only of the man she’d just met by chance—Sebastian.
