CHAPTER 149………………………………………….
High status, excellent lineage, money that overflowed endlessly like water.
In her very early years, Zeira had grown up receiving precious attention from everyone around her, even as a child of high rank. But when the money disappeared, power naturally dispersed.
Reality was far too shabby to remember her childhood as entirely beautiful, so whenever she recalled those days, a bitter smile always lingered on Zeira’s lips.
What saved her from a life of being despised by everyone in the royal palace was books. Whenever she read, she could forget the dreary, miserable daily life she endured.
She survived day by day in this way—but then the world turned upside down again. The one who was expected to become king was dethroned.
And the moment another half-brother became king, Zeira felt that even her already meager position was in jeopardy. As expected, the king commanded Zeira to go to the empire.
So, she was a princess, was she? Only in name, for all appearances aside, her reality was pitiful.
Zeira spent several days in contemplation.
The king told her to make her best effort to impress the emperor. So, the reason they were sending a woman like her to the empire as the representative of the delegation was obvious.
“An imperial concubine…”
She had heard the emperor of the empire was newly married—could she even fit in there?
Standing before the mirror and pondering for a long time, Zeira shook her head. Setting aside whether her appearance could captivate the emperor, she simply didn’t feel up to it. Even if, by some miracle, she gained the emperor’s attention and became a concubine, then what?
Zeira recalled her mother, who withered away in a secluded palace corner, never gaining a fragment of the king’s attention. A woman who threw her life into love looked unbearably lonely from behind. How much more lonely would it be for her, who would become a concubine not for love but merely as a formality?
“The emperor of the empire is supposed to be very impressive, right? I envy you, Your Majesty.”
“If you envy him so much… would you like to go in my place?”
“Huh?”
Reading both fear and anticipation in the eyes of the maid who asked, Zeira’s next move was bold.
“I’m asking if you would become the emperor’s concubine in my place.”
In her own kingdom, she was a princess whose name was unknown beyond the surname “Bacht.” That had also been why she survived even as the royal family was overturned multiple times.
So, if she sent the maid who had followed her from the kingdom back home, no one would notice even if their positions were switched.
“……”
Though the maid said nothing, her sparkling eyes answered for her. Yet even amid her excitement, a question seemed to linger, and she asked:
“The position of the empire’s concubine… why are you giving it up for me?”
Giving up…
From Zeira’s perspective, it wasn’t giving up—it was escaping. Not a flower trapped in a cage slowly wilting, but a bird taking flight across an open field.
“Don’t you think someone as beautiful as you has more potential? Isn’t that right?”
“But, Your Majesty…”
The maid called Zeira in a trembling voice, yet her dilated pupils and flushed cheeks betrayed her joy.
“Even if it were you, not me, who caught the emperor’s eye, the king wouldn’t mind much. If you truly became a concubine, he’d act even more indifferent.”
After a brief pause, Zeira continued:
“From now on, your name will be Illiya.”
From the full name Zeira Illiya Bacht, she would keep Zeira, and the role of the beautiful princess Illiya would be the maid’s.
As soon as they left the kingdom, Zeira worked to erase traces of herself. She spread rumors emphasizing the maid’s appearance, claiming that any man would fall in love at first sight.
Perhaps because of that, shortly after arriving in the empire, the palace where Zeira and the fake princess Illiya stayed received an unusually large number of visitors.
Whether it was a political attempt to establish ties with the emperor’s concubines or merely to see Illiya’s beauty was unclear.
Zeira assumed it was probably a bit of both. Though she was slightly surprised at how arrogant Illiya had become in the process, with her nose held high as if reaching the sky.
Recalling how Illiya had tried to trample over Marquis Crow without knowing her place, Zeira glanced at Anje. Could he have come to firmly warn Illiya?
But no—the look in Anje’s eyes was far too gentle. The atmosphere was completely different from that of Duke Side, who had glared at Zeira and Illiya as if ready to tear them apart, even while sitting with the emperor.
“I heard you’re going to have your wedding with Duke Side soon.”
Standing beside Anje, busy cutting cake, Zeira cautiously spoke. The hand slicing the bread paused mid-motion.
“The young ladies who came to see Your Majesty were all disappointed. They wondered why they never got a chance. You once served as Duke Side’s assistant, right? Surely back then you tried every trick to get into the duke’s favor…”
“Sigh…”
At the sudden sigh, Zeira timidly wriggled her shoulders. She had been joking, but apparently, there had been a misunderstanding.
“Lord Crow, I was joking. If there was a misunderstanding, I truly apologize.”
“Call me Anje. And no misunderstanding… They must have spoken sincerely in front of Zeira without any pretense.”
With a serious expression, Anje sighed again.
“If you know I was Duke Side’s assistant, you must know I’m from the slums too… Oh, but I guess the princess already knows that.”
Grumbling discontentedly while wrinkling his nose, Anje handed over a cake topped with neatly arranged strawberries. It was so visually appealing and smelled so good that Zeira’s mouth watered even though she had just finished eating.
“Have some first.”
Anje pushed the cup of warm, clear tea toward her and subtly observed her reaction.
Though not as striking as Illiya, Zeira’s neat appearance and clear, sharp eyes were captivating. Even knowing she was from the slums, he did not look down on her like Illiya might have.
That alone made Anje like Zeira very much.
Opening a person’s heart often requires revealing just the right flaws. Pouting slightly, Anje spoke:
“Zeira…”
“Just call me Zeira,” she replied.
Even so, to call a princess by her first name… Anje hesitated, reading Zeira’s expression. Since he couldn’t show he knew her identity, he had no choice but to call her what she asked.
“To say I seduced the duke… If you knew how ruthlessly he runs people, you wouldn’t say that. Try working under him for just a day. Just seeing the assistant office at the duke’s place will change your mind. Do you know how I looked as an assistant? Dark circles under my eyes reached my chin. And yet I supposedly seduced him…”
“Gah!”
Zeira coughed, as if startled. Seeing her empty teacup, Anje poured more warm tea.
“There’s plenty, so take your time. It really is delicious.”
“No, it’s not that…”
Putting down her fork, Zeira wiped her eyes with her fingertip. Her trembling lips and flushed cheeks were partially hidden by her handkerchief.
“I’m glad you like it. I’ll bring some more tomorrow.”
“What I like is different, but the cake is good too,” Zeira replied coldly.
Anje’s face brightened instantly.
“Fig cake is very tasty too. Not in season, but piled high with sweet preserved figs, it looks delicious.”
“I see.”
Zeira sipped her tea, not particularly impressed by the strawberry cake.
“By the way, why is the duke choosing to marry you, Anje? She’s not beautiful, has a marquis’ title, but it doesn’t compare to the honor of the Side family. And it can’t be for money—the duke already has unimaginable wealth. Sorry, I’m just curious. Everyone says you must have done everything to seduce him, but it doesn’t seem that way.”
Zeira’s grandfather had taught her that love was a tool for a woman to acquire wealth and honor. And knowing wealth and honor don’t last forever, Zeira had no intention of becoming an emperor’s concubine.
Yet, she was curious.
Why had the duke chosen a small, ordinary woman over the countless beautiful ladies of the empire? Could there really be some special secret, as the young ladies claimed?
Even if she found out, she wouldn’t use it—but her curiosity was unavoidable.
