CHAPTER 33………………………………..
“If you do that, I’d be grateful.”
Trisha continued speaking with a gentle smile.
“But will your aunt really step back so easily? What if she protests to His Majesty?”
“Don’t worry. His Majesty won’t even meet her.”
“Oh… I see.”
It seemed the Emperor still hadn’t made up his mind.
Whether he would cast out the Marchioness of Devon… or pretend not to notice and keep her around.
‘For now, I can relax.’
Seeing how confident Edwin was, he must have heard something separately.
Come to think of it…
Trisha suddenly recalled what the Marchioness of Devon had said earlier.
“Be wary of outsiders.”
She found that remark rather amusing.
‘As if she hasn’t lived entirely leaning on Edwin’s power.’
It was ridiculous how she acted like a loyal subject devoted to the king until the very end, even though the king was ready to discard her just by listening to a few flattering advisers.
“Anyway, it’s better to settle this matter immediately.”
Trisha quietly followed behind Edwin as he led the way, insisting they go to the Marchioness of Devon right away.
This was truly unexpected.
She had assumed he might drag things out for days, delaying until everything faded away unresolved.
‘That’s what happened in my past life.’
Back then, Lizaina had framed Trisha after seeing a ring the maids were playing with.
But that scheme hadn’t worked on Trisha.
Because…
‘There were two rings from the beginning.’
The first ring they had made hadn’t fit properly, so she had gone to a craftsman separately.
Since it was before the engraving was added, the first ring didn’t fit her finger and had no inscription.
“Keep the first ring for emergencies.”
He had then crafted a second ring, perfectly fitted and engraved, telling her to wear that one instead.
‘The reason he showed me such kindness was probably because I was an outsider too.’
The craftsman was missing one eye, so it wasn’t obvious, but he was clearly a foreigner.
“If even one person rises high enough, eventually the ceiling will open.”
Otherwise, he never would’ve said such words or shown kindness to someone he’d only met once.
After that, things were simple.
Trisha bribed the servant the Marchioness of Devon had hired to avoid suspicion and made him impersonate Bill.
Edwin, unaware that Trisha was behind it all, went straight to his aunt.
“I have something to say to you, Aunt.”
“…Edwin? What is it?”
“I think it’s time for you to rest.”
He spoke formally, but his attitude held no respect whatsoever.
“I’d like you to stop involving yourself in the affairs of the Grand Duchy.”
It was the kind of treatment Trisha had always endured.
“W-What do you mean, stop?!”
But the Marchioness seemed deeply shocked by such cold dismissal, since it was the first time she’d ever been treated this way.
Edwin, however, looked indifferent.
“If you can’t even understand simple words, then resting really is the best option.”
“T-That’s not what I meant. Trisha is still young. She lacks experience.”
“Yes. That’s why I plan to assign Princess Lizaina to her.”
“What?!”
The Marchioness’s eyes widened. Lizaina, standing beside her, looked equally stunned.
“The princess is an outsider! You can’t entrust the household affairs of the Grand Duchy to her!”
“I don’t see the problem.”
The Marchioness tried to speak calmly, but Edwin didn’t listen.
“Aunt, you’re from the Devon family too, aren’t you?”
“That’s different! I’m your aunt!”
Finally exploding, the Marchioness clutched the back of her neck.
Edwin remained completely unmoved.
“Well, if I, the head of the house, say so, then that’s how it is. Don’t interfere in the Grand Duchy’s affairs anymore.”
With that, Edwin calmly left.
Trisha also tried to leave before she got caught in unnecessary trouble.
“Come with me, Your Grace.”
Quick-witted Lizaina grabbed her.
Jane looked horrified at Lizaina’s forceful grip, but Lizaina didn’t care.
“We’ll be managing the household together from now on. You can think of it comfortably, can’t you?”
“It seems the princess has a habit of not listening properly.”
“…What?”
“I’m the one in charge of the Grand Duchy’s household. You’re simply someone Edwin assigned to me.”
Trisha’s red eyes gleamed coldly.
“I’d prefer you not misunderstand.”
…
Trisha caught the fleeting humiliation that crossed Lizaina’s face.
But Lizaina quickly erased it and smiled gently.
“I see. That was my mistake.”
Lizaina bowed her head obediently in apology.
“But you should be careful, Your Grace.”
Her gaze shifted toward where the Marchioness stood.
“Nothing lasts forever.”
A warning.
You might end up like her.
Trisha understood it and nodded indifferently.
“I’ll keep it in mind.”
And she left without looking back.
As though she didn’t care what happened to those left behind.
Later
“To manage the household together? That’s absurd!”
Jane exploded in anger the moment they returned to the room.
Trisha was equally stunned.
‘This didn’t happen in my past life.’
Too many things had changed, creating new variables.
Originally, Trisha had been falsely accused, cleared her name, and Lizaina had soothed Edwin before disappearing.
After that, Edwin and Lizaina grew closer.
And this time would be no different.
‘Once my innocence is proven, Edwin will feel uncomfortable around me again.’
He wouldn’t want to believe he had been wrong.
And Lizaina, who exploited that perfectly, would earn even more of his favor.
‘The more disappointed he is in Aunt… the more affection he’ll pour into Lizaina.’
Trisha knew exactly how things would unfold.
But she let it happen.
She had no intention of flattering Edwin for his love.
Instead, she would gain his trust another way…
And then take everything from him.
So thoroughly he’d never even dare dream of reclaiming it.
“Jane. You know the New Year’s festival is just around the corner, right?”
“Yes. The palace sent an invitation to the banquet.”
Before the festival, the imperial family always held a private dinner gathering.
Edwin, though only half-blooded, still carried imperial blood and had the right to attend.
And Trisha, as his wife, did too.
“What about wearing an incredibly luxurious dress?”
Trisha shook her head.
“I won’t be attending.”
“…What?”
“I think Edwin will bring Princess Lizaina instead.”
“No way! Surely the Grand Duke wouldn’t be that stu— I mean, surely not!”
Trisha chuckled softly.
In her past life, Edwin had already taken Lizaina to such a banquet before.
He’d used the excuse that she was the Seventh Consort’s niece.
He had paraded her through the palace as if she were a lonely soul like the consort herself.
And the Emperor had allowed it.
‘But this time will be different.’
Unlike before, Hestia would attend in full health.
Millard too, without worrying about the Emperor’s gaze.
‘I just need to do what I must.’
Trisha reviewed her plans once again.
Meanwhile…
“AAAAAH!”
Chaos erupted in the Devon estate.
The servants could only exchange nervous glances in the suffocating atmosphere.
The Marchioness of Devon, who practically lived at the Mason Grand Duchy, had returned home for the first time in a while.
And the moment she arrived, she began throwing and smashing everything in sight.
“I’ll kill her!”
Her repeated words made the scene even more chilling.
Hair wild, eyes bloodshot—
She raged for a long time.
“How dare she blind my nephew with such vile tricks…”
Only after exhausting herself did she stop.
“I won’t forgive her.”
She clenched her fist tightly.
Her nails dug into her flesh, sharpening her resolve.
At the Same Time…
While someone experienced downfall, someone else experienced ascent.
“The imperial banquet?”
Lizaina blinked in surprise.
“You mean the banquet only His Majesty and his family may attend, Eddie?”
“Yes.”
“Oh my goodness, I’m so happy!”
The moment Edwin confirmed it, Lizaina smiled like a blooming flower and kissed his cheek.
Edwin felt pleased by her sweet charm.
‘This is how women should be.’
Trisha had been like a stone no matter what he gave her—boring.
Reading his thoughts perfectly, Lizaina fluttered into his arms like a butterfly.
‘This pathetic man is small-minded and fickle… such a hassle to please.’
She smiled warmly into his eyes.
‘Once I become Grand Duchess… I should poison him and leave him bedridden.’
Thinking something entirely different inside.
