CHAPTER 46……………………………
46.
When the Marchioness of Devon heard that Bill had been imprisoned, she was extremely anxious.
Just then, a subordinate approached with the news she had been waiting for.
“Well? Did you get Bill out?”
“…My apologies.”
The subordinate lowered his head in shame.
“…Even the gatekeeper says it will be difficult this time.”
At those words, the Marchioness of Devon felt the strength drain from her legs.
She collapsed onto the nearest sofa.
“Difficult, you say?”
“Yes. The security was far tighter than we expected.”
The Marchioness of Devon ground her teeth. She suspected that the one who had reported Bill this time might be the Emperor.
Otherwise, why would they guard a mere attendant of the Imperial Princess’s palace so thoroughly?
Once her cold reasoning settled, anger followed.
Crash!
With a loud noise, a vase struck the subordinate’s forehead and shattered.
Without even wiping away the blood flowing down his brow, he kept his head lowered.
“You cannot even resolve something like this—what qualifications do you have to serve under me?”
“…My apologies.”
He repeated the same words like a broken doll.
Instead of venting further, the Marchioness dismissed him.
Then she summoned someone else.
“How are the preparations coming along?”
“They have been completed smoothly.”
“And security?”
“We have taken their family hostage, so there should be no cause for concern.”
“Good.”
Only then did the Marchioness feel slightly relieved.
Perhaps because her influence was no longer what it used to be, she had felt increasingly uneasy lately.
Before His Majesty’s heart completely leaves me, I must act.
She had to isolate the Emperor’s heart quickly. Then, in the end, he would return to her.
To do that…
“There must be no one else for him to give his heart to.”
Having reached her cold conclusion, the Marchioness of Devon’s lips curved softly.
It would not take long.
To reclaim her former position.
On the day of Hestia’s birthday banquet,
Edwin entered the banquet hall with Trisha—and was shocked.
“Pr—Princess, why are you here…?”
Conscious of the formal setting, Edwin corrected his form of address, but he looked visibly flustered.
Meanwhile, Lizaina smiled brightly.
“Why are you so surprised, Eddie?”
“…”
“As if you were hoping I wouldn’t come.”
Despite the pointed remark, Edwin did not get angry as he usually would. Her appearance had simply been too unexpected.
With a faint smile, Lizaina continued smoothly.
“You said you had to attend the imperial banquet, didn’t you?”
“Huh? Ah, yes.”
“Then you should go.”
At her gentle response, Edwin’s eyes narrowed.
She was usually desperate to stay by his side, so her compliant attitude seemed suspicious.
“Your Grace, the Grand Duke of Mason, His Majesty the Emperor is waiting.”
“…Very well.”
At the attendant’s words, Edwin nodded. He could not dare keep the Emperor waiting.
“We’ll continue this conversation when I return.”
Lizaina only smiled in reply.
After Edwin left, Lizaina, now alone in the banquet hall, began moving busily.
At first, she mainly conversed with ladies who showed interest in the jewelry she wore that day.
In the past, it had mostly been central nobles—but now those approaching Lizaina were daughters of merchants or lower-ranking nobles.
As expected, the Imperial Princess’s influence is formidable.
After recent events, she had practically been pushed out of high society, and her standing had been severely shaken.
But Lizaina chose not to be impatient.
“Your necklace is truly unique and beautiful. Which jeweler made it?”
“Oh, this? I brought it from Solten.”
“Oh my!”
“In Solten, black pearls are rare. That’s why artisans put great effort into crafting them.”
At her answer, the other woman’s eyes lit up as she continued praising her.
“A black pearl crafted this beautifully would surely be popular even in Epelverno.”
“Thank you for your kind words.”
As she conversed with one person, those who had been watching cautiously began approaching one by one.
“Now that I think about it, the lace on your dress is quite unique. Is that also a fashion trend in Solten?”
“Yes, I asked them to weave it using a pattern that’s popular there.”
“Oh my, your taste is exceptional!”
Of course, not everyone looked at her kindly.
In particular, Nepheli’s group—who had recently drawn a clear line against Lizaina—watched them with cold expressions.
One of them approached with a faint smile.
“By the way, Princess, did you come alone without a partner today?”
“Surely the Grand Duke of Mason personally escorted you.”
Even though they had seen Edwin enter with Trisha, they pretended ignorance.
“I heard His Grace is attending the imperial banquet. If you must remain alone, how lonely that must be.”
The implication was clear: Edwin leaving Lizaina alone signified her precarious position.
If he had truly cared, he would have introduced someone to accompany her while he was away.
“I…”
After a brief hesitation, Lizaina spoke cautiously.
“Actually, I am here today not as His Grace’s companion, but as the representative of the Marchioness of Bellon.”
“…The Marchioness of Bellon?”
The unexpected name caused murmurs among those nearby.
The Marchioness of Bellon.
Though she now rarely appeared in public and remained secluded in her estate, she had once been noble enough to be considered a candidate for the Emperor’s consort.
And she had a connection with Lizaina, a princess from another country?
“I had no idea you were acquainted with the Marchioness of Bellon, Princess.”
“It is all thanks to her generosity.”
With a smiling face, Lizaina recalled the contents recorded in the Seventh Empress’s diary.
The Marchioness of Bellon, who had once nearly become the Emperor’s consort, had also been the Seventh Empress’s rival.
The Seventh Empress had wanted to become the Emperor’s one and only consort.
So she plotted and eliminated the Marchioness of Bellon from the list of candidates.
Even afterward, she had never let her guard down, assigning people to gather the Marchioness’s weaknesses and recording them in her diary.
After confirming the records written in Solten’s language, Lizaina had used them to successfully secure the position of the Marchioness of Bellon’s representative.
She carefully packaged all these facts.
“The Marchioness of Bellon, who was once Her Highness the Seventh Empress’s good-natured rival, was the one who first extended her hand to me.”
“Oh, come to think of it, the two of them did compete as candidates for His Majesty’s consort, didn’t they?”
“Yes. I was in Solten at the time, so I do not know the details, but perhaps as the niece of the late Seventh Empress, I caught her attention.”
Some noblewomen looked at her as if they had much to say.
They likely knew that, in truth, the two women had been desperate to destroy one another.
It doesn’t matter.
The Seventh Empress was already dead, and the Marchioness of Bellon had not appeared in society for a long time.
With neither of the principals present, no one would dare bring up unpleasant stories from the past.
Especially if it were true that Lizaina had gained the Marchioness’s favor—such talk would reach the Marchioness’s ears intact.
Thanks to this, Lizaina successfully established her footing at the banquet for the first time without Edwin.
Even Nepheli’s group, who had coldly abandoned her, cautiously added a word or two.
Of course, they are likely more interested in the intentions of the Marchioness of Bellon, who stands behind me, than in me myself.
Regardless of the reason, it would all become strength for her.
With that, Lizaina moved through the banquet hall in satisfaction.
