Chapter 16
Madam’s mind spun rapidly.
‘D-Did that wench really find out?’
Had Dolores Rochester investigated the people living in Redlight?
If it was revealed that the jewels scattered there belonged to Madam, the news would surely reach the Emperor’s ears.
Associating with such lowly creatures was no different from playing with beasts.
And Madam would be punished for staining the Emperor with the stench of beasts.
The thought sent a chill down her spine.
Outside the door, people were already whispering.
But Madam quickly regained her composure and bit her lip.
‘If she’s threatening me with a card instead of words… she doesn’t want to become my outright enemy.’
She had raised Adrian like a nurse.
The future Emperor cherished Madam as well, so the Grand Duchess would never want to make her an enemy.
She simply wanted Madam to bow her head a little.
‘…Ha. Fine. I can do that much!’
Crushing the foolish wench in her heart, Madam picked up the parure case.
She slowly opened the door and greeted Dolores with a smiling face.
“Your Grace, the Grand Duchess.”
“Madam Loire.”
“Hehe, how could you make such a frightening joke?”
Madam elegantly lifted the case with both hands.
Her fingertips trembled slightly with anger.
But to others, the atmosphere between the two suddenly seemed very friendly.
“This old Madam merely forgot what she possessed. On such a blessed day, you treat me quite sternly.”
“Yes. Perhaps my joke went too far?”
“Hehe, my heart nearly dropped.”
As they spoke, the sharp tension gradually softened.
Yet no matter how long Madam waited, Dolores did not take the case.
‘…What?’
Wasn’t this parure the very reason for her clumsy threat?
Dolores smiled brightly.
Madam Loire must still unconsciously believe she held the upper hand.
‘Perhaps she thinks I will lower my tail after just this once.’
How much must she have looked down on Dolores to remain so confident even in this situation?
But Dolores rather hoped she was arrogant to the bone.
“Baroness.”
Because it would feel even more thrilling when she taught her reality.
“When offering something to a Grand Duchess, one must kneel.”
As the unofficial Empress who once wielded power, Madam ultimately knelt.
And as Dolores stepped away, the sound of vases thrown by Madam shattering echoed through the Imperial Palace.
Yet even that sound was pleasant to Dolores.
“Hmm. It’s trivial, but it feels good.”
She gently touched her necklace.
Even the weight of the sapphire felt light with satisfaction.
‘Who knew it would become this easy just by learning one weakness.’
She had only learned about Madam Loire’s “entertainments” after becoming Crown Princess.
Until then, Madam’s clique and Adrian had kept their mouths shut.
Madam would now immediately begin silencing people.
But she could not possibly hide everything she had done for so long.
‘Subrosa has already investigated all her movements.’
Dolores did not wish to finish that woman with just this once.
If possible, she wanted her to tremble for a long time, wondering what might be exposed next.
The road to St. Katarina Cathedral was splendidly decorated for the royal wedding.
Leaving the cheering crowd behind, Dolores finally reached the waiting room.
She looked at the guards and attendants who had followed her.
“I will pray for a moment. Wait outside.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
Once everyone left, the room grew quiet.
Dolores looked up at the sacred painting and took a breath.
Even the second time, this was just as overwhelming.
“Ha…”
She slowly clasped her hands.
Then she closed her eyes and began to pray.
‘Of course, I still do not believe in God.’
If God existed, He should have saved her when she suffered in her first life.
Those who wronged her should have received divine punishment then.
He should have saved her before the blade of the guillotine fell.
So this prayer of gratitude was not for God.
‘If there is a being who brought me back to life… then I give thanks to that being.’
And please, someday, let her leave behind those horrible memories and become truly free.
But instead of an answer, an unpleasant voice broke in.
“Oh my. Sister, why are you in a place like this?”
“…Angelica.”
“Congratulations, Sister. Ah, I suppose you are the Grand Duchess now.”
It was her cousin, whom she had not seen in a long time.
Angelica, dressed to the best of her ability, looked very beautiful.
But the smile she once used to flatter Dolores was gone.
In place of hypocrisy was sharp mockery.
‘She must have pushed her way in as family.’
No one could stop the bride’s family from entering.
Angelica glanced at the sacred painting and smirked.
“I used to admire your beauty routines, Sister. I never knew you were so devout.”
“……”
“I suppose becoming the Empire’s Diamond requires such effort. Surprisingly.”
Dolores stared at her.
Was she not indirectly saying there was nothing to learn from her except appearance?
How much care had she given so Angelica could live without lacking anything?
“But Sister, you’re praying to a painting that shares your name.”
“…What?”
“This one.”
Angelica pointed at it, smiling.
“Hehe, it’s before the ceremony. They should have removed such a painting instead of displaying it without blessing the newlyweds.”
“What do you mean…?”
“It’s ‘The Weeping Holy Mother (Dolores).’ Just like your name.”
“……”
“They say a person’s life follows their name. Hehe.”
Dolores slowly looked back at the painting.
She had been too distracted to notice earlier.
The woman in the painting was undergoing trials, tears pooling in her eyes.
‘Normally, a different sacred painting should have been displayed…’
Who had brought this ominous one here?
Angelica?
Someone in the Imperial Palace?
Or someone at the cathedral bribed with money?
But none of that mattered now.
‘I can’t… breathe.’
The weeping mother.
Mocked all her life for being barren, yet forced to act as mother to Angelica’s son.
‘The reason my neck was cut…’
Because of Angelica’s son.
‘Because of Alexis.’
She had been branded the Empress who tried to kill her son, shedding tears of blood…
‘Me.’
As the painting overlapped with her own image, her pulse thundered wildly in her ears.
As if it might burst.
As if she might faint and vomit.
‘No.’
Crunch. Dolores clenched her teeth and suppressed the nausea.
In this life, she would not become ugly.
At least not in front of Angelica, who had hidden her cunning cruelty all along.
‘Absolutely not!’
Dolores slowly curved her lips upward.
“Then your name is quite fitting too, isn’t it, Angelica?”
“…What?”
“Your name comes from ‘angel.’ And angels serve the Holy Mother.”
“…!”
“Isn’t it a perfect match for us? Now and in the future.”
Angelica’s face stiffened.
‘You will serve me for life, so do not dare climb above me.’
She had never expected Dolores to strike back like this.
The sister Angelica had always known merely smiled obediently.
“Sister. Just because you’re marrying the Grand Duke—!”
“Who dares raise their voice at the bride?”
The room froze.
Standing there at some point was Reslexion, arms crossed, watching with great interest.
Angelica turned pale and clutched her dress.
“Y-Your Grace, Grand Duke.”
“Miss Rochester. You have quite a voice.”
Angelica’s face flushed.
As she was not a direct Rochester, she could not receive the title “Lady.”
People usually overlooked it out of respect for the Rochester family.
But Reslexion narrowed his eyes and grinned.
“Oh? What were you saying? That Lady Dolly is marrying me, and then what?”
“That… I…”
“If you want to shout congratulations, do it during the vows. Not here, only to the bride.”
“…I will take my leave.”
Grinding her teeth, Angelica hurried away.
Reslexion clicked his tongue at the retreating platinum-haired woman.
“Seems I’m gaining a viper as a relative, not a weasel.”
“…It is not appropriate to liken people to animals, Your Grace.”
“Hm? I never said who I meant.”
“……”
Better not continue.
Dolores pressed her forehead and let out a relieved sigh.
After snapping at Angelica once, the nausea that had risen so suddenly had thankfully subsided.
She gave Reslexion’s groom attire a faint smile.
“I expected you to come dressed like a clown. This is unexpected.”
“It’s not too late. Should I go change?”
“No, I like you as you are.”
Though he had grumbled so much about it, he looked quite splendid in proper ceremonial attire.
The nearly black navy uniform fitted his large frame smoothly.
Gold embroidery decorated the collar and cuffs, and medals he had earned adorned his broad chest.
His black hair, neatly styled back unlike usual, gave him dignity.
Dolores suddenly realized he was quite a decent man.
‘If only he would keep his mouth shut.’
Then she noticed he had broken the wedding procedure.
“Wait. Why are you out here instead of inside? That’s not according to protocol.”
“Did you see the Marquis and the Young Marquis today?”
“…What?”
“They’re practically fumi
