Chapter 7 …. The Power of the Concubine
It had been two months since Vintera became the emperor’s official mistress.
The twentieth party hosted by the imperial court was underway.
Every party was grander than the last; there had never been anything “modest.”
Perhaps to flaunt the emperor’s favor, Vintera threw lavish parties as if there were no tomorrow.
Some sensible people worried about the imperial finances, but most simply enjoyed the long-overdue buzz of social life.
“Today is dazzling as always. What’s that amazing fountain?”
“It’s a fountain that flows with wine instead of water.”
“Oh my, how wonderful! I’d love to have one at home.”
“Have you all ordered your masks?”
“Masks?”
“Lady Vintera said she’ll hold a masquerade ball next time.”
“Do you have such private conversations?”
“Of course! We’re close, after all.”
At this moment, the one at the pinnacle of power was Vintera, and everyone wanted to get just a little closer to her.
Even if the emperor’s favor could vanish like sand and the next heir hadn’t yet been chosen, with the empress merely a figurehead, the person who wielded the most practical power was Vintera.
The first to seek proximity to her was none other than Marquess Radovich.
“Congratulations on becoming Minister of Finance, Your Grace.”
“So, are you now a member of the Imperial Advisory Council? Among the rising nobles, aren’t you the first?”
“You’ll need to endure the traditionalist nobles’ territorial tendencies. Only then can our rising faction secure another seat on the council.”
If the Galateich Dukes, the former empress’s family, were the leaders of the traditional nobles, Marquess Radovich led the rising faction.
He had gained influence through the emperor’s conquest wars and was aggressively expanding his power with unending ambition.
He had been the one who constantly offered women from his house to the emperor after the former empress’s death—and had insulted Vintera as a lowly woman behind her back.
But he was quick to judge.
At the first banquet, sensing that the emperor’s favor toward Vintera was extraordinary, he swiftly became her ally.
Suppressing a smile, he answered with a surprisingly composed demeanor:
“This is all thanks to Lady Vintera.”
It was not mere humility.
To reach a higher position, one had to stick close to Vintera until the very last moment.
Even now, others who saw Radovich’s example were beginning to court Vintera as well.
No one could afford to lose the spot of being “Vintera’s closest confidant.”
“Lady Vintera approaches!”
At the steward’s call, everyone at the banquet stopped in unison and turned toward Vintera, who stood confidently atop the stairs.
She wore the striking red dress she had debuted in, disregarding convention.
Vintera stubbornly wore that dress so often that it had become her symbol; no one dared wear red at court anymore.
The only adornment she wore was a diamond ring bestowed by the emperor.
Though she poured money lavishly into the party, Vintera spent little on herself. Unlike other mistresses, she did not drape herself in precious jewels or buy extravagant dresses.
Some nobles praised her restraint, seeing it as appropriate for her status.
They bowed willingly to her, seeing her as non-threatening—a mere bridge to the emperor and, therefore, power.
“Lady Vintera!”
Marquess Radovich was the first to approach, exaggerating his gestures slightly as he extended his hand.
Then, as if serving a king, he escorted her to the center of the banquet hall.
“Lady Vintera grows more beautiful each day.”
“I understand why His Majesty treasures you so.”
“Another splendid party. You have become the de facto mistress of the palace.”
“Lady Vintera, I have a small gift for you. Accepting it would bring honor to my family.”
The crowd of nobles encircled Vintera, showering her with flattery.
“The empress is present, yet you are called mistress of the palace? That’s absurd.”
Vintera smiled slightly, her eyes narrowing, causing the men to blush and the women to gaze at her mesmerized.
“Countess, is that necklace the one you mentioned before? Truly a delicate piece.”
“Oh my! You remembered, Lady Vintera!”
“Just call me Vintera.”
Compliments exchanged amid a warm, friendly atmosphere.
“The Empress approaches!”
A steward banged his staff on the floor as he announced her entrance.
“She’s only entering now, claiming to be empress.”
“Does she not know who the true star of the party is?”
“She’s rather clueless and naive, isn’t she?”
Previously ignored entirely, the nobles now belittled the empress to curry favor with Vintera.
The empress walked toward the throne, trying to appear dignified, but her eyelids twitched slightly—an observation not lost on the mocking crowd.
“Since Lady Vintera is the star of today’s party, shouldn’t she be the one to sit on the throne?”
Radovich raised his voice so everyone could hear.
The nobles laughed uproariously, clearing a path as if to seat Vintera on the throne.
Eventually, Countess Tramont stepped forward.
“Marquess Radovich.”
“Ah, Countess.”
Despite the slight to the empress, he remained composed.
“Do you not think you’ve crossed the line?”
“Me?”
The countess spoke angrily, but the marquess replied with an innocent expression as if unaware of any problem.
“Have you forgotten Lady Vintera’s debutante ball? The emperor personally seated Lady Vintera on the throne after asking the empress to step aside. So isn’t it the empress who’s in someone else’s place now?”
“Marquess!”
The pointless argument dragged on until Euribe, unable to bear it, led the countess away, ending the conflict for the moment.
The next day.
A cunning witch seduces the emperor, driving out the empress and destroying the country.
Posters appeared all over the imperial palace.
The enraged emperor immediately ordered the soldiers to remove all posters and catch the culprit as quickly as possible.
Then he rushed to the empress’s quarters.
“Did you do this, Empress?”
Bursting through the door, he confronted her. Startled, Euribe calmed her racing heart and asked hesitantly:
“Do what…?”
“The posters plastered around the palace!”
The emperor shouted, but Euribe had no idea such posters even existed.
With Countess Tramont away on vacation, there was no one to inform her of palace news.
“The empress is truly terrifying—sweet and innocent in front, yet vile and petty behind the scenes.”
“What posters do you mean…?”
“How dare you!”
Unable to contain his rage, the emperor grabbed Euribe’s arms as if to crush them.
“I warned you. Any attack on Vintera is treason. I will punish it severely.”
Euribe, utterly confused, was showered with a relentless torrent of abuse.
“Your Majesty, I truly don’t understand what you mean. Could you at least explain…?”
“Captain of the Guards!”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Confine the empress to the west tower! She will remain there from now on!”
Thus, Euribe was expelled to the coldest, most remote part of the palace, unable to defend or explain herself—indeed, unaware of the reason.
Marquess Pecori tried to calm the fuming emperor.
“Your Majesty, please reconsider. The empress would never do such a thing. She lacks both the means and the energy.”
“Vintera cried!”
The emperor shouted, losing all rationality.
“I may not be able to catch the culprit immediately, but this is the only way to ease my mind!”
“Your Majesty, no matter how favored, the empress is still the empress, and the mistress is the mistress…”
“Do you think Euribe is a normal empress? She’s just a prisoner!”
Seeing the emperor throwing a tantrum, Marquess Pecori finally gave up trying to persuade him.
He concluded that the emperor’s frenzy indicated the posters contained some truth.
It was no secret that the emperor paid no attention to governance these days.
“Your Majesty, please attend the meeting today…”
“Marquess Pecori.”
The emperor stopped abruptly, grabbed Pecori by the shoulders, and leaned in, eyes blazing with lust.
“For the first time in my fifty years, I’ve discovered the pleasure of union with a woman. For the first time, I feel truly alive!”
Though hearing this was both unnecessary and unpleasant, Marquess Pecori maintained a composed expression, summoning his final reserves of loyalty.
He silently thought: My family must recognize the hardships I endure to earn my living.
Oof. Things are going bad quickly