Chapter 19
Rashid muttered as he looked at Azelina.
“…In all my life, I’ve never seen anyone as cruel as you.”
Hearing those words, Azelina felt as if a hammer had struck her head with full force.
Her eyes, clear and blue like jewels, seemed to fracture as if someone had pierced them with a sharp point. She had done nothing wrong, so she felt justified… justified, yet…
Azelina looked up at Rashid with a troubled expression, then seemed to steady herself, and continued speaking with a slightly calmer demeanor.
“Do you think I want to be shunned by society, confined to the palace, and simply exist as Your Majesty’s attendant? I don’t want someone who doesn’t value me, just like Your Majesty doesn’t want someone who doesn’t care for you.”
“….”
Rashid tensed and relaxed his body repeatedly in that brief moment.
He might have had nothing to say, or he might have wanted to say something but couldn’t—but it seemed closer to the latter.
In the end, Rashid didn’t reply to Azelina at all and walked off on his own accord.
Azelina was left alone in the middle of the wide room.
Her body felt stiff. Maybe because she had been tensing every muscle, the tips of her toes hurt.
“Please don’t dwell on it. His Majesty is simply upset that such an incident occurred in the palace,” said Maria, who had quietly approached, comforting Azelina. She must have felt sorry for Azelina, left alone in the center of the room.
Azelina, despite the lump in her throat, responded to Maria without caring.
“You’re saying it’s upsetting that this happened in the palace? He probably just took out his frustration on me because things didn’t go the way he wanted. I’m not dwelling on it… I just feel a bit wronged.”
“Still, His Majesty won’t bring this up again later.”
“You’re his attendant. How could I believe that?”
“….”
Maria, at Azelina’s words, lowered her head deeply, seemingly having nothing to say.
The commotion had ended, and the afternoon had come, but the palace was still busy.
In the midst of the flurry…
“Ah…!”
With a rush, water spilled everywhere, quickly soaking Iana’s skirt.
“Oh my, I’m sorry!”
The maid who had spilled water on Iana was dressed in clothing completely different from that of the Igretta Empire.
Mabel and Eve, standing nearby, immediately frowned when they realized that the maid was Reim, the chief maid of the princess from the Kingdom of Ophelia.
“S-she’s not just some ordinary maid like us! She’s the precious daughter of the Rasthal Viscount family!”
“Moreover, she’s the chief maid of the person closest to Our Queen! So apologize immediately!”
When Mabel and Eve scolded her, Reim bowed earnestly to Iana.
“I’m sorry. Truly, I’m so sorry.”
Iana forced a small, awkward smile.
It was true that she was the daughter of the Rasthal Viscount family, but in the palace, she was still a maid.
And since she had already apologized, Iana didn’t understand why they were saying such things. She felt a little embarrassed.
Of course, getting drenched in the water from the bucket wasn’t pleasant, but she had no intention of getting angry at Reim.
Meanwhile, Azelina, taking a leisurely stroll, turned her head at the commotion.
She saw Princess Melisina, who looked extremely apologetic, her maid Reim, and in front of them, Iana with Mabel and Eve.
‘Meeting Princess Melisina again…’
Melisina, whom Azelina generally wanted to avoid, was here, and Iana, who was precious to her, seemed troubled.
Azelina briefly wondered if it was appropriate for her to get involved.
But the thought didn’t last long. If her precious Iana was in trouble, Azelina wanted to help, whether Melisina was involved or not.
“What’s going on?”
Princess Melisina, startled by Azelina’s sudden appearance, replied.
“Well… it’s just… my maid spilled water on Your Majesty’s maid.”
Azelina then turned her gaze to Iana, who was soaked.
“Your Majesty, I’m fine…!”
“P-please forgive my maid just this once, Your Majesty. I’ll make it up to you double.”
Although Iana was the one who had been inconvenienced, Princess Melisina was apologizing to Azelina instead.
Azelina let out a light sigh.
“If Iana says she’s fine, there’s no need to make any compensation.”
When she first heard that Reim had spilled water on Iana, she had been ready to confront Melisina directly.
But since the person affected said she was fine, she couldn’t bring herself to do that.
“No, I just feel uneasy about it,” Melisina insisted, shaking her head frantically.
“I’ll make sure to compensate you later.”
“No, really, there’s no need…”
Azelina gently held Iana’s hand, who kept insisting she was fine, and led her into the imperial palace.
“Oh, Your Majesty. You’re already here.”
As they entered to borrow new clothes for Iana, Azelina noticed Countess Alisa Shano leisurely drinking tea.
The Shano Countess was a famous figure in high society.
Two years ago, when Azelina was about to become the Empress, the Countess had been responsible for dressing her up, and Azelina remembered her clearly.
She hadn’t seen the Countess again after that in her previous life.
The Countess had always been busy, and Azelina hadn’t sought her out.
Yet here she was, suddenly visiting. Azelina couldn’t help but be surprised.
Iana, beside Azelina, also looked shocked and lowered her head deeply.
“Countess?”
“Hoho. It’s a pleasure, Your Majesty Empress.”
“…What brings you here?”
“Of course, I came with permission. Since I was told it’s for Your Majesty, the doors were immediately opened for me.”
Still, it was a bit strange that they opened the door immediately.
Even if the Shano Countess was famous, technically she was still an outsider.
Entering the imperial palace to see the Empress without Azelina’s permission… anyone who could do that must be…
“…Did my mother send you?”
“Of course. The Duchess requested me so many times. She was delighted to hear that Your Majesty has been active in high society recently.”
“Ah.”
That explained it to some extent.
If there was anyone before whom Azelina, usually confident even in front of the Emperor, couldn’t speak boldly, it would only be her mother, the Duchess.
“Anyway, the Duchess asked me to make Your Majesty look more splendid than anyone else for the upcoming ball at the Lankea estate. That’s why I’m here today.”
‘Mother, please…’
How did she even know about Irene’s birthday celebration?
Azelina sighed deeply, frustrated. Participating in high society events was already burdensome enough, and now her mother was interfering as well.
“I never thought I’d get another chance to dress Your Majesty again.”
The Countess said this sincerely, as if moved to tears.
Azelina, usually disliked by most ladies despite being Empress, thought it might be better if she didn’t ruin the Countess’s great reputation.
Although the comment rose to the tip of her tongue, she stayed silent. She didn’t want to drag the conversation out.
“You are the eldest daughter of the prestigious Duke Lartis family and the Emperor’s only consort. Excluding other royalty, everyone else must be your subordinate.”
“Haha… yes, that’s right.”
“With only Princess Shulia II remaining in the palace besides the Emperor, the only person to show formal respect to is Your Majesty.”
“I know.”
“It’s good that you know,” the Countess said.
Azelina wondered why she had to mention something she obviously knew. She looked at the Countess with a puzzled expression.
“I can’t bear to see the nobles I guide feeling intimidated. I’d heard rumors about Your Majesty, but I wanted to make sure.”
“Hmm…”
Could standing quietly really be called ‘intimidated’?
Azelina seriously wondered if she might inadvertently cause trouble for the Countess.
“The most burdensome part is actually me. I might accidentally harm the reputations of both the Imperial family and the Duke Lartis family.”
“Then perhaps it would have been better to decline your mother’s proposal.”
Azelina said this, but the Countess waved her hand.
“Oh, one cannot refuse such a precious opportunity just because it’s burdensome.”
She seemed determined that this was simply not possible.
“The dress is already chosen. You only need to entrust your body to me.”
“I see.”
Azelina responded nonchalantly.
She had meticulously learned every step and gesture for tea parties and balls. She had never thought she’d need someone else’s help—but now, this extra effort just seemed bothersome.
