Chapter 14
“Officially, that is correct. However, there is a hidden illegitimate child. Only recently was he entered into the royal genealogy, so it is information not yet widely known.”
At that, Setrin snapped back in a sharp voice.
“An illegitimate child? How could Grandfather possibly offer me someone like that!”
“I refrained from bringing it up because it would understandably wound Your Highness’s pride. But now that the marriage alliance with House Klimt has fallen through, even accepting an illegitimate royal from a kingdom rich in capital could be of great financial help to the politics you will 펼쳐 in the future, Your Highness.”
“……”
Setrin could not bring herself to answer easily.
Watching her, the Empress clicked her tongue inwardly. In her eyes, Setrin’s vessel was still too small. The Emperor would surely see it the same way. Like the sly old serpent he was, there was no telling when his favor might shift to the daughter of a young concubine.
“Setrin, come. Let us speak for a moment.”
“…Yes, Mother.”
At that, Count Lorent and Sir Gerard rose from their seats. The Empress issued instructions to each of them.
“Father, please arrange a proper meeting to seriously discuss a royal marriage with the Kingdom of Kainkantz. Sir Gerard, continue to keep watch on Raphaella. I will send you a detailed letter later, so wait for now.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Understood.”
When the two men departed, only the Empress and Setrin remained at the table in the audience chamber.
Avoiding the Empress’s cold gaze, Setrin lowered her head deeply. Her mother was the one who should have been most concerned for her safety, yet at times the chilling coldness in her eyes felt unfamiliar—and frightening.
“Setrin.”
At the sound of her mother calling her name, Setrin flinched, her shoulders trembling.
The Empress quietly held her teacup and gazed wistfully out the window. Countless events she had endured to reach this seat flashed rapidly through her mind.
“Do you remember what I told you?”
“…Yes.”
“For a woman, beauty and love are ultimately like a midsummer night’s dream.”
Setrin nodded obediently, listening as though she were hearing the words for the first time, despite having heard them countless times since childhood. The Empress’s cool voice continued.
“A woman’s beauty can become a weapon. But that weapon quickly rusts, and may even wound its owner.”
The Empress rose and stepped behind Setrin. With her dry, bony hand she clasped Setrin’s slender shoulders and whispered,
“That is why you must seize power. Even when your beauty fades, power will protect you. With power, you can obtain anything you desire. Never fall for a man’s sweet words. Whip yourself forward and stand strong at all times.”
Looking down at her own wrinkled hand resting on Setrin’s fair, youthful skin, the Empress’s eyes grew damp with loneliness. She remembered the time when she had first entered the palace—when she knew nothing and believed only in a man’s love, when she had been naïve and pure.
“Setrin, you must walk a different path from this mother of yours. You must place this empire beneath your feet. Do you understand?”
“…Yes, Mother. I will. Without fail.”
“Good. Now go and prepare for the weekly council. I will follow shortly.”
“Yes.”
Still bowing her head, Setrin left the audience chamber.
Walking down the corridor with the maids following behind her, Setrin’s face was stiff. She told herself to remain calm, to comfort herself with the thought that in the end, she would win everything.
‘These petty obstacles mean nothing.’
She had so much going for her: a mother who was Empress, a powerful grandfather, and an appearance that made people sigh in admiration.
Her mother had called beauty a weapon. And she still possessed a splendid weapon that had not yet rusted—things Raphaella did not have.
So she would win. Without question.
Thinking this, Setrin headed toward the council hall—only to catch sight of something ahead. Duke Klimt and Raphaella were walking toward the weekly council chamber.
A crack formed in Setrin’s lovely face.
Meanwhile, William, walking alongside Raphaella, spotted Setrin approaching from the opposite end of the corridor. He strode forward and greeted her.
“I pay my respects to the Empire’s Star, Crown Princess Setrin.”
Though displeased to see the duke accompanying Raphaella, Setrin did not show it. Instead, she smiled radiantly, her eyes crescenting, as she accepted the greeting.
“Duke Klimt. It feels like it’s been quite some time.”
“Yes. I’ve been touring the border regions for the past two months, so that would be why.”
“You do your work so well that my heart is always at ease. You’ve worked hard.”
“I am honored. I only did what needed to be done.”
When the exchange ended, Setrin turned her gaze to Raphaella, who stood a few steps away. Raphaella had one corner of her lips lifted, her head tilted slightly.
At that faintly mocking smile, Setrin’s eyebrow twitched. The fear from that day resurfaced—but this was broad daylight, and this was the central palace. Raphaella would never dare behave as she had then.
Mindful of the people passing by, Setrin spoke again with a bright expression.
“Raphaella, you can’t be fully recovered yet. What brings you all the way here?”
Raphaella fiddled with the wooden club in her hand and walked toward Setrin. Her face was calm, but seeing through the anxious air of vigilance coming from Setrin, Raphaella let out a small scoff.
“Don’t worry. I didn’t come to see you.”
“Raphaella, this is in front of the council chamber. Even if you are still ill, I would appreciate it if you refrained from words or actions that might damage the dignity of the Empire.”
“In that short sentence just now, was there anything that harmed the Empire’s dignity? I don’t see it.”
“It’s fine when we’re alone, but when there are many people watching, you shouldn’t speak to me like that.”
“Oh, so it’s not the Empire’s dignity, but yours that was hurt. Why beat around the bush like that? Sounds exhausting.”
“…I may have to assign you an etiquette tutor again.”
“For the sake of the noble Crown Princess’s dignity, you’d teach me yourself?”
Raphaella’s face was still filled with open derision. Royal or not, to her they were all the same—mere humans. Foolish, greedy, and trivial.
She stepped closer to Setrin and whispered into her ear.
“Do you even have any dignity left to be damaged?”
Anger surged up inside Setrin. If not for the people around them, she would have slapped Raphaella on the spot. Unable to do so, she forced a smile and clenched her fists tightly.
Raphaella stepped back and asked,
“I don’t have business with you. Where’s the Empress right now?”
“Raphaella!”
Setrin raised her voice without thinking. It was one thing to be spoken to rudely, but this insolent attitude—speaking of her mother as though she were looking for a friend—made her lose her temper.
At the usually quiet Crown Princess’s sudden shout, the maids and attendants nearby, and even nobles approaching from afar, all flinched and stopped.
Startled by her own raised voice, Setrin struggled to regain her composure. She lowered her voice, forcing calm as the words slipped through clenched teeth.
“You must not refer to Her Majesty the Empress like that. This is the central palace. Acting so rudely in a place with so many eyes and ears is not appropriate.”
“Then before I get even ruder, why don’t you just guide me to her? To the Empress.”
“You…!”
Setrin ground her teeth, but Raphaella only shrugged, as if she genuinely didn’t understand what the problem was.
Feeling the eyes of the attendants and the duke on her, Setrin hesitated. What should she do with this ill-mannered woman?
Raphaella, seeing clearly that Setrin was turning things over in her head, decided to wait. Watching how she would handle this situation seemed amusing enough.
After a brief silence, Setrin finally spoke.
“…Follow me.”
She turned sharply, her skirts flaring as she strode away.
Raphaella flashed a grin at William, who was watching her with a peculiar look, as if to say not to worry, then followed after Setrin.
Setrin dismissed the surrounding maids and walked down the corridor alone with Raphaella.
As they neared the audience chamber where the Empress was staying and the presence of others faded, Setrin spoke.
“It would be wise to show proper respect to Her Majesty the Empress. If you wish that neck of yours to remain attached a little longer.”
“I’ll take care of my own neck. You worry about yours.”
When they arrived before the audience chamber, Setrin turned to face Raphaella.
She felt both anger and fear toward her.
But she was even more afraid that Raphaella might offend the Empress. If the Empress’s wrath were unleashed, the fallout would likely reach her as well.
“Raphaella, I know you look down on my advice.”
“Oh, I’ll give you credit for that—your perception’s good.”
“Stop mocking me and listen. Don’t cross my mother. I mean this sincerely.”
From Setrin, Raphaella sensed a different kind of fear than before. She was about to say something when Setrin hurriedly knocked on the audience chamber door.
Knock, knock—
“Come in.”
The Empress’s voice came from inside. With a cold expression, Setrin quickly slipped past Raphaella and stepped aside.
Raphaella watched Setrin’s retreating back for a moment, then opened the door and went in.
