Chapter 110
“It’s been such a long time, Titania.”
What a pleasantly warm family dinner this was — a cozy gathering to welcome me back to the imperial palace after so long.
But the moment the Emperor spoke, every gaze at the table turned toward me — sharpest among them, those of the Empress Consort Cleo and Prince Brian.
If I tried to eat in this atmosphere, I’d surely get indigestion.
Still, I forced down my true feelings and smiled as brightly as I could, facing the Emperor’s proud expression.
“Your Majesty! Oh, I’m so moved! The Rose Palace is just beautiful!”
“Yes, yes. And you are as lovely as the royal rose itself. I told the gardeners to spare no expense planting the finest ones. Do you like it?”
“Like it? I love it! It feels like I’m living inside a bouquet!”
— Didn’t you grumble before that the Rose Palace was more than just roses well planted? (ｏ。ｏ；)
This, I thought grimly, is what we call a socially polite lie.
I kept my tearful, grateful expression fixed in place while my mind wandered elsewhere.
Well, to be fair, the Rose Palace really had been beautifully redone.
It was worth it, all the subtle hints I’d dropped to Lysianthus — “secret passage! people! quick!”
After Sarah was replaced and the new maids were successfully “won over,” I finally got Debbie to show me the hidden path.
Somehow, someone had managed to dig an underground passage that connected straight to a secluded back gate of the palace. I could now come and go unseen.
Even my bedroom had a secret wardrobe — a clever optical illusion that looked shallow from the outside, but was deep enough to hide a person.
I’d built every safety precaution I could think of.
But still… knowing Cleo and Head Maid Natalie could scheme together at any time meant I couldn’t fully relax.
“Oh my. You must be the brightest bloom among all those roses, Princess Titania,” Cleo said with her usual sugary smile. “How was your trip? There were so many rumors — I was simply worried sick.”
She said it so casually, as if nothing had ever happened between us.
I had expected that the Emperor would lift her probation soon.
Still, it was striking how modestly she dressed tonight — no flashy jewels, no “Sea of Stars” necklace that she used to flaunt. She was cautious, for once.
Brian, on the other hand, couldn’t even fake civility as well as his mother. His glare was sharp as a knife.
Really, I thought, he ought to learn acting from her. She could stab you in the ribs while smiling and saying, “Oh dear, have you been behaving yourself?”
Actually, never mind. If he learned that trick, I’d be the one in trouble.
“Thanks to your concern, Your Highness, I returned safely,” I said sweetly. “Ah! Since I traveled so far, I brought everyone gifts!”
I clapped my hands. The attendants entered, each carrying a box, placing one before every royal seated at the table.
The Emperor opened his first — a luxurious crimson velvet case.
A fragrant scent spread over the table.
“For Your Majesty,” I began, “I’ve brought a sacred bowl infused with petals from the World Tree. It’s said to purify evil energies and restore vitality. I thought it might aid your— I mean, Father’s— health.”
The Emperor’s eyes widened in delight.
“Oh! This is a rare treasure indeed. Where did you find it?”
I smiled modestly. “It took much effort, but with everyone’s help, I found it in the far South. Otherwise, it would’ve been impossible.”
That was an exaggeration, of course.
The petals were real, but long past their prime — essentially an expensive, glorified air freshener.
Cleo smiled and opened her own box.
Inside was a piece of dark blue fabric — smooth as still water, softer than a whisper. It shimmered like the night sky.
Her eyes flickered, just slightly.
“It’s a rare foreign fabric,” I explained. “The finest textile merchant in the South couldn’t even tell what material it was made from. The High Priest examined it and said it was safe to wear.
But the color… I thought only someone as beautiful as Your Highness could truly do it justice.”
“……”
For a fleeting moment, Cleo was silent — clearly trying to read my intentions.
I met her gaze and smiled innocently.
“Oh my, Titania,” she finally said. “How thoughtful of you. Still, such a precious fabric… looking at this noble color, wouldn’t it suit the Empress far better than me?”
Ah. So she didn’t know what game I was playing, and decided to push the “gift” toward the Empress instead.
Right then, the Empress — who had been quiet all along — opened her own gift box.
Inside lay a simple black cameo brooch, engraved with the falcon crest of the Duchy of Integria.
“This,” the Empress said serenely, “is something only I could receive.”
“It’s a humble piece,” I replied, “but when I saw it, I immediately thought of Your Majesty. I couldn’t help myself.”
The Empress pinned the brooch to her gray-toned gown at once — exactly as we’d planned beforehand.
“I can’t be the only greedy one here,” she said with a faint smile. “I’ll accept these two gifts, but this fabric— it’s too fine for anyone but a high noblewoman. The Empress Consort should keep it. Please, no more refusals.”
“…If even Your Majesty insists,” Cleo said sweetly, “then I’ll treasure it. Such fine cloth deserves a fine place.”
She accepted it, smiling through her teeth.
Prince Brian and Prince Adrian also opened their gifts.
They were simple daggers — but the hilts were carved from southern hardwood and inlaid with different gemstones.
“Haha! The Princess gives nearly the same thing to both her brothers,” the Emperor joked.
“I wasn’t sure what men liked,” I said, feigning innocence. “For women, it’s easier to guess — but for my brothers, I thought a sacred blade engraved with prayers against evil might be best.”
I smiled brightly.
Brian’s face twisted ever so slightly.
Oh yes, I thought. He hates this. After all, not long ago, he fainted running from a beast. And now I’ve given him a “beast-repelling” weapon?
Exactly. I meant for him to hate it.
If you don’t like it, don’t faint next time.
The Emperor, pleased with his own gift, beamed at me — so none of them could dare show discontent without looking ungrateful.
“Titania, thank you. These are marvelous.”
“It’s my pleasure,” I said sweetly.
Adrian and I exchanged easy smiles, chatting lightly.
Brian, meanwhile, stayed silent — his lips pressed tight.
Cleo discreetly pinched his side under the table.
He flinched, then muttered, clearly forced:
“…Thank you, Titania.”
“I hope it serves you well, Brother.”
“Yes… I’ll make sure it does,” he said, his tone dripping with venom.
It sounded like he’d rather use it on me than on any monster.
I only smiled wider, pretending not to notice.
Just when I thought the evening’s “gift exchange” was over, Cleo dropped her little bomb.
“Oh, Titania. Isn’t there one more person you should have brought a gift for?”
“…Pardon?”
A chill ran down my spine.
That instinctive, pounding alarm in my head — danger.
“To speak frankly, Your Majesty,” Cleo began, turning to the Emperor, “though you are ever so generous to me, it must be said — the true beauty of the imperial palace was someone else, wasn’t it? Titania, dear, I know you were raised without a mother, but surely you haven’t forgotten her altogether?”
“……”
Her voice dripped with false sympathy.
The Emperor cleared his throat awkwardly — “Hm, hm” — realizing too late that he had completely forgotten to mention the late Empress Elaine, whose empty chair he’d ordered kept at every family meal.
It felt like being struck from behind — but I couldn’t afford to stay silent.
I forced my lips into a soft smile and opened my mouth to speak.
