Chapter 115
Rarely, a banquet was held in the Imperial Palace.
It wasn’t one of those grand events like the New Year’s Ball where nearly every noble could expect an invitation. This one was reserved for a very small, select few. Yet, when word spread that every member of the Imperial Family would be attending, people’s initial puzzlement quickly gave way to understanding.
That was because news had also spread that the Second Empress, Elaine, had recovered her health.
A welcoming banquet for the frail empress’s return — that would explain why only a handful were invited.
Unlike the great three-day banquets usually held in the capital, this one was to last for just a single day, further supporting their theory. Naturally, not a single invitee declined.
And everyone knew what they were really there for.
How would the balance of power in the palace shift now that Empress Elaine had returned?
Had the infamous princess — the one who caused a stir at the Offering Festival — truly changed?
Was it true that relations with House Castrain had finally improved?
The great hall glittered with flowers, crystal, lace, and golden candelabras — all things radiant and luxurious.
The noble ladies whispered behind their jeweled fans, wondering whether it was Empress Cleo or the Empress Dowager who had organized this dazzling spectacle.
Their gossip stopped abruptly when one of the maids, rushing by too quickly, brushed against a noblewoman’s gown.
Thankfully, no lace was torn and no gem fell loose, but the woman clicked her tongue sharply, glaring at the maid.
“Good heavens, how can the Imperial Palace have maids this careless?”
“M-my apologies, my lady. Please forgive me.”
“See that it doesn’t happen again.”
The maid, Sara, bowed her head over and over, muttering apologies before retreating to the back of the hall. Her body trembled. She could barely keep herself from vomiting when she remembered her task tonight.
‘The work I’m asking you to do is a little tricky.’
She could still see Titania’s calm smile as she’d said it.
‘You’ll have to slip away at the right time, and you mustn’t let Empress Cleo suspect you… It’s dangerous, yes. But didn’t you say you were willing to do anything?’
Inside the Rose Palace, Titania had behaved like an utterly vacant-minded princess.
She even seemed to favor Mary slightly — enough that others noticed. Mary often wore a smug smile whenever she compared herself to Sara, who was treated worse.
Sara hated that expression, but she kept silent.
Mary, flaunting her new position, often ordered around the newly arrived maid, Bonita, treating her like a personal servant. Bonita was an unusually quiet, diligent girl who obeyed every word without complaint.
Sara had tried desperately to blend in with the other maids, but Mary’s subtle bullying made it impossible. And every time Sara caught Titania watching in silence — as if studying every detail — a chill ran down her spine.
‘The choice is yours.’
Her heart thumped. Even Natalie, the usually unshakable head maid, flashed in her mind.
Then—
“…His Imperial Majesty, Sovereign of the Empire, enters!”
The hall stirred.
There was no turning back now. Sara swallowed hard.
* * *
“…Uh, Titania? You sure it’s okay to walk in with me when you’ve got a perfectly good fiancé?”
Adrian’s usual easygoing grin had vanished, replaced by faint awkwardness.
I gave a dry laugh.
We had both spent the entire day being polished and dressed.
Adrian, with his shining blond hair, always drew attention, but now that he’d been scrubbed, powdered, and bedecked in jewels, he looked like a painting.
Of course, I — Titania — wasn’t much different.
Blinking under the weight of jewel-encrusted lashes, I said lightly,
“Have I ever walked in with that fiancé of mine at any public event?”
“…Well, no, but you’ve never walked in with me either.”
I checked the orange cufflinks fastened neatly on his sleeve — a muted amber hue that glimmered softly.
“Why? Are you upset you won’t get to stand beside the Empress tonight?”
Adrian grimaced.
“No. I just know that if I escort any lady who isn’t family, people will twist it into something scandalous. I’m just avoiding the headache.”
“His Majesty will be escorting Empress Elaine, Cleo will appear on Prince Brian’s arm, and the Empress will… well, she’ll endure a bit of ridicule tonight.”
Still, by the end of the night, no one would even remember who came in alone.
Tonight’s banquet was hosted by Empress Cleo — a clear signal that the Emperor had finally forgiven her after the attack on the palace. Cleo undoubtedly had several goals tonight: flaunting her regained favor, showing off Elaine’s recovery, and—
“And as always, she’ll come for me.”
Before the eyes of the entire aristocracy, she’d try to humiliate me — that much was obvious.
When the royal family dined in private, the Emperor could dismiss any incident as “a family matter.”
But tonight, with so many eyes watching, nothing could be hidden or brushed aside.
“I don’t plan to sit quietly and cry about it.”
— That’s right, that’s right! ୧(๑•̀ᗝ•́)૭ If someone slaps you, you knock all their teeth out!
‘Where on earth did you even hear that saying?’
— Oh, wait, that’s not how it goes? ( ｰ̀εｰ́ ) Then maybe… if someone slaps one cheek, you bake the other one?
‘People aren’t bread, you can’t bake them…’
I rolled my eyes at the sword’s nonsense and turned toward the mirror.
There stood the reflection of the beautifully adorned Princess Titania — me — smiling serenely.
The same princess who once despaired that she wasn’t beautiful enough to stand beside her fiancé.
But tonight was different.
I looked at the cascade of golden hair, the gems, the ribbons, the fresh flowers woven through it — and I smiled.
Beauty could be a weapon.
Few men could turn away from a fragile, lovely woman — and when that woman happened to be their own mother, the son had no voice at all.
So yes, a little cheating was allowed.
“If you’re ready, shall we, Princess Titania?”
“Thank you, Prince Adrian.”
Our gloved hands met. The curtain rose on yet another play.
* * *
The Emperor entered, personally supporting Empress Elaine by the arm.
His pace was slow — painfully so — yet no one in the hall dared utter a sound.
Before giving birth to Princess Titania, Elaine had rarely appeared in public. Most of the nobles only remembered her as “the most beautiful woman in the Empire.”
But the woman before them tonight surpassed even that memory.
She was like a porcelain vase, cracked but gleaming, holding silver-and-silk lilies — beautiful and fragile in equal measure.
The Emperor beamed and seated her right beside him.
A ripple of murmurs swept the crowd.
Traditionally, the Emperor’s and Empress’s thrones were placed side by side.
But tonight, the Empress’s seat was far away, standing alone — while beside the Emperor sat a soft, elegant chair clearly meant for Elaine.
It was an open insult.
And yet, because the Emperor himself showed no concern — smiling blissfully at Elaine — no one dared speak.
The arrangement alone screamed who had organized the banquet: Empress Cleo.
Moments later, Cleo appeared, arm in arm with Prince Brian, her smile dazzling as ever.
Her dress shimmered like the deep midnight sky, dark blue with a hint of violet.
She chattered cheerfully with Elaine, pretending delight at her recovery, while the Empress herself entered next — alone.
Her gown was plain, a muted gray-brown — so different from Elaine’s bridal-white or Cleo’s brilliant gown.
She stood tall and composed despite it, and before the whispers could spread, the final pair arrived: Adrian and Titania, hand in hand.
Only then did people notice that the members of House Castrain already present were silently watching their entrance.
Hadn’t it been said that the Princess and her fiancé had reconciled?
Titania, however, looked calm. Dressed in shades that matched Adrian’s, they made a striking pair.
While nobles studied the royal family with calculating eyes, the Emperor seemed oblivious to everything except his own joy.
When everyone had taken their seats, he began to speak.
His words were long, filled with florid praise and self-importance — but in essence, they meant only one thing:
“Empress Elaine’s recovery is a blessing for the Empire.”
When the tedious speech finally ended, polite applause filled the hall.
As the banquet officially began, Cleo chimed in brightly:
“Your Majesty, on such a joyous day, shouldn’t we all share a toast?”
“Shall we?”
“Princess Titania, come here, dear. Don’t be shy! She’s your own mother — go on and accept a cup from Lady Elaine.”
Elaine, seated beside the Emperor like a delicate doll, moved for the first time — lifting a goblet that a servant had handed her and extending it faintly toward Titania.
With a slightly stiff smile, Titania approached and took the cup.
