Chapter 13 …
Anxieties always have a way of manifesting. Camellia bit her fingertip nervously. That woman had finally come to Andres—backed by none other than Countess Presto, her most powerful supporter.
Even the mighty Emperor listened when Countess Presto spoke. Originally, the Countess had been first in line to inherit the throne. However, she had voluntarily relinquished that position and retired to the countryside. Because she was exceptionally capable, the Emperor often relied on Hazel whenever matters became difficult.
If Hazel took a liking to that woman, her entrance into the Imperial Palace would be only a matter of time.
“She doesn’t even know her place…”
Camellia trembled with fury. She stared into the mirror at her own reflection. Dressed in extravagant finery, she looked every bit the picture of beauty—an embodiment of the phrase “daughter of a ducal house.”
There wasn’t a single thing lacking in her appearance. To become the mistress of House Adeloph, one had to be at least this much—not some nobody like that woman. The one who suited Maxim was not her… it was Camellia.
“If she doesn’t know her place, then I’ll just have to teach her.”
Now that the woman had come to Andres, she would inevitably be introduced into central high society. And with the Countess arriving alongside her, even more so.
The social world would side with Camellia. She was more than willing to “teach that woman her place.”
Since she had come all the way to Andres, it would have been strange not to visit the Imperial Palace. Hazel entered the palace with a bright, glowing face—completely free of worries or concerns.
“…I envy you,” someone murmured.
“Hmm?”
“Hazel, I envy your ease and happiness,” said Empress Liena with a faint smile.
“Why, has this place stayed the same?” Hazel asked lightly.
“Has the palace ever changed? It’s always crawling with greedy people.”
Ever since that incident, dark clouds had been permanently cast across Empress Liena’s face. Her heart was full of worries for someone. Hazel clicked her tongue softly.
‘That rascal Maxim.’
Of course, the one whose heart was bruised the deepest was none other than Maxim. Outwardly, he might seem prickly and irritable, but Hazel knew better than anyone that he was soft on the inside.
Born just a year apart, the second prince had spent more time at Hazel’s private residence than the imperial palace. Naturally, all attention had been focused on the first prince, the empire’s future heir.
Moreover, the first prince had been born frail and often fell ill. Concerned that Maxim might catch something from his brother, he had spent even more time in Hazel’s care.
Hazel knew Maxim almost as well as Empress Liena, who had given birth to him herself.
“…Is he eating properly these days? His face looks worse and worse. Did he take the supplements I sent last time?”
“It’s thanks to Hazel that he’s doing even this well,” Liena replied with a faint smile.
“By the way, did anything come of it?” she lowered her voice. “Remember what Madam Callie said? That Maxim would surely find his destined partner in Revento this time—the woman who could completely heal the bruise on his heart.”
Liena wasn’t usually one to believe in superstitions, but if it concerned Maxim, that was different. Just seeing him made her heart ache unbearably.
She let out a deep sigh. Truthfully, she wasn’t sure she believed those words.
Hazel smiled broadly.
“There was something. Thanks to Your Majesty sending Maxim down there—he actually danced with a woman.”
Clatter.
“Oh my goodness!”
The Empress set down her teacup with a start. The gloom on her face vanished in an instant. She shot up from her seat.
“Is that true? Are you sure it was Maxim? Not some man who just looked like him?”
“Of course it was him. Do you think I, Hazel, wouldn’t recognize Maxim? Besides, he even asked me to take care of the girl for him.”
“Take care of her? For what reason? Don’t tell me—did Maxim declare he wanted to marry her?!”
The Empress trembled with excitement. A warm flush returned to her pale cheeks. Seeing Liena’s face come alive for the first time in ages, Hazel smiled kindly.
What a heartwarming sight. If only Maxim could understand her feelings.
“Regardless of what he asked, the fact remains—he touched a woman, Hazel! I can hardly believe it…”
Ever since that day, Maxim had even avoided physical contact with women. Early on, when his condition was at its worst, he had even thrown up from it. To Liena, who had witnessed it all, this was almost unbelievable.
“The girl’s family situation isn’t very good,” Hazel continued. “She’s kind, upright, and has a gentle heart, but…”
“What does that matter! If Maxim likes her, neither I nor Luciano will care in the slightest!”
“Liena, calm down. You know Maxim’s personality. If we push too hard, he’ll just recoil.”
“Ah…”
The Empress took a deep breath and sat back down. But the soft light on her face wouldn’t fade. It was as if the weight pressing on her chest had been lifted away.
Seeing Liena regain her composure, Hazel spoke again.
“The girl asked me to help her find work as a governess. She has a sick younger sibling, so I think she’s trying to find a way for them both to survive.”
“…How admirable.”
“I plan to support her fully. She’s from the Joseph family, so she has basic manners and education, but she might be slightly lacking for governess work. So—”
Hazel grinned mischievously.
“I’m going to hire teachers for her: a piano teacher, a dance teacher, and a tutor for basic etiquette. While she’s studying all that, she’ll inevitably spend a lot of time at Maxim’s estate, won’t she?”
“My goodness, Hazel. I knew you were clever, but…”
“I think so too. Plus, she needs to refine her taste. She’s been living in poverty in Revento for a long time. She’ll need new clothes, shoes, and jewelry. However…”
“However?”
Liena lowered her voice, sensing a problem in what otherwise sounded like a perfect plan. Hazel’s expression turned a little bitter.
“That brat Maxim said he wouldn’t fund any of it. And he’s loaded.”
“Oh my,” the Empress chuckled softly. She understood now why Hazel had rushed to the palace to tell her everything—getting support from the Empress would be quicker than trying to gather funds from Revento.
In truth, if this worked out, Liena wouldn’t mind giving Hazel her entire fortune.
“He’s being stubborn,” she said.
“Exactly. I brought Elena up here without telling him. That’s the girl’s name—Elena.”
“Elena… what a lovely name.”
“You wouldn’t believe how beautiful she is. No wonder her mother is desperate to sell her off as a wealthy man’s second wife.”
Liena clicked her tongue as she grasped the situation.
It seemed Hazel had discovered a lovely pearl buried in the mud. Fortunately, Maxim also appeared to have taken an interest in that pearl. Liena made up her mind.
“I’ll support you, Hazel. I’ll personally select and send tutors to educate Lady Elena.”
“Oh my, would you really?”
Not only had Hazel secured funding, she had gained a powerful ally. The Empress nodded.
“Consider this an investment in the future. After all, if that girl is to become the proper mistress of a ducal house, she’ll need a thorough education.”
“My thoughts exactly.”
Hazel winked. In the Empress’s salon, a sweet scheme quietly began to take shape—completely unbeknownst to its unsuspecting subject.
“Young Lady, this is my job!”
Elena shook her head fiercely, her face pale. The trouble had started the moment the maid tried to take away the nightgown Elena had been wearing. For the past five years, Elena had been washing not only her own clothes but her entire family’s, and she was thoroughly used to it.
That kind of habit doesn’t change just because she’d moved here—and unless she suddenly struck it rich, it wasn’t going to change in the future either. Besides, she hadn’t come here to freeload; she had come to find a job.
She fully intended to repay all of this once she found work. Without fail!
“This is my job!” Elena insisted.
“Please, drop the formal speech! And this really is my job!”
And so, a strange scene unfolded: one person clinging to the laundry, the other trying to take it away. The pile of laundry couldn’t withstand their tug-of-war any longer, and with a soft whoosh, it went flying up into the air.
