“You foolish girl. Is that the excuse you came up with?”
“Pardon?”
“Estevan doesn’t have the ability to see through something like that. And even if he had, that child would have chosen a straightforward approach. Do you think I don’t know him?”
Elisha looked at Isabella with trembling eyes.
“Emma, take this girl to the punishment chamber.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Y-Your Highness!”
At the words punishment chamber, Elisha was startled.
Among the maids, the punishment chamber of the Ruby Palace was infamous. It was said to be a terrifying place where maids who committed mistakes were locked up and tormented.
Elisha absolutely didn’t want to be dragged there.
“Your Highness, why must I go there? I only did as His Highness instructed.”
“After turning my son into that state, did you think I would let you go unharmed? And in the first place, if you had simply done your job properly, none of this would have happened.”
“That is unreasonable.”
“Silence.”
When the Consort gestured with her head, Head Maid Emma ordered the maids to seize Elisha.
‘Why… why is no one coming to save me?’
At a time like this, why were Mikael and Liliana not coming to save her?
She was confused.
She had never once imagined that she would end up in a situation like this.
‘Why… why did His Highness…’
The one who should have attacked her was supposed to be Prince Estevan, not Mikael.
Then why was Estevan perfectly fine while Mikael was the one who attacked?
Elisha recalled the sight of Estevan holding Liliana tightly in his arms.
‘He didn’t look like someone who was addicted to the fiora flower.’
Elisha’s body trembled uncontrollably.
‘Could it be… he neutralized it?’
Otherwise, something like this couldn’t have happened.
‘If Prince Estevan neutralized it and then turned it back on Prince Mikael…’
Just thinking about it made her shudder.
Right at that moment—
“Your Highness, Lady Liliana has requested an audience.”
At the mention that Liliana had arrived, Elisha felt relief, while Isabella’s gaze toward her grew fierce.
Of all times, now…
“I will meet her in the audience chamber. Until then, keep this girl confined here.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
After the Consort left the room, Elisha placed a hand over her chest in relief.
In the Ruby Palace’s audience chamber, Liliana met Consort Isabella.
“What brings you here, Young Lady?”
Liliana answered respectfully.
“I know this may upset Your Highness, but I heard that my maid is here, so I came, Your Highness.”
“And?”
“I wish to take her back. Even if punishment must be given, please allow me to administer it myself.”
“That may be difficult, Lady Dayan.”
Liliana pleaded earnestly.
“Your Highness, that girl is also my only friend. Her father is a vassal of my House as well. And since it was I who brought her into the Palace, I bear some responsibility too.”
The Consort looked at Liliana with a face that seemed regretful.
“Do you know what wrongdoing that girl has committed?”
“I do not. What has she done wrong?”
“Not knowing her place, she tried to seduce the Second Prince using the scent of the fiora flower.”
Liliana showed a surprised expression. In truth, she already knew everything, but she was deliberately pretending not to.
“The fiora flower?”
“You know of it?”
Liliana shook her head.
“I do not.”
Isabella kindly explained.
“When the scent of the fiora flower mixes with a person’s body scent, it seduces the other person. My son fell victim to that.”
Liliana covered her mouth with trembling hands.
“I cannot believe Elisha would do such a thing. The girl I know is innocent… she is not someone who would do something so frightening.”
“It seems to me that you are even more innocent, Lady Dayan. I truly feel sorry for you.”
Seeing Liliana’s reaction, Isabella’s anger eased somewhat.
“What a pity. It would have been nice if you had been engaged to my son.”
“I am deeply sorry.”
Liliana bowed.
“I beg you. Please do not give that girl a severe punishment. She is delicate and will not be able to endure it.”
“She has a good master.”
“You flatter me.”
“But leniency will be difficult. The Second Prince was harmed because of that girl, so I cannot simply let it pass.”
At Isabella’s words that it couldn’t be helped, Liliana tightly closed her eyes before opening them again.
“If that is the case, then please do not punish her too harshly.”
When Liliana pleaded with sincere eyes, Isabella clicked her tongue.
“It seems you cherish that girl greatly. Very well. I will punish her only to a reasonable degree.”
“Thank you, Your Highness.”
After bowing to the Consort, Liliana left the Ruby Palace.
***
A short while later, the Consort returned to the bedchamber.
Elisha couldn’t hide her excitement at the thought that Liliana had come to save her.
But that expression vanished in an instant, because Liliana hadn’t entered with her.
Seeing that expression, Consort Isabella laughed mockingly.
“It seems you had expectations.”
“Y-Your Highness the Imperial Consort.”
“Unfortunately, your master can’t help you. Instead, I will spare your life.”
Elisha’s face turned pale.
“Emma, the punishment chamber.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“N-No! I do not want to!”
Elisha struggled, but it was useless.
She felt resentment toward Liliana.
Head Maid Emma dragged Elisha to the punishment chamber, tied both of her wrists with rope, and hung her up.
Elisha looked around with trembling eyes. In the space lit by candlelight, all kinds of terrifying instruments were displayed.
Soon Consort Isabella entered the punishment chamber and said with a seemingly merciful smile,
“This time, for the sake of your Lady, I will reduce the severity.”
Then she picked up a whip made of cowhide.
“Strip her.”
Emma removed Elisha’s maid uniform. After briefly feeling the whip in her hand, Consort Isabella swung it across Elisha’s smooth back.
A scream that seemed to tear her throat apart burst from Elisha’s mouth.
***
After returning to the maids’ quarters of the detached Palace in a battered state, Elisha lay face down on the bed and sobbed loudly.
It hurt too much.
What the Consort had called “reducing the severity” had been whipping. She had mercilessly lashed Elisha’s back and legs.
It felt like she had been struck dozens of times.
Fortunately, her face hadn’t been touched. She had said that this too was mercy. Since she was the friend of the future Princess Consort, if scars were left on her face, she might be distressed… she had even told her to be grateful to Liliana.
But Elisha didn’t feel grateful at all.
The resentment she felt because Liliana hadn’t actively saved her was beyond words.
At that moment, the door opened and someone entered.
It was Liliana.
“Elisha…”
She applied the medicine she had brought to Elisha’s back and legs with a sympathetic expression.
“It must hurt a lot.”
When the medicine brushed against the wounds, Elisha flinched.
She turned her head and glared at Liliana.
“Just go. I want to be alone.”
At those words, Liliana let out a sigh.
“Alright. I will leave the medicine here, so apply it from time to time. Rest here until you are fully healed.”
After placing the medicine on the bedside table, Liliana left Elisha’s room.
Then Jennifer approached Liliana and spoke.
“My Lady is too kind.”
“Am I?”
“There was no need to even give her medicine.”
“Have you never heard the saying, give poison and then the remedy?”
At those words, Jennifer smirked.
“So that was the deeper meaning.”
“Since I received a gift, shall we go return the favor?”
“What will you use to return the favor?”
“I should give the asta flower perfume.”
“What? Why give that? Would it not be better to just leave things as they are?”
“If he goes mad like this, it will end too easily. That wouldn’t be interesting.”
Prince Mikael had to fall into even deeper despair. It would be troublesome if he collapsed from something as small as this.
This was only a test.
“So you plan to give poison and the remedy to Prince Mikael as well.”
“Exactly.”
Liliana headed straight for the Ruby Palace.
When Liliana met Consort Isabella, she took out the gift she had prepared.
“What is this, Lady Dayan?”
“I looked into it, and it seems the scent of the asta flower neutralizes the scent of the fiora flower. If you apply this fragrance to Prince Mikael, it should help.”
Consort Isabella looked at Liliana with a deeply moved expression.
“Thank you very much for punishing my friend lightly, Your Highness.”
“You truly have a kind heart. I sincerely feel sorry for you.”
“I am ashamed.”
“Thank you. I will certainly repay you.”
“No, please. I only hope that His Highness the Second Prince recovers soon.”
Liliana smiled. It was such a bright and innocent smile that anyone would be deceived by it.
After giving the gift to Consort Isabella, Liliana returned to the detached Palace.
***
Because of what had happened during the luncheon, the Emperor was greatly enraged. He ordered Mikael, who wasn’t in his right mind, to remain in confinement and suspended all of his schedules.
Mikael was confined to the Emerald Palace. Even so, he couldn’t escape the terrible thirst.
He drank water and even alcohol.
But none of it helped.
He missed that scent so much it drove him mad. He longed for it so desperately that he wanted to kill whoever had taken it from him.
Because of that, even the maids couldn’t approach him. Several maids had already been harmed by him.
At that time, Consort Isabella came to visit.
“Where is the Prince?”
