When Elisha returned to the Baron’s mansion, she was scolded by Baron Lindel, who had just come back from work.
“Elisha, just how much shopping have you been doing? The tab is two thousand gold. Are you out of your mind right now?”
“You were the one who told me to go shopping to lift my mood, Father.”
“Even so, there should be limits! This is far too excessive!”
“I wanted those things, so what was I supposed to do? Are you saying you cannot even buy me things like that?”
Baron Lindel let out a low sigh and pressed his forehead with his hand.
“Elisha, isn’t it about time you came to your senses?”
“This is all because you’re just a Baron, Father.”
“What?”
“If you were Duke Dayan, I wouldn’t have any reason to be scolded over something like this! Why did I have to be born as a Baron’s daughter? Why?!”
For a moment, Baron Lindel was speechless. He had never imagined hearing such words from the daughter he cherished so much.
“Elisha, you—!”
“Why are you still like this, Father! Do you not have any ambition? It is because you are like this that I got beaten and humiliated!”
Baron Lindel froze in shock.
“From now on, do not interfere in my affairs!”
Leaving those words behind, Elisha ran up to her bedroom on the second floor.
After entering the bedroom, she threw herself onto the bed and burst into tears.
It was unbearable. Her situation felt so utterly miserable.
She hated her father who struggled with money, she resented Mikael who said he would abandon her, and she was irritated by Liliana who acted all noble.
After crying for a long time and wiping her tears with her sleeve, Elisha made a decision.
‘I can’t let it end like this!’
Having steeled her resolve, she decided to meet Liliana. Since she was her maid, it wasn’t difficult to arrange a meeting.
Elisha immediately headed to the Imperial Palace.
Liliana looked surprised when she saw Elisha, dressed in a maid uniform, appear at the detached Palace.
“Elisha, you’re already out?”
“Yes, Your Highness, the First Prince’s fiancée, my body has already recovered.”
“That’s good, I’m glad.”
Liliana held Elisha’s hands and smiled softly.
At that moment, Elisha whispered quietly.
“Um, Your Highness. I have something urgent to tell you in private.”
“Do you?”
“Yes, I ask for your favor.”
Nodding, Liliana dismissed the three maids and led Elisha to a quiet room.
“What is it you want to say?”
At that moment, Elisha suddenly dropped to her knees.
“Elisha.”
“Please forgive me, Your Highness.”
Startled, Liliana held Elisha by both shoulders and helped her up.
“What’s wrong? Don’t do this.”
Elisha wiped her tears and opened her mouth.
“In truth, I have been meeting Prince Mikael.”
“What?”
Liliana acted as if she were truly surprised.
“I have even given His Highness my chastity. But now His Highness is trying to abandon me, please help me.”
At that point, Elisha even clung to the hem of Liliana’s clothes, begging.
“Please, help me. If you help me just once, I will never forget this kindness.”
“What, how do you want me to help you?”
“Please let me become Prince Mikael’s concubine.”
Liliana’s face hardened. Of course, it was an act.
“A concubine? Elisha, are you serious?”
“If I cannot become his official wife, then I want to at least become his concubine.”
“Elisha, can’t you reconsider?”
Elisha shook her head.
“Does Baron Lindel know?”
“My father does not matter. This is my will. Please help me.”
Liliana looked down at the clinging Elisha and smiled coldly.
She already knew that Elisha had been abandoned by Mikael. And she also knew that Elisha didn’t have many options left.
She had even expected that Elisha would come to her and ask for help.
“Elisha, are you really satisfied with being Prince Mikael’s concubine?”
“I am fine with it.”
Elisha planned to become his concubine first, then slowly win Mikael over.
‘As long as I get a chance. If I can just seize that chance, kneeling is nothing.’
With a meaningful smile, Liliana embraced Elisha.
“I’ll help you, Elisha.”
“Really?”
“Yes. I can’t just stand by and watch my only friend ruin her life.”
“Thank you, Your Highness.”
After sending Elisha away, Liliana contacted Jerdin from Black Cat.
— Have you been looking for me, Master?
“I have something to ask of you.”
— Please speak.
“Investigate the smuggled goods that Consort Isabella has been secretly diverting.”
— Understood.
The greedy Consort Isabella filled her pockets by any means necessary.
She didn’t hesitate to divert Imperial goods for her own personal gain.
In the past, Liliana had used Black Cat to investigate the matter in order to bring down the Imperial Family.
She intended to place that weakness into Elisha’s hands.
The investigation took longer than expected.
A few days later, Liliana was able to receive a list of the smuggled goods from Jerdin.
The list contained detailed information, including the names of the diverted items and their distribution routes.
The one who diverted the goods was Emma, the head maid of the Ruby Palace, and the one who received and sold them was the Consort’s older brother.
Consort Isabella had a strong desire to rise in status because of her unimpressive family background, and without regard for means or methods, she spent a night with the Emperor and gave birth to Mikael.
Originally, she had been a maid of the deposed Empress Anais. Because of that, she had many opportunities to see the Emperor up close.
Using every trick at her disposal, she succeeded in spending a night with the Emperor and gave birth to Prince Mikael.
And her greed didn’t stop there. After becoming an Imperial Consort, she plotted a scheme to drive out the deposed Empress Anais.
The result was successful, and the deposed Empress met a lonely death.
However, the position of Empress didn’t become hers. The Emperor had made it clear that he had no intention of appointing an Empress from among his concubines.
Thus, the seat of Empress remained vacant to this day.
But she didn’t give up. She constantly coveted power and wealth.
And she was able to acquire considerable riches. All of it was obtained illegally.
Liliana quietly summoned Elisha to the detached Palace. And she handed her documents containing Consort Isabella’s dirty secrets.
“What is this?”
“Consort Isabella’s weakness.”
Elisha’s eyes widened in shock.
“Read it.”
Elisha hurriedly opened the documents and read them.
“This is…”
“Keep that safe. And use it to make a deal with Prince Mikael. His Highness will have no choice but to accept you.”
“Th-Thank you.”
Receiving the documents, Elisha smiled in satisfaction.
‘Foolish Liliana. You still trust me. Do you really think I would be satisfied with just being a concubine? Just wait, I will definitely become someone more valuable than you.’
Liliana could guess what she was thinking.
Elisha wasn’t someone who would be satisfied with being a concubine. It was obvious she would become greedier, no matter the means or methods.
And that would become the path to her own destruction.
‘Elisha, you will struggle in hell together with Mikael.’
Having received something valuable from Liliana, Elisha returned to the Baron’s mansion and wrote a letter to Mikael.
Perhaps because she had written down and sent the details of Consort Isabella’s corruption that she knew, Mikael sent a reply asking to meet.
Instead of the secret location in District J, Elisha called him to a teahouse with many people passing by.
Because of that, Mikael had no choice but to come wearing a hood and covering his face.
Elisha, sitting across from him, didn’t avoid his gaze as he glared at her as if he wanted to kill her.
Mikael spoke.
“Do you really have to act this pathetically?”
“Even if it is pathetic, I do not care. I have no intention of ever leaving Your Highness’s side.”
“What exactly do you want?”
Elisha smiled as she spoke.
“Please have me enter the Emerald Palace as Your Highness’s concubine.”
“What?”
Mikael looked at her with a dumbfounded expression. With a knowing smile, Elisha moved her foot under the table and brushed it along Mikael’s leg across from her.
At that dizzying sensation, Mikael’s body stiffened.
“You did not dislike it either, did you, Your Highness? It is not even the position of official wife, just a mere concubine. Just that much. For that much, the Imperial Consort’s corruption will be covered up.”
“You!”
Mikael looked at Elisha with a fed-up expression.
“Where did you even get that information? And you expect me to believe that information?”
Having expected that reaction, Elisha recited the contents of the documents Liliana had given her without pause.
As she listed everything—the people involved, those around them, and even the impact it would have on the Consort—Mikael fell silent.
“Do not even think about harming me. If I die, my friend Liliana will not stay still.”
In that instant, Mikael dismissed the thought of killing her.
He had forgotten that she was Liliana’s friend. If Elisha were to suddenly die, Liliana would uncover the truth behind her friend’s death.
Then he would be put in a very difficult position.
“For now, give me some time to think. This isn’t something I can decide on my own.”
“Of course. Discuss it well with Her Highness the Imperial Consort and give me your answer.”
“Very well.”
Mikael stood up abruptly from his seat, irritated.
He had never imagined that Elisha would go this far. He had known she was greedy, but to this extent…
Mikael immediately went to the Ruby Palace to meet Consort Isabella.
“Mother, I have something to tell you.”
