With a gentle smile, Consort Isabella led Mikael toward the greenhouse garden she cherished the most.
“Go on, speak, Prince.”
After taking a deep breath, Mikael revealed everything about Elisha.
It was only natural that Consort Isabella’s expression hardened.
“Is that true?”
“Yes. She used Your Highness’s corruption to try to make a deal with me.”
With a troubled expression, Mikael relayed exactly what he had heard from Elisha about the corruption.
Consort Isabella’s face stiffened.
“She has only one demand. She wants me to take her as my concubine.”
At the word concubine, a frown formed on her forehead.
“Prince, a scandal would be troublesome.”
If a Prince who hadn’t even married yet were to take a concubine first, he would not only fall out of the Emperor’s favor but could also become the subject of gossip.
And if gossip spread, the reputation Mikael had built up until now could collapse.
“Haa, this has become quite troublesome.”
“I am sorry, Mother.”
Mikael lowered his head deeply.
“Raise your head, Prince. You are someone who will become Emperor in the future. Should you be lowering your head over something like this?”
“Mother…”
“For now, grant that girl’s request. But your relationship with her must remain a secret.”
“Will she comply so easily?”
“Do not worry. It will turn out that way.”
Consort Isabella said that with a cold smile.
***
Early in the morning, Liliana received lessons to become Princess Consort.
The lessons were about learning the etiquette of the Imperial Palace that she must observe as the First Prince’s fiancée.
The instruction was given by Dora, the head maid of the Sun Palace. She was the woman who managed all the maids of the Imperial Palace, an elderly woman around fifty years old.
She was famous for being extremely strict in handling affairs, so among the maids, she was considered the person they least wanted to encounter.
Her training was extremely strict.
Today, Liliana was being taught tea etiquette, and even the smallest hand gesture was pointed out as her posture was corrected.
Once her posture was corrected, Liliana didn’t make mistakes and properly learned everything.
It was enough to make Dora admire her.
“To master it in a single try, that is impressive, Your Highness.”
“You are flattering me.”
Liliana learned from Dora the types and flavors of tea presented in the Imperial Palace, as well as how to set desserts that matched them.
When foreign dignitaries stayed in the Empire, entertaining them was one of the duties Liliana would take on in the future.
For now, Consort Isabella and Consort Diena were handling it, but Liliana would soon have to succeed them.
By the time she returned after finishing the exhausting training, it was already 4 PM. The lessons that started at 9 AM had ended at 4 PM.
The moment she saw the bed, Liliana jumped onto it.
The training for a Princess Consort was far more mentally exhausting than learning magic or swordsmanship.
“Ah, I’m tired!”
“Even so, you must bathe.”
When Anna spoke with her hands on her hips, Liliana looked at her with a sulky expression.
“Let me rest a little first.”
“Please bathe and rest comfortably afterward. Hurry.”
As Anna grabbed her arm and pulled, Liliana had no choice but to be dragged to the bathroom.
After finishing her bath with the maids attending to her, Liliana changed into her nightwear and collapsed onto the bed.
“Your Highness, shall we bring dinner to your room?”
“Could you? I don’t want to move at all today.”
“Understood.”
When Anna gave Jennifer a look, Jennifer nodded and quickly went outside.
After a short while, she returned, pushing a tray with food into the room.
As Jennifer set the food on the table, Anna approached Liliana, who was rolling around on the bed.
“Your Highness, dinner is ready.”
Nodding, Liliana sat at the table, looking at the meal laid out before her.
“It’s seafood today?”
Jennifer smiled brightly as she spoke.
“The chef at the detached Palace said some very fresh seafood came in today.”
A stew made with mussels, a tangy ceviche made with vegetables and octopus, and butter-grilled lobster tail—all of it looked appetizing at a glance.
Liliana picked up her fork and knife and began eating.
She first stimulated her appetite with the ceviche, then scooped up the mussel stew with a spoon and ate it. After that, she used a knife to separate the lobster meat and put it into her mouth.
The chef’s skill was excellent, so the food was truly delicious.
The tangy taste of the ceviche, made with a proper balance of lemon and lime, captured her palate.
The mussel stew she ate next had a pleasant acidity, thanks to the blended tomatoes used in it.
After eating her fill, she felt truly satisfied.
Liliana ate all the dishes evenly. There was nothing better for replenishing energy than eating well.
After finishing her meal and rinsing her mouth with Jennifer’s help, she went to bed early.
Once Anna covered her with a blanket and left, Liliana pretended to sleep, then opened her eyes.
As she got out of bed and approached the window, a black butterfly flew in through the window.
The black butterfly settled on Liliana’s fingertips and then transformed into a letter. The letter was from Jerdin.
Not long ago, Liliana had entrusted him with keeping an eye on Elisha.
It was something she could have done herself, but as the First Prince’s fiancée, she had many responsibilities to handle. So she didn’t have time to monitor Elisha and had asked Jerdin instead.
The letter was a report detailing Elisha’s recent movements.
As expected, she had made contact with Mikael. From that point on, the two of them had begun heading down a path toward ruin together.
‘No matter how deeply in love a couple might be, even a small crack can drive them apart.’
The incident with the Fiora flower had created a fracture in their once-passionate affection, and they were now dragging each other down a path toward destruction.
“I should prepare a gift for Consort Isabella.”
Before that, it seemed she should inform Estevan about this matter.
***
The next day, after finishing her short morning lesson, Liliana headed to the Sapphire Palace.
Since she had informed him in advance, Estevan was waiting leisurely for her in the reception room.
His figure reflected by the window looked like a painting.
His golden hair, reflecting the sunlight, softly covered his neck, and his gently lowered eyelids created a languid atmosphere.
He looked like someone not of this world.
Liliana once again found herself admiring his appearance.
“Why are you staring at me like that?”
It seemed she had been staring at his face too intently.
Liliana spoke in a teasing tone.
“I was once again captivated by Your Highness’s beautiful appearance.”
At those words, Estevan frowned slightly.
“…So you can make jokes.”
“It is not a joke.”
Seeing Liliana smiling brightly, Estevan looked away from her as if dumbfounded.
“It would be best to refrain from saying unnecessary things.”
“Very well. In truth, I have something urgent to tell Your Highness.”
At that, the perceptive Estevan dismissed the head maid and the maids.
“Your Highness, excuse me for a moment.”
Liliana moved her mana and cast a soundproofing spell.
At that, a glint of interest appeared in Estevan’s eyes.
“I heard you had talent for magic, but you are quite skilled.”
Liliana responded with a smile.
“Now then, since there are no more interruptions, shall I hear what this important matter is?”
“Your Highness, in truth, a girl who is both my friend and has entered as my maid is involved with Prince Mikael.”
At those words, Estevan paid attention.
“It seems their relationship was quite deep, but suddenly Prince Mikael informed her of a breakup.”
“I see…”
“That girl is a dear friend of mine, and the daughter of Baron Lindel, a vassal of my family. If she is cast aside by Prince Mikael like this, would that not be quite pitiful?”
“Hmm…”
“She asked me to help her become at least Prince Mikael’s concubine.”
“And?”
“I felt sorry for her as she pleaded, so I gave her a little help.”
“Help…?”
“I should not have, but I gave her information about Consort Isabella’s corruption. With that, she can at least obtain what she wants and avoid suffering a cruel fate.”
Estevan frowned.
“How did you find out about Consort Isabella’s corruption?”
“I bought the information through an informant.”
“That was a dangerous thing to do.”
“I apologize.”
She couldn’t yet tell Estevan about Black Cat.
‘My relationship with Black Cat must not be revealed yet.’
She wanted to be honest with Estevan, but she couldn’t speak about things related to her past.
Perhaps someday, when the time came, she might be able to tell him, but Liliana also thought that that time might never come.
“Why are you telling me this?”
Liliana smiled faintly and answered.
“I thought Your Highness should know as well. I want to be honest with you.”
“Is that all?”
“Yes. I want to share everything I do with Your Highness. At least while I am your fiancée, I do not want to lie.”
Estevan looked steadily at Liliana.
“Do you trust me enough to reveal everything so honestly?”
Note:
Imperial Consort: A concubine of the Emperor with an official rank.
Princess Consort: The wife of a Prince.
In this novel, the fiancée of the Prince is already treated as a Princess Consort in terms of how she is addressed.
