Liliana said.
“Your Highness can use me. Is that not the kind of relationship this is for?”
“Right.”
“Then what is it that you dislike so much?”
Having been hit right on the mark, Estevan closed his mouth.
He couldn’t answer. Because he truly didn’t know what it was that he disliked.
Estevan let out a sigh.
“I will proceed with this according to your will.”
“You made a good decision.”
After receiving a definite answer from Estevan, Liliana left the Sapphire Palace office and met Baron Mille.
“Did you wait long?”
“No.”
“Shall we move somewhere else first?”
“Yes.”
She led him to the most inconspicuous place in the Sapphire Palace. It was a storage room where cleaning tools were kept.
After carefully checking the inside of the storage and casting a soundproofing magic, Liliana looked at Paris, who was in the form of Baron Mille.
“By the way, that’s really flawless. How did you do it?”
Baron Mille smiled faintly and touched his face with his hand. Then his face distorted, turning into Paris’s face.
Liliana was startled.
“What’s that form?”
“It is a technique called facial transformation.”
“Facial transformation?”
“It changes the face. It is not changed with magic, so it cannot be detected.”
It was possible to change one’s appearance with magic, but in front of someone skilled in handling magic, it was easily detected.
However, facial transformation was a special technique that altered the facial muscles, so it wasn’t detected.
“First, we’re going to meet His Majesty the Emperor. You heard the details, right?”
“Yes, of course. You are going to make a deal with the Magic Kingdom?”
“The Magic Kingdom needs magic stones, so they’ll buy them at a higher price than the Magic Tower.”
“An excellent choice.”
“You might end up meeting Prince Estevan frequently from now on.”
“I will be careful not to get caught.”
“Good. His Highness is very sharp, so even the slightest opening could expose you.”
Paris widened his eyes as if impressed.
“Is he really that sharp?”
“Yes. His Highness is well-versed in swordsmanship, academics, and magic. So be careful.”
“Do not worry, I am Paris. No matter how outstanding he is, he will not be able to deal with me.”
At his confident words, Liliana shrugged.
“Then that’s a relief.”
“Just trust me, Master.”
“Alright. Let’s part here for now. If I get an audience with His Majesty, I’ll contact you then.”
“Yes, Master.”
Liliana parted ways with Paris and returned to the detached Palace.
***
Shuna, having been summoned by Consort Isabella, headed to the Ruby Palace.
Consort Isabella received her in the greenhouse. She, who liked the greenhouse, was personally watering the flowers.
“You called for me, Your Highness.”
“Yes, come here.”
After watering the neatly blooming daffodils, Consort Isabella set down the watering can and gestured to Shuna.
“Tell me how Mikael has been doing lately.”
Shuna reported everything Mikael had been doing to Elisha.
“Playing doll, you say?”
“Yes. Whenever he looks for Lady Elisha, he personally chooses dresses from her dressing room and makes her wear them, then watches.”
“And?”
“He calls the name of Princess Consort Liliana and embraces Lady Elisha.”
At those words, Consort Isabella formed a faint smile.
“So that’s how it is.”
“Yes. And Lady Elisha made a request to His Highness the Prince.”
“A request?”
“She asked for an allowance for maintaining her dignity. His Highness also told me to make sure to deliver the message to you.”
“Mikael told you to come and tell me that?”
“Yes.”
Consort Isabella looked at a single daffodil wilting in the corner.
“Even a flower that has withered still has its own use. It becomes fertilizer for the other flowers.”
Consort Isabella turned her body as she spoke.
“Tell her that I will grant her request. And tell her that she must become Mikael’s delightful doll. Even a Prince needs at least one breathing space.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
To survive in this vast Imperial Palace, one must fight fiercely. She had always done so, and Mikael was going through the same. As long as there were political enemies.
So it is better to have at least one way to let off steam.
If he could feel even vicarious satisfaction through Elisha, that was enough. That was Elisha’s purpose.
“She’s taking the contraceptive properly, right?”
“Of course.”
“That child must never end up carrying a baby.”
“I will keep it in mind.”
“You may go now.”
“Yes.”
After sending Shuna away, Empress Isabella called for her head maid, Emma.
“It seems we need to pay a bit more attention to the security of the Emerald Palace.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“And we should secure Vasili.”
“Vasili…?”
“It would be troublesome if that one in the Emerald Palace were to have a child.”
“I will obtain it right away.”
“Good. And remember this, that child must never become pregnant.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Consort Isabella’s eyes flashed sharply.
***
At the Emerald Palace, Elisha was bathing while being attended by maids.
The maids attending to her were all tight-lipped maids sent by Consort Isabella.
“Ah, how on earth are you washing my hair! It hurts.”
“I am sorry.”
The maid washed Elisha’s hair with even more careful hands.
“Hey, my shoulders hurt. Massage them a bit.”
When Elisha pointed at the maid who had been washing her feet, the maid stopped what she was doing and began to massage Elisha’s shoulders.
“That’s enough, go back to washing my feet.”
“Yes.”
She finished her bath while receiving devoted service from the maids.
As she came out of the bath, that unpleasant Shuna was waiting with a smile.
Elisha looked at Shuna, who was decorating the bedside, the window, and the table with flower pots, and asked,
“What’s that?”
“Her Highness the Imperial Consort sent them specially. She said they are good for your health.”
“Her Highness is taking care of my health?”
“Yes, and she also said that a monthly allowance for maintaining your dignity will be sent to you from now on.”
At those words, Elisha’s face brightened.
“Really?”
“Yes, and she told you to continue pleasing His Highness the Prince.”
At those words, her mood twisted, but at the mention of money, her expression relaxed.
“Of course. I’m the only one who can please His Highness.”
Shuna looked at the simple-minded Elisha with a contemptuous gaze.
***
The next day, Liliana visited the Emerald Palace to meet Elisha.
Since she had already received permission from Consort Isabella to meet Elisha, she was able to meet her easily.
Liliana was guided to Elisha’s room. Her room had become more splendid and luxurious than when Elisha lived at the Baron’s mansion.
“The room is really pretty.”
“Right?”
“How is it, living here?”
“It’s good. His Highness likes me very much as well.”
“Really? That’s good.”
With a faint smile, Liliana handed a letter to Elisha.
“Baron Lindel is very curious about how you’ve been doing. He even sent you a letter like this.”
“Ah, I see. You didn’t tell Father, right?”
Liliana held Elisha’s hand.
“Don’t worry, I only told him that you are doing well.”
“Thank you.”
“But are you really okay? You can’t even go shopping, something you like so much.”
“I don’t need to go shopping. If I call, the designers come to me themselves.”
“Really?”
Saying that, Elisha showed off her dressing room.
“It might not be as good as yours, but here I only eat good food and wear good things. It’s nothing compared to before.”
Liliana looked at Elisha as if she pitied her.
“You can’t even attend social gatherings.”
“I can’t right now, but later, when I become Imperial Consort, it will be different.”
Thinking of the futile dream Elisha was having, Liliana sneered.
“Read the letter and write a reply for me. Baron Lindel earnestly asked for it.”
“Okay, I will write a reply.”
“Then, I’ll be going now. I’m glad to see that you’re doing well.”
“I can’t see you off far, take care on your way.”
Liliana left the Emerald Palace after receiving Elisha’s farewell.
As soon as she turned around, her expression became serious.
‘She’s hiding something.’
While talking with her, Elisha had repeatedly avoided eye contact. It was a kind of habit she had when she had something she wanted to hide.
It seemed that something had happened to her. She didn’t know what it was, but it didn’t seem like anything good.
‘I’ll have to find out.’
Because she couldn’t summon crows in the Imperial Palace due to the barrier, it seemed she would have to make use of the maids.
After returning to the detached Palace, Liliana immediately called for Jennifer.
Daisy couldn’t be called because she was busy with work related to Paris and the abandoned mine.
And Anna wasn’t accustomed to this kind of thing, so she wasn’t suitable. Moreover, she didn’t want to involve Anna in something dangerous.
“Jennifer, keep an eye on Elisha in the Emerald Palace.”
“Understood.”
