Consort Isabella also learned that Elisha had come to the Grand Banquet Hall.
Through her head maid, Emma, she looked into how Elisha had managed to come here.
“Your Highness, excuse me for a moment.”
Emma whispered into Consort Isabella’s ear.
“How ridiculous. That brazen girl used such a trick?”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
She watched Mikael lead Elisha away.
“Go and find out what’s happening.”
After Emma left, Consort Diena spoke.
“Prince Mikael is truly popular.”
“It seems so.”
“How enviable. He should quickly find a proper marriage partner. The Prince must be quite worried about that.”
“It seems Lady Kropel has not yet found a marriage partner either.”
“I heard that child has her heart set on Prince Mikael.”
Consort Isabella gripped the armrest tightly.
“There are hardly just one or two ladies who fancy my Prince. It is unfortunate for Lady Kropel as well.”
“Are you saying that child is lacking as a marriage partner?”
Consort Isabella answered with a gentle smile.
“That is not what I meant. As his mother, I will carefully look into the Prince’s marriage partner and arrange the best possible match, so please do not worry, Consort Diena.”
This time, Consort Diena clenched her skirt.
“Ah, I met Princess Consort Liliana myself recently.”
“I see.”
“I personally prepared mooncakes and gave them as a gift.”
“What did you think after meeting her?”
“She was very gentle and intelligent. Prince Estevan is quite fortunate. Meeting a good spouse is also a matter of luck.”
“So you thought that. But luck does not last long. I am very curious how far the First Prince’s luck will go.”
Consort Diena smiled faintly as she dug into Consort Isabella’s nerves.
“Ah, I heard Princess Consort Liliana is hosting this May Fairy of the Founding Festival? You must be disappointed. I thought you would be in charge this year, Consort Isabella.”
“It is His Majesty’s will, so we must follow it. Three years ago, His Majesty was very displeased about the fraudulent victory.”
“Fraudulent victory? It was clearly the result of a legitimately conducted competition.”
“Do not be so serious. I have no intention of digging up what His Majesty chose to cover up.”
The two Empresses, smiling, engaged in a fierce war of nerves.
At that moment, Emma returned.
She whispered to Consort Isabella the conversation she had heard in the lounge.
Consort Isabella’s expression hardened, and she rose from her seat.
“I think I will go rest in the lounge for a moment.”
She headed to the lounge where Elisha was, together with her head maid, Emma.
When they opened the lounge door and entered, Elisha was sitting on the sofa.
Emma locked the door and stood behind her master.
Elisha, noticing Consort Isabella, hurriedly got up from her seat.
“I greet Your Highness the Imperial Consort.”
As Elisha bowed, Consort Isabella roughly grabbed her by the hair and threw her to the floor.
“You shameless girl, have you lost your mind?”
“Y-Your Highness.”
“How dare you cause a scene here?”
Elisha let out a small laugh and lifted her chin confidently.
“I am also a noble of the Empire. I have the right to enjoy the Founding Festival.”
Curling the corner of her lips, she shot back with a venomous gaze.
“Ah, are you perhaps afraid I will reveal that I am Your Highness’s son’s concubine? Do not worry. I know enough to keep that to myself.”
Elisha muttered while fixing her disheveled hair.
“Ah, the hairstyle I carefully prepared is ruined. What a waste…”
Consort Isabella stared at her with an incredulous expression.
“It seems you are not afraid of me.”
“You cannot touch me, Your Highness. If something happens to me, Liliana will not stay quiet. Isn’t that right?”
“Are you acting so arrogantly because you trust the Princess Consort?”
“I only want to exercise my rights. Locking me up during a Founding Festival everyone is enjoying was too much.”
Consort Isabella curled the corner of her lips.
“It seems you still do not properly understand your place. Then I will have to teach you. Look forward to it.”
With those words, she turned around.
Elisha’s shoulders trembled as she looked at Consort Isabella’s retreating figure.
***
Liliana excused herself to Estevan and went to find Elisha.
When Mikael led Elisha away, she had ordered Jennifer to follow the two, so Liliana was able to find her quickly.
Knock, knock.
When she knocked and entered, Elisha was standing there with her hair in disarray.
“My goodness, Elisha.”
With a worried expression, Liliana hurried over and took Elisha’s hand.
“Are you alright?”
The moment she saw her, anger surged in Elisha, and she pushed her away.
Liliana staggered and fell.
Elisha looked flustered, as if she hadn’t expected her to fall.
“No, I just…”
Liliana brushed off her clothes and stood up as if nothing had happened.
“I’m fine.”
Instead, she smiled gently and worried about Elisha.
“Your hair is a mess. Sit here.”
Liliana seated her in front of the mirror and fixed her hair.
Through the mirror, Elisha compared Liliana and herself.
Everything Liliana wore was expensive beyond anything Elisha could even imitate.
The dress and accessories she wore were also quite costly, but compared to Liliana’s, they fell short.
“You think I’m pathetic too, don’t you?”
“Elisha…”
“You always get the best things. Isn’t that unfair?”
“That’s…”
“The best family, the best wealth, the best man. Why does everything have to be yours?”
Even though she knew she shouldn’t do this, Elisha couldn’t stop speaking.
“Why can’t I have them? Why do they have to be yours?”
“Elisha, something must have upset you. Did Prince Mikael upset you?”
Elisha let out a laugh.
She thought it would have been better if this were simply a quarrel between lovers.
Mikael, who once said he loved only her, no longer whispered words of love. He now thought of her only as a tool to satisfy his desires.
But even that was fine. Even if it was only the shell, she could at least have his body.
She hated Liliana, who had stolen his heart.
“Why you? Why does it have to be you? Why are you taking what’s mine?”
“Elisha, why would I take what’s yours? I’ve never done that.”
Elisha tilted the corner of her lips crookedly.
“You’re always like that. Acting gentle with that angelic face, while mocking me.”
“Prince Mikael must have hurt you. That’s why you’re so sad. I’ll speak to Prince Mikael. For my sake, he won’t make things difficult for you.”
As Liliana turned as if she were about to leave immediately, Elisha approached with a bright expression.
“You’ll really speak to him for me?”
Then, as if she had never been angry, she smiled and took Liliana’s hand.
Though taken aback, Liliana smiled brightly.
“Yes, I should personally tell His Highness not to make you sad. Making my only friend cry is too much.”
Liliana stroked Elisha’s cheek and comforted her, telling her not to worry.
“Wait here. I’ll go speak to Prince Mikael myself. I’ll tell him not to hurt you.”
“Thank you, Lily. You’re really my friend.”
Just moments ago she had been pouring out resentment, yet her attitude completely changed.
Liliana went straight to find Mikael.
He was resting on the terrace.
“Prince Mikael.”
When Liliana spoke to him, Mikael greeted her with a delighted expression.
“Your Highness, I have something to tell you.”
“Go ahead.”
Liliana dabbed at the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief as if she were upset.
“Your Highness, why are you making Elisha sad?”
“What do you mean…?”
“I just came from seeing Elisha. She looked like she had been humiliated, her hair was a mess. It upset me just to see it.”
Mikael’s face stiffened.
“I do not understand what you are referring to, Princess Consort.”
“Your Highness said you would treat Elisha well.”
“That…”
“Were those just words? I am really upset.”
When Liliana showed tears, Mikael didn’t know what to do.
“Please do not cry. There must have been some misunderstanding.”
“A misunderstanding?”
“Yes. I do not know what Lady Elisha said or how she said it, but I have never made her sad. I did nothing that should make you upset.”
“Really?”
Mikael forced the corners of his lips upward.
“Of course. So please set aside your sadness.”
With tearful eyes, Liliana held his hand with both of hers.
At that moment, Mikael felt as if his heart almost dropped. Perhaps it was because her soft fingertips touched him, his face reddened.
“Please, for my sake, treat Elisha well. I want her to be happy.”
“O-Of course.”
Liliana wiped her tears with her handkerchief and smiled brightly.
“Then I will trust Your Highness.”
Liliana, holding his hand tightly as she spoke, looked truly lovely.
