Chapter 49
#049. The True Weight of the Crown She So Desired
“There is no way to reclaim the White Crystal Mine, as the ownership has already been notarized with a magical seal.”
No sooner had the Count finished speaking than the Princess let out a soft laugh. The atmosphere in the drawing room became dangerously tense.
However, the Count did not regret his words. He had only stated the facts as calmly as possible, barely suppressing the turmoil within him.
He knew he had taken leave due to his wife's illness, but when he was summoned, he thought it was truly urgent. That was why he had come to the Imperial Palace, leaving his wife, who had been delirious with Childbed Fever for days.
But it was just for this.
“Find a way to reclaim the White Crystal Mine that was transferred to Madeleine. Preferably by tomorrow.”
The Princess's voice echoed in his mind, the moment he had rushed into the drawing room.
Count Yubler clenched his fist again at her nonchalant tone, as if he should naturally know the answer.
“Count.”
“…Yes, Your Highness.”
“I told you to find a way, not to draw a conclusion.”
Unlike her elegant expression, the Princess's voice was overbearing. The Count felt a tightness in his chest once more.
“…It has already been perfectly processed on paper. As Your Highness instructed. How can we reverse a document that has been stamped with a magical seal?”
“That's for the Count to figure out.”
The Princess spoke lightly, as if it were someone else's problem. At that, Count Yubler finally began to spill out the words that had been building up inside him.
“If only you had checked what the White Crystal Mine was. You know that the ownership document of the mine had a record that only the Imperial Family could access. You also know that the contents processed with the magical seal cannot be undone. Yet, if you ask me to find a way, the only option is to threaten Madeleine to return it…”
“Count!”
Oh dear. Count Yubler came to his senses and shut his mouth at the sharp voice of the nanny. Baroness Luhan, the nanny who was next to the Princess, quickly checked the Princess's complexion with a flustered face.
As expected, the Princess's face was flushed red. The tips of her fingers, resting on the armrest of the sofa, were visibly trembling.
The nanny quickly stepped forward and shouted at Count Yubler.
“How dare you speak so rudely to Her Imperial Highness!”
“…I apologize, Your Highness.”
Count Yubler bowed deeply. But in the end, the words "I'm sorry" did not come out. Even as he looked at the Princess's face, which was blue with anger, he was more concerned about his sick wife than the aftermath.
“…I will reprimand the Count for his actions later. Leave now.”
.
.
.
I don't know what all this is about.
The Princess glared at the drawing room door, breathing roughly. The nanny was saying something beside her, but she couldn't hear it.
The Count Yubler, who hadn't even bothered to dress properly, had even reproached her. And then he left without even apologizing.
The more she thought about it, the more absurd it seemed.
But the Princess composed herself. She needed to calmly retrace the situation, especially at times like this. What was urgent now was not Count Yubler's attitude.
“Your Highness. When are you planning to go down to the White Crystal Mine?”
The Chamberlain of the Imperial Palace had visited again today, following yesterday. She could clearly feel the Emperor's rebuke for not having gone to investigate the White Crystal Mine yet.
It was the first time the Emperor had shown such interest in what she was doing. In this situation, if he were to find out that she had transferred the White Crystal Mine to Madeleine…
A chill ran down her spine as soon as she imagined the Emperor's wrath. The Princess gripped the armrest of the sofa tightly, as if grabbing a lifeline.
What could be in that broken-down Abandoned Mine? Surely, there was nothing in that half-baked report…!
Suddenly, a terrible thought flashed through the Princess's mind.
What if that half-wit had discovered something and intentionally omitted it from the report? And what if she had coaxed her into taking the White Crystal Mine?
Certainly, it was the Princess who had first recommended the White Crystal Mine as suitable dowry. But the Princess conveniently forgot this fact and trembled her lips.
“…Nanny.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Prepare to go to the Territory of Vikander immediately.”
She had to find the Abandoned Mine again, whether by coercion or threat.
The nanny spoke worriedly, seeing the Princess's face turning pale.
“But, Your Highness. It will take quite some time to get to the Territory of Vikander. Wouldn't it be better to summon Madeleine?”
“Go to the Document Preservation Room right now and get the records for the Abandoned Mine.”
The Princess cut off the nanny's words and recalled Count Yubler's words. Records that only the Imperial Family could see. There would be detailed records of the Abandoned Mine in there. Perhaps she would even find out why His Majesty wanted that mine so much.
At the Princess's firm words, a maid hurriedly left the drawing room. Watching her go, the Princess gradually regained her composure.
Yes, she should have done this from the beginning. Surely, she still had a way to resolve this matter.
Even though the conversation with Jade Madeleine had broken down.
“…Everyone in the Empire knows how much that commoner loved my brother.”
“Of course, Your Highness. How much Madeleine loved the Crown Prince.”
At the nanny's agreement, the Princess's lips curved alluringly.
It had been quite some time since Madeleine had gone to the capital. By now, she should be able to regain the Abandoned Mine by coaxing her with the promise of speaking well of her to her brother.
Leopold, who loved Maria Etel, had insisted on marrying only Olivia, so to speak. In a way, she was even acting as a messenger of love.
However, one of the maids who was listening to the Princess's words in a corner of the drawing room had an uneasy look on her face.
She had briefly seen Madeleine leaving the Imperial City on the day of the Nobility Council. Could Madeleine, who had left so happily holding the Grand Duke's hand, still be…
…Still in love with the Crown Prince?
Of course, she couldn't tell the Princess this thought. Otherwise, those beautiful nails might dig into her arm instead of the sofa.
* * *
Evening, as the sunset dyed the sky, Tiaje Palace.
Maria Etel walked gracefully through the hallway. Even though she had already toured the entire palace several times, thoroughly examining this Crown Princess Palace was very satisfying.
“Let's replace that stained glass from earlier. With something more ornate and grand.”
“Yes, I understand.”
Especially whenever the maids of Tiaje Palace obeyed her wishes so readily.
Maria glanced behind her. Seeing Baroness Sophron and the maids following her, a joyful light flickered in Maria's blue eyes.
This was the life she had wanted. A dignified Crown Princess Consort. The most suitable noble position next to her lover, Leopold.
Maria looked out the window. The golden sunset was already settling over the round roof of Tiaje Palace. It was almost time for Leopold to arrive. Her heart fluttered just thinking about him.
“Let's go down now.”
“Yes, Lady.”
At Baroness Sophron's reply, Maria's eyes narrowed sharply for a moment.
“What did you say?”
“Pardon?”
“Did you just call me ‘Lady’?”
At the unpleasant, sharp voice, Baroness Sophron was silent for a moment.
According to etiquette, the title she had used to address Maria Etel was appropriate.
The Crown Prince's lover, who was not even engaged yet.
Rather, it was absurd in itself that the Marquess's daughter, who had no official relationship, was running around the Crown Princess Palace like this.
“…Never mind. Let's not talk about this.”
As if realizing that, Maria Etel turned her head irritably.
It was all because she hadn't even had an engagement ceremony yet. If she had only had an engagement ceremony, she wouldn't have cared about mere titles.
Everything in this Tiaje Palace, which had been so satisfying until just now, was now irritating. Especially that.
“Oh, and get rid of those blue hydrangeas over there right away.”
Maria Etel gestured imperiously at the hydrangeas on the side table.
How tacky and dull. It was exactly the taste of that half-breed bastard.
This palace was hers now. It was right to decorate it in a bright and lovely way, according to her taste.
Maria Etel smiled confidently and moved her steps again.
Baroness Sophron, who was following behind her, paused her gaze on the blue hydrangeas for a moment. Another maid whispered, just loud enough for Baroness Sophron to hear.
“There have been blue hydrangeas on the side table in this east corridor for years. We won't be seeing them anymore. What a shame.”
“…The owner has changed, so we have to match their taste.”
Still. The maid murmured wistfully. Baroness Sophron glanced at the blue hydrangeas. Just once, the Crown Prince had said that his eyes felt comfortable looking at the blue hydrangeas, and ever since then, that spot had always been for blue hydrangeas.
“Please take good care of Tiaje Palace in the future.”
Baroness Sophron shook her head, remembering Madeleine's voice, asking her to take care of the palace until the very end.
What was done was already done. She just had to assist the owner of the palace as the person in charge here. Even as she reminded herself of that, Baroness Sophron couldn't erase the emptiness that was forming somewhere in her heart.
“Madam. A maid from the Imperial Princess Palace has brought ‘work’.”
Another maid approached and whispered to Baroness Sophron.
.
.
.
“…You have to prepare for the ball, Lady.”
“I mean, isn't this Her Imperial Highness's job? Why are you bringing this to me?”
It was when Leopold had taken over the sponsorship of Tiaje Palace. Leopold frowned at Maria's bewildered voice.
He had been tormented by state affairs all day. He thought that if he saw his lovely Maria as usual, his fatigue would fly away. But when he entered Tiaje Palace, the first thing that greeted him was a sharp voice.
“What's wrong?”
“Leopold!”
Maria jumped up and hugged Leopold. A triumphant look, as if her ally had appeared, briefly flashed across her pitiful face. The dress of the young maid in front of Maria had the Imperial Princess Palace seal stamped on it.
“Greetings to the little sun of the Empire. I have come to briefly hand over the work to Lady Etel. I will come back later.”
“Leopold. Do you know what that work is? It's Her Imperial Highness's Summer Ball, and she brought it to me. I told her she brought it to the wrong person, but she kept saying no.”
Maria drawled the end of her words coquettishly. It was when she hoped that Leopold would quickly take her side and chase away the maid of the Imperial Princess Palace.
“My Maria. I hope you haven't forgotten what you said?”
“Pardon?”
A hint of annoyance was mixed in with the low, laughing voice. Maria widened her eyes.
“That for one year, as my official fiancée, you will perform your duties well.”
For one year.
It was as if the words were accented. Maria hurriedly looked around. This was something the other maids shouldn't know. It seemed like most of them had heard it.
A sense of shame washed over her. But Leopold brushed Maria's hair back, continuing his words nonchalantly.
“You answered beautifully. Didn't you?”
“…I did. But Your Highness, that's not the Crown Princess Consort's job, which you should do as your fiancée.”
“No, it's your job.”
Leopold nodded plainly. At that, the maid of the Imperial Princess Palace quickly approached and handed over the documents she was holding. Confusion spread across Maria's face as she inadvertently received the documents.
“It seems that my fiancée hasn't properly understood her duties yet, Madam.”
“I apologize, Your Highness.”
“Inform Maria of what the Crown Prince's fiancée will be doing by tomorrow.”
“Yes.”
This wasn't it. Maria rolled her eyes back and forth. A bewildered emotion was clearly felt on her doll-like pretty blue eyes.
It was when Maria was looking only at Leopold, as if hoping he would lower a lifeline, at a loss for what to do.
“…Didn't have things like this.”
Maria's heart sank coldly at the object indicated by the subject of the quiet mutter.
But soon, Leopold's eyes, which were looking down at her again, were affectionate. As if he hadn't said anything at all. So Maria couldn't ask what the meaning of the words he had just said was.
Instead, Maria smiled brightly, gritting her teeth.
“Then, please hold an official engagement ceremony. Your Highness.”
“Engagement ceremony?”
“Yes. Show me off as your official fiancée. It will make it easier for me to perform my duties.”
Looking down at her lovely face, Leopold muttered the three syllables, "engagement ceremony." He was reminded of the Emperor's words that the engagement ceremony should be held simply, thinking about a year later.
Maria added, as if driving a wedge.
“…More grandly than what you did with Madeleine.”
“Anyway.”
Leopold chuckled at the jealous voice. And he stroked Maria's cheek as if she were cute. Now she was like his Maria again. As Leopold naturally embraced her body, a scene from the past suddenly flashed through his mind.
“…I understand, Your Highness. As you said, from now on, the white dress…”
It was a scene from his engagement ceremony a long time ago. Olivia's face, answering with a wounded expression, caught his eye anew.
Anyway. All memories of Olivia were like this. Leopold forced himself to endure the discomfort and said to Maria.
“Let's take a walk.”
Maria said that she would go to the palace for a while with sparkling eyes. Taking advantage of the gap, Leopold quietly called his aide, Count Hagis.
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“…Find out how Olivia is doing.”
He wouldn't have been interested in it normally. What was it about Olivia's expression?
Leopold clicked his tongue, as if annoyed. And he pushed Olivia's voice, which sounded pathetic, back beyond his memory again.
* * *
At that moment, the Princess's large eyes were filled with shock.
“No, way.”
The documents held by her beautiful hands trembled. The Imperial Family's seal was stamped at the very top of the documents.
White Crystal Mine, Territory of Vikander
That barely broken-down Abandoned Mine was like a leash that had been holding Grand Duke Bikander back until now. No, more than that.
“There was something like this in that Abandoned Mine?”
The Princess, who muttered as if she couldn't believe it, staggered. Then, as if her legs had lost their strength, she collapsed onto the carpet. But there was something more urgent to her than dignity.
“Nanny! We have to leave right now!”
The Princess shouted sharply. If His Majesty the Emperor found out, really.
It might be impossible to turn back.
