Chapter 93
#093. A Bigger Scandal to Cover Up a Scandal
Oh, what to do. Esella gritted her teeth.
Even though several tens of seconds had already passed, the Empress did not tell her sister to raise her head.
Esella knew better than anyone how arduous it was to maintain proper etiquette. Unconsciously, her feet began to tap restlessly.
But the Empress didn't even look at her sister. Instead, with a face as beautiful as a rose, she slowly met the eyes of every noblewoman and lady at the table.
Esella was no exception. A chill ran down the back of Esella's hand as she anxiously watched her sister.
The Empress was pure and beautiful, a benevolent mother of the Empire.
But the brown eyes of the Empress, which she met for a fleeting moment, were sharp as if they were suffocating her. The glittering eyes overwhelmed the atmosphere at once.
"…You'll suffer so much that you'll wither and die from the Empress's venom."
A viper. A snake full of poison.
Esella clenched the hem of her dress tightly at Conrad's words that seemed to pierce through her mind. She came to help her sister, but instead, she was frightened.
Esella, who had lowered her head, bit her lip. A bloody hue flickered over her red lips. The other noblewomen and ladies were in the same situation.
They either smiled awkwardly or unconsciously avoided the Empress's gaze.
The Empress held the atmosphere of the table in her hand. She smiled gracefully and looked to the side.
Even under the awning, it was an unusually hot day. In this heat, where the heat was blazing, Olivia Madeleine was waiting for the Empress's greeting without the slightest wavering.
Even though several minutes had passed, her posture was as perfect as it could be in a book of etiquette.
How ruthless.
"Mother. Olivia, that lowly half-breed, is different somehow. She can't be like that unless she's crazy. She dared to, dared to laugh at me."
The Empress raised her lips crookedly, recalling the Princess's trembling words. Indeed, she had a different air about her. Her attire was now flamboyant, a far cry from her past when she wore drab, gloomy dresses without a single jewel.
However, even if she had changed, Olivia was still Olivia.
The shame of the Madeleine Dukedom. A foolishly obedient lady. And a half-breed who was always afraid of something.
She could hold her in her grasp and manipulate her as much as she wanted. Bring her next to the Crown Prince, reclaim the Abandoned Mine, and eventually plunge the Grand Duke into misery.
Then, those jewels, which were precious at a glance, would also belong to her daughter, who would become the Grand Duchess.
The Empress smiled smoothly and said generously.
"…It's been so long. I was lost in thought for a moment."
"I am honored."
Olivia slowly raised her body. The Empress, who had been smiling gently, tilted her head for a moment. Had she gone crazy from exhaustion? The lady's face, which she met for a fleeting moment, had a strange smile on it.
"…Let's go to your seat. Everyone has been waiting for the lady."
The Empress said, shaking off her uneasy feeling.
The seat she pointed to as if doing a favor was at the very end of the table. It was a seat selection far from the head seat at the table, where people were seated according to their rank.
Olivia's seat was always like that. The lowest rank, or a place where she had to stand without a chair.
And Olivia had never complained about that seat. At least, as far as the Empress knew.
"I am sorry, Your Majesty."
"Yes?"
So, when the quiet voice was directed at her, the Empress tilted her head for a moment. The luscious, rose-like red hair fluttered in waves.
Olivia knew how to say 'I am sorry,' but she didn't know how to question.
But in the place where she turned her head, Olivia was smiling as if she was embarrassed.
That couldn't be.
The Empress's beautiful brow slowly hardened. Watching her, Olivia took a deep breath.
"I would be grateful if you would call me 'Lady'."
"What?"
"I am no longer part of the Madeleine Dukedom, so I am not in a position to be called a lady."
The gazes that met in the air were sharp. Eyes narrowed as if searching, scanning Olivia.
Lady.
The half-breed who had always cherished the title of 'lady'. To ask her to call herself 'Lady' without even attaching her surname.
"…The other day, when you entered, you didn't use your surname and just said 'Olivia'. Did you really cut ties with the Madeleine Dukedom?"
"What happens then? Does that mean there's only one little lady left in the Madeleine Dukedom?"
The murmuring voices created small ripples. There were a few light-mouthed people mixed in here, which was full of the Empress's close aides, including Marchioness Ophtem and Lady Libeorn.
It was a plan to drive Olivia into a corner by using the rumors of society.
The Summer Ball, which followed the previous concept, Maria Etel's engagement ceremony, which was too awful to watch, and the scandals about the Crown Prince who was rejected by Olivia Madeleine.
The only thing that could cover up all these scandals was Olivia Madeleine's scandal, but Olivia smiled sadly in the midst of all this.
And she drove a wedge into the exquisitely flowing atmosphere.
"Isn't it because His Majesty also took pity on my situation and designated me to be at the end of the line? If you thought of me as a lady, why…"
A face that didn't know the reason turned to the Empress. It was a sarcastic remark to the Empress, who was said to be more aristocratic and had the dignity of the imperial family than anyone else.
The Empress stared at Olivia for a moment. And she made eye contact with a soft smile.
She was hiding her claws, which was quite impressive. But in the end, those claws would only hurt herself.
The Empress immediately changed her expression. And she said indirectly, clicking her tongue as if she was sorry.
"Oh my, no wonder. I thought the Duke's face had darkened a lot. He must have been very hurt that his beloved, beautiful daughter had left in a huff."
Olivia smiled suspiciously. The back of her hand, which was holding the dress, trembled slightly, but fortunately, the Empress only stared at her face as if she would pierce through it.
A beloved, beautiful daughter. Esella's face darkened.
There was no need to do that. Because her father was a non-existent person to her.
Now, even if she thought of the Duke, her heart didn't hurt so much that it was sore. Even the three syllables of father that came out of someone's mouth could be passed over indifferently.
"If he is a father who cherishes his beautiful daughter, I think I saw Marquis Etel pleading with His Majesty the Emperor last night."
"…I thought you were just commendable, but you had a very bold side. Lady."
The Empress narrowed her eyes at the strangely unyielding momentum. A venomous gaze flashed and glared at Olivia.
Olivia smiled brightly.
"I didn't even know I had that side, but thank you for letting me know. I will keep it in mind and cultivate it more."
* * *
The fragrant tea scent spread, and the noblewomen started talking while receiving the envious gazes of the ladies.
"Marquis Etel knelt in front of His Majesty the Emperor's palace and was imprisoned in his mansion, right?"
"Was Lady Etel there too? As far as I know, the lady is in His Highness the Crown Prince's palace…"
"Shh. That story is a secret for now."
The noblewoman was startled and looked at the Empress. Fortunately or unfortunately, the Empress's face showed that she hadn't heard.
The noblewomen, who had lowered their voices, quickly moved on to other words, while Olivia thought of Maria Etel. And she smiled quietly.
What was the reason why she looked at her with such a collapsing face? It seemed that she hadn't lost the Crown Prince's protection yet.
Yes, it was a tearful, affectionate love.
When the story was ripe to some extent, the Empress smiled elegantly and tapped the teacup with her fingernails.
When the sound of the splendid and sharp fingernails tapping the cup was clear, Marchioness Ophtem, the Empress's close aide, threw out a word.
"Since she didn't manage her daughter properly, there will be no sympathy."
"There seem to be a few people who will be in the same situation as the Marquis. What. How to manage a daughter."
The sarcastic voice grew a little louder. Olivia, who realized that the target of the sharp attack was Duke Madeleine, looked into the distance.
The Empress at the head seat raised her teacup as if she had nothing to do with this atmosphere. The noblewomen chattered as if they were acting in a play.
"That's right. In that sense, how virtuous and saintly is Her Highness the Princess?"
"I wish everyone could follow only half of Her Highness the Princess. Just look at Lady Etel. How could she have acted so recklessly?"
"I'm trying to set an example. I'm still lacking."
The Princess lowered her head. Now it was the ladies' turn to make a fuss. Lady Libeorn was startled and raised her voice exaggeratedly.
"Your Highness, that's not true. Lady Etel will now be careful and reflect on her actions."
"Well, it doesn't seem like there's only Lady Etel right now. I heard an interesting rumor. Do you know?"
The Princess, who had subtly started the conversation, looked around.
At the same time, everyone sitting at the table listened to the Princess's words.
"…It is said that there is also a lady who exchanged inappropriate letters with the knights under the pretext of the war with Heferti."
The war with Heferti. A letter with a knight.
Olivia widened her eyes for a moment. All the targets were pointing at her.
How did the Princess know things that she hadn't even told Edwin?
An inappropriate letter. Those who didn't even know the contents of the letter were eager to tarnish her reputation.
The reason why Olivia was getting goosebumps was different.
Did the Princess know who that nameless knight was?
The story of her and that knight was clear. She wanted to meet him at least once, but she was able to get a clue like this.
Was it possible that the nameless knight was on the Princess's side? The happy heart fell to the ground in an instant. Before she could organize her complicated thoughts, the noblewomen continued to talk.
"Oh my goodness. Who would do such a thing? Could it be that she exchanged letters with her fiancé?"
It was a voice that was raised to the fullest as if something terrible had happened.
"If that were the case, I wouldn't have even brought it up. It is said that she contacted a knight she didn't even know, a knight whose rank or title she didn't even know, and asked to meet him."
Invisible words, like a dense spider web, began to narrow towards Olivia in a sophisticated way.
"Oh my, even if you're impatient, there's a limit."
"Really, it's extremely indecent."
"Do you know who that lady is? I won't even let her meet my daughters."
"It was rumored that she sent a letter under the pretext of her older brother, who is the deputy commander. If he's a young knight who's a deputy commander, would it be Lady Madeleine?"
It was just the beginning. These light stories were full of words with intentions. All the noblewomen and ladies glanced at Olivia.
In this situation, the Princess looked at Olivia with a reproachful smile.
A new scandal was updated for Olivia, who was full of flaws.
Even the Grand Duke would not easily let it go if another suspicious thing happened while her chastity was being tested with a one-year grace period.
After that, she would add new scandals every day, bring the discouraged Olivia into the palace, take away the White Crystal Mine, and put her next to the Crown Prince.
The Princess now smiled and looked at the Empress. As expected, her mother's plan was perfect.
That feeling would not have changed if she hadn't suddenly heard a tinkling laugh. But.
"…I have another interesting rumor attached to me."
"What did you say?"
Lady Libeorn frowned as if she was uncomfortable. But Olivia smiled brightly and made eye contact with her. Olivia said deliberately suspiciously.
"Still, if a rumor is going to spread, it's fortunate that the rumor is about something I did rather than something I didn't do, so I'm less wronged."
"Oh my! Did you really exchange letters with a strange man?"
"Be careful, Lady. You're not judging that the Grand Duke's attitude will be the same even if he knows about the story with that knight, are you?"
Olivia smiled thinly. These ridiculous words were rejected at her level without even going to Edwin's side.
Among the nobles who were making a fuss, the Princess with her nose held high was seen.
As soon as their eyes met, a snake-like, venomous face was revealed. A cruel smile as if showing off her superior mood to the fullest. Watching her, Olivia also took out the words she had prepared.
"Then, Your Highness. I would also like to ask you about the truth of the rumors about Her Highness the Princess."
"…Rumors about me."
A bolt of lightning fell on the Princess, who was enjoying the flow of the story. Tension swept down her back. Olivia's eyes, which were smiling gently, were laughing at her like last night.
Just as she was about to get angry at the memory of the humiliation she had suffered yesterday, a calm voice came from Olivia.
"Is it true that His Majesty the Emperor said that Her Highness the Princess visited the Territory of Vikander?"
"…What?"
The Princess's eyes widened.
Everything was done in secret, so there's no way she could know that…! In an instant, the first day of the ball came to the Princess's mind.
"The Princess, who is the host of the ball, will start the first dance. The Grand Duke will join her. I know you've had a hard time welcoming the Princess this time."
That's right. The Emperor said to everyone as if showing off. While the feeling of embarrassment at that time was rising, Olivia tilted her head.
"I don't remember receiving any guests at Vikander Castle recently. His Majesty the Emperor seems to be mistaken."
Suspicious gazes were directed at the Princess. The Princess felt dizzy. In the meantime, Olivia's words continued.
"He's so busy with public and private affairs that he goes all over the Empire. It's understandable that His Majesty is mistaken."
"Watch your mouth, Lady! What kind of rudeness is that to His Majesty!"
Marchioness Ophtem warned sharply. Olivia smiled thinly and nodded.
"Thank you for the advice, Marchioness. Now that I think about it, there's no way that the wise His Majesty would do that. Then we can think differently. What if Her Highness the Princess said that she visited Vikander, which she didn't even visit?"
No matter what she answered, it was enough to make the Princess suffer. The Princess's face, who now realized the intention of the words, turned red with anger. Watching that face, Olivia asked softly.
"Which rumor do you like better?"
The Princess couldn't stand it any longer and got up from her seat. Thump-. The sound of hitting the table rang out loudly.
