Previously
The next morning, Dolores and Resurreccion discuss securing political influence over Lindinis by backing Viscount Oswald Lindinis through Dowager Margravine Elizabeth Lindinis.
Adrian had disclosed the plan to abduct Dolores solely to the Marquis and James.
And naturally, he had forgotten to tell Angelica.
Or rather, he had simply convinced himself that he had forgotten.
Yet when Dolores failed to return to the marquisate, Angelica eventually discovered the truth.
Angelica trembled with rage.
“How could they do this to me…!”
To think Adrian had tried to force a marriage through with Dolores!
Of course, when Dolores had declared she would kick away the position of Crown Princess, Angelica had burned with agonizing jealousy.
‘Just because I’m from a cadet branch, I’m always pushed aside in marriage talks!’
Ever since Angelica had taken refuge under the Marquis’s roof, everyone had sung Dolores’s praises and hers alone.
Was Dolores truly worthy of being lauded as the “Diamond of the Empire” with that dreary brown hair of hers?
She was merely a petty woman who constantly lorded over others whatever small favors she had done them for their debutante ball!
Yet this time, her fury extended beyond Dolores.
“Prince Adrian… and Uncle, too… How could they do this?”
It was the Marquis himself who had introduced her to Adrian.
He had actively encouraged the two of them to grow close, all while keeping his own mouth shut tight before his daughter.
Seething with betrayal, Angelica stormed directly into the Marquis’s office.
Her usual dread of her uncle had vanished from her mind.
She completely forgot just how chilling the glare of his eyes could be.
“Uncle!”
“…What is the meaning of this?”
“What you have done this time is truly too much!”
Angelica unleashed her outrage first, completely blind to the way the Marquis’s hands stiffened.
“Sister Dolores already gave up the position of Crown Princess! Then you should be supporting me this time!”
“…”
“Didn’t you take me in precisely in case something like this happened?! But how could you—!”
At that moment, the Marquis’s eyes flashed with a frigid light.
The anger accumulated from every humiliation he had endured transformed in an instant into sharp bloodlust.
Snatching the inkpot beside him, he hurled it across the room.
The glass shattered into pieces. Though Angelica hastily scrambled backward, her hem was ruined by the black ink.
“Ah…!”
“Angelica Rochester.”
“…!”
“Does a wretch like you dare climb over me now?”
The Marquis rose to his feet, gripping his heavy cane.
Overcome by a sudden rush of terror, Angelica involuntarily took a step back.
“I took pity on you when you lost your parents and saved you from being sent to a convent.”
“U-Uncle.”
“And now even a parasite like you dares to talk back?”
The Marquis ground his teeth even harder at the thought of his own daughter.
Dolores had been his masterpiece.
She had obeyed his strict diets without a single complaint and attended every social event he designated without showing a trace of fatigue.
She had been a daughter as flawless as a doll.
‘And yet, how could she!’
That doll had suddenly found her own voice, and then she had run off hand in hand with that wretched half-breed.
Yet there was nothing left he could do to Dolores now.
All he could do on the day of the ceremony at Catarina Cathedral was dutifully lead the bride’s hand to the Grand Duke.
Faced with the Marquis’s murderous wrath, Angelica quickly tucked her tail between her legs.
Falling to her knees, she pressed her hands together and pleaded desperately.
“I spoke out of turn, Uncle. Please, please forgive me.”
“…Angelica.”
The Marquis used the tip of his cane to tilt Angelica’s chin upward.
“You carry on as though you are something extraordinary. But you are nothing.”
“…!”
“You are leagues beneath my daughter. Both in that face of yours and in your rank.”
“Uncle…!”
“You dare rebel against me? If you do, I can simply present a younger and prettier girl to His Highness the Crown Prince.”
“…”
“Do you honestly believe he will cherish an insignificant thing like you, without a single scrap of dowry, for the rest of his life?”
Angelica’s eyes flashed with humilation.
Yet rather than fear of her uncle, it was her hatred for Dolores that burned with far greater ferocity.
‘Why me? Why am I beneath Dolores?’
She was so beautiful, and younger too.
Unlike Dolores, who had caused an outrage and fled, Angelica could be as perfect as a true angel.
If only she were given the chance…
Looking down at Angelica, the Marquis admonished her in a somewhat calmer tone.
“Rochester blood flows through you as well, so I will support you. But make no mistake: Dolores must be the one to ascend to the throne of Empress. What do you think the proper order is for?”
“…”
“Even so, should you bear His Highness’s child first, I will back you completely. It matters not if that child becomes the Crown Prince.”
“…You will keep that promise, won’t you?”
“Hmph. I swear it in the name of the gods.”
At those words, Angelica lowered her head and whispered in a meek, obedient voice.
“Please forgive me… for disturbing your peace of mind, Uncle. I will devote myself entirely to the family from now on.”
“Hmph. Tsk, Dolores should have acted like you.”
“…”
With a flick of his hand, the Marquis signaled for her to get out.
Though Angelica retreated with modest grace, venom was hardening within her core.
And that venom honed her wits to a razor-sharp edge.
‘I came close to losing everything.’
Knowing full well how selfish the Marquis was, she had foolishly confronted him without fear.
She still needed to hide her claws and depend on him for shelter.
‘Then… there’s one more person I need to see.’
Angelica hurried toward the imperial palace.
Just like the marquisate, the imperial palace was fraught with tension.
Furious after being reprimanded by the Emperor, Madame Rouare had slipped away on a secret outing.
Adrian could guess her destination well enough.
‘She must have gone to be entertained by young men.’
On occasion, the Madame would assume a false name and slip out to bathe in the worship of vulgar men.
Though on the same side as Madame Rouare, Adrian shook his head at such sordid behavior.
‘I thought Dolores wouldn’t be like that, that she’d be pure and obedient…’
Adrian had assumed that even if his eyes wandered a little, Dolores would conduct herself with the dignity befitting a noble empress.
Yet recent events had only deepened his distrust, leaving him increasingly morose.
“Ha. Truly, there isn’t a single woman in this world to be trusted.”
As he sighed in bitter frustration, an attendant approached and whispered softly.
“Lady Rochester has arrived, Your Highness. Shall I escort her to the Ruby Room?”
“Dolly has come?”
Adrian snapped his head up, his face full of anticipation.
Flustered, the attendant stammered.
“N-No. It is Angelica Rochester.”
“Ah…”
“…Shall I turn her away?”
“No… no. For now… I will go see her.”
Reluctantly, Adrian headed toward the Ruby Room.
‘Do I really have to explain this whole mess to Angelica? How tiresome.’
Angelica was pacing the room.
The moment she caught sight of Adrian, however, she called out to him in an anguished voice.
“Prince Adrian…!”
Adrian flinched slightly upon seeing her.
He felt both dread and irritation at the thought that she might throw a fit.
‘If she gets on my nerves even in the slightest… I’ll cast her aside.’
Yet Angelica had already grown wiser from her clash with the Marquis.
Rather, she had coldly resolved to be more pragmatic.
Angelica sank to her knees at Adrian’s feet, her voice trembling with tears.
“How heartbroken you must be, Your Highness.”
“Angelica? W-Why are you doing this?”
“How could my sister do such a thing…? To abandon her vows and marry His Grace the Grand Duke through such a shameless scheme!”
Reflecting once more on her own plight, Angelica felt genuine, hot tears spill down her cheeks.
Tears streamed freely of their own accord.
“It must be because of me that Sister has hurt you so deeply, Prince Adrian…!”
“Angelica…”
“I am truly, truly sorry, Your Highness.”
“How could…”
Adrian covered his mouth, unable to believe what he was hearing.
Had he just been thinking that every woman in the world was a disappointment?
Yet how could such a fragile, pure soul exist?
‘To care only for the pain I must be feeling!’
Seeing Adrian visibly moved, Angelica pressed on eagerly.
“Your Highness, she must have some ulterior motive.”
“An ulterior motive? What do you mean?”
“You and my sister were betrothed for nearly ten years. For her to suddenly switch to the Grand Duke… this must be a protest.”
“A protest?”
“Yes. She is likely doing this out of jealousy because Your Highness looks upon me with favor.”
“…!”
“There are women who play hard to get just to seek attention. But in my sister’s case, matters have simply spun far beyond her control.”
Dolores was renowned for her beauty, but no one had ever bothered to know her true nature.
Everyone merely devoured her surface with their eyes, indifferent to what lay beneath.
Thus, even Angelica, her own flesh and blood, reconstructed Dolores in her own mind as she saw fit:
a foolish doll who, jealous of Angelica, had tried to provoke Adrian only to fall into her own trap.
‘It infuriates me that I lost to such a creature, but…’
Still, Dolores had to be placed upon the Empress’s throne for Angelica to reap any benefit.
‘The seat of Empress? Ha, fine! Let her have it. Who would envy that?’
For the tangible gains would all belong to Angelica anyway.
Both this man’s love, and all the wealth and power that love would bring.
‘All I have to do is bear the child who will inherit the Lancaster imperial throne.’
Taking Adrian’s hands, Angelica rose to her feet and offered her counsel.
“So mark my words, Your Highness. Sister will surely come begging for you to take her back.”
“Still, Angelica. Ahem, would you truly be all right… with Dolores… um… becoming Empress?”
“…Your Highness.”
Even Adrian possessed just enough conscience to ask such a thing.
Angelica gazed up at him, her eyes glistening with tears.
“Though it may tear my heart to pieces, if it is for your sake, Your Highness… I would gladly remain my sister’s shadow.”
“Angelica…!”
“That is how deeply I love you. I do not wish to be a shackle holding back the man I love.”
“You truly are an angel, just as your name says.”
Adrian kissed Angelica with deep affection.
“However, having that marriage annulled will not be easy… nor do we know how long it will take.”
“Then, Your Highness, we need only watch whether they properly consummate it.”
“…!”
“If their relationship is a sham, they will do nothing. And a couple that does not perform their bedroom duties…”
When newlyweds failed to consummate their union, the marriage could be declared null and void.
And naturally, an annulment could be brought forward by a third party.
Adrian said nothing for a moment.
Soon, however, a confident smile spread across his face.
“I was thinking the exact same thing.”