Chapter 37
“Are you certain? His Majesty severely reprimanded Ian?”
Meanwhile, the Empress was hearing about the events in the Audience Chamber from Wighill.
“Yes. His Majesty was so enraged that his voice echoed loudly throughout the corridors.”
“Oh, my. He should really learn some restraint.”
The corners of the Empress’s mouth twitched.
She had already been dissatisfied with how much the Emperor had been trusting Ian lately, starting from the fire incident to the recent poison herb case.
But for the father and son to have such a loud, public argument?
‘What delightful news.’
The Empress’s eyes sparkled.
It was practically the first time Ian had properly stood up to the Emperor.
To think he would succeed in doing what she had failed to achieve for ten years.
Whoever it was that reported Ian’s activities to Wighill, she felt like giving them a grand reward.
‘At this rate, I must ensure His Majesty continues to doubt Ian’s qualifications.’
The only thing the Emperor cared about was the prosperity of the Imperial Family—nothing more, nothing less.
Hadn’t Carola herself only secured her position here thanks to her massive dowry and her pregnancy with Maximilian, who would further solidify the succession?
Even though she had to endure the public’s whispers for marrying only a week after the Late Empress’s death, she could handle that much as long as she could put her son on the throne.
“Mmhmm.”
The Empress stood before a mirror, humming contentedly as she brushed her hair.
Wighill also looked relieved to see the Empress in a good mood for once.
After humming for a while, the Empress set her brush down on the vanity and picked up a hairclip lavishly encrusted with jewels.
“So, who was the woman Ian went to the spring festival with?”
“I am told she is the daughter of the Dines family.”
“Hmm, Dines?”
The unfamiliar name caused the Empress’s eyebrows to rise slightly.
She furrowed her brow, clutching the jeweled pin as she searched her memory.
Since it wasn’t a particularly prominent family, it took a moment to recall Lobelin’s face.
“The lady who was harmed by Bolton at Marquis Maxwell’s banquet recently.”
“Ah.”
It was only after Wighill’s hint that Lobelin’s face finally came to mind.
“Hmph, a mere girl from such a house. No wonder His Majesty was so furious.”
The Empress nodded as if she understood the Emperor’s reaction.
However, her voice and expression were already giddy with excitement.
After skillfully sliding the jeweled pin into her hair, Carola checked her reflection one last time and turned back to Wighill.
“Wighill, send someone to Lady Dines. Tell her to come to the Empress’s Palace tomorrow at once.”
“Tomorrow? But it might be too sudden for Lady Dines—”
“What?”
At Wighill’s hesitation, the Empress’s eyes narrowed sharply.
“Are you suggesting that I, the Empress, should be concerned about the convenience of a mere viscounty?”
“O-Oh, no! That is not what I meant at all.”
As the Empress’s voice rose, Wighill hurriedly made excuses.
Wighill pulled a handkerchief from his pocket, wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, and spoke again.
“I only meant that you could simply watch from afar. Is there any need for Your Majesty to personally step into such a matter?”
“My, my, Wighill. You underestimate me.”
“……Pardon?”
“I am Ian’s mother, after all.”
The Empress patted Wighill’s shoulder with a benevolent tone.
Wighill, who had flinched for a moment fearing he might be struck, blinked in confusion.
“I’m not sure what you mean by that…….”
“Wighill. Don’t you think it’s admirable of Ian to try and protect his woman even while standing up to His Majesty?”
“Excuse me?”
“Goodness! How can you be so slow!”
Carola’s mouth stretched into a wide grin.
It was clearly a bright smile, yet it sent a chill down Wighill’s spine.
“As his mother, I intend to support their relationship. So stop talking and just bring the girl here. Understood?”
The next day, Lobelin sat in her drawing room with a grim expression.
In her hands was yesterday’s extra edition of the newspaper.
“Sigh, this is bad.”
She didn’t know yet that her identity had been leaked, but the article was enough to leave her heart in turmoil.
Today’s papers were already rife with speculative articles about the Crown Prince’s lover.
Nonsensical theories were flying—claims that she was a foreign princess, a street courtesan, or even a pre-selected fiancée for the Crown Prince.
And there wasn’t a single line about the poison herb incident.
Lobelin shook her head at the level of yellow journalism that completely ignored the actual priorities of the empire.
‘Ian must have told me to pretend to be a maid that day because he knew this would happen.’
If her identity were ever discovered…….
Lobelin shuddered at the terrible thought.
‘Ian Heriet……. I wonder what he’s doing right now.’
Lobelin traced her finger over the small portrait of Ian in the newspaper.
She hadn’t heard from him since his last short letter.
She had been staying quiet, thinking he would be busy investigating the poison herb case.
Now that things had turned out like this, it became even harder to contact him.
‘I hope he isn’t getting criticized by the Imperial Family because of the articles.’
Lobelin was worried about the things Ian had told her with such a lonely expression during the festival.
The Empress had ostracized him, and the Emperor viewed his own son as nothing more than a useful tool.
Even now, Ian was likely being reprimanded by the Imperial couple.
‘I wonder if things would be different if I were Connie or Lady Spencer.’
As the thought crossed her mind, a feeling similar to what she felt when watching Ian dance with Amelie washed over her.
Staring at Ian’s portrait with a somber face, Lobelin eventually set the paper down on the side table.
Then, she slapped both hands against her cheeks.
“Get it together, Lobelin! Worrying about the Imperial Family is the most useless thing in the world!”
Ian isn’t a child; he’ll handle things on his own!
Lobelin stood up, trying to comfort herself.
She intended to take a walk in the garden to clear her head.
“Um, Miss. This just arrived…….”
But Sarah entered the drawing room hesitantly.
In her hand was a piece of stiff, high-quality paper.
Lobelin’s eyes widened when she saw the crest stamped on the luxurious gold-rimmed envelope.
‘It’s the Imperial crest?’
Lobelin took it with a dazed expression.
The letter contained only a single line stating a simple business matter.
[Lady Lobelin Dines is expected to board the provided Imperial carriage and proceed to the palace immediately.]
‘Me? Why?’
Lobelin’s heart raced.
If Ian had sent it, it wouldn’t have been this cold and formal.
That meant someone else in the Imperial Family had sent for her.
In this current situation, there was only one reason the Imperial Family would seek her out…….
‘No way.’
A wave of dread washed over her, and cold sweat began to bead on her back.
Just then, the sound of a horse neighing came from outside the window.
“M-Miss. I think you need to leave right away. I’ll prepare your clothes first!”
Sarah was also flustered, as this was a first for her as well.
It wasn’t as if the Dines family had any private business that would require them to visit the palace.
In the end, Lobelin hurriedly prepared with a dazed face and boarded the Imperial carriage with Sarah.
“Miss, why do you think they’re calling for you?”
“Ugh…….”
When Sarah asked cautiously, Lobelin groaned, pressing a hand to her forehead.
From the moment she received the letter until now, a single scene had been playing repeatedly in her mind.
‘You insolent girl! Do you really think someone like you can associate with my son? Get away from him this instant!’
It was a common scene in the dramas she had watched in her past life.
The ones with a shred of humanity might at least throw a white envelope of cash at her.
‘There were also those who just threw hot coffee in people’s faces.’
The thought sent a shiver down her spine.
These were people who treated their own son like an object and had tried to kill Cornelia out of the blue; throwing hot coffee would be nothing to them.
Thinking this far, Lobelin felt a sudden urge to jump out of the carriage and run home.
“Lady Dines, we will be arriving shortly. Please prepare to disembark.”
But the carriage was already entering the Imperial Palace grounds.
The coachman’s announcement felt like a death sentence.
“……Sarah.”
Lobelin spoke, her face pale.
“Listen, if I don’t make it back, tell my parents I love them very, very much.”
“Pardon? What are you saying…….”
“And to Connie and Bri too……. Sniff .”
“Lady Dines, please step down.”
While Lobelin’s throat tightened with emotion, the cold voice of the coachman came from outside.
Ultimately, Lobelin had to step out of the carriage without being able to say everything she wanted.
A stern-looking Head Maid greeted her.
“Follow me.”
Without even introducing herself, the Head Maid turned and walked away.
Lobelin had no choice but to follow, not even knowing where she was being taken.
