Concubine's Invitation

Rumors were spreading throughout the Imperial Palace that the Emperor and the newly-declared Empress had shared breakfast. Although the uproar had spread everywhere, the Empress Dowager and the other concubines were at its center. It seemed only Hilaria was at peace. Although, she had been visited by people constantly after she had attended that fateful breakfast.

Except for a small bag Katie had brought, their baggage had been confiscated upon entry to the Palace. Finally, their luggage, after being carefully inspected, was returned.

“Is there anything missing?”

“There is not, Madam,” answered Katie after organizing the luggage.

All the clothes were then put away, with only accessories and some personal belongings remaining.

Snap-!

When Hilaria snapped her fingers, the notebook stashed in the drawer quietly floated up.

“Madam!”

Hilaria looked around and sighed deeply.

“What are you going to do if someone sees you?”

“It’s just you and me now, isn’t it? Besides, there is no one around.”

When Hilaria snapped her fingers once more, the butterflies that had seeped into the wall appeared in unison. They were the butterflies who guarded and protected the room.

“Hmph! Have you been using too much mana? No wonder you’re tired!”

Katie was busy rummaging through the jewelry box in the drawer. After checking the number of magic stones, Katie turned around.

“Ah, Madam!”

“Beatrice should be here any minute.”

“Really?”

Hilaria nodded her head.

‘I can still hear Beatrice making a fuss.’

[Why are you contacting me in such a rush? How many fire mana stones do you need me to bring you now?]

[There were 100, but there are now only about 50 in the mansion, Miss.]

[I’ll bring a lot with me then. Can you send a telegram to the Imperial Palace? I’ll be coming tomorrow! Ah, and please, Hil. Don’t cause any trouble and stay still until I arrive.]

Hilaria bit her tongue in surprise. It was because Beatrice had thrust her head into the butterfly she had sent her.

She sighed in pain and opened the notebook that had fallen into her hand. Hilaria flipped through it, then clicked her tongue upon seeing its contents. It contained information that Hilaria could put to good use.

“I should have a tea party.”

“Why are you talking like that?”

“You don’t have to know.”

Hilaria spoke softly and rolled her tingling tongue around her mouth.

“Anyway. I’m going to have a tea party.”

“Tea party?”

“Yes. I’ll need money to catch the raccoon since Beatrice doesn’t have much money at the moment.”

Hilaria’s eyes twinkled. What she was looking at were the letters written in red.

‘Several families are leading the arms trafficking industry now. Stage 1 is to move Beatrice to secure evidence. Then, blackmail them and take over their business. Finally, get legal approval.’

‘I’ll have to pay tax, but that’s all right.’

Moreover, according to this information, Ebenezer was now preparing for war. Seeing that Guinevere had been brought into this, she could guess what the Emperor’s will was. Guinevere’s power was recognized even on the continent. Usually hostile to the Duchy, the Imperial family had a reason to reach out now.

Guinevere had two options.

They shake their hands of this war and get eaten by the Imperial Family, or join hands and cooperate.

‘That Winfred is shameless.’

Looking back at the history of why Guinevere had been banished to the wilderness in the first place, Winfried was also brazen.

‘If I accept this as it is, our little financial problem will be solved.’

In addition, weapons were to be delivered to the Imperial Family, deemed necessary to help build a favorable relationship with Ebenezer.

Hilaria smiled.

Katie confirmed that Hilaria was watching over her shoulder with a deep sigh.

“Are you planning on sticking your nose into that?”

“Yes.”

“…You are so bold.”

“No, this is only fair. It’s just making this illegal business legal. I will, after all, be paying the taxes that had been removed from the goodness of my heart.” 

“So, you are shameless.”

Katie had muttered softly so that Hilaria could not hear her, then stood by her side.

“Then who are you going to invite? When will the tea party be held?”

Katie nodded, writing down her notes as Hilaria called her.

“How should I prepare?”

“Wait. It seems like someone is coming.”

The vipers living in this jungle-like Imperial Palace had begun to raise their heads towards her.

[Azura, bring that woman, Hilaria, to me. I want to see her face myself. They say Guinevere women grew up in rough winds; she must be weathered.]

A venomous voice had been heard. The thought of taming the viper and reducing it to a mere pet made Hilaria’s cheeks flush. What kind of scapegoat had she found?

Katie couldn’t hide her sadness and closed her notebook.

***

The next day, Beatrice’s telegram had arrived from the Marquis of Genesis.

According to the Imperial Telegram Office news, she was expected to arrive at the Palace at around 3 PM.

“How impatient.”

“Watch your words, Madam… These people are from the capital.”

Katie, who received Hilaria’s sharp gaze, decided to shut her mouth.

Hilaria drank tea in a leisurely manner, flipping through a magazine. It was a magazine full of gossip from various social circles. Even when she was in the Duchy of Guinevere, she had been subscribed to the “Sidica Magazine” every week. She knew how “useless” gossip could exert its power in the real world and could contain information that might be surprisingly helpful.

“Hm. Oh my. Celeste, is it true that Lady Brenda from the Count Family spent a night with a commoner and got caught?” spoke Hilaria warmly.

Her polite words were awkward and chilling, and Celeste shrugged her shoulders.

“Yes, Madam. It took less than a day for her to get caught. Lady Brenda has never been able to adjust to her troubled life.”

After the first day, Celeste decided to provide Hilaria with all the information she wanted.

Hilaria had also had her worries about Celeste calmed by a spoonful. There was nothing to be afraid of as the butterflies had their eyes on everything. She kept reading through the articles about Lady Brenda’s love affair.

Despite being the eldest daughter, she had been pushed back in the line of succession after the second child born was a son.

‘She must have filled her empty heart with love, right?’

It would have to be true love.

People with a lot of scars like these are usually easy to use. Hilaria licked her lips and committed Count Brenda’s love affair to her memory.

“The capital is an exciting place.”

Celeste laughed awkwardly at the way Hilaria was speaking; you’d think she only thought of the capital as something to use.

Around the time the three of them were having a conversation, there was some commotion outside.

[Do you think Empress Silotte wants to meet her?]

[Then she has to come in person. How rude is that?]

[Very rude! Of course, it’s impolite to demand Madam Hilaria come! I don’t think all the concubines have gathered at the Canary Palace.]

[It’s not your fault that you didn’t tell us in advance. Besides, in terms of status, isn’t our Madam in the top position?]

Hilaria, listening to the conversation through the butterfly, smiled and got up. The quarrel between the maids was cute, almost like kittens whining. Katie glanced at Hilaria’s sudden movement. Hilaria just waited in a relaxed manner for the commotion to get nearer. Hilaria then slammed the magazine shut and nodded at Katie.

Katie, who quickly recognized Hilaria’s intentions, stood by her side.

Celeste watched them, puzzled, but neither of them answered her doubts with any explanation.

After a while, however,

“Do you want me to tell you?”

“Azura!”

Celeste then noticed the commotion, turning away with a cold expression.

“Should I send her back?”

“No. You can bring her in.”

‘If I wanted, I could be taken to the Canary Palace where they are all gathered.’

‘You’re acting cute, aren’t you?’

Hilaria giggled softly.

Katie looked at her anxiously.

‘Please.’

‘I hope she behaves herself.’

At least Hilaria wouldn’t bite unless you pushed her.

The door opened in the end, and a woman with her hair tied up pushed past the maid blocking her.

The woman who stood with her face bright red said sarcastically.

“My name is Azura, the maid of the Canary Palace, Madam.”

“Oh, dear.”

Hilaria smiled with her eyes closed, and Katie sighed inwardly.

‘She is doomed.’

Katie stole a glance at Hilaria. Celeste, who had been the one to face Hilaria on the first day, looked back at Hilaria nervously.

“Apologies for my rudeness in greeting the new Madam.”

Azura bent her knees slightly and greeted her.

“Come closer.”

“Yes?”

Only then did Azura adequately capture Hilaria’s face. After all the excitement had left, the atmosphere in the room became apparent.

The first maid she had seen, looking at her with a stiff face, and Celeste, holding her lips tightly shut.

‘What does she want?’

But it was too late to have such questions.

Hilaria took a deep breath and spoke again.

“I don’t like saying things twice. Come closer, Azura,” added Hilaria coldly.

“How long are you going to let me look up?”

The room seemed to freeze with a cold haze.

***

In the North Wing of Vladislav, there existed the Mandrava Palace, where only the Empress Dowager lived.

She had chosen the North Wing, saying that she would step back and decide to have a frugal life and beg forgiveness for her son, who had been exiled for his crime.

However, even a young noble child of the Empire could guess that Empress Dowager had ulterior motives.

The sharp face of the Empress Dowager, always dressed in black, was always an object of ridicule.

“Even the young concubine ignores me.”

“Your Majesty, The Empress Dowager.”

In sympathy with the Empress Dowager, the maids of Mandrava Palace held a woeful expression on their faces.

Count Erasmo, drinking tea while sitting opposite Empress Dowager, looked uncomfortable.

“With Guinevere now being here, you must be excited. At times like these, you shouldn’t be waiting around. Your Majesty. She is, after all, just a young girl of only 21 years. How difficult would it be to get her?”

Slurp-

The Empress’s nails flashed dangerously as she drank the strong-scented tea.

“Is that so?”

“If you exhibit the power of Your Majesty Empress Dowager, surely you will be able to bring Guinevere to your side, just like you did me.”

The Empress laughed at Count Erasmo’s words.

The lips of the Empress Dowager, dark red with lipstick, were curved cruelly.

“Yes. How can I sit still and be ignored like this?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“I heard that the Emperor ordered it himself, but still, I am the highest power here in this palace.”

“That’s right.”

Count Erasmo agreed as if it was natural and obvious.

The Empress Dowager looked back at Count Erasmo with sharp eyes.

Count Erasmo had been summoned this early morning for a reason.

Empress Dowager opened her mouth after hearing what she wanted.

“Then the Count must send his daughter.”

“Olivia?”

“Yes, Count. Do I have to move and stand to the side? Olivia understands the language well and has a strong will; she will be able to take care of it.”

“Well, I am so grateful that you put so much trust in my daughter,” said Count Erasmo while laughing. He thought of himself as having taken one step closer to the Empress Dowager.

‘As always, the Empress Dowager is a step above everyone.’

‘The Scarecrow Emperor, who can’t do anything but sit and watch, is no match for her.’

***

“Do you know who served the birthday cake Empress Venice ate before she died?”

Azura’s face turned white.

“H, h-how…!”

Azura looked around. Celeste and Katie stood at a distance, pretending they couldn’t hear anything.

Azura trembled and turned her gaze to Hilaria.

She shuddered harshly.

No one knew about that except Azura and Silotte. No one knew that the birthday cake Empress Venice had eaten a week before her death was the cause.

“Shh… If I keep my mouth shut, no one will find out. So don’t worry, Azura.”

Hilaria reached out and lifted Azura’s chin slightly. Even though Azura stood above her, she felt like she was shrinking down lower than her from the pressure.

“Kneel. Don’t be so arrogant.”

Azura slumped down.

Hilaria looked at Azura, who knelt in front of her, with a satisfied expression on her face. She thought it worth it to have a clean look without straining her neck.

Hilaria was a generous master, but not so much as to tolerate her rudeness.

Hilaria recognized who held the real power in the palace, just from the fact that Azura had been the one to come.

Silotte Winfred.

It seemed that Duke Van Eyck’s half-sister was the head of the concubines.

Hilaria ran her finger across her lips. She had now appointed someone to help with the tea party.

“Azura.”

“Yes, Madam!”

Only when she knelt and lay under the influence of Hilaria did Azura reply in a trembling voice.

She was only 21 years old.

Azura found it almost humorous that Hilaria was the youngest among the concubines who entered the palace, yet she had already piqued the interest of the Empress Dowager.

Azura swallowed her saliva. How did she find out their secret?

But Hilaria quickly returned to smiling as if she had forgotten everything.

“Shall we listen to her now? There must be a reason for Azura to be looking for me so urgently.”

Hilaria asked in a sweet voice like sherbet that slowly melted down.

Katie shook her head at Hilaria, feigning innocence.

‘I’m really glad I’m on your side. Really. I will never betray you.’

It was a promise that Katie would remind herself of every day.

“That,”

Azura cleared her voice and continued.

“That, Madam Silotte and the other Empresses want to see you.”

“Me?”

“Yes, Madam.”

“Then?”

At Hilaria’s question, Azura raised her head.

Hilaria, who was sat back, cross-legged, tilted her head.

“Yes…?”

Celeste, who was standing behind Azura, sighed.

Looking at her, she was reminded of the figure of herself, who had curled up just like that, yesterday.

Hilaria said with a bit of annoyance.

“Why can’t you yet understand?” said Hilaria, who sighed heavily.

“I am Princess Guinevere. Does your master have a higher rank than me?”

Azura’s pupils dilated, realizing what Hilaria was pointing out.

Azura shook her head.

“No, Madam! It’s not like that!”

“But,”

Hilaria’s fingers, still holding her chin, tapped her cheeks as if she were playing the piano.

“Who in the world are you to tell me where to go?”

Hilaria’s eyes beamed beautifully.

The victory was already leaning towards Hilaria. Hilaria had the blackmail that could put Silotte’s back against the wall, not to mention that she outranked her in status.

“Th-that, Madam!”

Azura quivered at a loss.

“Now, I believe Azura is smart, so she must have understood what I meant, right?”

Azura nodded quickly. Hilaria nodded at the door.

“Then go.”

“Yes, Madam.”

Azura bowed deeply and left the room, almost choking on her saliva as she gulped audibly.

Since Hilaria had opened her mouth to talk, she had only been trembling and calling out Madam. It was strange, but after entering the room, it was all she was capable of doing. It was as if she was possessed by something.

‘How could such a young woman have such power?’

When she returned, she would indeed be harassed by Empress Silotte, but she knew it better than to be bitten by Empress Hilaria. She rubbed the cold nape of her neck.

“There is a new wind in Vladislav.”

A mighty and fascinating wind named Hilaria.