What Goes In Her Mind

Who doesn't want to wear beautiful dresses, shoes, accessories?

In short, who doesn't want to adorn herself with all the magnificent things in the world and become that one unique existence that everyone will look up to?

I like it. I grab it. I wear it.

That should be the attitude of someone who has the power to gain everything.

But somehow, that someone is contemplating whether she would grab her happiness or maintain the stability of the government.

Who would've thought that a simple act of dressing can open up endless controversies?

The empress can't help but think of the woman who made her fall into this mess.

A flash of admiration, jealousy, and pity, but more so of admiration passed through her eyes unknowingly.

She remembered the past years of her life.

It was rare for the imperial family to achieve the happiness like that of a simple family.

It was rare for an empress, to be a happy wife, just waiting for her husband to come home after work, and have a sweet dinner and share their simple life stories at the end of the day.

And yet, the empress can't help but wish for such during the earlier years of her marriage.

Even if their union is political, she can't help but hope for a little affection coming from the emperor, especially, since the concubine system had long been abolished.

But reality strongly hammered down her small dream.

The emperor trampled her face to ground.

That foolish emperor, who is greedy of power married her, but is drooling over someone else's wife.

He acts like that woman is the only one in his heart, but he planted his seed everywhere.

But what's more infuriating is that, she, who wanted to escape from such monster, can't cut the leash he placed on her neck.

She tried to be capricious, making herself vain to divert her disappointment.

But she knew she was only able to do all of those things because the emperor permitted it; because she never tried to cross the line of ridiculousness.

But it's true that she's sincere about her interest in fashion. She wanted to wear and collect all unique things in the world. Her son most likely inherited this trait from her.

And now, her interest is at its peak looking at the tightly sealed case that promises the revival of the long-lost art of dyeing.

It's no exaggeration that her hands are shaking from anticipation, but her rationality serves as a shackle that keeps her from unleashing the hidden splendor.

It was not the first time she heard news about Yue Crest.

A daughter born without the love of her mother.

A daughter who witnessed the destruction of her father.

Yue, who walked the path of loneliness since birth and eventually closed herself from the world.

A lot of people find it a pity, but not for the wasting life, but a pity that their chance of connecting to the next duke of the Crest family lessened, yet gloating because tragedy of top families is always a great source of entertainment. Of course, if they can poke the wound until it bleeds, it may give them an opportunity to usurp the power.

The empress also pitied the child a little, but pity is useless if you don't intend to help the person.

The Crest family had always been a sore spot for the imperial family.

The experience of the child is the result on one of the many plans concocted by the imperial family to amass all of the empire's power. And in order to do that, they should eliminate first the family that keeps them in check.

But the child was able to find herself and started to make a name for the past few years. Although small, still, it creates a ripple.

"Your majesty, there's only a few hours left before the commencement of the Imperial Banquet" the assistant calmly reminded, but she was already in the state of panic. The empress always does things perfectly, but for some reason she was distracted today. Usually, the outfits she would wear would be finalized months before the actual event followed by the accessories, shoes, make-up, hair, etc. But because of the eccentricity of imperial designer which is condoned by the empress, they weren't able to conceptualize and prepare thoroughly for the event.

Although they prepared some contingency plans, but without much information, the reality may create much discrepancy that can lead to a disastrous outcome.

The imperial banquet this time is a bigger deal compared to the previous ones since the event was suspended for five years due to natural disasters that visited the empire.

The resumption of the imperial banquet indicates that the empire managed to recover herself and is entering another prosperous era.

But the attitude of the empress is unnerving, as such, the assistant also called for the crown prince.

The empress heard the reminder but she continued to watch the case.

Should she try to tilt the playing ground a little?