Chapter 76

"Greetings to the glorious moon of Alkaraz. To what do I owe the honor of her majesty's gracious presence?"

Although this visit may appear unremarkable to observers, it is, in fact, highly unusual in my relationship with the empress, or lack thereof. Not once, from her coronation day until now, has she ever set foot in my quarters. Her strange actions today have me wondering what the underlying cause might be. In contrast to her panicked outburst earlier, when she had burst into the emperor's chambers, she now appears considerably more tranquil and composed.

"Does a mother need a reason to visit her dearest son?"

*Scoff* I supposed the shock from earlier is finally taking effect. She has completely lost her wits.

"You may all wait outside." She waved to her handmaidens, her brow creased with concern.

"Yes, your majesty."

Judging by her expression, there must be some sort of trouble brewing.

"Your highness…" her words were clipped and precise, before a dramatic sigh punctuated the silence.

"Duchess Gwendolynn has made it known that she intends to formally appeal the dissolution of your betrothal to lady Florette."

"Is that so?"

By what right does that woman presume to interfere with my personal decisions?

"Your highness, I urge you to maintain composure. We must dissect this situation with sharp minds, while aiming for a result she can't possibly challenge. I plan on…"

His anger is so intense right now that he's not paying attention to a single word I'm saying. At this rate, a disaster might befall the Kartier household in the foreseeable future.

"Consider the potential consequences for your sister before acting in a manner you may later regret, your highness."

That appears to have finally stimulated his attention. With each passing moment in his presence, his father's words, once dismissed as jest, reveal themselves to be a profound and undeniable truth, their gravity settling upon my soul like a gentle weight. His clenched fists and quiet seething conveyed such intense anger that I could barely maintain my composure. It feels as though I am in the presence of a feral beast in rage mode. A tremor ran through my legs, threatening to betray my calm bearing beneath the fabric of my dress, yet I couldn't allow him to see my nervousness lest he prey on it.

"It sounds like her majesty has a plan in motion. I am quite eager to hear it." He sighed while lifting his gaze to meet mine.

For a long time, I had been told that, unlike the average person, he was incapable of understanding or processing his own feelings in a typical manner. However, he somehow calmed himself in a matter of seconds. How is that even possible? Phew! I am exceedingly thankful that I followed his Majesty's warnings, a choice which I now recognize as incredibly wise and beneficial. What a frightening man the prince turned out to be.

+++

His Majesty's words were slurred and indistinct, a low rumble that I could barely make out, but I'm certain I heard him mention my uncle, Grand Duke Sebastian. It was that man who plotted my assassination on that fateful day, a plot that led to his accusation of treason. Perhaps I should wait until the emperor makes a full recovery to inquire about the events that led me to Alkaraz. In order to be better prepared for my next encounter with Loraine, I am determined to discover every aspect of the truth.

*Knock! Knock! *

"Oh! They must have returned. Please come in."

As the doors creaked open and the footsteps grew closer, an intense fear loomed over me. Despite my apprehension, I sprang to my feet, the plush velvet of the chair yielding beneath me as I moved to greet them promptly. However, I stopped mid-sentence, my words catching in my throat as my gaze met... the intense, and unwavering glare of…

"Who are you…" she shouted concisely.

"…and what are you doing alone in his majesty's bedchamber?"

Suddenly, I found myself sweating profusely, my body trembling, and my gaze fixed on the ground in a desperate attempt to stay calm.

"I…I…"

"Guards!" she howled towards the closed doors.

In the blink of an eye, a group of knights, all armed and ready, aggressively invaded his majesty's private chamber, their weapons aimed with apprehension and hostility directly at me.

"What are you waiting for? Apprehend the intruder immediately!"

Her commanding presence as she addressed the knights was so powerful and authoritative that one might have easily believed that she was the empress. Such is the power wielded by Duchess Gwendolyn.

"Y-your grace, she is wearing an imperial brooch." cautioned one knight.

Crafted with exquisite detail, the imperial brooch serves as a special work badge, a privilege granted only to those working in close proximity to the imperial family. The intricate feature of each employee's fingerprint, etched into the brooch, makes forgery nearly impossible, highlighting the rarity of these items.

"She could have stolen that brooch for all we know. Now hurry and apprehend her before she harms his majesty."

Despite the immediate threat of some guards with drawn swords closing in, and the rest of them aiming rifles straight at me, I remained speechless, completely and utterly unable to voice a single word of protest or explanation. Why does she still have this inexplicable power over me? I don't understand…

"What do you all think you're doing in my father's bedchamber?!" roared a loud and angry voice in the doorway.

All eyes in the room immediately turned to Nathan and the empress, their expressions of displeasure clearly directed at the knights and the duchess. A wave of relief washed over me, and in that instant, my legs gave way beneath me, resulting in an unplanned and somewhat undignified landing on the floor. My heart was pounding in my chest so forcefully that I felt as if I could hardly draw a breath. At this rate I'll…

"Lottie!"

The blurred image of Nathan rushing towards me as I slumped on the floor filled me with an odd sense of…safety.

+++

How dare that brat yell at me like a child in front of everyone? He's never once accepted any of the qualified candidates I sent him, yet he single-handedly hired a new secretary. Her youthful appearance and innocent eyes suggested a malleable mind, ripe for manipulation. I have faith in Florette's ability to handle her without my intervention. And if she turns out to be of no use, I will simply eliminate her-

"Watch your steps, my lady."

"Why, thank you, sir Uwol. How very polite of you to offer me your hand."

What is this? Why are my slaves…being escorted to the imperial palace?

"The pleasure is all mine, lady Eugenie."

"You can leave them to me, Uwol. I shall escort them directly to his highness."

…and why is Dimitriu with them?

"Understood, your grace."

+++

"Notify me when she awakens."

"Certainly, your highness."

*Knock, knock*

"Pardon the interruption, your highness. His grace Duke Kartier is here to see you."

"Let them in. You may leave, Celia."

"Yes, your highness."

With the slow opening of the doors, Dimitriu entered, the two ladies following his invitation. Standing near the doorway, Celia instantly recoiled upon making eye contact with Dimitriu and subsequently fled the scene in haste. I suppose it wouldn't be prudent if he were to recognize her now.

"I offer my salutations to the bright young star of our realm. It's been a while, your highness."

"Spare me the flatteries and take a seat."

Following a brief exchange of pleasantries and greetings, we settled down for a cup of tea, engaging in a light and casual conversation. While I expected some interpersonal strain, Dimitriu's rather dull jokes unexpectedly fostered an atmosphere conducive to open dialogue. The girls appear slimmer than they did five years ago. Fati also bore the same countenance when I picked her up from the annex's floor on that day. Have they been starving them over there?

"In accordance with your request, they have been returned safely. Am I not worthy of a reward at the very least, your highness?" said the duke with a smile.

"Ha!" a subtle scoff escaped my lips.

"Now then, shall we discuss business?"

"We're very sorry, your highness!" they exclaimed as they knelt before me, which surprised both the duke and me.

"What are you- *sigh* On your feet, you two, before I lose my last shred of patience."

What in the world are they trying to do? Were Fati to unexpectedly enter the room at this precise juncture, I foresee a week, at the very least, of complete and utter silence imposed upon me by her displeasure. It's imperative that I remain in her good graces during my courtship.

"We accept full responsibility for our failure to protect her and humbly submit ourselves to your highness' judgment." Ivy stated, her voice trembling.

"M-me too, your highness, please punish me as well."

"What on earth are you saying, you dummy? I'm the eldest, so I should be the one to incur the penalty. You stay out of this, Clover." Chided Ivy as she grabbed Clover's shoulders.

"No, I don't want to!" Clover retorted, wrapping her arms around her sister's neck.

"Let go! You're strangling me!"

"I won't until you take back your words!"

*sigh* What to do now?

"Your highness, could you please explain what is happening right now? I am at a complete loss."

"Well, if you must know- Fati was nearly murdered by your mother recently."

"I beg your pardon?" he exclaimed, rising abruptly from his seat.

His slack jaw and wide eyes showed he was completely unaware of the events that transpired that day.

*Knock, Knock*

"Pardon the intrusion, your highness. Miss Lottie is here to see you." Celia announced from behind the door.