The Empress and the Queen

Liliana had come to the Empress's palace with one goal: to warn Diana.

The flyers. The articles. The rumors.

Everything pointed to Diana's interference.

Liliana was no fool.

She knew Diana was behind this, spreading accusations, digging up the truth about Marquis Evermont's corruption. The Empress wanted to turn the court against her.

But did Diana really think she could win?

Liliana was still loved by the Emperor.

That was enough.

So she came here, unannounced, intending to remind Diana of that simple fact.

Yet, the moment she stepped into the palace grounds, she saw him.

A small, delicate boy with black hair and piercing gray eyes.

For a brief moment, Liliana felt like she was staring at a miniature version of Cassian.

She froze.

Her heart pounded as his name echoed in her mind.

Lucien Verdeca.

He was two years younger than her own children—Roan and Elysian—but unlike them, he was legitimate.

A surge of emotions crashed over her like a violent wave.

Illegitimate.

Commoner.

Unbefitting.

Half-blood.

Her own children were born when she was still a commoner.

Cassian had not yet been Emperor. He had still been engaged to Diana.

Liliana swallowed hard.

Lucien Verdeca was born after Cassian had already married Diana. He was an aristocrat by blood—descendant of the Grand Duke Hinsdale and the Verdeca Royal Family.

Unlike Roan and Elysian, Lucien was truly noble.

Her fingers curled into fists.

This child should not exist.

A twisted thought slithered into her mind.

If he died, it would be better.

But he didn't die.

Despite his sickly body, despite his frailty, he survived.

No—he did more than survive.

He was being trained by the Tower Master of Sorvenia, the strongest magician in the continent. A man who had never accepted a disciple before.

That wasn't all.

Lucien was also being trained by Lucius Nightbane, the King of the Underworld—a criminal, but an undeniably skilled swordsman.

Liliana's stomach churned.

Her plan to humiliate Diana through Count Rubein had failed because Lucien's tutors were too strong.

How?

How had Diana arranged all of this so perfectly?

Why was this child taking everything that should belong to her children?

The more she thought about it, the more furious she became.

Her feet moved forward before she even realized it.

She reached toward Lucien.

The boy flinched.

His small body trembled as he scrambled away.

That mere action sent rage blazing through her veins.

How dare a mere brat react to her like that?!

Lucien turned to run—

And he fell.

A soft thud.

A small cry.

Tears welled up in his eyes as he clutched his knee.

Liliana smirked.

Pathetic.

But before she could even move—

A blade flashed.

A sharp, shing sliced through the air.

Pain exploded in her chest as her knight was suddenly kicked backward.

Liliana's smirk froze.

Diana had moved with terrifying speed.

In a heartbeat, she had drawn her sword, scooped up Lucien, and positioned herself between them.

The Empress's golden eyes blazed with fury, her blade steady and sharp.

The noble ladies around them sat in stunned silence, their tea long forgotten.

Lady Sophia and two others rushed to Lucien, whispering soothing words as they checked his injuries.

Liliana slowly looked up at Diana.

The Empress was trembling—but not with fear.

With rage.

Her grip on the sword tightened.

"What," Diana's voice was cold as death, "is the meaning of this?"

Liliana's lips curled into a smirk.

Oh, this was perfect.

Diana had just attacked her knights.

There were witnesses.

It was only a matter of time before news reached Cassian.

And when it did—

Diana would be the villain.

---

Diana's grip tightened around her sword, her golden eyes blazing with fury.

Her body trembled—not from fear, not from exhaustion—but from rage.

Her son.

Her beloved son.

Lucien was hurt.

And the culprit was standing before her, pretending to be innocent.

Liliana.

Dressed in a soft lavender gown, her brown hair cascading in perfect waves, she looked like a delicate flower—a fragile woman wronged by the fierce, unyielding Empress.

She clutched her arm, where a small scratch marred her otherwise flawless skin.

Tears welled in her eyes, her lips quivering as she fell to her knees like a pitiful damsel.

"Diana... I don't understand why you're acting like this," Liliana whispered, her voice soft, trembling.

Diana's glare could have burned her alive.

"Liliana," she said, her tone low and dangerous, "why are your knights in my palace?"

Liliana blinked innocently. "Oh? Is that not normal? Of course, my knights follow me. I am the Queen, after all."

Diana's fingers curled around the hilt of her sword.

The gall.

The audacity to act as though this was her domain.

"I didn't invite you here," Diana spat.

Liliana's tears fell as she pressed a delicate hand to her chest. "I only came to talk. But then you attacked me… I don't know why you hate me so much, Diana. I truly—"

"Scram."

Liliana flinched as Diana's voice rang out, sharp and final.

But before Liliana could respond, a small voice broke through the tense silence.

"She… She tried to make me go with her," Lucien whispered.

Everyone turned.

Lucien clung tightly to Lady Sophia's dress, his small hands trembling.

His large gray eyes, red from tears, darted between Liliana and Diana, filled with fear.

"I didn't want to," Lucien whimpered.

Sophia tightened her hold on him, her face pale with horror. "Your Majesty," she breathed, "Prince Lucien… he was terrified."

Diana's heart clenched.

Her son—her baby—was terrified.

Her vision blurred with rage.

She turned back to Liliana, her voice eerily calm.

"What do you want?"

Liliana wiped a tear from her cheek, her expression shifting into something calculating.

"I know it was you," she said softly.

Diana narrowed her eyes. "What?"

"You were the one who spread the flyers," Liliana accused. "You've been scheming against me, trying to turn the Empire against me!"

Diana stared at her, unimpressed.

"…And?"

Liliana gasped dramatically. "You admit it?! Diana, how could you? You're going too far!"

Diana let out a bitter laugh.

"Too far?" she echoed. "You accuse me without proof, trespass into my residence, and frighten my son—and yet, I'm the one going too far?"

Liliana shuddered as if Diana's words had physically hurt her.

And then—

She collapsed further, sobbing into her hands.

The image of a fragile woman, hurt and powerless.

Diana's stomach churned.

It was the same pathetic act Liliana had used five years ago.

The same act that had turned Cassian against her.

The same act that had made the world pity her while Diana was painted as the cruel Empress.

The same act that had led to Diana's death in her past life.

Her rage surged.

Before she could move, a sharp gasp echoed from Sophia.

Diana's body went rigid.

Something was wrong.

She turned sharply—

And froze.

Lucien's small knees were bleeding.

His little hands trembled as Sophia tried to wipe the blood away with a handkerchief.

Diana felt her breath leave her lungs.

Her son was hurt.

Lucien was hurt.

Red.

Diana saw red.

With deadly speed, she lunged.

Liliana barely had time to widen her eyes before Diana attacked.

The guards moved to defend her, but Diana was faster.

Her sword clashed against theirs with a deafening clang.

The noble ladies screamed.

Gasps and cries filled the air.

Diana did not care.

The only thing she saw was her son's blood.

She slashed through one of the guards, sending him stumbling backward.

Another knight moved—Diana parried, twisted, countered.

Liliana's eyes widened in pure terror.

And then—

A golden light flared.

CLANG!

Diana's sword was blocked.

A golden aura pulsed against her blade.

She staggered back, teeth gritted.

And then—

She saw him.

Cassian.

The Emperor stood before her, gray eyes sharp, his sword raised.

He had come.

But not for her.

Not for Lucien.

No.

He had come for Liliana.

And not once—not even for a second—did his gaze flicker to Lucien.

Not once did he ask what happened.

Not once did he acknowledge his son's pain.

Diana stilled.

She understood now.

Cassian… was the same as Marquis Evermont.

He loved the illegitimate bastards more.

That was why he didn't look at Lucien.

That was why he didn't ask.

That was why he immediately defended Liliana.

A bitter laugh bubbled in Diana's throat.

She glared at Cassian.

"What else do you want from me?" she demanded.

Cassian frowned. "Diana, you went too far—"

She ignored him.

Instead, she knelt down and gently pulled Lucien into her arms.

Lucien sniffled, pressing his tear-streaked face into her shoulder.

Diana took a deep breath.

Then, she turned back to Cassian and Liliana, her expression icy.

"Liliana," she said, "stay out of my life. Stop bothering me. You can have whatever you want—I don't care."

Cassian's eyes narrowed. "Diana—"

"And you," Diana cut him off, standing tall. "Cassian, from now on, the Hinsdale family will no longer stand behind the Royal Family."

The room fell silent.

A wave of shock passed over everyone.

Cassian's expression darkened. "Diana, you can't—"

"I can," she said, her voice firm. "And I will."

She met his gaze, unyielding.

"If it weren't for the Imperial Law preventing me from divorcing you without killing you first," she said, her voice cold and final, "I would have left a long time ago."