Chapter 10
“Look at your past behavior. Of course I misunderstood.”
Banteon ignored Diana’s words and continued.
“If she’s gone, there’s no risk of being exposed. Get her resignation.”
“No.”
Diana firmly rejected it.
“I heard her family’s struggling. Even though she’s tied up here, you know how high a palace maid’s salary is.”
“I can pay her plenty. What’s the problem?”
Diana sighed. It wasn’t just about that man—she had already heard everything from Rellia about her family’s situation.
She didn’t dig too deep for the details. Diana sympathized with Rellia, who was in a similar position to herself, and had no desire to uncover things the other didn’t want to reveal.
Knowing someone’s painful circumstances without them telling you directly only left a guilty feeling. Maybe that shared experience made Diana more generous toward Rellia without realizing it.
Either way, Rellia’s situation wasn’t good. A father trying to sell her off. Working as a palace maid just to avoid that fate and send money home.
Even if Banteon sent her away with a large sum of money, Rellia probably wouldn’t be able to abandon her family.
That Baron White might just take all the money and sell her to some old noble again.
“Her family’s circumstances are complicated.”
“And I’m trying to solve them.”
Diana shook her head.
“She won’t be able to abandon her family.”
She looked at Rellia with pity. The dark circles under her eyes suggested she was dealing with family trouble again.
Not knowing any of this, Rellia was just busy observing the Empress’s movements, clueless about what they were discussing.
“Anyway, I’ll come once every three days starting in two weeks. You know what to do when that happens, right?”
“Thank you, brother.”
“If you’re grateful, don’t get caught.”
Banteon stood up and threw his teacup to the floor. The sharp sound of shattering echoed as the cup broke into pieces. Everyone flinched, turning to look at Banteon and Diana.
He had deliberately chosen an open garden to do that in full view. Diana, understanding this, bowed her head in sync.
“Don’t even think of going back to that bastard.”
“…I won’t.”
Banteon’s eyes briefly met Rellia’s before moving away.
It was such a fleeting moment that Rellia thought she imagined it and brushed it off.
* * *
“Hasn’t the Duke of Actilus been visiting the Empress’s quarters quite often lately?”
The Emperor asked casually as Rellia and Sarah came to report on the Empress’s activities. They answered honestly.
“Yes. His visits have become more frequent.”
“What do they usually talk about?”
“We’re kept far away, so we can’t hear much…”
The Emperor gestured at the hesitant Sarah to speak. She licked her lips, then answered truthfully.
“They mostly argue.”
“Argue?”
“Yes. I couldn’t hear everything, but yesterday, the Duke stormed out saying, ‘Do whatever you want.’”
“He stormed out, huh. That all?”
Sarah hesitated, unsure if she should continue, then shut her eyes tightly and spilled the rest.
“He told Her Majesty not to call him family anymore.”
Even if they didn’t report it, such things would eventually reach the Emperor. And he wouldn’t take a maid’s words at face value anyway.
Knowing that, the palace maids always reported just the plain truth.
“Such crude words. Sounds exactly like something the Duke of Actilus would say.”
The Emperor looked oddly pleased and waved the two away. He then snapped his fingers, and a hidden knight appeared.
“Is what they said true?”
“Yes.”
“Not a single error?”
“Correct.”
“Did you hear anything else?”
“Forgive me. The Duke’s aura was too intense to get any closer. That’s all I heard.”
Even managing that much without being detected by the monster was impressive. He probably paid no attention to the maids like Sarah and Rellia.
“And after that?”
“He hasn’t come back since.”
“So the proud man has even been abandoned by his family.”
Watching the Empress’s proud demeanor slowly crumble filled the Emperor with a deep sense of triumph, as if the Duke himself had bowed to him.
“I should pay her a visit soon.”
He was sure the Empress, with all her ties cut, was now drowning in despair.
His plan to use her as bait to control the Duke had collapsed when their relationship ended.
The man, once he made a decision, never looked back. He would coldly cut ties—even with family—if it didn’t sit right with him.
It would be harder to manipulate the Duke through his sister now, but that didn’t matter.
He would just find another way.
Besides, to the Emperor, the Empress had long since become just a dull plaything. There was nothing more amusing than watching that haughty noblewoman fall apart.
* * *
Sarah and Rellia walked in silence until they reached the Empress’s quarters. Once there, Rellia lowered her voice and asked curiously.
“Why did you pretend?”
“What?”
“Hesitating, squeezing your eyes shut… you were going to tell him everything anyway. Why all the acting?”
Startled, Sarah looked around and then stared at Rellia in amazement.
“You’re that observant?”
“You always underestimate me.”
Sarah brushed it off.
“It’s so the Emperor believes us. That kind of acting is necessary.”
“Is your dream to be an actress?”
“Are you crazy? They barely make any money.”
Then Sarah suddenly stiffened. If Rellia noticed, what if the Emperor did too?
But Rellia patted her shoulder reassuringly.
“I know you’re loyal, Sarah. That’s why I could tell. But the Emperor doesn’t, so he won’t notice.”
“Why are you suddenly so clever?”
Sarah seriously grabbed Rellia’s head and turned it left and right. This wasn’t like her—she was getting smarter by the day.
At that moment, the Empress appeared.
One might have expected her to be dejected after the argument, but she actually seemed to shine more than before.
At the same time, she seemed a bit more irritable, her sharp expression giving off an intimidating aura.
Sarah instinctively shrank away, even though she had never reacted to the Empress like that before.
The Empress passed them by with little interest, followed by two maids assigned to her for the day.
Watching her go, Sarah murmured,
“Maybe something changed in her heart. At least she looks a bit more at peace.”
Rellia said nothing, still keeping a sharp eye on the Empress before glancing away.
“Sarah, do you think the palace has any dog holes?”
“No.”
Sarah actually knew of a few, but didn’t bother telling Rellia the truth.
No sane person would try to escape the palace through one of those.
But the current Rellia just might. So Sarah kept her lips sealed.
“Are you resting at the quarters again today?”
Rellia had been avoiding going out, mainly because of Baron White camping in the palace.
Even on days off, she was always busy looking for escape routes.
Of course, if she escaped recklessly, she’d likely be caught and killed. But whether she died escaping or got executed for running, it made no difference.
At least she’d go down fighting.
She didn’t want to die just waiting.
That’s why she often got caught by the Empress with weeds tangled in her hair from crawling through bushes, and earned scornful laughs for it.
“I’ll go out the day after tomorrow.”
“So you’re staying in today and tomorrow?”
Rellia nodded. There was still one more place she wanted to check.
“Hmm… If you’re going out, let’s go together.”
“Huh?”
“We need to shop. You’ve been saving, right? Even if not jewelry, you need at least a few dresses.”
Sarah smiled, but Rellia shook her head.
“Not dresses. Just some daily necessities—”
“Dresses!”
Sarah suddenly shouted, making Rellia jump up in shock.
“You must buy dresses! You’re a noblewoman! You only have two dresses! That’s unacceptable—it’s starting to smell!”
“It doesn’t! I washed them really well!”
“Do you think that’s what I meant?!”
Their bickering could be heard down the hall, but everyone was used to it now. They just knocked on the door to signal, Please keep it down.
Sarah calmed herself.
“You’re buying at least five. Be ready by tomorrow.”
Without waiting for objection, she grabbed her clutch and left.
Rellia thought to herself: she wouldn’t even be able to take any dresses with her when she escaped. She was planning to save up as much as she could, exchange it for cash, and stock up on useful supplies.
Still, Sarah was kind—so Rellia decided to go along with her.
‘Come to think of it, there are magic shops in this world too.’
She’d probably find plenty of useful stuff.
Organizing her mental shopping list, Rellia grabbed a hoe she’d borrowed from the stableman and headed out.
She took a longer path to avoid running into the Empress, whom she’d strangely been encountering a lot lately.
“What’s with that look, Rellia?”
Unfortunately, she ran right into her.
“I thought I’d pull some weeds.”
“Diligent even on your day off, huh.”
There was a hint of laughter in her voice. Rellia found it strange.
She was the Empress—but she didn’t always act like it.
Rellia was convinced her words had moved the Empress’s heart. That’s why she was plotting her escape as quickly as possible.
She had to flee before the Empress did.
“Follow me.”
“…Sorry?”
“There are lots of weeds over there. Show me your skills.”
“My… impressive weed-pulling skills?”
“…”
The Empress—no, Banteon—pressed her lips together to suppress a laugh. It wasn’t much, but she was quite amusing.
“Yes. I’d like to see that impressive display.”
“They might be too dazzling. Maybe I should weed over there instead…”
“Follow me.”
In the end, Rellia couldn’t refuse and trailed after Banteon with small, reluctant steps.
She really wanted to inspect that wall instead… But her eyes, full of regret, turned away from it.
Thanks to frequent encounters, Rellia had realized the Empress was unusually kind to her. So she felt a bit more at ease around her.
If Sarah saw her acting like that, she’d probably faint from shock.
They arrived at a gazebo by the lake. Banteon sat in a chair and pointed her chin.
“Weed. Now.”
