At Elaine’s words, a satisfied smile curled on Delzaya’s lips.
“We can’t allow Ricardo to be backed by a powerful family. We have to nip anything that might stand in your way before it starts.”
Her voice sounded gentle, but it was laced with poison. Along with hostility toward the son she hadn’t birthed herself, there was an underlying trace of fear.
“Then when is that poor bride supposed to arrive in the capital? Ricardo is out on the battlefield right now,” Duan asked.
Delzaya lifted her wine glass to her lips as she answered.
“She’ll be arriving soon. As soon as Ricardo returns, the wedding must be held immediately.”
Delzaya and Elaine exchanged satisfied smiles and clinked their glasses. Duan brought his hand to his mouth to suppress the cough threatening to escape.
Delzaya looked at her son’s pained, grimacing face with a complicated expression.
The more Duan’s condition worsened, the more annoying the continuous news of Ricardo’s victories from the battlefield became to her.
Even if something happened to Duan, she had to ensure, no matter what, that Ricardo never had the chance to claim the position of crown prince in place of her legitimate daughter, Elaine.
Her lips pressed into a cold line.
“We’ll be arriving at the imperial palace shortly.”
A calm but chilly voice came from outside the carriage.
The long journey had worn everyone out, and Molly, the maid, who had dozed off from sheer exhaustion, opened her eyes wide.
“Finally!”
With excitement and anticipation swirling in her eyes, Molly drew back the curtain and leaned out the window.
I caught a glimpse of the outside as well.
Unlike the rural roads we’d passed before, the scenery outside was bustling. The wide, even roads were filled with people, carriages, and horses.
What stood out the most were the massive mansions lined up neatly along both sides of the road. It was likely because many nobles, even those with estates in the countryside, kept lavish residences near the imperial palace.
‘So this is the capital at last.’
Arriving in the capital—the primary setting of the original story—felt strange. The thought that the Duke of Zenkis’s residence was somewhere around here made me tense up.
“The capital really is different. Look at those women’s clothes! So fancy… They’re clearly not commoners or maids, right?”
A dreamy smile bloomed on Molly’s lips, as if she were imagining her own bright future.
“We’re entering the palace now.”
A brief announcement came from outside, and the carriage passed through the tightly guarded entrance of the palace.
Only after going well past the guards did a massive gate open before us.
“We’ve arrived.”
The carriage stopped, and the door opened. The attendants began to lower the steps.
Even Molly, who had been noisy the entire trip, was subdued by the dazzling golden palace and stepped down nervously.
The man who had brought me here offered his arm with even more courtesy than before.
“When you meet Her Majesty the Empress, speak as little as possible and show utmost respect.”
He must’ve been worried I’d cause a scene, but I already knew that much. Now was the time to stay quiet and quickly assess the situation I was in.
“Don’t worry. I understand.”
Just the thought of meeting the empress—the very one who stood opposed to male lead Ricardo—made me unnecessarily tense.
‘If she’s like in the original story, she must look absolutely fierce and terrifying, right?’
Expecting the most ferocious face I could imagine, I walked down a corridor lined with ornate candelabras.
We passed through several doors until we finally arrived at the audience chamber.
“I’ve brought Lady Stella of the Enrio family, Your Majesty.”
At those words, the empress, seated on a sofa, turned to look at us.
“Ah!”
A small gasp escaped me before I realized.
The woman walking toward me was a bit different from what I had imagined.
In the original story, she was described as glamorous, but in person—even as a middle-aged woman—she was stunning and graceful.
Her deep green dress accentuated her flawless skin, and her neatly styled golden hair gleamed.
It would be a disservice to simply call her fierce; the elegance she exuded made anyone shrink in comparison.
“You’ve finally arrived. It must’ve been a long journey,” she said, walking toward me with a gentle smile.
“It’s an honor to meet you, Your Majesty. I’m Stella Enrio.”
I lifted my skirt and gave a small curtsy. The empress kindly helped me up and spoke warmly.
“We may be distant relatives, but this is the first time we’ve met. Tell me, are your parents doing well?”
“Yes.”
“I’ve never met them, but I’ve heard many admirable things about their character.”
Her words were empty pleasantries, and I couldn’t help but smirk internally.
She probably didn’t even know the baron and baroness existed, let alone heard any compliments about them. And yet here she was, acting like a sweet, affectionate relative.
“You’re just as graceful and beautiful as I’d heard, Kayla.”
She called me Kayla and complimented me. She hadn’t even registered the name I gave during my introduction.
“Thank you. But actually, I—”
I sent a look to the man who brought me, and he cleared his throat and stepped up to the empress.
“Your Majesty, I have something to tell you privately.”
He whispered something into her ear, and for a moment, a faint crease of irritation appeared on her brow.
But it vanished quickly.
The empress turned back to me with an even brighter smile than before.
“I had no idea the circumstances were so complicated. But even if you are an illegitimate child, you still carry the Enrio blood. That’s all that matters.”
She gently took my hand and continued kindly,
“The duke’s situation is similar to yours, so I’m sure you’ll understand each other well. This might even work out for the best.”
I immediately understood what she meant.
She had never intended to marry a proper bride to the despised Duke of Zenkis.
Whether I was Kayla, Stella, or even just a maid, it didn’t matter to her.
The more inferior Ricardo’s bride was, the more satisfied she would be.
So there was no reason she would be displeased with me showing up in someone else’s place.
It was probably for this very reason that her close aide had brought me here.
In any case, I was relieved that the empress wasn’t outraged to learn the bride had been switched. I had honestly feared she’d kill me before Ricardo even returned.
Strangely, I even felt a bit of twisted sympathy toward her.
“The duke’s situation is similar to yours, so I’m sure you’ll understand each other well. This might even work out for the best.”
Did that line spark something deep inside me?
I was annoyed by the implication that two lowborn illegitimates should just get along.
There was no denying Ricardo was a jerk, but hearing how the palace treated him—just like they treated the maid Stella—made me momentarily feel sorry for him.
Maybe that’s why he turned out so twisted.
‘No, he’s still just an asshole.’
I snapped out of it, realizing I was sympathizing with him, even for a moment.
“I’m honored, Your Majesty.”
The empress stroked the back of my hand as she offered advice.
“Ricardo isn’t a gentle man, but he’s not the kind of brute who mistreats his wife. So I hope you fulfill your role well. Think of me as your real mother from now on.”
But what I heard in those words was this:
Ricardo won’t be kind to you. He’ll treat you like you don’t exist. So know your place and play your role as the figurehead wife. And you’d better serve me like your true master.
I barely kept one corner of my mouth from curling upward in disdain and instead gave her a polite smile.
“I will keep your words close to my heart, Your Majesty.”
Right now, the most important thing was to appear harmless and naïve to the empress. If she saw me as a threat or enemy, things would get complicated.
“As expected, Sir Nox never disappoints. Even in such an urgent situation, he managed to find a replacement bride. A brilliant response.”
At that moment, my ears twitched at the name she uttered as she turned back.
Nox? Nox…?
It sounded so familiar. Where had I heard it before?
Ah! Nox!!
Only then did the memory hit me, and my eyes shot toward the man who had brought me.
Nox Valkyrie—the empress’s captain of the guard and her devoted shadow. In the end, he even did unmentionable things with her. A repulsive character.
No wonder I didn’t recognize him.
In the story, he was always hovering near the empress, like a ghost.
I looked at the empress and Nox with a discreet, judgmental gaze.
Pretending to be so dignified in public, yet rolling around like beasts in private… How lovely.
They had no idea I was mocking them inside my head.
I had no intention of picking a fight with them just yet, so I pretended not to know a thing.
Who knew when they’d become obstacles to me—but if that time came, I’d know what to do.
Just as the meeting with the empress was about to wrap up, something unexpected happened.
