Chapter 10
At her attitude, even Empress Julia and the others beside her could not easily say anything.
Of course, back then, that dress must have symbolized victory for Julia.
But now, after so much time had passed, it was nothing more than a device that mocked the legitimacy of the Empress.
A reminder of her past—of committing adultery and falsely accusing Empress Helen, driving her to her death.
Empress Helen had been executed by beheading for adultery. Yet everyone knew, at least implicitly, that it was the result of Julia’s scheme and the current Emperor’s silent consent.
So for Eleanor—who had lost her mother due to her father’s infidelity—there could be no better birthday “gift” from Julia than this.
Helen had died when Eleanor was only five, so she would not even be able to point out the intent behind today’s attire.
With a bright smile that contrasted sharply with her dress, Eleanor continued,
“Your Majesty, I sincerely thank you for sending His Highness the Crown Prince to the funeral. It was a great honor. I’m sure my mother would have been pleased as well.”
Only then did Julia seem to come back to her senses and put on the smile she had momentarily forgotten. But as if she knew it wouldn’t last, she addressed those around her.
“Would everyone please step back for a moment? I have something I wish to discuss privately with my future daughter-in-law.”
The moment she finished speaking, everyone withdrew as if the tide were receding.
Once they were alone, cracks formed in Julia’s smile. She narrowed one eye slightly and spoke.
“It seems you still harbor some resentment toward me, Lady Kline.”
“Resentment?”
Eleanor couldn’t help but laugh at Julia’s choice of words.
To dare reduce her mother’s death to mere “resentment.”
The shamelessness of it made her teeth clench.
Eleanor clearly remembered what her mother had said to Marquis Kline before she was locked in the underground room.
“I heard what you said to my mother. That you were in a relationship with my father even before she married him.”
Julia’s expression, which had still been relatively composed, twisted immediately at the next words.
“You married His Majesty the Emperor while you were having an affair with my father.”
“Lady, watch your words.”
At Julia’s sharp warning, Eleanor smiled.
Just as expected. A marriage involving the Emperor was on a completely different level from that of a mere noble.
And besides, wasn’t adultery the very charge for which Empress Helen had been executed?
“I’ve said nothing untrue. Why should I hold back?”
Eleanor smiled calmly at Julia, who glared at her—just as Julia herself had done moments earlier.
“You’re the one who told my mother all of this first, after all.”
“And who would believe that? A sick woman rambling under medication—who would take that seriously? There’s no evidence.”
Eleanor smiled faintly at Julia, who was insulting her mother.
“Don’t you already know better than anyone that real evidence doesn’t matter in situations like this, Your Majesty?”
Julia’s expression hardened instantly.
Because it was true.
Had Empress Helen really committed adultery?
Fabricated witnesses, fabricated evidence—those alone had been enough to condemn her.
And Julia had been the one behind it.
Of course, Eleanor had no intention of reporting this to the Emperor.
The reason Helen had ended up on the execution block was because the Emperor had been deeply infatuated with Julia at the time.
Unfortunately, as far as Eleanor knew, he still loved her.
Though that was likely because Julia had desperately prevented any other woman from catching his eye.
“I have no interest whatsoever in Your Majesty’s private life.”
Eleanor spoke in a somewhat softened tone.
She meant it.
No matter how disgracefully Julia lived, what did it have to do with her?
“Even if you had several more lovers besides my father, I would have turned a blind eye… as long as my mother hadn’t suffered because of it.”
“Lady Eleanor…”
Sensing an opportunity in Eleanor’s softened tone, Julia sighed.
“I truly feel sorry about your mother. I mean that sincerely. Did you think I knew things would turn out that way?”
“….”
“I only said those things to put her at ease. We were going to become family, after all—I didn’t want things to be awkward. Didn’t your mother tell you that?”
“How filthy.”
At Eleanor’s blunt remark, Julia’s eyes widened.
“…What did you say?”
“I said it’s filthy. Is that your idea of family, Your Majesty? Sharing the same man between in-laws?”
“That’s quite harsh, Lady Eleanor.”
“Is there anything incorrect about what I said?”
Julia’s lips trembled, but she couldn’t answer.
Eleanor watched her silently before speaking again.
“Let me rephrase. Does the Prince know about this… filthy idea of family?”
“Lady Kline.”
Julia called her name, her voice tinged with anxiety.
Seeing Eleanor’s faint smile, Julia hurriedly added,
“We’re about to become family.”
“Family?”
“Yes. I hope you won’t hate me too much because of what happened between our parents. I want us to be a harmonious family.”
She spoke in a coaxing tone.
“But if you hate me, that won’t be possible, will it?”
“A harmonious family…”
Eleanor let out a hollow breath, disbelief written across her face.
Then her gaze hardened.
“I don’t need that.”
She had changed her mind.
No matter what, even for the sake of revenge, she could never become family with someone like this.
Her plan needed to be completely revised.
With a blank expression, Eleanor lowered her head.
“Happy birthday, Your Majesty. I wish you a lovely evening.”
“Kline—!”
Julia tried to stop her, but Eleanor turned away without hesitation and walked off.
Her eyes quickly searched for someone.
“Lady Kline.”
The voice she had been looking for came from behind.
With a faint smile, Eleanor turned around.
“Prince Cosimo.”
Now that she thought about it, despite meeting him several times, this was their first private conversation.
Eleanor quietly observed the man, one year older than her, as he approached.
Black hair tinged with red, and emerald eyes identical to his mother’s.
He resembled Julia so much that Eleanor felt dizzy.
“If you’re unwell, should you really be attending a party like this already?”
“Today is an important day. More importantly, Your Highness…”
She asked quietly,
“Do you truly intend to marry me?”
“…What kind of question is that?”
Cosimo frowned, clearly caught off guard.
Eleanor curled her lips slightly.
“Yes. But no matter how I think about it, this doesn’t seem right.”
He looked at her, startled.
After a short breath, Eleanor spoke.
“My father and your mother are having an affair.”
* * *
The terrace, now covered in darkness, was silent.
Leaning forward against the railing, Eleanor slowly sucked on a piece of candy she had brought from the banquet.
Her gaze was fixed far away.
Perhaps it contained alcohol—the more she tasted it, the more lightheaded she felt.
In the end… she had done it.
Without even taking a sip of alcohol.
Eleanor recalled the expression on Prince Cosimo’s face right after her confession.
He had looked utterly shocked.
But when she stared at him seriously, he seemed to realize she wasn’t joking.
“Do you have proof?”
he had asked, stunned.
Eleanor had shaken her head.
His brow furrowed, and she answered firmly,
“But I’m certain. I saw it with my own eyes.”
Her voice had been dry.
“I’ll leave the choice to you, Your Highness.”
Leaving the dazed prince behind, Eleanor walked away.
It was a lie.
The choice had always been hers.
Whether Cosimo reported it to the Empress or not didn’t matter.
As her son, he would remain silent anyway.
And Eleanor would not marry him.
Instead…
“What are you doing?”
At the voice from behind, Eleanor turned her head.
From the darkness of the night, a man with hair even darker than the shadows approached—his dawn-like eyes glimmering.
