Chapter 6
For Your Sake
Life at the mansion had settled into a dull routine—at least for H.
He was used to constantly being on the move, serving Crown Prince Pierre. But because of Lucy, he was stuck here with little to do.
Still, there was one thing that surprised him: Lucy’s progress.
She was unlike anyone he had ever met.
Within a week, she had finished all the heavy tomes in the library. And instead of being satisfied, she had asked H if there were more.
She quickly mastered not only court etiquette but also imperial history and records of foreign relations—things that usually took months to study.
Of course, H didn’t believe she would ever become Empress. Lucy herself knew her role was only temporary.
To him, she was meant to be a stepping stone for Pierre’s rise to the throne. Nothing more.
At least, that’s what he thought in the beginning.
But the more time he spent with her, the more his view shifted.
The rumors about Lucy were ugly—violent, greedy, selfish. But the Lucy H saw was warm, kind, and thoughtful, though sometimes stubborn.
Just that morning, she had woken early to cook him breakfast.
When he told her she shouldn’t do such things, Lucy had only laughed:
“Once I enter the palace, I won’t be able to cook at all. Let me do it now, while I can. Think of it as thanks for all the guidance.”
Her gentle voice had left H speechless. And the longer he stayed by her side, the more unsettled he felt.
‘No… I need to return to His Highness soon. Before these confusing feelings grow any stronger.’
Later, Pierre came to the mansion at H’s request and spoke with Lucy.
“I heard from H. You’ve already mastered history, diplomacy, and etiquette?”
“They were new to me, but actually fun to learn. It wasn’t that hard.”
“I thought it would take you at least two months. All the better. The Nurte family is already pushing to move their marriage plans forward.”
At the mention of the Nurte family, Lucy’s expression darkened.
Her ill-fated marriage to Theodore had begun because of Count Nurte’s influence.
She shook her head with a wry smile. Fate had a twisted way of circling back.
Pierre continued, “Before we enter the palace, we need someone trustworthy to support you, Lucy. Someone with influence, someone we can reveal our plans to. Do you have anyone in mind?”
Lucy lowered her gaze.
“No… After marrying Theodore, my mother-in-law kept me on a short leash. I never built relationships with other noblewomen. I barely survived, let alone socialized. That’s why I could even work in disguise as a maid—nobody knew me.”
“Then I’ll have to find someone myself.”
“Will it be difficult?”
“Somewhat. The Empress is trying to make my brother Crown Prince, and she controls the noblewomen of the court.
The atmosphere is… tense.”
Lucy bit her lip. A ruined family’s daughter had no place in high society. Her debts had stripped her of dignity, and her former life as a servant only made things worse. She had never even been allowed to attend tea gatherings.
No matter how she thought about it, there was no one she could turn to.
Her only friend had betrayed her and become her enemy.
Pierre noticed her troubled expression and smiled faintly, as if struck by an idea.
“I may know someone we can win over. But it’ll take some… staging. Once it’s done, I think you’ll approve.”
“A plan?”
“Yes. And for this to work, you’ll need to speak with her directly. She’ll believe you more than me. Do you think you can do it, Lucy?”
Lucy hesitated, then nodded firmly.
“I don’t know if I’ll succeed… but I’ll try my best. So, who is she?”
“That’s a secret—for now. I’ll prepare everything.”
Pierre smiled, while H quietly sighed in relief. If Pierre had a plan, then soon he could finally return to the palace.
Pierre didn’t waste time.
Before the Nurte family could push harder for their marriage schemes, he set his plan in motion.
The target was none other than Marquis Serié—the man who had always belittled and harassed Lucy.
“Your Highness, he’s still a marquis. Can we really bring him down so easily?” H asked cautiously.
Pierre smirked.
“He’s a fool who disgraces his own rank. It won’t be hard.”
“And… how do you plan to do it?”
“Simple. A man who makes women cry should, in the end, be made to weep because of a woman.”
He ordered H to find a beautiful woman who could lure the marquis into exposing himself—someone capable of keeping the secret afterward.
Soon after, Pierre told Lucy who he really wanted to recruit: the marquis’s wife.
“Punishing the marquis is fine,” Lucy admitted. “He’s hurt me and many other women. But… will his wife really join us afterward?”
“It’s a gamble,” Pierre said. “But from what I hear, she’s a good person. Gentle, well-behaved. I want to trust that.”
Lucy agreed. If it was possible, she desperately wanted the marquis’s wife on their side. She had always pitied her—kind but powerless, trapped under her cruel husband’s shadow.
And just as they hoped, the plan worked.
A maid, planted by Pierre, accused the marquis of harassment. More women came forward with testimonies. Victims lined up one after another until the empire itself was shaken.
Pierre and Lucy were horrified at how many women he had hurt.
The marquis was stripped of his title, and his wife finally filed for divorce. She regained her family’s power and became head of House Serié in her own right.
Then, anonymously, Pierre invited her to his mansion—leaving Lucy to meet her alone.
When the woman arrived, Lucy greeted her with a smile.
“Welcome, Marchioness—oh, no, I suppose now I should call you Lady Serié instead?”
“Lia!” the woman exclaimed.
Lucy laughed. The woman’s true name was Riouniel Serié, and she had finally stepped out of her husband’s shadow to stand as the rightful leader of her house.
“Where are we? What’s going on? And why are you dressed like this? Tell me everything!”
Riouniel demanded.
“Sit down. I’ll explain from the beginning,” Lucy replied.
She told her everything—her real identity as Lucy Beria, her divorce, Pierre’s plan, and their current arrangement.
It was a huge risk. Riouniel could easily refuse and expose them.
“So… you’re saying you’ll soon be Crown Princess? And all of this—the downfall of my husband—was Crown Prince Pierre’s doing?”
“Yes,” Lucy answered.
“Why? To recruit me? Or simply for revenge?”
Lucy swallowed nervously.
“Someone had to bring him down eventually. But yes… I also wanted you on my side. After my divorce, you were the only one who ever reached out to me. Not to Lucy, but to Lia. I couldn’t stand seeing someone as kind as you live under a man like him.”
“Did you pity me?”
“No,” Lucy said softly. “I understood you.”
Riouniel’s eyes widened at her words.
