Chapter 10

"Your Majesty... that is—"

Seemingly restless, the maid was spitting out random lines.

To be honest, I wasn't really curious about it that much though I was just reflexively asking because it's the first time I've seen her... However, it seemed that there was such a reaction that I think I need to know now.

With that thought, I opened my eyes and gazed at the maid.

Usually, the silence of superiors was undeniably heavy and uncomfortable, nevertheless, the maid kept her silence.

Ugh. When the Empress asks, why does everyone not answer like this?

Should I adapt to Raniero's strategy, too?

If you don't answer within five seconds, your neck will fall, so be careful!

...There's no way I can do that.

Eventually, I decided to turn my head towards Cisen instead.

But, isn't she also hesitating for a while as well...?

I took the weight with a solemn tone that I couldn't get used to no matter what I did and opened my mouth.

"Did I not ask? Or, did you not hear me? Whom do you dare to remain silent in front of?"

Well, troubles might grow because of this.

Now, the maids will think of me as a more difficult person. Still, thankfully, the solemn tone worked. When I asked the question again, the answer that was not available came straight away.

"That, that... This is Sylvia Jacques, the younger sister of the Mariqus Henry Jacques."

"Why is she standing there like that?"

"...She's asking the Empress for an audience."

What?

Hearing those words, I looked out the iron gate again.

Even though her eyes met with me for a moment, she was now staring at her toes with her head slightly bowed. I bet our conversation could be heard clearly, though there was no sign of her trying to listen at all.

Is that kind of elegance?

But, right now, it was not the time for me to admire her beauty and dignity.

I came to my senses.

"Why is Sylvia Jacques asking for an audience? I... Why do I not know anything about this?"

These people! Don't do anything without me not knowing!

Besides, I don't want to be called to the audience if I'm the only one who doesn't know what is going on!

As my feelings were close to that of a kindergartener who was at a loss, the maids' faces suddenly began to darken.

At that moment, Cisen stepped forward.

"Your Majesty, I have committed a great sin."

...No, what did she do now?

Cisen came up to me before lowering her voice and whispered.

"I'm the one who instructed them not to inform Your Highness about this."

"Why?"

I forgot to maintain a solemn tone and asked back.

She then bit her lower lip slightly and replied.

"If that is Henry Jacques's younger sister, the reason why she asked for an audience would be obvious... I was afraid that the mere announcement of her presence would exhaust Your Majesty's heart."

I am grateful for her heart, but...

I glanced at the woman outside the door.

"By the way, hasn't it been a while since the Marquis and his mother's position was decided? Why is she coming to see me now?"

Cisen closed her eyes tightly and answered.

"...She had been there from the very day after her brother's fate was decided."

"Every day since then...?"

It has been five days.

It was not the time for a young lady with such status to come and visit me, despite being rejected every day.

I was surprised, and Cisen hesitantly added.

"She wouldn't go back, and kept standing there like that..."

I was terrified.

"She hasn't eaten or washed up for five days...?"

Cisen hesitated and nodded her head as an answer.

Crazy.

This is crazy!

How can she let it go without telling me that she had seen her like this for five days?!

This girl must have a grudge against me now! If she dies of starvation and becomes a ghost and clings to me, will Cisen take responsibility?

My shell, the arrogant Princess Angelica, completely went on strike, and the 21st-century Korean citizenry inside me began to assert itself violently.

"...Allow her in."

"Your Majesty the Empress!"

"I told you to let her in."

"She is a woman whom we don't know what she has to say. You must preserve your dignity."

"What if she's going to starve to death like this? Do you intend to clean up her body in front of the Empress's Palace if that happens?"

With that logic, even Cisen had nothing to say.

To be honest, starving in front of the Empress's Palace and waiting for my permission to attend... The noble maiden, who died of starvation, would seem to have a somewhat unlucky effect on the future of the Empress.

Unable to do anything, Cisen glanced at the woman outside.

"...After I clean her clothes, I will guide her to Your Highness."

The gazes of the maids, as if they did not understand my intentions, were clinging to the back of my head.

Yes...

I also don't know what to do next as well.

The audience room of the Empress Palace.

Even though it was smaller than the Emperor's audience room, there were similar red carpets and seats here.

It was the first time I'm using this place.

I sat down on the left with a little bit of embarrassment. Even though it was lower and smaller than that of the Imperial Palace, you can look down on everything. How high is the throne?

'I sat down on the throne then, though I couldn't remember the height.'

About a minute after I sat on the left, Cisebn sent Marquis Jacques' younger sister in.

My first impression after seeing her closely...

'Ah, God Actilla...'

Crazy. She's so pretty.

When a person is starved, they tend to become quite shabby. She must have suffered even more because it must have been difficult for her to even sleep in the cold wind and dew outdoors.

However, though thin and ragged, she never looked ugly.

Without staggering at all, she walked in front of me and fell onto the floor like a butterfly on a flower.

"I see Your Majesty the Empress. I'm Sylvia Jacques, the daughter of Roberta Jacques and sister of Marquis Henry Jacques."

"Go ahead."

I thought she had come to seek forgiveness for her mother and brother. Is it common in any era and in any country to risk their lives for those in power who have imposed harsh punishments?

However, there is nothing I can do about them now...

Because Raniero liked my idea, at this point in time, I'm still able to escape from the hunting grounds. So, even if this person asked me for mercy...

'I wish she wouldn't be stubborn about it, at least.'

If this woman does not back down and extends this out, this person may have to be driven into the hunting ground as well.

I don't want to do such a thing.

I glanced down at her, thinking about what she would say to ask for leniency from me.

"I am deeply aware of the seriousness of my mother and brother committing the horrific crime of framing Your Highness. It is also my deepest sin that I couldn't stop them."

Saying so, she lowered her head so deeply that her forehead touched the floor.

Seeing that, I couldn't stand the situation and opened my mouth.

"You can't do something that has already been decided. In addition, you shouldn't have been waiting outside for five days in the cold wind like that. If you're going to ask for mercy, go back."

Well, fortunately, my words came out in a calm, steady tone.

Shaking so violently, her hair, like the silver thread, trembled on her back and fell to her floor. She was so pitiful that my heart was weak.

Alas, no! It could be her strategy to look pitiful like that!

Get a hold of yourself. To survive in the relentless Empire of Actilus, you must stay alert!

"...I'm not asking for mercy for my mother and brother. To catch someone's flaws is to be prepared to expose your own flaws as well. I... I think they reap what they sow. It's not that my heart isn't broken for my family, but I'm not trying to make outrageous demands out of those personal feelings."

Her words trembled like a quiver in winter, though they flowed out in a neat and orderly logic.

I was perplexed, thinking that Sylvia had come to ask for mercy from me.

If not, what did you come to me for...?

As soon as I widened my eyes and blinked in confusion, Sylvia took a deep breath before speaking as clearly as she could.

"I understand that one of the vacancies was created when Roberta Jacques stepped down from her position as Your Majesty's handmaiden. Please, instead of my wicked and foolish mother, let me serve you as your handmaiden."

...Huh?

Because it was an unexpected development, the answer to such a request was not prepared in my head.

My head, which had been overworked so far, began to spin hard.

Red lights beeped in my head.

I didn't know that anyone other than Raniero Actilus could ring the red light in my head like that.

'No way...'

I hadn't even thought of it until a while ago, although when I recall my memory, it was a familiar development.

Will the enemy's child become my servant?

Novels, drama, and manga, situations like these were widespread. And, the ending usually comes in the back of the head.

'Is she trying to get revenge for your mother and brother by poisoning my tea while I'm off guard while she's aiming for an opportunity to be next to me?'

Yes. If you want to assassinate someone, it would be best to be a subordinate of that person.

Besides, that woman may have had a grudge against me from the beginning... After Marquis Jacques' position was taken away from him I heard why they hated me so much.

'Her daughter, who was prepared to be the Empress, was pushed out because of me... That was what she said.'

Maybe, it was this pretty and pitiful woman who hates me the most?

I was a bit reluctant to start with doubts without evidence, though...

How do we really know?

In the Actilus Empire, where nothing and no one was on my side, there would be no harm with being a little suspicious and careful.

If I suspected her and this woman was really innocent, I'd be a little sorry and it would be over. However, if I believed her and she had a scheme, it'd come back to me like a dagger.

My goal is to survive. Shouldn't I buy all the time I can?

Anyway, guessing her intention, let's say it's good up to this point.

Still, if this woman had bad feelings for me, how am I supposed to behave here?

Well, I could say I don't want to hear her words and leave her like this? Or, do I pretend to not know anything...?

My pupils began to shake endlessly.