After finishing, she turned to lay her eyes upon the wonderful poem's writer and asked, "You wrote this? Is there a certain person you wrote this for?"

Angelina showed a slightly shy appearance as she answered, "Yes, actually. This poem is for my mother."

"My... You two must be close." The empress was touched and very delighted. This lady Angelina is very good! Of course, she had already felt indebted to Angelina since she had saved Elizabeth, but she now only felt more satisfied with Angelina. Not only is she talented and well mannered, she's very filial to her mother!

Angelina naturally knew the empress's thoughts. She couldn't help but feel accomplished in her heart. The emperor and empress prioritizes skills and filial piety over anything else.

"Well my mother is the only one I feel a bond with over the rest of my family. I don't get along with them that well." Angelina pitifully stated. Though she was putting up an act, she wasn't lying. She really does not like any other member of the Skyler family.

"Really? You all seem so close on the outside..." The empress frowned. She is well aware that there is no aristocratic family. Being part of the nobility, it is natural to hold secrets. But the Skyler family always appeared so harmonious and pure. It's a shame it's all but an act, just like all the other families.

"Well, I don't want to embarrass my family out in public." Angelina really wanted to laugh at herself. She's such a hypocrite, she just did.

"That's reasonable. Oh, I remember I heard that you were sick since young, is that right?" The empress asked.

"Yes, your majesty. I was a sickly and frail child thus I had to be sent away to the Vancelia empire to look for better treatment. I spent time stuck, bedridden but it wasn't so boring. I was given the book your majesty wrote about the joy of art and that was what got me interested in painting!" Angelina's clever tongue lied smoothly, she had prepared this line before.

"Really? Oh my, I never knew that silly book I wrote when I was younger would inspire such a talented child like you!" The empress laughed, incredibly pleased.

"Therefore I, ah... It's so shameless of me to ask but, would your majesty be willing to teach me? I-I'm still lacking in painting compared to your majesty so I want to learn!" Angelina pretended to be shy and fiddled with her fingers. From one who was unaware of her true thoughts, she would look just like a shy girl facing someone she deeply looked up to.

"Aiya! Of course! It would be my pleasure to teach someone so talented! I'm sure you'll surpass me soon!" The empress laughed. She had no reason to refuse. She loved sharing the wonders of art with others the and this Angelina is such a good child. It would be a shame to let such a young talent go and not let her reach her fullest abilities!

"Really? Thank you, your majesty! I'll not disappoint you!" Angelina stood up and bowed to the empress with clear delight and happiness in her eyes.

"Oh, sit down! Sit down! There's no need for that!" The empress laughed and gestured for Angelina to sit back down. They ate the afternoon meal peacefully. They chatted and would occasionally laugh. Only Alistair and the emperor remained silent, merely chuckling a few times.

************

Evelina paced back and forth her room while biting her lips, Lia was trembling in the farthest corner of the room. She didn't know what to do. Angelina now spends most of her time in the imperial palace, charming and currying favor with them. She has not gotten the chance to speak or scheme against her at all these few days!

After Rienne's birthday incident, Evelina didn't dare attend gatherings. Not only that, misfortunate events keep happening! The group of thugs she controlled had suddenly died in a fire that completely burned down their home! Evelina felt stuck. She had ideas, but she couldn't execute them! She thought she could try to use this time to gain the Casspan family's favor and Chase's affections but they're actually avoiding her! Chase didn't even bother with responding to her letters!

What the hell is going on!?

**********

Two weeks after, with a loud crash, all the breakable objects on the duke's desk shattered once hitting the hard floor. The duke barely could support himself. The imperial family actually sent him such a letter! Angelina had only been making visits to the imperial palace for a month, and yet they already wanted him to permit her to stay in the palace for two days!?

If the person was Eve instead of Angelina, he would've agreed happily! But... They actually chose his most hateful daughter! Angelina had always been cold to their family, it was clear she loathed him and her older siblings. If she gets too close to the imperial family... Who knows how much trouble he'll be receiving!

"Argh!" He madly scratched his head and screamed, unable to hold his blazing temper. This daughter of his is really testing his patients!

But what can he do? He had no other choice but to agree to the emperor's request.

************

That two day stay turned into a five day stay instead.

"Ha... They all must be furious! How lovely..." Angelina sat on a chaise lounge sofa in the grand garden of the princess's palace as she bathed in sunlight. Her days in the palace were truly splendid! All she needed to do was play with Elizabeth and the two princes, and come over to the Empress's palace for her teachings. The emperor would even come by sometime and join them!

Not only that, she was treated very well! She stayed with Elizabeth in her palace and slept in one of the princess's palace's grandest rooms. They truly treated her well. Oh she felt so spoiled...

But the best part is that she no longer has to see the three scums everyday! She really wished she could stay here forever, but she must not. The next stage in her plan is about to take place. And for that, she needed to be at the Skyler estate.

"Hahaha! The duke must be so infuriated miss!" Marie laughed, she also was relaxing on a chaise lounge sofa. "This is truly the life!" She giggled with excitement. The imperial palace is really amazing! They even treated a servant like her so well! It's all because of her miss's grace!

Angelina, for once in so long, had a peace of mind. There's really nothing to worry about. She had every outcome planned. Even if it didn't work the way she anticipated, she'll be fine. She had worked so hard just to get to this point! It's only a matter of waiting...

"Pardon me, your grace, but her majesty had requested your presence in her palace this afternoon." A servant from the empress's palace quietly came over and politely informed.

"Hm, very well. Thank you. I have troubled you and her majesty." Angelina rose to her feet gracefully and helped Marie up.

The palace servant who watched this was slightly stupefied. She had never seen a master treat their personal servant so well like Angelina before. She felt slightly envious of Marie. But she knew she couldn't complain. The empress treated her servants well enough already.

When they arrived in the empress's palace, Angelina's gaze immediately was caught by the noble air surrounding the woman sitting on a cushioned chair under a big umbrella, sipping tea.

Who else could sit so casually in the empress's palace garden but the empress herself.

"Angelina, come here. Have you finished what I have tasked you with?" The empress questioned with a relaxed smile on her face.

"Yes, your majesty." Angelina stepped forward, holding a finished painting and a poem handwritten on a scroll of paper. When the empress would assign her tasks, it would usually be a theme and she must paint it. But this time it was different. She told Angelina to create a poem that goes with the painting.

Angelina carefully hands the empress the painting she was holding and read out the poem she composed earlier, "Clouds float like works of art, stars shoot with grief at heart, across the Milky Way the Cowherd meets the Maid. When Autumn’s Golden Wind embraces Dew of Jade, all the love scenes on earth, however many, fade. Their tender love flows like a stream, their happy date seems but a dream, how can they bear a separate homeward way? If love between both sides can last for aye, why need they stay together night and day?"

The empress listened as she stared at the painting before her. The painting depicted a beautiful and tranquil forest during the season of autumn. An attractive looking couple stood under the trees as they embraced. It looked simply dazzling. It could be seen that the creator took great pains to make sure every detail was perfect. The empress was satisfied by her young pupil once again.

"Splendid work as always. Angelina, you never fail to amaze me!" The empress clapped.

"It's all due to your majesty's encouragement and patient teachings." Angelina bowed her head.

"You underestimate yourself too much!" The empress pulled Angelina to her side and gently stroked the top of her head. After doing so, she sighed, "Ha... Such a shame you chose to return tomorrow. We will all miss you."

"Don't fret your majesty, I promise to visit often. I do still have to attend your lessons and I can't bear to not see her highness for too long. She's very pleasant and easy-going, I enjoy being in her presence." Angelina chuckled, her golden eyes gazed at the noble empress charmingly.

"I'm happy you and Lizzy get along so well! It's truly a relief, Lizzy has always had trouble making friends... Most people can't bear her way with words. But I'm glad you understand her. She, though possesses a troublemaking mouth, is a very good child." The empress held Angelina palm with a grateful look in her eyes.

"It's nice to see you so cheery, my wife." Footsteps approached them from a distance, followed by the emperor's calming voice.

"Your majesty." Angelina politely bows.

"Hahaha, no need for the formalities, Angelina." He patted her shoulders and gave permission for her to raise her head.

"Hmm... I really don't want Angelina to go. Chatting together with her is the highlight of my day." The empress sighed once again as she felt the emperor's hand hold her waist. Her ears reddened as she heard him mutter, "So spending time with your husband isn't?"

"That... We're in public! Where's the attitude an emperor should have?" The empress crossed her arms and avoided his gaze. She looked at Angelina with hidden embarrassment in her eyes.

"Anything you say, my dear." The emperor laughed. It's been years since they've been married, but his wife is still just as fiesty as ever.

"Your majesty and his majesty possess such a lovely relationship. Couples brought together by arranged marriges almost never actually get along. This type of thing is hard to come by during these times. Your majesty should cherish such a loving husband." Angelina gave the empress a smile.

"Well..." The empress was speechless. She felt the emperor's hand wrapped around her waist tighten.

"You hear that? Such loving husbands like me don't come by often." The emperor bursts into yet another laughter. His wife's are painted cherry red.

"Old man! Don't be too cheeky!" The empress huffed but Angelina noticed her mouth betrayed her false unhappiness by curling up. She suddenly felt envious but that feeling quickly faded.

**********

"Sister Lina! You're back from mother's palace! Someone's looking for you." Elizabeth rushed into Angelina's arms before Angelina could say anything.

"Looking for me? Who?" Angelina held the little princess in her arms and asked.

"The stone faced man!" Elizabeth pointed at the man walking to them. A chilly air surrounded him, but his smile was gentle and full of longing.

"Charles?" Angelina was a bit flustered seeing him. It's been quite some time. Now that she sees him again, all she could think about was his confession. She felt slightly embarrassed. He isn't upset with her, is he? But judging by that warm smile on his face, he doesn't seem sad.

"Lily, I've missed you. I'm sorry. I've been so busy... Um, I got you something!" Charles gazed at her lovingly. He felt panicked facing her eyes and didn't know where to lay his eyes on. He thought of the gift he prepared and gestured for his subordinate to come over.

"..." Elizabeth stared at the lovesick look on the previously cold man and felt her brain melt. All she could do was put all her thoughts into three words. "What the hell..."

But no one seemed to pay attention to her.

Charles's right hand man, Aaron, handed him the special gift he had collected. It was a bouquet of gold roses, with a card amongst the blindingly grand flowers.

"..." Angelina had always loved luxuries like this, but even she thinks this is too much. But... She's not going to complain.

"Do you like it?" Charles looked at Angelina with expectant eyes.

"Yes, they're gorgeous. Thank you." Angelina quickly took the bouquet from his hands and admired them in silence. Why does she suddenly have the urge to dangle these flowers in front of Evelina's face and brag? Oh, it seems she has been apart from her dear sister and has come to miss her...

Hm, it seems she has come up with an amazing idea. It's about time she gets pay back for Evelina ruining her gown back in her debut. Yes she hasn't forgotten.

Charles looked at how close Angelina held the bouquet of roses close to her chest and his eyes darkened. Her slender white arms were wrapped around the golden flowers and hugged them like precious treasures. He chuckled quietly. He's an emergency, yet he's actually jealous of some flowers. But he really wanted her arms to wrap around him, hugging him dearly. Just like how she would when they were children...

Angelina turned to the dazed Elizabeth and asked for a favor, "Your highness, may I ask you for a small favor?"

"Anything, sister Lina!" Elizabeth immediately broke out of her little trance and looked at Angelina, nodding obediently.

"Can your highness help me find a gown about my size? But ... It has to be horrifically disgusting! Completely horrid!" Angelina requested with a mischievous and wicked grin spread across her angelic face.