Mina handed out water bottles and lunch boxes to the workers leaving the dining hall after breakfast. After distributing all the prepared lunchboxes, there were 2 extras left.

Mina went to Lena’s side, who was starting to clean up the chaotic dining table, and helped with the table cleanup. Lena, who was moving her hands quickly, looked back.

“Mina, I’ll do it now. You hurry and go.”

“No, elder sister. I’ll finish the dishes.”

They worked at the A-6 dining hall operated by the Matisse Trading Company’s gold mine.

The assistant work at the dining hall, which started when the dawn star rose, ended late at night. At least, by providing lunch boxes, there was about 3 hours of free time between finishing breakfast dishes and preparing dinner.

After finishing the dishes, the sisters wiped their hands on their aprons and smiled brightly at each other. Lena went to the dormitory with the extra lunch boxes, while Mina left the dining hall with an envelope containing the underwear she had completed the night before.

Mina showcased her underwear samples at the Secret Lady shop on Epi Street. Madam Lulu, the owner of Secret Lady, had been keeping an eye on Mina since she was working as an assistant at Alice’s Clothing Shop.

Recognizing Mina’s skilled handiwork and creativity, Lulu gave her fabric and lace materials and suggested she make samples.

Mina seriously considered the issue of fainting due to breathlessness during parties because the tightening part of corsets was usually at the back. So, she changed the corset lacing to the front for easier loosening.

She mixed high-quality lace, silk, and mesh to make it not unsightly even if the strings showed outside the dress line.

She showcased three modified products at Secret Lady, and each time they were popular with customers. There were even noble ladies who wanted to buy the sample products immediately.

Madam Lulu received Mina’s envelope with an expectant expression and took out its contents. It was indeed a corset top.

“Oh my.”

The body was made of silk printed with tiny flower patterns, the shoulder straps were even thinner, and layered lace was added moderately. All three samples Mina had brought so far were overbooked with reservations.

Madam Lulu formally proposed to Mina to quit her dining hall job and work together as a designer at Secret Lady.

Mina said she would discuss it with Lena and left Lulu’s office.

As she was about to leave through the back door as usual, she was surprised by the scene before her and turned back inside. She went to the window of the break room and looked outside while hiding her body behind the curtain.

In front of the purple carriage of the Duke Leak’s family, Lady Julia and Eva, the maid who came from Tane, were visible. And the person in the black robe was certainly the Empress, Patricia.

The moment she spotted the Empress, anxiety flashed through Mina’s mind. It was clear that a sinister and dirty plot was being carried out.

The man who looked like an imperial coachman stayed behind, while Eva and the Empress hesitated before boarding the carriage of the Duke Leak’s family.

As the carriage departed, Mina quickly crossed the hall to the front window and peered outside. Across the street at the cafe terrace were Sir Bern and two guard knights.

Mina couldn’t alert them. She and her elder sister Lena were accomplices in stealing the jewels of the Empress and Eva.

Mina went out through the back door and quickly walked along the lakeside up to the second floor of Arteum. She showed her trembling hands to the big man guarding the entrance, indicating an urgent situation.

“These days, many women are coming to see the boss.”

The man closed the door and went inside. Mina’s body shrank with anxiety even during the short few seconds she waited in the dark corridor.

Shortly after, the door opened, and the man gestured for her to come in. While the corridor was dark, the inside was bright.

As she crossed the space directly connected to the terrace, a man sitting among the chaotically flying white birds smoking a cigar looked up.

The man with bluish silver hair was handsome, but his eyes were frighteningly sharp.

Mina shrank back but gathered courage and spoke slowly.

“Hello. I’m Mina Baiser. The other day, my elder sister Lena came here about the Matisse gold mine…”

“You said it was urgent, state your business.”

“Yes, I saw Lady Julia Leak. But she’s definitely plotting something. Right now, she’s taken the Empress from Tane and the maid Eva in a carriage…”

Bang, crash.

Bark kicked the table he was sitting at with his knee and stood up. He had already met Julia and knew of her cruel ambitions.

The beast hunter Billy had betrayed him by collaborating with her and using poisoned arrows, and Billy had paid for it with his life at the hands of Bark’s subordinate.

“Where did they go?”

“To the lakeside, ah! In the direction of Kaoshan.”

Bark put on a cloak with a quiver attached and ordered the man.

“Kay, release the kids in Kaoshan.”

Whistle!

He whistled shortly, then grabbed the terrace railing and jumped down. A flock of white birds followed, flapping their wings. Bark on his white horse and the flock of white birds disappeared like smoke in an instant.

*

“Ah! Eva.”

It was connected to the back of the shop building, and Eva with a bag and the coachman were standing there, gesturing towards the purple carriage and talking. Eva had been told by the imperial coachman that it was the carriage of the Duke Leak’s family.

“Your Majesty.”

Eva came right up to her side. Eva stood almost pressed against Patricia’s right side, leaning in and asking if she had met the noblewoman inside the shop. Patricia shook her head.

“There was no one in that carriage either.”

Julia gestured to her maid to load the box she was holding. The maid went to the carriage, opened the door, and loaded the box.

“Your Majesty, please get in the carriage.”

“Wait, I thought we were supposed to meet and exchange here.”

“The noblewoman said she dislikes commotion and is waiting in the carriage by the lake you can see over there.”

Julia pointed with the tip of her fan to where the light was falling on the lake.

“Hmm, then. How will we get back here?”

“I will escort you back here after you receive the necklace, Your Majesty.”

After a moment’s hesitation, Patricia instructed the coachman to load the bag into the princess’s carriage. As Eva was about to board the carriage, Julia grabbed Eva’s arm.

“Maid, wait here with the coachman.”

“Princess. Since we only need to receive the necklace anyway, let me go.”

In fact, Patricia wouldn’t be able to remember the necklace even if she saw it.

She might be able to compare the teal diamond in the couple ring, but Eva was the one who remembered the flower shape made of 39 small diamonds surrounding the large main diamond and the platinum body shape.

Eva explained Patricia’s partial memory loss to Julia in a calm tone so as not to hurt Patricia’s feelings.

“Therefore, I think I need to directly confirm the blue dawn light.”

Julia was greatly annoyed by the picky Tane maid, but had no words to refute.

“Then let’s go together.”

Julia had already confirmed the Empress’s memory loss in yesterday’s meeting. It was unfortunate that she had survived, but it was gratifying to see her attitude of not remembering herself like an idiot.

Patricia and Eva sat side by side, and after Julia and her maid sat down, the carriage departed. They reached the lakeside right after departure.

Patricia saw Julia open her folding fan with a snap and then close it. When she fully opened the fan using the end of her wrist, the diamond set at the end of the fan reflected the light coming through the carriage window with a flash.

Seeing that, her cheek felt hot as if she had been slapped, and goosebumps rose on her arms. Then her eyes met Julia’s. Julia’s red lips curved into a beautiful smile.

The noblewoman’s carriage that was supposed to be by the lake was not visible. When they had been driving along the lake for about ten minutes, Eva lightly pulled on the hem of Patricia’s robe.

“The noblewoman’s carriage that was supposed to be by the lake isn’t visible?”

“I guess she moved a little. Ah, there it is.”

Julia stuck her head out the window and gestured forward. Indeed, there was a black carriage not far away. Julia smiled brightly and said to Patricia.

“By the way, Your Majesty, you’re not carrying the fan I gave you as a gift, it’s quite hot.”

Julia created a breeze with her open fan. An enchanting rose scent spread inside the carriage.

“Hmm, I liked the gorgeous and beautiful fan. But some man said it doesn’t suit me.”

“No, who dares to tell Your Majesty…!”

Patricia stared intently at Julia.

A face confident that she could grasp the world, captivated by her own beauty. Eyes glistening with twisted desire, believing she could possess even intangible emotions.

“Harchen, His Majesty the Emperor excessively disliked that fan.”

The carriage stopped.

The coachman opened the carriage door. Eva got out. Patricia looked at Julia. Julia stared at Patricia while slowly fanning herself with her arms crossed.

“Go ahead, Your Majesty. I’ll wait here.”

Go, Julia. Don’t wait.

“Coachman, this bag is heavy, please carry it.”

Patricia gestured to the bag of gold coins placed at her feet. The coachman picked up the bag. Patricia moved close to the coachman and spoke in a small voice.

“Are you a coachman of the Duke Leak’s family?”

“Yes, yes.”

“The princess was supposed to wait, but it seems she might just leave.”

“…”

“What’s your name?”

“John.”

“John. If by chance you pass through Epi Street, could you tell the imperial guard knight at the terrace across from the shop we met earlier about this location, Kaoshan G-5?”

“Yes, yes.”

“If I meet you unharmed, I won’t forget this.”

“Yes.”

At Patricia’s firm voice, the coachman bowed his body and head repeatedly.

As if aware of the approaching presence from this side, the carriage door opened. It was a 6-person carriage. However, the number of people inside was impossible to guess.

The hem of a white dress was visible below the carriage door. Eventually, a noblewoman with loose red hair stepped out.

Eva, walking a few steps ahead, stopped. Patricia walked alongside the coachman.

“Pri-Princess…!”

Eva was so surprised that she called out “Princess” instead of “Empress.” Patricia passed by Eva’s side and asked.

“Hmm, Eva. What’s wrong?”

Eva spoke lowly through her teeth, as if groaning.

“It’s Empress Pamila, the Imperial Consort.”

“…!”

Patricia lowered her right hand. She clenched and unclenched her fist in her leather glove. She gripped the sword between the layers of cloth. She held the hem of her robe with her left hand to prevent it from fluttering.

The blue dawn light, she had to find the necklace.

“Rising morning sun, I greet Your Majesty Empress Karsik.”

Patricia gritted her teeth and faced the red-haired Imperial Consort, Pamila, who was not in her memory.

“Nice to meet you. The necklace?”

Pamila showed the necklace placed on her white silk gloves. Patricia confirmed that Eva slowly closed and opened her eyebrows.

“May I open the bag and check the gold coins inside?”

“Let’s check and exchange simultaneously.”

Eva unlatched the bag the coachman was holding. She tilted the bag to show the inside.

Eva took the necklace from Pamila’s hand, and simultaneously, the man standing behind Pamila took the bag from the coachman’s hand. He put the bag inside the carriage.

“It was nice to meet you. I hope you return to Tane safely.”

“To Tane? Did I say I was from Tane?”

Patricia looked at Pamila with cold eyes and smiled.

“Get rid of that maid first!”

Following Pamila’s sharp voice, the carriage door opened wider. Three men in black attire stepped out. The man who showed his face moved towards Eva.

Shing.

Patricia stood in front of Eva and drew her sword.