Wasn’t the head maid from the Empress’s palace correct? Before Iliad could ask, the maid had already left her office.
A sense of unease crept over Iliad.
She had felt relieved knowing the Countess of Derrent’s daughter, known for her integrity and meticulousness, was head maid in the Empress’s palace. She would withstand the Empress’s difficult personality.
“What could have happened?”
“Since the Empress’s palace became independent, there might have been some changes.”
Did Selina make the change, or was it Claudius’s directive?
‘Had it still been under the Empress’s palace, I would have realized immediately.’
But she couldn’t lament forever. Having installed Selina as the Empress, understanding the movements of the Emperor and nobility surrounding her was crucial.
Iliad began to ponder about the Empress’s palace’s head maid, the Countess of Derrent’s daughter. Was there a connection to the palace becoming part of the Emperor’s domain?
She had heard the head maid was alone in the world. After her family’s downfall, she had lost touch with her father and had no thoughts of marriage.
A woman living solely for the royal family, filled with resolute determination. Such a person wouldn’t quit or storm out over a few fits of the Empress’s temper.
Eliade signed the last document and stood up.
“I need to check.”
“I’ll come with…….”
“It’s an official invitation, so there shouldn’t be any problem. I’ll be fine on my own. I’ll make sure to return by four.”
Lynette couldn’t help but worry that Eliade might spill tea on the Empress. She remembered asking the maids of the Imperial Consort’s Palace how they found serving there, only to receive evasive and mumbled responses.
“Still, be careful. Even in your days as ‘Shadow,’ you were reckless. You might be rude again.”
“People make their position, right? I’ve risen to the position of Empress, so I just need to be polite in public.”
“No. The position is made by the person.”
Eliade was a case in point. It wasn’t the position of Empress that made Eliade; it was Eliade who elevated the position. Had Celina been in the same position, its authority would have plummeted to the ground.
“So, Her Majesty the Empress can be confident. The position of Empress of the Empire is virtually built by ‘Eliade Lowen Melfiram’.”
Though there were those who spoke ill of the Empress, Eliade’s reputation and impression were enough to offset the gossip.
Her reputation wasn’t built overnight. It was solely the result of Eliade’s own efforts. Lynette, with respect, slightly lifted her skirt and bowed lightly.
Eliade hadn’t expected such praise. She momentarily felt like she was back in her childhood as she responded to Lynette’s gratitude. Her heart felt lighter as she left the Empress’s Palace.
The Imperial Consort’s Palace had a completely different atmosphere from the Empress’s Palace. If Eliade’s Empress’s Palace was neat and tidy, the Consort’s Palace was the epitome of lavishness.
Originally, the palace given to Celina was modest, but it became dazzling after she added various decorations and landscaped the garden. The inside was likely even more so.
Under the shade of a tree in the distance, Celina, sitting in front of a small table, was noticeable in her white dress on the green grass.
“Your Majesty the Empress! Welcome.”
Celina stood up, excited. Wasn’t this the first time she had greeted her like this? Eliade had only seen her with a sneering smile, nestled in Claudius’s arms.
Eliade smiled, hiding the unease rising within her.
“Thank you for inviting me, Your Highness.”
“I intended to invite Your Majesty first, but I kept postponing it… please forgive my rudeness.”
Celina’s words were the most polite and refined Eliade had ever heard from her. Had there been a change of heart? But Eliade’s intuition pointed elsewhere.
‘She’s hiding something.’
Looking around, the usual chamberlain was nowhere to be seen. Had she conspired with Claudius to move him elsewhere?
‘I was complacent. Claudius is behind Celina.’
Eliade had thought Celina too simple to be part of a bigger scheme. However, her real opponents were not just Celina in front of her, but Claudius and the noble forces behind her.
She glanced at the maids around Celina.
They seemed to be new, likely reassigned by the Emperor’s orders. Daughters of noble families loyal to the Emperor. Everything Eliade did would be reported back by them.
She couldn’t even comfortably sip tea, let alone sit still. But having taken a seat, she had to make sure to ascertain what needed to be confirmed.
An Indifferent Woman is the One Men Desire the Most
One-line summary: The female lead is actually cold-hearted and extremely rational. She has stage-by-stage relationships and won’t two-time, but there will always be someone who secretly likes her.
This novel has the following triggers, so if you’re sensitive to these, please don’t read:
1. The female lead has had many relationships, but she treated each one seriously and broke up properly.
It’s just that the men unilaterally pestered her incessantly. For the female lead, when she doesn’t like someone anymore, she simply doesn’t like them.
(This applies to her relationships with Male Lead 1, 2, 3, and 4 as well, but she’s loyal in each 1-on-1 relationship!)
2. In this novel, Male Lead 2 and the female lead kiss in a car, and Male Lead 1 sees it and beats up Male Lead 2.
The female lead calls the police and sends both Male Lead 1 and 2 to the police station! Male Lead 1 begs the female lead not to break up with him.
3. Male Lead 1 has a gentle appearance but an obsessive personality.
Male Lead 2 has a delicate and soft appearance, slightly green tea-like (two-faced).
Male Lead 3 is a youthful college student and a smart person who has secretly liked the female lead for a long time.
Male Lead 4 is the female lead’s father’s special assistant, a business elite with deep, hidden thoughts.
4. At the beginning of this novel, the female lead has already broken up with Male Lead 1 (Chapter 4) and gotten back together with Male Lead 2 (ex-boyfriend).
5. Enter with caution if you have triggers!!!
