80. Was Ariesta the Grand Duchess Not Enough?

2023.12.19.

Yuan had lived for over ten years, always eating scraps by watching others’ expressions.

Yuan pondered why Bollonico kept endlessly boasting about himself.

Strictly speaking, Crown Prince Bollonico had long passed the age of twenty, yet still had not been formally appointed as heir.

Moreover, by his own account, he worked diligently in state affairs to such an extent that the nation couldn’t function properly without him.

Yuan recalled memories of newspapers read in the incineration room, and occasionally history books from the library.

Throughout the history of the Euphris dynasty, such a situation was unprecedented, and even by foreign standards, extremely rare.

Furthermore, the imperial family had few heirs.

As far as Yuan knew, there were only three individuals eligible for the Euphris throne.

The first prince Bollonico and second prince Noel, both born to Empress Marilyn—and then…

‘Clade Euphris.’

Though a deposed prince, he was indisputably the late emperor’s eldest son, meaning he would inevitably inherit the throne should Bollonico and Noel suffer accidents.

It wasn’t entirely incomprehensible why Bollonico watched Clade warily and sought to eliminate him.

How sensitive must the nerves of the first prince be, growing older without being formally named crown prince despite having no clear disqualifying faults?

However, what stood out was that Bollonico’s methods were neither conventional nor reasonable, but rather obsessive and bordering on madness.

Bollonico seemed to desire Yuan’s fervent admiration, as if demanding to be seen as an extraordinary figure.

Regardless, for now, Yuan had to appease Bollonico and earn his trust.

Having realized the limits of her abilities, she needed time.

While developing her capabilities enough to eventually overthrow him, gaining his trust wouldn’t be meaningless.

By staying close to him, she could strengthen her own abilities and learn more about Clade’s enemies alongside him.

Yuan steadied her anxious heart with this reasoning after experiencing the limits of her power.

“We’ve arrived. You saw it during the debutante ball, so I suppose the palace’s main gate won’t surprise you. By the way, the idea to gild the gates was Bollonico’s.”

By now, the carriage had already passed through the palace’s main gate.

Blindingly white outer walls, a beautifully curved blue roof, and beneath them, an arching main gate so tall it cast a massive shadow over the carriage roof as it swept past.

Yuan nodded appropriately and feigned surprise.

The carriage, which had been speeding forward without obstruction, stopped in front of the enormous fountain located at the palace’s center.

From the circular fountain’s edge, multiple pathways branched outward, and the carriage halted before the path leading to Bollonico’s palace.

As Yuan peered out the window with a puzzled expression, the carriage door abruptly swung open without permission.

Bollonico’s brow, previously furrowed like crumpled paper, instantly smoothed upon recognizing the person who opened the door.

“Bollonico! Did I really have to hear such news from Marquis Companni this morning?”

A woman appeared accompanied by two elderly maids, a dazzling beauty who momentarily made Yuan unable to look away.

Her deep skin, close to chocolate in hue, looked extremely healthy, and her almond-shaped eyes and thick eyelashes were striking.

Moreover, her eyes shimmered with a golden color, like molten pure gold, making it impossible for Yuan to avert her gaze.

She wore a classical-style dress that looked somewhat stifling, her golden hair pulled tightly upward, not a single strand left loose.

Yuan, momentarily captivated by her beauty, finally realized she was Empress Marilyn, whom she had seen from afar during the debutante ball.

“May eternal glory belong to the great Euphris. Your Majesty the Empress, I am Yuan Pelliese.”

“Pelliese?”

The Empress’s slightly sharp voice disrupted the air inside the carriage.

Having run in, her breathing slightly labored, the Empress paused to steady herself before repeating.

“Pelliese?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“If Pelliese means—”

Before the Empress Marilyn could narrow her eyes and strain to recall, Bollonico interrupted in a bored tone.

“One might think Bollonico had committed some crime, Mother. Running through the palace like this, utterly disregarding decorum.”

Bollonico calmly stepped out of the carriage and shut the door behind him.

Yuan could do nothing but naturally observe the ensuing confrontation through the large window in the door.

“Bollonico!”

Empress Marilyn immediately reacted, striding toward her son.

“Even your own sister-in-law, you fail to recognize, despite being family?”

“Sister-in-law?”

The Empress Marilyn’s perfect face, momentarily blank, gradually crumbled into shock.

“The deposed prince’s consort…?”

She stared at Yuan with wide golden eyes, as if seeing a ghost, then froze stiff.

Yuan naturally lowered her gaze, avoiding the Empress’s stare.

Bollonico stepped slightly in front of the door, as if shielding her, and spoke.

“I’m relieved to see you rush over so quickly upon my request for help. Since the ailing consort wishes to stay in the palace for recuperation, surely you, as the elder of the imperial family, will arrange a suitable excuse? She collapsed from exhaustion after enduring so much hardship in that harsh place.”

“What—what did you say, Bollonico? Without even consulting me—”

“That’s why I’m telling you now.”

“Bollonico, do you even realize what you’ve done? The entire palace is abuzz with rumors that you’re bringing a strange woman into the prince’s palace! Yes, the moment you passed through the capital’s checkpoint, the gossip began!”

Yuan wondered if the Empress Marilyn paused to catch her breath between sentences.

The Empress spat out her words, took another deep breath, then glared at Yuan and continued as if demanding to be heard. Yuan’s left cheek burned under the Empress’s gaze.

“And now you claim this woman is the deposed prince’s consort? You might as well say you wish your mother dead! Was Ariesta the Grand Duchess not enough?”

“Mother.”

“Well? Say something if you have a mouth!”

“But you have no choice but to help. Without your assistance, if Bollonico continues to appear publicly with her everywhere, that in itself would become a massive scandal. The future emperor cannot be entangled in such a scandal, can he?”

Bollonico replied, blinking his large eyes with feigned innocence.

“Please create and announce a valid excuse for her stay in the palace. The rest I will handle myself.”

His voice, crisp like leaves rolling in the wind, reached only Yuan and Empress Marilyn.

Empress Marilyn turned deathly pale, as if suffocated by Bollonico’s words, then glanced briefly at the elderly maids behind her before turning her gaze to Yuan.

Her contemptuous eyes swiftly scanned Yuan from head to toe.

Despite sitting inside the carriage, Yuan felt as exposed as if standing naked before the Empress.

“She absolutely cannot stay in the prince’s palace. You might as well trample me completely under your horse’s hooves.”

As Bollonico seemed about to retort indignantly, the Empress raised her gloved hand, wagging her index finger as if to stab his mouth.

“I said bring her into the Empress’s Palace! Do you understand, Bollonico?”

“Bollonico is an adult now. I don’t need to follow your words blindly.”

“The Emperor has briefly visited the palace.”

Suddenly, Bollonico snapped his mouth shut.

Empress Marilyn, sensing her advantage, continued.

“Even if I fabricate a convincing excuse and make it public, do you truly believe His Majesty would approve of housing the deposed prince’s consort in the prince’s palace?”

Bollonico, who had remained silent like a mute who swallowed honey, wore a thoughtful expression for a moment, then lifted only one corner of his mouth into a smile.

“He might approve. His Majesty quite liked the consort when he met her at the Black Mansion. What was it he said…? That she looked delicious.”

Yuan desperately wished Bollonico would shut his mouth.

She observed the Empress’s face, flushed as if burning with humiliation.

The Empress stared silently at Bollonico, her face turning crimson as if about to roar like a lioness, until it gradually returned to its perfect chocolate hue. Then she whispered.

“Then all the more reason to house her in the Empress’s Palace.”

“The consort is Bollonico’s guest—”

“Now that she has entered this palace! Now that she is part of the imperial family! She is my guest. Do you understand, Bollonico? If you wish to become Emperor, do not disrupt the palace’s order. If you desire to be Crown Prince, this should be obvious.”

Caught in the tense battle between mother and son, Yuan struggled to suppress the rising nausea within. The oppressive exchange of glances made her stomach twist, knowing she was the cause.

Bollonico opened his mouth with clear displeasure, but quickly dropped his defiant expression upon hearing urgent news brought by Marquis Companni, who had just rushed over.

“His Majesty is asking for you, Your Highness.”

As Bollonico hesitated momentarily, a voice several times colder than before came from Empress Marilyn.

“Keep yourself in check for now. I’ll handle this matter somehow.”

Yuan discreetly stepped out of the carriage.

Bollonico, feigning kindness despite his dissatisfaction, spoke.

“Rest from your journey in the Empress’s Palace, sister-in-law. With Her Majesty the Empress personally caring for you, I couldn’t feel more at ease. Though you may miss me, please endure for a little while.”

With Empress Marilyn’s gaze burning silently, Bollonico bade farewell with a voice full of regret.

Thus, Yuan could do nothing but watch the golden carriage disappear toward the distant Emperor’s Palace.

The Empress Marilyn’s gaze grew even hotter than before.

***

During the walk to the Empress’s Palace, the Empress didn’t speak a single word to Yuan.

Yuan herself questioned whether it was necessary to awkwardly initiate conversation with the Empress or make unnecessary efforts to appear friendly.

The Empress’s Palace, like other palaces, had a painfully white outer wall, but thick rose vines were densely draped diagonally across it.

Glancing as she passed, she noticed white-painted iron wires supporting the vines at various points on the outer wall, allowing them to climb easily.

When summer arrived, those thick, plump buds would burst open in unison, decorating the palace even more beautifully.

Naturally, the Black Mansion, which she had deliberately buried deep in her heart, resurfaced in her mind.

Thinking of Seobyeolgwan, its leaves far larger than the vines here, and its walls glowing as red as the rose buds, her eyes grew hot.

Soon, spring would pass and the summer monsoon would begin. She would never again hear the song of raindrops tapping on those leaves.