‘I wonder if it was conveyed well? I hope so…’
While thinking that and lowering her gaze, Cabelased said,
“You have the look of someone plotting an amusing prank.”
To her questioning gaze, Cabelased promptly replied,
“It would be more accurate to say you’re plotting to bring someone down.”
It wasn’t wrong.
If things went according to her intentions, she would finally be able to plant a spy as the Empress’s confidant, which would be a great help in bringing down the Empress.
Knowing the personality of the Duke of Bladnik’s daughter well, she was secretly looking forward to it.
“So what kind of scheme are you planning to surprise me with?”
Cabelased gently prodded.
However, Jieselgrante hesitated to honestly reveal to Cabelased what had happened today.
From what she had observed, Cabelased was quite sharp.
He could quickly piece things together with just a few clues.
If he heard about how she had encouraged the Duke of Bladnik’s daughter to become the Empress’s lady-in-waiting, he would quickly figure out what she was up to.
“It seems to be something related to the Duke of Bladnik’s daughter.”
Cabelased mused, staring at Jieselgrante who was blinking while keeping her mouth tightly shut.
Though inwardly flustered at having her thoughts exposed, Jieselgrante smiled calmly.
“You must be trying to prevent the Empress and the Bladnik ducal family from getting closer…”
Cabelased narrowed his eyes and examined her expression.
Under his gaze that seemed to see right through her thoughts, Jieselgrante finally confessed.
“I really can’t win against you, Duke. You’re right. I was thinking of encouraging the Duke of Bladnik’s daughter to be planted as the Empress’s confidant.”
For a moment, a strange light flickered in Cabelased’s pitch-black eyes.
Seeing him looking somewhat excited like a child who had found a new toy, Jieselgrante shared with him the method she had in mind.
[This is the timeline separator]Looking at the Duke of Bladnik’s daughter sitting demurely at the square table under the chandelier, the Empress asked,
“Well. I’m curious to know why you wanted to see me.”
The Duke of Bladnik’s daughter, her eyes shining, said rather boldly,
“I won’t beat around the bush. I want to become Your Majesty’s lady-in-waiting.”
“You want to… become my lady-in-waiting?”
The Empress restrained her lips from twisting up involuntarily.
Last time, the Empress herself had summoned the Duke of Bladnik’s daughter to the Imperial Palace.
But today was the opposite. The Duke of Bladnik’s daughter had requested to meet the Empress first.
She thought it was to give an answer to the proposal made previously, but a lady-in-waiting?
This was completely outside of the Empress’s predictions.
Although it wasn’t explicitly stated, any ordinary noble would have easily read the Empress’s intentions from the situation and nuances.
Even if she herself was still naive and didn’t realize it, it didn’t make sense that even the Duchess of Bladnik, who would have heard about the situation, failed to grasp the Empress’s intentions.
The offer to make her the Crown Princess.
So the decision to become a lady-in-waiting was likely the Duchess of Bladnik’s instruction rather than her own judgment.
‘Hmm, so this is how you want to play it?’
The Empress didn’t ponder long.
She quickly grasped what the Duchess of Bladnik’s intentions were.
The Empress needed the power of the Bladnik ducal family to keep the Cardia and Amaterasu families in check.
For this reason, the value of the Bladnik ducal family had increased more than before.
But unfortunately, the relationship between the Empress and the Duchess of Bladnik was not good. No, it was closer to bad.
So although she had been trying recently to resolve the long-standing ill feelings, it wasn’t something that could be solved overnight.
But it’s said that among the nobility, there are no eternal friends or eternal enemies.
The Duchess of Bladnik surely knew this unchanging truth as well.
If her daughter became the Crown Princess, they would instantly rise above the Cardia and Amaterasu ducal families.
But it wouldn’t be easy to change attitudes so suddenly.
So a picture of gradually getting closer, even if slower, would be beneficial for both sides.
“I’ll allow it. I was actually thinking of bringing in a new lady-in-waiting as there’s a vacancy.”
“Is that really true?”
The Duke of Bladnik’s daughter asked with her large eyes wide open.
“Have you momentarily forgotten who you’re talking to?”
The Empress decided to take this opportunity to remind her of her authority.
“I am the Empress of the Feisis Empire. I always keep my word once I’ve given it.”
As soon as the Empress finished speaking, the Duke of Bladnik’s daughter lowered her gaze slightly and apologized for her earlier mistake.
“It’s not that I didn’t believe Your Majesty’s words! I was just so happy… I committed a great discourtesy.”
She had thought she would be stiff, being the daughter of that stubborn Duchess of Bladnik.
She had naturally expected her to be difficult to deal with, but seeing this unexpectedly docile attitude made her feel much more at ease.
‘Well, not bad.’
That was how the Empress evaluated her potential future Crown Princess.
[This is the timeline separator]The fast-approaching carriage of the Radcliffe Trading Company came to a stop in front of the Cardia ducal residence.
Soon, the Marchioness of Howard, her brown hair neatly braided into two plaits, stepped out of the carriage.
Instead of an elaborate dress adorned with lace, she was wearing a cream-colored shirt with a low-saturation red bustier.
It was such a modest appearance that she could have been mistaken for a young lady working at a trading company rather than looking like a high-ranking noble in formal attire.
“Welcome.”
Nevertheless, the butler of the Cardia ducal family greeted the Marchioness of Howard without showing much surprise.
And he guided her to the reception room.
Jieselgrante, who had been elegantly reading a book in the reception room, slowly turned her head as she sensed someone’s presence.
Although the different attire felt a bit unfamiliar, the appearance of the Marchioness of Howard matched very well with her brown hair.
As Jieselgrante smiled gently, the Marchioness of Howard bowed slightly with her hands neatly placed on her stomach. Then she said,
“Thank you for using our Radcliffe Trading Company. I’ve come today because I have news to deliver to you, Lady Amaterasu.”
“It seems Pratt has… trained the new employees very thoroughly. Your manner of receiving guests is impeccable.”
She intended to play along appropriately with the Marchioness of Howard’s role-play.
Pleased with her compliment, the Marchioness of Howard raised the corners of her mouth satisfactorily and said,
“I was just imitating Pratt, but I guess it turned out alright?”
Jieselgrante nodded slightly and gestured towards the sofa opposite her.
As the Marchioness of Howard sat down, a nearby maid filled her teacup to the brim with freshly brewed tea.
“Aren’t you curious about how it went?”
The Marchioness of Howard’s eyes sparkled as she said this.
From that alone, Jieselgrante could tell that this matter had gone well according to plan.
“Well… I’m not sure, how did it go?”
But she feigned ignorance nonchalantly.
It was a kind of consideration for the Marchioness of Howard, who was immersed in her role as both an employee of the Radcliffe Trading Company and a spy.
“I heard she successfully infiltrated the Imperial Palace!”
The Marchioness of Howard said brightly.
It seemed like she was boasting about her own achievement, and she also looked excited like a child.
Jieselgrante couldn’t help but smile.
While she thought it was better to enjoy whatever one does rather than suffering through it, the Marchioness of Howard was clearly enjoying the current situation to the fullest.
“That’s good news.”
“Indeed. Even though I wasn’t the one infiltrating the Imperial Palace, I was anxious the whole time. I’m really relieved.”
Saying that, the Marchioness of Howard took a sip of the hot tea.
The infiltration of the Imperial Palace she mentioned meant that the Duke of Bladnik’s daughter had successfully become the Empress’s lady-in-waiting.
When Jieselgrante learned that the Empress was trying to win over the Bladnik ducal family, she immediately pushed for a meeting with the Duke of Bladnik’s daughter.
And in that process, the Marchioness of Howard played a crucial role.
She not only bridged the conversation between the Duke of Bladnik’s daughter and Jieselgrante, but also volunteered to act as a messenger, going back and forth between the two.
The Empress’s intention to make the Duke of Bladnik’s daughter the Crown Princess was to keep the alliance between Cardia and Amaterasu in check.
In such a situation, it was difficult for Jieselgrante to openly contact the Duke of Bladnik’s daughter.
Of course, they could have communicated in writing through the Radcliffe Trading Company, but this also carried risks.
Because documents could serve as evidence.
So Jieselgrante thought of the Marchioness of Howard as a hidden card.
The friendship between the Marchioness of Howard and the Duke of Bladnik’s daughter was already known.
Therefore, there was little chance of arousing suspicion if the Marchioness of Howard frequented the Bladnik ducal residence and relayed news to Jieselgrante.
Rather, the Empress would welcome this situation.
She would think that by gaining the Bladnik ducal family, she had also gained the Howard marquisate as a bonus.
“What do you think of my outfit today? Don’t you think I could wander around the bustling streets like this without anyone recognizing me?”
After finishing a cup of tea and handing the empty cup to the maid, the Marchioness of Howard asked.
Watching the maid approach and refill her teacup, Jieselgrante nodded.
“It’s pretty. You look completely unrecognizable.”
Pleased with the compliment, the Marchioness of Howard smiled brightly as she sipped the freshly poured tea.
Thinking it was fortunate that the Marchioness of Howard seemed to enjoy her role as a spy, Jieselgrante also savored her fragrant tea.
[This is the timeline separator]The attendant, carefully checking the report to be submitted to the Emperor, cautiously stepped into the corridor.
And at that moment.
“Ah…!”
He collided with someone who was walking towards him at that time.
As the attendant lost his balance, the documents that had been stacked up to eye level like a tower instantly scattered into the air.
Soon, the documents to be delivered to the Emperor were strewn across the wide corridor of the Imperial Palace.
“…”
The attendant’s face turned ashen as he looked at the scene.
It would take a full day just to reorganize those documents in order.
Thoroughly angered, the attendant immediately turned his head towards the ruffian who had just collided with him and started to berate,
“Damn it! Watch where you’re going…!”
However, before he could finish his complaint, the attendant’s eyes widened.
‘Ah… what kind of divine prank is this?’
Such a thought spontaneously crossed his mind.
The Male lead Always Seduces Her with His Beauty (Matriarchy)
Xin Jiao Zhou is the leader of the world’s premier sect. She has just experienced betrayal from all sides, was poisoned in an assassination attempt, and faced death squad attacks while the poison was taking effect. After finally clearing out the scum from her sect, she was drugged again while trying to detoxify.
After waking up from a night of unconsciousness, she gained a “beautiful and kind-hearted” husband.
Xin Jiao Zhou: “???”
He fell ill.
She came to see him, bringing breakfast.
As she put down the breakfast and was about to leave, his hand slipped while holding the spoon. “Clank!”
She turned around upon hearing the noise.
He looked up at her, his eyebrows drooping: “My hand… has no strength.”
“Shall I… feed you?” she asked tentatively.
He opened his mouth cheerfully: “Ah—”
Thinking she was drowning, he jumped in without hesitation to save her, but nearly drowned himself. In the end, it was she who swam over to rescue him, giving him air underwater.
After emerging from the water, his ear tips turned red. He lightly brushed his cheek, tucking his sideburns behind his ear, revealing delicate, pink-tinged ear tips. He lowered his gaze, too embarrassed to look at her.
Xin Jiao Zhou: He’s truly beautiful, kind-hearted, and adorable.
A certain someone when disciplining subordinates behind the scenes: “If they don’t obey, just kill them.”
What’s that? She might already have someone she cares about in her heart? A certain someone: Find out who it is, kill them, and then there won’t be anyone.
What? She met a man by the riverside? What? That man even hurt her? A certain someone: Whichever hand hurt her, chop off his entire arm.
Love at first sight without realizing it, gradually falling in love, slowly getting closer…
Family and national grudges, schemes and desires, good and evil, crime and punishment, she and he face the future together, seeking justice with passion!
A naturally dark female lead who could accidentally destroy the world but is actually an honest person VS a weak, pitiful, and helpless but skilled fighter, beautiful white-cut black male lead
My heart is not of stone, how steadfast is your love? — Tao Yuanming “Imitating the Ancients (No. 3)”
— Reading Guide —
Cold female lead & dramatic black lotus with hidden yandere traits male lead
