In the royal palace’s Western Palace, those working there felt like they were walking through a thorny path all day long. Especially the maids directly serving Princess Amelia felt that way.

“The day before yesterday, didn’t the young lady of the Ramona family get kicked out?”

“Today, who could it be again…?”

The maids serving the nobility were all selected from noble families.

Although they were not from a prestigious family or known as a top-tier family in society, they were still the daughters of nobility living in the house and receiving the training befitting a lady.

Yet, the maids by Princess Amelia’s side felt like they were receiving treatment worse than common maids.

“Princess, your carriage is ready. Ah!”

Crash!

As soon as the door opened, what flew in was a glass cup. The maid who got hit by the glass shards staggered and fell to the floor.
“What time is it now?”

“It’s, it’s two… two o’clock…”

“Didn’t I say I need to leave at two? What am I supposed to do with someone who can’t even tell the time?”

Empress Amelia, with a hint of irritation, passed by the collapsed maid at the door.

In reality, the carriage had been prepared an hour ago, and the maid who had come to announce it had been standing in front of the door since then. What they didn’t know was that Empress Amelia, who was dressing up, didn’t allow her entry.

Despite knowing all this, the maids silently followed behind Empress Amelia.

Currently, Amelia, the empress, received the most affection from the emperor. Naturally, her son, Prince Octail, was being mentioned as the next emperor.

Although there was Crown Prince Elizer, no family among the six ducal families of the imperial family supported him.

Half were neutral, and half supported Prince Octail.

There was one family that didn’t express an opinion, but as it was a family in Hesse, far from the capital, it wouldn’t have much influence.

Empress Amelia, who had seized the power of the imperial family, walked down the corridor. The maids and attendants on either side silently made way for her.

After seeing that scene, Empress Amelia’s irritated mood slightly improved.

“I will depart, Your Majesty.”

Today, Empress Amelia’s schedule was to visit the Siaden Temple, which could be considered the hub of Siervgo, and offer prayers. In addition to the offering, ample gifts were also prepared behind the carriage.

As the imperial carriage entered the temple, the future deputy head priest, known as Helio, came out barefoot from the temple.

“Your Majesty, have you come!”

“Head Priest Helio, it’s been a while, hasn’t it?”

A gentle smile appeared on Empress Amelia’s face, which had been coldly sitting in the palace. Helio guided her to the most spacious and luxurious reception room.

“Will you visit the prayer room again today?”

“Yes, because I come regularly to purify my heart, I feel I can go up to Siaden gracefully whenever I want.”

“Haha, yes, you’re right. Siaden will be pleased as well.”

“And, please accept this.”

“Oh…!”

Helio’s eyes lit up greedily as he noticed the gold offered by Empress Amelia’s maids.

Holding it tightly in both hands, Helio coughed feebly.

“Thank you. It will be used where Siaden’s will reaches.”

“Thank you for accepting.”

In the soft smile, there was no trace of Empress Amelia, who had caused mischief in the palace. Before guiding her to the prayer room, Empress Amelia asked Helio, who had arrived early, a subtle question.

“Have you ever been to Hesse?”

“No, isn’t that a cursed land? Of course, I heard that it has developed since the ducal family entered, but…”

As if feeling creepy, Helio shook his head nervously.
“Yes, so when I received an invitation to the duke’s banquet, I had many concerns. However, if even the remote places under the empire’s control are left unattended, I cannot be called the mother of the empire. So, I also offered many prayers and went there with a cautious heart.”

“Oh, you must have been tired on the way back and forth. Crustel Duke, how can he order you to come and go like that?”

“It’s okay. It’s not that big of a deal. It’s just that what I saw there is a bit worrisome.”

“What are you talking about?”

“The priest must have heard as well. A few years ago, Crustel Duke brought a child and claimed it to be his daughter.”

“Yes, I remember. At that time, the duke announced to the capital that he had found his daughter. Well, he did explain that the child’s biological mother was the late eminent artist of Hanmi, who died a few years ago. However, it was hard to easily believe those words.”

Helio, the priest, took a sip of the tea in front of him and swallowed it. His eyes, continuing the conversation, were filled with disdain.

“Hasn’t the rumor spread widely? From which tavern the child was born, and how the child’s biological mother, who was abandoned, was. Well, as a human being, I doubt if such a person can exist.”

Such rumors were common stories heard from other noble families. However, the reason why the rumors about Duke Crustel spread rapidly among the people in the capital was because he was in Hesse.

There was no need to verify the truth of such rumors, and as long as the person involved in the rumor didn’t hear such stories, it was fine.

No, even if they heard it, what could they do? The duke, who was said to have an enormous influence, was now in Hesse, and they were in the capital!

The laws applied in the capital were more stringent than in other regions. Even if the duke was lawless, the nobles in the capital, who were protected by the imperial family, were not afraid of the duke.

“Even if she’s said to be the daughter of a prostitute, she’s still his own daughter. Since he found a daughter he didn’t even know existed, of course, he must have seen her as lovely. How happy would the duke be to lie like that?”

Empress Amelia gently restrained the priest, who sharply criticized the duke. Helio, who thought he had criticized too harshly, cleared his throat.

To him, Empress Amelia brought up the topic she wanted to discuss again.

“But that lady is a bit strange. Do you know that the lady has a pet snake?”

“A snake?”

“Yes, I may have misunderstood, but the lady keeps talking to the snake. Frankly, it looked eerie to me….”