“Idiot. All you know is to blame others. You think you’re something just because Mother dotes on you a bit? Do you think you’ll be a duchess forever with your lowly birth? Your best match would be with some country noble.”

For the first time, Helena’s face turned pale at the harsh words. The cold gaze of always-smiling Victoria froze Helena.

Regaining her senses, Helena shouted.

“Hey! You crazy? I’m also Mother’s daughter, born from her and Father! Long before you were born!”

Victoria’s eyebrows narrowed.

“What did you say?”

“I was born when Mom was dating Dad before she married the Eastern Regent! I had to pretend to be the daughter of the former duchess, but I’m actually Mom’s first child!”

Victoria quickly deduced the situation.

‘So she had to hide having a child with another man before marrying the Eastern Regent.’

Now she understood why her parents favored Helena. Why they treasured her despite her stupidity.

A cynical laugh escaped her.

All her efforts had been in vain. No matter how hard Victoria tried, she would never be more cherished than Helena.

Her parents’ love for Helena was based on guilt.

Victoria recalled the day she was arrested on false murder charges.

The image of her father stepping back without a word at the chief investigator’s few sentences still shook her. Her mother didn’t even come when she was confined and interrogated in that narrow room.

‘I will never be the most precious being in this mansion.’

Victoria abruptly stood up. Although Helena called out, she didn’t look back and left the drawing room, heading for her own room.

‘I need to find my place. Someone who will think of me first and foremost.’

She thought of Ariana. The smile Ariana had shown when Victoria was taken away by the chief investigator. A smile so bright it scorched Victoria to her core.

‘Ariana will surely become the princess of the Eastern Vassal State.’

After seeing that smile, Victoria was convinced Ariana was no ordinary girl.

‘Then I must become an entity more noble than Ariana.’
Ariana would someday certainly step into the empire’s social circles.

“Watch and see, Ariana. Whatever you become, I will certainly be more noble and bring about your ruin. I’ll make you die feeling far worse than the humiliation I felt that day.”

So she couldn’t yet reveal her disappointment and anger towards her family. To ascend to that high and noble position, the power of her family was absolutely necessary.

The seed Ariana planted sprouted a shoot of distrust in Victoria’s heart. Just as Ariana saw the Bronthe mansion as a prison, Victoria also came to regard this mansion as a prison she had to escape from someday.

Unaware that this was even a piece of the revenge Ariana had cultivated, Victoria harbored a silent hatred towards the family that didn’t protect her.

+++

When Ariana arrived in the imperial capital Sterion City, it was May 4th, three days before the custody trial was to take place.

The mansion the Eastern Emperor had secured beforehand in Sterion City was in a quiet place far from the busy streets. Before they had even unpacked, a person planted by the Eastern Emperor in the empire came to inform them.

“From the Western direction, Western Emperor and Duchess Bronthe have arrived. They arrived a week ago and have had clandestine contact with the chief judge in charge of this trial, a Tubveson Hyeon. From what we know about Tubveson Hyeon, his reputation isn’t bad, but there are instances where he gives questionable judgments. Some witnesses suggest that he might be moved by money, but it’s not certain.”

The faces of the Eastern Emperor and his ancestors darkened. Theodore sighed and spoke.

“The Western Emperor must have spent money. We should also propose a substantial amount.”

Russell nodded.

“Yes, we are well-prepared, so we won’t be inferior to the Western Emperor.”

“Find out how much the Western Emperor has offered and make sure to spend double that amount.”

“Understood.”

Ariana, who had been quietly sitting to one side listening to the adults’ conversation, cautiously opened her mouth.

“May I offer an opinion?”

The adults looked surprised, as if they hadn’t realized Ariana was in the reception room.

Carrody nodded.

“Go ahead, speak.”

“If we make moves to influence the trial in our favor, the Western Emperor will find out. Being a cunning man, he will surely try to use it against us. He could turn it around and corner us, saying he never offered any bribes. Maybe the bribe itself is a trap to ensnare us.”

“That’s true.”

“We must act above board, so clean that even if the Western Emperor scrutinizes us, he won’t find a single fault.”

Theodore spoke as if worried.

“But what if that results in an unfavorable outcome?”

“We leave matters of bribery to their end to be dealt with justly. If Tubveson is the chief judge, won’t there be someone eyeing his position?”

At Ariana’s point, Russell seemed astonished and then fell into thought. After a while, Russell spoke.

“I’ve heard that a judge named Odmil often clashes with Tubveson. If we mention to Odmil the dealings between the Western Emperor and Tubveson, he might take it upon himself to find evidence.”

Ariana gave a slight smile.

“Then let’s leave it in his hands.”