Volume 3
It was Erzenes Targayel's first time entering the palace.
While riding in the carriage, Elze was able to see the imperial palace in person, which she had always only seen from afar. She thought the Britain Palace was beautiful, but the Baluar Palace was incomparably more splendid and grand.
The Baluar Palace, built of red marble, had flags with a golden lion and crown on a red background, the symbolic color of the imperial family, fluttering everywhere.
The Imperial Guards, adorned in red tassels, red cloaks, and glittering ceremonial armor, were well-trained and could be seen in every movement they made. Seeing their swords and armor in such good condition, Elze felt satisfied.
The carriage headed to the Crown Princess Palace. The Crown Princess Palace, located slightly away from the central Imperial Palace, was a beautiful palace with a quiet atmosphere. While the other palaces were large and imposing, this one was cozy and harmonious.
When Elze got out of the carriage, the maids who had been waiting helped her guide. Since it was her first time, she left early and arrived earlier than the appointed time. She was worried that she might have been rude if she had arrived too early.
But the maids didn't show any particular emotion and led Elze straight to the banquet hall. She had thought they would have lunch in the garden since the weather was nice, but it seemed they would have lunch inside the palace.
“Welcome, Countess Targayel.”
And in the banquet hall, Crown Princess Iarin was waiting for Elze. Elze greeted her according to etiquette. And then she sat down across from Iarin.
Crown Princess Iarin was beautiful. However, at first glance, she seemed frail and sickly.
Her pale and emaciated complexion looked as if it would blow away in the wind, and her quiet voice was thin and weak.
She was a woman who did not have the charisma to become the Empress of an empire and command all people, and she seemed to have difficulty taking care of herself.
Despite the hot weather, Elze noticed that she was wearing a dress with a collar turned up. She wondered if she was very weak and prone to catching a summer cold.
Elze naturally averted her gaze so as not to commit the impoliteness of staring too closely. The place where lunch was served was a moderately sized restaurant. The table setting, decorated with neat silver cutlery, napkins, and fresh flowers, felt restrained and elegant rather than extravagant.
Since Lady Cecilia hadn't arrived yet, Elze chatted with Iarin until she did. It was light, starting with the weather, and mostly everyday stories. Since she didn't know much about social gossip, Elze tried to keep the conversation as general as possible, but also stories that Iarin would be comfortable listening to.
It was when the topic of Count Targayel's marriage came up. Suddenly, Iarin called Elze and trailed off.
“You...”
She looked around discreetly, but Elze could see that her eyes were checking to see if the maids were far away.
Iarin's expression was calm, but her eyes trembled briefly as if she was afraid of something. Iarin hesitated for a while and then asked cautiously.
“Are you happy?”
And the moment she heard those words, Elze was speechless. Iarin had simply asked if she was happy, but she could understand why she had asked such a question.
Iarin and Elze were walking similar paths.
Erzenes Targayel was sold to the war hero Shan Cirxus to save the collapsing House Targayel, and Iarin Seraph was offered to the Baluar royal family for the glory of House Seraph.
The marriage between the two families was the center of everyone's attention and interest, and even the smallest murmur of married life spread into noisy gossip in social circles.
But there was one big difference: now Iarin was unhappy.
How could she say she was happy in front of her like that? Elze, speechless, couldn't answer right away. Iarin lowered her eyes and spoke softly.
“No. That was nonsense. Please forget it.”
Iarin continued speaking with a faint smile.
“Don’t worry, the Countess feels comfortable doing this.”
But her smile was pale and lifeless.
“...”
Sympathy... Elze felt pity for her. Contrary to her outward appearance, Iarin was a bird in a cage, flapping her wings helplessly.
No matter how sad and unhappy she was, she had to sing until her throat was torn as if she were the happiest person in the world, with a noble and beautiful appearance.
"Your Highness."
Elze, unable to control her impulse, called out to Iarin without thinking. And then she spoke with all her heart.
“You don’t have to be perfect. You don’t have to force yourself to be happy for others.”
“...”
After saying it, she realized it was too much advice. In a society where everyone wears masks, there is nothing more foolish than pretending to be sincere, and that is exactly what Elze did.
But Iarin didn't get angry. She just blankly stared at Elze. After staring at Elze for a while without saying a word, she slowly muttered.
“It’s the first time I’ve heard that...”
Iarin smiled a much lighter smile. It was the most human-looking smile Elze had ever seen since she met her. Iarin smiled slightly and was about to say something more.
“Your Highness, Lady Cecilia has arrived.”
The maid outside announced Cecilla's arrival.
One of the stupidest things a woman can do is believe that she can change a man.
Cecilia Epernon was arrogant. Her youthful beauty, her beautiful appearance, and the halo of a prestigious imperial family made her arrogant. She believed she was special.
Cecilia had heard and seen other noblewomen go crazy over Shan Cirxus, begging for his love, obsessing over him, and eventually being driven to ruin. But despite knowing all this, she approached Shan and succeeded in seducing him.
No, she thought she had succeeded, like so many women before her.
At first, she thought she had the upper hand in the relationship with him. She laughed at the sight of women who were so obsessed with Shan that they cursed him and tried to take their lives.
But the more she got to know the man called Shan Cirxus, the more frightening he became. He was not human. He did not feel the emotions of ordinary people. His heart was as cold and hard as stone, impenetrable, and even if he were to show a crack, only anger and contempt would be seen between the two.
But when she realized everything, her heart was already shaken. Cecilia couldn't get away from him. At some point, Cecilia became just like the countless women she had laughed at. The uncontrollable emotion was too dark to be called love, and it eventually consumed Cecilia.
Cecilia, who was sitting alone in the study, could not control her anger and slammed the desk. Slamming it did not help, so she swept aside all the objects on the desk. A picture book fell and the corner was crushed. An inkwell spilled, and a quill was crushed by a book, breaking the pen. Cecilia muttered in the middle of the messy room.
“If it weren’t for her...”
Her eyes sparkled. Her pretty face was distorted and an ugly expression was drawn. What was filled inside was a sticky obsession and desire.
“I should have married him. I should have made him Shan Cirxus Epernon...!”
I will have him. And I will never let him leave my side again.
Whether it was cutting the tendons in his legs, or making his paralyzed with drugs... any dirty trick was fine. Cecilia would do anything as long as it guaranteed that Shan Cirxus would be hers.
And now, Cecilia's opportunity has arrived.
Cecilia laughed like a madman. The maids waiting outside the study trembled at her mad laughter. Her laughter, which had been going on for a long time, died down. And her expression became expressionless.
“Erzenes Targayel...”
Cecilia smiled as she chewed on her name. The Queen's visit this time was a heaven-sent opportunity.
It was decided from the beginning that the Count of Epernon, who was well-versed in the culture and language of the Kingdom of LlRyeo, would assist the Crown Princess in taking charge of the Queen's protocol.
However, the reason Erzenes suddenly appeared was because Cecilia strongly recommended her to Crown Princess Iarin.
Cecilia said that Erzenes was well-versed in the kingdom of Ryeo because she had picked up a lot of things while wandering around as a peddler.
Of course, Erzenes had no way of knowing about the Kingdom of Ryeo, which even the most high-ranking nobles were unaware of. Nevertheless, there was only one reason she recommended her. It was to use Erzenes as a sacrificial lamb to make herself stand out.
She doesn't know how Green Tea found out the other day, but even if she knew the culture, she couldn't know the language of the Kingdom of Ryeo.
She was going to let Erzenes do the interpreting. And she would watch Erzenes make mistakes after mistakes, showing her ignorance. Cecilia would be there, smiling elegantly, correcting her mistakes.
Crown Princess Iarin had been building a friendship through constant communication. Iarin, who was timid and introverted, was not very social. She was always kind to her, even though she was unable to mingle at banquets, so Iarin would definitely take her side.
The situation is also excellent, and everyone around her is on her side. This time, she will definitely not suffer the humiliation of the Tea Party. Cecilla muttered with her eyes sparkling.
“I’m going to make it so painful that being next to me will give you goosebumps.”
And soon after, a luncheon was arranged to discuss protocol.
Cecilia had a new dress made and bought jewelry to cheer up Erzenes. She sharpened her sword and prepared as if she were going to an important banquet, so on the day of lunch, Cecilia looked more beautiful than ever.
Arriving at the Crown Princess Palace, Cecilia hid her feelings and armed herself with a smile and elegant demeanor. Then, guided by the maid, she headed to the banquet hall.
Iarin, who was sickly, rarely went out. Because she was prone to catching colds, Iarin always wore a dress with a collar turned up. Cecilla felt proud that she knew Iarin so well, and confidently entered the banquet hall.
And as soon as she entered the dining room, she looked at Erzenes first. Cecilia's eyes quickly scanned her from head to toe.
The dress Erzenes wore to the last tea party suited her well, but it wasn't from a dress shop that usually tailors clothes for the ladies of the capital's society. Since which dress shop you get your clothes made from is often an important criterion, clothes made from lower-class dress shops are looked down upon.
But today's Erzenes was different.
“...”
The light blue dress with a delicate floral pattern was a design that Sophiana's fashion house presented for this summer. The dress, of which only one was made, was not for sale.
Sophiana's clothing store was the dream clothing store that all noble ladies aspired to. Cecilia's eyes rolled back when she heard that the items there were not for sale. She tried every means and method to get her hands on them but was politely turned down.
But Erzenes Targayel came wearing that dress. She had no idea what trick she had to use to get that dress.
Cecilia suddenly felt as if everything she had worked so hard to prepare had been in vain. She had a hard time controlling her distorted expression. She barely managed to straighten her face and gave a belated greeting.
“I’m sorry, Your Highness. I’m very late.”
Cecilia arrived a little early for the appointed time. However, since the Crown Princess was already seated, she apologized for being late out of courtesy.
“No, Cecilia. We’re up too early.”
When Iarin called her Cecilla in a friendly manner, her pride, which had been on the decline, rose again.
'Yeah, it's not the dress or the jewelry that's important.'
No matter how expensive Erzenes was, she was still just a country bumpkin who did peddling. Unlike herself, who had been naturally immersed in the culture and connections she had acquired since childhood. Cecilla spoke to Iarin with a very affectionate smile.
“What kind of interesting conversation did you have before I came?”
Of course, the underlying meaning was, 'It was really boring before I came, right?' Given Iarin's unsociable personality, they would have only had stiff conversations. Iarin would have been counting the days until she was a gossip in the social circle.
“Oh, it wasn’t anything special. It was just some trivial stories...”
Iarin looked back at Erzenes. She smiled shyly and said.
“It was so much fun. I didn’t even realize how fast time had passed.”
"...Ah."
It was the first time that Iarin, who always had a gloomy expression, smiled like that. Cecilla forced a smile and answered with a trembling voice.
“Is that so?”
This was not it. This was not the situation Cecilia had imagined. Cecilia sensed something was wrong, but lunch was already proceeding steadily.
She didn’t know if the food was going into her mouth or her nose. Cecilla mechanically chewed and swallowed the food and rolled her head. At this rate, it seemed like it would end up being a really peaceful lunch. Cecilla, who was rolling her head and chewing the tender flesh in her mouth, raised her voice and called out to Iarin.
"Your Highness."
When Iarin turned to her, Cecilia smiled and spoke softly.
“It is said that Countess Targayel used to travel around the world as a peddler. That is why she is well-versed in the culture and language of the Kingdom of Ryeo, and that is why I recommended her to Your Highness. I bet she had many interesting experiences back then. Would you like to hear about them?”
The words that were said with a face that said nothing at all were poking at Erzenes's shame. The fact that the mistress of a prestigious family had once been a merchant was a flaw, but it was definitely not something to brag about.
“A peddler... How surprising.”
Cecilia was secretly delighted at the slightly embarrassed tone in Iarin’s voice. Then she turned to Erzenes with a face like a triumphant general. She was thinking of at least laughing at her.
But Cecilla was frozen and couldn't move.
“...”
The moment she met her blue eyes, the memory of the tea party came back to her. The fear she felt when she saw Erzenes Targayel at that time was consciously erased, but it was still deeply engraved in her body.
The blue eyes were just as cold and fearful as before. Her body trembled. She wanted to look away. She wanted to jump up and run away. But she couldn’t move. Erzenes looked at Cecilia expressionlessly and asked her a question in a whisper.
“Do you really want to hear my story?”
“...”
Her chest tightened and she felt suffocated. Erzenes's lips turned up crookedly in front of Cecilla, who was panting without saying a word.
“Are you sure you won’t regret it...?”
With a mocking laugh, she said.
“I wonder, Lady Cecilia.”
Anyway, she was a great woman. If she got in so much trouble at the tea party, it would be time to stop attacking her.
Elze thought so as she watched Cecilla, who was about to attack her but was getting stabbed in the back. When she thought about it, it seemed like it was because of her that she was put in charge of the Queen's protocol.
It seemed that Cecilia had recommended Countess Targayel by talking about how she was well-versed in the kingdom of Ryeo. It was obvious that she had done this to get Elze into trouble. And then she asked her to tell her the story of her peddling. She was a woman who only did annoying things. Elze looked at Cecilia and asked.
“Do you really want to hear my story?”
There was a faint murderous intent in her gaze. She felt that Cecila was frozen and trembling, but Elze did not let up. Instead, she pressed even harder.
“I wonder if you are confident that you will not regret it, Lady Cecilla.”
Cecilia shivered under the pressure. Cold sweat formed on her forehead. Elze smiled and said.
“It’s not a very interesting story, so I’m worried it’ll ruin the mood. However, since Young Lady wants it so badly, I’ll tell you, even if it’s not enough.”
And then she started talking, looking straight at Cecilla.
“I lost my parents when I was young and was left alone with my younger brother.”
Elze felt that Iarin was looking at her in surprise. It was definitely not something to talk about at a banquet where the Crown Princess was present. However, Elze did not stop.
“For the sake of my only younger sibling, I thought I had to throw away my pride and survive at all costs.”
What Elze was familiar with was not the etiquette of the social world, but the laws of survival on the battlefield. And the most basic law of survival was that anyone who attacked must be thoroughly trampled.
“So I started out as a peddler. Many things were going on, but..."
Elze's eyes glowed blue.
“I have done nothing to bring disgrace to the name of Targayel.”
If Elze had been born a man, she would have proudly declared that she inherited the talent of the sword. And she would have led the knights of Targayel, the ravens, and swept across the battlefield, and together with Shan, she would have been honored as a war hero of Baluar.
Elze's only fault was that she was a woman. So she hid her identity and lived as Elze of Elijah, not Erzenes of Targayel...That was it.
The more she thought about it, the more excited she became. Elze smiled on the outside but suppressed her energy even more. The color drained from Cecila’s face.
“Ugh, ah, ahh...”
She moaned with a pale face. If she continued on like this, she might faint. At that moment, Elze thought it was enough and gathered her strength, but Cecilia screamed and jumped up from her seat.
“Whoaaah!!”
Cecilla's actions of screaming and jumping up from her seat startled Iarin and the maids in the banquet hall, who looked at her in surprise.
Cecilia looked around with tears in her eyes. However, Elze's murderous intent was only directed at Cecilia. When everyone looked at her with confused eyes, Cecilia burst into tears.
“Sigh, ugh...”
Her tears were a mixture of fear and shame. Her face, which was beautifully made up, was covered in tears. She couldn't hide the dripping makeup properly, and she spoke with a squeak.
“Sob, sob, I’m sorry...”
Cecilia covered her reddened face with her hands and barely managed to make an excuse.
“My body... my body, isn’t feeling well...”
Iarin, who didn't know the situation, said in shock.
“Oh my goodness, Cecilia! You should get some rest.”
Seeing Cecilla staggering, Iarin hurriedly motioned for her maids to come over.
“Take Lady Cecilia to the break room.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
The maids quickly helped Cecilia up. Cecilia stumbled out of the banquet hall. Elze chuckled as she watched her back.
It was only because Elze let her off easy. If she had really tried to live, Cecilia, who had never trained before, would have fainted on the spot. During the chaos, Elze, the person responsible for all this, spoke calmly, pretending not to know anything.
“It seems that Young Lady Cecilia is not feeling well.”
“That’s right. I’m worried...”
Iarin looked in the direction where Cecilia had left with a worried expression. Then she whispered to Elze.
“Don’t pay too much attention to what Lady Cecilia says.”
Although Elze was rude, Iarin knew that the cause was Cecilia and told her this. She was truly a kind Crown Princess. Elze said, thinking it would be a waste to give her to Raymond.
“What do you mean, I am not concerned. Rather, I have been rude in front of Your Highness.”
But, at Elze's words, Iarin shook her head.
“No. Rather...”
She spoke quickly, her cheek flushed.
“It feels good to hear you say that, Countess. I have never liked her behavior before.”
Elze burst into a small laugh at Iarin's cute gossip. And Iarin followed suit and laughed too.
The discussion about protocol that was supposed to be discussed at lunch was left unfinished due to Cecilia's impulsive behavior.
Iarin also said that they had gathered to get to know each other better since they would be together in the future, rather than to talk about protocol. They decided to send the protocol-related matters as an official document, and Elze chatted happily with Iarin. The two of them talked comfortably, putting aside their status and position as if they were friends of the same age.
When lunch was over and it was time for Elze to leave, Iarin couldn't hide her regret. It was regrettable for Elze too, but she had a lot to do when she got home. Iarin muttered gloomily, holding onto the hem of Elze's clothes.
“Please come back again next time. I can’t remember when I had so much fun...”
Elze was able to leave the palace only after repeatedly promising to see Iarin again. The farewell was long, so it took longer than expected. Elze walked a little faster.
She was walking briskly across the garden of the Crown Princess Palace when she saw a man walking towards her from the opposite side with his attendants. Elze, who was naturally about to step aside to make way, blinked her eyes in puzzlement.
“...?”
She thought they would just nod and pass each other, but he was approaching Elze directly. As the distance between them became completely close, Elze bowed her head slightly and greeted him first.
He stopped walking. Elze, who had been looking down, looked at the man’s hands wearing pure white gloves. The white gloves, which were easy to get dirty, were shining white without any dirty spots.
"Your Excellency."
The maids who were with her hurriedly bowed and greeted him. Only then did Elze realize that he was a Duke from the titles they gave him?
There were only two dukes in the Baluar Empire. Duke Wade and Duke Seraph. Of them, Duke Wade was known to be an old middle-aged man. This young man was definitely Duke Seraph.
Duke Seraph had sent assassins to Targayel. Of course, the assassin he sent, Kalia, was beaten badly by Elze and came under her command.
Now that she thinks about it, she hasn't told Shan about Duke Seraph and Kalia yet. Thinking that she would tell him as soon as she got home, Elze was on high alert.
“It’s a nice day for a walk, lady.”
At the sound of Duke Seraph's voice, Elze slowly raised her head. Then, her eyes met his.
“...!”
He was truly a beautiful man. With pale blue-gray eyes, platinum hair that shone dazzlingly under the sunlight, and perfect facial features without a single angular feature. His angelic appearance made it seem like it wouldn't be surprising if he had wings on his back.
It took her a while to get used to Duke Seraph's face. Once she did, other parts of him started to catch her eye.
She heard that Duke Enoch Seraph was the sibling of Crown Princess Iarin. His facial features, which were generally pale in color, gave off the feeling of Iarin. She could definitely tell that they were siblings. The only difference was that, unlike Iarin, he did not look fragile. He was as beautiful as a porcelain doll, but he did not look like he would break easily.
But something was a little strange. Even though Elze had spent a considerable amount of time observing him, Duke Seraph still remained silent. He was staring at Elze. There was a strange surprise in his eyes.
Duke Seraph, who had been staring at Elze with a frozen expression for a long time, opened his lips slightly. Then, he opened his mouth as if letting out a breath.
"Really..."
He muttered with a blank expression.
“What a perfect blue. Such noble and beautiful... blue eyes.”
...What the heck, why are you like this? Are you crazy?
Elze looked at Duke Seraph with a face of bewilderment. No wonder, Duke Seraph’s eyes were unfocused. There was also a faint red glow on his face, making him look a little feverish.
Duke Seraph's expression hardened as he came to his senses under Elze's gaze. The relaxed look he had just moments ago disappeared, and a smooth mask was put on him. He spoke to Elze with a gentlemanly smile.
“I am Enoch of Seraph. Could you please tell me the lady’s name?”
All she could do was tell him her name, Elze said coolly.
“I am Erzenes of Targayel.”
“...”
Duke Seraph's expression hardened strangely when he heard Elze's name.
A few days later, on the morning of the luncheon promised with Crown Princess Iarin.
Elze, who had fallen asleep the day before because Shan had come home late, woke up early. However, Shan's seat was still empty.
Will it be hard to see your face today too...
It was only natural that the busier you were as you stood at the center of power, the busier you became.
Elze, who had fallen asleep the day before because Shan had come home late, woke up early. However, Shan's seat was still empty.
Will it be hard to see your face today too...
It was only natural that the busier you were as you stood at the center of power, the busier you became.
Since Crown Prince Raymond wanted to make Shan the axis of central politics, he couldn't help but be busy. However, Elze couldn't help but feel resentful and regretful.
Elze hit the poor Shan's pillow with her hand, making a loud noise. Then she stretched out and rang the bell at the head of the bed. She quickly got dressed and planned to start her day. However, the person who came in when she heard the bell was not the maid.
“Shan...?”
The one who came in with the door slammed shut was Shan. He greeted her with a grin.
“Are you awake?”
Shan walked over to Elze, who was sitting on the bed and staring blankly at him. Then he suddenly held out what he was holding in his hand. It was a large bouquet of roses.
"Flower...?"
As she held a bouquet of roses in her arms, she was dizzy with the red color filling her eyes. The bouquet was so large that she could barely hold it all in her arms. The roses were so fresh that the scent of the unripe grass seemed refreshing.
No woman didn't like beautiful flowers. Elze looked up at Shan with a faint smile. Unlike Elze, who was in her pajamas, he was fully prepared to go out and was dressed in a suit.
"Thank you."
Shan bent down and brought his face closer to Elze's. Then, without saying a word, he tapped her lips with his finger and smiled.
He was a really sly man. But even as she glared at him, Elze wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed a kiss to his lips.
As their lips brushed against each other, a subtle perfume scent brushed past her nose. It was the scent that came from Shan. The scent that wrapped around Elze was pleasantly refreshing, yet somehow heavy, like the scent of an adult. It was a sexy scent that suited him perfectly.
“...”
Elze pulled away and pressed her hands against her chest. Suddenly, her heart started pounding wildly and she felt hot and humid. Maybe it was because it was morning and she was still half asleep. Today, she thought he looked cool.
Shan, who noticed that Elze was embarrassed, laughed softly. Shan said as he ran his hand through Elze's hair, which was building a magpie nest, and tidied it up.
“I have something to do, so I have to go now.”
“Ah... You waited because of me?”
“No, that’s not it. The flower gifts aren’t over yet, so finish them and then go have lunch.”
Since you gave me a rose, what other flower would you like to give me?
Elze hit the poor Shan's pillow with her hand, making a loud noise. Then she stretched out and rang the bell at the head of the bed. She quickly got dressed and planned to start her day. However, the person who came in when she heard the bell was not the maid.
“Shan...?”
The one who came in with the door slammed shut was Shan. He greeted her with a grin.
“Are you awake?”
Shan walked over to Elze, who was sitting on the bed and staring blankly at him. Then he suddenly held out what he was holding in his hand. It was a large bouquet of roses.
"Flower...?"
As she held a bouquet of roses in her arms, she was dizzy with the red color filling her eyes. The bouquet was so large that she could barely hold it all in her arms. The roses were so fresh that the scent of the unripe grass seemed refreshing.
No woman didn't like beautiful flowers. Elze looked up at Shan with a faint smile. Unlike Elze, who was in her pajamas, he was fully prepared to go out and was dressed in a suit.
"Thank you."
Shan bent down and brought his face closer to Elze's. Then, without saying a word, he tapped her lips with his finger and smiled.
He was a really sly man. But even as she glared at him, Elze wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed a kiss to his lips.
As their lips brushed against each other, a subtle perfume scent brushed past her nose. It was the scent that came from Shan. The scent that wrapped around Elze was pleasantly refreshing, yet somehow heavy, like the scent of an adult. It was a sexy scent that suited him perfectly.
“...”
Elze pulled away and pressed her hands against her chest. Suddenly, her heart started pounding wildly and she felt hot and humid. Maybe it was because it was morning and she was still half asleep. Today, she thought he looked cool.
Shan, who noticed that Elze was embarrassed, laughed softly. Shan said as he ran his hand through Elze's hair, which was building a magpie nest, and tidied it up.
“I have something to do, so I have to go now.”
“Ah... You waited because of me?”
“No, that’s not it. The flower gifts aren’t over yet, so finish them and then go have lunch.”
Since you gave me a rose, what other flower would you like to give me?
Elze nodded to his words. She exchanged a few more words with him before saying goodbye.
Shan was already a little late for his scheduled arrival at the palace. Elze saw him off while sitting on the bed.
After Shan left, her heart felt empty. Elze took a deep breath and let out a sigh, but suddenly the maids came into the room one after another. The maids could not enter the room without the master’s order. Elze had never ordered them to come in, but the maids received orders from others.
“The Count sent you.”
The one who gave them orders was none other than Shan. And the maids' hands were full of something.
“No, what is all this...”
Elze looked around in astonishment. The maids were carrying all sorts of gorgeous dresses and glittering jewelry. And they all had one thing in common.
A dress with a delicate floral pattern, a hat decorated with flowers and ribbons and feathers, shoes with flower corsages, a necklace and earrings with flower-shaped brooches... They were all somewhat related to flowers. Elze, who was examining them one by one, burst into a big smile. With the corners of her lips lifted, Elze muttered happily.
“I can’t refuse like this...”
It really is a flower gift just as Shan said.
Shan was already a little late for his scheduled arrival at the palace. Elze saw him off while sitting on the bed.
After Shan left, her heart felt empty. Elze took a deep breath and let out a sigh, but suddenly the maids came into the room one after another. The maids could not enter the room without the master’s order. Elze had never ordered them to come in, but the maids received orders from others.
“The Count sent you.”
The one who gave them orders was none other than Shan. And the maids' hands were full of something.
“No, what is all this...”
Elze looked around in astonishment. The maids were carrying all sorts of gorgeous dresses and glittering jewelry. And they all had one thing in common.
A dress with a delicate floral pattern, a hat decorated with flowers and ribbons and feathers, shoes with flower corsages, a necklace and earrings with flower-shaped brooches... They were all somewhat related to flowers. Elze, who was examining them one by one, burst into a big smile. With the corners of her lips lifted, Elze muttered happily.
“I can’t refuse like this...”
It really is a flower gift just as Shan said.
***
It was Erzenes Targayel's first time entering the palace.
While riding in the carriage, Elze was able to see the imperial palace in person, which she had always only seen from afar. She thought the Britain Palace was beautiful, but the Baluar Palace was incomparably more splendid and grand.
The Baluar Palace, built of red marble, had flags with a golden lion and crown on a red background, the symbolic color of the imperial family, fluttering everywhere.
The Imperial Guards, adorned in red tassels, red cloaks, and glittering ceremonial armor, were well-trained and could be seen in every movement they made. Seeing their swords and armor in such good condition, Elze felt satisfied.
The carriage headed to the Crown Princess Palace. The Crown Princess Palace, located slightly away from the central Imperial Palace, was a beautiful palace with a quiet atmosphere. While the other palaces were large and imposing, this one was cozy and harmonious.
When Elze got out of the carriage, the maids who had been waiting helped her guide. Since it was her first time, she left early and arrived earlier than the appointed time. She was worried that she might have been rude if she had arrived too early.
But the maids didn't show any particular emotion and led Elze straight to the banquet hall. She had thought they would have lunch in the garden since the weather was nice, but it seemed they would have lunch inside the palace.
“Welcome, Countess Targayel.”
And in the banquet hall, Crown Princess Iarin was waiting for Elze. Elze greeted her according to etiquette. And then she sat down across from Iarin.
Crown Princess Iarin was beautiful. However, at first glance, she seemed frail and sickly.
Her pale and emaciated complexion looked as if it would blow away in the wind, and her quiet voice was thin and weak.
She was a woman who did not have the charisma to become the Empress of an empire and command all people, and she seemed to have difficulty taking care of herself.
Despite the hot weather, Elze noticed that she was wearing a dress with a collar turned up. She wondered if she was very weak and prone to catching a summer cold.
Elze naturally averted her gaze so as not to commit the impoliteness of staring too closely. The place where lunch was served was a moderately sized restaurant. The table setting, decorated with neat silver cutlery, napkins, and fresh flowers, felt restrained and elegant rather than extravagant.
Since Lady Cecilia hadn't arrived yet, Elze chatted with Iarin until she did. It was light, starting with the weather, and mostly everyday stories. Since she didn't know much about social gossip, Elze tried to keep the conversation as general as possible, but also stories that Iarin would be comfortable listening to.
It was when the topic of Count Targayel's marriage came up. Suddenly, Iarin called Elze and trailed off.
“You...”
She looked around discreetly, but Elze could see that her eyes were checking to see if the maids were far away.
Iarin's expression was calm, but her eyes trembled briefly as if she was afraid of something. Iarin hesitated for a while and then asked cautiously.
“Are you happy?”
And the moment she heard those words, Elze was speechless. Iarin had simply asked if she was happy, but she could understand why she had asked such a question.
Iarin and Elze were walking similar paths.
Erzenes Targayel was sold to the war hero Shan Cirxus to save the collapsing House Targayel, and Iarin Seraph was offered to the Baluar royal family for the glory of House Seraph.
The marriage between the two families was the center of everyone's attention and interest, and even the smallest murmur of married life spread into noisy gossip in social circles.
But there was one big difference: now Iarin was unhappy.
How could she say she was happy in front of her like that? Elze, speechless, couldn't answer right away. Iarin lowered her eyes and spoke softly.
“No. That was nonsense. Please forget it.”
Iarin continued speaking with a faint smile.
“Don’t worry, the Countess feels comfortable doing this.”
But her smile was pale and lifeless.
“...”
Sympathy... Elze felt pity for her. Contrary to her outward appearance, Iarin was a bird in a cage, flapping her wings helplessly.
No matter how sad and unhappy she was, she had to sing until her throat was torn as if she were the happiest person in the world, with a noble and beautiful appearance.
"Your Highness."
Elze, unable to control her impulse, called out to Iarin without thinking. And then she spoke with all her heart.
“You don’t have to be perfect. You don’t have to force yourself to be happy for others.”
“...”
After saying it, she realized it was too much advice. In a society where everyone wears masks, there is nothing more foolish than pretending to be sincere, and that is exactly what Elze did.
But Iarin didn't get angry. She just blankly stared at Elze. After staring at Elze for a while without saying a word, she slowly muttered.
“It’s the first time I’ve heard that...”
Iarin smiled a much lighter smile. It was the most human-looking smile Elze had ever seen since she met her. Iarin smiled slightly and was about to say something more.
“Your Highness, Lady Cecilia has arrived.”
The maid outside announced Cecilla's arrival.
***
One of the stupidest things a woman can do is believe that she can change a man.
Cecilia Epernon was arrogant. Her youthful beauty, her beautiful appearance, and the halo of a prestigious imperial family made her arrogant. She believed she was special.
Cecilia had heard and seen other noblewomen go crazy over Shan Cirxus, begging for his love, obsessing over him, and eventually being driven to ruin. But despite knowing all this, she approached Shan and succeeded in seducing him.
No, she thought she had succeeded, like so many women before her.
At first, she thought she had the upper hand in the relationship with him. She laughed at the sight of women who were so obsessed with Shan that they cursed him and tried to take their lives.
But the more she got to know the man called Shan Cirxus, the more frightening he became. He was not human. He did not feel the emotions of ordinary people. His heart was as cold and hard as stone, impenetrable, and even if he were to show a crack, only anger and contempt would be seen between the two.
But when she realized everything, her heart was already shaken. Cecilia couldn't get away from him. At some point, Cecilia became just like the countless women she had laughed at. The uncontrollable emotion was too dark to be called love, and it eventually consumed Cecilia.
Cecilia, who was sitting alone in the study, could not control her anger and slammed the desk. Slamming it did not help, so she swept aside all the objects on the desk. A picture book fell and the corner was crushed. An inkwell spilled, and a quill was crushed by a book, breaking the pen. Cecilia muttered in the middle of the messy room.
“If it weren’t for her...”
Her eyes sparkled. Her pretty face was distorted and an ugly expression was drawn. What was filled inside was a sticky obsession and desire.
“I should have married him. I should have made him Shan Cirxus Epernon...!”
I will have him. And I will never let him leave my side again.
Whether it was cutting the tendons in his legs, or making his paralyzed with drugs... any dirty trick was fine. Cecilia would do anything as long as it guaranteed that Shan Cirxus would be hers.
And now, Cecilia's opportunity has arrived.
Cecilia laughed like a madman. The maids waiting outside the study trembled at her mad laughter. Her laughter, which had been going on for a long time, died down. And her expression became expressionless.
“Erzenes Targayel...”
Cecilia smiled as she chewed on her name. The Queen's visit this time was a heaven-sent opportunity.
It was decided from the beginning that the Count of Epernon, who was well-versed in the culture and language of the Kingdom of LlRyeo, would assist the Crown Princess in taking charge of the Queen's protocol.
However, the reason Erzenes suddenly appeared was because Cecilia strongly recommended her to Crown Princess Iarin.
Cecilia said that Erzenes was well-versed in the kingdom of Ryeo because she had picked up a lot of things while wandering around as a peddler.
Of course, Erzenes had no way of knowing about the Kingdom of Ryeo, which even the most high-ranking nobles were unaware of. Nevertheless, there was only one reason she recommended her. It was to use Erzenes as a sacrificial lamb to make herself stand out.
She doesn't know how Green Tea found out the other day, but even if she knew the culture, she couldn't know the language of the Kingdom of Ryeo.
She was going to let Erzenes do the interpreting. And she would watch Erzenes make mistakes after mistakes, showing her ignorance. Cecilia would be there, smiling elegantly, correcting her mistakes.
Crown Princess Iarin had been building a friendship through constant communication. Iarin, who was timid and introverted, was not very social. She was always kind to her, even though she was unable to mingle at banquets, so Iarin would definitely take her side.
The situation is also excellent, and everyone around her is on her side. This time, she will definitely not suffer the humiliation of the Tea Party. Cecilla muttered with her eyes sparkling.
“I’m going to make it so painful that being next to me will give you goosebumps.”
And soon after, a luncheon was arranged to discuss protocol.
Cecilia had a new dress made and bought jewelry to cheer up Erzenes. She sharpened her sword and prepared as if she were going to an important banquet, so on the day of lunch, Cecilia looked more beautiful than ever.
Arriving at the Crown Princess Palace, Cecilia hid her feelings and armed herself with a smile and elegant demeanor. Then, guided by the maid, she headed to the banquet hall.
Iarin, who was sickly, rarely went out. Because she was prone to catching colds, Iarin always wore a dress with a collar turned up. Cecilla felt proud that she knew Iarin so well, and confidently entered the banquet hall.
And as soon as she entered the dining room, she looked at Erzenes first. Cecilia's eyes quickly scanned her from head to toe.
The dress Erzenes wore to the last tea party suited her well, but it wasn't from a dress shop that usually tailors clothes for the ladies of the capital's society. Since which dress shop you get your clothes made from is often an important criterion, clothes made from lower-class dress shops are looked down upon.
But today's Erzenes was different.
“...”
The light blue dress with a delicate floral pattern was a design that Sophiana's fashion house presented for this summer. The dress, of which only one was made, was not for sale.
Sophiana's clothing store was the dream clothing store that all noble ladies aspired to. Cecilia's eyes rolled back when she heard that the items there were not for sale. She tried every means and method to get her hands on them but was politely turned down.
But Erzenes Targayel came wearing that dress. She had no idea what trick she had to use to get that dress.
Cecilia suddenly felt as if everything she had worked so hard to prepare had been in vain. She had a hard time controlling her distorted expression. She barely managed to straighten her face and gave a belated greeting.
“I’m sorry, Your Highness. I’m very late.”
Cecilia arrived a little early for the appointed time. However, since the Crown Princess was already seated, she apologized for being late out of courtesy.
“No, Cecilia. We’re up too early.”
When Iarin called her Cecilla in a friendly manner, her pride, which had been on the decline, rose again.
'Yeah, it's not the dress or the jewelry that's important.'
No matter how expensive Erzenes was, she was still just a country bumpkin who did peddling. Unlike herself, who had been naturally immersed in the culture and connections she had acquired since childhood. Cecilla spoke to Iarin with a very affectionate smile.
“What kind of interesting conversation did you have before I came?”
Of course, the underlying meaning was, 'It was really boring before I came, right?' Given Iarin's unsociable personality, they would have only had stiff conversations. Iarin would have been counting the days until she was a gossip in the social circle.
“Oh, it wasn’t anything special. It was just some trivial stories...”
Iarin looked back at Erzenes. She smiled shyly and said.
“It was so much fun. I didn’t even realize how fast time had passed.”
"...Ah."
It was the first time that Iarin, who always had a gloomy expression, smiled like that. Cecilla forced a smile and answered with a trembling voice.
“Is that so?”
This was not it. This was not the situation Cecilia had imagined. Cecilia sensed something was wrong, but lunch was already proceeding steadily.
She didn’t know if the food was going into her mouth or her nose. Cecilla mechanically chewed and swallowed the food and rolled her head. At this rate, it seemed like it would end up being a really peaceful lunch. Cecilla, who was rolling her head and chewing the tender flesh in her mouth, raised her voice and called out to Iarin.
"Your Highness."
When Iarin turned to her, Cecilia smiled and spoke softly.
“It is said that Countess Targayel used to travel around the world as a peddler. That is why she is well-versed in the culture and language of the Kingdom of Ryeo, and that is why I recommended her to Your Highness. I bet she had many interesting experiences back then. Would you like to hear about them?”
The words that were said with a face that said nothing at all were poking at Erzenes's shame. The fact that the mistress of a prestigious family had once been a merchant was a flaw, but it was definitely not something to brag about.
“A peddler... How surprising.”
Cecilia was secretly delighted at the slightly embarrassed tone in Iarin’s voice. Then she turned to Erzenes with a face like a triumphant general. She was thinking of at least laughing at her.
But Cecilla was frozen and couldn't move.
“...”
The moment she met her blue eyes, the memory of the tea party came back to her. The fear she felt when she saw Erzenes Targayel at that time was consciously erased, but it was still deeply engraved in her body.
The blue eyes were just as cold and fearful as before. Her body trembled. She wanted to look away. She wanted to jump up and run away. But she couldn’t move. Erzenes looked at Cecilia expressionlessly and asked her a question in a whisper.
“Do you really want to hear my story?”
“...”
Her chest tightened and she felt suffocated. Erzenes's lips turned up crookedly in front of Cecilla, who was panting without saying a word.
“Are you sure you won’t regret it...?”
With a mocking laugh, she said.
“I wonder, Lady Cecilia.”
***
Anyway, she was a great woman. If she got in so much trouble at the tea party, it would be time to stop attacking her.
Elze thought so as she watched Cecilla, who was about to attack her but was getting stabbed in the back. When she thought about it, it seemed like it was because of her that she was put in charge of the Queen's protocol.
It seemed that Cecilia had recommended Countess Targayel by talking about how she was well-versed in the kingdom of Ryeo. It was obvious that she had done this to get Elze into trouble. And then she asked her to tell her the story of her peddling. She was a woman who only did annoying things. Elze looked at Cecilia and asked.
“Do you really want to hear my story?”
There was a faint murderous intent in her gaze. She felt that Cecila was frozen and trembling, but Elze did not let up. Instead, she pressed even harder.
“I wonder if you are confident that you will not regret it, Lady Cecilla.”
Cecilia shivered under the pressure. Cold sweat formed on her forehead. Elze smiled and said.
“It’s not a very interesting story, so I’m worried it’ll ruin the mood. However, since Young Lady wants it so badly, I’ll tell you, even if it’s not enough.”
And then she started talking, looking straight at Cecilla.
“I lost my parents when I was young and was left alone with my younger brother.”
Elze felt that Iarin was looking at her in surprise. It was definitely not something to talk about at a banquet where the Crown Princess was present. However, Elze did not stop.
“For the sake of my only younger sibling, I thought I had to throw away my pride and survive at all costs.”
What Elze was familiar with was not the etiquette of the social world, but the laws of survival on the battlefield. And the most basic law of survival was that anyone who attacked must be thoroughly trampled.
“So I started out as a peddler. Many things were going on, but..."
Elze's eyes glowed blue.
“I have done nothing to bring disgrace to the name of Targayel.”
If Elze had been born a man, she would have proudly declared that she inherited the talent of the sword. And she would have led the knights of Targayel, the ravens, and swept across the battlefield, and together with Shan, she would have been honored as a war hero of Baluar.
Elze's only fault was that she was a woman. So she hid her identity and lived as Elze of Elijah, not Erzenes of Targayel...That was it.
The more she thought about it, the more excited she became. Elze smiled on the outside but suppressed her energy even more. The color drained from Cecila’s face.
“Ugh, ah, ahh...”
She moaned with a pale face. If she continued on like this, she might faint. At that moment, Elze thought it was enough and gathered her strength, but Cecilia screamed and jumped up from her seat.
“Whoaaah!!”
Cecilla's actions of screaming and jumping up from her seat startled Iarin and the maids in the banquet hall, who looked at her in surprise.
Cecilia looked around with tears in her eyes. However, Elze's murderous intent was only directed at Cecilia. When everyone looked at her with confused eyes, Cecilia burst into tears.
“Sigh, ugh...”
Her tears were a mixture of fear and shame. Her face, which was beautifully made up, was covered in tears. She couldn't hide the dripping makeup properly, and she spoke with a squeak.
“Sob, sob, I’m sorry...”
Cecilia covered her reddened face with her hands and barely managed to make an excuse.
“My body... my body, isn’t feeling well...”
Iarin, who didn't know the situation, said in shock.
“Oh my goodness, Cecilia! You should get some rest.”
Seeing Cecilla staggering, Iarin hurriedly motioned for her maids to come over.
“Take Lady Cecilia to the break room.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
The maids quickly helped Cecilia up. Cecilia stumbled out of the banquet hall. Elze chuckled as she watched her back.
It was only because Elze let her off easy. If she had really tried to live, Cecilia, who had never trained before, would have fainted on the spot. During the chaos, Elze, the person responsible for all this, spoke calmly, pretending not to know anything.
“It seems that Young Lady Cecilia is not feeling well.”
“That’s right. I’m worried...”
Iarin looked in the direction where Cecilia had left with a worried expression. Then she whispered to Elze.
“Don’t pay too much attention to what Lady Cecilia says.”
Although Elze was rude, Iarin knew that the cause was Cecilia and told her this. She was truly a kind Crown Princess. Elze said, thinking it would be a waste to give her to Raymond.
“What do you mean, I am not concerned. Rather, I have been rude in front of Your Highness.”
But, at Elze's words, Iarin shook her head.
“No. Rather...”
She spoke quickly, her cheek flushed.
“It feels good to hear you say that, Countess. I have never liked her behavior before.”
Elze burst into a small laugh at Iarin's cute gossip. And Iarin followed suit and laughed too.
The discussion about protocol that was supposed to be discussed at lunch was left unfinished due to Cecilia's impulsive behavior.
Iarin also said that they had gathered to get to know each other better since they would be together in the future, rather than to talk about protocol. They decided to send the protocol-related matters as an official document, and Elze chatted happily with Iarin. The two of them talked comfortably, putting aside their status and position as if they were friends of the same age.
When lunch was over and it was time for Elze to leave, Iarin couldn't hide her regret. It was regrettable for Elze too, but she had a lot to do when she got home. Iarin muttered gloomily, holding onto the hem of Elze's clothes.
“Please come back again next time. I can’t remember when I had so much fun...”
Elze was able to leave the palace only after repeatedly promising to see Iarin again. The farewell was long, so it took longer than expected. Elze walked a little faster.
She was walking briskly across the garden of the Crown Princess Palace when she saw a man walking towards her from the opposite side with his attendants. Elze, who was naturally about to step aside to make way, blinked her eyes in puzzlement.
“...?”
She thought they would just nod and pass each other, but he was approaching Elze directly. As the distance between them became completely close, Elze bowed her head slightly and greeted him first.
He stopped walking. Elze, who had been looking down, looked at the man’s hands wearing pure white gloves. The white gloves, which were easy to get dirty, were shining white without any dirty spots.
"Your Excellency."
The maids who were with her hurriedly bowed and greeted him. Only then did Elze realize that he was a Duke from the titles they gave him?
There were only two dukes in the Baluar Empire. Duke Wade and Duke Seraph. Of them, Duke Wade was known to be an old middle-aged man. This young man was definitely Duke Seraph.
Duke Seraph had sent assassins to Targayel. Of course, the assassin he sent, Kalia, was beaten badly by Elze and came under her command.
Now that she thinks about it, she hasn't told Shan about Duke Seraph and Kalia yet. Thinking that she would tell him as soon as she got home, Elze was on high alert.
“It’s a nice day for a walk, lady.”
At the sound of Duke Seraph's voice, Elze slowly raised her head. Then, her eyes met his.
“...!”
He was truly a beautiful man. With pale blue-gray eyes, platinum hair that shone dazzlingly under the sunlight, and perfect facial features without a single angular feature. His angelic appearance made it seem like it wouldn't be surprising if he had wings on his back.
It took her a while to get used to Duke Seraph's face. Once she did, other parts of him started to catch her eye.
She heard that Duke Enoch Seraph was the sibling of Crown Princess Iarin. His facial features, which were generally pale in color, gave off the feeling of Iarin. She could definitely tell that they were siblings. The only difference was that, unlike Iarin, he did not look fragile. He was as beautiful as a porcelain doll, but he did not look like he would break easily.
But something was a little strange. Even though Elze had spent a considerable amount of time observing him, Duke Seraph still remained silent. He was staring at Elze. There was a strange surprise in his eyes.
Duke Seraph, who had been staring at Elze with a frozen expression for a long time, opened his lips slightly. Then, he opened his mouth as if letting out a breath.
"Really..."
He muttered with a blank expression.
“What a perfect blue. Such noble and beautiful... blue eyes.”
...What the heck, why are you like this? Are you crazy?
Elze looked at Duke Seraph with a face of bewilderment. No wonder, Duke Seraph’s eyes were unfocused. There was also a faint red glow on his face, making him look a little feverish.
Duke Seraph's expression hardened as he came to his senses under Elze's gaze. The relaxed look he had just moments ago disappeared, and a smooth mask was put on him. He spoke to Elze with a gentlemanly smile.
“I am Enoch of Seraph. Could you please tell me the lady’s name?”
All she could do was tell him her name, Elze said coolly.
“I am Erzenes of Targayel.”
“...”
Duke Seraph's expression hardened strangely when he heard Elze's name.
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