I hesitated, shaking my head to say no.
I don't know how much I can tell Isabella. If I were a real Princess, I would have thought about the throne, but I was a fake.
However, I had sworn to act as if I was real while staying in the palace. The oath I exchanged with Laskan was proof of that...
When I neither confirmed nor denied, Isabella's voice became a little lower.
“If that’s the case, you’ll inevitably clash with Duke Kairak’s daughter several times. This Entremete will be the starting point.”
“Ra... I heard the gist from Scan.”
In the midst of all this, my tongue was tied because I wasn't used to calling her name. Isabella smiled knowingly.
“The social world is now divided into three factions: the imperial faction, the aristocratic faction, and those who maintain neutrality.”
I nodded seriously.
“I’ve heard that. I’ve also heard that while the Emperor was in hiding, the Duke of Kairak called in a lot of noble forces.”
“That’s right. These days, the noble faction is like the Duke of Kairak’s power itself.”
Isabella's lips tightened seriously. She continued to make unconventional remarks that did not match her neat face.
“A solid support base, dog-like loyalty to power... Recently, even the remaining nobles of the Imperial faction who had been holding out have all turned their backs. The power of the Duke of Kairak was already threatening the imperial power. There was no other alternative until now.”
“...”
“But then Your Highness appeared. The situation was disrupted.”
“Because I am another heir to the throne?”
"You're right."
Suddenly, it occurred to me that I was causing a great nuisance in Lady Veronica's life.
Duke Kairak has accumulated many evil deeds, but... I have never heard anyone say anything bad about Lady Veronica, so it was even more unsettling.
After working for decades to secure the throne, isn't it like losing it to a stone that came rolling in late? It's just that the bloodline is a little better.
As if reading my thoughts, Isabella spoke softly and reassuringly.
“From the beginning, there have been voices that were wary of the engagement between Princess Kairak and Duke Ashkabad. In fact, Ashkabad would become subordinate to Kairak and form a huge power that would suppress the imperial authority.”
“It’s not just the two of them getting married, right? If it’s a meeting between a Duke and an Emperor, there have been meetings before.”
“You are talking about Duchess Yevgeny. I am glad that you have been faithful to your last history lesson.”
She said with a fond smile.
“The circumstances are different. If Princess Kairak ascends to the throne and His Excellency the Duke becomes the Crown Prince, their first descendant will inherit the throne, and their second descendant will inherit Kairak.”
“Then, Ashkabad...”
“Yes. Duke Kairak will do whatever it takes to prevent them from having a third child...”
I was a little surprised by those words. Treating the Duke like some kind of stallion, as if the Duke of Kairak would harm his own grandson for power...
I nodded obediently, recalling the Duke of Kairak I had seen a few days ago. Yes, he seemed like he could do that.
Isabella finished her speech haughtily, not knowing how to take my nod.
“If things continue this way, Ashkabad will be handed over to Kairak in its entirety. The name will remain, but the dukedom will belong to a collateral line loyal to Kairak.”
“...”
“So, it was a good strategy for His Excellency to spread rumors of an affair between you and His Excellency the Duke at a time like this.”
I bit my lip in bewilderment at the unexpected reaction.
Good strategy? Then is that why Laskan tried to get me to kiss him?
Unlike my feelings, Isabella continued speaking leisurely.
“Even if no one applies for the position of maid right now, everyone will be watching to see who will take the lead. Is there any group more sensitive to the flow of power than the nobles? Soon, requests will naturally pour in.”
“...”
“The nobles who have remained neutral until now will also decide which side to take through this Entremette. The ones Your Highness should target are precisely those neutral families.”
“Even if I aim for it, what, how...”
Isabella added with a smile.
“Your Highness is already in a favorable position.”
“Is that so?”
When I asked back with a dubious expression, Isabella let out a small laugh.
“Until this Entremette, the only thing Your Highness must do is to win the heart of His Majesty the Emperor.”
“...Isn’t that a difficult thing? His Majesty won’t even want to meet me. Isabella, the Emperor didn’t accept me because he thought I was the real Princess.”
“I know.”
"Then..."
“The Emperor has declared that he has found his granddaughter, who has been lost for thirteen years. Even if this is later proven not to be the case, the Emperor would like to remain untainted in this play as the victim. That would give weight to the punishment of Ashkabad.”
“...”
“So, it will be difficult for His Majesty to refuse the request for an audience with his granddaughter whom he has barely managed to get back. Make sure to make time to meet His Majesty often, no matter what excuse you make. Your Highness Anastasia.”
It was a completely different feeling to be called simply Your Highness and to be called Your Highness Anastasia. It gave me goosebumps as if I had turned someone else's life upside down.
As I shrugged my shoulders, Isabella grabbed my hand tightly.
“That is the only way for Your Highness to
"Yes, then you can go.”
“...Then I’ll come back tomorrow.”
I bowed gracefully and withdrew from the Emperor's presence.
Five minutes. It was exactly five minutes today. Isabella's prediction was only half right. The Emperor did not refuse my request for an audience, but he gave me only five minutes.
Even then, he didn't focus on what I was saying, and after that, he somehow sent me away, using the excuse that he was tired.
As I came down the stairs, Lisa and the other maids who had been waiting followed me.
Still, no one had applied for the maid's position, even though it had already been ten days since I entered the palace.
The Emperor's cold treatment, not to mention the coldness, was already spreading like wildfire. If things continued this way, I had no choice but to die.
I stopped walking and looked back at the villa where I had just had a private meeting with the Emperor.
Now, I had no choice. The situation was such that I had to use whatever methods I could, no matter how lethal they were.
The next morning. From early dawn, I headed straight to the Emperor's villa.
The distance from the Princess's palace to the villa was not that long, but the problem was the crazy number of stairs.
Even though I was wearing it simply, it was still the attire of a Princess, which meant that the dress had a lot, a lot, a lot of unnecessary decorations on it.
I had to make a desperate effort not to collapse at the top of the stairs.
As I climbed higher, the view was truly spectacular. In the distance, I could see several carriages going to or from the administrative offices of the main palace, and they were all carriages belonging to famous and prestigious families.
Normally, I wouldn't have been able to even look up from a distance.
Maybe it was because I had climbed up to the highest staircase in the palace. They seemed so small, like they were right under my feet.
The attendant greeted me, panting, as if he was familiar with me.
"Your Highness."
“No, I’ll guide you.”
I tried not to be out of breath, but it was a bit pointless. I thought I was taking a shortcut. I had already taken all the stairs in the palace.
The attendant, with an embarrassed look on his face, ordered Lisa, who was following behind me, to support me.
“I’m sorry, Your Highness. His Majesty is still coughing. It will take at least two more hours.”
I cut off the attendant's words, panting.
“It’s not that, it’s not that...”
“Please speak.”
“I’d like to use the kitchen...”
There was a look of puzzlement on his face. However, as the chief chamberlain had worked in the palace for many years, he immediately agreed with the order, even though it was difficult to understand.
“I will guide you to the palace kitchen. Your Highness is not yet familiar with the geography, so I will have to go first, so please forgive my rudeness.”
I nodded quickly. It wouldn't be a big deal if I walked a little ahead... Every time this happened, the first thing that came to mind was how tiring the class system was.
I thought I would be taken inside the villa, but the attendant led me outside. Again, stairs, garden, stairs, garden, stairs, stairs... After following it for a while, an epiphany came to me.
“This is the complete opposite of the palace where the Emperor resides!”
I quickly called the attendant and spoke. He answered without even showing any sign of embarrassment.
“There is not a kitchen in every building in the palace, Your Highness.”
There's no kitchen in every building? I tilted my head in confusion. Then who prepares the food that His Majesty eats?
As if he had noticed my curiosity, the attendant calmly explained.
“The palace kitchen is located in a separate building. It is next to the main palace, so just go down these stairs, and you’ll be there.”
I stopped following the janitor and stuck my head out to look down the stairs. There was no kitchen down there. At least not the kitchen I thought there was.
Below that was a huge four-story palace. I asked suspiciously.
“Surely... you’re not talking about that place, are you?”
"You're right."
Oh my gosh. Is that really it? The kitchen I thought of and was familiar with was just a place with a few cooking utensils for frying, steaming, and boiling things. It wasn't a huge building like this.
I opened my mouth wide and followed the attendant down the stairs.
It looked big when seen from above, but it was even more magnificent when seen up close. Even the exterior was adorned with magnificent relief sculptures, making it look more splendid than the Emperor's villa.
I asked the attendant to confirm.
“We’re going to the kitchen, right? That’s... for cooking.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
I don't know how much I can tell Isabella. If I were a real Princess, I would have thought about the throne, but I was a fake.
However, I had sworn to act as if I was real while staying in the palace. The oath I exchanged with Laskan was proof of that...
When I neither confirmed nor denied, Isabella's voice became a little lower.
“If that’s the case, you’ll inevitably clash with Duke Kairak’s daughter several times. This Entremete will be the starting point.”
“Ra... I heard the gist from Scan.”
In the midst of all this, my tongue was tied because I wasn't used to calling her name. Isabella smiled knowingly.
“The social world is now divided into three factions: the imperial faction, the aristocratic faction, and those who maintain neutrality.”
I nodded seriously.
“I’ve heard that. I’ve also heard that while the Emperor was in hiding, the Duke of Kairak called in a lot of noble forces.”
“That’s right. These days, the noble faction is like the Duke of Kairak’s power itself.”
Isabella's lips tightened seriously. She continued to make unconventional remarks that did not match her neat face.
“A solid support base, dog-like loyalty to power... Recently, even the remaining nobles of the Imperial faction who had been holding out have all turned their backs. The power of the Duke of Kairak was already threatening the imperial power. There was no other alternative until now.”
“...”
“But then Your Highness appeared. The situation was disrupted.”
“Because I am another heir to the throne?”
"You're right."
Suddenly, it occurred to me that I was causing a great nuisance in Lady Veronica's life.
Duke Kairak has accumulated many evil deeds, but... I have never heard anyone say anything bad about Lady Veronica, so it was even more unsettling.
After working for decades to secure the throne, isn't it like losing it to a stone that came rolling in late? It's just that the bloodline is a little better.
As if reading my thoughts, Isabella spoke softly and reassuringly.
“From the beginning, there have been voices that were wary of the engagement between Princess Kairak and Duke Ashkabad. In fact, Ashkabad would become subordinate to Kairak and form a huge power that would suppress the imperial authority.”
“It’s not just the two of them getting married, right? If it’s a meeting between a Duke and an Emperor, there have been meetings before.”
“You are talking about Duchess Yevgeny. I am glad that you have been faithful to your last history lesson.”
She said with a fond smile.
“The circumstances are different. If Princess Kairak ascends to the throne and His Excellency the Duke becomes the Crown Prince, their first descendant will inherit the throne, and their second descendant will inherit Kairak.”
“Then, Ashkabad...”
“Yes. Duke Kairak will do whatever it takes to prevent them from having a third child...”
I was a little surprised by those words. Treating the Duke like some kind of stallion, as if the Duke of Kairak would harm his own grandson for power...
I nodded obediently, recalling the Duke of Kairak I had seen a few days ago. Yes, he seemed like he could do that.
Isabella finished her speech haughtily, not knowing how to take my nod.
“If things continue this way, Ashkabad will be handed over to Kairak in its entirety. The name will remain, but the dukedom will belong to a collateral line loyal to Kairak.”
“...”
“So, it was a good strategy for His Excellency to spread rumors of an affair between you and His Excellency the Duke at a time like this.”
I bit my lip in bewilderment at the unexpected reaction.
Good strategy? Then is that why Laskan tried to get me to kiss him?
Unlike my feelings, Isabella continued speaking leisurely.
“Even if no one applies for the position of maid right now, everyone will be watching to see who will take the lead. Is there any group more sensitive to the flow of power than the nobles? Soon, requests will naturally pour in.”
“...”
“The nobles who have remained neutral until now will also decide which side to take through this Entremette. The ones Your Highness should target are precisely those neutral families.”
“Even if I aim for it, what, how...”
Isabella added with a smile.
“Your Highness is already in a favorable position.”
“Is that so?”
When I asked back with a dubious expression, Isabella let out a small laugh.
“Until this Entremette, the only thing Your Highness must do is to win the heart of His Majesty the Emperor.”
“...Isn’t that a difficult thing? His Majesty won’t even want to meet me. Isabella, the Emperor didn’t accept me because he thought I was the real Princess.”
“I know.”
"Then..."
“The Emperor has declared that he has found his granddaughter, who has been lost for thirteen years. Even if this is later proven not to be the case, the Emperor would like to remain untainted in this play as the victim. That would give weight to the punishment of Ashkabad.”
“...”
“So, it will be difficult for His Majesty to refuse the request for an audience with his granddaughter whom he has barely managed to get back. Make sure to make time to meet His Majesty often, no matter what excuse you make. Your Highness Anastasia.”
It was a completely different feeling to be called simply Your Highness and to be called Your Highness Anastasia. It gave me goosebumps as if I had turned someone else's life upside down.
As I shrugged my shoulders, Isabella grabbed my hand tightly.
“That is the only way for Your Highness to
survive.”
***
"Yes, then you can go.”
“...Then I’ll come back tomorrow.”
I bowed gracefully and withdrew from the Emperor's presence.
Five minutes. It was exactly five minutes today. Isabella's prediction was only half right. The Emperor did not refuse my request for an audience, but he gave me only five minutes.
Even then, he didn't focus on what I was saying, and after that, he somehow sent me away, using the excuse that he was tired.
As I came down the stairs, Lisa and the other maids who had been waiting followed me.
Still, no one had applied for the maid's position, even though it had already been ten days since I entered the palace.
The Emperor's cold treatment, not to mention the coldness, was already spreading like wildfire. If things continued this way, I had no choice but to die.
I stopped walking and looked back at the villa where I had just had a private meeting with the Emperor.
Now, I had no choice. The situation was such that I had to use whatever methods I could, no matter how lethal they were.
***
The next morning. From early dawn, I headed straight to the Emperor's villa.
The distance from the Princess's palace to the villa was not that long, but the problem was the crazy number of stairs.
Even though I was wearing it simply, it was still the attire of a Princess, which meant that the dress had a lot, a lot, a lot of unnecessary decorations on it.
I had to make a desperate effort not to collapse at the top of the stairs.
As I climbed higher, the view was truly spectacular. In the distance, I could see several carriages going to or from the administrative offices of the main palace, and they were all carriages belonging to famous and prestigious families.
Normally, I wouldn't have been able to even look up from a distance.
Maybe it was because I had climbed up to the highest staircase in the palace. They seemed so small, like they were right under my feet.
The attendant greeted me, panting, as if he was familiar with me.
"Your Highness."
“No, I’ll guide you.”
I tried not to be out of breath, but it was a bit pointless. I thought I was taking a shortcut. I had already taken all the stairs in the palace.
The attendant, with an embarrassed look on his face, ordered Lisa, who was following behind me, to support me.
“I’m sorry, Your Highness. His Majesty is still coughing. It will take at least two more hours.”
I cut off the attendant's words, panting.
“It’s not that, it’s not that...”
“Please speak.”
“I’d like to use the kitchen...”
There was a look of puzzlement on his face. However, as the chief chamberlain had worked in the palace for many years, he immediately agreed with the order, even though it was difficult to understand.
“I will guide you to the palace kitchen. Your Highness is not yet familiar with the geography, so I will have to go first, so please forgive my rudeness.”
I nodded quickly. It wouldn't be a big deal if I walked a little ahead... Every time this happened, the first thing that came to mind was how tiring the class system was.
I thought I would be taken inside the villa, but the attendant led me outside. Again, stairs, garden, stairs, garden, stairs, stairs... After following it for a while, an epiphany came to me.
“This is the complete opposite of the palace where the Emperor resides!”
I quickly called the attendant and spoke. He answered without even showing any sign of embarrassment.
“There is not a kitchen in every building in the palace, Your Highness.”
There's no kitchen in every building? I tilted my head in confusion. Then who prepares the food that His Majesty eats?
As if he had noticed my curiosity, the attendant calmly explained.
“The palace kitchen is located in a separate building. It is next to the main palace, so just go down these stairs, and you’ll be there.”
I stopped following the janitor and stuck my head out to look down the stairs. There was no kitchen down there. At least not the kitchen I thought there was.
Below that was a huge four-story palace. I asked suspiciously.
“Surely... you’re not talking about that place, are you?”
"You're right."
Oh my gosh. Is that really it? The kitchen I thought of and was familiar with was just a place with a few cooking utensils for frying, steaming, and boiling things. It wasn't a huge building like this.
I opened my mouth wide and followed the attendant down the stairs.
It looked big when seen from above, but it was even more magnificent when seen up close. Even the exterior was adorned with magnificent relief sculptures, making it look more splendid than the Emperor's villa.
I asked the attendant to confirm.
“We’re going to the kitchen, right? That’s... for cooking.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
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