Chapter 41 (1/2)
7. Failed Chess Piece
November.
After the peak of autumn, branches became thin and the garden lost its color, making the world approach winter.
The nobles held frequent meetings around this time as if they were trying to change the atmosphere of the room to see how wonderful each other’s mansions were.
The Imperial palace was also extensively refurbished according to the trend.
Remarkably high-priced winter trees filled the gardens, newly woven tapestries hung all over, and huge-sized furs adorned all over.
It was already magnificent and great, but the Empress thought it wasn’t enough.
The Empress hired a young interior designer who was in the midst of a surge in popularity in the capital these days.
The news that the designer’s unique decision to dress the Empress’ sofa in dotted fur, like that of a young bourgeoisie, was a very interesting topic in the social circle.
Empress Diana laid slanted on the spotted furry sofa, with her blonde hair flowing down.
The Empress boasted an incredibly slim figure and flawless skin that made it hard to believe that she had two kids.
Indeed, she was the most beautiful beauty in the Empire.
The beauty was born from perfect care.
Empress Diana, whose hair was being brushed, sighed.
“I don’t think my hair is as shiny as it used to be. I’ve grown old.”
Far from wear and tear, she showed off her more seductive beauty.
(T/N: What a pick me.)
The maid, who was brushing the hair, smiled and flattered her as if she had oil on her tongue.
“Don’t say those things. You’re still as pretty as you were when you were a young girl!”
Diana burst into laughter.
“You’re making fun of me, aren’t you?”
It was when everyone was laughing.
Another maid, who was brushing her hair, pulled hair without knowing that the Empress’ hair was caught in the comb.
“Ah.”
When the Empress briefly let out a sound of pain, the atmosphere that had been harmonious froze instantly.
The maid, who made a mistake in combing, fell on the floor in contemplation.
“P-Please forgive me, Your Majesty!”
Empress Diana looked into her fingernails without looking and spoke softly,
“Remove her.”
“Your Majesty! Please forgive me! Please save me, Your Majesty…!”
Knights rushed in from the maid’s plea and dragged her out immediately.
The other maids in the bedroom were silent.
The Empress, from her red lips, spoke.
“What are you doing, why aren’t you brushing?”
“…Yes, Your Majesty.”
They smiled again, chattered, and resumed to help the Empress groom herself.
The touches were much more cautious than before.
The Empress acted like a generous person, but was cold-blooded and heartless.
As the strange tension was circulating in the bedroom, the maid Helen entered.
“Your Majesty the Empress, Duke Agnes has arrived. He went to the Imperial Palace first.”
“Already?”
The Empress invited Nikan to the Imperial family a few days ago under the pretext of a new interior decorator.
‘It’s been a year since he’s had his foster daughter, so it’s time for some trouble.’
Nikan hid his foster daughter tightly without exposing her to the outside world.
“Navia needs absolute stability because of the shock of losing her whole family.”
The cause was good, so people had no choice but to hold their breath and wait.
However, Diana had people who were her eyes and ears without having to see or hear in person.
“I heard she’s taking a special class. I’m not sure because access is restricted near the study room.”
“Young Master Wood hates her exceptionally. His friends make fun of him for having a sister who has an inappropriate background.”
When she heard that Navia was a very mysterious girl with silver hair and bright red eyes, the Empress drew a twisted smile on her lips.
Her son, Ares, had a hobby of collecting animals with silver fur or red eyes.
But his new foster daughter happened to be a silver-haired girl with red eyes? Haha. It was laughable.
“My, did he say that the young Lord Agnes is okay? Wasn’t there a mana explosion?”
“He has recovered consciousness today. He says there’s nothing wrong.”
The Empress snorted when maid Helen explained.
“God is taking care of Agnes.”
A wizard lost his life from a mana explosion.
Even if you didn’t die, the aftereffects would be formidable.
The Empress knew exactly what kind of child Wood was.
Although duller, more violent and more emotional than his father, he was not a child who would act recklessly in the midst of Nikan’s full attention.