Chapter 43

It was definitely Ternz. Why had he returned after taking Liliana to the Imperial Palace a few days ago? Could it be that Helio had summoned Liliana?

Liliana’s heart started beating rapidly as if in disbelief.

She unknowingly grabbed the window sill and stuck her head out. Sophia warned her it was dangerous and told her to enter, but Liliana couldn’t hear her.

However, after speaking with that knight, Ternz turned around and left the Emerald Palace. Liliana stared blankly at Ternz’s carriage, then slowly withdrew back inside.

Sophia, who had been about to scold her, was startled by the dazed look on Liliana’s face.

“Your Highness, is something the matter?”

Liliana shook her head quickly.

“No! Nothing at all!”

Judging by her louder-than-usual response, it was clear that something was indeed the matter. Sophia looked at her with a worried expression.

The fact that Liliana had seemed unbothered for the past few days was all thanks to her own efforts. Who knows what she had been thinking and festering about inside all this time?

Not wanting her state to be discovered, Liliana hurriedly got into bed as if trying to coil up in the covers. But then, a knock was heard, and Minelli entered the bedroom.

“Your Highness, the Captain of the Third Imperial Knights wishes to see you briefly.”

“The Captain of the Third Imperial Knights. Is it related to Sir Ternz’s recent visit?“

“It seems so.”

Liliana pushed aside the blanket that had covered her up to her thighs and got out of bed.

The Captain of the Third Imperial Knights was waiting for Liliana in the reception room. He knelt on one knee, observed the knightly salute, and then slowly rose.

He was a man of astonishingly large stature, so much so that one might worry he would hit his head on the ceiling.

“Your Highness, the Empress Consort, you are now free to move about as you please. Accordingly, the Third Imperial Knights will now conclude their mission and take our leave. Please grant us your permission.”

She had never asked them to come in the first place.

Liliana looked up at the Captain of the Third Imperial Knights, touching her elbow.

“Is that all? Was there no other explanation?”

“No, Your Highness.“

“Why were you even monitoring my palace in the first place?“

“I have no right to answer that question. I apologize.”

His formal response was frustrating to no end. Liliana turned away with a bitter smile.

“Thank you for your service.”

Her tone was colder than usual, so much so that it was almost uncharacteristic. Minelli and Sophia gave a nod of acknowledgment to the Captain of the Third Imperial Knights and quickly followed Liliana.

Liliana threw herself onto the bed in her bedroom and buried her face in the pillow. When she kicked her foot once, her shoe flew off into the distance.

Liliana rarely displayed such tantrums, so Sophia and Minelli were visibly flustered.

“Your Highness, now that the surveillance has been lifted, please calm down.”

Sophia went to Liliana’s side and tried to soothe her, but Liliana still didn’t lift her face from the pillow. Occasionally, in anger, she would kick her feet, which stuck out from under her dress.

As Minelli and Sophia exchanged glances, Liliana suddenly sat up and threw the pillow.

“How annoying!”

There was no subject, but it was clear who the words were directed at. With her disheveled pink hair, Liliana didn’t bother to straighten it and began to tremble with anger.

‘She’s going to cry at this rate!’

Sophia and Minelli felt the same way. They desperately began to console Liliana.

“Your Highness, since you are now free to move about, why don’t you go for a walk?“

“That’s right! The summer flowers have bloomed beautifully.“

“Or perhaps we could have some cake in the garden? With the knights gone, the view must be splendid.”

Listening quietly, Liliana lowered her head. It seemed their efforts were in vain, but a small sigh escaped her.

“I’m sorry… for throwing the pillow… I’ll pick it up.”

Minelli laughed as if finding her impossible to deal with.

“Just a pillow? You should at least throw a teacup.”

Liliana looked up at Minelli with a hint of curiosity.

“Minelli can make jokes like that?“

“It’s not a joke. The person I used to serve threw a teacup at me.“

Liliana’s eyes widened. Her small, pale face no longer bore traces of annoyance. Seeing that she had captured Liliana’s interest, Minelli rolled her sleeve slightly to show her forearm.

“Look at this scar. I got it back then. So you don’t need to apologize for something as minor as throwing a pillow.”

Liliana placed her hand on Minelli’s scar, looking at her with sympathy. Then, as if something had dawned on her, she quickly looked up.

“The person you used to serve wasn’t His Majesty, was it?”

This time, it was Minelli’s turn to be surprised. She quickly waved her hands in denial.

“The person I served was the Empress Consort of the former Emperor. She has since passed away.”

Liliana let out a small sigh of relief. She then rubbed Minelli’s scar as if making a promise.

“I won’t hurt you like this. So stay with me until His Majesty permits it.“

“Yes, Your Highness. Of course.”

As the two finished their warm conversation, Sophia brought back the pillow. After tidying it up, she smiled brightly.

“Then, shall we head out? Let me help you get dressed.”

With Sophia and Minelli’s help, Liliana dressed earnestly for the first time in a while. She wore a light blue dress and adorned her hair with a pearl-studded ribbon. It was a bright and summery outfit.

Dressing up indeed seemed to lift her spirits. Liliana descended the hall’s staircase with light steps.

A maid, standing guard on the first floor, bowed to Liliana. Liliana, about to pass by nonchalantly, suddenly felt a sense of unease and stopped in her tracks.

“Wasn’t there another girl usually standing here?”

The maid politely answered Liliana’s question.

“If you mean Terry, she hasn’t been seen since this morning. So, I’ve taken over her duties.“

“Hasn’t been seen? The Emerald Palace was sealed off until this morning, so where could she have gone?“

“Well… Terry has a terrible sense of direction, Your Highness. She often gets lost. I’m sure she’ll be back soon. I’ll give her a stern talking-to when I find her.“

“…Alright. Let me know when you find her.”

Liliana did not press further and walked away.

Once she stepped out of the Emerald Palace, she noticed the different colors of the flowers blooming all around the palace grounds.

However, none of the beautiful flowers could capture Liliana’s attention. She couldn’t stop thinking about her conversation with the maid.

“Minelli, can I ask you something?“

“Anything, Your Highness.”

Minelli responded readily, but Liliana hesitated and shook her head.

“No, it’s nothing.”

Minelli, quick to catch on, whispered cautiously.

“I won’t tell His Majesty.”

After a moment of deliberation, Liliana nodded.

“Thank you, Minelli. You see, about the missing maid… Isn’t it strange that she often gets lost? The Emerald Palace is large, but the maids have daily tasks, so they should be familiar with their routes.“

“You’re right, Your Highness. I also find it strange.“

“Exactly.”

Liliana sighed.

It seemed more plausible that the maid used the excuse of getting lost to cover up her wandering around. And it just so happened that on the day the maid disappeared, the Imperial Knights withdrew from the palace by royal decree.

Liliana didn’t believe it was a coincidence that these two events happened simultaneously.

‘That maid must be the one who poisoned my tea. His Majesty must have captured her, so there’s no one left to flee from my palace, and thus no reason to keep it sealed. That’s why the Imperial Knights withdrew.’

If she thought about it that way, everything made sense. The original reason for sealing off the Emerald Palace was to catch the culprit and bring them into his control.

That maid must know who was behind the poisoning. However, Liliana had no intention of asking Helio to return the maid to her.

With Liliana’s power, she couldn’t make the maid talk anyway. She was only curious about what Helio intended to do with the maid.

If it were merely to protect the Gabriel Duchy, wouldn’t it have been more convenient to keep security lax so the culprit could escape at any time? Or did he need the culprit to completely subjugate Gabriel Duchy?

‘No, I shouldn’t think about such cold-blooded things anymore.’

Liliana shook her head vigorously. Now that the surveillance was lifted, it was time to move according to plan. Liliana needed to strengthen her own power.

Liliana touched the flowers in the royal garden and gave an order.

“Tell Hesdin to resume the lessons.”

First, she needed to learn more about the Marquis of Liston, and Liliana had an excellent teacher who could inform her about it.

* * *

Lessons with Hesdin always took place in a room prepared in the Emerald Palace. However, since it had been a while and she wanted a change of scenery, Liliana had arranged for today’s lesson to be held in the garden.

Liliana headed to the garden in a comfortable outfit, hardly dressed. She stopped just before entering the designated lesson spot beyond the naturally intertwined rose-covered fence.

“Hehehe.”

A strange woman’s laughter echoed nearby. In the Emerald Palace, Liliana was the only person who could laugh so openly, and even she restrained herself to maintain her dignity.

But to laugh so heartily? Could it be a young maid not yet accustomed to the palace? The voice, however, sounded mature, even seductive.

“What is that sound?“ Liliana asked, but Sophia just tilted her head in confusion.

“I don’t hear anything. You’ve been saying that a lot lately. Are you feeling unwell?“

Sophia’s words made Liliana realize that this wasn’t the first time it had happened. When she first met Chuchu, only Liliana could hear its cries.

Liliana hurriedly walked past the fence.

A wide area in the garden had been set up with a white table and two chairs, and Hesdin was there.

The problem was…

“Hesdin! Why are you so wet?”

Hesdin was soaked to the skin. It was an unimaginable sight for someone always so neat from head to toe.

Liliana, shocked, approached Hesdin. He held out a hand to stop her.

“I’m very wet; please don’t come any closer.“

“What on earth happened?”

Hesdin was silent for a moment. His usually stoic face showed a fleeting mix of anger and embarrassment. He sighed deeply and brushed back his wet hair.

“I slipped into the pond.“

“What?”

Liliana asked, unable to understand. There was a pond nearby, but he shouldn’t be this wet unless he had thrown himself into it.

It looked as if a water spirit had played a prank on him, but there was no trace of any spirit’s presence. Liliana looked around and asked again.

“Did you really slip?“

“Yes.“

Hesdin’s answer was firm. However, his fumbling hands searching the ground for his glasses betrayed his awkwardness.

Hesdin has a clumsy side, too. Liliana thought, smiling secretly, and called the maids. It seemed necessary to help Hesdin change his clothes before continuing the lesson.

TL NOTE: A more advanced chapter of this story is already up on the site. Visit dusk blossoms for more advanced chapters and stories.