Chapter 3

Aneta had finished her meal as the gentle morning light filled the window.
 
She had no time for leisurely after-dinner tea, as she had to meet the Emperor before attending the ceremony.
 
Aneta hurried to the dressing room, where she would be getting ready.
 
Her steps felt heavy, as if something long and cumbersome was entwined around her ankles.
 
Isabel, following Aneta with a worried expression, couldn’t help but feel concerned about her mistress, who was tirelessly keeping up with a demanding schedule.
 
Whether Aneta was aware of her maid’s concerns or not, she simply continued walking mechanically, with a sense of duty.
 
“Ah.”
 
A short exclamation escaped her tightly-pressed lips as she passed through a corridor. 
 
What caught her eye were dozens of paintings gleaming brightly, even though she didn’t pay attention to the elaborate decorations.
 
“That’s a lot.”
 
Aneta didn’t stop walking as she counted the number of paintings lining the walls of the hallway. She planned to take the time to appreciate them later.
 
“They have been sending them steadily, even while Her Grace was away.”
 
Isabel replied as she opened the door to the dressing room for Aneta to enter. Although the subject was omitted, it was clear who she was referring to.
 
Women painters under Aneta’s patronage. The paintings in the mansion were all theirs.
 
“They consider Your Grace their patron. It’s not unreasonable for them to want to offer even more paintings.”
 
“A patron…”
 
‘Do I deserve such treatment? ’ Aneta swallowed her bitter laughter and sat down as the maids who had finished preparing and were waiting approached.
 
“Hurry and begin the preparations.”
 
“Yes, Lady Isabel.”
 
There was no need for further instructions as the maids’ movements were flawless. Their efficiency was the result of constant effort and practice.
 
It is always admirable to see someone striving diligently from a teaching perspective. Isabel’s lips were now adorned with a content smile.
 
“I don’t know how long it’s been since I’ve been able to help you with Your Grace’s dressing.”
 
“Silly, you said that yesterday too. Isn’t that right, Your Grace?”
 
Aneta couldn’t help but smile as she looked at the excited maids. Listening to their simple conversation lightened her heart.
 
She felt like she had finally found her place.
 
***
 
Arriving at the palace, Anetta passed by servants bustling around as if there were fire on their heels.
 
She wasted no time in making her way to the imperial palace.
 
The knights standing at the entrance, blocking it with crossed spears, stepped aside as Aneta approached, as if they had been waiting for her.
 
“We have been waiting for you, Your Grace. I will guide you to where His Majesty is.”
 
“Thank You.”
 
Aneta was greeted by the imperial chamberlain, who had been waiting for her at Russell’s request.
 
Aneta followed his lead and walked down a familiar path.
 
With each step, she realized where the emperor was. Russell would be in his office, she was certain, and as she glanced around, she realized what she had been missing.
 
“There’s not a single knight stationed inside.”
 
“His Majesty has dismissed them all.”
 
“May I ask why?”
 
“I beg your pardon, Your Grace; I do not have the information to answer that.”
 
“I see.”
 
Aneta nodded obediently. Still, she racked her brain, wondering what it was that even his loyal chamberlain didn’t know.
 
She didn’t have an answer, but she could make a rough guess.
 
‘Perhaps I might find out why the original story was altered.’
 
Even if she didn’t, she was sure to learn something important.
 
“His Majesty is here. Well then, I shall take my leave.”
 
“Thank you.”
 
As expected, the Emperor was in his unreal office, and Aneta, alone before him, knocked softly on the door.
 
“Your Majesty, it’s Aneta Adenauer.”
 
“You may come in.”
 
As the door opened with permission granted, Aneta met eyes with Carlos, who stood beside the Emperor with a gentle expression on his face.
 
As the Emperor’s right-hand man, it’s not surprising that he’s here. Aneta bowed low, unfazed by his presence.
 
“I greet Your Majesty with the gracious honor of the Empire.”
 
“Hurry and take your seat. There is important news to discuss.”
 
“Yes.”
 
Aneta took the closest seat and sat down. She felt Calos’s gaze lingering on her, but she didn’t show any reaction.
 
“I’ll be blunt and to the point. While you have been away from the capital, Erez Bauter has been claiming to be the owner of the ‘Nameless’.”
 
But her nonchalance was shattered the moment Russell spoke.
 
“This is classified information known only to the lords of glory.”
 
It was an unbelievable statement.
 
‘So this is it. The reason the original story was altered.’
 
She had suspected it but never imagined it would be like this. Aneta felt everything in front of her becoming distant. Her trembling fingertips tried to grasp reality.
 
The owner of ‘Nameless’, a title known as the ‘Glory of Disappearance’ under Adenauer’s rule, was indeed Erez.
 
Even the ‘Glory of Observation’ had disappeared without a trace, concluding that Erez appeared with Bauter and gained the name ‘Glory of Control’.
 
The first to learn of its existence, however, is not Erez or her grandfather, but rather the emperor and the heads of the seven families who participated in the ceremony.
 
As they reviewed the events during Adenauer’s rule using records left by the ‘Glory of Observation’, they learned about the appearance of glory belatedly.
 
It was also at this point that Carlos and Erez met.
 
Carlos, who had received Russell’s orders and left for Bauter Marquis’s territory, discovered Erez holding the hand of the elderly Marquis as he drew his last breath and wept.
 
Since Erez is the only blood relative of Marquis Bauter, the title and honor were passed to her.
 
Erez must have realized the existence of glory at that moment.
 
But what was this? It was a mess. Aneta asked without even realizing her face had stiffened from shock.
 
“Is that true?”
 
“Yes. As soon as she inherited her deceased grandfather’s title, she went to His Majesty and even requested an audience to announce it.”
 
Aneta’s head snapped back to Carlos, who had answered the question instead of the Emperor.
 
“Were you there?”
 
“Yes.”
 
Everything had rushed forward.
 
Aneta wished she could cover her ears now. She didn’t even dare to fathom how twisted things had become.
 
“Is there any evidence?”
 
“They said it would be proven at today’s ceremony. They claimed that Glory had seen evidence of her existence.”
 
“They saw it?”
 
“They say Glory can occasionally see the future with her abilities. According to her claims, that is.”
 
That’s not what the Glory of Control does. The words lodged in Aneta’s throat, but she swallowed them deftly.
 
“If true, that is quite an ability.”
 
If it’s true, that is.
 
Aneta was certain, with soulless admiration. It had to be Erez who had made the change, but she wasn’t sure of anything else.
 
It might be that the ability changed due to the twist in the original story, but it was just as likely that she was lying and hiding her true abilities.
 
If Erez knows the original story as well as she does, it’s not unreasonable for her to claim she can see the future.
 
Aneta vowed to confirm this someday.
 
“Well then… could you please tell me the real reason you asked for an audience, Your Majesty?”
 
It wasn’t because a new glory had appeared. If that were the case, the original Aneta would have received the same order.
 
“You don’t consider what I said earlier to be a sufficient reason?”
 
“I don’t think so, but I’m sure there’s another reason why you ordered me to come here.”
 
Knowing that he had approved the head of the La Folliga family, Russell chuckled like a cunning fox.
 
“Oh, I was trying to let that slide, but it seems I’ve been caught.”
 
There was indeed another reason. Aneta tensed up.
 
“In truth, I called for the Duchess because Erez Bauter’s behavior seemed a bit suspicious.”
 
“What do you mean?”
 
To have detected suspicious behavior in Eres, who was known for her gentle temperament. Aneta strained her ears, wondering if the person had changed, but the answer was unexpected.
 
“The way she looks at Carlos is strange, like a fox stalking its prey.”
 
“…….”
 
When Aneta lost her words, Carlos finally looked away from her for the first time.
Seeing him awkwardly fix his gaze somewhere, it seemed he too was unaware of the detailed intricacies.
“I cannot simply hand over my beloved nephew to such a person. So, wouldn’t it be wise to have a guardian in place?”
 
“That guardian… could it be…?”
 
“The Duchess.”
 
His confident demeanor was shameless. It was unbelievable that the ex-wife, whom he divorced, would become a guardian. Even if she put all her courage into the goal, it would be strange.
 
“Of course, the Duchess treated my cousin poorly.”
 
“…I did not mistreat him.”
 
“What did you give him in return for the gift he spent a whole month picking out?”
 
Aneta’s mouth fell open, feeling the need to remind the Emperor of her relationship with Carlos.
 
Searching her memory, she recalled that she had given him a pouch of gold coins.
 
“And on his birthday?” 
 
Again, a purse of gold coins.
 
“And on your wedding anniversary?”
 
Once again, a purse of gold coins.
 
“You sent flowers and a brooch to Viscount Raffoli on his birthday, a man you said you weren’t close with.”
 
When she mentioned the things she’d done to avoid being unkind, she felt like a terrible person. 
Even more so when she saw Carlos, who looked like he had a lot on his mind.
 
The problem is that there has been more than one time when I pretended not to know his sincerity. The emperor must have known all of that.
 
Reflecting on the past, Aneta now finds it surprising that he even felt a friendship for her.
 
If he or anyone else pointed a finger at her, she would have nothing to say.
 
“There’s nothing so blind as someone who doesn’t want to see. Isn’t that right?”
 
Russell clicked his tongue at Aneta’s closed mouth, having realized early on that she was deliberately avoiding Caros.
 
“Still, there’s no one better than you.”
 
“….Excuse me?”
 
“Because it’s rare to find someone who can stand up to the Empire’s wealthiest person.”
 
Even though it was added that she was chosen as the Duke’s guardian because of her abundant wealth, Aneta couldn’t muster any objection from her conscience.
 
There was nothing to gain from showing a negative reaction at this point. Such judgment stemmed from the experience she had gained from dealing with Russell so far.
 
“If there had been a better match, I would have paired him up with them sooner.”
 
“Your Majesty.”
 
Seeing Carlos look as if he wanted to avoid mentioning it, Russell clicked his tongue again.
 
“I realize how useless it is to raise a nephew. I made a good choice by giving him to the Duchess.”
 
The bluntness of Russell’s words made her realize something she didn’t need to know.
 
Aneta felt it instinctively.
 
If Erez had pleased the emperor’s heart, she wouldn’t have received his summons, just like the original Aneta didn’t.
 
Thanks to this, she couldn’t quite figure out whether to be happy about Erez’s change or not.