11. Preparing for Entry into the Palace (2)

“It’s a joke. We don’t treat our guests like that. Judging by your height and build, you’re a woman, aren’t you?”

The man, with steps as lively as his voice, sat down at the desk and gestured toward the chair in front of it, inviting her to sit.

“Nice to meet you. I am the Master of Four Seasons.”

“Master?”

“Yes, I prefer to be called that. Doesn’t it sound mysterious? By the way, do you know what this place is?”

Larael sat in the chair, trying to collect her thoughts. It was her first time meeting the Master in person. She hadn’t expected him to be such a talkative person. He was throwing her completely off balance.

‘I thought he’d be a serious and reserved person…’

Her assumption was entirely wrong.

“I didn’t come here with a specific request.”

“…”

The Master froze at her words.

“I simply hope that we can be of help to each other in the future.”

“What? Excuse me? Help each other? Haha, did I hear you correctly?”

“You might find it laughable now, but you’ll come to seek me out.”

Suddenly, Larael began removing her robe. As she did, her silver hair and crimson eyes were revealed. The Master stared at her as if mesmerized.

These days, at least within the capital—no, within the entire Empire—there was no one who didn’t know who she was. And yet, here she was, sitting in front of him, saying outrageous things.

“It seems you misunderstand. Four Seasons does not bow to power. We deal only in information, and only for money.”

“I have no intention of wielding power over you. I don’t even have the power to do so. Just remember that I came to see you.”

Larael smiled as she spoke to the Master.

The Master recalled what he knew about Larael Hedway. The woman before him was not the naive and innocent daughter of a count’s family, oblivious to the ways of the world. 

Her eyes held an unfathomable depth, and her expressionless face exuded elegance and an air of untouchable authority. Her words were quiet but carried undeniable weight. For the first time, the Master suspected that Four Seasons’ information on her might be entirely wrong.

“Now that I’ve said what I came to say, I’ll take my leave.”

“What?”

Larael put her robe back on.

“Was that really all you came here for?”

Ignoring the Master’s bewildered expression, Larael left Four Seasons and returned to the estate. Her solo outing, which she had worried about so much, turned out to be neither dangerous nor difficult.

As soon as she returned, Sasha and Joanna, who had been anxiously waiting for her, let out relieved sighs.

“My lady, please let us go with you next time. Madam was looking for you earlier, and we were so nervous!”

Sasha said this with a tearful expression. Larael smiled and nodded, saying she understood.

—

The day before Larael was to enter the palace, Herwen visited the Hedway estate once again. This was his third visit, but Larael had refused to meet him the previous two times, leaving him waiting outside the estate for two hours before he left.

Although there were many visitors to the estate, and he had intentionally lingered to appear patient, Herwen was starting to feel irritated at Larael’s continued refusal to see him.

‘She says she can’t face me, but this is too much. How dare she make me wait?’

Today, he was determined to meet Larael and use every ounce of his acting skills to sway her to his will. From the morning, Herwen had been practicing a pained expression, immersing himself in the emotions he wanted to convey.

“I must meet Larael today.”

“The lady has once again declined to meet Your Grace.”

The Hedway estate’s butler spoke nervously, finding it extremely difficult to deliver such news. But Herwen was not going to back down today. He pushed past the butler and entered the estate.

“Larael!!!”

Knowing that no one would dare stop him, Herwen barged into Larael’s bedroom. He flung the door open to find Larael sitting on the sofa with Madam Cararella. The butler and servants, who had followed him upstairs, hesitated to intervene.

At Larael’s signal, the butler and servants bowed their heads and left the room, closing the door behind them. Herwen, out of breath from running up the stairs, collapsed into the seat opposite Larael.

Larael glanced briefly at Madam Cararella, who was nervously glancing at Herwen while keeping her hands tightly clasped on her lap.

‘He’s acting so recklessly because he thinks Madam Cararella is on his side.’

“Madam Cararella, could you please give us a moment?”

Larael asked politely. Madam Cararella looked between Larael and Herwen before nodding and leaving the room. As soon as she left, Larael slammed the book she had been holding onto the table and spoke.

“I will become the Emperor’s consort tomorrow.”

“I know.”

“That’s why I haven’t met with Your Grace.”

“I understand how you feel. It must be very painful for you. I know you’re becoming the consort because of me. Larael, I will love you for the rest of my life. I’ll always be your strength, so lean on me whenever it gets hard.”

Herwen, wearing a sorrowful expression, stood and approached Larael. Without hesitation, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, he opened his arms to embrace her.

“Your Grace, please stop doing things that could be misunderstood. No matter how much I was once your fiancée, I am now the Emperor’s woman. Please show some respect.”

Larael spoke firmly, pulling back from him.

“Larael?”

“Yes?”

“You will always be mine. You are, and will always be, my woman!”

“Your Grace, what are you saying?”

Larael frowned as she spoke. Unconsciously, she stood from the sofa and began backing away. She instinctively sensed that he was dangerous.

“Larael. Even if you’re beside the Emperor, you should always be thinking of me.”

“Your Grace, please leave.”

Larael saw the madness gleaming in Herwen’s eyes and felt chills run down her spine. Suddenly, Herwen stepped forward, grabbed her shoulders, and began shaking her.

“You… You’re conspiring with the Emperor, aren’t you? You played along with him, didn’t you?”

Larael’s mind went blank.

‘What is this lunatic saying? The very scheme he orchestrated… What is he even talking about? This insane bastard…’

Summoning all her strength, Larael pushed Herwen’s hands off her shoulders. Her eyes fell on the paper knife lying on her desk.

“Your Grace, what are you doing? Please come to your senses!”

Larael shouted, and Herwen’s face twisted in response. He suddenly dropped to his knees, clutching his head, and began sobbing.

“Larael, I was wrong… I was wrong… You were violated by the Emperor… You must want to tear him apart… Let’s kill the Emperor together. I’ll help you. I can help you. If you kill the Emperor, we can be together. Isn’t that right, Larael?”

—

The morning air was filled with the scent of precious oils, lingering after Larael’s bath. The oils were made from Trabella flowers.

Larael actually despised this fragrance. It was Edward’s favorite scent. On the days Edward visited the Abella Palace, Larael had to bathe in Trabella oil because it was said to suit the Emperor’s tastes.

The oil she had used that morning was an expensive gift from the Countess, purchased for her daughter.

Instead of Sasha and Joanna, maids from the imperial palace attended to Larael today. Sasha and Joanna had been approved as palace maids and had entered the palace yesterday to begin their training.

They were to undergo a week of intensive training before being assigned to Larael’s palace.

“Your Highness, which color do you prefer?”

“Red suits you better.”

The two maids attending to Larael’s hair were Kara and Lillian, who would be serving her closely.