118. A Sudden Plan for Her

“I see…”

“Yes. As Her Highness instructed, I will deliver the message shortly.”

“All right. I leave it to you.”

The conversation at the dining table revolved mostly around the Argen couple’s twins. Perhaps because the marquis had already been scolded by Beatrice, he did not utter a single word about the swordsmanship tournament. Instead, they joyfully discussed everything from the children’s names to their far-off futures as they ate.

When the meal ended, Larael bid farewell to the Marquis and Marchioness of Argen before leaving the mansion. Dean also stepped out with her.

“Dean, let’s meet again another time.”

Larael smiled lightly as she took her leave. Dean, who had been hoping to seize the chance to accompany her after remembering her earlier comment about visiting the city center, couldn’t bring himself to say more. He simply exchanged farewells and climbed into his own carriage.

Once inside her carriage, Larael activated the magical device Edward had given her that concealed her face from recognition. She had used it once before, so handling it came easily.

A little distance away from the central district, Larael, Sasha, and Joanna alighted and naturally blended into the crowd.

“My lady, look at this!”

Sasha and Joanna’s eyes sparkled wide as they looked around in awe, exclaiming at every sight. Despite the cold weather, the streets overflowed with people.

“Careful!”

Sasha and Joanna shielded Larael as they squeezed through the throng. Though Joanna knew the roads well, she was soon disoriented. Even though she had confirmed several times with Lillian and Kara, who had already toured the district, which places they should visit, the tide of people swept them along aimlessly. It felt as if they were drifting helplessly on water.

“Oh!”

Clutching her thick cloak, Larael accidentally dropped the magical device she was holding. She bent down to retrieve it, but Sasha quickly stopped her.

“My lady, it’s dangerous to bend down here.”

“But I dropped the device.”

“I’m afraid you’ll have to give it up. It’s too risky to look for it now.”

Sasha held tightly onto Larael as the crowd pushed them along. Larael’s eyes lingered regretfully on the spot where she had dropped it.

“I’ll have to beg His Majesty’s forgiveness.”

She spoke with a troubled face.

“My lady, I’m so sorry.”

“It’s all right. With so many people, it can’t be helped.”

“My lady, let’s head in there!”

Sasha pointed to a dessert café ahead. It wasn’t part of Joanna’s plan, but they needed to escape the press of the crowd. Larael and Joanna agreed, and they quickly slipped inside.

While Sasha went to place their order, Larael sat down and removed her heavy cloak.

“This cloak is such a nuisance. If only I had the golden brooch, I might not need it.”

“Pardon?”

“Nothing. Since I lost the device, I’ll just have to keep this cloak pulled up over my head.”

Joanna asked again, puzzled by Larael’s muttering, but Larael brushed it off and instead looked curiously around the café. Outside, the streets were still teeming with cheerful faces. She studied them intently. If the Krauf disease had spread across the empire, such joyful expressions would not exist.

“My lady, we’ll have to rethink where to go next.”

Sasha returned with their order. She and Joanna reluctantly began revising their original plan, picking new destinations closer to the café.

“Joanna, remember how Lillian insisted? She said we absolutely had to visit ‘Joe Sandelton’s Candle Shop.’ She repeated it so many times—she said, even if we skip other places, we mustn’t miss that one.”

“But it’s too far. With this many people, we’ll never make it.”

Listening carefully, Larael asked,

“What’s so important about that shop? Why must we go there? I don’t even like candles.”

She found it strange. Neither Sasha nor Joanna had ever shown any interest in candles. Even if they had grown fond of them without her knowing, there was no reason to drag her there.

‘Wait… did you say Lillian?’

Today happened to be the very day Larael had given Handelson and Berser leave from the palace in honor of the Founding Festival. She abruptly shot up from her seat.

“My lady, what’s the matter?”

“Let’s return to the palace at once.”

Sasha and Joanna looked at her in bewilderment at her sudden decision. But realizing she was serious, they stood up immediately to follow. Sasha quickly tied Larael’s hair back with a ribbon she had prepared and wrapped the cloak securely around her.

They returned to where the carriage was waiting and climbed aboard. Though Larael felt sorry for Sasha and Joanna, who gazed wistfully out the window, she rebuked herself for her own carelessness in leaving the palace without an escort knight. Seeing the resolute look on Larael’s face, neither Sasha nor Joanna dared ask why she insisted on returning early.

The moment she arrived back at Abella Palace, Larael strode quickly to her chambers. Her eyes fell on Lillian and Kara, who were standing silently, waiting for her orders.

“I need to speak with Lillian. Everyone else, leave us.”

Once the room was empty, Lillian stepped closer to where Larael was seated on the sofa. Larael stared at her, hands folded and head bowed.

“Sit down, Lillian.”

At Larael’s command, Lillian blinked in surprise and hesitated before slowly lowering herself into the seat across from her.

“What was supposed to happen at the candle shop?”

At Larael’s cold question, Lillian’s hands began to tremble uncontrollably. Larael fixed her gaze on those shaking hands. As she suspected, there was indeed something. Her doubts solidified into certainty.

“Y-Your Highness… I-I truly know nothing.”

“Don’t tremble. Just tell me, hm?”

“Your Highness, I really don’t know anything. I only did as Her Majesty the Empress Dowager ordered.”

“Lillian, what am I to do with you, hm? You can’t escape simply by saying you know nothing. I am well aware you’ve been reporting on me to Her Majesty. So what now? The choice is yours.”

“Your Highness, I was wrong.”

Crying, Lillian clutched the hem of Larael’s dress and fell to her knees.

“You know exactly why you’ve done this. You’re well aware there’s no longer a place for you in the Empress Dowager’s palace. Once you are deemed useless, she won’t take you back. That is the only reason I overlooked it and kept you here. So, shouldn’t you repay the favor I’ve shown you?”

“Your Highness, forgive me. I will do whatever you command.”

Larael let out a long sigh, her eyes cold as she looked down at Lillian, who was clinging to her in tears. Finally, she spoke.

“From now on, you will report to Her Majesty exactly as I instruct. Do not think it is because I trust you completely. Until now, you were of so little use that I ignored you, but today you tried to lure me into a trap—without even knowing what kind of trap it was.”

“Your Highness, I swear I didn’t know.”

Lillian’s face was a mess of tears and snot.

“For now, go to Her Majesty and tell her I will be calling on her shortly.”

***

Upon hearing that Larael was coming to her palace, the Empress Dowager ground her teeth.

Why was Larael at Abella Palace when she was supposed to be in the city center? According to Lillian, who had returned from Abella, she only delivered the message of Larael’s visit before fleeing in haste.

“Did that fool even manage to do her job properly?”

The Empress Dowager’s voice rang with irritation and anger.

Not long after, word came that Larael had arrived. The Empress Dowager descended slowly to the drawing room.

As the doors opened, Larael—who had been waiting—bowed in greeting.

“I greet Your Majesty the Empress Dowager.”

The Empress Dowager gave a curt nod and sat on the sofa.

“Speak your business plainly.”

Unlike the graceful, composed tone with which she had once addressed Larael, her voice now carried a sharp chill.

“I only came to inquire after Your Majesty’s health. You haven’t appeared in public of late, and I feared you might be unwell.”

“…”

“Today I went outside the palace. I meant to stop by a certain candle shop I had been looking forward to, but the crowds were so heavy that I gave up and returned. It seemed there had been a special event prepared for me there—what a pity I missed it.”