63. The Empress’s Tea Party (2)

Larael stood up, gently placed her hand on Genderi’s shoulder, and introduced her to the noble ladies gathered at the tea party.

With a stiff expression that betrayed her nerves, Genderi bowed her head before the Empress Dowager and the noblewomen.

Larael guided Genderi to the seat she had reserved for her and opened the design book Genderi had brought, passing it to the Empress Dowager, who was seated to her right.

The Empress Dowager, wearing a displeased expression, lowered her gaze and flipped through the design book page by page.

“They’re passable, I suppose.”

The Empress Dowager spoke indifferently, clearly having no intention of offering even the slightest compliment at Larael’s tea party. Yet, contrary to her words, she could not take her eyes off Genderi’s design book.

The other noblewomen stood up to look over the dresses hanging on the rack.

Unable to sit still under the barrage of questions from the noblewomen, Genderi moved to the rack and began explaining her dresses.

She was visibly more relaxed than when she had first entered the drawing room.

“Your Majesty should take a look as well.”

Larael, not even glancing at the rack, addressed the Empress Dowager, who was elegantly sipping her tea. The Empress Dowager immediately shook her head.

“I didn’t come here to look at dresses. I came because I was worried the Empress Consort might make a mistake with my people at her tea party.”

Larael couldn’t help but scoff at that answer. The Empress Dowager shot her a sharp glare upon hearing the sound.

“Did I just hear you laugh at me, Empress Consort?”

“No, Your Majesty. How could I dare…? Besides, I wouldn’t want to have my hair grabbed again, would I? Especially with so many eyes watching…”

Larael whispered quietly so others wouldn’t hear. The Empress Dowager’s eyebrows shot up.

Just as the Empress Dowager was about to retort with a venomous expression, Lillian entered the drawing room after knocking. When Lillian met the Empress Dowager’s eyes, she quickly bowed her head.

“Your Highness, Corneli Assefena wishes to see you.”

Lillian quietly informed Larael.

The Empress Dowager, who had been toying with her teacup’s handle, snapped her head up at the mention of “Assefena.”

Seeing Larael visibly flustered and glancing at her, the Empress Dowager felt a surge of anger.

‘How dare this girl—what is she planning to do to Assefena?’

Assefena was a composer the Empress Dowager was proud to support. She didn’t know what trick Larael had pulled for Assefena’s name to come out of a palace maid’s mouth at Abella Palace, but she barely restrained herself from raising her hand.

It was always hard the first time, but after that, it became easy. She wanted to slap Larael and find out what she was plotting, but managed to suppress the urge since there were others present.

“I have an appointment and cannot meet her right now. Guide her to the guest room and let her know she may have to wait a while.”

Larael, still watching the Empress Dowager for her reaction, quietly instructed Lillian, who nodded and quickly left the drawing room.

“Empress Consort. What are you plotting now?”

The Empress Dowager spoke icily. Her voice was so loud that the noblewomen, who had been absorbed in looking at the dresses, froze and fell silent, turning to watch the Empress Consort and Empress Dowager.

“Your Majesty, I think there’s a misunderstanding…”

Larael frowned slightly at the attention now focused on her.

“What misunderstanding? The wife of Jojo Assefena, whom I sponsor, has come to see you. What’s there to misunderstand? From where I stand, it looks like you’re trying to steal Jojo Assefena, whom I’m sponsoring. Am I wrong?”

“Your Majesty, this isn’t an issue to be discussed here. Please do not cause a scene unnecessarily.”

“What? A scene?”

The Empress Dowager slammed the table. At the sharp sound, the noblewomen quietly returned to their seats, glancing around nervously. Genderi stood, not knowing what to do.

“I say this for your own good.”

“I’ll have that woman brought before me right now so I can hear what you’re up to. Bring in Cararella.”

The Empress Dowager shouted at one of the maids serving in the drawing room, who, looking frightened, hurried out and returned with Madam Cararella, the Empress Dowager’s attendant.

“Cararella, find Lillian and bring in Jojo Assefena’s wife immediately.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Larael sighed as she watched.

The timing was unfortunate.

She had been waiting for Corneli to come see her, but hadn’t expected her to arrive so soon. If Corneli were brought in now and the truth revealed, it would be the Empress Dowager who’d be humiliated. But Larael didn’t want things to be exposed just yet.

The people gathered here were, strictly speaking, on the Empress Dowager’s side. Even if the truth came out, the Empress Dowager’s influence would be overwhelming. In the worst case, everything could be quietly buried.

Watching the Empress Dowager’s stubborn attitude, Larael shook her head.

‘If you insist, then there’s nothing I can do.’

Larael turned her attention to Genderi, who was still standing there anxiously.

“Genderi, you’ve done enough for today. You can go now. I’ll wrap things up and let everyone know the location of your dress shop. Please, go ahead.”

Before Larael had even finished speaking, Genderi bowed repeatedly and quickly left the drawing room. She had no thoughts of selling a dress—she only wanted to get out of there as soon as possible. Even a short time in that room had felt unbearably long for her.

The noblewomen, wearing serious expressions, couldn’t even touch the tea on the table, watching the Empress Dowager and the Empress Consort for their next moves. Yet, underneath, they were excited by the drama unfolding.

From time to time, they glanced at the drawing room door, eager for Corneli Assefena to arrive. They were already itching to gossip about what they’d witnessed today.

“Your Majesty, I’ve brought her.”

After a long while, Cararella returned, bringing Corneli with her.

All eyes in the room focused on Corneli as she entered. The moment Larael saw her, she jumped to her feet.

Even Larael hadn’t expected what she saw. Corneli’s face was covered in red and blue bruises, and dried blood was caked around her lips. Her skin, visible through her torn clothes that looked as if she’d thrown on a rag, was covered in bruises.

“Corneli!!”

Larael rushed over to embrace her shoulders.

“Your Highness, I’m sorry for showing up like this.”

If it hadn’t been for the special palace pass Larael had arranged for her, Corneli wouldn’t have even made it near the palace gates and would have been chased away immediately.

“Sasha, bring a robe or something.”

At Larael’s order, Sasha hurried out of the drawing room.

Larael led Corneli back to her seat and placed her in the chair Genderi had just vacated. In the meantime, Sasha returned and wrapped a robe around Corneli’s body.

“I was just about to change into clean clothes when I was called down.”

Larael personally poured warm tea into an empty cup and handed it to her. Corneli, parched, drank the tea in one gulp without hesitation.

The Empress Dowager frowned as she watched.

“Have you forgotten that I am the Empress Dowager?”

Startled by the Empress Dowager’s words, Corneli stood up and bowed deeply in greeting.

The Empress Dowager clicked her tongue and shook her head. After greeting the Empress Dowager, Corneli was about to bow to Larael as well, but Larael stopped her.

“It’s all right. Please, just sit.”

The Empress Dowager looked on disapprovingly.

“Let’s hear why the wife of Jojo Assefena has come here.”

The Empress Dowager looked around at the noblewomen as she spoke. It was time to let everyone know just how devious Larael was. She was certain her suspicions would be confirmed.

At the Empress Dowager’s words, Corneli looked at Larael. Her eyes spoke volumes. Larael reached out and took Corneli’s trembling hand, giving her a nod. Both women understood the gravity of that gesture. From this moment on, Corneli was entirely Larael’s responsibility.

“I am Corneli, wife of Jojo Assefena.”

“There’s no need for introductions. Everyone here knows your name. Just tell us why you came to see the Empress.”

“Her Highness the Empress Consort offered to sponsor me and told me to come whenever I needed, so I came without prior notice.”