87. Can I Really Choose With My Own Hands?

Edward clenched his teeth. His chest tightened. He found himself pathetic for being unable to confidently declare that he would appoint Larael as Empress. Hadn’t he already faced opposition and ultimately appointed her only as Empress Consort?

“Why do you think it’s a ridiculous suggestion? Do you not have that much faith in Her Highness the Empress Consort?”

Dean’s gaze was reproachful toward Edward. Although Edward felt displeased by that look, he also felt as if he’d been struck on the back of the head, his mind reeling. His heart felt like it was collapsing. He looked at Dean, an overwhelming sense of defeat washing over him.

“And I just…”

Dean almost explained the reason he was going so far, but closed his mouth tightly instead.

‘It’s because she looks happiest when she’s by Your Majesty’s side, or when she’s talking about you.’

Dean slowly closed his eyes and let out a long breath. When he opened his eyes again, Edward was looking at him with a complex expression.

“That’s enough.”

Edward spoke firmly. He didn’t want to hear what Dean hadn’t said.

Edward got up from his seat and walked to the window. He could see the garden where he used to walk with Larael. They had promised to take walks together, but it had been quite some time since their last stroll. The realization that he couldn’t even keep such a simple promise filled him with self-mockery.

“I understand your thoughts, Count. I’ll handle things from here. You may go now.”

***

Larael stood in front of the mirror in the dress she would wear to Herwen’s engagement ceremony, the alterations now complete. As always, the maids burst into admiration. Larael, now used to it, didn’t bother to tell them to stop.

“I think it would be better to make this part a little fuller.”

Genderi carefully examined the dress and made her suggestion. Larael nodded in agreement.

“It’s truly beautiful.”

Kali, who had been standing absentmindedly, finally blurted something out after hearing the maids’ praise, feeling she ought to say something. But her words were so awkward that everyone in the room started laughing. Kali’s face instantly turned bright red.

After checking what needed to be altered, Genderi hurried back to her shop. She was anxious because she had to finish a dress she’d received an order for, due to an important upcoming event. Once noble ladies introduced by Larael wore Genderi’s dresses, other noblewomen sought out her shop, having heard of her reputation. But she couldn’t keep up with the demand, so she only accepted orders from those introduced by Larael. As more noblewomen sought introductions from Larael, invitations for tea parties at Abella Palace piled up.

Meanwhile, famous dress shops in the capital began copying Genderi’s designs and color palettes. Her dresses were setting the trend. Genderi didn’t care much about other shops imitating her work.

Only Kali, with her merchant’s blood, was upset and insisted they should take measures to prevent others from copying Genderi’s designs. Larael, recalling her previous life, thought there would be limits to imitation anyway, so she agreed with Genderi to just leave it be.

After Genderi left, Kali and Larael sat facing each other on the sofa.

“His Grace the Grand Duke’s engagement…”

“Lillian, Kara. Please prepare some refreshments.”

Kali quickly shut her mouth at Larael’s words. She had carelessly forgotten Larael’s warning to be cautious with her words in front of Lillian and Kara. Once the two maids left to prepare refreshments, Kali apologized to Larael.

“I’m sorry, Your Highness.”

“Please be a little more careful.”

“Yes. It seems that since His Grace’s engagement is so close, those who were looking for Hobbs have disappeared. So I’ve instructed Joy to return to the capital.”

“Alright. Let me know when Joy returns. I didn’t expect Joy to be able to handle such a task.”

At that, Kali’s tense face relaxed and she smiled faintly.

“Kali, you’ve probably heard that the topic of appointing an Empress is circulating among the nobles?”

At Larael’s words, Kali stopped smiling and looked at her. Larael’s expression was calm.

Of course, Larael hadn’t been so calm when she first heard the news. Her heart had been filled with anger, and she paced her bedroom, struggling to calm herself. She was certain the Empress Dowager and Ariella had joined forces to bring up the Heart of Kazel and torment her.

But then, she suddenly remembered her resolve when she first entered the palace—to seat a true Empress with her own hands. The memory made her legs give way, and she sank onto the carpet.

With self-mockery, Larael muttered to herself,

‘Can I really choose with my own hands?’

“I heard.”

Thinking back to when she first heard the news, Larael gave a strained smile at Kali’s response, her lips trembling pitifully.

“Let’s pretend I didn’t say anything just now.”

Larael regretted bringing up the subject.

“Your Highness, the dress you wore earlier looked wonderful on you.”

Kali said whatever came to mind. But it seemed to work, as Larael’s trembling lips calmed.

“Kali, would you like to attend the Grand Duke’s engagement ceremony with me?”

“What?”

Kali stared at Larael with wide, rabbit-like eyes. She felt as if the conversation had taken a sudden, unexpected turn.

Other than a few academy banquets, Kali had never attended a noble’s gathering. Home had always been like a cage for her. Being able to attend the academy had been like a reward for her future life. Even when her half-brother succeeded in a minor coup and became head of the family, her circumstances hadn’t changed.

“Your Highness, I really don’t want to go.”

Kali shook her head vigorously in horror. Seeing her strong refusal, Larael didn’t press further.

‘Herwen’s engagement… Maybe it’s better if I don’t go either.’

Unlike her initial determination to attend confidently, Larael found herself increasingly reluctant. If she attended, attention would surely focus on Larael, Herwen’s former fiancée. But if she didn’t attend, she would still be the subject of noble gossip.

Larael shook her head, trying to think of something else.

“By the way, have there been any reports of major thefts in the capital lately?”

“No, nothing in particular.”

“Really?”

Larael tilted her head in thought.

Just then, Lillian and Kara returned with the refreshments.

As Larael watched Lillian pour tea, she thought about the notorious thief who had caused a stir in the capital around this time in her previous life. The thief had broken into great noble houses and stolen valuables. Since the victims kept quiet, the full extent of the losses was unknown, but rumors suggested the damage was significant.

Some people hired famous mercenaries to guard their mansions, but it was useless. Eventually, the Emperor himself intervened, but no one wanted to reveal the extent of their losses, so the investigation stalled. The thief was never caught.

Then, when winter came, the thief who had terrified the nobles vanished as if by magic. Some said the thief died of disease, others that he was killed during a break-in.

‘It should be about time for him to start his activities…’

Larael didn’t know the thief’s identity and couldn’t catch him, but his activity served as a sign that events were unfolding as they had in her previous life.

“If you hear any talk among the nobles or citizens… no, among the nobles, about a thief breaking into a mansion, please be sure to let me know.”

The events from her previous life were happening one by one. Larael decided to wait a little longer.

‘Maybe I just got the timing wrong.’

She didn’t know that the thief, who was now making his way back to the capital, was Joy—the person she hadn’t yet met.