17. The Ultimate Army of Mothers-in-Law

‘Former Crown Prince Terrence’

Terrence, the eldest son of Bronteum II and brother of the current Crown Prince, lost his status as Crown Prince due to the outbreak of ‘madness’ and was confined, eventually passing away at a young age.

‘So madness was hereditary, after all?’

The royal family did not publicly disclose Terrence’s condition as madness. However, rumors had already spread among the people of the capital.

“They say he beat a maid to death with his bare hands…”

“Hm.”

“And then, when a servant tried to stop him, he slashed their throat with a sword.”

“……”

“Apparently, over ten people died in the Crown Prince’s palace just that month before his deposition. The rumors about the Crown Prince going mad and killing people spread so much that even the Emperor had no choice but to depose him.”

Linda whispered, lowering her voice.

Given that Linda’s family operates a fairly large merchant house, this information was likely credible.

‘That part did appear in the original novel—how he was deposed for killing innocent servants.’

Considering the additional information that Linda provided, it indeed reflected the cruel nature typical of a tyrant’s brother.

‘How desperate must the situation have been for the Crown Prince, the second power in this absolute monarchy, to be deposed?’

After deposing Terrence, the royal family made a concerted effort to erase his existence. They removed his name from official documents, renovated the Crown Prince’s palace to change its interior completely, and even burned all portraits of Terrence that hung in the palace. However, they allowed just one portrait to remain in the Detached Palace of his wife, Grand Duchess Eleonora.

“Until that incident, Prince Terrence and His Highness the Crown Prince were said to have been quite close. That’s probably why the Crown Prince still tries to look out for the Grand Duchess.”

Hailey nodded in agreement.

‘Given everything that happened, it makes sense that Her Grace would have such deep affection for the Crown Prince.’

He must be incredibly grateful to be the only one in this vast palace who stands by her side.

‘Sigh… and thanks to that, she’s completely blinded by affection.’

Hailey couldn’t help but click her tongue inwardly in pity.

‘So this is what he looked like.’

She looked up at the portrait of the significant supporting character, Former Crown Prince Terrence, whose face she could never discern from the cover.

“He looks a bit different from the Crown Prince, doesn’t he?”

As Linda, who was also standing by, quietly asked while watching the portrait, Hailey nodded.

‘His hair’s brown, his eyes a regular blue… He’s handsome, sure, but he doesn’t radiate that overwhelming tyrant aura like the Crown Prince does…’

“Hmm, still, being of royal blood, he’s handsome. Not as much as the Crown Prince, though.”

Hailey flinched at Linda’s heartfelt comment.

“Are you serious?”

“I’m not wrong, am I? Objectively, where else in the palace can you find someone as handsome as the Crown Prince?”

Linda elaborated, pointing out that in terms of face, physique, and height, he surpassed the top tier.

“Let’s not forget that this handsome man almost took our lives.”

Pointing out this undeniable fact, Hailey received a finger wag from Linda.

“You really don’t know, do you?”

“?”

“You know how the main palace and the Empress Dowager’s court are full of young ladies from noble families, right?”

“Yeah.”

“Ever wonder why those high-born girls would endure the hardships of working as palace maids?”

“Because the salary’s good?”

“Haha, that’s not it… They all entered the palace, aiming for the position of Crown Princess. Since His Highness is still unmarried, there’s a chance, right?”

Hailey was shocked by Linda’s astonishing revelation.

Sure, he was handsome and powerful… but still a ticking time bomb, destined to become a full-blown tyrant.

Such a man is not just popular; he’s practically overflowing with it….

‘I wouldn’t even want him if he were given to me.’

Hailey instinctively turned to Linda as she mulled over that thought repeatedly.

“Linda… don’t tell me you…?”

At Hailey’s suspicious gaze, Linda frowned.

“Absolutely not. No matter how much I like handsome men, I’m not foolish enough to aim for the position of Crown Princess.”

“That’s a relief.”

“Besides, look at the Grand Duchess. After Prince Terrence passed away, her situation is just…”

Linda shook her head, daring to speak of her superior’s plight.

“Becoming the Crown Princess means having to serve the Empress, the Duchess Siela, and the Princesses as elders, right? Wow, just imagining it is horrifying.”

Empress Dowager Margarita.
Duchess Siela.
Princess Catherine.

‘Truly the ultimate mother-in-law squad!’

It’s certain that the most ill-tempered people in the palace would seize the opportunity of the Empress’s vacancy to act as domineering mothers-in-law.

“I don’t know who will become the Crown Princess, but it’s going to be a tough road ahead.”

Hailey genuinely felt sympathy for that noble lady whose identity was unknown.

‘What kind of sin must she have committed in her past life to deserve that kind of suffering?’

Shaking her head, Hailey picked up the dry rag she had put down for a moment.

“Worrying about an unknown future Crown Princess is one thing… Sigh, anyway, let’s get this done first.”

“Right, what’s the point of dawdling? No one is going to work for us.”

The two, who rarely saw eye to eye, let out deep sighs and began to move their hands.

***

“What is all this?! Your plan totally failed!”

Olga burst into the Empress’s palace, fuming as she saw Sera, who worked as a senior maid.

Sera had been the mastermind behind the stealing of the Grand Duchess’s jewels, having Hailey transport them, and then framing her as a thief.

To do this, Sera entrusted the task to Doria, a senior maid she was friendly with, by giving her money.

“You said you could drive those girls out. You even stole the Grand Duchess’s necklace for that!”

“Shh!”

Sera put her finger to her lips, silencing her fuming sister.

“How many times have I told you to be careful with your words in the palace?”

At Sera’s warning, Olga shut her mouth tightly.

“This time, it was unexpected for me, too. I never thought that the trainee maid would remember faces so well.”

As a result, Doria, who had been involved in Sera’s scheme, had no choice but to leave the palace in a hurry.

‘I thought it would be a simple task, but it turned out like this. And now I had to spend a fortune to keep Doria quiet.’

Sera frowned slightly, trying not to show her frustration.

“She’s really clever. It’s so annoying.”

Olga, who was determined to get rid of Hailey and Annie this time, pouted her lips irritably.

“There’s no need to be so impatient. There are still many ways to deal with a trainee maid who entered the palace without backing.”

“Still, I want to get rid of Hailey as soon as possible. Otherwise, sister…”

Olga looked up at Sera with shining eyes.

“How about asking Her Majesty the Empress to transfer me to her palace? I want to leave the Detached Palace immediately.”

“Sigh, Olga…”

Sera sighed at her immature and hasty sister.

“You need to stay in the Detached Palace even after becoming an official maid.”

“Why?”

“Because in the palace, you have to know how to position yourself properly.”

“?”
“Families like ours, who have served the royal household for generations, must maintain ties with every royal. There’s nothing more ruthless and unstable than power.”
“Are you saying the Grand Duchess could regain power someday?”
“It’s not entirely impossible as long as Princess Lysa is around. According to Imperial law, princesses also have succession rights. We must keep this in mind.”

Realizing the meaning of Sera’s words, Olga closed her mouth tightly.

“Her Majesty, the Empress Dowager is strongly pushing for the Crown Prince’s marriage. Soon, there will be a ball to choose a fiancée. If a new Crown Princess is determined…”

After saying this, Sera looked around cautiously and continued speaking.

“If the Crown Prince has an heir, the Grand Duchess will become a trivial figure.”

“…Are you saying I have to wait until then?”

“It won’t take that long. Maybe in one or two years? So, Olga, just be a little more patient.”

Despite Sera’s advice, Olga’s expression did not brighten.

“Did you understand what I said?”

At Sera’s repeated urging, Olga reluctantly nodded her head with a displeased look.

***

“This spring, the roses have bloomed so beautifully.”

Eleonora, the Grand Duchess, whispered with a satisfied expression as she stood in front of the lush rose garden. In her hand was a pair of pruning shears, which she held while tending to the garden in the Detached Palace. Taking time to manage the garden was one of the few hobbies Eleonora cherished.

“Since Her Grace takes such care in managing them, how could the roses not be beautiful?”

The head maid, standing beside her, subtly chimed in, prompting the Grand Duchess to smile brightly.

“How can we enjoy such beautiful flowers alone? Gather the best ones and make a bouquet.”

“Will you be sending them to the other palaces?”

The perceptive head maid asked, and the Grand Duchess nodded slowly.

“Beautiful things should be shared for joy to grow. I will make the bouquet for the Empress Dowager’s palace myself, so you all prepare it with care.”

“Understood, Your Grace.”

At the Grand Duchess’s command, all the maids bowed respectfully.

“Um, Your Grace.”

Hailey raised her hand shyly.

“What is it, Hailey?”

“May I make the bouquet to send to the Crown Prince’s palace?”

The Grand Duchess looked surprised, her eyes widening at Hailey’s request.

“Hailey, you want to make it?”