19. In the end, they must be plotting to take over the palace.

Hailey, too, tensed up and turned her head. Indeed, the sight of the extravagantly dressed Duchess Siela and Princess Catherine appeared at the entrance of the flowerbed.

Among them, Duchess Siela was dressed more splendidly than any actress on stage. With a dramatically puffed-up dress, a dazzling sapphire necklace, and a feather ornament adorning her glamorous blonde hair.

‘She’s even more extravagant than the last time we met.’

Next to her stood the sharp-looking noblewoman, who was none other than the Empress’s eldest daughter and the Emperor’s sister, Princess Catherine.

‘Ah, come to think of it, this is around the time Princess Catherine first appeared, right?’

Until then, Catherine had been staying in the borderlands, the territory of her husband, Marquis Hessen, but she had moved to the capital under the pretext of educating her children, causing all sorts of trouble that angered readers.

‘The combination of Duchess Siela and Princess Catherine. This truly is a villain alliance, isn’t it?’

Hailey sighed inwardly at the appearance of the two notoriously troublesome villains from the original story.

“Princess Lysa, it’s been a while.”

At Princess Catherine’s seemingly affectionate greeting, Lysa’s expression stiffened.

‘Hmm, for her to be intimidated by that princess…’

Her pretty violet eyes, resembling her mother’s, were noticeably trembling.

“Your Highness, you should greet her.”

Unable to watch any longer, the nurse gently grabbed Lysa’s shoulder and whispered softly. Only then did Lysa hesitate and bow her head.

“I greet you, Princess Catherine.”

Her voice was timid and fearful, unlike just moments ago.

“Ha, you’re still such a timid child. At twelve years old, you should have grown up by now.”

Princess Catherine openly criticized Lysa as she observed her demeanor.

“Princess Lysa has spent so much time alone that she seems to have become quite timid. It’s truly unfortunate.”

Duchess Siela interjected with a spiteful remark.

“Tsk tsk. That may be so, but still, it’s quite embarrassing for a princess of the Empire to not even be able to greet properly.”

At Princess Catherine’s prodding, Lysa’s expression grew even more rigid.

‘You’re scolding a child, so of course she’s scared!’

Hailey felt nothing but pity for Lysa, who had just been smiling brightly while eating wild strawberries moments ago.

“Moreover, she’s as skinny as a stick and lacks any cuteness. In two or three years, she’ll need to start looking for a marriage partner, but can you really present such a scrawny and unattractive girl?”

“What are you worrying about, Your Highness? After all, she resembles the Grand Duchess, so her face is decent enough; she won’t have trouble finding someone.”

“Indeed, if it’s a distant nation that pays tribute to the Empire, they might accept her. After all, she’s the granddaughter of His Majesty the Emperor and the niece of the Crown Prince.”

To summarize the words of the villain alliance, it was nothing more than a plan to arrange a political marriage for Princess Lysa in two or three years and send her off to a remote area.

‘What nonsense are they spouting about a twelve-year-old child right in front of them!’

Hailey was appalled. The maids attending Lysa didn’t bother hiding their anger either. The nanny even stepped forward protectively, shielding the young princess.

“So that’s why she’s so scared…”

Hailey thought as she looked at Lysa’s back, which was bowed low. Children are more sensitive than anyone else. They can instinctively tell who has goodwill toward them and who does not.

‘She must have been mistreated because she’s the child of the late Crown Prince, just like I was in my past life.’

As memories of her difficult past life without a protector flooded back, Hailey felt a wave of sympathy.

“Princess Lysa.”

Whispering softly, Hailey reached out her hand toward the frightened Lysa standing behind the nurse. When she first grabbed Lysa’s small, pale hand, the surprised princess turned around. Hailey playfully winked at her, and Lysa’s expression noticeably brightened.

“Hailey, what are you doing?”

Linda, who stood beside her, whispered in surprise, but Hailey didn’t let go of Lysa’s small hand.

“I greet you, Princess Catherine and Duchess Siela.”

At the sound of the Grand Duchess’s voice from behind, a momentary expression of relief appeared on the maids’ faces.

The Grand Duchess Eleonora, who had approached unnoticed, held the hem of her simple dress and greeted them politely.

“Welcome to the Detached Palace.”

With her impeccable greeting, the Duchess and the Princess exchanged glances for a brief moment.

‘Hmm, a little scheme between the two, perhaps?’

Hailey continued to hold Lysa’s hand, quietly observing the two.

“Ahem, we were simply strolling and decided to stop by on our way,” the Duchess of Siela spoke first, her tone thinly veiled with disdain.

“It was not our intention to trouble Your Grace with an uninvited visit.”

‘So she’s emphasizing that they would never have come without a proper invitation,’

Hailey interpreted the courtly language she had honed over time and reached her own conclusion.

“The Detached Palace always welcomes guests. Please don’t hesitate to visit often.”

The Grand Duchess, equally familiar with courtly language, responded smoothly. It was indeed a flawless reply.

“I heard the news that Princess Catherine has returned to the capital. However, I must apologize for not visiting sooner due to my circumstances.”

The Grand Duchess directed her apology toward Princess Catherine, who was wearing a sullen expression.

“No, Your Grace, you must have been busy with various matters. Please don’t worry about it.”

Despite the cold response, the Grand Duchess’s elegant smile did not fade. Then her gaze turned to the princess, who was still nervously standing behind the nurse.

“Madam Fynen, it seems that Princess Lysa has been in the sun too much and is feeling unwell. Please take her to her room and get her a cool drink.”

“Understood, Your Grace.”

Noticing the Grand Duchess’s intention to discreetly remove the princess, Hailey released her grip on Lysa’s hand. The princess looked at Hailey with a hint of disappointment.

“Princess, I’ll bake a pie and bring it to you tomorrow,” Hailey whispered.

“You really have to come this time.”

As Lysa earnestly requested, Hailey smiled slightly and nodded.

“I promise to keep my word this time, Princess.”

With that reassurance, Lysa left the flowerbed with her nurse.

“To think you would be here alone with Princess Lysa in this vast Detached Palace… Your Grace must feel quite lonely.”

As the princess entered the Detached Palace, Duchess Siela subtly began to speak.

“Although the Detached Palace is spacious, the maids take good care of me, so I don’t feel lonely. In fact, I came out today to tend to the rose garden with the children.”

“Do you personally tend the garden?”

Duchess Siela frowned at the sight of the blooming rose vines.

“Why would the Grand Duchess do such trivial work when she could have a maid or gardener do it?”

“Rather than spending my time idly, I prefer to come out, enjoy the sunshine, and move my body. I was thinking of sending some roses to the Summer Palace, so now that you’re here, I can give them to you.”

At a gesture from the Grand Duchess, a maid holding a bouquet of brightly blooming roses approached.

“Well, if you offer them, I would graciously accept.”

The Duchess replied, gesturing with her chin for her maid to take the flowers instead. Her expression was that of someone burdened by a minor inconvenience.

‘She’ll probably just toss them in some corner once she gets home,’

Hailey felt it was a pity that the beautifully blooming roses of the Detached Palace would be treated like leftovers. The other maids seemed to share the same sentiment, all wearing equally displeased expressions.

However, this time the Grand Duchess smiled and asked Princess Catherine.

“I was thinking of sending some roses to the Hessen Marquis family….”

“Oh, I’m fine. I don’t think I’ll have the luxury to decorate with flowers yet, as I haven’t finished moving in.”

At Princess Catherine’s refusal, Duchess Siela made a fuss.

“It must be quite difficult to organize everything after returning to the capital after so many years.”

“Ah, after leaving it empty for several years, there are countless repairs needed in the mansion. Plus, with three boys, the space feels cramped and crowded.”

Princess Catherine lamented unexpectedly.

‘Surely, being a marquis family, there wouldn’t be a shortage of space for three children?’

A warning light flashed in Hailey’s mind.

“Fortunately, thanks to Her Majesty the Empress Dowager’s generosity, it seems we’ll be staying in the main palace for the time being.”

“Oh my, that’s fortunate. Still, the main palace is quite bustling, so it may not be suitable for the children to stay….”

Taking a pause, Duchess Siela deliberately turned her head to look around the wide garden and grand buildings of the Detached Palace.

“If it’s this Detached Palace, with its vast grounds and solitude, it would be very suitable for the Marquis’s children to stay.”

Trailing off, the Duchess immediately shook her head and whispered to Princess Catherine.

“What do you think, Your Highness?”

‘So that’s it, that’s the reason.’

This villainous alliance had come all the way to the Detached Palace garden to cause this commotion.

“Is there a place as peaceful and serene as the Detached Palace in this vast royal palace? The garden is spacious, so it seems like it would be comfortable for our children to stay…”

Princess Catherine finally revealed her blatant intentions.

“Exactly. Moreover, if the Marquis’s children come, it will provide Princess Lysa with some company, which is a very good thing.”

Duchess Siela chimed in. The two seemed to have coordinated their words perfectly before coming here.

‘Like a rolling stone displacing a fixed stone, they must be planning to take the Detached Palace for themselves.’

The eldest daughter, favored by the Empress Dowager, would never be content to live in the Detached Palace as a mere guest.

“What does Her Grace, the Grand Duchess think?”

Duchess Siela asked with a meaningful tone.