20. If One Wishes to Survive in the Imperial Palace…

At the Duchess of Siela’s question, a rare expression of unease flickered across the Grand Duchess’s usually serene face.

“Duchess Siela, I…”

“Surely it must have been lonely for Your Grace to live alone with Princess Lysa. Isn’t this a wonderful opportunity?”

The duchess cut off the Grand Duchess mid-sentence and pressed her again. The expressions of the Detached Palace maids tightened at such rude behavior, but the Duchess remained unfazed.

“The weather is perfect today, so wouldn’t it be best to move your things right away? If you’re short on hands, I can send over servants from the Summer Palace. You should start preparing.”

“Well… we haven’t even unpacked the belongings we brought from the estate…”

Princess Catherine trailed off, glancing at the Grand Duchess.

“I just worry that we might cause discomfort to Your Grace.”

Though she said this, the arrogant thought of ‘Could the Grand Duchess possibly refuse me?’ was clearly visible on the princess’s face.

“What is there to worry about? Naturally, Her Grace would welcome you.”

“Hmph.”

“Your Highness is the Emperor’s own blood and the Empress Dowager’s daughter. Surely your presence would be an honor for this Detached Palace.”

The Duchess of Siela looked toward Grand Duchess Eleonora, asking with a sly tone.

‘How could she, as the former crown prince’s partner, dare to refuse the Emperor’s sister?’

That confidence was what made the Duchess so brazen.

“Ugh, she’s so infuriating…”

Unable to bear it, Linda muttered under her breath. In contrast, Hailey calmly whispered back,

“Don’t worry too much.”

“Huh?”

Instead of answering her fellow maid, Hailey turned to look at the true mistress of the Detached Palace—Grand Duchess Eleonora.

Moments ago, she had seemed flustered, but now she had regained her composure and wore a gentle smile.

“Princess Catherine, and Duchess Siela.”

A clear and graceful voice rang out.

“Regrettably, I must inform you that it won’t be possible for the children of the Marquis of Hessen to stay in the Detached Palace.”

“Your Grace… are you saying you’re refusing my request?”

Princess Catherine asked back, as if she couldn’t believe what she’d just heard.

“This Detached Palace is a haven that His Majesty the Emperor granted to us—my daughter and I, who have nowhere else to go. For that reason, I do not believe it is appropriate for others to reside here.”

“D-Did you just imply that Her Highness Princess Catherine’s sons are outsiders?!”

Despite the sharp questioning from the duchess, the Grand Duchess responded with her characteristic gentle smile.

“As you know, Princess Lysa is shy and reserved. Because she has such a delicate temperament, I believe it would be difficult for her to live with unfamiliar people.”

It was a natural response from a mother who loved her daughter. However, Princess Catherine, already irritated, retorted with a stern expression.

“All the more reason she needs to interact with others, don’t you think? She is, after all, a member of the Imperial family. She can’t remain holed up in the palace like a recluse forever.”

‘What a convincing excuse…’

Hailey found it quite amusing to see Princess Catherine, who was scheming to take the Detached Palace for herself while outwardly discussing Princess Lysa’s future.

“Wouldn’t it be better for Princess Lysa to reside in the capital rather than this remote palace? Living among others might help her develop socially.”

“That is a fine idea. It would surely help improve the princess’s disposition.”

It was at that moment—when the true intentions of the two, who clearly meant to drive the mother and daughter out of the Detached Palace, were laid bare…

“Princess Catherine, and Duchess Siela.”

The Grand Duchess began to speak slowly. In that instant, everyone in the rose garden turned their eyes toward her lips.

***

“What is this supposed to be? Is it some kind of encoded message conveyed through flower arrangement?”

As soon as Kincaid laid eyes on the rose bouquet Hailey had brought, he criticized it mercilessly.

“Encoded message…? It’s just a simple bouquet.”

“In that case, you’re admitting you were the one who created this mess of a bouquet.”

Kincaid frowned as he stared down at the bouquet, which was full of mismatched sizes and colors.

‘He’s nitpicking over this? Seriously? What’s so wrong with my bouquet?’

Of course, having never done flower arranging before, Hailey had simply grabbed whatever roses looked about the right color and size, bundling them together. So, she had to admit, the bouquet didn’t exactly look elegant.

“I made it in a rush just to have an excuse to come to the Crown Prince’s palace, so please don’t mind how it looks, Your Highness.”

“Or maybe you’re just particularly bad at it?”

At his blunt remark, Hailey clenched her fists tightly.

‘That personality of his really is beyond saving!’

“The roses from the famously beautiful palace now look pitiful because of a maid with no skill.”

“Then next time I bring a bouquet, I’ll put in more care and effort.”

“Suit yourself. Not that I’m expecting much.”

The Crown Prince’s blunt words only fueled Hailey’s competitive spirit.

‘Does he really think I can’t do it if I put my mind to it?’

As far as Hailey knew, the only man who ever treated her like she was incompetent was Kincaid.

“Enough of that, Frog.”

Kincaid shot a crooked glance at the fuming Hailey. As always, the Crown Prince was as stunning as ever, and now he commanded her firmly.

“More importantly, give me a full report of what happened at the palace. Why did Duchess Siela and Princess Catherine visit?”

“So you already knew, huh? Well, what happened was…”

Hailey began explaining in detail the events that had taken place that afternoon in the palace garden.

“They asked for the Detached Palace?”

Kincaid furrowed his brow at the outrageous rudeness of Duchess Siela and Princess Catherine.

“Officially, they just said they wanted to stay for a while, but you know how it goes. Sooner or later, the rolling stone kicks out the one already there.”

“How rude to speak of Her Highness the Princess like that!”

Kincaid scolded her, though he didn’t actually refute the statement.

“Come to think of it,” Burnett chimed in as he sifted through some documents, “it’s quite well known that when Princess Catherine married Marquis Hessen, she begged His Majesty to give her the Detached Palace as a wedding gift.”

“So Princess Catherine has had her eye on the Detached Palace for a long time, then?”

Kincaid gave a silent frown, as if confirming that Burnett had hit the mark.

“So, did the Grand Duchess agree to give up the Detached Palace?”

“Not a chance!”

Hailey answered brightly, and Kincaid raised an eyebrow. His wordless demand to hear every last detail pushed Hailey to continue calmly.

“If Your Highness truly wishes to reside in the Detached Palace, then you must first receive His Majesty’s permission.”

With a firm tone that contrasted sharply with her usual gentle and warm demeanor, Grand Duchess Eleonora made her declaration.

“It was His Majesty himself who ordered that my daughter and I live in the Detached Palace. Therefore, we cannot move without His Majesty’s express permission.”

So when the Grand Duchess told them to get the Emperor’s approval first if they wished to stay in the Detached Palace, Princess Catherine and Duchess Siela’s expressions twisted in frustration.

‘There’s no way they’ll be able to get permission.’

The Emperor had granted the Detached Palace—quiet and beautiful even among all the palaces—as a residence for the Grand Duchess and her daughter, who had lost both husband and father.

The public praised this act as an example of the Emperor’s compassion and generosity…

But Hailey understood the truth: it was little more than exile.

‘He just didn’t want to see the wife and daughter of the son he deposed. That’s why he ordered them to stay in the Detached Palace.’

The Detached Palace was far from the main palace. On top of that, the Grand Duchess had declared herself a sinner and lived in seclusion, never leaving the Detached Palace. The Grand Duchess rarely encountered the Emperor.

‘In other words, the Grand Duchess and Princess Lysa are trapped in the empire’s grandest, most luxurious prison.’

As that thought passed through her mind, Hailey suddenly locked eyes with Kincaid. His cold, ominously glowing red eyes, she realized that he had come to the same conclusion.

“Don’t be foolish enough to speak your thoughts aloud. Not if you want to keep your head in the Imperial palace.”

It was a warning not to ever voice such thoughts to anyone.

Catching on quickly, Hailey met the Crown Prince’s eyes with a meaningful smile.

“I’ll keep that in mind, Your Highness. My neck is far too precious, after all.”

At her calm and confident response, the corner of Kincaid’s handsome lips twitched upward ever so slightly.

“Whoa! Your Highness, did you just smile at Miss Brooke? I saw it! I totally saw it!”

Burnett leapt to his feet, jaw practically on the floor. But before he could even finish his sentence, Kincaid’s expression twisted in annoyance.

“Burnett, what nonsense are you spouting? Should I have your glasses replaced?”

He snapped back sharply and picked up the documents he’d set aside earlier, pretending to read.

‘Smiled at me? Guess the sun’s rising in the west tomorrow.’

Hailey muttered to herself in disbelief, having no idea what just happened. Meanwhile, Burnett grinned as he turned to her.

“Miss Brooke, looks like that bouquet really did work. His Highness actually likes flowers, you know.”

“Huh? Really?”

Hailey answered without thinking—only to be immediately interrupted by Kincaid yelling again.

“That hideous bouquet? Get rid of it at once. I fear it’ll haunt my dreams.”

With a cold command, his sharp gaze turned back to Hailey once again.

“You. Frog.”