37. I Have to Stop the Engagement Somehow

The maid’s dining hall dinner menu was still as impressive as ever, but tonight, Hailey couldn’t tell whether the food was going into her mouth or her tongue.

‘So this is what it feels like to be on pins and needles.’

Still, Hailey didn’t get discouraged. She nibbled on the sandwich she had claimed for herself. Because of the earlier incident, she had lost her chance to befriend the other apprentice maids. The four other apprentice from different palaces flinched like they’d seen a tiger at night whenever their eyes met hers.

‘So much for making friends.’

Sighing inwardly, Hailey gulped down a glass of orange juice and stood up from her seat.

“Thank you for the meal.”

No one responded to her polite words, but Hailey left the dining hall with her head held high.

“By the way, is it true that Lady Adelaida of House Sevaron has returned to the capital?”

“Yes. She went down to her estate to care for her sick mother, but I heard she came back this time.”

“If that’s the case, this ball is just a formality.”

“Exactly. After all, the future Crown Princess has to be that Duke’s daughter…”

As Hailey walked down the hallway after leaving the dining hall, she overheard some maids gossiping while cleaning the windows.

‘Oho, now this is interesting.’

Curious about Lady Adelaida Sevaron, Hailey crouched down and listened intently to the maids’ conversation.

“She was like a blooming rose. Every time she visited the Crown Prince’s palace, the reception room felt brighter.”

“If she hadn’t gone back to her estate to care for her mother, we’d already be serving Her Highness the Crown Princess by now.”

‘Wait, things had gotten that far? This is bad.’

Hailey’s heart began to pound.

“Right? Moreover, Lady Adelaida really liked the Crown Prince a lot, didn’t she?”

“Exactly! The way that precious lady blushed while looking at the Crown Prince was just too cute.”

‘I can’t believe it—there’s actually a noble lady who likes that aspiring tyrant?!;

Hailey was genuinely shocked.

No matter how handsome the Crown Prince was, with that personality… that personality!

“But still, it’s not just the noble ladies of the capital—even the maids in our palace are looking forward to this ball. They’re all going to be so disappointed.”

“Well, who knows? If they’re from truly prestigious families, they might still have a chance.”

“Huh? What do you mean by that?”

“Think about it. Have you ever seen a marriage among high-ranking nobles decided solely by the couple’s wishes?”

“Well… that’s true…”

“There are rumors that the Empress Dowager’s reception room is practically worn down by the constant comings and goings of noble carriages.”

At that, a curious light sparked in Hailey’s eyes.

‘Now this is an unexpected situation!’

***

“Wow, what a truly beautiful black pearl.”

Ever since the incident with Countess Bellamier, black pearls had become the most commonly seen gemstone in the Empress Dowager’s palace.

Today, as soon as Marquis Bronton entered the Empress Dowager’s chamber for a private audience, he presented a black pearl he had prepared.

“To bring such a rare gift… Could it be that you have a wish you’d like me to grant?”

The Empress Dowager got straight to the point. She had no interest in wasting time on games when both sides knew exactly what the other wanted.

Understanding her directness, the Marquis spoke without hesitation.

“I feel ashamed to say this, but my daughter has long harbored an affection for His Highness, the Crown Prince.”

“Oh my…”

“I earnestly beg Your Majesty to consider this foolish father’s desire to see his daughter’s long-held love fulfilled.”

“Of course. For the sake of that dear young lady, I’ll arrange for her to have a moment to speak with the Crown Prince at the upcoming ball.”

The Marquis’s face lit up at her favorable response.

“Thank you, truly thank you, Your Majesty.”

“However… the Crown Prince does not have a gentle temperament. I fear he might hurt your precious daughter’s feelings.”

The Empress Dowager subtly criticized her grandson Kincaid’s cold nature, though the Marquis failed to catch the nuance.

“If I can secure a marriage alliance with the Imperial family, I wouldn’t hesitate to bring in a whole cart full of pearls.”

That was the shared sentiment of all the most distinguished noble houses in the capital as the ball to select the future Crown Princess drew near.

“Maybe… this time, we’ll succeed!”

The future Crown Princess would eventually become the Crown Princess in title, and—though it was impolite to say aloud—given the current Emperor’s declining health, she could be expected to ascend as Empress within a few years.

It was no wonder society’s attention was so fixated on the upcoming ball.

“Then, Your Majesty, I look forward to your favor.”

With a servile expression, the marquis bowed and left the reception room.

“Tsk tsk. Making such a fuss over a single black pearl.”

As soon as the marquis left, the Empress Dowager clicked her tongue and opened the jewelry box. 

Click.

Inside the ornate box decorated with elaborate patterns were dozens of pearls, each differing in size and color.

She placed the black pearl the marquis had offered into the box. Only then did the Empress Dowager lean back in her chair with a satisfied expression—just as the door to the reception room swung open.

“Another black pearl added, I see. At this rate, not even the Empire’s largest pearl farm can compete with Your Majesty’s jewel box.”

It was Princess Catherine who entered with a knowing jest.

As Catherine eyed the pearl-filled box with greedy eyes, the Empress Dowager quickly shut the lid.

“I hear the young lady of Count Vetherion’s family came to see you yesterday for a little chat.”

In other words, Catherine had also been approached for favors in anticipation of the ball. Despite the implication, Catherine remained unfazed.

“The young lady of Count Vetherion is beautiful and exceptionally talented. What’s wrong with allowing a lady who has the qualities to be a great Crown Princess?”

She delivered her excuse without hesitation.

“Besides, no matter whom we recommend, the final decision lies with His Majesty, the Emperor, doesn’t it?”

While the decision for a royal marriage technically rested with the emperor, the Empress Dowager clearly disagreed.

“Or perhaps Lady Adelaida from the Duchy of Sevaron could take that glorious position.”

“We’ll have to wait and see.”

Catherine raised her hand and wagged a finger playfully.

“Lady Adelaida may have known Kincaid since childhood, but that doesn’t mean their bond will lead to marriage.”

“Well, the Duchy of Sevaron is a reputable noble family in the empire, so it wouldn’t lack in that regard for the Crown Princess’s family…”

Having said that, the Empress Dowager frowned openly.

“My real concern is that the Crown Prince might choose someone unsuitable—like his mother did.”

The Empress Dowager, who had never acknowledged Empress Delphina due to her low noble origins, shook her head in distaste.

“Surely not? After all the trouble caused by his mother’s low birth, he’ll surely choose a young lady from a proper noble family as his consort.”

“Hah, perhaps… but he’s such an unpredictable one, that boy.”

Clicking her tongue, the Empress Dowager looked at the jewel box filled with pearls with a satisfied gaze.

“Anyway, I’m truly curious to see which noble young lady the Crown Prince will end up being connected with.”

Even as she spoke those words, her mind was busy calculating which noble house would bring the greatest benefit to the Empress Dowager’s palace.

***

Even though she had been dispatched for duty at the Crown Prince’s palace, Hailey’s mission as a spy had not stopped.

As a result, while working at the Crown Prince’s palace, she still had to return to the Detached Palace whenever she could to check the Grand Duchess’s schedule and visitors and compile reports.

While that was indeed a hassle, what filled Hailey’s mind was something else.

‘I must do everything I can to prevent their engagement.’

If Lady Adelaida of the Duchy of Sevaron were to become the Crown Princess-to-be, the heroine’s presence would be threatened.

And if the heroine, Lady Vernette, didn’t exist, who would be able to stop that prospective tyrant’s madness?

“It’s not over yet.”

With firm resolve, Hailey quickened her steps toward the Crown Prince’s palace.

***

“I have checked the mail delivered to the Detached Palace and organized the list of people Her Grace the Grand Duchess will meet during the ball.”

“Where is it?”

Kincaid asked in a short, cold voice.

“Here it is.”

Today’s meeting between the two did not take place in the office, but in the underground hot spring. The steam from the hot bath filled the room, causing beads of sweat to form on Hailey’s forehead.

“Phew, it’s hot. Why are we meeting here, of all places, when there are dozens of other rooms available?”

Burnett fanned himself furiously with a folder, grumbling in protest, but Kincaid didn’t even respond.

“Is this all the scheduled visitors?”

Kincaid glanced down at the list with a hint of suspicion. The list was short—barely ten names in total.

“Yes. Her Grace, the Grand Duchess, plans to keep things simple again this time. She has instructed that all unlisted visitors be politely turned away.”

The list only included a few individuals with longstanding personal ties to the Grand Duchess—none of them politically significant.

Except for one…

Kincaid furrowed his brow deeply as he saw the last name at the very bottom of the list.

“Kassian Grandel Marion.”