So this was your aim

‘What did this impudent maid just say?’

At Hailey’s remark, Princess Catherine’s brow furrowed.

‘Is she implying that I—me—should lower my head to such a worthless common-born?’

The princess’s expression, twisted with anger, radiated a menacing air, yet Hailey calmly continued speaking.

“In the etiquette of the Imperial Palace, the Crown Princess outranks an Imperial Princess.”

“!”

“Of course, as the elder of the Imperial family, Your Highness must know this better than anyone.”

‘This pathetic maid dares… So she’s saying that from now on, I should be the one greeting her first?’

Princess Catherine clenched her fists tightly. If it were up to her, she would have slapped that insolent girl across the face right then and there—but the last shreds of her reason barely held her back.

“I am well aware of the Imperial etiquette, but… there are always exceptions, are there not?”

Her words carried a pointed warning—that Hailey was not yet a true member of the Imperial family, and could be cast aside at any time. Then, as if changing the subject, Catherine’s expression shifted to one of feigned admiration.

“What a lovely dress. Was it a gift from His Highness the Crown Prince?”

At the princess’s compliment, Hailey smiled faintly and replied,

“Yes. I have so little interest in fashion that His Highness personally summoned a tailor from the capital to have it made for me.”

‘That cold-blooded boy did something like that?’

Since childhood, her nephew had been utterly lacking in affection and unbearably curt—yet to his fiancée, he had gone so far as to personally commission a dress. The thought left Princess Catherine almost speechless.

‘Even so, there’s no way she’ll get the wedding funds from Kincaid. If she tried, she’d be branded a penniless Empress for life.’

With that judgment in mind, the princess pressed forward with her attack.

“Lady Vernette must be busy these days with family affairs, so it’s fortunate that His Highness is so considerate. To gift such a fine dress…”

She turned her head and fixed Hailey with a long, searching gaze.

“It truly is something to be envied.”

In other words: ‘Don’t flaunt yourself just because you got a dress from the Crown Prince—you’re still the penniless heir to a bankrupt house.’

Hailey instantly understood the unspoken meaning behind the princess’s smiling remark.

‘The people in this palace are experts at hurling insults with a smile.’

But of course, Hailey had no intention of simply enduring the jab.

“Well then, I mustn’t take up too much of Your Highness’s precious time. I’ll get straight to the point.”

“Did you perhaps come about the imperial grant?”

The moment Hailey finished speaking, Princess Catherine reacted instantly. Hailey answered politely,

“Yes, Your Highness.”

‘Ah, without that money, she’ll be in real trouble.’

The princess felt she had regained the upper hand and was suddenly in a buoyant mood.

“I hate to say it, but as you’ve lived as a commoner until now, you’ve likely never handled such a large sum before. Therefore, I will manage the funds for you for the time being.”

‘If you really need it, you can always come and beg for it back.’

In truth, Princess Catherine had absolutely no authority to interfere with the imperial grant given to the new Crown Princess. But under the Emperor’s silent indifference and the Empress Dowager’s tacit approval, she had been overstepping her bounds with impunity.

“Of course, if you require anything, I will gladly provide the money.”

She added this with a smug air, as if to relish the discomfort of the Crown Princess-to-be.

“No, that won’t be necessary.”

“!”

“In my situation, I have no immediate need for such a large sum. Should the time come when I truly require it, I will inform Your Highness.”

The unexpected response caught Princess Catherine off guard. What’s more, Hailey looked at her with innocent eyes and added,

“If, by chance, Your Highness should find yourself in urgent need of funds, you are welcome to use it as you wish. In fact, the reason I sought you out today was precisely to convey that.”

‘Th–this insolent…!’

Princess Catherine’s brow creased at Hailey’s audacious statement.

‘She says she doesn’t need the grant… so she’s not planning to offer me a bribe either. Just what is she plotting?’

And indeed, the princess’s guess was correct.

“Instead, there is a favor I would like to ask of Your Highness.”

“A favor? And what might that be…?”

“I would like you to return the sapphire necklace known as ‘The Heart of the Ocean’ that you currently have in your possession.”

“Return it? That jewel belongs to the Imperial House by right.”

“More precisely, it is a traditional heirloom passed down to each Crown Princess. Which is why I believe its rightful ownership now lies with me.”

Hailey’s argument was flawless in its logic—so much so that Princess Catherine’s expression visibly stiffened. She had used the necklace as collateral for a large loan.

After the death of Empress Delphina, Princess Catherine had exploited her position as the sole Imperial Princess in the palace to siphon off many of the late Empress’s jewels for her own pleasure.

‘There’s no way I’ll hand over such a valuable jewel to this insignificant girl.’

“It seems you’ve misunderstood, my lady. I have no idea where that necklace might be.”

The princess feigned ignorance with perfect composure, but Hailey countered at once.

“That’s strange. According to the Duchess of Siela, Your Highness wore that very necklace to the last ball.”

‘That wretched concubine-born woman dares…!’

Realizing that her former ally, the Duchess, had made a statement damaging to her, Princess Catherine ground her teeth in fury. Still, she could not let herself be cornered so easily.

“The Duchess must be mistaken. While I did wear a sapphire necklace at the last ball, it was not ‘The Heart of the Ocean.’”

“Then it seems the Duchess was under a misapprehension. I understand.”

Hailey nodded as if accepting the lie—then casually asked another question.

“In that case, might you know the whereabouts of the pearl earrings known as ‘The Mermaid’s White Tears,’ the gold-crafted egg, or the pink diamond ring called ‘The Rose of March’?”

“……”

With each jewel named, Princess Catherine’s face grew darker. These heirlooms, traditionally passed down to Empresses and Crown Princesses, were now securely locked away in the Marquis’s treasury—her own ill-gotten assets.

Hailey had long been aware of the princess’s misdeeds, which took advantage of the long vacancy of the Empress’s seat.

‘Times like these, the knowledge from the original story really comes in handy.’

“According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs’ records, many of these jewels are unaccounted for. I wondered if Your Highness might know anything about them.”

“Well… as you know, I have been away from the palace for quite some time, so I am not well-versed in its internal affairs.”

“I see… in that case, my apologies for troubling Your Highness unnecessarily.”

It seemed she would simply leave it at that…

“In that case, it appears the late Empress’s jewels have been misplaced. I suppose I must inform His Majesty the Emperor of this matter.”

The moment Hailey mentioned the Emperor, Princess Catherine clenched her hands once more.

“That would be a waste of effort. His Majesty has never shown the slightest interest in the internal affairs of the palace.”

It was precisely due to her brother’s indifference that she had been able to indulge her greed for the palace’s treasures without consequence.

“Perhaps so—but if it is the late Empress Delphina’s jewels that have gone missing, I believe His Majesty will take notice.”

“That may be true, but…”

“And surely, His Majesty will see to it that whoever laid hands on the late Empress’s jewels is found and punished accordingly.”

At Hailey’s words, the princess pressed her lips tightly together and glared.

‘So this was her aim all along.’

Now she understood why Hailey had refused the imperial grant—there was a far bigger prize at stake. The jewels Princess Catherine had appropriated were worth dozens—no, hundreds—of times the value of the grant.

‘If His Majesty truly intervenes, I’ll be in real danger.’

Even a brother as indulgent as the Emperor might not forgive her if he learned she had plundered the treasures of his late wife.

‘This is bad… truly bad.’

Catherine’s eyes wavered with confusion. She felt as though she had been dealt a heavy blow by a mere maid she had always dismissed.

Then, watching her in silence, Hailey made a casual suggestion.

“Of course, His Majesty has been away since yesterday, taking the waters at a hot spring on the outskirts of the capital. It may take several days before I can report this to him.”

“……”

“If, by that time, the missing jewels have found their way back to their proper place, there will be no need to trouble His Majesty unnecessarily.”