Laodike generally favored Hari. Partly because she had taken Hari’s side in the fabric theft incident, but essentially because Hari had removed Selina, that insurmountable mountain, and monopolized Achilleon’s love. Laodike’s face rippled with dark pleasure as she disparaged Selina, thinking it served her right. The saying goes, the enemy of my enemy is my ally—if Hari maintained appropriate boundaries, Laodike would continue her shallow goodwill. How she would view Hari after Selina was completely cast out as a competitor remained another matter.

‘This is enough for now.’

“Don’t you think so too, Miss Hari? I can’t understand why the prince got engaged to that woman who’s only pretty in the face. I’m sure he regrets his past decision.”

“Since you’ve earned the queen’s favor by offering her carefully crafted fabric, I’m sure the Third Prince will see you in a new light. I had no idea your weaving skills were so exceptional.”

“It’s nothing special. I became head maid because I have such abilities.”

Hari put down her teacup and stared at her. What a shameless person. That fabric was indeed a finished product that Ipea had painstakingly woven for twenty days. The unique pattern of morning glories and vines woven into the fabric represented a traditional decoration of a Kitium minority that Ipea had proudly claimed as her own. That must explain why Ipea had so desperately asked her for help.

Over Ipea’s face, distorted with despair, Hari saw the image of Ipea who had chosen to be captured with Hari instead of escaping alone on the day they attempted to flee. A bitter taste rose in her throat.

“…You really are something.”

If I hadn’t caught Achilleon’s eye, I would have received the same treatment from this woman just for being a slave.

Hari smiled as she held a cup filled with cold ice.

“So have you given the gift to the queen?”

“I showed it to her briefly, and she was amazed at how beautiful it was. There are still some patterns that need to be adjusted, so I plan to present it once I finish the work.”

That must be a lie, as she’s probably waiting for the commotion from that day to subside.

“Where do you keep the items to be presented?”

“In the western storage room of the queen’s palace. We collect them there, and once the inspector approves, we present them all at once. No matter how I look at it, mine is the best.”

“I see. I wish you luck, Laodike. With your skills, you’ll surely please the queen.”

Smiling gently, Hari wished good fortune to the thief full of arrogance.

“Aaaahhhh!”

A few days later, Hari walked past the corridor, hearing Laodike’s scream that shook the annex.

“Was it you? Who touched my fabric!”

The maids were sweating profusely trying to calm down Laodike, who was raging with shreds of fabric in her hands. Laodike sat down, seemingly collapsing, holding the morning glory patterned fabric that had been reduced to rags.

“Head Maid, please calm down. Even the queen understood the situation and gave you an extension.”

Laodike couldn’t answer someone’s question about whether she could just weave the fabric again. With a face that had turned even paler, she trembled her lips and then fled like someone being chased, while everyone clicked their tongues in sympathy.

“Who could have done this?”

“How would I know? Considering the head maid’s nasty temperament, she deserves such revenge.”

Hari moved on, clutching a piece of fabric hidden in her palm. Reaching the underground cell, she opened her clenched fist, and the shadow of a torch flickered over the morning glory pattern.

“Ipea.”

Beyond the iron bars was silence. Sighing quietly, Hari slipped the torn consolation through the feeding slot at the bottom of the door.

“I know this doesn’t mean anything now, but I wanted to let you know that woman didn’t get what she wanted.”

It pained her to watch the doorway with no sign or response. Now she could neither give trust to someone nor be a complete ally. If it interfered with gaining Achilleon’s trust, she would have to turn away without hesitation. After confirming that the piece of fabric had disappeared, Hari buried herself once again in the pitch-black darkness.

* * *

Selina’s party took place in Duke Karnos’s villa. The magnificent columns, splendid as the royal palace, and the refreshing sound of flowing water from the canal captured everyone’s attention, showcasing immense wealth.

A pergola with rose decorations discreetly covered with vines. Behind the open backyard stretched a lake connected to the canal. The scenery of Mount Odepotos surrounding the diamond-sparkling lake inspired admiration. It presented a spectacular view rarely seen even in the royal palace.

“King Mempion wanted to build a private villa here. But Duke Karnos refused to sell. Duke Karnos of Rodos, with his wealth, is probably the only one in this country who can directly refuse the king’s order.”

The servant who guided Hari to the villa whispered.

“But what could they do? When the national treasury staggered from the reckless war, the Karnos family helped.”

Many people had already gathered in the garden where round tables stood like mushrooms. Though she recognized neither their faces nor families, their attire revealed them as social celebrities. First-class nobles too lofty for someone of her status as a prince’s mistress to even dare approach. Gazes stuck to Hari like those watching a monkey in a cage.

“Miss Hari, welcome.”

“Lady Selina, thank you for the invitation.”

Selina turned around dramatically with a smile, appearing to have just noticed Hari’s presence. She looked confident even in a peplos that deeply revealed her chest and had side slits showing her snow-white thighs. Selina looked Hari up and down, examining her modest appearance with a regretful expression.

“Oh dear, but it seems you don’t have a partner. I’m pretty sure I specified in the invitation to bring a partner.”

Of course, Selina’s partner was Achilleon. Hari hesitated when she belatedly noticed Achilleon’s presence. She had thought he was someone who stood out from afar, but she felt a little taken aback that Achilleon actually attended this event.

When her eyes met his deep green ones, she recalled the hot mark that had touched her neck that night. Hari swallowed dryly and lowered her gaze. Being in the presence of Selina, the official fiancée, created an awkward tension in this strange three-way encounter. She tried to avoid making eye contact with both of them. Erasing her unease with a smile, Hari gave a polite greeting to Selina, who had her arm linked affectionately with Achilleon.

“It’s fine. Just admiring the beautiful canal will be a meaningful time for me.”

“Please enjoy yourself, Miss Hari. Of course, our relationship might not seem very friendly to others. But I don’t want our relationship to be established the way they think.”

Eyes that were observing Hari intently curved into a smile. Selina released her arm from her lover and gracefully approached Hari. The woman, who shone more beautifully than anyone else at this party despite wearing a peplos with simple patterns, resembled an unpolished diamond. Standing on Hari’s shadow, Selina bent down.

“I mean I don’t want to do something that would appear in a third-rate novel where women fight over one man. Miss Hari, everyone has their own place. Considering the status gap between you and me, isn’t it ridiculous to talk about competing? It would be truly shameful if a cheap label of having a romantic rival who’s a slave from a fallen nation followed me around. I really…”

Selina sighed deeply, seemingly heartbroken. The colorful lanterns illuminating the dim garden moistened the corners of Selina’s eyes.

“I don’t want my class to fall that low. Please be careful not to spread harsh rumors. I believe you’re smart enough to understand what I’m saying.”

Just as she thought this was a satisfactory declaration of war and pulled away—

“Miss Karnos, forgive my boldness, but are you perhaps feeling unwell?”

Selina frowned, not understanding the contextless words that suddenly came out of Hari’s mouth.

“What are you talking about all of a sudden?”

“I smell dried ramie root. It’s a herb with suppressive effects, usually…”

The light from the reddish lantern settled on Hari’s face as she tilted her head curiously.

“It’s a medicinal ingredient used for patients with mental disorders.”

Selina stared blankly at Hari, forgetting her original purpose. Gulp—slowly swallowing, Selina barely managed to feign composure.

“…I don’t know what you mean. Are you asking if I’m taking medicine that only those crazy patients take?”

“That’s not what I meant—”

Selina glared at her with fierce eyes.

“Then what? Come to think of it, I suffered from a terrible cold in the summer with a high fever, and my physician prescribed a strong painkiller. Perhaps that’s the reason.”

Selina’s heart beat faster and faster. The slave girl’s gaze seemed to pierce through her, constricting her heart, but she maintained her sociable smile.