Chapter 6 – At the Crossroads of Choice (1) (Part 3)

“Follow me.”

The head maid spoke with an expressionless face.

For ten minutes now, Lorraine had been following the head maid, who wore a cloak with the hood pulled up, through the alley.

‘Was there such a path?’

It was a path unfamiliar even to Lorraine. Yet the head maid, who had spent her life in the palace, walked with familiarity.

After rounding about seven corners, they saw a pub lighting up the dark alley.

Why would Her Highness be in a place like this?

The only people in the alley were Lorraine and the head maid. The head maid, who hadn’t looked back until then, opened the door.

“Go straight to the second floor. She’s waiting.”

“Yes.”

Nodding, Lorraine entered the shop.

Surely, the chime on the door must have rung, but the pub owner acted as if they didn’t notice her, as if she were invisible.

Looking around, Lorraine slowly moved forward.

Step- step-.

As she climbed the stairs, the first thing she saw was bright red hair. Seeing the slowly revealed figure, Lorraine spoke with wide eyes.

“Your Highness.”

The owner of the bright red hair was none other than Princess Philippa Laftana. As soon as their eyes met, Philippa smiled brightly.

“Welcome.”

Philippa’s appearance was 180 degrees different from when she had buttoned up to the neck in the palace. Of course, it was her freedom to dress as she liked, but-.

‘Bright red wig and bright red dress.’

It was as if she was determined to stand out. Watching her appearance silently, Lorraine asked bluntly.

“…Did the head maid allow that?”

Philippa, looking genuinely puzzled, asked.

“Why… would I need permission?”

Though it was an outfit that would make anyone clutch their neck hundreds of times, with that reaction, Lorraine thought the head maid might have given up early.

“Oh, yes. Well….”

She shrugged and pulled out a chair to sit across from Philippa.

“I’ve heard the gist of it, but I….”

“First of all! …Can I speak first?”

Oh, Lorraine slowly closed her open mouth and nodded. Philippa, rolling her eyes for a moment, slowly opened her mouth.

“To be honest… there’s nothing wrong with my brother. He’s a perfect candidate for Emperor.”

The problem was that he was too kind.

But it was unfair that he was automatically expected to inherit the throne just because he was the eldest son and a male.

Her eyes, sipping from her glass, sharpened. Philippa had thought so since the day Eleanor excluded her from the imperial studies class.

“If there’s nothing wrong with the Emperor, everyone will react the same way if I say I want to become Emperor.”

‘Why bother?’

It was a reaction she could predict with her eyes closed. Smiling bitterly, she suddenly clapped her hands as if she had forgotten something.

“Come to think of it, I forgot to offer you something. What would you like to drink?”

Lorraine lifted the glass of water in front of Philippa and replied.

“Oh, a glass of water… this will do! …It’s fine.”

“I see…. Anyway, but you know… what if my brother never had any ambition for the position of Emperor?”

“…Pardon?”

Lorraine, slowly digesting Philippa’s words, asked.

“Is that… something discussed with His Majesty in advance?”

Feeling like she had heard something she shouldn’t have, Lorraine’s eyes narrowed.

‘I feel like I’ve stepped deep into a place I shouldn’t be….’

She slowly lifted her glass and took a sip. The cold water sliding down her throat helped steady her confused mind.

Separate from that, Lorraine, suddenly curious, asked abruptly.

“Your Highness, what do you think about ambition?”

“Ambition?”

Hmm, Philippa’s eyes shone with interest, as if it was an unexpected question. Just as she was about to answer, Lorraine spoke first.

“To gain power, you might have to stab a close one in the back.”

Well, that could happen even without power. 

Lorraine shrugged with a nonchalant face.

“No matter how indifferent His Majesty is to the throne, the nobles won’t give up easily.”

“…….”

“If that happens, Your Highness, you might have to turn a blade towards His Majesty or Her Majesty the Empress Dowager.”

Lorraine, staring blankly at Philippa’s empty glass, picked up the bottle and poured slowly.

“Can you do that?”

Thud, she set the bottle down a bit roughly.

“Once you’ve made a firm decision, come find me.”

If Philippa decided to proceed regardless, Lorraine was willing to board the ship, even if a storm was expected.

Philippa’s ambition ignited Lorraine’s ambition as well.

Her blue eyes curved softly with a cold light.

“For now, I like the spirit.”

Lorraine stood up without hesitation.

***

“…What do you think about a female emperor?”

Lorraine, rolling around on the bed hugging a pillow, asked. Diana, checking documents at the desk, adjusted her glasses and belatedly replied.

“…What?”

She wasn’t listening.

Lorraine, looking dissatisfied, slowly opened her mouth.

“Fe-male Em-per-or.”

“What about it?”

“…What do you think if one comes out?”

Diana, staring blankly at her sister’s face, took off her glasses and stood up.

Ugh- she wiped her dry face and walked over to the bed where Lorraine was lying. Thud- she threw herself onto the bed and spoke.

“Do you remember when Yvette Rochester was elected as the head of the Privy Council?”

How could she forget?

Lorraine smiled bitterly.

Everyone was so eager to bring down Duke Rochester that they moved with one heart and mind. The newspapers reported her criticism every day, and her name always came up in pubs.

“I never knew the citizens of the Empire could cooperate so well.”

At Lorraine’s answer, Diana, who was tapping her feet, replied.

“Then… what do you think would happen if a female emperor ascended the throne?”

***

After explaining this much, you should understand, right little sister?

Diana, looking at Lorraine with such eyes, folded her arms and continued speaking.

“Ah. Personally, I’m in favor. Since Ajidabi has a female heir….”

What’s stopping us from doing it too?

Diana shrugged her shoulders and muttered.

“Legally, there’s no problem. Thanks to the legal provisions made by the late Emperor, it can be done if the Princess has the will. But….”

She lay down on Lorraine’s belly, which was resting on a cushion. Lorraine, lifting her head slightly, spoke.

“Because of public opinion?”

“No, it’s a bigger problem than that.”

Turning her head towards Lorraine’s face, she spoke in a serious tone.

“Mother.”

“…Mother?”

If it’s mother… ?

As Lorraine’s eyes rolled, Diana nodded obediently.

“Yes, Her Majesty the Empress Dowager.”

The evaluation of Eleanor generally stemmed from one topic.

“While she’s enlightened enough to create laws regarding women’s social advancement-.”

She maintained a dry attitude as if reading a book.

“They say she maintains the opposite attitude towards her daughter.”

“The Empress Dowager?”

She didn’t seem like that at all. As Lorraine tilted her head, Diana shook her head firmly.

“She’s different with her own blood.”

“…….”

“And they say the family that most opposed the legislation was the Count of Shole.”

“The Count of Shole….”

It was Eleanor’s family.

As if she wouldn’t answer any further, Diana got up. Twisting her arms here and there, she suddenly turned her head as if she remembered something.

“I don’t know what’s going on, but get involved moderately.”

“…….”

“Or find another job now.”

Shrugging her shoulders, she returned to the desk where she had been sitting.

***

Hahaha.

A hearty laugh echoed through the parlor.

I can’t keep up. 

Lorraine awkwardly smiled back and discreetly checked the watch on her wrist.

“Did you say your name was Miss Lorraine? You’re interesting.”

Alisa Quill wiped the tears from her eyes and chuckled. Her long, wavy auburn hair shimmered with her movements.

Lorraine, intrigued, watched her fluttering hair. She had only heard rumors, but as rumored, Alisa seemed like a free spirit with the soul of the wind.

Someone who lived as they pleased without caring about anyone’s gaze.

‘She seems bold.’

Whether it was her personality or not, she didn’t seem to mind Lorraine’s awkward smile. The questions continued.

“But is it okay working with that guy? His temper is so nasty that even while working, it must be…!”

Then, hurried footsteps approached, and the parlor door swung open.

The people who should open it were Edwin Duncan and but—.

“Brigadier General Quill!”

Only Philip Lloyd.

“Yes, Baron Lloyd. Come on in.”

Alisa waved her hand nonchalantly as if she owned the place. Philip caught his breath and loosened his tie slightly. He hurriedly entered the parlor and shouted loudly.

“The appointment was for tomorrow!”

“I wanted to see the famous secretary quickly.”

She glanced at Lorraine and laughed heartily.

“…It’s nice that you’re just as Jamie described.”

Huh? Did she just say Jamie? 

Lorraine was about to question it when Philip urgently called her.

“Brigadier General!”

“I know, I know. Who doesn’t know I’m a brigadier?”

Alisa pretended to clean her ears, treating Philip’s nagging like chirping birds. Sinking deeply into the sofa, she smiled shamelessly and said,

“Edwin Duncan won’t be here until dinner, but I’ll stay for dinner.”

Then Paul, who was standing by the door, hurriedly disappeared. Confirming that Paul had gone to give instructions, Philip ran his hand through his disheveled hair and asked,

“Phew… What about your husband?”

“Ah- my husband will be stuck in the Imperial Library all day, so it’s fine.”

Alisa Quill’s husband, Arthur Byron, was originally a promising professor teaching military science and politics at the academy.

When the academy wavered for a while, he boldly left and is now more famous as an author writing theoretical books in various fields including academic books.

“He has a manuscript deadline in two days… Anyway, I’m going to have dinner with this interesting young lady, so please prepare.”

It was an order that wouldn’t accept any refusal.