12. The Original Heroine Appears?

Jillian Tisaia Aldesberg.

That was the name of the dignified Empress of the Artenza Empire. However, Jillian had only been crowned Empress four years ago.

Until then, she was formerly the Duchess of Egenhart. In other words, she was the biological mother of Rashid Egenhart, Duke of Egenhart.

The former Empress Dolencia had passed away ten years ago. The Emperor left the position of Empress vacant for over six years and then remarried Jillian, the former duchess, four years ago.

That is to say, Jillian had successfully risen in status from the Empire’s foremost duchess to its dignified Empress.

“It’s odd to call it a Cinderella story.”

Evelyn murmured as she walked down the long corridor of the imperial palace. Though rare, it wasn’t entirely unheard of for a noblewoman who had lost her husband to remarry.

But as far as Evelyn could recall, when Jillian was crowned Empress four years ago, there was quite an uproar in the social circles of the capital. There were more people than expected who took issue with the fact that a duchess—especially from the Empire’s most prominent ducal family—was becoming Empress.

They feared this royal marriage would alter the existing power dynamics of the imperial court. Nevertheless, the Emperor pushed through the waves of opposition and made Jillian his Empress.

“Did His Majesty’s love triumph over power? That’s kind of impressive.”

Evelyn, who had murmured thoughtlessly, let out a small sigh the next moment. This wasn’t the time to be admiring such things. The Empress had undoubtedly heard the rumors circulating about Evelyn and Rashid.

「Her Majesty the Empress has invited Lady Evelyn to tea.」

A palace attendant had delivered the message to Evelyn with utmost courtesy. For a mere noble lady, and the daughter of a fallen baron at that, such an invitation from the Empress was an unimaginable honor.

If her father ever found out, he might very well throw himself to the floor in gratitude, calling it the family’s greatest honor…

But Evelyn was not her father.

“Lady Evelyn Berge has arrived.”

The Empress’s drawing room.

As the grand doors opened and she stepped inside, the attendant announced her entrance respectfully.

“I greet Her Majesty the Empress, noble and blessed.”

Entering the drawing room, Evelyn lifted her skirt with both hands and bowed her head with proper etiquette

 “Welcome, Lady Evelyn.”

Only after hearing the voice, warm and filled with affection, did Evelyn slowly raise her head. Seated on an ornate velvet armchair, the Empress—still radiantly beautiful—was looking straight at her.

“It’s been a while, Lady Evelyn.”

The lavish blonde hair and smooth skin vaguely reminded Evelyn of Rashid. The golden dress and tiara symbolizing imperial authority. An elegant and dignified face adorned with a benevolent smile.

She truly lived up to the title of the Empire’s most beautiful woman. However—

Evelyn had never liked Empress Jillian. Or rather, Jillian Egenhart, the former Duchess.

Clink clink.

The Empress personally lifted the teapot and poured tea into Evelyn’s cup. For someone of the Empress’s stature, with nearly ten ladies-in-waiting present, it was an utterly unexpected act to pour tea herself for a mere baron’s daughter.

Evelyn tensed up. The few seconds it took to fill the cup felt like an eternity.

“Please, Lady Evelyn, make yourself comfortable.”

Having filled Evelyn’s cup, the Empress smiled gently and encouraged her. Emboldened by those words, Evelyn reached toward her teacup when the Empress spoke again.

“I wonder if tea from the imperial palace will suit your taste.”

Evelyn’s hand froze mid-reach. The Empress was still smiling.

‘Ah, there it is. The language of high society.’

‘That remark about whether the tea would suit her taste actually meant you’re not worthy of this tea, but I’ve graced you with it anyway.’

After nearly ten years in high society, Evelyn was finally beginning to understand the refined speech of noblewomen.

‘Back when I didn’t know these things, I used to suffer in silence from “kind” remarks like this.’

Even now, as she carefully sipped her tea, Evelyn could feel the Empress’s gaze upon her.

“Perhaps it’s because Your Majesty poured it yourself, but the tea tastes wonderful.”

Evelyn deliberately responded with a slightly bitter tone. In a situation like this, there was no winning against the Empress.

“If only Your Majesty would graciously invite me more often, I would consider it the greatest honor to be your companion.”

In other words, it was wise to raise both hands in surrender. Once again—Evelyn had no chance of winning.

‘Just please let me live through this.’

Evelyn looked at the Empress with sparkling eyes.

‘The sad fate of a low-level supporting character trying to survive.’

“You’ve… grown into a proper lady.”

The Empress spoke in a graceful voice.

“Then, Lady Evelyn, do you have any idea why I summoned you to the palace today?”

Even if she did, she mustn’t answer.

If she did, the Empress would only probe deeper with more pointed questions to shake Evelyn’s composure. So Evelyn feigned ignorance and opened her mouth.

“Please enlighten me, Your Majesty.”

“I’ve heard… there are some unsavory rumors involving you and Lord Rashid.”

Evelyn quietly let out a small sigh, hidden from the Empress’s view.

As expected—this was it.

***

When Rashid entered to have lunch, the servants who had been whispering quietly flinched.

Unaware of their behavior, Rashid took his seat.

The maids near the tray began whispering again in hushed tones.

Clang!

With a harsh sound, the cup the attendant was holding hit the floor and shattered into pieces.

At the ridiculous blunder, the other servants attending the meal twisted their faces slightly in discomfort.

“My apologies, Your Grace.”

The attendant who had made the mistake bowed his head toward the duke.

Rashid silently stared at the attendant’s face.

“If you have the leisure to chat with your colleague, wouldn’t it be better to at least hold a cup properly?”

“I’m truly sorry.”

The attendant bowed once more in apology, but Rashid turned his head indifferently and called for the butler.

“Robert.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

The butler, who had been lifting a champagne bottle near the tray, answered politely.

“Dismiss every servant currently in this dining room.”

At his cold voice, a momentary silence fell over the dining hall.

“Understood, Lord Rashid.”

With no further argument, the butler followed Rashid’s orders at once, and the servants’ complexions turned pale.

“Your Grace, we’re sorry!”

“We foolishly spoke out of turn!”

The servants, one after another, rushed to apologize, but the matter was already settled.

“For the time being, I will personally attend to your meals, Lord Rashid.”

Once the servants had all left, the butler Robert filled Rashid’s glass with champagne and spoke respectfully.

“I have summoned the head maid and firmly warned her about today’s incident. There will be no more careless chatter.”

Rashid half-listened to the report, simply raising his champagne glass.

“Where is Evelyn?”

Suddenly, Rashid looked around with a puzzled expression.

Evelyn was not present at the lunch table.

Unless she had a prior engagement during the day, she usually joined him for lunch.

“Lady Evelyn had a personal appointment and was unable to attend.”

“A personal appointment?”

That was unusual.

With her diligent nature, Evelyn rarely left the ducal estate once she had arrived for the day.

‘Scheduling a personal appointment during work hours? That Lady Evelyn?’

Given Evelyn’s sincere and upright personality, it was nearly impossible.

“Hmm. Hmm.”

The butler let out a small cough in front of his employer.

Rashid watched the butler closely while leisurely sipping his champagne.

His graceful fingers held the champagne glass.

“Lady Evelyn insisted that I not tell Your Grace, but…”

In the end, the butler relayed the truth with an emotionless, stiff expression.

“To be frank, Lady Evelyn received an invitation from Her Majesty the Empress and went to the imperial palace today.”

Clack.

Before Robert had even finished speaking, Rashid slammed his glass down with force.

A deep displeasure spread across Rashid’s handsome face.

‘I knew this would happen.’

The butler muttered inwardly but maintained a polite expression as he faced the duke.

“My apologies, Your Grace. I tried to dissuade Lady Evelyn, but it was no use.”

“A mere noble lady wouldn’t be able to refuse a summons from the Empress.”

Rashid muttered in a low, deep voice.

Then, he abruptly rose from his seat.

“When did she depart for the palace?”

“About an hour ago. I believe she is meeting with Her Majesty at this moment.”

That was the end of the butler’s report.

Rashid immediately began striding out of the dining room.

The butler quickly followed after him.

“Will you be heading to the imperial palace at once?”

The butler asked, but Rashid’s expression remained cold.

“I’ll have the carriage prepared immediately.”

Having served the duke for a long time, the butler said no more and respectfully complied.

***

Though it may not be an ability that pierces the heart of a dragon, humans do possess a certain intuition.

Among those, the ability to sense whether someone likes or dislikes you is something all people inherently have.

“Lady Evelyn.”

The Empress, wearing a graceful smile, softly called Evelyn’s name.

Her tone was kind, as though she found Evelyn quite likable.

But Evelyn had instinctively known since childhood that the Empress did not favor her.

She didn’t know why.

At some point, she had simply realized it—though the Empress wore a refined smile, she would utter sharp words to Evelyn without a second thought.

“If Your Majesty’s concern stems from my attending the palace ball as His Grace’s partner, there’s no need to worry. Lord Rashid instructed me to attend as part of my secretarial duties.”

Evelyn explained in a crisp, clear voice.

The Empress responded with her characteristic smooth smile.

“Then I’m relieved, Lady Evelyn. As you know, the imperial ball is one of the royal court’s major social events, with many distinguished guests attending.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“For example, there’s Lady Violet of the independent Principality of Soden…”

At the mention of that name, Evelyn’s expression stiffened.

Lady Violet, the only daughter of Grand Duke Parma, the ruler of the independent principality of Soden.

She was the original female lead—the woman Rashid had loved.