As Sophia recounted the events of the tea party to Crown Prince Robert over dinner, she remarked,

“I give back exactly what I receive. That’s my new approach to dealing with them.”

Robert listened with a curious expression before responding,

“It’s certainly satisfying, but you won’t be able to win them over that way.”

“They aren’t the kind of people who can be won over just because I want them to be. Many criticize and oppose me purely for political reasons. If I try to reach out, they’ll only mock me. It’s better to face them head-on with power.”

“And later?”

“Later, I won’t just give back what I received—I’ll return even more. That’s why I plan to keep a firm grip on the Empress. If I can’t gain her favor, I might as well take control of her finances.”

Influence in high society wasn’t something that could be built and secured in just a year or two. That was why money and power were essential.

Sophia continued,

“My reputation is already ruined. There’s nothing to lose if it worsens. Anyone who challenges me should be prepared for the consequences.”

Robert smirked with amusement.

“What if someone says the Crown Princess is overstepping her bounds and acting recklessly?”

“As long as they don’t say it to my face, they can think whatever they want. My reputation is no longer in my hands. Do you think I’m clinging to money for no reason?”

Robert felt both concerned and reassured by Sophia’s confidence. He planned to discuss things with the Emperor but decided to observe Sophia for now.

‘She must have another move planned.’

Contrary to expectations, Marchioness Kuyper had not backed down. The next day, she visited the Empress’s Palace and spoke to the Empress.

“The Crown Princess linked me and Your Majesty to Cressida’s rebellion once again. Even though she knows how much this pains you, she still dared to bring it up…! You must not give in.”

She criticized Sophia a few more times, subtly slipping in mentions of Cressida, goading the Empress into anger.

As planned, the Empress erupted in fury. Only once she was certain the Empress would not let Sophia go unchallenged did Marchioness Kuyper leave the palace.

As soon as she stepped out, she found herself face-to-face with Sophia, who had been waiting to see her off.

The moment she spotted her, Sophia spoke.

“I must say, Marchioness, your determination is quite astonishing to someone as timid as myself. To go this far for the Empress and Cressida—how admirable. Please send my regards to the Marquis as well.”

With that, Sophia gave a brief farewell and turned away.

‘If the Marquis learns what his wife has done while he’s working so hard to avoid becoming the center of the traditionalist faction, she’ll have a hard time setting foot in the Imperial Palace—or even the capital—again.’

The truth was, Marquis Kuyper was a cautious man. His wife was the second Marchioness Kuyper. As long as things went well, he would respect her, but if things went south, she wouldn’t just lose his support—she would become estranged from both him and his son.

Knowing that she had no children of her own and that only the former marchioness’s children stood to inherit, the second Marchioness Kuyper desperately sought proxy authority over the Empress’s affairs to secure her position.

But now, she hesitated.

‘I intended to pit the Empress and the Crown Princess against each other and then step back…’

Meanwhile, Robert had been briefed by Sophia and wasted no time relaying what he had learned to Marquis Kuyper.

“His Majesty may not want to treat the Empress too coldly, but he also won’t want her to stir up trouble again. If the Empress tries to make a move, he’ll likely start by dealing with those around her first.”

Marquis Kuyper’s expression turned unreadable at Robert’s words.

‘He must have a reason for telling me this.’

As the Marquis sat in his office, mulling over the conversation, his wife came to see him. She explained her clash with Sophia in a way that framed her as the victim.

“That insolent woman, Ariel, actually believes that since the Empress and I are close, we’re about to make a move. The way she spoke so rudely and aggressively—it’s obvious she’s after the Empress’s proxy authority. We must not let that happen. I’ll do whatever it takes…”

Marquis Kuyper, a man of quick calculations, immediately grasped the situation. Suppressing his anger, he spoke in a measured tone.

“Forget about the Empress’s proxy authority. And stop visiting the Empress’s Palace.”

Sensing her husband’s mood, Marchioness Kuyper quickly changed her stance.

“I was already thinking the same. The Empress keeps leading us to believe she’ll grant one of us proxy authority, but she never does.”

The Marquis nodded.

“She likely wants to bring Isabelle of Wiscombe to the capital. But Crown Prince Robert will never allow that. Besides, the only thing the Empress has left is her title—she won’t hand her authority over to anyone.”

With that, the matter was settled. The very next day, Marchioness Kuyper left the capital, using a visit to her family as an excuse.

***

The Empress snorted upon receiving the Marchioness Kuyper’s letter. Since Cressida’s rebellion, the humiliations she had suffered were numerous. Frederick had betrayed her expectations, and those who now lingered around her were only interested in the fruits she could offer.

‘For a Marchioness, she’s awfully timid. In the end, she was of no help at all.’

When she heard that Sophia had come to visit, the Empress immediately waved her hand in refusal. Soon, she expected to hear that the Crown Princess had left the Empress’s palace.

In the past, Sophia had regularly visited the Empress’s palace, only to leave quietly whenever the Empress refused to see her. She pretended to care, feigning concern as a Crown Princess while trying to deceive others.

The Empress thought this time would be no different. However, a lady-in-waiting soon returned with another message from Sophia.

“This time, she insists on meeting with Your Majesty and says she will wait.”

“Then let her wait!”

Sophia arrived in the afternoon but did not leave until evening. And this continued for more than a week.

As the days of Sophia enduring the Empress’s cold treatment stretched on, Robert said,

“Isabelle will never come to the capital. I will make sure of it. So there is no need for you to suffer like this because of the Empress.”

Sophia reassured him,

“It’s not that difficult. The Empress isn’t particularly cunning. Now, she no longer has Isabelle or Countess Cressida by her side. She can’t do anything alone.”

Robert gave a bitter smile.

“When I was young, the Empress seemed terrifying. I was even relieved that she wouldn’t look at me. But as I grew older and learned what kind of person she truly was and what she had done, I wanted to make sure she could never ignore me again.”

Remembering the painful past Robert had once confided in her, Sophia made up her mind.

‘I won’t drag this out any longer. I need to make sure Robert never has to face the Empress again.’

From the next day on, Sophia led all the attendants and maids under her authority to the Empress’s palace.

The Empress continued meeting with other visitors but absolutely refused to see Sophia. However, her visitors couldn’t simply ignore Sophia’s presence. Whenever someone came to see the Empress, Sophia, who was waiting in the reception room, would step out to greet them.

‘If I can’t push the Empress out, I’ll push out the people coming to see her first.’

Sophia, surrounded by her attendants and maids, made sure to exchange greetings with every visitor. Each time she did, she inwardly declared,

‘I am the Crown Princess! The one who will be their future Empress. Let them keep ignoring me if they dare!’

The visitors were reminded of the undeniable fact that she was the Crown Princess. As much as they coveted the Empress’s proxy authority, they didn’t desire it enough to antagonize the future ruler.

Moreover, rumors had already spread that Robert, the Crown Prince, would do anything Sophia asked.

As a result, after Sophia established herself in the Empress’s reception room, the number of visitors gradually dwindled, and those who did come stayed for shorter and shorter periods. Some days, no one visited at all.

Finally, after eight days of Sophia’s presence in the reception room, the Empress stormed out in fury to confront her.

***

Sophia was pleased to see the Empress’s enraged expression.

‘Finally! I didn’t bring all my attendants and maids just to flaunt my power as Crown Princess. I brought them to use them.’

The Empress shouted in anger,

“Are you unhappy that I still hold my place in the Empress’s palace? What do you plan to do, dragging all these people here? No matter what happens, I will never hand over my authority to a woman like you!”

Sophia replied calmly,

“I am well aware that Your Majesty has no intention of granting me any goodwill. I only wished to have a conversation. I wanted to know what Your Majesty was thinking. After all, we have never had a proper conversation since I became Crown Princess.”

“Hah! You want to know? I’ll tell you! I have no intention of giving up my position as Empress or this palace. Even if I turn to dust, I will hold onto this place. I will never hand it over!”

“Then what about the affairs of the Empress’s palace? The budget?”

“That is none of your concern!”

“As Crown Princess, it is my concern, as Your Majesty is failing to perform your duties. I am the Crown Princess and the future Empress. Whether Your Majesty likes it or not, I will be the next Empress. Do you think you can change that?”

The Empress shouted in rage,

“You think it can’t be changed? Hah! Will a bastard become Emperor? Soon, the truth will come to light! That bastard framed Cressida just to secure his place as Crown Prince!”

“Has Prince Frederick sent you any letters recently? I hear he is very happy in Rosalind. A small domain like Rosalind suits him best.”

The Empress’s face twisted with fury beyond mere anger—there was sheer hatred in her eyes. She spoke in a trembling voice,

“Robert is a bastard! My Frederick is the rightful prince!”

“I know that. Every noble in Uranus knows that. But Robert will still become Emperor. That will not change. Cressida colluded with an enemy nation, raised an army, and committed treason. Yet, Your Majesty survived. The only thing left to you now is your title. And honestly… no one even wants your life.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean that even if Your Majesty risks everything, no one desires you anymore. Whether you live or die, you have no power left. In a way… it’s as if you’re already dead.”

“I am as good as dead?”

Looking the Empress in the eye, Sophia answered cheerfully,

“Yes.”

In that instant, the Empress lost all reason and lunged at Sophia. Sophia grabbed her wrists and signaled to a maid behind her. The attendants and maids who had accompanied her rushed forward, struggling to restrain the Empress.

The Empress let out an animalistic wail, glaring at Sophia with unrestrained fury. Sophia remained silent, observing the Empress’s despair.

With a voice cracked from rage, the Empress screamed,

“Let go of me! I am the Empress! No one can stop me! Cressida was innocent! I should have killed him! If only that bastard had been dealt with properly! It wasn’t the mother who should have died—it should have been him!”

The Empress raged and thrashed for a while before the attendants rushed in and restrained her, carrying her off to her bedchamber. Sophia followed behind, and when one of the Empress’s maids attempted to block her way at the door, she calmly stated,

“The Empress has yet to recover from her illness. I will remain by her side until the physician arrives, so do not stand in my way.”

The maid hesitated for a moment but soon stepped aside.

Even as she was forcibly laid down in bed, the Empress continued cursing Crown Prince Robert and the Emperor.

“If only the Emperor had never met that woman…! If only he had never brought that brat into the palace…! Hngh…! I should have killed that bastard. I should have made sure of it.”

The Empress’s maid had heard everything Sophia said. But given the Empress’s current state, it was clear that things would play out just as the Crown Princess had predicted. The Empress had nothing left—she was already as good as dead.

Her frenzied cries gradually turned into sorrowful sobs.

“That bastard must never become Emperor… I can never give up my son’s rightful place… The Empress too… Someone like you, a woman from some backwater province… I will never allow it… Hngh, if it weren’t for him, I wouldn’t be… I wouldn’t be all alone like this…”

Sophia looked down at the Empress, now too weak to resist, and spoke softly.

“Do not worry. Prince Frederick will survive. He will never let greed get the better of him, just as you wished. Everyone knows that you are standing against Crown Prince Robert and me with no allies, not even a shred of power. Prince Frederick knows this too. And he must also understand what is bound to happen next.”

The Empress flailed her limbs, her bloodshot eyes fixed on Sophia with murderous intent. But Sophia merely gave a light bow and exited the chamber.

Soon after, the summoned physician arrived and administered a sedative, finally putting the Empress to sleep. He then turned to Sophia and reported,

“She has been overly agitated and has expended too much strength. She will need several days of rest to recover.”

“In that case, you will explain the situation to any visitors. If I turn them away, they may misunderstand.”

Though the physician appeared slightly flustered, he nodded in agreement. His report would undoubtedly reach the Emperor as well.

‘If she truly falls ill, she won’t stay in the Empress’s Palace. She’ll be moved to a secluded palace, far from the capital.’

With the physician denying visitors entry to the Empress’s Palace, news soon spread that the Empress’s condition had worsened significantly. A few days later, she was finally sent away to a separate palace for convalescence.