chapter 5
At Ilene’s words, a satisfied smile appeared on Delzaya’s lips.
“We can’t possibly give Rikado that bastard a family that would support him. From now on, we must cut off anything that might get in your way, even slightly.”
Her voice sounded gentle, but it was laced with venom. Along with her hostility toward the son she had not given birth to, there was also an invisible thread of fear.
“Then when will that poor bride arrive in the capital? Rikado is currently on the battlefield.”
At Duan’s question, Delzaya lifted her wine glass to her lips and replied.
“She’ll arrive soon. We have to hold the wedding as soon as Rikado returns.”
Delzaya and Ilene clinked their glasses together with satisfied smiles. Duan covered his mouth with his hand, trying to suppress a cough that kept threatening to burst out.
Delzaya watched her son’s pained expression with a complicated look.
The worse Duan’s condition became, the more the continuous reports of Rikado’s victories from the battlefield only irritated her.
Even if something were to happen to Duan, she could never allow that bastard Rikado to aim for the position of crown prince in place of Ilene, the legitimate heir.
Her lips tightened coldly.
“We will arrive at the Imperial Palace soon.”
A polite but cold voice came from outside the window.
Perhaps because the long journey of several days had been exhausting, Molly, the maid who had been dozing off, suddenly opened her eyes.
“Finally!”
With a look of anticipation and excitement, Molly pulled back the curtain and leaned out the window.
The view outside was briefly visible to me as well.
Unlike the countryside roads we had traveled before, the capital was bustling. The wide main streets were filled with people, carriages, and horses.
What stood out most were the enormous mansions lined up along both sides of the road. It seemed many nobles who held lands in the provinces also built lavish residences near the imperial palace and stayed in the capital.
“So this is the capital.”
Arriving in the capital—the main setting of the original story—felt strange. Just thinking that the Duke of Zenkishi’s estate might be somewhere around here made my tension grow.
“No wonder it’s the capital. Look at those women’s clothes. With outfits that fancy, they can’t be commoners or maids, right?”
Molly’s lips curled into an excited smile, as if imagining a dreamlike future.
“We are now entering the Imperial Palace.”
A brief announcement came from outside, and the carriage passed through the heavily guarded entrance. After going deeper past the guards, a massive gate finally opened.
“We’ve arrived.”
The carriage stopped, and the door opened as attendants set down a stepping stool.
The sight of the glittering golden palace seemed to overwhelm Molly, who had been noisy the entire ride. She quietly climbed down from the carriage.
The man who had brought me here escorted me even more politely than before and said,
“When you meet Her Majesty the Empress, try to speak as little as possible and be respectful.”
He must have been worried I might act recklessly, but I already knew that much. Now was the time to stay quiet and quickly assess my situation.
“Don’t worry. I understand.”
Just the thought of meeting the Empress—Rikado’s opposing figure—made me nervous.
‘If it’s like the original story… she’s probably going to look extremely cruel and terrifying, right?’
Expecting the most vicious face I could imagine, I walked down a corridor lined with ornate candlesticks.
After passing through several doors, I finally arrived at the audience chamber.
“We have brought the young lady of House Enrio, Your Majesty.”
At his words, the Empress, who had been sitting on a sofa, turned to look at us.
“Ah!”
A small gasp escaped my lips without me realizing it.
The woman walking toward me was slightly different from what I had imagined. Although the original described her as lavish, she was a breathtakingly beautiful and alluring middle-aged woman. Her deep green dress accentuated her flawless skin, and her neatly pinned golden hair gleamed. Rather than simply “cruel,” her presence was so elegant that it naturally made people feel smaller.
“So you’ve finally arrived. It must have been a long journey.”
She approached me with a warm smile across her face.
“Nice to meet you, Your Majesty the Empress. I am Stella Enrio.”
I lifted my skirt and gave a slight curtsy. She gently helped me up.
“No matter how distant a relative you are, this is our first time meeting. How are your parents?”
“Yes.”
“I’ve never met them, but I’ve heard many stories about their excellent character.”
A predictable pleasantry made a faint scoff rise inside me.
The Empress likely hadn’t even heard of the baronial couple, let alone knew of their existence. And yet she was acting so familiarly as though we were close relatives.
“You are as graceful and beautiful as I’ve heard, Kayla.”
She praised me, calling me “Kayla,” completely ignoring the introduction I had just given.
“Thank you, but I am—”
I glanced at the man who had brought me here. He cleared his throat slightly and stepped toward the Empress.
“Your Majesty. There is something I must tell you briefly.”
He whispered something to her. For a moment, a crease of annoyance formed between the Empress’s brows.
But it only lasted a moment. She turned back to me, her smile now even brighter than before.
“I had no idea there were such complicated circumstances. Even if you are a child born out of wedlock, you are still blood of House Enrio. Of course, of course.”
She gently took my hand and continued in a kind voice.
“Since your situation is similar to the Duke’s, I’m sure you will understand each other well. This may even be for the best.”
I immediately understood her meaning.
In the end, she had no intention of giving the unpleasant Duke of Zenkishi a proper bride. Whether it was Kayla or Stella—even if it had been a maid—she wouldn’t have cared. The worse Rikado’s bride was, the more satisfied she would be.
So the fact that I had been sent instead was not something she disliked at all. The Empress’s trusted aide who brought me must have anticipated this outcome as well.
Still, I was relieved she hadn’t erupted in rage over the bride being replaced. I had even worried she might explode in anger and die before even meeting Rikado.
Strangely enough, a slightly twisted feeling began to form toward her.
“Since your situation is similar to the Duke’s, I’m sure you will understand each other well. This may even be for the best.”
That sentence seemed to spark something buried deep within me.
Her attitude—like we were both lowly illegitimate children who should simply “get along”—was irritating.
I couldn’t deny Rikado was a terrible man, but hearing that made me feel a brief moment of pity for him too. If he had been treated like this in the imperial palace like a maid such as Stella, maybe his personality had twisted for a reason.
“…No. That bastard is just a piece of trash.”
I quickly shook off the thought that I had briefly sympathized with him.
“I am honored, Your Majesty.”
The Empress stroked the back of my hand as if satisfied and gave me advice.
“Rikado is not a gentle man, but he is not someone who mistreats his wife. So fulfill your duties well and be a proper wife. From now on, think of me as your mother.”
Her words sounded like this to me:
Rikado won’t be kind to you and will likely treat you as if you don’t exist. So know your place, play the role of a decorative wife, and devote yourself to obedience. And think of me as your master.
I barely managed to suppress the corner of my lips from twisting upward and instead put on a meek smile.
“I will engrave your words deeply in my heart, Your Majesty.”
For now, it was best to appear harmless and naïve—like a country bumpkin. If she grew wary of me, things would become troublesome.
“As expected, Sir Nox does not disappoint me. Even in such a urgent situation, he managed to bring a replacement bride. Excellent handling.”
The moment she turned and mentioned the man’s name, my ears perked up.
“Nox? Nox…?”
It was a name I definitely knew.
Where had I heard it?
“Ah…! Knox!!”
Only then did I remember, and my gaze snapped toward the man who had brought me here.
Knox Valkiri—the Empress’s captain of the guard and her most trusted subordinate, a man who behaved like a loyal dog. In the original story, he eventually crossed a line so distasteful it was almost shameful to even mention in polite society.
‘No wonder I didn’t recognize him.’
In the original, he was always by the Empress’s side like a shadow.
I glanced at the Empress and Knox with a covert look.
Acting all noble and dignified in front of others… and behind the scenes, rolling around like beasts. Honestly.
They would never know what I was thinking.
Since I had no intention of openly opposing the Empress yet, I decided to act as if I knew nothing. I didn’t know how I would remove them later, but that would be decided when they became obstacles.
And just as my brief meeting with the Empress was nearing its end, something unexpected happened.