If You Leave Without a Word - Chapter 273

‧₊˚ ☁️⋅♡𓂃 ࣪ ִֶָ☾.

Judging by how she stepped aside and bowed, it was clear that the room beyond was the Empress’s toilette—a private salon within the imperial residence. This was where invited guests could meet the party’s central figure for light conversation before the main event.

“Your Majesty, Duke Kristin has arrived.”

As the chief lady-in-waiting announced Agatha’s arrival, the heavy doors, which had been firmly shut, swung open.

“The knights may not enter.”

Just as Ethan and Lehman were about to follow, the chief lady-in-waiting stopped them. By custom, men who have not received special permission are not allowed into the toilette, especially when it belongs to the Empress herself.

No matter the excuse of protection, Ethan and Lehman had no right to cross that threshold.

“Wait here, please.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

Ethan readily complied, stepping back to wait outside the doors as Agatha instructed.

The toilette was already filled with early-arriving guests.

Bathed in sunlight from the windows, a strikingly elegant middle-aged woman sat at the most prominent spot—dressed in the finest fashion.

The Empress, Agatha realized instantly. Her features resembled her son, Crown Prince Mernich, much more than her daughter, Princess Alexandra. It was suddenly obvious why she so fiercely favored her son.

“Agatha of Kristin greets Her Imperial Majesty, Empress of Nikephos.”

Agatha offered her most proper and dignified bow, careful not to appear servile. Every eye in the room turned toward her as she rose to her full height, meeting their gaze without hesitation.

“I’ve been waiting for you. Come here, please.”

The Empress’s eyes swept rapidly over Agatha from head to toe—not with the idle curiosity of a society lady interested in the cost of another’s dress, but with a gaze that seemed to pierce straight through to the essence of a person.

In the Empire, the Empress was the most exalted woman, and Grand Duchess Norfolk, perhaps, the second. Princess Alexandra, having married into another country, was no longer considered.

As Agatha walked over to the place the Empress indicated, she couldn’t help recalling her own encounter with the Grand Duchess. The difference in elegance and dignity between the Empire’s two most distinguished women seemed as vast as the sky and the earth.

Was it a matter of personality, or the environments in which they had been raised?

Even as she took her seat, Agatha could feel the noblewomen’s stares linger on her. Only once seated could she take a look at those who’d been invited into the Empress’s private chamber for this prelude to the banquet.

Seated in a circle around the Empress were three ladies—each well-known as part of her inner circle.

“So, this is the mistress of Kristin, at last.”

“I heard your son was born—congratulations.”

“I’ve been hoping to meet you for some time. No matter how many letters I sent, I never got a reply…”

There was a barb in that last comment, which came from Countess Kirillovna—the same woman Agatha had met once before at Princess Alexandra’s birthday celebration.

“Yes, thank you.”

Agatha answered curtly. She ignored the complaint, responding only to the congratulations on her son’s birth. She judged there was nothing to be gained from engaging in lengthy conversation here.

After all, these women were the very core of the Leden social circle—masters at creating rumors and gossip. Here, even a single blink could be fodder for stories. If she wasn’t careful, these seemingly amiable ladies would leave this room only to spread malicious tales about Kristin’s new mistress.

As expected, Countess Kirillovna’s face reddened in irritation. But there was nothing she could do about it. Since their last meeting, the dynamics between them had shifted completely. Agatha, once an insignificant, powerless noblewoman, was now a Duke in her own right. The countess could no longer afford to display her displeasure.

The scorn that had once been so plain in her eyes had been replaced with something closer to awe. Agatha felt a mixture of bitterness and wry amusement but kept her expression neutral.

“It would have been lovely if you’d brought your son.”

The chief lady-in-waiting quickly placed a teacup before Agatha. Shielded somewhat by her attendant’s body, the Empress had a gentle smile.

“He’s not quite old enough for outings yet, so he couldn’t accompany me. It would have been a great honor for him to receive your blessing in person, Your Majesty, but unfortunately it wasn’t possible.”

“Is that so. Well, I suppose you’re right.”

The Empress’s reply was ambiguous, neither agreeing nor disagreeing. With the tea now served, Agatha was finally able to get a good look at the Empress’s face.

“How is Marquis Vernat these days?”

The question came from the blonde lady seated to the right of the countess—the one who had earlier congratulated Agatha on her son’s birth.