If You Leave Without a Word - Chapter 275

‧₊˚ ☁️⋅♡𓂃 ࣪ ִֶָ☾.

“You catch on quickly. And you’re quite skilled at sidestepping questions… You really are a true Kristin. The former Duke never said a word to displease His Majesty, either. I’m not sure whether to call it sharp intuition or an ability to read people’s hearts. In any case, just like you, the late Duke always knew how to give precisely the answers his superiors wanted to hear, and it pleased them.”

It was hard to tell whether the Empress meant this as praise or as a veiled insult. Was it truly a compliment to describe the hero who once brought glory to Nikephos as simply ‘good at reading the room’?

Agatha found the Empress’s words unpleasant. Why should loyal service to the Emperor be dismissed as nothing more than clever maneuvering? She was equally irritated by the noblewomen who hid their mouths behind their fans and laughed as if they’d heard a particularly witty joke.

“Why so serious? I was only joking. Come, have some tea.”

Agatha wondered what truly lay behind the Empress’s laughter. Like the others, she raised her teacup, letting her gaze and expression disappear behind its rim.

⚜ ⚜ ⚜

The party had begun. As expected, a huge number of nobles had gathered for the prince’s birthday celebration, making the hall so crowded there was hardly room to move.

Even amid all these people, certain figures stood out. Aside from the imperial prince, the Crown Prince, and his wife, the most prominent guest was Agatha, attending under the name of Kristin. Five years earlier, she’d also been the center of attention at Princess Alexandra’s birthday, but for very different reasons.

Then, she was a penniless noblewoman from a declining house; now, she had returned as the leader of a family on the rise—a woman aiming to become the empire’s new star. It was only natural for people to watch her with such keen interest.

The banquet was lavish in every respect. To Agatha’s eyes, it all seemed like a desperate attempt by the Empress to cover up the Emperor’s fragile health. No matter how much you try to hide the sovereign’s condition behind glitter and forced smiles, the truth cannot be concealed. Agatha thought the Empress was being foolish.

[Become my ally.]

The Empress had delivered this message after their tea, once Countess Kirillovna had been ushered out of the toilette room.

[Kristin’s only loyalty is to the prosperity of Nikephos, Your Majesty. As a subject, it is my duty to serve you…]

[I’m not interested in pretty words. I mean truly become mine—tell me what I need to know, carry out my orders in secret. That’s what I want.]

In other words, she wanted Agatha to take up the same burdens once forced onto Stella Calvino.

When Agatha quietly set down her teacup and folded her hands in her lap, the Empress’s gaze fell directly on her fingers. The deliberate nature of that gaze made Agatha cautious, so she simply held her tongue.

[Is it so disagreeable to you?]

The Empress already knew Agatha couldn’t refuse. In truth, Agatha had no reason to turn her down—there was no woman in the empire who could stand against the Empress.

The only possible rival might be Grand Duchess Norfolk. But even then, her resistance was nothing more than a feeble show—never outright defiance.

Agatha still didn’t understand why the Empress was so intent on drawing her to her side—especially after giving her a jewel she claimed to treasure.

After a brief moment of thought, Agatha gave her answer: she agreed. She didn’t want to become anyone’s informant, but with Cain falling out of favor with the Emperor and tension mounting between the Crown Prince and the Grand Duke, it seemed prudent to ally herself with the Empress.

[If I can be of help to Your Majesty, that alone would be my honor. Thank you, Your Majesty.]

Only then did a truly satisfied smile bloom on the Empress’s lips.

Turning her head toward the gentle strains of music, Agatha caught the Empress giving her a knowing smile before ordering her to proceed to the banquet hall. There were no instructions about what was expected of her or what tasks might lie ahead.

Perhaps this was nothing more than an effort to secure loyal allies for her weak son’s claim to the throne. Agatha decided not to overthink the Empress’s motives.

“Wait—who is that?”

“My goodness, has the Grand Duchess been invited to the prince’s birthday, too?”

The room began to buzz. The excitement in the hall grew so intense that even the elegant strains of the string quartet were drowned out, and Agatha couldn’t help but look for the source of the commotion.

A stunning woman entered the hall, her golden embroidered gown and thick, cascading curls instantly capturing everyone’s attention. Even from a distance, her beauty was unmistakable.

The cause of the commotion was Grand Duchess Norfolk. To appear at someone else’s celebration wearing a dress more dazzling than the guest of honor—especially when the Empress herself was the host!

The whispers and chatter grew louder.

“Heavens, I know the Grand Duchess loves to dress up, but…”

“Still, there’s no question who tonight’s real guest of honor is.”