If You Leave Without a Word - Chapter 277

‧₊˚ ☁️⋅♡𓂃 ࣪ ִֶָ☾.

These were the Empress’s final words to Agatha, spoken softly as Agatha left the toilette room after a brief tea. The true meaning behind those words became clear to Agatha the instant she met the Grand Duchess’s eyes.

The Empress had deliberately set things up so that the Grand Duchess would cause a scene in front of everyone.

Though the prince was technically the guest of honor, the real host of the celebration was the Empress—the one who had gathered all these people and orchestrated the entire event. To cause a disturbance or raise one’s voice at such a party, hosted by Her Majesty herself, was grounds for immediate punishment, no matter the reason.

It was obvious, then, that the Empress had foreseen this situation and intentionally sent an invitation to the Grand Duchess.

Knowing how much the Grand Duchess loved attention and thrived on being in the spotlight, she would be determined to outshine everyone with her appearance, regardless of whether the Empress or the prince was the host. She would crave being the center of the party.

By exploiting this, the Empress was orchestrating an opportunity to both create a scene and, perhaps, to punish the Grand Duchess—or even the Grand Duke himself.

Agatha saw right through the Empress’s intentions. That’s why she immediately responded to the Grand Duchess’s unpleasant remarks, even though it wasn’t usually her style. While Agatha couldn’t claim she bore no personal grudge, she was not so foolish as to create trouble in public just out of spite.

Smack. The Grand Duchess’s hand, raised high, finally came down on Agatha’s cheek. Agatha knew this slap was coming—she didn’t avoid it, nor did she try to block it. If anything, she offered her face to make it easier.

A sharp sound rang out, followed by a stunned silence in the hall.

Before the party, Duke Kristin had visited the Empress’s toilette room, and was now sitting conspicuously between Countess Kirillovna and Marchioness Vega. That alone was enough to make it clear that the Duke was now aligned with the Empress.

And yet, the Grand Duchess had just struck one of the Empress’s own, right here at her party, in front of all the great nobles of Leden.

The Grand Duchess had just deeply insulted the Empress herself, though it would take her a little while to realize it.

The Grand Duchess had no talent for court politics or mind games. At this very moment, she was probably congratulating herself on putting an insolent Marchioness in her place, entirely unaware of how she had just handed the Empress all the ammunition she needed.

Smack.

Agatha offered one cheek, but the Grand Duchess seemed intent on striking the other as well. She raised her hand again, but this time Agatha didn’t stand for it. As the hand flew toward her, Agatha turned her head and caught the Grand Duchess’s arm.

“What kind of rudeness is this? Are you not going to let go?”

Two jeweled rings sparkled on the Grand Duchess’s restrained hand. Agatha could feel something hot trickling down her stinging cheek; she must have been scratched by one of the rings.

She realized her cheek was bleeding, but didn’t wipe it away. This would make the scene appear all the more serious and dramatic—exactly what she intended. The more pitiful she looked, the greater the Grand Duchess’s fault would appear.

“What is the meaning of this outrageous behavior?”

A thunderous voice boomed through the hall. All eyes turned from Agatha and the Grand Duchess to the source of the sound.

Right on cue, the Empress appeared. Though she pretended to be furious, Agatha caught the faint trace of a smile at the corners of her mouth—relieved, no doubt, that the Grand Duchess had fallen perfectly into her trap.

Of course, only Agatha seemed to notice.

The Empress strode directly toward them. Only when she loomed above her, taller by a head, did the Grand Duchess sheepishly lower her arm.

“I greet Her Majesty, the mighty Empress, mother of Nikephos.”

“Grand Duchess. What on earth do you call this outrageous behavior?”

The Empress answered the Grand Duchess’s greeting with a harsh rebuke. The Grand Duchess’s brow furrowed in frustration at being ignored, but she didn’t seem to realize it.

“I was merely reprimanding Lady Kristin for not observing the proper decorum toward the imperial family, Your Majesty.”

“Decorum? And you think you’re qualified to speak of decorum?”

The Grand Duchess’s words made it clear she refused to recognize Agatha as the rightful mistress of Kristin. Whether the Grand Duchess realized how damning her own words were, she was too busy complaining about Agatha to the Empress.

“She dared to insult the Grand Duke, His Majesty’s own brother. She publicly humiliated me, the Grand Duchess, in front of everyone. Disrespecting the imperial family is a serious crime. Lady Kristin should be seized at once and punished—”