Chapter 43
Something was off about the atmosphere in the imperial palace.
Sylaria leaned her arms on the balcony railing, her expression grave.
Ever since the incident in the garden, the air within the palace had felt unsettled. The gazes directed at her had grown sharper.
Not just from the palace attendants, but even from the nobles.
Every time she passed by someone, she could feel their piercing stares on the back of her head.
Even now.
Those strolling through the garden looked up at her standing on the balcony with narrowed eyes. The glares from the noble ladies in particular were scathing.
‘What on earth is going on?’
She had asked the people of the First Prince’s Palace, but they didn’t know either. It seemed the rumors were being spread while deliberately keeping the First Prince’s side in the dark.
‘Let them say whatever they want.’
With a calm expression, Sylaria straightened up. Rumors like that couldn’t shake her.
People talked freely about others, regardless of the truth. And if it was about the imperial family, they became even more careless and reckless.
How many wounds had she suffered in her past life from the careless arrows flung by the public?
That the Second Prince hadn’t had a child in three years of marriage because of the Second Prince’s Consort.
That the Second Prince’s Consort was as cold as stone, barren.
That the Second Prince’s Consort was useless for anything besides purification.
She had tormented herself so much over those cruel, baseless rumors. And so, in this life, Sylaria had decided to ignore such nonsense entirely.
She’d resolved to cut them off cleanly.
But then.
“No one’s coming?”
She couldn’t help but be shocked by what the head lady-in-waiting, Cora, had just told her. Despite the First Prince’s engagement ceremony fast approaching, not a single noble had responded with an intent to attend.
“Yes, somehow… everyone has declined.”
Cora bowed her head, looking troubled. Standing beside her, Cyan appeared equally flustered.
Holding the event schedule in his hands, he spoke in a hesitant tone.
“If you don’t mind, we may need to scale it down to a small gathering with just close family.”
“I don’t mind. But I wonder how His Highness the First Prince feels.”
“I don’t mind either.”
A low voice reached Sylaria’s ears as she was speaking with the attendants. Euclid, who had entered the room without a sound, stood beside her and replied.
“What matters is that you become mine. We don’t need an audience.”
“If that’s how you feel.”
“But it’s strange. Why did everyone refuse to attend? Usually, they’d lose their minds trying to catch a glimpse of an imperial ceremony.”
“It’s because of a rumor.”
“A rumor?”
At Cyan’s response, one of Euclid’s brows lifted slightly. Cyan cleared his throat and glanced side to side.
“Yes, well…”
As he hesitated, Euclid jerked his chin, urging him to continue.
“Better to know than to get caught off guard. Speak.”
“There’s a rumor going around that Lady Rainier is planning a ‘transfer marriage’.”
“A transfer marriage?”
At the absurd phrase, Euclid and Sylaria looked at each other.
Transfer marriage? Where had such ridiculous nonsense come from?
Cyan cleared his throat again and continued.
“Yes, they say Lady Rainier is switching from the Second Prince to the First Prince… and that it’s like transferring trains, or something…”
“That’s enough. I get the idea.”
Euclid raised his hand, cutting him off. Still wearing a baffled expression, he looked at Sylaria and asked,
“Do you have any idea where this kind of b******t is coming from?”
“I do, actually.”
Sylaria pursed her lips. So this was the true shape of the rumors that had been swirling lately. Absurd, outrageous.
‘It’s either the Empress or Arendtert.’
She had a rough idea of the source. And she could guess the reason behind it too.
It was likely a ploy to keep Arendtert out of people’s mouths and redirect the arrows of blame toward Sylaria.
The phrase ‘transfer marriage’ was flashy and provocative, just the kind of bait people would latch onto without a second thought. And then they would tear into Sylaria as the main character of the scandal. All the while, Arendtert would quietly disappear from the stage.
It was a clever move.
“Euclid, don’t you have any guesses too?”
“I do.”
Euclid gave a small nod. Sylaria shrugged lightly and said,
“If we try to counter this rumor, they’ll just come up with an even more sensational one. Honestly, we don’t really need guests at the ceremony, so I’d rather let them do as they please. What do you think, Euclid?”
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