Chapter 265
“What… is this?”
“Letters. They say the parties you were scheduled to attend are being canceled one after another.”
“What?”
“Who else would it be? Marchioness Paanté. She’s moving to bury you in high society.”
“How could she—! Is she insane? Even with the Astra incident, I’m still part of the Imperial Family!”
“This is the result of the outrages you’ve piled up over the years.”
“……”
“Long before the Astra estate fiasco. And now it’s all compounded by the Lily Garden Party.”
Marchioness Paanté had pulled out ‘Erylotte’ as a card to crush the former princess who’d humiliated her daughter.
They say that lunatic former princess, obsessed with Daymond, caused a scene at the Astra estate.
A monster ran amok. Was that really Astra’s mismanagement?
Why did trouble start only when the former princess happened to visit, in a place even rumored to be blessed enough to tame dragons?
Didn’t the former princess openly force Erylotte Astra to call her ‘Mother’?
Could it be she schemed to seize Daymond Astra by any means?
Such were the whispers swirling through society.
It began as a desperate counterattack but turned into something sharper, giving the nobles a perfect justification.
[Backlash against the former princess who bullied a poor child to wed her father.]
Morality might mean little in the noble world most days, but sometimes, in the right hands, it becomes the sharpest weapon.
The Empress Dowager’s face hardened as she shot a cold look at her daughter.
“Offer Erylotte Astra a formal apology.”
“Mother—!”
The former princess sprang up, shouting.
Why me?
Why should I apologize to that cunning little brat and walk into her trap?
“If I apologize formally, I’ll never be able to tie myself to Astra again.”
It would mean any hope of marrying Daymond was gone forever.
The Empress Dowager pressed her brow, clearly losing patience.
“What on earth am I to do with you…”
“I can’t! I won’t! I will not let that wretched girl ruin me and make me lose Daymond forever!”
“Then you’ll live out your days as a former princess erased from society.”
“…Mother?”
“There’s nothing more I can do for you.”
“Mother, how could you say that…”
Anatoli’s face crumpled.
“Think of Father. Have you forgotten how dearly he loved me? He begged you to care for me even before he passed!”
“And that’s the only reason I’ve indulged you until now.”
“……”
“To bring a child born of a gypsy woman into the imperial line, hah. I even declared you my own blood.”
“……”
“The reason I’ve protected you all this time was because of the late Emperor. Because of your divine blessing.”
“……”
“Even Erylotte Astra sent a letter asking that you not be punished.”
What a remarkable child.
Thoughtful, keen, and wise beyond measure. Nothing like this daughter of hers.
“But hear me well. I have no wish to clean up after you this time. Not even your brother will change my mind.”
And indeed, the Emperor no longer even agreed to see Anatoli.
Anatoli’s face went rigid.
So you think I’ll just sit here and be ruined?
She twisted the hem of her skirt until her knuckles went white, then stormed out of the Empress Dowager’s palace, fury boiling off her in waves.
In the empty corridor, her eyes glinted with malice.
“Aliana.”
At her call, a maid hurried over.
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Go fetch that medicine.”
“The medicine… surely you don’t mean—”
“Yes, that one!”
“Y-Your Highness, what are you planning to do?”
“The Paanté party, that girl will be there, won’t she?”
“Yes…”
“Have someone slip a cookie laced with it onto the table.”
“Your Highness!”
The maid shrieked in fright.
But Anatoli’s expression was ice-cold.
“They’ve pushed me into a corner. I won’t sit still and let it pass.”
It wasn’t poison.
But anyone who ate it would know suffering.
Long, miserable suffering.
Anatoli’s lips curled into a thin, crooked smile.
* * *
Paanté’s grand banquet hall.
“Good day, Marchioness Paanté.”
“Oh my, what a charming young lady. Welcome.”
‘Even better than I imagined!’
Paanté’s party, oh what luxury.
I chuckled quietly to myself as I glanced around.
‘Now then… the cookies are over there.’
So the d**g must be there too.
‘Foolish Anatoli.’
Thanks for walking right into my hands.
‘No matter what schemes you try…’
My readers always warn me first!
Bless the comments!
Bless my readers!
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