Chapter – 04
Intimidated by Patrick’s fierce presence, Countess Andney quickly glanced around. The corridor was dark, and there was no one passing by.
“…If I have offended you, I apologize.”
Having worked for a long time as a close lady-in-waiting to the Empress, her instincts were not bad. The fact that she apologized so quickly showed that.
After all, in such a secluded place, even if the hot-blooded Patrick acted violently, there would be no witnesses.
“Did Her Majesty the Empress call for me?”
“It seems you’re easy to talk to, young lady.”
After saying that, Countess Andney briefly glanced at Patrick. Still unsettled by his unrefined aura, she quickly withdrew her gaze.
“I was just on my way back to the Great Hall anyway, Countess Andney.”
“That works well. Let’s go.”
As Countess Andney took the lead, Patrick looked at Reneve with concern in his eyes, silently asking if she would be alright.
Reneve only moved her lips without making a sound.
Don’t worry.
Did he sense something strange?
Patrick stared at her for a moment, tilting his head slightly, before finally turning forward again.
After following Countess Andney, they arrived at the Imperial Palace’s Great Hall. Patrick seemed to conclude that the Empress hadn’t secretly summoned her, and his guard relaxed a little.
For some reason, that made Reneve feel warm inside.
In her previous life, they had barely interacted as siblings. And now, since she had transmigrated, they weren’t even truly siblings.
But just knowing that someone cared about her safety like this made her chest swell with emotion.
“They’re coming.”
At that moment, the Empress, surrounded by noble ladies, raised her voice.
Seeing the bright smile of the mother-in-law who had tormented her in her previous life, Reneve clenched her teeth.
There’s no need to look at me with such frightening eyes. You may not understand yet, but for the stability of imperial power, an heir is absolutely necessary. Surely you understand that as a member of the imperial family?
The Empress’s voice, whispering that a concubine must be brought in while Reneve was grieving her miscarriage, echoed in her mind.
“Reneve, are you really okay? You seem strange today.”
Patrick’s voice pulled her back to reality. Only then did Reneve lower her gaze and suppress her anger toward the Empress.
“Of course I’m fine. Why wouldn’t I be?”
Just then, a knight from the Seiren Marquis family approached Patrick and whispered something in his ear.
“Really? Now’s not a great time…”
Patrick looked troubled. Reneve asked:
“What is it?”
“Father is looking for me.”
Patrick licked his lower lip as he looked between the Marquis of Seiren and the Empress, who were speaking with nobles.
“Ah, I’m fine. Go see Father. Do you think some assassin suddenly appeared in the palace to harm me or something?”
“It’s not that, but… Jen, you should stay by Reneve’s side.”
Still worried about leaving her alone with the Empress, Patrick patted the knight’s shoulder as he gave his instructions.
“Yes, sir.”
Only after repeatedly warning him that his head would roll if anything happened to Reneve did Patrick finally leave toward the Marquis.
Jen moved behind Reneve, scanning the surroundings vigilantly. Reneve let out a faint sigh and stepped toward the Empress’s group.
At a table set by the wide windows of the Great Hall, the Empress and the noble ladies who followed her were chatting pleasantly.
And Reneve stood right beside the Empress, silently enduring thirty minutes of what felt like torture.
She was clearly within arm’s reach.
Yet the Empress and the noblewomen neither spoke to her nor made eye contact—as if she were stranded on a lonely island or treated like an invisible person.
Same method as before.
In her previous life, the Empress often bullied her this way.
Back then, she realized far too late that it was a scheme to crush her daughter-in-law’s spirit from the start.
But now she understood.
It was a kind of trophy effect.
Helping Lucius ascend the throne over the Empress’s own two sons born of the Empress had been her greatest victory.
Every time she saw Reneve—the one who made that possible—it must have reminded her of that exhilarating triumph.
And once the hunt was over, hunting dogs were discarded.
“This one was imported from the Kingdom of Benistan.”
“Oh my, the color is so brilliant. Did you buy it from that jeweler again?”
Reneve was half listening and half ignoring their conversation when—
Dong. Dong.
The large grandfather clock struck twelve.
“Please excuse me for a moment.”
Reneve whispered softly that she would step away. The Empress frowned slightly, but Reneve didn’t care.
She immediately approached a nearby attendant.
“Could you inform Her Majesty the Empress that Reneve of Seiren wishes to see her?”
“Please wait a moment.”
Reneve nodded lightly and scanned the hall.
Her father, the Marquis of Seiren, and Patrick were engaged in heated discussion with nobles from knightly families.
Turning her head the other way, she met eyes with Lucius, who was talking with young nobles.
As their eyes met, Lucius leaned toward a young lady beside him and whispered something warmly. Even from afar, Reneve could see the girl’s cheeks flush red.
What would her past self have done?
She would have been anxiously guessing what they were talking about.
But now, she didn’t care even if Lucius spent the night with another woman.
In fact, she preferred it.
She already knew what kind of future awaited if she stayed with that man.
Reneve let out a small laugh and turned away. Just then, the attendant returned.
“I will guide you.”
As she walked, Reneve glanced toward the Empress.
The Empress had been watching her too, and their eyes met instantly. Reneve smiled slightly with just her eyes and quickened her pace.
In her previous life, shortly after the clock struck twelve, the Empress had publicly announced that Lucius and Reneve were lovers.
With most influential nobles present, it had effectively destroyed Reneve’s marriage prospects.
I won’t fall for it twice.
Entering the reception room, she saw the Empress sitting upright.
“You asked to see me?”
Reneve folded her hands neatly and spoke calmly.
“I believed it would be best if a decision were made quickly, so I took the liberty of requesting another audience.”
“I wonder why you are in such a hurry.”
After dismissing the attendant, the Empress stared directly at Reneve, cautious of any hidden motives.
That reaction was natural.
The palace was a battlefield without swords. One wrong word could cost a life.
Reneve understood the Empress’s caution.
“I deeply apologize that I cannot explain all the circumstances.”
“……”
Maintaining eye contact, the Empress slowly nodded.
Her face looked kind, but something couldn’t be hidden—the sharp gaze trying to see through her intentions.
To the social queen of high society, Reneve must have looked like a debutante chick.
She likely thought Reneve would reveal a weakness during conversation.
So Reneve deliberately spoke with an innocent expression.
“But I can say this with certainty: if Your Majesty does not make a decision quickly, matters will become very complicated afterward.”
The Empress thought for a long time before speaking.
“I wonder if you understand that once a decision is made, regret later will be useless.”
It meant she shouldn’t try to retract her words later by claiming youth or ignorance.
To seal her resolve, Reneve let her eyes fill with tears.
“Young lady, a woman’s tears are not something to show carelessly.”
Despite the warning, Reneve pinched her thigh hard. When she blinked, another tear rolled down.
“I… do not want to marry Prince Lucius.”
“Is that why you wish to leave for Bashker?”
Reneve’s eyelids trembled.
Another tear fell down her other cheek.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“That is rather curious. Any unmarried lady would dream of marrying the Third Prince…”
The Empress tapped the table lightly.
“And yet you are trying to throw away your own fortune. How suspicious.”
“For me, marrying Prince Lucius will never be a blessing.”
This was Reneve’s sincere truth.
Whether her death had been ordered by the Empress or by the mistress Esika—whatever the case—Lucius had not protected her despite everything she gave.
That was the reality.
Remembering her final moments, she saw again her son Kael being taken by knights just within reach. This time, uncontrolled tears surged out.
Tap. Tap. Tap tap tap.
Perhaps annoyed by her crying, the Empress’s fingers tapped the table faster.
“…Very well. Fine.”
At last, the Empress accepted her proposal.
“Oh, and you do realize this will put you completely at odds with the Empress Consort?”
“I am fully prepared.”
At Reneve’s answer, the Empress smiled with satisfaction.
Perhaps she thought they were now temporarily on the same side. Or perhaps she believed this was the will of the Seiren family.
The Empress removed an accessory from her wrist and handed it to Reneve. The ornament bore a small initial N, marking it as hers.
“I will remember the help I received from the Seiren family during this difficult moment.”
Reneve clutched it tightly and bowed deeply.
“Thank… you, Your Majesty.”
“If His Majesty finds out I made this decision without consulting him…”
The Empress sighed softly and shook her head as she muttered.
After the Empress left the reception room, Reneve finally lifted her head and wiped her tears.
It was a small victory, but she had no intention of being satisfied. She still had a long way to go.
“My carefully done makeup is ruined.”
Seeing Reneve emerge, the Empress remarked. A maid quickly fixed her tear-stained face, and then the Empress extended her hand.
“Now then, shall we return to the battlefield?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
