Chapter 35
Originally, Marin had mainly been watching over my palace.
But after Gobard disappeared, I sent Marin to the Crown Prince’s palace instead.
The range Marin could monitor was limited to a single palace. She could not observe both my palace and the Crown Prince’s at the same time.
‘Right now, it’s more important to watch the Crown Prince’s palace than mine.’
The scene Marin had just shared was a secret meeting of Gobard’s closest aides.
Unable to stop Gobard’s rampage, they were left anxiously wringing their hands.
‘And beyond that, Gobard’s intelligence organization and the nobles who support him have begun clashing.’
Well, was that not only natural? The one who had stood at the center and maintained balance was now gone.
And Gobard’s troubles were not limited to internal fractures.
His more direct crisis lay outside.
As I sank into thought, a knock sounded.
“Come in~.”
At my permission, someone opened the door and stepped inside.
A woman with deep reddish-brown hair neatly pinned up.
Hidia Eogal, daughter of the Minister of Finance.
“Your Highness, a letter from my father has arrived.”
“From Marquess Eogal?”
Hidia respectfully handed me the letter.
I opened it leisurely, glancing at her.
“How is it, Hidia? Does serving as a maid suit you?”
“Yes, Your Highness. It is the greatest honor to serve you at your side.”
Hidia expressed her gratitude with perfect etiquette.
I smiled brightly at her gesture.
“Hehe, really? I’m glad you came too~. I liked how you boldly disagreed with me at the tea party that day—and how you came to apologize right after~.”
At my praise, Hidia’s prim cheeks flushed slightly.
‘Well. It’s not that I chose Hidia because I particularly liked her.’
Liking someone and finding them easy to move are two different things.
The driving force that allowed her to openly contradict me—a princess—at that tea party was her ambition and jealousy.
And that was more than enough material to push someone according to my will.
‘Sometimes, it’s even enough to move not just a person, but an entire family.’
I paused mid-letter and tilted my head slightly.
“Still, I’m suddenly worried. Was it too abrupt to choose you as a maid when your wedding isn’t far off?”
“No!”
Hidia answered quickly.
“My family and my fiancé were both delighted that I was chosen as your maid! Serving royalty is the greatest joy for us nobles!”
“Wow, hearing you say that is reassuring! But if the work becomes too overwhelming, tell me~. I can still select a few more maids!”
“I will serve you wholeheartedly so that you never feel any lack, Your Highness.”
In other words, she would rather die than see a new maid added.
I nodded with a smile.
‘Where do you think that temper of hers comes from?’
From her parents, of course.
Thinking that, I finished reading the letter from her father, Marquess Eogal, the Minister of Finance.
“To Her Highness Princess Neroli Mivan Lornod, the beautiful sunlight of the Empire.
Allow me to greet you once more.
I am Rot Eogal, father of Hidia and head of House Eogal.
It seemed improper not to personally express my gratitude after Your Highness graciously selected Hidia as your maid.
That my lacking daughter may be of service to you is a great joy for me as a servant of the Empire.
Should you ever face difficulties or worries in the future, please do not hesitate to make use of Hidia.
It is her duty as Your Highness’s maid, and she will gladly accept her role.
May Your Highness always shine brilliantly.
Rot Eogal.”
Many young ladies had sought the position of my maid.
Princess Kinya, who was the same rank as I, had five maids.
Meanwhile, I had kept only Brillint all this time.
‘Even though I am the Emperor’s most favored child.’
Which was precisely why so many families coveted the position at my side.
But I had gently declined the nobles who pushed their daughters forward.
Partly due to my modest image—but also because Brillint alone had been enough.
‘However, with Brillint gone and the position vacant…’
No matter how modest a princess may be, she must have at least one maid.
Even amid the chaos surrounding Gobard, nobles were scheming beneath the surface to claim the position.
Of course, as someone who had planned everything from the start, there was no way I would remain idle.
‘I must not let the attention focused on Gobard scatter.’
So the one I swiftly selected was Hidia Eogal.
The ambitious House Eogal readily accepted my offer.
‘Still…’
What a transparently calculated letter.
The Minister of Finance’s intentions were obvious.
‘I had already shared quite a few “worries” with Hidia.’
In the Empire, only a very limited number of people could regularly engage in casual conversation with the Emperor.
And everyone knew that I was one of them.
‘No matter how busy he is, the Emperor has tea with me alone three or four times a week.’
So it was widely believed that I must overhear important information during those tea times.
‘In truth… he merely drinks the tea I blend and admires my face.’
But what does that matter?
Information is something I can acquire if needed—and the image I’ve built is far more valuable.
By skillfully mixing lies and truths and whispering them to Hidia, she must have faithfully passed them on to her father.
That was why the Minister of Finance had sent such a ridiculous letter—he had ulterior motives.
‘Heh, telling me to use his daughter if I have worries…’
He wants more information, doesn’t he?
I folded the letter and looked at Hidia, who was preparing tea beside me with her own hands.
Her every movement burned with determination to please me.
‘But Marquess… how do you think I will use your daughter?’
The moment Hidia entered this palace, she became my hostage.
Does he truly remain so at ease, knowing that?
‘Well, there’s no need for him to realize that just yet.’
At present, the noble who hated Gobard the most in the Empire was undoubtedly the Minister of Finance.
So he would make a rather excellent sniper—attacking Gobard in my stead.
For now, it was enough that he moved diligently as my puppet.
“I brewed today’s tea myself. Is the aroma acceptable?”
Unaware of my inner thoughts, Hidia asked politely.
“Really? It tastes the same as usual, so I couldn’t tell! Hidia, you’re quite knowledgeable about tea!”
“You flatter me, Your Highness. I cannot blend leaves the way you do.”
“Still, it’s impressive! Ah, let’s drink together!”
I smiled brightly and waited until Hidia drank first.
I had no intention of touching food prepared by another until its safety was confirmed.
The grand conference hall of the central palace, where the Emperor resided.
It had been in uproar since morning due to the ongoing meeting.
“This cannot continue!”
Seated around the massive round table were the heads of the Empire’s most prominent families.
Among them, the Minister of Finance of the Lornod Empire, Marquess Eogal, raised his voice.
“We can no longer sit idle waiting for His Highness the Crown Prince! The state affairs he is meant to handle are piling up—everything is in chaos, Your Majesty!”
Several nodded at his outburst.
“He speaks the truth. Envoys from foreign nations witnessed His Highness running out of his own wedding. They are openly mocking our Empire!”
“Even the imperial guards who went to retrieve him returned injured after trying to stop him! There is no peace within or without the Empire!”
These nobles had all been drawn to Eogal’s side over the past few days.
The fact that his daughter Hidia had entered Princess Neroli’s service had greatly aided his persuasion.
‘It is a tremendous stroke of luck that our Hidia secured that position—the one Lady Sanderlin held so firmly.’
Thanks to that, Hidia’s standing had risen rapidly, and the scraps of information she gathered from Princess Neroli were immensely useful.
—
“According to the Princess, His Majesty has recently been asking more and more about Prince Derian and Prince Brindel!”
“Is that true?”
“Yes! And he even inquired after Prince Moren’s well-being!”
“Is that so…?”
—
Did Princess Neroli realize how significant those words were to those of them opposed to the Crown Prince?
‘No. She must have told Hidia everything because she knows nothing.’
Truly deserving of her title as the Empire’s sunlight—so innocent.
‘And for me, an unparalleled opportunity!’
Marquess Eogal glanced toward the Emperor seated upon the throne at the center of the round table.
A man who had always been distant from his other sons was suddenly taking interest in them!
What could that possibly imply?
‘Behind that expressionless face, had he already been considering that possibility?’
Just as the Marquess’s eyes gleamed and he prepared to continue speaking—
Someone else spoke first.
“Furthermore, the palace is in uproar over the maid His Highness kept hidden.”
It was Count Zelauer, adjusting the monocle on his eye.
“The moment that maid—his rumored secret lover—disappeared, he abandoned his wedding to pursue her. If this becomes widely known, the damage to the Empire will be immeasurable.”
Shevers Zelauer.
A distant cousin of the Third Consort, who had inherited his title after the direct line perished in an accident—a fortunate man.
He was also the capable businessman who had elevated the Zelauer Press to the foremost newspaper in the Empire.
As the Count continued in a cool voice, all present listened intently.
