CH 125

Yuliana regarded the sight with disinterest and swiftly moved into the concealed passageway. The space at the end of the windowless passage revealed a colorfully carpeted staircase, and after ascending, Yuliana found herself in front of a large door. Pushing it open, she was greeted by the sight of two people who had been patiently awaiting her arrival. “Welcome,” one of the individuals greeted her.

Introductions were not exchanged; they were unnecessary as her identity was known from the start. Guided into the room beyond the door, Yuliana found people seated around a large round table. They stood at her entrance and greeted her, as she walked over to take a seat.

“Welcome, Princess Yuliana.”

“It must have been tiring coming this far. You do not know how happy I am to meet you again like this.”

Yuliana flashed a shy smile at them, as they cast her looks of uncontainable admiration. ‘There are two more.’ Two new faces were added to the group she’d met here the day before. All the attendees were splendidly dressed women; it was obvious that they were all noble ladies of the empire.

“Then since the princess has arrived, let us commence the meeting.”

Yuliana thought back to a time not so long before when Kalia, the daughter of an earl, had sent her a secret correspondence. The letter contained only one line: I sorely desire to meet and discuss a certain matter. It was a short letter, but Yuliana did not ignore it. Her intuition told her the sender would be helpful to her plans, and she’d be proven correct.

When she appeared at the hotel and conversed at length with Kalia, the lady had said to her, “I wish for Princess Yuliana to become the new empress.” The princess was expecting this outcome, but she still hesitated when the moment arrived. Most importantly, she needed to know why they were supporting her.

“It is needless to say how unfitting the current empress is to her position,” Kalia explained.

Yuliana wanted to burst into applause right then and there, but she had an image to maintain, so instead she feigned confusion and looked away. “What are you saying…? I will pretend I heard nothing,” Yuliana cautiously replied. It was unwise to join hands on the spot simply because she’d heard a few agreeable statements. It was prudent to remain cautious with every step taken.

Yuliana was in conflict against the empress while in the empire. Therefore, she chose to act surprised and trailed off in a noncommittal tone, with the implication to end the subject. ‘I can’t trust these people easily.’

Still, the women insisted Yuliana stay, and the conversation quickly moved on to other topics that ranged from simple…

“They say the newly opened dessert shop in front of the imperial palace is amazing!”

“I heard that a line forms in front of the shop filled with servants on their master’s errand from early in the morning. Apparently, their offerings sell out the instant their doors open.”

…To those a little more serious.

“I’ve caught wind that lately monsters have been appearing in the province of Margrave Kaniche.”

“Oh, but that’s nothing new. That place has always been swarming with monsters. Rather than that, have you heard about the strange black fiend that appeared in Etia’s castle…”

In the end, though, the conversation drifted back to the subject of the empress. Kalia had grabbed Yuliana’s hands and spoke with a solemn face. “I humbly ask that you accept me as a handmaiden once the Princess ascends as empress. I promise to be of great strength for when you carry out your duties within the empire.” She paused, then added, “The current empress has taken in two handmaidens, Lady Tania and Lady Irene.”

“Is that a problem?” Yuliana asked.

“Margrave Kaniche, the mother of Lady Tania, is someone who will never move beyond her standing. She is a truehearted subject; that has remained unchanged since the past. Lady Irene is a similar case. She is always alone; she never acquaints herself with other noble ladies.”

Yuliana had heard stories of Margrave Kaniche, known as the possessor of herculean strength who was said to be able to thrash wyverns with her bare hands. The house of Kaniche had pledged loyalty to the empire itself, regardless of who was its leader. They would stand in their place and uphold their loyalty. As for Lady Irene, Yuliana could surmise her personality based on their previous encounter. Yuliana could see why Kalia and the other noble ladies were so impatient. Both women the empress had chosen to keep by her side were completely factionless.

“So, you are saying that His Majesty has expressed through the empress that he will not be cooperating with the nobles in the future as well,” Yuliana remarked.

“Indeed,” Kalia and the other noble ladies nodded.

Had Estian, Cecile, and the other two parties involved been present, they would’ve been utterly confounded by the contents of the conversation.