✧Empress Dowager Chrysor Kraus.✧
Mia’s expression hardened when she noticed her. A short-haired doctor hurriedly bowed deeply.
“I’m so sorry! I got caught up in something…”
“Something? Are you saying there’s something more important than treating me?”
“N-no, not at all! I was delayed because mixing the medicine took longer than expected!”
“The royal infirmary’s doctor has nothing but excuses, I see.”
“My deepest apologies!”
Despite the repeated apologies, the Empress Dowager’s gaze remained sharp.
“Enough. Get it over with.”
She lay down on the chaise lounge, extending her arm. A maid standing behind her rolled up Chrysor’s sleeve. Taking this as their cue, a few doctors stepped forward to begin her treatment.
Mia, keeping her head low, tried to hide behind the other doctors.
Empress Dowager Chrysor Kraus was the villainess of the novel Serenity of the Rose Garden.
She was an enemy of Adilot, even his sworn nemesis. Chrysor had despised Lady Rhea, Adilot’s mother, and had sown discord between her and the late emperor.
‘The war with Zentaria, Lady Rhea’s homeland, was practically Chrysor’s doing.’
When Lady Rhea died, Chrysor had been convinced she would now wield all the power.
But the late emperor fell ill, and her son, Crown Prince Claudio, died in an accident. In an instant, she was hurled from heaven into despair.
Although Chrysor hadn’t initially disliked Adilot, Claudio’s death had changed her. She firmly believed Adilot was to blame and began plotting his death.
Recalling the original plot, Mia stole a glance at Chrysor through the crowd.
“I’ll increase the dosage,” a doctor said.
“Even more?” Chrysor’s voice was skeptical.
“It’s possible it might improve, but the intervals are worsening…”
“…Fine. Do it.”
‘So it’s true she has a chronic illness,’ Mia thought.
After Claudio’s death, Chrysor had developed a condition. By the novel’s end, knowing her days were numbered, she had taken increasingly extreme measures.
‘I haven’t even met the heroine Ren yet, and I’m already facing the villainess. This can’t be good, right?’
Mia crouched lower in worry and unease. Meanwhile, the doctors completed their prescriptions for Chrysor.
“…Here’s a week’s worth of medication,” one said.
Chrysor looked more exhausted than before, even in that short time.
“I’m tired. Leave me.”
Seeing the session come to an end, Mia finally let out a sigh of relief.
‘Thank goodness nothing happened.’
That’s when it happened.
“Pink-haired one.”
Chrysor’s green eyes pierced straight into Mia.
“You stay.”
Mia, who had been bowing her head, froze in place. The short-haired doctor beside her flashed a strange look in her eyes.
“Your Majesty? She’s new here. Is there an issue…?”
“Must I explain everything to you?”
“Your Majesty, I only ask as a physician to provide rest—”
“Stop talking out of turn and leave.”
Chrysor snapped irritably.
“…Yes, Your Majesty.”
The short-haired doctor bowed and left with the others. From behind her horn-rimmed glasses, her brown eyes clung to Mia, but Mia didn’t notice.
Soon, only Mia, Chrysor, and her attendants remained in the room.
“Come closer,” Chrysor commanded.
“…”
Mia suppressed a sigh and stood. Drawing on the noble manners she had learned over the past year as Mia Celestial, she approached Chrysor.
“Greetings to Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager.”
Despite her middle age, the woman still exuded beauty, though her expression was cold and mocking.
“How ridiculous you look, daughter of Celestial.”
“You flatter me, Your Majesty,” Mia replied, lowering her eyes.
Outwardly, she appeared calm, but inside, her thoughts were in turmoil.
‘She’s figured out my identity. But why did she call me out like this?’
Count Celestial was a traitor, and by association, Mia would also be viewed as a rebel. From Chrysor’s perspective, this should be favorable, given her disdain for Adilot. So why summon her in this manner?
‘If I were Chrysor, I’d leave her alone at first to avoid suspicion, then tempt her with something to carry out an assassination later…’
Just as Mia’s thoughts reached this point, a realization struck her like a hammer.
‘Could it be…?’
Chrysor smirked at Mia, who stood frozen.
“Well done. You’ve infiltrated that demon’s side splendidly.”
Mia shut her eyes tightly.
‘Damn that Count…’
It all made sense now. Chrysor had been behind Count Celestial all along—something not mentioned in the original story.
‘I thought it was strange he was so adamant about committing treason!’
When Mia first became part of this world, her priority had been to avoid death. Naturally, she wondered if the rebellion could simply be prevented. From that day on, she kept a close eye on Count Celestial.
‘The original story said the Count was always dissatisfied due to his ambition and poverty.’
So Mia used her knowledge to bring prosperity to the Celestial household, thinking that a wealthy count wouldn’t rebel.
But it hadn’t worked. The rebellion still happened, proving poverty wasn’t the sole cause.
‘The author could’ve at least hinted that Chrysor and the Count were connected!’
If she’d known, she would’ve fled from the start instead of working herself to the bone trying to fix things.
‘I worked so hard for nothing…’
If you read the original work, you can foresee the future, but that doesn’t mean you know everything that wasn’t mentioned there. While Mia tried to calm her tangled emotions, Chrysor continued speaking.
“But not yet. Stay close to him a little longer. It’s still too early to make a move.”
“……”
“Still, thanks to you, securing funds has been much easier. Such foresight for someone so young. Once everything is over, I’ll personally allow you to sit beside me.”
Her tone suggested Mia should feel grateful for this “generous” offer. Acting as though she was honored, Mia lowered her head and quickly calculated her next move.
One thing was certain:
“Chrysor doesn’t know that I want to stop the rebellion.”
It seemed the Celestial Count had crafted a plausible excuse.
“Well, considering I’m the one providing the funds, it would’ve been hard to claim I had no idea about the rebellion.”
Her pink eyes gleamed coldly. Several strategies for survival sprang into her mind simultaneously.
‘Should I play along and gather information?’
But Mia immediately dismissed the idea. She had narrowly escaped death already. If their conversation reached Adilote, she would undoubtedly face certain death.
“Mia Celestial? What is your answer?”
Chrysor’s question echoed above her head.
‘I need to keep my distance.’
After organizing her thoughts, Mia straightened her bent back slowly.
“Your Majesty, the Dowager Empress, I—”
“This is unacceptable, Marquess! Do you know where you are right now?”
At that moment, someone’s sharp voice rang through the palace. Mia’s words faltered. Everyone turned to look. The voice grew closer.
“No matter how much this is Her Majesty the Dowager Empress’s palace, the Imperial Palace of Reventor belongs to His Majesty, the Emperor.”
“Even so, this is in front of the Dowager Empress herself!”
“It’s a retainer’s duty to pick up what belongs to His Majesty, even if it falls in her palace.”
‘That voice…’
Just as a surprised Mia blinked, the door burst open.
“I greet Her Majesty, the Dowager Empress.”
The man who strode confidently into the room was Marquess Ferdian Kito. His piercing gray eyes immediately locked onto Mia, glaring at her as if to burn a hole through her.
‘Why? Why is he glaring? Why!?’
He quickly turned away from the cringing Mia and faced the Dowager Empress.
“Marquess Kito. How insolent.”
The Dowager Empress spoke with a calm expression, but her gaze clearly showed her desire to tear Ferdian apart. Of course, Ferdian didn’t flinch.
“I beg your pardon for my insolence. I will leave shortly.”
He then looked back at Mia with a fearsome gaze.
“I’m here to retrieve His Majesty’s pet.”
“…What?”
Chrysor asked with a puzzled expression.
“Pet?”
“The pink-furred creature over there.”
“C-Creature?”
Chrysor turned her head toward Mia.
“Oh.”
Suddenly, she began laughing as if she found it endearing.
“Ah, so I’ve been holding onto someone His Majesty treasures dearly.”
Mia shook her head, realizing the misunderstanding.
“No, no… It’s not like I’m receiving any special favor or anything…”
With a smirk as venomous as that of a villainess, Chrysor turned back to Ferdian.
“Then, be on your way.”
“That was my intention.”
Ferdian once again shot Mia a terrifying look.
“Follow me.”
“Y-Yes…”
Mia’s face crumpled as she tried not to cry. Before leaving, she glanced back at Chrysor, who mouthed silently to her:
“Contact me later.”
‘No! I’m not on your side!’
Something had gone terribly wrong from the very beginning.
—
Ferdian strode out of the palace without hesitation, his movements precise and unwavering. Mia followed behind, watching his swaying black hair.
‘Ferdian Kito, Marquess. Adilote’s closest confidant and, in the novel, a supporting character who secretly harbored unrequited love for Serenity…’
Judging solely by his looks, he could easily be a male lead, but unfortunately, the novel’s male protagonist was Adilote.
‘Well, he seemed content to stay by Adil’s side in the end, so maybe it’s fine…’
It was then—
Thud.
“Ugh!”
Mia’s nose collided with Ferdian’s back when he abruptly stopped. His swordsman-like physique made the impact exceptionally painful.
“…?”
Rubbing her nose, Mia looked up at him. Hi
s eagle-like gray eyes bore down on her, no longer restrained like when he was in front of Adilote or Chrysor. His gaze was overt and blunt.
Mia froze.
“Ah. This is…”
Contempt.
“Well, you’ve somehow managed to survive.”
