Whatever the outcome, only one of us—me or the First Consort—would emerge victorious by the end of this meeting.
“Before we begin, let it be known that Lady Eliant has no right to a seat here,” the First Consort declared.
The emperor’s gaze turned to me. Now facing her directly, standing throughout the meeting was no issue. Besides, now was the time to step back to advance later. At my nod, the emperor spoke.
“Granted. Begin the meeting.”
The murmurs ceased instantly at the signal to start. All eyes focused on the First Consort, the convener.
With a sorrowful expression, she surveyed the room, her gaze landing on me last. Whether intentional or not, my position was directly opposite her. She curled her red-painted lips in a smirk only I could see.
“I’ve convened this meeting because, as an elder of the imperial family, I can no longer overlook Lady Eliant’s conduct.”
“Conduct?” a noble from the First Prince’s faction echoed, as if on cue.
The First Consort responded eagerly. “I’m sure everyone here has heard the rumors about Lady Eliant. They are too vile for me to repeat, so I ask for your understanding.”
The word “rumors” sparked whispers. No one here could have missed them—I’d ensured they spread widely, even using the Pison Guild. If anyone didn’t know, I’d be disappointed.
“But they’re just rumors,” a noble from the crown prince’s faction protested, glaring at the First Consort. “Basing the crown princess’s qualifications on rumors is absurd.”
“Then isn’t the existence of such rumors proof of flawed character?” countered another.
“If we judge by that logic, who here is without fault?”
“Your words are harsh.”
The debate between the factions raged. The First Consort watched their clash leisurely. Unlike the unified First Prince’s faction condemning me, only a few from the crown prince’s faction vehemently defended me.
Regardless of who I was, my backing was Sys’s greatest asset. Everyone here knew that. If I fell, Sys’s foundation would take a massive hit, giving the First Prince, who coveted the crown prince’s position, a prime opportunity. That’s why the First Consort was so desperate to separate me from Sys.
Unless they switched to the First Prince’s faction, the crown prince’s supporters would fall with Sys. Even if they survived, standing alone in a political arena dominated by the First Prince’s faction would be nearly impossible. Thus, like it or not, they had to protect me—at least for now. Even those hoping to push their daughters toward Sys knew this.
Still, they clung to the faint hope that Sys would remain crown prince while I, his fiancée, was cast aside—a foolish expectation.
“If the rumors are true, what then?” the First Consort’s voice cut through the clamor, silencing the room like a doused flame. A satisfied smile curved her lips.
“Can you take responsibility for that claim?” the emperor asked, his face hardening.
“Of course, Your Majesty,” she replied confidently.
“There are many rumors about my daughter. Which one do you mean, First Consort?” Father, silent until now beside the emperor, spoke. His blue eyes blazed as if he’d tear her apart if she stood before him.
She flinched but quickly regained her composure, meeting his gaze with a leisurely smile. “There are many rumors about Lady Eliant, but few are grave enough to question her suitability as crown princess.”
The doors opened, and a young woman with a frightened expression entered. She walked stiffly, bowing to the emperor.
“H-Heron Panini Angriber greets the Sun of the Empire, His Majesty,” she stammered.
The emperor looked at the First Consort, puzzled. She addressed the girl. “Lady Angriber, tell His Majesty exactly what you saw that day.”
Angriber’s gaze met mine, her tense face turning venomous. “A few days ago, I met Lady Eliant at a jewelry store owned by the Pison Guild. We had a slight altercation, and I followed her to apologize.”
Some nobles nodded, aware of the commotion at the store, while others looked confused about its relevance.
“Lady Eliant seemed very familiar with the guild’s premises. I barely kept up with her, and then… and then…”
“It’s alright, Lady Angriber. Just tell the truth,” the First Consort said, unusually gentle.
Emboldened, Angriber continued. “I saw Lady Eliant kill the Pison Guild’s master.”
Her shocking claim stunned the room into silence. As everyone gaped, the emperor’s gaze turned to me.
“Lady Eliant, do you have anything to say?”
“I didn’t kill anyone.”
“I saw it!” Angriber shrieked. “I saw you stab that man with a knife!”
“It seems Lady Angriber was dreaming.”
At my nonchalant reply, she screamed, “It wasn’t a dream! You told him to die for you!”
Her outburst caused murmurs. She glared at me, forgetting the emperor’s presence. “You vile woman!”
“Silence!” the emperor’s shout restored order. “You both claim different truths. Lady Angriber, can you prove your words?”
“I saw it with my own eyes, Your Majesty! She stabbed him!”
“Do you have evidence beyond your testimony?”
“I-I…”
Her face paled at the emperor’s question, and she collapsed, trembling.
“There are more witnesses, Your Majesty,” the First Consort interjected, prompting a frown from the emperor. At her gesture, a man and a woman entered.
“Commoners greet the Sun of the Empire, His Majesty,” they said, prostrating themselves.
“Who are they?” the emperor asked.
“A maid from the Eliant household and a merchant from the Pison Guild,” the First Consort replied.
When the emperor said nothing, she addressed them. “Tell the truth of what you saw.”
“I’m a Pison Guild merchant. That day, I visited the main branch to collect ordered goods,” the man began, calm despite the setting. “As I was leaving, I saw Lady Eliant. She wore a cloak, but her dress, visible beneath, was stained with blood. It was a light blue dress, so the red stood out vividly.”
“Are you certain it was Lady Eliant?”
“Yes. I’ve seen her before and am certain.”
A noble from the crown prince’s faction, who’d defended me, grimaced at the merchant’s firm reply.
“I’m a maid from the Eliant household,” the woman said, trembling. “That day, the miss returned in a cloak she hadn’t worn when she left. When she removed it, her face and dress were… covered in blood…”
She broke into sobs and was escorted out. The emperor’s stern expression didn’t soften.
“There are more witnesses, Your Majesty,” the First Consort said, her red lips curling as she looked at me.
The emperor turned to me. “Lady Eliant, do you have an explanation?”
“Why should I explain?”
Murmurs of disapproval and tongue-clicking filled the room. The emperor frowned but kept his gaze on me.
“Are you admitting guilt?”
“What crime have I committed?”
“Outrageous!”
“Such insolence!”
“How shameless!”
The First Prince’s faction seized the moment to denounce me. The First Consort savored their words, her gaze on me, her red lips curving in satisfaction.
“Do you believe their claims, First Consort?” I asked.
She sneered. “With so many witnesses, don’t you know the truth better than anyone?”
Her tone branded me guilty. I shifted my gaze from her to the room. The First Prince’s faction gleamed with anticipation, while most of the crown prince’s faction looked grim, save a few.
I turned to the merchant, still prostrate. “How are you so sure the stain on my dress was blood?”
“It was a vivid red. What else could it be?”
His calm, even voice seemed to assert he spoke only facts.
“Not everything red is blood.”
