Chapter 106
Rodellia gazed down at the courtesan in silence.
She’d heard that Alferen had smuggled her out when the empress tried to eliminate her.
It was a common fate for anyone connected to the empress’s side.
They’d seduce you with promises of the world when they needed you, but the moment things went wrong, you’d be the first discarded.
‘I know from experience in the original story.’
Just thinking about what Nanael Barnard had done to frame her for poisoning made Rodellia’s blood boil.
It was a vile act, preying on desperate people.
Of course, that didn’t mean the woman before her was entirely blameless.
She simply intended to show some leniency, considering her pitiful circumstances.
Unaware of these thoughts, the woman assumed she’d come to punish her and began trembling, pleading desperately.
“Ahh. I-I’ve committed a mortal sin, my lady!”
Her body, pressed flat to the ground, shook like an aspen leaf.
Seeing her gaunt fingers clutching the iron bars, Rodellia reached out a hand.
“You’re right that you did wrong. But it’s not a crime worthy of death.”
“Pardon?”
“You must have had no choice. Villains don’t care about other people’s situations anyway. That’s why extras have it so rough, right?”
The courtesan stared blankly at Rodellia, who had spouted words she couldn’t comprehend.
After a long moment, at Rodellia’s nod, Alferen reluctantly opened the door.
Soon after, the lock on the bars clicked open, and with a grating, unpleasant metallic screech, the door swung wide.
Rodellia stepped inside and helped her up.
“Your circumstances are indeed pitiful, but I can’t just pretend I wasn’t harmed. You’ll have to take appropriate responsibility for that, won’t you?”
“O-Of course. Just sparing my life is already…”
“I hear you were an actress. Judging by how you performed well enough to fool everyone into thinking you were me, you’ve got talent.”
“…”
“If this matter wraps up well, I’ll help you get back on stage—not with a famous troupe, but I know a small theater company.”
“Pardon?”
“Of course, you’ll have to play your role perfectly first. They have no idea you’re alive, so behave yourself until then, okay?”
Her words carried a hint of threat, but her eyes weren’t sharp.
There was even a flicker of pity in her gaze, leaving the woman speechless.
For someone who’d spent her life as a noble’s plaything, Rodellia’s kindness felt like salvation.
The courtesan immediately bowed her head deeply.
“Th-Thank you. I’ll never forget this grace.”
At her abjectly subservient words, Rodellia lifted her to her feet. Then she turned to Alferen.
“This place is too dismal for starters. You’ve got plenty of rooms—why here of all places? Move her somewhere else.”
Faced with her bold demand, it was the duke who found himself flustered.
“Delly, you’re too kind for your own good.”
“Better than being wicked!”
“That’s true enough.”
Alferen chuckled softly and gave his permission, so she was relocated to an attic room where sunlight streamed in, rather than the basement.
* * *
Empress Rosaria was leisurely engrossed in her knitting.
Thanks to the neat resolution of Cesare’s woman troubles, which had been plaguing her for days.
The moment she’d heard that Rodellia Peris was inquiring after the courtesan, the empress had eliminated the loose end.
Now that the woman was buried in the ground, there’d be no finding her, making it impossible to clear the stain on her reputation.
Moreover, with Jessica Miranda stepping in to spread the rumors, there were plenty of escape routes.
By now, the Peris family must have caught wind of the gossip, so all the blame would shift to the Miranda household.
‘She was quite useful in many ways. Not a bad parting gift.’
How dare she overstep her bounds and covet Cesare.
She was grateful, actually, that the girl had removed herself from the picture.
She’d heard Jessica was refusing food and drink, but that only irritated her.
The audacity of lusting after the position of crown princess without knowing her place.
She’d never considered her a match for Cesare anyway, so there was no real regret.
‘Still, casting her aside like this wouldn’t look good.’
Her ties with Count Miranda weren’t fully severed yet, so she’d have to bide her time for the right opportunity.
Nanael seemed to know this and was keeping her close for now.
Considering all the circumstances, the empress decided to show mercy.
That afternoon, she’d asked the emperor to approve Count Miranda’s event.
Word should reach the count by tomorrow.
‘Come to think of it, today was the day.’
In just a few hours, the Ainluk estate would open its doors.
All the prominent nobles had been invited, and though the empress had received an invitation as well, she’d declined, claiming illness.
She had no desire to fake pleasantries in front of Alferen Ainluk, who always obstructed her plans, and she had too many guilty secrets to risk it.
Facing the Ainluk father and son might lead to a slip of the tongue.
Of course, she couldn’t refuse a formal invitation from one of the four great ducal houses without reason, so she’d sent Cesare and Nanael in her stead.
She’d also send Pierre along to check on Davin Ainluk’s condition while she was at it.
She’d just wrapped up her thoughts on a positive note when there was a knock, and a maid entered.
“Your Majesty, you have a visitor.”
“At this hour? Who could be so rude as to come unannounced now? Tell them to come back tomorrow.”
“Well…”
As Rosaria reacted sharply, the maid hesitated.
Then, a figure strode boldly in behind her.
Recognizing the intruder, Rosaria frowned.
“Who could be so impolite at this late hour? Ah, it’s the Duchess of Peris.”
Despite the displeased tone, Jasmine curtsied gracefully, undeterred.
“It’s been a while, Your Majesty.”
Jasmine then swept into the bedroom and seated herself on the sofa as if it were her own home.
Her arrogant demeanor suggested she couldn’t care less about permission.
They’d been quite friendly before Rosaria became empress, but now they were closer to rivals.
Guessing why Jasmine, who never initiated visits, had suddenly requested an audience, Rosaria feigned ignorance.
“You’re as rude as ever. Must be something urgent?”
Pointing out the rudeness only prompted Jasmine to smile brightly.
“You must know there’s good reason for it, Your Majesty.”
The words carried a subtle thorn.
As expected, she’d come about her daughter. Rosaria, as if she’d never been annoyed, instructed the maid to bring tea.
“If it’s about the rumors between Cesare and Lady Rodellia, I’ve heard them too. Affairs among nobles are common enough, but I never imagined your daughter would be involved.”
“Did the crown prince say that? That our Delly is deigning to meet with him?”
Deigning to meet.
Rosaria disliked Jasmine’s choice of words immensely but refused to rise to the provocation.
“Well, there are many eyes watching. Actually, I wanted to discuss this with you, Duchess. It’s time to make things clear, don’t you think?”
Even as Rosaria tried to pull her to her side, Jasmine didn’t bat an eye.
Instead, she stared quietly at the tea being poured into the pot, then suddenly smiled faintly.
“Yes. We should make things clear.”
“With her involved with Nanael’s fiancé, it’s quite awkward for me. Of course, if Cesare likes her, I don’t mind. Perhaps delay the engagement ceremony until things quiet down.”
She’d just casually slipped in the sarcasm when—
“More precisely, her ‘former’ fiancé. It would be troubling if you speak as though Delly stole someone else’s betrothed.”
At Jasmine’s cold correction, the empress curled her lips upward.
“Yes, former fiancé. Either way, since she’s entangled with my children, I intend to get involved. You must be quite desperate to come at this hour, Duchess?”
It amused her how Jasmine still acted so haughty when she held all the cards.
“I know you’re anxious, but everything has its proper time. If you’ll wait at home, we’ll send a proposal—”
The empress was drawing out her words to emphasize her advantage when suddenly Jasmine tilted her teacup, spilling its contents onto the carpet below.
“Oh dear, a mistake.”
She then let go, shattering her cherished cup.
At this abrupt outburst, Empress Rosaria’s eyes sharpened.
“What are you doing?”
“Ah, I have this habit of my hands trembling when I see a liar. Couldn’t help it.”
