(5) Like an Ominous Spell (5)
Because she was an intriguing woman, he decided to forgive her deception this once.
He thought it might be better to keep her close and observe her, but even if she chose to return to Snow Territory instead of becoming the Empress, he would have to let her go this time. However, Eleanor answered without hesitation.
“Yes, I will become the Empress.”
“The Snow family, as the Empress’s household, won’t be easily touched by Owen and Osborn, will they?”
“No.”
“You are willing to risk your life for your family?”
“My eldest brother and father did the same. What could I possibly not do?”
At that moment, Eleanor clenched her teeth. Watching her cheeks twitch as she held back tears was not particularly pleasant.
“You will need time to mourn. Since my third Empress has not been dead for long, the wedding will take place in half a year.”
“Yes.”
“I’m not sure if you’ll still be alive by then.”
Eleanor lifted the corners of her lips, forming a flawless smile.
“On the promised day, I will adorn myself beautifully and smile more radiantly than anyone else as your bride. Do not be concerned.”
She was, indeed, a woman of excessive intrigue.
***
Even after Heraith left Tulip Palace, Eleanor remained seated on the sofa.
Her father was dead. She had always known he would pass before her one day, but not like this. Not in her absence, slain by enemy blades.
“I will not cry, Father.”
She recalled Jayden Snow, who never retreated even on the most brutal battlefields, even when victory seemed impossible.
The unshed tears of blood pooled in her chest. The pain that began near her heart spread throughout her entire body.
“I, too, will not retreat, Father.”
Though Snow’s territory was more fertile than other northern regions, Owen and Osborn’s lands were not barren either.
In fact, with Snow holding the front line against Rascal, Owen and Osborn must have gained considerable benefits. So why had they coveted Snow’s land and chosen to attack?
“Though I am now far away, I will never forget them.”
She needed time. Time for Snow to recover and to drive out both Owen and Osborn. And power.
“One by one.”
She thought of Franklin and Persephone, her dear friends. The peaceful and serene days they had shared together were still vividly etched in her mind.
“I will crush them completely, bit by bit. Until then—”
She swallowed the sobs that threatened to rise. She stifled the scream that nearly burst forth.
“I will not cry, Father.”
She would become the Empress.
To the Emperor, she would be nothing more than a mere figurehead, existing solely to one day leave the palace.
To his enemies, she would be a candle that could be snuffed out at any time, a pawn to be swayed or eliminated.
Until now, the position of the Empress had not been highly regarded in this empire.
But from now on, things would be different.
“Half a year.”
Heraith had doubted whether she would survive until then.
That meant there were women who desired even that wretched position of an Empress.
And those even more pitiful than the Empress…, the concubines.
Or those who sought to sit closest to the Emperor, waiting for the perfect moment to cut his throat.
“Who will come for me first?”
It had been fifteen days since she arrived at the imperial palace.
By now, those who needed to know who she was and why she had come to Tulip Palace would have learned of her presence.
The foolish and reckless ones would come to her the moment they found out.
“My lady,” a voice called.
Like now.
“Lady Calliope from Rose Palace wishes to see you.”
From outside the door, her maid, Cecily, informed her.
Eleanor erased the cold glint from her eyes and adjusted her expression.
Though others believed she had been confined to Tulip Palace since arriving, that was far from the truth.
She had taken the time to rest, eat well, and regain some strength. Then, as soon as she could, she had begun exploring the imperial palace.
Concealing one’s presence and moving undetected required high-level magic, but for Eleanor, it was nothing difficult.
If someone highly perceptive and skilled was present, they might have noticed, but there were not many such individuals in this palace—or so she assumed.
If she hid away, she would never learn anything.
The Emperor had four concubines, each residing in separate palaces: Lily Palace for the First Consort, Rose Palace for the Second, Daisy Palace for the Third, and Hyacinth Palace for the Fourth.
Among them, Calliope of Rose Palace was particularly desperate to win the Emperor’s favor and take the Empress’s seat.
“Let her in,” Eleanor commanded.
The door opened, revealing a woman with red hair.
She was small in stature, with freckles dotting her nose, an endearing appearance.
But her mannerisms were far from charming.
Calliope lifted her chin slightly and strode forward, sitting down on the sofa across from Eleanor without asking permission, almost as if to assert her higher status.
“You have no manners.”
Calliope said to Eleanor, who remained seated.
“You don’t even stand to greet me.”
At this moment, Calliope, as one of the Emperor’s concubines, undoubtedly held a higher rank than Eleanor, the daughter of a mere count. It would have been proper for Eleanor to rise and show respect.
However, Eleanor simply sat still, gazing at Calliope.
“Can’t you speak? Or did you never learn court etiquette? Did your parents fail to teach you such things?”
Eleanor thought to herself, *It’s a relief that this woman isn’t particularly clever. With so many pressing matters to deal with, it would have been troublesome if the person she had to face was too intelligent.
‘She must have poisoned my food.’
From the day Eleanor entered the imperial palace, she had tested her meals with a silver dagger before eating. Two days ago, the tip of the blade had blackened.
The only person currently delivering food to Tulip Palace was Cecily, and Eleanor already knew that Cecily was Calliope’s informant. While covertly exploring the palace, she had seen Cecily frequently visiting Rose Palace.
Of course, it was possible that someone in the kitchen, not Cecily herself, had poisoned the food. But the day after the failed poisoning attempt, Cecily’s left cheek had been red and swollen. That confirmed it—Calliope was behind it.
And after hearing Calliope speak just now, Eleanor was even more certain.
The fact that Calliope had rushed over as soon as she learned of Eleanor’s identity meant she was impatient and lacked self-control. Dealing with such a person wouldn’t be difficult.
“Why on earth aren’t you saying anything? Are you ignoring me?”
Calliope snapped, her temper flaring simply because Eleanor remained silent.
“Speak, Eleanor Snow! Do you think I don’t know about you? I know everything. Snow territory has fallen, hasn’t it? You act all high and mighty because of Snow’s reputation, but with the Count of Snow dead, do you really think you have anyone left to protect you? Do you think you can even survive in this palace?”
“So that’s why you poisoned me.”
“W-what?”
Calliope’s expression faltered for the first time.
“P-poison? What are you talking about? Why would I poison your food?”
“I never said it was my food specifically, yet you seem to have some idea what I’m referring to.”
“What? That’s ridiculous! You’re just making wild accusations, trying to frame me with baseless nonsense! Do you think His Majesty would believe you?”
“I have no intention of appealing to His Majesty.”
Eleanor decided to provoke Calliope further.
A person with no patience would inevitably make mistakes when enraged.
“Would I really need His Majesty’s help just to deal with the Second Concubine of Rose Palace, who doesn’t even have his affection?”
Calliope’s face turned red with fury at that.
She abruptly stood up, grabbed a vase from the table, and hurled it at Eleanor.
Eleanor calmly shifted to the side, letting the vase crash against the back of the sofa before it tumbled to the floor. It didn’t shatter, but the spilled water soaked Eleanor’s dress.
Frustrated at failing to get a reaction, Calliope clenched her fists.
“You’ll regret this, Eleanor Snow.”
“I’ve never experienced regret before.”
“Oh? Then this will be your first time. You seem to be dreaming about becoming the Empress, but let’s see if you can even get close to that seat.”
***
“A daughter of Snow, is it…?”
Empress Dowager Stephanie narrowed her eyes as she listened to her advisor, Hensa.
“Is she risking herself to become the Empress for the sake of protecting her family? And the Emperor has accepted this?”
“It’s not certain, but considering she’s still staying in Tulip Palace, I believe it’s possible.”
“Hmm…”
Stephanie tapped her fingers on the armrest of her chair.
“I tried multiple times, but the Count of Snow was difficult to win over. I wonder if his daughter will be any different.”
