“Well, having grown up as a lowly illegitimate child, you’re not yet accustomed to ordering around servants. I’ll graciously accept your intentions.”
“This is really…!”
Marianne, unable to control her emotions, raised her hand high. But she ultimately did not strike. Sienna’s gaze moved from the trembling hand in mid-air to slowly return to the face before her.
After muttering to herself for a while, Marianne eventually exhaled roughly and lowered her hand. Instead of retreating, she warned in a low, threatening tone:
“Control your pride to an appropriate degree. If you stay still, wouldn’t you at least gain some sympathy? Isn’t it time you realized that coming at me like this will get you nowhere?”
Marianne spoke, emphasizing each word with her clenched molars. Her voice was filled with raw irritation.
“Well, your leisurely attitude will soon come to an end.”
Marianne’s lips twisted as she continued muttering alone.
“Someone like you – who would like a person with such a rigid mentality?”
With that neurotic mumbling, she roughly pushed Sienna’s shoulder and passed by. Sienna, pushed and staggering, bit her lip tightly.
Gain sympathy by staying still? How ridiculous.
Sienna knew her current reality. If she stayed passive, she would only lose everything stupidly.
Wasn’t it always like this? She was a person who could never receive sympathy in any situation.
****
Given the circumstances, Jeremiah, who had been spending a chaotic time, finally faced Sienna alone on the day of his departure.
Naturally, Jeremiah’s expression was dark as they sat across from each other. After a period of silence, Sienna spoke quietly.
“…I am sorry about His Majesty the King’s circumstances.”
“It was a predictable event. Though it happened somewhat earlier than expected.”
Jeremiah spoke with an intentionally calm face. Sienna stared at him fixedly.
His face, clearly lacking proper sleep, was rough, and his eyes were slightly reddened. Though he was barely maintaining his composure outwardly, his inner state must be indescribable.
Knowing that no words could console someone in the face of losing a precious being, she could not easily continue speaking.
“The critical point is what happens from now on, isn’t it?”
Jeremiah changed the subject without showing any particular emotion. There was no room for such clumsy consolation right now.
Personal grief was something to be set aside for the moment. Before returning to Parma, Jeremiah had several matters that needed to be definitively resolved.
He met her eyes. His golden pupils held no trace of a smile.
“I hope the Princess will be in Parma and my future.”
“You don’t need to say such grandiose things…”
“Then you should give me a clear answer quickly.”
Jeremiah looked at her with a weak smile.
“Are we definitely on the same boat?”
His mouth was smiling, but his eyes were infinitely serious. Staring at him intently, Sienna slowly opened her mouth.
“Of course.”
Her voice was low and neat as always. With an unwavering face, she repeated clearly:
“The Prince is my most certain and only ally.”
It was a completely sincere statement.
Yet when no response came from Jeremiah, her expression gradually became anxious.
“If needed, shall I offer the former Emperor’s ring again as proof of our covenant?”
Jeremiah narrowed his eyes. Eventually, he muttered with a hint of jest.
“Despite rushing into someone else’s quarters in less than half a day…”
“I didn’t rush in, I’m telling you!”
Sienna flared up. Jeremiah chuckled.
“I believe in you. The Princess is someone who understands loyalty.”
Sienna stared at him intently before letting out a light sigh. It was clear that despite his words, he still did not completely trust her.
“I know I have many untrustworthy aspects, but it’s a clear fact that the Prince is currently my best option. In other words, you don’t need to doubt my decision.”
That’s true. Muttering in response, Jeremiah nodded. He wiped his face filled with exhaustion.
“What will become of the Princess’s situation now?”
“Nothing has been decided yet.”
Sienna answered calmly. She deliberately did not mention the fact that Marianne had personally come to threaten to expel her from the imperial palace. She didn’t want to add another unnecessary worry to someone already emotionally worn out.
“Then let’s first put out the urgent fire. When I return to Parma, our communication will be restricted.”
Even in this situation, Jeremiah was quite cool-headed. Come to think of it, he had always been rational. Though he might act like a completely unhinged person outwardly, he always maintained a calm attitude regarding this matter.
“If there’s something to communicate, don’t step forward personally. Send it under someone else’s name to avoid suspicion.”
Sienna obediently nodded.
“Understood. Sending it under Jane or Theo’s name would make it easier for the Prince to recognize.”
“Wouldn’t it be better to create a pseudonym? Using the name of someone under the Princess might easily expose us. It doesn’t hurt to be cautious.”
Hearing this, it made sense. As Marianne said, if Joseph expels her from the imperial palace, it wouldn’t end there.
He would monitor her entire daily life and receive reports about who she meets. Her surrounding people would not be an exception either. Theo and Jane would naturally not be free from the Emperor’s line of sight.
After being lost in thought for a moment, she suddenly spoke up.
She blurted out a name impulsively, which made Jeremiah tilt his head slightly. It was certainly an uncommon name, but since it seemed to have come out without much deliberation, it seemed like it might be the name of another existing person.
When he narrowed his eyes and stared, Sienna met his gaze with an expressionless face. She didn’t look like someone with anything to hide.
‘Well, it doesn’t matter.’
Jeremiah soon erased his doubts and nodded.
“Then that settles it.”
With those words, silence settled between them again. Not long after, a servant came to inform that the preparations for departure were complete.
It was truly time to part.
Jeremiah slowly stood up and said, “At our next meeting, many things will have changed.”
Sienna gave a bitter smile at those words.
Indeed. If they would have a next time.
Though it was a short time and not particularly touching, she felt melancholic. It was quite different from the emotions she felt when saying goodbye to Declan. Perhaps it was more similar to how she felt when sending Theo off to war.
She saw Jeremiah off to where he was to depart. In front of several nobles, she gave him a ceremonial greeting. She wished him to collect his heart and safely arrive at Parma.
The words that wouldn’t come out when they were alone now flowed smoothly under everyone’s gaze.
Jeremiah also politely responded that he would gratefully cherish her words.
Eventually, as he mounted his horse and spurred it at the forefront, the procession followed behind him. A pale dust rose.
Sienna stood still, gazing at the departing procession. The more the crowd distanced itself, the more she felt like heavy stones were layering upon her heart.
Was this just the lingering sentiment of farewell, or the uncertainty about the future approaching her?
“Let’s go inside, Your Highness,” Jane said.
Sienna nodded. The procession had disappeared long ago. Those who had come to see off Jeremiah were slowly returning inside the imperial palace. However, even after nodding to Jane, Sienna remained frozen in place for quite a while.
From now on, she would have to survive solely by her own strength.
****
With the departure of Parma’s envoy, the issue of Sienna’s status naturally became a topic of discussion.
The Emperor was substantially irritated.
While everyone knew that the imperial siblings’ relationship was not good, expelling blood relatives twice was not a good look.
In his heart, he wanted to sell Sienna off cheaply right away, but he had not yet established a solid foundation to act arbitrarily.
Moreover, unlike the previous time when she had provided him with reasons to expel her, Sienna’s recent behavior had become remarkably docile, which was also irritating to Joseph.
Therefore, the Emperor avoided direct mention of the matter. However, just by observing Marianne’s daily invasions of the annex, his intentions were sufficiently clear.
As the First Princess was the Emperor’s closest confidant, and the Emperor was fully aware of her ransacking the annex yet said nothing, the people of the imperial palace naturally interpreted the Emperor’s intentions through Marianne.
The Emperor is truly capricious, they whispered, gradually maintaining distance from the annex where this princess resided.
The interior of the annex was no less chaotic.
Since that day, Marianne began frequenting the annex as if it were her own home, wearing down its threshold. Under the First Princess’s lead, the annex began seriously preparing to welcome a new master.
Although Sienna was still present, no one could defy the First Princess. While their temperaments were equally fiery, Marianne at least had the Emperor’s favor backing her, creating a significant power disparity.
The servants subtly observed Sienna’s reactions while faithfully following the First Princess’s instructions.
