Episode 54
As Alice expected, Regina was the first to lay the groundwork.
“I don’t know what you mean by a date. I don’t just meet ‘anyone’ because of my ability.”
“An ability? Ah…….”
“You’ve all heard the rumors, haven’t you?”
The ladies at the tea party gasped softly.
In truth, the reason they’d hounded Regina was because of the rumors about her ability.
Since she had a weakness, they thought if they pressed her enough, she’d crumble and obediently do as they said.
So they expected her to try to hide her ability—never imagined she’d bring it up first.
“That kind of information spreads easily. If my guess is right, the rumor is that I used my ability to steal someone’s heart. Am I right?”
“There’s no point in listening—it’ll only hurt you. We know that rumor isn’t true.”
“That’s right. A sweet girl like you would never do such a thing. Isn’t that so?”
“Of course.”
Everyone denied it, but it was obvious they were enjoying the situation.
Regina looked like she was about to burst into tears if you poked her even slightly.
Alice was the only one who knew that was all an act.
“In fact, my ability is very weak. It only works on little kids. A proper adult wouldn’t be affected at all…… and yet the rumor says I seduced someone. Sniffle.”
“Regina. Oh my, don’t cry.”
Alice handed Regina a handkerchief as she squeezed out tears, then let out a deep sigh.
She explained as if genuinely upset.
“Even though Regina’s ability could be dangerous, she didn’t bind it with a soul vow because it’s too weak. And now something like this has happened…….”
“That’s right. It’s been certified too… I heard His Majesty—no, my brother-in-law—gave a heads-up to the council after the wedding.”
Alice had to bind her own strong ability with a soul vow, but Marius had pressured the council separately, saying her sister-in-law Regina didn’t need to because her power was weak.
To support the claim, the Trovancha government even sent a certificate of ability.
The council members who had initially tried to push Regina into taking a soul vow backed off after reviewing the certificate, deciding there was no value in pressing further.
So if the rumor turned out to be true, the man who dated Regina would look like a fool, and if it was false, he’d be seen as a criminal.
That made even bringing up the rumor a disadvantageous move for the Marchioness of Gressley.
She would be turning the man into either a fool or a liar.
So she quickly assessed the situation and decided to stay silent about the rumor.
“May I ask who told you?”
“Miss Regina. We must have misspoken. There seems to have been a misunderstanding. Please forget this conversation.”
“It concerns me directly, so please tell me. Someone used my ability to spread a strange rumor, didn’t they?”
If they didn’t tell her, they’d look like the bad guys, but the Marchioness of Gressley didn’t want to make enemies of other families—even if her own reputation took a hit.
Her birth family was of low status, and her husband wasn’t a particularly distinguished noble either. Her only social clout came from her wide connections.
Just then, Alice stepped in and shifted the atmosphere.
“It’s been less than a year since the wedding, and yet they’re trying to slander you. At this rate, even His Majesty’s authority will be undermined.”
“Let’s not drag His Majesty into this……”
One of the other ladies mumbled hastily, trying to stop things from escalating.
But Alice deliberately set her teacup down with a loud clink to bring order.
“His Majesty said, ‘The moment we marry, we are family.’ He cherishes Regina and even his youngest sister-in-law like real siblings. Spreading such rumors is no different from mocking the imperial family.”
Regina took Alice’s cue and amplified the statement, making the ladies visibly shaken.
In truth, Marius was extremely fond of his sisters-in-law.
As proof, he had severely punished a gardener who mistreated the youngest, and a playground was being built in a corner of the imperial palace just for her.
Those ladies who knew just how ruthless the emperor could be now fell silent, realizing things weren’t going as they had expected.
“Before the wedding, I once spoke with His Majesty about the younger one’s education. He said he only knows how to use the whip and asked to be entrusted with that part.”
No one would interpret this sudden mention of children as an actual talk about education.
It was a warning. If pushed, Marius would take up the whip.
All the ladies’ faces went pale at once.
“But I’m not sure it’ll work well. I’m quite used to wielding the whip myself……”
“Y-Your Majesty with a whip? That doesn’t seem fitting.”
“If you excuse improper behavior just because it’s cute, what kind of adult will they become? That’s why you have to correct it from an early age. So I support the whip His Majesty holds.”
Of course, Alice never actually laid hands on Lilliana—only gave her time-outs or written reflections.
But she was willing to raise a whip for those who hurt her sister.
Perhaps because her sincerity came through, the ladies shuddered with goosebumps.
A lion could never truly pair with a puppy…
A subtle warning, but overwhelming dignity radiated from her.
They’d thought she was just an ignorant commoner from the countryside—but they were wrong.
She was the lion Marius brought from Trovancha.
A lion who hid her fangs in everyday life and revealed them only when needed.
Right on cue, Regina asked gently.
“So who was it that started that rumor?”
The Marchioness of Gressley bit her lip and realized—
She had been completely defeated.
***
“…Th-the parliament is set to be convened this afternoon. To verify that the empress’s younger sister isn’t her real daughter…”
I stumbled through reading the newspaper, then slammed it shut, feeling a tightness in my chest.
I had hoped to become a cool woman who could read the news like my older sisters, but that dream would have to wait ten more years.
It’s bad enough I can’t read as smoothly as Edgar, and now there’s even a rumor that my oldest sister is my real mom!
Apparently, it had even reached the level of being discussed in parliament.
I couldn’t make sense of the situation.
I had a mother—why was this even happening?
“Oh, Cookie. There are just too many bad adults in the world, aren’t there?”
“Don’t worry about it. They just have nothing better to do.”
“But it’s so unfair! My mom is even cooler than my big sister. I’m the daughter of a cool mom!”
“Didn’t they say your mom passed away right after you were born? But you remember her?”
“No. I’ve only seen her in a portrait. But I know that among all the dead, my mom is the coolest. My mom is…”
There were only Edgar and me in the room, but if I spoke louder, it felt like my pounding emotions would burst from my chest.
So I cupped my hands like a trumpet and whispered into Edgar’s ear.
“She was a general.”
“What? Are you serious?”
“Yup! My mom, and her dad too, were both generals. Just like how my dad and his mom were politicians.”
Edgar shook his head in disbelief.
“But she was a woman!”
“So what? My big sister is a woman too, but she was the strongest person on the ship!”
Not everyone is born with abilities, but many people have them.
Abilities often help overcome or compensate for natural physical differences.
That’s why, in Trovancha, ability matters more than gender.
With a strong body, a powerful ability, and exceptional strategy and tactics, it was only natural for my mother to become a general.
I even heard she won many battles.
Growing up in a place with strict gender roles, Edgar looked unconvinced and grumbled.
“Don’t lie. You’re just messing with me again, aren’t you?”
“What! Are you calling me a liar now?”
“I didn’t say that, but… I don’t believe you! Sure, Lady Alice is good with a sword like Brother Leo, but…”
“Do you want to be a soggy seaweed?”
I could let a lot of things slide—well, honestly, I usually didn’t—but this time, I absolutely couldn’t.
I glared hard at Edgar and challenged him to a staring contest.
Whoever blinked first would lose.
And losing would completely shatter one’s pride.
I can’t lose.
Clenching my hand around Cookie, I braced for our 12,345th battle, when suddenly, the maids came in and called for Edgar.
“Master Edgar. His Majesty wishes to speak with you.”
“My brother? Okay. I’ll be right there.”
Not wanting to fight, Edgar jumped up and left with the maids.
I stared at the direction he had gone, then turned at the strange sensation in my hand.
At the same time, I thought I heard a faint cracking sound from my neck.
“Gaaaah! C-Cookie!”
Oh no! I must’ve squeezed too hard in my anger. Cookie’s ear had torn.
What do I do?! Who did this to my Cookie?!
If Edgar hadn’t said those ridiculous things, Oliver—sleeping in my hand—wouldn’t have shown up!
If Edgar finds out, he’ll be mad…
Edgar really loved Cookie.
He hugged it every night and even set it neatly by his pillow when he got up.
Just like I cherished Jelly like a sibling, Edgar did the same.
In other words, this was a very big and serious matter.
“I have to fix it right away!”
If I repaired Cookie quickly and put it back in place, Edgar would never know.
I rushed to Regina sister’s room and grabbed her sewing kit.
Since this was all my fault, I planned to take care of it myself.
But I never imagined this would lead to parliament being convened.
• ❁ • ❁ • ❁ •By Esraa• ❁ • ❁ • ❁ •
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