Chapter 14
Jizelle trembled in the assigned Ramps Castle.
In fact, she was currently feeling quite bewildered.
Ever since last night.
The whole world.
‘Am I… Am I going to become the Empress, no, the Queen?’
Jizelle had never considered everything surrounding her to be rational.
The social hierarchy, her own position.
So, even when she was summoned to the Emperor’s bedroom, she didn’t refuse.
How could she understand the feelings of those above her?
When they call, you must go. When they command, you must act as if you’re willing to die.
That was the fate of those below.
However, Jizelle recalled the notorious reputation of the Emperor.
Before ascending the throne and even after, he was said to have oppressed countless people.
No mercy, no tears, even sending his own mentor to a cold hospital in the northern region.
Jizelle knew.
How much Anel feared him. How frozen he became in his presence.
Every time they faced each other, Anel always had nightmares.
Due to a lifetime of staying by Anel’s side, Jizelle knew all too well.
But that wasn’t the only infamous aspect.
‘There are even women who have been strangled because of that man.’
“Of course, the woman tried to hang herself because the emperor did not reciprocate her feelings,’’ but…
‘Who would know the truth.’
Giselle did not trust noble men.
Living as a maid in the noble family, there were things she heard even if she didn’t want to.
Fortunately, Duke Morata had no interest in women, and there were only men in the ducal family, so there were no particular issues.
However, when she heard stories from friends who went to other families, it was horrifying.
She had even intentionally avoided going to parties with noble young men to avoid any trouble.
‘But why me?’
Giselle couldn’t understand.
Suddenly, an unpleasant remark she heard not long ago came to mind.
‘You’re as common as they come in the palace!’
It was a rude and ignorant remark, but it was true.
Since coming to the palace, Giselle could vividly feel that she was not special at all.
Moreover, the new emperor…
Even without the title of emperor, he was someone widely known among noble women who would risk their lives for him.
Why?
Why me?
By now, Giselle was worried that the emperor might have called her just to amuse himself by killing her.
“Please wait here.”
The emperor’s attendant greeted her with a blunt tone.
Giselle was aware that being addressed by the emperor’s attendant indicated her noble status.
Why would such a person condescend to speak to her?
Giselle felt that something was amiss.
So, she awkwardly waited without sitting or standing.
Soon, the door to the bedroom opened, and a man entered.
Instinctively, Giselle bowed deeply.
She didn’t know who it was, but in this palace, no one should be lower in status than her.
“You don’t need to tremble like a wet dog.”
As soon as she heard the voice, Giselle recognized him.
“I have no interest whatsoever in your body.”
It was the man who had entered the lady’s room.
Giselle tensed even more, sharpening her senses.
Nevertheless, the statement about having no interest in her body made her uncomfortably close her eyes. It felt dizzyingly revealing.
How ridiculous she must appear.
“Name.”
Name?
In a voice so low it could be called a whisper, Jiselle immediately responded.
“I am Jiselle.”
The other person remained silent for a while.
Jiselle stood frozen, not even daring to lift her head. She wondered if she had made a mistake.
“Good name.”
A good name. Her heart raced at such a simple compliment.
For a long time, Jiselle felt ashamed whenever she mentioned her name.
Commoners mocked her for having a name fit for a lady, and nobles ridiculed her, asking if she had stolen the name of her master.
“But it’s short.”
Instantly, Jiselle’s face turned crimson.
For commoners, having a shorter name than nobles or aristocrats was natural.
What was the point of pointing that out?
“What name would be good?”
The sound of crisp parchment colliding filled the air.
The tearing of an envelope, and even the sound of a man’s fingers flipping through paper.
It was vivid.
Among the various sounds, Jiselle clasped her hands together and waited.
Is there anything she excels at as much as waiting?
“Ah.”
Shortly after making a satisfied sound, the man approached Jezelle and spoke with a content voice.
“Lift your head.”
In response to the man’s words, Jezelle slowly raised her head.
She couldn’t bring herself to straighten her waist completely, but only lifted her head.
The moment the man entered her field of vision, Jezelle held her breath.
It wasn’t because of the faintly shining lemon-colored hair or the arrogantly sparkling green eyes.
It was the man himself, because of his aura.
The fingers, meticulously trimmed to the fingertips, created an intense atmosphere.
Long fingers hidden beneath white gloves.
Even the fact that only two fingers were straightened looked arrogantly crafted.
“Hmm.”
Between the two fingers was a ivory-colored card.
The man pointed the card at Jezelle’s cheek and tilted his head.
“Yes, like this.”
Jezelle rolled her eyes, capturing the characters written on the paper.
Thanks to Anel teaching her how to read, Jezelle could understand the letters.
The faintly visible last characters were, …Estancha?
The man spoke slowly.
Giselle never thought that what came out of his mouth would be her own name.
It was unbelievable that what followed her familiar name was her surname.
“You don’t seem pleased.”
There was nothing to like or dislike.
Giselle quickly raised her head. Having a surname was a common wish among commoners. Moreover, when it was a title bestowed directly by the emperor, it was not something one could easily refuse.
“Well, how about this?”
However, the man casually tossed the paper as if a title meant nothing.
As if titles were of no consequence.
Looking at the crumpled paper, Giselle thought of those who would give up their entire fortune just to possess a single piece of such paper.
There were those who would not only give up their wealth but also their children.
“Does the title ‘Dnegera’ please you?”
And Giselle was someone who could sacrifice even herself.
So, she accepted.
Even knowing that this was a devil’s proposition.
“Everyone, you can take a break today.”
“Because he had not held a wedding, the emperor was not obligated to visit the Devita Palace.’’
“Yes, then please call us when you need us. Your Majesty.”
Therefore, the Devita Palace was quiet. No, only the maids of the Devita Palace were quiet.
Anel’s heart was far from quiet.
Even in the silence, it was tumultuous.
She sat by the window and glared at the Potentia Palace across from her.
Even though it was raining, the Potentia Palace was incredibly glamorous.
In contrast to the Devita Palace, which minimally lit its lights to avoid wasting budget, the two palaces presented completely different scenes.
However, Anel’s mind was so desolate that she didn’t even notice the contrasting appearances of the two palaces.
That’s how desolate Anel’s heart was.
Several names repeated in Anel’s mind.
Samuel, Jizel, Johann. Samuel, Jizel, Johann. Samuel, Jizel, Johann.
Johann…
“Johann.”
She rolled the name on her tongue.
The taste of the name was bitter.
She had never thought of him as an ordinary crazy man, but today was truly the worst.
Anel sincerely admired his cruelty.
How could a person be so evil?
‘Taking everything away, and still having the power to take more.’
“Family, father, the fiancée who had bestowed the only affection on me, and now even the only friend.’’
Anel recalled the eyes of Giselle that she had faced earlier.
Guilt, fear, tension, but ultimately a sense of triumph.
‘How could I feel a sense of triumph looking at myself in that moment, Giselle?’
She didn’t want to understand Giselle.
She understood with her head.
The child she had wanted to have everything that Giselle had. The child who had to live a different life born on the same day in the same house.
How could she not know? How could she not know the jealousy reflected in those eyes?
She just pretended not to know. Anel was already burdened by her own problems.
‘You must have only looked at your own problems, Giselle.’
Still, Giselle was a friend who had been together for a dozen years.
Even though it was an employment relationship, Anel thought of Giselle as her only friend.
She occasionally confided in her and didn’t hesitate to support Giselle so that she could be a little happier.
But to feel a sense of triumph while watching me in despair.
Anel once again gazed at the Potentia Palace.
Yes, Giselle could still be forgiven. What choice did Giselle have?
Even Anel herself had no choice.
The owner of that palace took away all choices.
“Johan.”
Anel called that name once again.
‘’While forgiving everyone else, she could not forgive him.”
