Chapter 22
From the very first day, Hwangbi was discarded.
That was Jiselle’s nickname Hwangbi, who no one acknowledged as Hwangbi. A discarded Hwangbi.
And it was no wonder, for Johannes had never once sought her out.
Since the coronation ceremony, Jiselle hadn’t even caught a glimpse of Johannes.
Flora may not have received a summons from Johan, but her situation was far better than Jiselle’s.
At least there was a possibility of going to Johan and staging a protest.
Flora Rodian could be ignored, but the daughter of the Rodian Marquis couldn’t be disregarded.
However, it was different for Jiselle.
Jiselle had neither the strength of a family to support her nor the ability to resist him.
She knew that better than anyone.
So, Jiselle just waited. Well, it’s ambiguous to call it waiting.
Waiting requires the belief that someday the other party will come looking for you.
Jiselle just quietly existed.
‘Still, it’s much better than my maid days.’
She no longer needed to clean the floor, nor did she have to wake up early every morning to comb Anel’s hair.
When she got up, maids would rush to attend to her needs.
‘…Yes, much better than back then.’
Originally a task for maids, there were no noble ladies willing to carry out the duty of attending to her, as she was of humble servant origin.
Because of this, even in a makeshift manner, the maids ended up attending to her needs.
It was embarrassing, but Gizelle thought it was better this way.
If a noble lady were by her side, comparisons would be inevitable. Or she would be oppressed by the noble’s status.
Gizelle was content with simply enjoying the delicious meals that came her way.
Fortunately, Johan was not a harsh husband.
While extravagance was not an option, a generous budget was allocated.
Of course, to spend more than a certain amount of that budget, permission had to be obtained from Ern Lars.
Anyway, living a somewhat uncomfortable life, Gizelle –
“Your Highness.”
She was trembling now.
“Raise your head.”
Johan had suddenly visited late at night.
Naturally, Gizelle’s maids were not prepared for such an abrupt visit.
As the most experienced maids from the palace were sent, they all hurriedly scrambled.
Of course, Gizelle was the most flustered among them.
“Do you have any illness, by any chance?”
“Pardon?”
“Otherwise, there seems to be no reason for you to tremble like this.”
Johannes had a bored expression on his face.
“I apologize-”
“You should say ‘forgive.'”
“Forgive… me.”
Jäger’s face turned red.
Whenever her lack of knowledge in etiquette was exposed, she felt embarrassed.
“Tell Ern to find a manners teacher.”
Johannes said so without any change in expression.
He didn’t seem to have a contemptuous or sympathetic look toward Jäger. It was as if he was simply stating that the sun rises in the east.
However, Jäger found comfort in his indifferent tone.
Until now, whenever she made a mistake in front of nobles or officials in the palace, they would openly sigh.
“B-but, for what reason…”
“You cannot ask me questions.”
Jäger closed her mouth, wondering if she had made another etiquette mistake.
Johannes looked around the room, then focused his gaze on the whiskey on the table.
“It’s not about manners.”
Giselle hastily brought whiskey and poured it into a glass. She then handed it to Johann. The rich aroma of whiskey lingered between the two for a moment before fading away.
“I just don’t feel like answering your question,” Johann said.
“!”
It was another humiliation. The man was openly ignoring her.
“It seems you haven’t outgrown your habits from your servant days.”
Being treated like a servant running over at the master’s beck and call was infuriating, but Johann didn’t attempt to hide her irritation.
“I apologize.”
At least she learned quickly. With her eyes lowered, Johann took a sip of the whiskey.
“Attend breakfast tomorrow.”
“What?”
“Sit next to the Empress.”
“…!”
Being told to attend breakfast was shocking enough, but sit next to Anel?
Giselle was starting to wonder if she was in the midst of a nightmare.
“Samuel Gears must know.”
“…Yes.”
“Your role is simply to make them miserable.”
It was obvious who the two people were—Anel and Samuel. Making once-envied individuals miserable?
Giselle couldn’t comprehend the meaning of the command.
“You don’t need to do anything special.”
“Your mere presence will make them miserable.”
Johann smiled, seemingly affectionate but with a cruel undertone. Giselle was captivated by that smile, one that could make one forget both misery and shame.
Meanwhile, Anel was trying to find a way to assist Samuel with his territory.
It wasn’t just for Samuel’s sake alone.
Samuel was the key to resolving the discord with the Kartar Kingdom.
If Anel pretended to address Samuel’s territorial issues, it would appear as a gesture of at least minimal courtesy towards Kartar.
That was where they had to start.
They needed to show that they wouldn’t abandon the nobility connected by blood and attempt negotiations.
Diplomacy after all, was ultimately about appearances. They had to preserve dignity and gain substance.
‘But how?’
Anel knew that Samuel’s petition was blocked in the assembly. It had been brought up for consideration.
Considering that the assembly was now under Johan’s control, it was Johan’s will.
There was no intention to help with Samuel’s territory.
An utterly heartless individual.
If it were for political reasons or to restrain Samuel, Anel could at least have understood it intellectually.
But Johan was tormenting Samuel thoroughly out of personal emotions.
In any case, Samuel was in a completely crippled state.
There was no way he could pose a threat to Johan anymore.
On the day he lost his position, he signed a document permanently renouncing his imperial succession rights.
Anel bit her lip. The reason for Samuel’s choice was evident.
It was probably a desire not to cause any more chaos in the empire and to avoid a full-scale war with the Kartar Kingdom.
“That person’s goodwill, how do you…”
Anel stared at the Potentia Palace outside the window.
How can you take advantage of such goodwill and still not release Samuel?
“Your Majesty, it’s time for you to rest now.”
Verdi turned off the lights in the corridor and returned. Anel lowered her head.
“Just a little longer, I’ll sleep later. How can you let Samuel go after using such goodwill?”
“Your Majesty, you should sleep. If you stay up late, it will harm your skin. Don’t you have to attend the imperial breakfast and present yourself to His Majesty tomorrow?”
“What does presenting myself to His Majesty have to do with my skin?”
Anel couldn’t hide her bewilderment.
“I heard from the maids that His Majesty is currently in the Second Imperial Palace.”
“!”
Anel was briefly surprised but quickly composed herself.
What’s there to be surprised about? Now Jizel is an official empress. It’s not at all surprising that the emperor visits the empress’s palace.
“Someone who had never set foot in the Empress’s palace even once, I don’t know what’s going on.”
“Do you have something so profound to think about? It’s the Emperor’s duty and joyful news to visit the Empress’s palace. I heard that it was uncomfortable for His Majesty not to visit at all, but now he can rest easy.”
“Your Majesty!”
Verdi protested to Anel with a puffy face.
“If His Majesty had visited the 1st Empress’s palace, I wouldn’t have any complaints. But the 2nd Empress’s palace? And it’s the first time he’s visited the Empress? That’s unacceptable.”
“…Certainly, it’s awkward from the perspective of the 1st Empress.”
Anel sighed.
He should have prioritized the 1st Empress over the 2nd Empress. That was indeed Johann’s mistake.
But there was nothing Anel could do.
If that man had decided to do it that way, no one could have done anything about it.
“I’m sure His Majesty will handle it.”
“I’m worried that the 1st Empress will visit again tomorrow.”
“Well, I’d rather have the 1st Empress visit me.”
“What?”
