Until The Real One Shows Up​

A few days later, the five women – who would be Wilhelm’s maids – entered the palace.

They were all daughters of prominent families, united with the ambition to become Empress by becoming Wilhelm’s mistress.

“I see.”

Mrs. Rochester told her of the severity of the situation, but Anastasia still appeared unruffled.

Mrs. Rochester was frustrated by how composed Anastasia was; however, she was relieved by what she heard from Duke Barantes a few days ago.

“Her Majesty seems to believe in something. She was confident His Majesty’s successor would not be born from a paramour.”

However, he never told her what it was.

‘Yes, I trust Her Majesty has a plan.’

She had already surprised her many times. She had no choice but to trust her this time.

But…

“Don’t forget to send flowers to the ladies who have entered the palace today.”

As expected, this was maddening.

Mrs. Rochester nodded albeit vexed.

“Don’t worry.”

It had long been a tradition in the Imperial family to send welcoming flowers to those who became the Emperor’s lady-in-waiting.

After she came out of Anastasia’s room, Mrs. Rochester called Selene – who was just passing by – while grumbling about who made such a ridiculous custom.

“Will Miss Selene deliver the flowers to the ladies who have entered the palace?”

“Huh? Me?”

“Yes, but if you haven’t learned the layout of the palace yet…”

“Oh, no, Mrs. Rochester. I’ll be back.”

“Take care, then.”

Mrs. Rochester passed by her, while Selene looked a little worried.

‘I mean, ultimately, we will meet Miss Lutent, too…’

Their last meeting was unsavory; hence, it was expected to be uncomfortable.

Nonetheless, Selene decided not to dwell on it further and moved on.

~~~~

At the start of the day, Colton had a hectic schedule, arranging and guiding the new ladies.

In fact, the work itself wasn’t that difficult.

If only the targets were not ambitious young women who came to take the throne.

“Why is my room farther from His Majesty’s bedroom than Aurantine’s? That is not fair!”

It was only one step further though.

To begin with – because of the Central Palace’s structure – it was impossible for all five rooms to be in the same proximity as Wilhelm’s.

However, it didn’t mean there was a huge disparity in the distance; but the new ladies-in-waiting were making a fuss as if it were an incredibly pressing issue.

“I can’t use this room. Please move me to a room closer to His Majesty.”

“Apologies, but that would be difficult, Miss Hilaim.”

“Ha! Then let me serve His Majesty more often than the rest of the ladies. That should be fair!”

The supposed impartiality caused Colton to feel troubled.

‘It would have been better if you had a paramour.’

The thought of suffering in the future had already left him at a loss.

Colton managed to escape from the four young women who wanted to capture the Emperor’s eye and finally went to Melina’s room.

“Thank you for your kind guidance, Lord Colton.”

Melina Lutent was completely different from what he knew about her.

Previously, Melina was cheerful enough to look frivolous in Colton’s memory. But now, she was so calm that he couldn’t see her past appearance.

It evoked an image of a cunning beast that carefully hid its claws while waiting for an opportune moment.

‘Power is scary.’

Despite seemingly being easier to handle than the other four, Colton felt that Melina wasn’t much better than them.

‘I heard you were a childhood friend of Her Majesty’s… I’m sure the Empress is in for a great deal of shock.’

“May I know His Majesty’s schedule for today?” Melina asked brightly, unaware of what Colton was thinking.

“The Emperor said he would call you if there were anything in particular that needed assistance.”

Melina’s expression slightly hardened by the euphemistic refusal.

But soon she spoke casually.

“I believe as his lady-in-waiting, we must know His Majesty’s schedule beforehand. That way, we may be able to assist him tactfully.”

“I’ll let you know when that happens.”

Melina’s face completely stiffened from the series of rejections. Meanwhile, Colton felt an invigorating satisfaction when he saw it.

In fact, it wasn’t that difficult to reveal His Majesty’s schedule, but he didn’t want to readily divulge it. Especially to Melina.

“Then rest.”

After a perfunctory greeting, Colton promptly left. Melina glared at the spot he previously stood and turned around.

Wanting to take a bath, she was about to inform her maids when…

Knock! Knock!

She heard a knock.

Did Colton come back? Or was it Wilhelm?

Anyone was acceptable. Melina then smiled and opened her mouth.

“Come in!”

Unfortunately, it was neither Colton nor Wilhelm who opened the door and walked in. Melina’s expression quickly became stiff.

“Hello, Miss Lutent.”

It was Selene. The servants who followed held bouquets of bright red roses.

“The Empress sent these flowers to celebrate the Lady’s entrance.”

Melina found it distasteful when Selene directly looked into her eyes and at what she said.

The word “Empress” that came out of her mouth was all the more offensive to Melina.

It reminded her of her last encounter with Anastasia. The shame she felt then.

Melina stared at Selene in silence, while Selene casually took a bouquet from a maid and handed it to her.

But instead of graciously accepting it, Melina just stared at it.

As time went on – with how heavy the bouquet was – Selene’s arms started to feel numb.

“… Miss Lutent?”

Selene asked cautiously, but Melina just remained unresponsive.

At this point, she realized that Melina was doing it on purpose. Hence, she decided to place the bouquet on the table and leave.

“Ah…!”

Suddenly, someone grabbed her hard, causing her to turn around. And a sharp sound echoed in the room.

Slap!

In a flash, a surge of anger and tingling heat stung her left cheek. 

Selene blankly stared at Melina, who had just slapped her.

“… Miss Lutent, what are you doing?”

“I believe I should be the one asking that.”

Melina looked at Selene, the corners of her mouth curled up.

“I haven’t accepted Her Majesty’s gift yet, but why are you leaving it on the table? And did you just ignore me? How dare you?”

“You were the one ignoring me. I handed you the flowers, but you stayed still for a long time.”

“It was because I was pondering on what should I say as thanks to Her Majesty. How dare you misunderstand me?”

“What?”

“Look at you blatantly standing up to me. You still haven’t figured out your place.”

Melina approached Selene with a look full of malice.

“No matter how much you say you are the lady of the Empress, I am the Marquis’ daughter and you are just a commoner. How dare a commoner act insolent to a noble?”

“To insult me is to insult the Empress. Watch what you say!”

“What if I don’t care? What are you going to do?”

Melina laughed at Selene and poked her forehead with her finger.

“Are you going to slap the Marquis’ Young Miss on the cheek or what?”

“Miss Lutent!”

“I haven’t liked you since I first saw you. You don’t know the basics. So I’m going to make you regret it.…!”

Thud.

All of a sudden the door opened.

Melina and Selene were stunned at the unexpected intrusion as they gazed at the opened door.

Anastasia walked into the room with an impassive face.

Melina hurriedly removed her hand from Selene and she quickly bowed her head. Selene also immediately bowed and prepared herself.

“…”

Anastasia quietly scanned the room. Melina then chose that moment to open her mouth.

“I see the Empress, the Moon of the Empire.”

“…”

However, Anastasia did not reply to the greeting.

She only gave Melina a wry look.

As the unnatural quietness continued, an unsettling tension weighed on everyone in the room.

Melina felt it especially so, but she didn’t show it and just bowed her head.

“I have been shortsighted with my thoughts, Selene.”

Selene raised her head, puzzled at the sudden remark. As a result, the scratches on her cheek caught Anastasia’s attention.

The Empress then frowned, and Selene quickly lowered her head, but it was futile.

“I should have set an example that day.”

Anastasia murmured in a dry voice.

“Then you would have behaved accordingly.”

“Your Majesty, what do you…”

As Selene expressed her bewilderment, Anastasia suddenly grabbed Melina’s chin and yanked it up.

This forced Melina to look directly at Anastasia, and while Melina panicked, Anastasia slapped her on the cheek.

“Argh!”

The unexpected slap was painful. To be exact, it was more so because she had never experienced anything like it.

Melina screamed and covered her cheek.

“Your Majesty, what are you…!”

Unfortunately for her, her grievance was cut short.

The moment Melina moved her lips, Anastasia once again raised her hand and slapped her on the cheek. It happened in an instant.

“Hey!”

Melina screamed at her once more.

Her lips were busted and a trickle of blood could be seen. Although surrounded by dumbstruck servants, the Empress just gazed at Selene, unperturbed. 

And so Anastasia said to Selene, who was rendered speechless and unable to move.

“If someone insults you in the future, even if you can’t talk back, slap their cheek twice. The first one is the price of insulting you.”

Anastasia turned her head again and stared down at Melina, who looked like she was about to faint at any moment.

She once again raised her hand and slapped her cheek.

Slap!

Melina then fell to the floor, shocked. While Anastasia casually patted her red palm and concluded.

“The other one because they insulted me.”

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