Wherever the Monde ducal family stayed, newspapers and magazines were regularly delivered in abundance. Maids and servants would hurry to purchase newly published special editions. Like other nobles, failing to obtain the latest daily papers or women’s fashion magazines would result in harsh scolding.
The Duchess of Monde and Beatrice typically enjoyed parties until late at night or dawn, then would wake up late in the afternoon to read through accumulated newspapers over a late lunch.
The two had identical ways of reading newspapers. They would quickly scan the front page, seeking and reading the society column about nobles’ latest trends and special features, before skimming through the remaining articles.
Even without interest, they read because the people they met often appeared in the political and social sections.
“Oh my, what is this? Are they crazy?”
Beatrice’s elegant brow furrowed unpleasantly as she was gracefully drinking tea, and harsh words escaped her lips. She put down her teacup with a clatter, set aside the newspaper she was reading, and thoroughly searched through other newspapers.
Then, with an increasingly unpleasant expression, she opened the next newspaper. Seeing similar content in the next paper, she roughly flipped through it before immediately opening a women’s weekly magazine.
“Are they all out of their minds?”
She flipped through the weekly magazine as if she might tear it, before finally throwing it down in anger.
“Oh my, you startled me.”
The Duchess of Monde, who had been dozing at the dining table suffering from a hangover, suddenly raised her head.
“Why are you in such a temper this morning?”
“Just look at this.”
The Duchess of Monde, holding her throbbing head, picked up the weekly magazine her daughter had thrown. Although she was frowning from the headache, she soon began reading the article with interest while sipping warm tea.
“Lusenford, they have arrived?”
Beatrice, still wearing a disdainful expression, piled up in front of her mother all the articles sharing the same disagreeable content.
“Oh my, they did. A purple spinel for His Majesty? How could Lusenford afford such a thing with their poverty? They must have uprooted their foundation pillars.”
“Ah, haven’t you heard? They discovered a gold mine there. Everyone’s rushing there to mine gold, didn’t you know?”
To survive in high society, one had to be well-informed about all kinds of news. That’s why Beatrice forced herself to read even the boring political article headlines. Just reading one main headline was enough – if she mentioned it, gentlemen would be enthusiastic about her. They would compete to explain the content to her when she didn’t know the details.
“Did they?”
The Duchess of Monde responded absent-mindedly while struggling to read the newspaper.
“Why are there so many jewels? A flower made of jewels? It must have been quite something.”
“Ah, don’t just read that, read this too.”
“It’s killing me to read such small print in the morning. Someone bring me a magnifying glass.”
Though her eyes hurt, she couldn’t miss such an intriguing article. The Duchess grudgingly skimmed through the articles her daughter kept pushing toward her. Women’s magazines, gossip columns, current affairs magazines’ society sections – all were buzzing about the Grand Duke and Duchess of Lusenford.
After reading all those articles, the Duchess of Monde grabbed a women’s weekly magazine that had published a special edition with feature articles and screamed.
“Where on earth did Kaela get her dress made?”
The articles were all about the Grand Ducal couple who had appeared by the Ener River.
There were articles about the dress and parasol worn by the Grand Duchess who appeared to be in poor health, gossip about how much the Grand Duke cared for his seemingly unwell Grand Duchess, articles about gentlemen who lined up to approach the Grand Duchess, articles expressing desperate curiosity about what jewels the Grand Duke had gifted to the Grand Duchess – they went on and on.
“You still don’t know? Do you?”
“How would I know that?”
The Grand Ducal couple of Lusenford occupied a section in every gossip magazine. Beatrice was already irritated by this, but what made her jealousy bubble up was that all articles focused on the Grand Duchess rather than the Grand Duke – this supposedly sickly Grand Duchess.
There were always articles about Beatrice. But today, she couldn’t accept being merely mentioned in a small corner before disappearing. Kaela particularly irked her.
A noble bloodline, immensely loved by her parents, ultimately claiming Peon, and this girl who didn’t even have to worry about money while bearing the title of “Your Highness” that not just anyone could have.
While other similarly privileged noble girls either saw Beatrice as an object of envy or wept after being tormented by her, somehow no amount of bullying or subtle harassment seemed enough when it came to Kaela.
“Who could have made it? They say the lace and chiffon were fantastic?”
Where did that incredibly beautiful white dress come from? The gentlemen who had gathered courage to speak to her unanimously said the Grand Duchess shone like an angel, seeming to emanate white light.
“Ah, is that important right now? If they’re getting all the attention, what are mother and I supposed to live on?”
Beatrice stood up abruptly.
“Where are you going?”
“I need to go out and make tomorrow’s newspaper articles!”
She needed to throw a huge party or something that would overshadow any news about the Ener River. Kaela should have stayed buried in Lusenford, that rural backwater, living quietly and provincial-like, as suited her.
That’s how it should be. Why should that dim-witted girl unfairly have everything?
No matter how much she put her down, Kaela would look at Beatrice with clear eyes, and now she sat in an even higher position, with both money and a man. Beatrice wished just once to properly put her in her place.
Though she never left Kaela alone whenever their paths crossed, somehow Kaela continued to torment her. It felt like, though she couldn’t remember exactly, Kaela had disgustingly revived after being properly broken. She was particularly angry because her recent visit to Lusenford left her feeling unsettled.
‘Starting with pearls. White pearls shattering, blood spattering. Two crowns. One breaks, one stands anew.’
Walking quickly through the corridor toward the dressing room, Beatrice recalled the vision she had experienced in Lusenford.
‘Two roses as well. The red rose burns, the white rose blooms.’
Everything was engulfed in flames. One standing crown shattered and fell into the sea of fire, and the flames that devoured the crown burned the red rose as well.
‘Good.’
Beatrice flung open the dressing room door.
‘I’ll wear the new crown.’
The flower of society, surely the white rose meant her. The vision in Lusenford was thoroughly a prophecy for Beatrice.
****
At Lanpalar Palace in Ostein, Kaela had always been told she was pretty. So whenever she was compared to Beatrice in Craine and Lusenford, she was hurt, shocked, and eventually just accepted it and let it pass. By then, appearances were no longer important anyway.
It had been long since she’d been called pretty, and now she believed such formal compliments were neither sincere nor meant for her. She was the stiff and cold Grand Duchess who wasn’t as pretty as Beatrice.
“Look over there.”
“Where did that come from?”
As soon as Kaela, who had been featured in various newspapers and magazines for days, entered the royal palace after four days, she drew tremendous attention. The whispering glances seemed even more numerous than four days ago.
“Hello, Your Highness.”
“Ah, hello, Countess Soros. You’ve come to Craine.”
“Yes. How is your health?”
“I’m managing well enough to get around. His Majesty has been very considerate.”
Among the many staring eyes, Sophie, Countess Soros, who was familiar with Kaela and from a prestigious enough family to initiate conversation, approached her.
Having hosted the Grand Ducal couple of Lusenford at their estate Papihill on their way to Craine, Sophie exchanged ordinary greetings with Kaela before asking with a smile.
“You’ve taken on another important responsibility as expected. Is it not too difficult?”
“It’s only the second day.”
Kaela deflected with a gentle smile. She didn’t want to think about what kind of trouble the Marchioness of Schroz might have caused meanwhile.
“Your Highness, I have a question. I saw the articles. When you went to the Ener River with His Highness, might I ask where you commissioned that dress? Not just me, but all the other ladies are curious.”
It had been the hottest topic for days. The press, which had been counting how many times the Marchioness of Schroz had ruined engagement ceremony plans, was now enthralled by the Lusenford couple who had appeared and started by presenting small but precious and thoughtful gifts to the Emperor.
Along with expectations that the Grand Duchess of Lusenford would sort out this chaotic engagement ceremony, various stories about her nearly dying in the cold north right after marriage before coming to Craine were published.
Especially the gossip magazines enthusiastically reported about the couple spending time ‘intimately’ alone by the Ener River.
“And the parasol too.”
Behind Countess Soros, ladies with fans could be seen glancing this way.
“Ah, the dress.”
“I understand if you don’t want to reveal your exclusive designer, but couldn’t you give us just a hint, or at least tell us what fabric was used or what kind of order it was?”
That white outdoor dress was still carefully hung in the wardrobe.
“I’m sorry. I…well, His Highness gave me the dress and parasol, so I haven’t had the chance to check where he ordered them from. Probably somewhere in Lusenford.”
“Ah! It was a gift from His Highness! Then it must be a Lusenford designer? Goodness, to think there’s such a master craftsman in the north!”
Countess Soros covered her mouth and laughed, apparently delighted to learn something others didn’t know. Then, lowering her voice, she whispered secretly to Kaela.
“Thank you for telling me, Your Highness. Everyone is relieved that you’re in charge of the engagement ceremony. The Marchioness of Schroz knows nothing. Really, nothing at all.”
Countess Soros was the niece of Countess Siner, one of the Empress’s chief ladies-in-waiting. She came from such an ancient family that their family name itself became the name of their territory.
As the Empress’s faction weakened, the Crown Prince’s faction was gaining power. Meanwhile, with the Marchioness of Schroz failing to perform her duties properly and the Lusenford couple gaining spotlight, Craine’s political sphere was becoming complicated. The Emperor was benefiting the most from this.
“What happened?”
Kaela, whose husband was the Empress’s illegitimate child, had no choice but to be close to the Empress’s faction.
“What else? The Marchioness of Schroz tried to overturn everything Your Highness had settled.”
That was expected.
“But you know, the officials moved quickly because they anticipated this. Everything was already approved and cooperation requested from the Empress’s Palace, yet she tried to overturn it.”
The experienced chief ladies-in-waiting lurking in the Empress’s Palace wouldn’t have stayed quiet. For these women from prestigious families who had cut their teeth in high society, this was finally an opportunity to officially protest against the Marchioness’s actions.
While it was called a protest, the Marchioness of Schroz, from a wealthy commoner background, had many shortcomings in palace life and made no effort to improve, so she would have been torn apart by the chief ladies-in-waiting.
“I see. Thank you for letting me know.”
Countess Soros stepped back with a slight smile.
“I’m sorry for keeping you so long when you’re busy, Your Highness.”
“Not at all.”
“See you next time.”
“Yes.”
The Marchioness of Schroz must have been deeply offended.
The newspaper most subscribed to by political and business figures had already lavished praise on the Emperor, and rather than expressing expectations about the Crown Prince’s engagement, it was full of anticipations about how the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess of Lusenford would properly assist His Majesty, the great Emperor.
From there, the Crown Prince and the Marchioness of Schroz were effectively sidelined, and articles praising the delicate artwork that the Grand Duke and Duchess presented to the Emperor were prominent. Even political journals, not just fashion or cultural magazines, were competing to describe how valuable and beautiful these items were.
While on the surface they appeared to be arguing about whose Craine Palace sources were more accurate, it was obvious they were all mentioning the same details: ‘intricate golden craftsmanship, jeweled flowers more detailed than real ones, space for a portrait of the beloved Empress, and purple spinel resembling Her Majesty’s eyes.’ It was clear that the Emperor, pleased with Peon’s gift, had deliberately leaked this to the press.
This was his way of saying that since he received such a gift, others should step up and bring similar presents. It was typical of the cunning and greedy Emperor.
With such a personality, he wouldn’t properly favor either side or maintain order.
“Grand Duchess, do you have no respect for hierarchy?”
Sure enough, as soon as they arrived, the Marchioness of Schroz shouted angrily. Having dismissed all the staff, she positioned her own maids behind her. She seemed to have prepared thoroughly.
“Are you toying with me? Pretending to care about me while pulling all the strings behind my back!”
Unable to confront the Empress’s chief ladies-in-waiting, she took out her frustration on young Kaela.
“There seems to be a misunderstanding…”
“I don’t want to hear it! I know girls like you very well! You smooth-talk with fancy words that are hard to understand! That’s what fraud is! You understand? I don’t care how educated you are, but you shouldn’t dare treat me, the Crown Prince’s mother, this way!”
Kaela fell silent at the shrill accusations. The familiar fatigue washed over her again.
“Kneel down right now!”
This had been planned. The Marchioness’s maids rushed forward and forced Kaela to her knees. The Marchioness, who had stormed in, slapped Kaela’s cheek with her fan.
“A bastard’s daughter who married a bastard, how dare you manipulate the Crown Prince’s mother? Stay on your knees until you’ve properly repented and received forgiveness! Make sure she does it properly!”
“Yes.”
The Marchioness of Schroz turned sharply and went inside, leaving several maids to watch over Kaela. Under their harsh gazes, Kaela made eye contact with the shocked Sir Renard and Cecile. Sudden humiliation was nothing new to her. Well, Lusenford or Craine, people were the same everywhere.
She thought deeply about what to do next, but then gave up from exhaustion. What else could she do? She would just have to stay quietly kneeling as ordered. With the Emperor watching closely, she couldn’t confront the Marchioness of Schroz. It seemed she would always be the one getting pushed around.
Well, I can trust that Peon won’t let this slide.