chapter 21

Catching sight of Albert slipping away, Juju barely managed to suppress a sharp exhale.

When she had greeted him as the guest of honor at the ball, Albert had seemed momentarily flustered.

She couldn't precisely read his thoughts. Was he surprised by the beauty of this body, or had his uncanny insight reminded him of Charlotte?

Whichever it was, the fire that blazed up from the ruins in her heart was difficult to extinguish. The emotions she suppressed beneath her smile threatened to burn even her hair.

However, if she were so swept away by her emotions as to ruin her plans, she wouldn't have become the best assassin.

Juju suppressed her inner turmoil and calmly got through the moment, all the while remaining aware of Albert's presence.

As a result, she clearly sensed his gaze drawn to her at certain moments. Then finally, he exited the hall.

He's probably going for a walk in the garden. He has a tendency to withdraw and isolate himself until his feelings are sorted out.

When she was Charlotte, how much had she struggled to accommodate his sensitivities?

It was true that Albert possessed an eye for recognizing a jewel among roadside stones. In fact, this discerning eye had played a major role in him becoming Emperor. But at times, it had also been a poison to his mind.

Since the setting was a ballroom, their past conversations echoed in her mind.

"Lotte... Watching you dance makes me anxious. Your steps are so light, I feel like you'll leave me someday."

"Albert, why would you say that? I'll never leave you. I'll always be by your side. It doesn't matter if Albert isn't a prince!"

I won't force you to dance with me. I'll do what Albert likes.

Being hated by Albert is awful. If I don't have Albert, I'll have nothing left.

Ah... How pathetic.

Why had she wasted her time and energy like that?

She didn't even feel regret. As the anger she had felt when they faced each other subsided, she simply felt foolish.

Her affection and longing for old memories had scattered when her knees had been broken. Now that she had changed bodies, they were completely gone. She couldn't piece them back together just by seeing his face again.

Whatever, stew in your worries, Albert.

He was the final goal, but not today's target.

Juju handed her empty glass to Nadia. She was about to go to Ruslan and show off their close relationship in this high society.

A stately old woman approached, dragging her heavy dress.

"Juju, my dear. May I call you that?"

Juju recognized her and lifted the hem of her dress.

"Speak, Countess Meyer. What precious business do you have with someone so humble?"

"Indeed, your education is better than most young ladies these days. There's a summons from the head table, so you must go and meet her."

Juju bowed her head and slyly glanced upward.

Countess Meyer was considered a senior figure in the court.

During the long reign of the previous Emperor, the Empress had changed several times, six in all. Meyer had been in the Imperial Palace since the time of the third Empress. By the time of the sixth, who bore Albert, she had risen to the position of head lady-in-waiting.

She was truly the power behind the Imperial Palace. And that was still the case under the current Empress.

Juju, with Nadia behind her, walked toward the front of the hall. She touched her earrings and whispered softly to Ruslan.

-The Empress has summoned me. There's no need for you to follow or interfere.

-Are you sure? You said today is the first time you've met her.

The reply came almost immediately. Juju swallowed hard.

-Probably.

If she were to set a primary goal for today's ball, it would be this person.

She had never met her, so she couldn't make predictions, but she knew her background well.

Bathilde. The prized daughter of the Carnstein ducal family. The Carnsteins were a prestigious family who had produced queens since the ancient kingdom that had become the ancestor of the Imperial family.

Therefore, Bathilde had grown up aiming to be the future Empress from birth.

Initially, she had been betrothed at birth to the son of the first prince. However, the betrothed had died young. The most likely theory was that she had been eliminated by the third princess.

After that, various marriage proposals had been exchanged according to the family's circumstances and the political landscape. Because of this, the Duke of Carnstein had lost quite a bit of favor, so there were predictions that Albert, who had eventually become Emperor, would not choose Bathilde as his bride.

Regardless, Albert eventually chose a daughter of Carnstein, as tradition dictated.

The twenty-four-year-old Emperor. The eighteen-year-old Empress. Both were outstanding beauties. It was a picture perfect start for the Empire.

Especially since the villainess who had been circling the Emperor had been locked away in a deep snow mountain cave.

"Your Majesty Bathilde, I have brought her as you commanded."

Countess Meyer said, standing straight.

Bathilde was sitting on a long chair near the throne. The petticoats, the most lavishly puffed out in this ballroom, filled the seat.

As Juju approached, the maids holding refreshment plates moved aside in unison.

Bathilde's cheeks were flushed the same color as her fluffy hair.

"Welcome, Count Keitel's beloved. We only exchanged greetings earlier, but we didn't get a chance to talk."

"...I am overwhelmed by Your Imperial Majesty's summons."

"Don't be so stiff, come closer. I want to see your face up close."

A command from the Empress required more than simply approaching.

As Juju knelt right in front of the chair and spread out her dress, Bathilde unfolded her fan and stared down at her.

It was difficult to read her expression with the fan covering her face. What exactly was the intention behind the slight smile around her eyes? Juju quickly calculated.

Could she be trying to assert her dominance over a newcomer to society?

Then Bathilde lowered her fan and smiled brightly.

"You really are amazing. I've never seen such a pretty girl in the capital."

Huh?

Juju blinked, her eyes wide.

"To be this pretty even up close. It's no wonder His Majesty was surprised. Go ahead and get up, I'm worried your beautiful dress will get dirty."

Juju, slightly taken aback by her thoughtful tone, reluctantly stood up.

Bathilde was a difficult opponent to predict. Meeting her in person, she was even more unpredictable.

She had been the Empress of the Empire for five years, so Juju had thought that she would be somewhat politically savvy. She had predicted that she would know how to make people obey her with a smile.

Moreover, Juju was a commoner who had shown up as the lover of a local nobleman. She could have been criticized for being disrespectful for daring to look the Empress in the eye.

But Bathilde was smiling with such an innocent face.

She even kindly instructed the maid waiting behind her.

"Bring a chair. Give this young lady a place to sit. I want to talk to her until the end of this piece of music."

The orchestra was still playing the repertoire of dance tunes, but now everyone was getting tired, so other than a few couples, the atmosphere was more conducive to conversation.

Juju sat down in the chair brought by the servant and looked for Ruslan. It was very easy to know where he was. He was standing in front of a pillar in the hall, surrounded by more than ten young ladies as if they were besieging him.

She was facing an unpredictable opponent, while he seemed to be having a good time. What exactly was he talking about in front of those many women? Juju felt a little piqued and whispered.

-What's so interesting?

-The cultivation method of rowan berries, a specialty of the North.

The young ladies were so focused and happy while he was spewing such nonsense? One would have thought he was reciting love poems.

Thinking that there were all kinds of absurd things in the world, she focused on the person in front of her. A maid happened to bring her hot coffee.

Bathilde smiled brightly and said.

"Have some brandy cake too. It's common for young ladies to overexert themselves at their first ball."

"I am afraid that Your Imperial Majesty is even thinking of someone like me."

"There's no need to be ashamed of your origins. You are also a citizen of the Empire, so how could I neglect you?"

Bathilde looked at Juju kindly.

"I don't really know much about politics, but since you went to the trouble of holding a ball, His Majesty must value Count Keitel. If that's the case, it is my duty as Empress to treat you well, whom he brought with him."

Her duty as Empress, was it?

Juju cut the cake with her fork, hiding her complicated feelings.

Bathilde was definitely one of the reasons why Charlotte had been ruined.

However, she wasn't at fault. On the contrary, she was the victim of a sudden attack as soon as the selection was decided.

It was said that a strange man appeared on the way back after looking around the Imperial Palace.

She had almost been dragged away by a group of thugs from the back alleys. Thanks to the Imperial Knight who was in charge of guarding her showing up in time and capturing them, it ended safely.

To such a Bathilde, Charlotte would have been nothing more than the mastermind behind the plot, a fearsome and crazy rival in love.

Even if Albert had kept Charlotte by his side instead of eliminating her, it didn't seem like they would have had a positive relationship.

No matter how thoroughly Charlotte drew a line in the sand in the marital relationship, her very existence might have been painful for Bathilde.

She felt a little guilty about pretending to be someone else and deceiving such a person.

"So, what would you like to be called? Tell me the official name registered in the temple."

Juju quickly lowered her head and reported.

"I am honored, Your Imperial Majesty. Humble people are often given such simple names. It is probably written the same way in the temple registry as well."

Bathilde swallowed her embarrassment without showing it.

"I'm sorry for asking a pointless question. I didn't know because I was careless. As the mother of the nation... shamefully."

Then, she smiled brightly and changed the subject.

"Then, Juju, how old are you this year?"

"I am eighteen."

"Ah! That's the age I started serving His Majesty. I'm twenty-three this year. Please think of me as an older sister, just like other young ladies do."

"An older sister... are you saying...?"

Juju tried to read Bathilde's inner thoughts for a moment but gave up.

Those words were not the result of calculation or intrigue. She seemed to be looking at a crystal made only of goodness, raised in a transparently clean world.

She had said with her own mouth that she didn't know much about politics. Albert would not have shown or asked Bathilde for anything dirty, but would have treated her cleanly.

Juju felt a strange sense of sadness. It wasn't because she was resentful that she was taking on the blame for Albert instead.

"Your Imperial Majesty's grace is boundless. Then, may I dare to be your friend and talk to you?"

She momentarily had the thought that she shouldn't miss Bathilde's temporary interest. The fact that she was trying to use her as planned at this opportunity felt ridiculously evil.

Bathilde's eyes widened at the unexpected suggestion.

"A friend?"

"You probably don't know how ordinary people live in the countryside. I'm sure you'll have many interesting stories to tell Your Imperial Majesty. If you would ever give me the honor of drinking tea under the afternoon sun, I would like to tell you many things."

"Oh my, what a wonderful idea! Flowers will bloom in the backyard soon... Meyer, what does my schedule look like in the future?"

Bathilde spoke with the bright eyes of a girl who had received a new doll. Juju, watching that scene, closed her lips.

Albert had used Bathilde to eliminate Charlotte. Now she was thinking of doing the same thing.

I need to become close to her in order to minimize misfortune.

Just the fact that she had interactions with the Empress would give her influence not only in high society but also in the Imperial Palace. If she became close, she might be granted authority.

Ultimately, she intended to approach the private life beneath the phenomenon of not having an heir.

Even in order to cleanse the aftermath of her revenge, she couldn't allow Bathilde to have Albert's child.

And...

Just you wait, Albert. I won't just take your life away from you.

If there were even the slightest cracks in that couple, that would be the start.