Although Fabian was frustrated that he couldn’t go to the Empress’s Palace often because he had to do his official pile of work postponed, Evelyn checked Adrian’s sleeping condition. She toured around every corner of her Palace, which she had long left behind.
“Nora, please call Rebecca,” Evelyn said, after confirming everything was perfect.
Soon, Rebecca came into the living room with a happy face. She was worried about their reunion, but Rebecca was relieved when she watched it through her own eyes.
“Princess, did you call me? Oh, I was about to forget a gift.”
“Gift?” Evelyn asked in wonder, but Rebecca nodded excitedly, “Nora, bring her.”
“I’ve been waiting.”
Before Evelyn’s still puzzled expression disappeared, she saw a little girl shyly come in and giving an example.
“Lily!”
“Princess…… I asked Lady Rebecca and came here to meet you.”
Evelyn hugged Lily, who cried out for joy. She wanted Lily to stay in the Palace with her, but she couldn’t say it because she was sorry for her. But now, when she came to her first, Evelyn was more than satisfied. “Why didn’t you tell me if you’ve arrived?”
“That …… I wanted to regain my status as a palace-maid first. I wanted to see you like this.” said Lily with tearful eyes.
When Evelyn looked at her, she saw a blue ribbon on Lily’s hair. It was an indication of the status granted to the Empress’ high-ranking maids and servants.
“Because this Palace hasn’t changed, I… … should look the same.”
Evelyn laughed as she looked at Lily’s smile. No words were needed, as they both spent a long time together. So, four people gathered together to have a warm afternoon tea time. To celebrate a new beginning of the Empress Palace.
“I have a lot to say to everyone.”
The rest nodded at Evelyn’s words. Actually, they were waiting for Evelyn to bring it up.
She took something out of her arms and showed it to them. It was a ring, engraved with the Empress’s seal.
Unlike Nora, who had already seen that ring, Rebecca couldn’t hide her relieved smile, while Lily couldn’t conceal her delighted face.
“That’s perfect.”
Rebecca said something meaningful. Even if the Emperor said that he would reappoint Evelyn, an Empress again, he couldn’t guarantee her future without giving her substantial power.
“Your Majesty said he wouldn’t have to wait for remarriage to give me this seal,” said Evelyn, recalling her conversation with Fabian.
“That’s a brilliant idea.”
“I took it because I thought it would be useful, too. I’m not alone anymore. I have to protect Adrian.”
“Yes, that’s right.”
Fabian now also had affirmed Evelyn’s ambiguous status as the Prince’s birth mother. That title gave more power that was much stronger than her previous Empress status. Now, Evelyn had a double title, as the Crown prince’s birth mother and the next Empress.
“Tonight, when the edict is promulgated… … I will be the next Empress,” Evelyn said calmly. “And, His Majesty said that he would give me full authority over my Palace considering my status.”
“Hoo…… I feel good about everything.” Rebecca’s honest thoughts made everyone laugh. “Of course, you’re going to use it, aren’t you?”
“Yes. Because His Majesty gave the authority to do so despite opposition.”
At least, now, Evelyn wouldn’t wear a vague-Empress-coffin as meaninglessly as before.
“Even if there’s a rebound, it can be justified. The Empress Dowager has lived in the Southern Palace for a long time but has never taken care of the Inner Palace at all,” said Rebecca.
Rebecca was right. Initially, Fabian’s mother had to take care of the Inner Palace when Evelyn wasn’t here. But Monica never fulfilled her duties. That’s why, even if she lived in the same Palace as Evelyn now, she didn’t have the right to protest.
“His Majesty said he would overcome any backlash, but I also have work to do.”
“Ok. It’s the women’s job.”
“The second thing is if I say I can do better…… Am I too arrogant?” asked Evelyn with a faint smile. “You’ll do well,” Rebecca spoke sincerely in response.
“Princess, if it’s the current you, you can do well enough.”
“But not alone.” Evelyn’s blue eyes pointed at Rebecca. “It’s a selfish request, but I still need help from Rebecca and everyone.”
“I’ll be sad if you don’t need me.”
“Then, Rebecca. May I use my authority to appoint you as the chief maid of my Palace instead of the Countess?”
The Palace chief maid had been owned by a noblewoman from generation to generation. Previously, Evelyn had no chance or ambition to choose it, but it was different now.
“I have the confidence to do better than my predecessors,” said Rebecca confidently.
“Good.”
“By the way, I’m not a noble wife right now. Would it be fine?” Rebecca maybe had a playful attitude, but she wanted to make sure everything was clear.
Evelyn shrugged her shoulder, “I’m not an Empress now, either.” She decided not to care about trivial things anymore as she didn’t want to waste time by being stuck in detailed etiquette and rules.
“Now that I have the full authority of Inner Palace, it’s my job to serve our guests.”
“Ah… I see.”
Now in Inner Palace, there were Empress Dowager and Stella. It was initially important to make it explicit that Stella, who had initially entered the Palace to become an Empress, had been downgraded to being a guest.
“If you’re going to entertain a guest anyway, why don’t you call the other ladies and wives?” Rebecca’s green eyes shone brightly. It was clear to Evelyn that Rebecca was already planning to take revenge.
“It’s a good idea. I’ll repeal Lady Satin’s punishment, so please tell her to participate.”
“Leave it to me. I won’t leave anyone out.” Rebecca gave a confident smile. Evelyn was very relieved to see that she had found the right person.
Now, Evelyn was taking back her own things one by one.
***
That evening, at the same time as the Imperial Bell rang, a new edict was issued.
It was only this morning that she received the news that Evelyn had returned to the Empress’ Palace. Before she even accepted it, Stella was being told another thing: Evelyn already had the full authority of Inner Palace.
“Really… … Is it okay?” Stella stared anxiously at her aunt.
Although Monica tried to calm her down, no matter how persistent her father’s wishes were, this situation was totally unfavorable to her in Stella’s eyes.
“At this rate, she’ll be the Empress tomorrow.”
“Yeah, maybe.” Monica spat carelessly.
“What?”
Monica glanced at Stella’s crumpled face, biting her long pipe. “I don’t know His Majesty’s way of thinking. In the first place … I didn’t even know there was such a way.”
As she knew, Fabian had never been obsessed with anything, whether items or people. He was a cold, dry man who never gave his attachment to some object.
It was the same to his Emperor-father, and even his biological mother, Monica, was no exception. So she was surprised when Fabian was obviously obsessed with Evelyn.
“Well, what should we do?” asked Stella.
“I don’t know……The opponent will move soon anyway.”
Suddenly, Stella’s heart burned more because her aunt was so calm and relaxed. “Then … … Didn’t you say she couldn’t adjust to Imperial life? Shall we meet her now?”
“Hmm.” Monica was lost in thought for a moment, spewing smoke. It reminded her of the time when she was the owner of the Empress’ Palace.
“Now, to move forward …… There is no choice but to break through head-on. Even if you were in my position, you would make the same choice. ” said Stella.
Looking at her, Monica imagined the expression of her brother, Duke Metis, and it made her laugh.
“I really don’t understand. She left because she didn’t like him, so why is she now coming back and trying to become an Empress again?”
“It’s different from before. The same goes for me. I never ruled my Palace because I wanted to. ” Monica said calmly. She was originally a girl who didn’t like to come forward, loved to daydream and decorate little things.
However, Monica’s family and her father’s will was different. What she realized was that she had to use her own power to defend herself.
“Well, the former Empress is from a noble family. She’s a Kingdom Princess, and no noble wives dare to mock her status… …,” muttered Stella in a low voice.
“In front of her, they won’t. You, too, you also have no choice but to smile when Princess Evelyn calls you right away. Or you choose to show your modest pride and act like a dog that lost the fight?”
“No, I can’t do that… “
“If you know, don’t get into a fight of small things, but stay back.” Monica crawled out of her annoying niece. But Stella wasn’t wrong as it was definitely different from their original plan. But now, they couldn’t predict what choice Fabian would make now.
If he was the son, she had known all along. Fabian would hand over his own son, who was now his successor to Duchess Perth, to be raised.
“I really don’t know the men’s thoughts in this Imperial family.”
The autumn night was quite chilly. Monica already missed her warm Southern Palace.
Somehow, her purpose was a little different from his older brother, Duke Metis. No, from the start, their mindset was already very different.
For Monica, who had already enjoyed everything when she was an Empress, it was the best choice right now to get out of these complicated battles and lived peacefully in a separate Palace.
“Sarah.”
At her low call, the maid appeared quietly and bowed politely. When Monica was married, Sara was an entourage maid brought from the Duke. Until now, she was also a person who shared almost her life by Monica’s side.
“How I can get back to my warm Palace as soon as possible……I think we should think about it.”
“Well, you can’t use the Duke Metis’ men, then.” Sarah, indeed, knew Monica very well. “Let’s find Sir Serus….”
“In case that would be nice.” Monica smiled faintly. Sagan didn’t know, but the Empress Dowager presence was a big variable. Unless if they had the same purpose, there were no rules to cooperate with her own family.
“Perhaps, that child has changed.”
“Do you mean…..His Majesty?”
“No, the former empress.”
Sarah had a curious look on her face. She had seen Evelyn herself as well. But her impression of her was faint except that she was a beauty. There was no sense of dignity as the Imperial Empress.
“When you have a child, you will feel different.” Monica had experienced it herself. “Even if you live aimlessly, you suddenly draw a future for your child to grow up.”
It was a story from a long time ago when Fabian was born.
“Once you have a child, everything changes. ‘Cause you definitely want to survive.” Monica squinted her eyes, remembering the past. A Feeling that Sarah, who was childless, couldn’t understand.
But one thing that Sarah knew, Monica never treated her son affectionately.
“And you want to give your child a better future. To do that, you need the power you don’t wish and make compromises with the world. “
“Well, I see…….”
No one else knew, but Sarah was.
Monica’s expression was from the side, looking at Fabian breastfeeding in his nanny’s arms. Also, when she persuaded the Emperor several times, Fabian wasn’t raised by the Metis family. And when she secretly left, holding Fabian to meet the Duchess Perth, and asked that woman to raise him.
Sarah remembered all of them and agreed.
Only
“But His Majesty doesn’t know anything.” She added sadly. But Monica looked fine. There were no parents in this world who gave birth to their children, hoping to get a reward. No matter how noble their status, the feeling was the same.
“I’m curious about how she has changed.”
“You mean the former Empress?”
Monica nodded.
“What if she has changed?”
“Well, maybe I’ll change my ‘side’ a little bit,” Monica gave a vague smile, putting down her long pipe. “I just need to go back to the Southern Palace anyway.”
Sarah asked nothing more. She bowed her head, following Monica’s will
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