Welcome To The Imperial Palace (10)

“I shall issue a decree. Until the day the Baroness of Goggins, Maude Manners, gives birth, no direct members of the Manners family shall be permitted entry to the concubines’ quarters. Lady Viviana Manners is strictly prohibited from visiting Corinth House, the residence of the Baroness of Goggins. Any encounter between persons affiliated with the Manners family and the mistress of Corinth House must include a lady-in-waiting appointed by the chief.”

Marquis Manners was so shocked that he stood frozen in place.

“Your Majesty…”

“Your Majesty! I am the only blood aunt of the imperial palace’s first child! If I suddenly disappear, Maude will be worried!”

Viviana stood up and shouted.

“I am the father of the imperial palace’s first child. And now you dare to threaten me? Are you saying something might happen to the Baroness of Goggins if you disappear? Lady Viviana, you are hereby banned from entering the palace until granted imperial permission. Marquis Manners, restrict Viviana’s access to social gatherings. This is both an imperial order and a family’s counsel. I don’t want to see either of you. Begone!”

At the Emperor’s command, the chamberlains escorted Marquis Manners and Viviana out.

Even after the two left, the audience chamber remained unsettled for a while.

The Empress, observing the silent Emperor, gave a formal bow and quietly exited.

The Emperor lightly grasped and released her hand as she turned.

“All may leave. The Count of Echeveria and the Grand Duke shall remain.”

At the order from the high seat, murmurs rose and then settled within the chamber.

“……”

“……”

The Emperor remained silent for a long time.

Alicia and Reichardt, seated far apart, exchanged only glances.

“Let’s move somewhere else.”

After a long period of stillness, the Emperor stood and entered the inner room of the audience hall.

Reichardt approached Alicia and waited for her.

The two followed the Emperor into the room.

Inside the curtain was a tea table.

The Emperor gestured for them to sit.

He offered not only his own teacup but also prepared tea for the two of them.

Reichardt gave Alicia a look, silently urging her not to speak.

The Emperor handed them the teacups.

Alicia quietly accepted hers.

“Count.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

The Emperor set down his teacup, and the two followed suit.

“I hope today’s nonsense with Viviana can be treated as nothing more than a passing incident.”

The Emperor’s smiling face was perfect—so perfect it sent chills down her spine.

Suddenly, Alicia felt deep pity for the Empress.

And that, in turn, startled her.

Who was pitying whom? It was laughable.

She raised her teacup again and took a sip.

Only after draining more than half could she stop drinking.

“I beg Your Majesty’s forgiveness and ask that you forget the disgraceful act I committed today.”

Alicia spoke politely as she set her teacup down.

Though her words weren’t entirely deferential, the Emperor didn’t reproach her.

He calmly lowered his teacup and studied the two seated before him.

“I hope the two of you can enter a marriage pact as soon as possible. That is my sincere wish. You may go.”

Alicia responded with the expected formality to the Emperor’s sudden pronouncement.

“I am honored.”

“I shall take my leave, Your Majesty.”

Reichardt rose with a sharp motion, enough to make a swishing sound.

He subtly urged Alicia to follow.

She quickly moved after him.

“Reichardt, see the lady back safely.”

Even at the end, the Emperor’s words had a strangely unsettling edge.

“Of course, brother. Please reassure the Baroness of Goggins so she won’t be startled.”

“Are you giving me orders now? You’ve gotten quite bold lately.”

Reichardt guided Alicia out of the curtain first and replied:

“Of course not. I take my leave.”

Once outside the curtain, Reichardt walked with long strides while keeping an eye on Alicia.

He didn’t speak, but his pace clearly pushed her to keep up.

Alicia hurried along, wanting to escape the awkward mood.

Only after they exited the audience chamber could they slow down.

“His Majesty must be furious, right?”

“Yes, very much so. And also very curious, extremely suspicious.”

Even after leaving the chamber, the two continued to walk briskly.

“Wh-who is he suspicious of?”

“Alicia Rain.”

“Why?”

“The Emperor instinctively doubts anyone with power. Stop visiting the Empress for now.”

Reichardt said such impudent words with perfect calm.

“…But the baby’s due soon.”

Alicia lowered her voice and murmured as if to herself.

“You’ve been marked. Just lay low for a few days.”

“What did I even do?”

Alicia was about to lament when—

“Approaching from ahead.”

Reichardt lowered his voice and slowed his steps slightly.

Coming toward them at a slow pace was none other than Valdemar Rain, the Marquess.

What kind of day was this?

Alicia felt the urge to turn around.

Every step today seemed to land in a trap.

If the Emperor had been the most dangerous snare, then the man before her was certainly the most unpleasant.

“Count of Echeveria.”

The Marquess stood before Alicia with a wide smile.

There wasn’t a single soft feature on his face, but to Alicia, he appeared to be smiling fully.

His voice was cold and rough, but Alicia alone could detect the tenderness in it—a feeling only family could sense.

Perhaps it was because Alicia had come back from hell and turned back time.

There were things she could see now that had gone unnoticed before.

The same was true for her father.

In the past, he had always been a daunting figure.

Someone terrifying, only seen alone during life-changing events.

But now, he had come to her first, openly showing familiarity.

Perhaps this ordinary day in her life held the same weight as those crucial moments of the past.

“Please, just call me comfortably—Father.”

Alicia spoke while mindful of Reichardt’s presence.

The title of Count of Echeveria was one she obtained thanks to the Grand Duke of Tessen.

Yet the Marquess, who was speaking as if he had earned it himself, excluding the Grand Duke from the conversation, made Alicia feel both awkward and ashamed.

“My youngest.”

To outsiders, the Marquess likely still appeared cold and strict.

But the way he called Alicia would make anyone believe he truly loved his daughter.

She had heard him refer to his children as firstborn, second, and youngest when speaking with his wife.

But never before had he used that word directly to her face.

Startled by the sudden change, Alicia struggled to maintain her composure—but she didn’t lose it.

“Since His Majesty is also the youngest in the imperial family, please call me by name.”

“Ah, is that so?”

Marquess Rain, still not sparing even a glance toward the Grand Duke, spoke while looking only at Alicia.

The one who broke that deliberate ignorance was Reichardt.

“Marquess.”

“Your Grace the Grand Duke. I apologize for causing Your Grace such trouble because of Alicia. Alicia, have you offered your apology to His Grace?”

The Marquess spoke with the tone of a considerate father, attentive and composed.

It was an overstep, yet one that never crossed the line.

“Your Grace, I am sorry for having inconvenienced you.”

“It’s fine.”

Listening to Reichardt’s reply, Alicia immediately turned her gaze to her father.

“Is there something you wish to say, Father?”

Her tone implied that if he didn’t, he should just leave.

“Alicia.”

The Marquess paid no mind to his daughter’s impatience.

He seemed in very good spirits—and for good reason.

In the capital, central nobles tended to look down on the northern and eastern houses, even if they were high nobility.

The Manners family and the chancellor were no different.

Marquess Rain, who had never once lagged behind in life, harbored displeasure toward such central nobles.

Today, his daughter had thoroughly trampled the powerful core of those central families—the Manners—and he couldn’t help but smile.

“Yes, Father.”

“I worry that you have no friends.”

The Marquess remained relaxed.

“…I’ll make sure nothing like today happens again. There won’t be any more troublesome incidents like this.”

Alicia chose her words carefully in response to the Marquess’s sudden “friend” attack.

“My dear, how can you call it troublesome? As your father, being involved in your affairs is no burden. In fact, I believe you handled it well today. Although you responded to a lie with a somewhat violent method, I understand.”

“……”

“You don’t have any friends. Meanwhile, the other girl has many loyal companions. If your innocence had to be proven by words alone, it would’ve been far more difficult. Ah, yes, now that you’re back from Tessen, you should attend the family dinner.”

Alicia couldn’t quite figure out the Marquess’s angle.

Why did he keep bringing up friends?

“Alright. Aren’t you returning to the north?”

“I think I’ll take my time. Felix is managing things well up there, so there’s no need to worry. I’ll contact you soon.”

“Yes, take care on your way.”

Alicia quickly tried to send him off.

“Even if not for the meal, do visit the main house. Marine misses you. It seems she’s been putting off going to Luderne because of your palace duties.”

“I’ll do that.”

“Marine gets along well with people and has many acquaintances. Try to meet with her often and expand your own circle.”

“Yes.”

“Stop by Echeveria when you can. Francis is doing well, but you mustn’t completely let go of things. Since you’re still in touch with Harry, I’m sure you know. Then, I’ll be off.”

The Marquess gave Alicia a warm look, nodded briefly to Reichardt, and turned away.

As he walked off, a subtle loneliness crept into his expression.

-My poor daughter with no friends.

-My pitiful child who struggles to connect with others and forms only shallow relationships.

His words seemed to disregard her individuality entirely.

He looked like he pitied her—but strangely, it felt more like condescension.

Watching Marquess Rain board his carriage, Alicia and Reichardt began walking again.

Just as she was about to step into the carriage, the silent Reichardt suddenly spoke.

“Alicia.”

“Yes?”

“Do you have no friends?”

Alicia felt a twinge in her chest.

Judging by his personality, Reichardt likely wasn’t very sociable either.

The pity in his gaze irritated her.

“Life’s a solo act.”

Alicia tossed out the words and climbed into the carriage.

Reichardt followed her inside.

“Not even one?”

He asked seriously as he shut the carriage door.

For some reason, it upset her more than when the Marquess had said something similar.

“Not one? Seriously?”

Alicia responded with a look that said, Why did you follow me in?

Reichardt knocked on the wall behind the seat to signal departure and leaned his long frame back.

“Did you forget His Majesty ordered me to escort you?”

He knocked on the carriage wall again.

Hoofbeats rang out, and outside the window came Roderick’s voice.

“Your Grace, do you have any orders?”

Reichardt straightened up.

“To the Grand Duke’s residence.”

The moment he said it, Alicia flinched.

It was a gesture of protest.

“Understood, by royal command.”

A firm voice echoed from beyond the window, ignoring Alicia’s protest.