Chapter 74

The Second Prince Palace was unusually quiet today.

Asilia hadn’t taken a step outside since yesterday’s banquet.

It was said that it was due to being in shock because of the monster, but it wasn’t because of that.

Asilia, actually and fortunately, felt relatively less threatened because she was far away when the monster appeared.

She bit her well-maintained nails one after another. She still couldn’t forget the humiliation from Rosena at the banquet.

At the tea party, at the hunting contest and even at the banquet, Rosena slipped out like a loach. Rather, she humiliated Asilia in front of everyone.

“Aaahhh.”

She recalled the eyes of people looking at her and threw away cosmetics from the dressing table.

She had never experienced such an insult in her life.

They, who normally wouldn’t be able to look at her directly, were glancing at each other, and chattering amongst themselves.

The empress hated Rosena, so she started a quarrel to catch her attention, but it ended in her loss. And there was a separate incident that scratched Asilia’s nerves.

Until now, she firmly believed that if she beat the crown prince, her husband, the second prince, could ascend the throne.

For that, she tried to impress the empress, and used the social circle to increase her own power.

However, what the third prince, Yerhan, showed yesterday changed people’s perception completely.

At this rate, there was a high possibility that the third prince would be the one who would rise if the crown prince was removed.

She had never thought he’d hide that ability since he didn’t care that his reputation was a mess.

Asilia bit her lips with an anxious face. Fortunately, the crown prince was seriously injured and his reputation was greatly reduced.

“I wish he’d died.”

However, even if the crown prince died now, it was unclear whether the right to succeed to the throne would go to the second prince immediately.

Asilia’s husband was fragile. He had never learned swordsmanship all his life, and he enjoyed reading and writing in solitude.

In fact, Asilia was not happy with her husband. She simply chose the man closest to power as a marquis’ second daughter.

If she had been the only child of the duke, she might have been able to marry the crown prince, not the second prince.

If that was the case, she would be able to get everything naturally without doing this.

But since she had already married the second prince, Asilia had to bring the crown to her husband.

She dreamed of becoming an empress and wanted to live a life that was envied by everyone.

Asilia pressed onto the dressing table with her fist.

“That woman….”

Asilia was trying to win over the Marchioness Lionel, whom she had coveted so much. Convince her to back her so that she could win this ‘war’.

But all the ladies abandoned by Asilia and those who had been neutral, not holding hands with Asilia from the beginning, went to Rosena Herbet.

Asilia was afraid that the power would be divided like this.

Until now, the social world had been gripped tightly by Asilia without any confrontation.

It was because the crown prince had no wife, and those who wanted to raise their power headed in her direction.

But if Rosena were to be called to the society little by little like this, she couldn’t predict what would happen in the future.

Asilia took a deep breath and looked at the red silk pouch on the dressing table. It cost a fortune to get that.

She wanted Rosena to be ruined.

She wanted her to be punished for laughing at her thus far.

“Your Highness, Countess Estarot is here.”

“Let her in.”

The corners of Asilia’s mouth went up smoothly.

***

Rania, who was called by Asilia, was anxious.

After the hunt, she became close to Asilia and was able to join her group, but Rania continued to feel disqualified.

The ladies who belonged to Asilia’s group were all equally outstanding.

They were the ones whose husbands were employed in high-ranking positions in the imperial family, the ones who had accumulated a lot of wealth, or the ones who could surprise others with a single utterance of their family name.

Among the women who had a lot to show off, Rania had nothing to brag about.

Her husband had a very ordinary appearance and her family, the Estarot family, was famous in the past, but was now ruined and had no reputation.

Even Rania had no children, so she felt left out whenever other ladies told their stories.

However, Rania was always present at the meetings.

She always replied that she would attend, to the invitations that were clearly sent as courtesy.

The ladies muttered among themselves, looking at Rania who was out of step.

Then a countess, who was usually not pleased with Rania, asked at a meeting.

– Oh my, isn’t that the dress you wore last time? Maybe you didn’t get a new dress?

– …I didn’t have time to fit my clothes.

Rania put her last bit of pride on the line.

In fact, she begged her husband to get her new clothes, but her husband didn’t listen.

It was because there was still debt to pay off in her family.

When he joined as live-in son-in-law, most of the debts of Count Estarot were paid, but their living expenses and unexpected spendings were high, so the debt came back.

He forbade all her luxuries in order to completely eradicate the debt.

– Because you didn’t have time… the clothes you’re wearing now seem to have been out of fashion for years.

– Lady, I think your words have gone a little too far.

Asilia, who was listening to the conversation in silence, stepped in.

The countess closed her mouth when Asilia intervened. She still seemed unhappy with Rania, but she had no courage to disobey Asilia.

As usual, the corners of Rania’s mouth went up when Asilia defended her.

– Lady Estarot must be having a hard time with her family.

Rania’s lips crumbled at the unexpected words.

Asilia, who had been looking after Rania since the hunt, had changed her attitude a little while ago.

It was because there was no reason to keep her close as she had shook off all of Rosena’s weaknesses from Rania like she shook off the grain.

– But you’re not fit for our group if you can’t keep up with your basic attire.

Upon Asilia’s words, the ladies chuckled.

Red-faced Rania bit her lips hard. It was disgraceful, but she didn’t want to leave this meeting.

No matter how she was treated here, she was envied by others as one of Asilia’s flock.

Rania had been anxious since then to change Asilia’s mind. She could do anything if she let her join.

And this time, Rania was able to attend as one of the Asilia’s flock. She was anxious that she would be left out, but Asilia still needed her.

But Rania didn’t even find a break in front of Rosena, and Asilia’s pride was completely destroyed.

– Damn bitch!

Asilia, who came out to the terrace, fumed.

When the situation flowed unfavorably while trying to pull in Illian, she became so angry that she almost ran away.

– Dumb things are stupid!

Asilia was swearing at Illian.

Rania hurriedly followed her, standing behind Asilia’s horde to match her mood.

The ladies, who were no different than Asilia’s ladies-in-waiting, offered various consolations, but Asilia was annoyed even at them.

Then, looking at Rania, her expression hardened.

When she saw that, Rania’s face turned white.

– Your Highness, if I am doing anything wrong…

– You should have given me a weakness that I can use right away!!

Rania shut her mouth as Asilia yelled at her.

The first thing that struck her was the thought of her being rejected by Asilia.

If she were to be thrown away by Asilia, Rania would return to her normal life again.

She couldn’t imagine she’d be treated the same way as the ladies who have no ability or wealth…

Rania, who had already experienced a splendid life, never wanted to go back.

– I, I’ll do anything. If you want me to do something…

As Rania spoke desperately, Asilia seemed a little relieved, raised her head and looked down at Rania. Then she changed her expression and looked around her.

– Will you do anything?

Everyone left the terrace upon Asilia’s words. Then she grinned at Rania. She just got an idea.

– Something only you can do.

– Yes? Yes, just order me.

It was so sweet to say that only she could do it.

Rania was drunk when she heard that Asilia needed her.

– Come to my palace tomorrow. I’ll let you know then.

Rania promised to do so.

And the next day, Rania headed to the Second Prince Palace where Asilia was staying.

Rania, guided to the living room by the servant, looked at Asilia, who was sitting deep inside.

“Your Highness…..”

“You’re here.”

Asilia smiled as kindly as she used to.

Relieved by the smile, Rania smiled as well.

Asilia was the golden string for Rania. It was a string that led her to a splendid world, but it could easily be broken for any insignificant reason.

That was why Rania always met her in suspense. So as to not make a single mistake.

As Rania sat opposite, Asilia looked at Rania with focused eyes. There was no word to bring the tea.

“Lady Estarot.”

At Asilia’s sweet voice, Rania nodded with a nervous face.

“You’re on my side, aren’t you?”

“Yes.”

Rania replied without hesitation. Then Asilia’s red lips went up.

“I also thought that Lady Estarot truly cared for me. The other ladies are not reliable.”

Asilia spoke highly of Rania at the same time as she downplayed other ladies.

At that one word, Rania felt superior, as if she had become a special person to Asilia.

“So I thought I’d ask you to do something that only you could do.”

Rania thought she could do it even if Asilia told her to jump out of the window now.

Tuk.

Asilia put something down on the table, Rania, looking at the red silk pouch on the table, was curious.

“Feed this to the Third Princess.”

“…What is in it?”

Asilia smiled significantly at Rania’s question.

“It’s poison.”

“!”

Rania’s eyes couldn’t get any bigger.

Asilia whispered softly, gently sweeping down the silk pouch with her fingers.

“It’s colorless and effective after a few days, so there’s no fear of being caught.”

Rania shook her hands at the sight of Asilia speaking with a calm face.

There was a time when she thought she wanted to kill Rosena, but she never tried to put it into practice.

“Your Highness…..”

Rania’s eyes shook violently.

Asilia slowly got up and walked toward Rania, putting her hand on Rania’s shoulder.

“Of course, this poison will not make her die, she just can’t wake up.”

“….”

“You also don’t like the Third Princess, don’t you?”

Rania slowly raised her head. Her eyes met with Asilia, who looked down in a high-handed manner.

Asilia was smiling now, but Rania knew that the moment she refused, her eyes would be filled with disappointment and contempt.

“Don’t worry. I’ll take care of the rest.”

Rania’s fingertips trembled at Asilia’s words.

“Lady Estarot. I believe we’re friends forever.”

The small whisper seemed as sweet as a ripe apple. But the moment she came to her senses, she realized it was a poisonous apple.

Unfortunately, Rania had already become addicted to the sweetness of the outside.

“I don’t mean to harm you, my friend.”

“…I will do it.”

She choked a little. Rania reached out and grabbed a satchel of red silk on the table.

Then Asilia smiled brightly and took her hand off her shoulder.

“I believe in you.”