The Isiron servants handed the cart over to a palace attendant in front of the Empress Dowager’s palace.
“This is the Isiron Duke’s household. Madam sent special instructions to take good care.”
“Understood. Are all of these your servants?”
“Yes.”
“Only one attendant is allowed inside the private quarters. The rest must wait in the anteroom.”
The chief butler bowed to the attendant and took out a communication stone from his pocket.
From it, Marie’s voice came.
[Yes, Butler.]
“I will enter the private quarters. Marie, you stay outside and wait.”
[Understood.]
After the chief butler went inside, a palace maid guided the other servants to the waiting room.
The servants whispered as they followed the maid.
“No way, Marie got a communication stone?”
“Only second-rank butlers or close maids usually get those. How on earth did she get one?”
The servants wore reluctant expressions.
A young maid whispered with shining eyes.
“I heard recently the chief butler had Marie organize invitations.”
“Really?”
“Yes, the lady was pleased with how Marie handled her work, so she gave her more document tasks.”
“That’s not a job just anyone can do.”
“Exactly, that means she’s special. The lady really likes her.”
Marie flinched and glared at the whispering servants.
‘Did that actually happen?’
But why didn’t my sister tell me?
‘It’s not like she’s taking the work away from me... so why keep it secret even from her little sister?’
Despite Marie’s gloomy face, the Isiron servants kept gossiping.
“That’s why you have to get in as an inner servant. You get chances to catch the master’s eye.”
“Inner servants can’t be just anyone. Marie got in because the Astra Countess recommended her.”
“Exactly. Even if you’re a second-rank outer servant, you have to bow quickly if an inner servant speaks.”
Marie bit her lip hard.
‘Being higher rank than my sister isn’t all that great...’
Unlike my fourth-rank sister, I was happy when I became a third-rank servant.
I thought the butler took good care of me.
But after becoming a servant, rank didn’t matter at all.
As I thought this, we reached the waiting room.
The Isiron servants gasped as they entered and looked around.
“The palace’s servant waiting room is so lavish. Wow, I never thought I’d come to a place like this!”
“With the Blony incident, even upper-rank servants are under investigation, so chances come to people like us.”
“We should thank Blony.”
Ha ha ha!
Just then, Marie entered the waiting room.
She immediately approached me.
“The palace is so big it’s hard to find... what’s wrong with you?”
“...Nothing.”
“You don’t look well. Did you make another mistake? If so, tell me so I can help fix it.”
Marie’s words made me frown angrily.
“Am I always the one who messes up? I just... just found out that you got a communication stone...”
“A communication stone? Why?”
“...How did you get one?”
“Since I do the tasks the lady assigns, sometimes it’s necessary.”
“Why didn’t you tell me... I didn’t know...”
I looked deeply hurt.
Marie frowned.
“What’s so important about a communication stone? It’s not like I can use it privately.”
“But still, it means you’re recognized by the lady... Before, I was more...”
Back home, everyone doted on me.
The devoted girl who took care of her sick sister alone.
A diligent and kind child everyone liked.
Everyone said so.
They said I was blessed by the gods to move to a good place...
But here, I’m scolded every day.
The adults here always compared me to Marie.
“Why hasn’t the new recruit for the inner servants come? Masa, did you pass the message that the inner servants need new recruits?”
“Ah! Oh no... I forgot...”
“How many times is this now? Marie always brings back two or three when asked. How different sisters are!”
Some even forgot her name.
“You there, yes, Marie’s younger sister.”
I thought the butler saw my potential, but he only entrusted big tasks to my sister.
‘I was recommended by the Astra Countess, too...’
Marie grabbed Masa’s wrist who was hanging her head low.
“Why are you really like this? Are you unwell?”
“I’m fine.”
“You had a headache this morning, didn’t you?”
“Why are you like this when I say I’m fine!”
Masa pushed Marie roughly away.
Marie was so fragile she stumbled backward at the force and fell down with a thud.
The sudden noise drew attention.
“What’s that?”
“What’s all the commotion in the palace?”
Besides the Isiron servants, other noble household servants whispered.
Masa panicked and quickly grabbed her sister.
“S-sorry, I didn’t mean to push you...”
“It’s fine.”
Marie frowned, got up, and started picking up spilled items.
Just as Marie folded a crumpled note and put it in her pocket—
“What’s that?”
Masa asked.
“Nothing.”
“That’s a note. The name on it... that...”
“It’s nothing.”
Marie acted indifferent and went toward a nearby chair.
Masa glared at Marie’s back.
‘Nothing my foot!’
I clearly saw what was written.
[To the bad-tempered bookworm
—Aquila]
Aquila...
He was the boy from the neighboring house back home who looked after us sisters.
To Masa, he was an older brother, a friend, and a protector.
We moved away but I sent him letters several times; I only got one reply.
[I’m not good with letters. Just send something. Looking up letters is a pain.]
Masa glared at Marie.
‘That’s really unfair.’
He knows how much I waited for Aquila’s letters...!
When I arrived at the Empress Dowager’s patronage, many noble ladies had already gathered.
I, the young lady, and the duchess bowed respectfully to the Empress Dowager.
“May you enjoy prosperity.”
I spread my skirt widely, bowed deeply, and then stood straight.
The Empress Dowager smiled kindly.
“The Western Wonhwa’s posture is excellent, as always.”
“I learned from a great teacher.”
“Did you have a good teacher?”
“Yes, I once saw an elegant noble lady at the art museum. Her walk and gestures were so graceful, I tried to imitate her.”
At the mention of the art museum, the Empress Dowager’s eyes widened.
“An art museum... which noble lady was it?”
“She said her name was Elizabeth Calsoie.”
The Empress Dowager’s own name.
Then she laughed out loud—a rare occurrence.
The duchess and the other noble ladies giggled and glanced at me.
The Empress Dowager said with joy,
“I have never seen a child as eloquent as you.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
One noble lady agreed, and the Empress Dowager nodded.
“You must be busy in many ways, but what brings you to my palace?”
I gently held the duchess’s arm.
“Duchess of Isiron taught me that filial piety is the most important virtue.”
“Filial piety...?”
“Yes, Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager is the mother of the empire, and filial piety toward a mother is more valuable than anything.”
I spoke eloquently, but the point was:
[You’re the strongest anyway.
Even if you’re not the great-grandmother, I follow you.
So there’s no need to become the great-grandmother.]
The Empress Dowager chuckled.
“I see why your grandfather worries so much.”
I smiled shyly, and the Empress Dowager squinted playfully.
“That’s why you’re all the more precious. Do you understand my feelings, Duchess?”
The duchess smiled and bowed to the Empress Dowager.
“Of course. I’m embarrassed and sorry things have come to this.”
“Enough. Now, everyone, please sit.”
The Empress Dowager gestured to me with a playful tone.
“Chief Wonhwa leading the imperial guards, please stay by my side.”
“It’s an honor!”
I took the seat beside her without hesitation.
The noble ladies and young ladies burst out laughing.
“Your Majesty, the duchess prepared a gift.”
“A gift?”
“Yes. I haven’t seen it yet and am very curious.”
The duchess told the maid,
“Bring it here.”
“Yes, madam.”
Soon the maids pushed in the cart.
The duchess pulled the cloth covering the gift.
“Oh my, how beautiful...”
“My goodness!”
The gift was a phoenix carved from ivory, dazzlingly beautiful.
Each feather was studded with rubies, looking like it was aflame.
The Empress Dowager stood and admired the phoenix.
“Is this a Kinklam sculpture? Wonderful...”
‘What taste.’
The Empress Dowager loved art, especially pieces from Kinklam’s era.
The duchess said kindly,
“I hope it pleases you.”
“Indeed. No gift could satisfy me more.”
The noble ladies joked,
“I feel embarrassed for preparing a gift.”
I took the chance and spoke.
“Yes, I also feel embarrassed to speak of the gift.”
All eyes turned to me.
“A gift?”
At the Empress Dowager’s question, I smiled gently.
“On the night of the birthday ceremony, my dragon will fly over the palace to wish Your Majesty long life.”
“...!”
“...!!”
People gasped, looking between the Empress Dowager and me.
Her eyes widened as well.
“Really...?”
“Yes.”
“My goodness...”
Dragons had only appeared over the royal family’s palace twice in history:
The fifth Empress Isabella’s birthday.
The eleventh Emperor Akalitos’s birthday.
Both were called wise rulers.
In other words, I was promising the Empress Dowager a legacy of wise rulers.
‘Also, Lagon flying over the palace means I hold her hand.’
Not the Emperor, Empress, or Crown Prince—but Elizabeth, the Empress Dowager.
She looked at me with trembling eyes ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) and said,
“It’s silly to say this at my age, but I must do it.”
“...”
“The greatest... truly the greatest gift, Erilot.”
Her delight made me feel a little guilty.
‘Actually, it’s a sly scheme.’
This empire belonged to Jörmungandr’s territory.
Yet our Lagon breathes fire and flies overhead.
That nasty dragon will be furious.
‘Then Grimmy’s search for the relic is ruined.’
I bowed.
“Your Majesty’s joy is my joy.”
It was true.
I was very happy to spite Grimmy!
In the afternoon.
Masa looked at Marie ahead with a gloomy expression.
The servants who had called her “young lady” clung tightly to Marie as if forgetting Masa.
“Let’s see the communication stone, okay?”
“No.”
“Don’t be stingy. When do people like us get to see a communication stone?”
“No.”
“Well, that sharpness is part of Marie’s charm.”
The servants surrounded Marie, laughing loudly.
Masa tightly twisted her skirt.
‘What’s with that annoying look...’
. The lady was talking to the Empress Dowager so long that she sent a message to leave early.
Marie received the communication openly, showing it off.
‘And yet...’
The communication stone and Aquila’s note kept bothering me.
‘Does she communicate with Aquila, too?’
Maybe.
Aquila was now a noble’s close guard.
So she might have been given a communication stone.
‘That’s why she didn’t tell me she got one.’
She had sacrificed herself for my sister all her life.
But how...
That’s really unfair.
Just as I clenched my teeth to hold back tears, I spotted familiar hair from afar.
“Ah...!”
Masa called out happily.
“My lady!”
Marie and Erilot, surrounded by others, turned toward Masa.
Masa dashed to Erilot.
“I’m so glad to see you often.”
“...Yeah.”
“Oh, I wanted to greet you this morning but my sister stopped me... sorry.”
“It’s okay.”
The servants’ sparkling eyes focused on me again.
“That’s really close... maybe the other side should keep an eye on her...”
Hearing the whispering raised my spirits.
Masa shrugged and grabbed Erilot’s hand firmly.
“Um, may I contact you separately if that’s alright?”
“...”
“There’s something I want to talk about, and you’re the only person I know in the imperial capital...”
While hesitating, Marie abruptly approached and pulled Masa’s hand away.
“I apologize. Let’s go to the carriage.”
“Why... I was happy to see my lady...”
“Do not touch a noble carelessly.”
I didn’t understand my sister’s attitude.
Why was she so harsh to me?
‘My lady is a good person and wouldn’t mind such things...’
Marie’s constant reprimands made me shrink.
I felt so sad that tears finally spilled.
Masa looked at Erilot with tears streaming down.
“My lady...”