Chapter 31:
Luis reprimanded her younger sister, “Stop talking about useless rumors, Elza! My lady, you needn’t worry about it.”
Elza realized her mistake. She smiled awkwardly at . “I’m sorry. I don’t know what I was thinking...”
“My little sister talks nonsense sotis. You shouldn’t pay attention to her, your highness.”
Luis was obviously hiding sothing. It bothered not knowing what it was.
Four days of peaceful ti was great, but I was beginning to get bored. I must have gotten used to the hectic life.
Besides, this sounded juicy!
I questioned them with a firm voice. I had been very polite to everyone including the servants based on Samantha’s suggestion. However, for the first ti, I ordered them with all the authority I could muster.
“I can’t unhear what you just said. Tell about it.”
“Umm...”
Their faces paled. Elza looked at and Luis anxiously. Luis saw my interest and sighed. She tried to convince one more ti, but it only made want to find out even more.
“The principle maid in waiting had ordered us that there is no need for you to know about it...”
“...”
I couldn’t help my frown. I always knew Samantha worked for the emperor. She had been in the castle for a long ti. She knew things I would never know in my lifeti. I probably looked like a newborn baby to her.
What made feel cold was the fact that my own two maids were more worried about Samantha than , who was sitting right in front of them.
It was chilling.
Being from the 21st century Korea, it was hard for to accept the social structure in this world. It was very close to the old European feudal system. I could never get used to soone like Samantha and the Chancellor bowing deeply to and the emperor, who were so much younger than them.
However, this was a different matter. It was difficult for to get used to it, but that didn’t an I didn’t understand the system and its significance.
I was their superior. Samantha was their superior too, but I had a higher status than Samantha. No matter how I looked at it, I was above everyone, yet these girls considered Samantha’s order more important than mine.
It was a huge problem for to not have a complete authority over my own people.
“Y... your highness?”
The two maids looked at nervously. I must have looked angry.
Internally, I sighed, but I had to keep up an appearance of full control and majesty. I kept a severe expression on my face instead.
I couldn’t trust the emperor. I couldn’t trust Samantha either. Every single one of ‘my entourage’ belonged to the emperor and Samantha. I had to do sothing about this.
I had no intention of becoming a re tool for the emperor to wield whenever he wished.
It was ti for to beco strong and build my own team.
I said to them bluntly and coldly. I scared even myself with my own voice.
“Who do you belong to? Are you Duchess Gust’s maids or mine?”
The sisters’ faces reddened. My question was both accusatory and deaning.
Count Loventis was one of the most powerful nobles in this kingdom. He was even distantly related to the royal family. This was why the sisters were selected by Samantha to serve . Based on my understanding, Count Loventis was more powerful than Duke Gust.
Luis bowed her head to . “Of course, we belong to you, your highness. We are your maids.”
Elza bowed and said the sa thing.
In truth, I had absolutely no power. The only thing I had was an appearance of authority given by the emperor. Nonetheless, I was the only wife to the ruler of this kingdom. I was one of the few who could use the na “le Cransia.” These things alone should carry more weight than Duchess Gust’s power.
I felt disappointed that I had to bring up my credentials just to have my own people respect . Things couldn’t continue like this.
I hated myself for doing this, but I had to finish what I started.
I put a bright smile on my face. At the sa ti, I tried to keep up the appearance of control and authority. It had to be a delicate balance of kindness and power. I felt like my face was about to spasm very badly.
A regal yet generous monarch. That’s what I needed to beco. My tone and behavior needed to exude this façade.
I asked them kindly but firmly, “Then could you tell the story? If I don’t hear it, I don’t think I will be able to sleep tonight from curiosity.”
The two maids’ faces lightened visibly. They seed relieved.
Elza looked at and her sister before whispering to , “Well, I heard that it lives in this Lonez wing.”
“What lives here?”
“A ghost!”
“...”
That’s it?
A ghost? GHOST? I made this much effort for such a stupid answer?
I felt so embarrassed that my cheeks reddened, but I couldn’t show my disappointnt. I had to give them a reaction they wanted.
I kept up an interested face and asked, “A ghost?”
The sisters, who were a few years younger than , nodded seriously. The younger Elza seed to really believe in ghosts. She looked afraid and excited at the sa ti.
She worked on her fourth sandwich and explained to , “And that is why this wing is practically abandoned.” She reminded of a squirrel.
She told she heard it from the servants.
She continued, “Originally, Lonez was Empress Beatrice’s favorite place in the castle. She was the current emperor’s birthmother and the original empress before Katleyanira. At the ti of Empress Beatrice’s rule, it was better kept with more people maintaining it.”
Beatrice.
It was the first ti I heard this na, but I already knew about her. She was Lucretius’s real mother. She was executed after being accused of adultery.
“After she passed away, the forr emperor and the dowager empress left this place to ruin because they didn’t like it. After a few years... that’s when it started to appear.” Elza lowered her voice.
I asked to make sure, “A ghost?”
Elza nodded vigorously and whispered as if she was afraid soone might hear her.
“A few tis a week, people can hear a woman’s scream or weeping at night.”
“...”
The garden was so quiet. I felt the goosebumps on my back.
“One ti, I heard that there was a maid who fainted after seeing a woman in a white dress running like a madwoman!”
No way. There was no such a thing as a ghost. I tried to convince myself and smiled calmly.
“People must have nothing better to do here in Lonez if they have ti to co up with such a silly story...”
There was no such a thing as a ghost.
I thought to myself as we finished our lunch.
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