Part 2: Not Love, But It Must Be

　　“Oh my. Is that…”

　　A maid with neat, uptied hair nudged her fellow maid beside her.

　　“What about her?”

　　The other maid, busily pulling weeds in the central garden, wiped her sweat as she replied. She too had tied her hair, but because her hands were clumsy, half of it had fallen loose.

　　“It’s that woman. The cheap emerald. The only one to come out of Paradia Manor alive.”

　　“Paradia? What’s that?”

　　“You don’t know? The House of Paradia. A newly risen house of nobles without much history, but with a ridiculous amount of money. They say they’re several times richer than the imperial family’s private fortune. In fact, in terms of sheer wealth, they say the two don’t compare. Supposedly, the late countess’s maiden family belonged to the highest ruling class of the Argentiar Republic.”

　　Unlike the Nesburg Empire, which developed through trade, the Argentiar Republic grew through its abundant natural resources and advanced technology. In particular, they amassed immense wealth through the arms industry. Almost all the weapons used by the five allied nations—swords, guns, bullets, cannons, ships, etc.—were made in Argentiar. Argentiar was the undisputed wealthiest nation on the continent.

　　“So what about it?”

　　“About a fortnight ago, every single one of them died. The mansion caught fire. To make matters worse, there was an engaged couple awaiting their wedding, a pregnant woman about to give birth, and a young child who had just celebrated their fourth birthday.”

　　“A four-year-old child? Oh, dear.”

　　The maid with half-tied hair knit her brows, expressing her sincerest sympathies.

　　“So those people died? Every single one?”

　　“Yep. Every single person except for one. It was such a massive fire that it completely consumed Paradia Manor, which was said to be more luxurious than most palaces, so it’s no surprise everyone perished.”

　　“Then that blonde woman is the sole surviving daughter of Count Paradia?”

　　“That’s right. But what’s truly mind-boggling…”

　　Stopping abruptly, the maid with the updo looked around before leaning in close to her friend and lowering her voice.

　　“…Is that she’s now living like royalty as His Majesty the Emperor’s beloved mistress. You know how they say fortunate women land on a bed when they trip backward and fall into a man’s arms when they fall forward? They were right. It’s already a wonder she didn’t die along with them, but to suddenly end up as the Emperor’s lover?”

　　“Gasp! Wait. That’s her?! The one His Majesty dotes on?!”

　　Despite the whispering of her friend, the maid with half-tied hair let out a startled cry.

　　“Hey! Keep your voice down! Unless you want a servant to catch you and drag you off to the dungeon for a whipping.”

　　Startled, the maid in the updo scolded her while pinching her fellow maid’s arm hard.

　　“I’d heard rumors that the young girl His Majesty brought in was pretty, but wow. Pretty doesn’t do her justice.”

　　Rubbing her pinched arm, the maid with half-tied hair marveled at the favored mistress’s beauty. The maid with the updo followed her companion’s eyes as she looked at the woman in discontent.

　　The woman who seemed to be glowing, hardly the look of someone steeped in grief after losing her entire family, was Brianne Paradia.

　　Her neatly groomed hair reflected the sunlight, shining in a luscious shade of gold.

　　Meanwhile, the slender fingers combing through her hair were long and straight, without a single bulging knuckle. And those hands directly betrayed the woman’s affluent upbringing and noble status.

　　As she pushed back her hair with those fair hands, her golden locks quietly cascaded down like water. It was an enchanting spectacle, like rolling waves of gold.

　　Brianne’s picture-perfect eyes were fixed somewhere in midair.

　　A sparrow. Perched on the tip of a camellia branch whose petals had fallen, the sparrow was grooming the feathers on its wings with its beak.

　　As she watched the sparrow intently, her eyes sparkled bright, like a five-carat emerald reborn as a flawless jewel in the hands of a master craftsman.

　　Her green eyes were far too elegant to be mocked as cheap or imitation. The green suited her fair, smooth skin perfectly.

　　The innocence and elegance unique to a woman raised without knowing a single day of hardship, thanks to the wealth accumulated by her ancestors for generations, were evident in every slow movement Brianne made.

　　“She really is beautiful. I’ve never seen a woman like her in my life. She’s as lovely as a spring day. Luxurious, enchanting, refined, delicate, innocent…”

　　The maid with half-tied hair muttered as if spellbound.

　　“Hmph. Is such admiration fit for an unwed mistress who hasn’t even received a common rank or title?”

　　Snapping her head away from Brianne, the maid in the updo sneered as she pinched her friend’s arm once more.

　　“His Majesty is far too cruel. No matter how loveless their relationship is, Her Majesty is still the Empress. What was he thinking, forcing his favorite paramour into this Central Palace where Her Majesty, his lawful wife, resides?”

　　“Yeah… His Majesty really went too far. It’s barely been a month since they had their imperial wedding.”

　　“That vulgar paramour is the biggest problem. No matter how unlearned in imperial etiquette she is… Just look at her strolling around as if she owns the place… Ugh, I can’t stand the sight of her.”

　　Degrading the Emperor’s mistress as a lowly paramour, the maid in the updo glared at Brianne’s beautiful profile.

　　“If she had any sense of shame, she wouldn’t step a single foot out of bed. But because she’s so stupid and shameless, she roams around without caring what anyone thinks. Where does she think she is?!”

　　“If she keeps wandering through the imperial gardens like that and runs into Her Majesty the Empress…”

　　“She’ll get slapped senseless by Her Majesty’s head lady-in-waiting. That old woman has a wicked sting in her hand. Her cheek will feel like it’s on fire. The fire at Paradia Manor won’t be anything compared to it! Heeheehee!”

　　The maid in the updo giggled nastily, but the maid with half-tied hair didn’t join her.

　　Just as they said, Brianne was wandering aimlessly through the gardens of the Central Palace, where the Emperor and Empress resided.

　　It wasn’t that she hadn’t thought about how roaming around like this might catch the eye of the Empress or her secretary and result in punishment. However, Brianne had been in the Imperial Palace for over two weeks, and for those two weeks, she had been trapped inside the Emperor’s bedroom.

　　The Emperor was an extremely busy man, leaving early at dawn and returning late at night. No sooner had she greeted him than her clothes were stripped off.

　　There were no conversations about what she had done all day or whom she had met. His interest lay solely in Brianne’s bare chest and beautiful visage.

　　Kavil would always rush to embrace Brianne without even taking off all his clothes, and fell asleep the moment he finished. Then, early the next morning, he would leave the bed again for state affairs. And those five hours every night were all the young Emperor allowed Brianne of his time.

　　Brianne had to remain cooped up in that bedroom, waiting only for the Emperor, doing nothing, chatting with no one, sitting still. Those who’d never experienced how much that gnaws away at a sane mind could never understand.

　　Having endured until she was on the verge of losing her sanity, Brianne finally kicked open the bedroom door and walked out.

　　There were no maids to assist with her grooming, nor ladies-in-waiting to guide her through the palace and serve as companions. There was only Brianne alone.

　　It was only natural. She was neither a legal wife nor an official consort, but merely a “common paramour,” so there was no way any palace servant would tend to her.

　　Recognizing her, the maids belonging to the Central Palace began to whisper.

　　“Shameless.”

　　“Disgusting.”

　　The harsh gossip of the lowest-ranking maids reached Brianne’s ears.

　　Why do those girls hate me so? Do they think I enjoy keeping myself alive in such a pathetic way?

　　Do you not feel pity for me, having lost my parents, my siblings, and my young nieces and nephews all at once? Is everyone residing in the Imperial Palace as heartless as you? Do you have no sense of compassion?

　　I have never coveted anything you have, nor have I taken anything from you. You have no right to say such things to me. In this terrifying and brutal place, the only person who has the right to curse me is…

　　Just as Brianne clenched her fists and endured, a call rang out.

　　“We greet Her Majesty the Empress.”

　　The maids who had been glaring at the beautiful Brianne immediately adjusted their posture and bowed respectfully. Hesitating and not knowing what to do, Brianne awkwardly bowed at her waist as well.

　　Rustle, rustle.

　　An elegant rustling came from the heavy fabric of the Empress’s dress as it swayed with her every step.

　　“So it is you. The whore from the House of Paradia.”

　　The Empress’s cold whisper censured Brianne’s very existence.

　　Her explicit usage of the word “whore” was like a dagger.

　　The maids began busily exchanging glances among themselves.

　　Will Her Majesty slap her herself? She’ll command a lady-in-waiting to whip her, right? How many lashes will the blonde whore get? Ten? Twenty?

　　The Emperor’s dear mistress will cry all pretty and tattle to His Majesty, won’t she? The enraged Emperor will surely rush to the Empress and vent his anger on her like she’s a common rat. The Father and Mother of the Empire having their first marital fight, all over a pretty young paramour!

　　Rumors that the Emperor not only treated his wife coldly but spent his nights solely with a wicked mistress must have reached the ears of the Empress’s father, Duke Bertin, long ago. So why hasn’t Duke Bertin uttered a single word about it?

　　“Raise your head.”

　　However, the Empress’s tone was calm. Far from that of a jealous woman, her voice was cool, flat, and overflowing with authority.

　　The maids hoped the Empress would provide a spectacle. Grabbing the concubine’s hair and making a scene, or kicking her shins hard. But knowing better than anyone that the dignified Empress would never do such a thing, they had no choice but to swallow their disappointment, each in their own ways.

　　“G… Greetings, Your Majesty.”

　　“What insolent manner of speech is that before Her Majesty!”

　　The one enraged by Brianne’s clumsy greeting was the head lady-in-waiting attending the Empress. She glared fiercely at Brianne, growling as if she were about to strike her at any moment.

　　“P-Please forgive me, Your Majesty. I… I have not yet learned palace etiquette.”

　　Realizing her mistake, Brianne prostrated herself flat at the Empress’s feet, her golden hair fluttering pitifully.

　　“I told you to raise your head.”