Chapter 9

"At the wedding, it’s nice to see you, Your Majesty."

Adel smiled and greeted the visitor, who had a special tone in their voice.

"Please come in, Grand Duke. I was also hoping to meet you separately."

The unexpected visitor was Elizabeth Ulrich Grand. She was the emperor's half-sister and had a strong presence. Elizabeth, with her Ulrich family's distinctive purple eyes tinged with red and her blonde hair, was similar yet different from the emperor. While the emperor had a sensitive and sharp aura, Elizabeth exuded a cold and intimidating one.

"Please sit."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

As the two sat down, the maids naturally brought in refreshments. Elizabeth, who had been staring at the teacup the maids were serving, requested a private conversation with Adel.

"Could you have everyone leave?"

Adel readily agreed.

"Everyone, step out for a moment."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

As the maids hurriedly left the room, Adel stared directly at Elizabeth. Elizabeth, after gazing at the transparent steam rising from the warm teacup, fixed her golden eyes on Adel. The sunlight was pouring in through the windows, and Elizabeth seemed to have captured a slice of that intense sunlight in her eyes.

"Is there something on my face?"

"Oh, I apologize, Your Majesty. Your eyes are truly impressive. Please forgive me."

"My eye color is indeed unique. In my homeland, they called me the 'Black Leopard of Gothrop' behind my back."

"Black leopard... I've never seen one, but I feel as if I have."

Adel smiled and lifted her teacup. Elizabeth, who had been watching the queen drink tea, looked at her again, as if measuring her. Adel, feeling the strange gaze, put down her teacup and stared directly at Elizabeth. The two women, with no trace of a smile, stared at each other for a long time. After a while, Elizabeth realized how small the queen was, barely reaching her shoulder.

Yet, Adel did not seem weak. The queen was someone who could pressure others with her presence alone. Elizabeth had seen this at the wedding and confirmed it now.

"I like you, Your Majesty."

Adel narrowed her eyes at the abrupt statement. Unfortunately, she had almost no information about Echmont or the Grand Duke, except that she was the emperor's half-sister. Adel was curious about why the Grand Duke had come to see her. At that moment, Elizabeth spoke again.

"I heard you summoned Lady Hannah Gix."

"..."

"She was my governess."

"Why are you telling me this?"

"Isn't summoning Lady Hannah Gix to the palace a way to establish your position as queen?"

"Isn't it natural for a queen to maintain discipline in the palace?"

"You're right. You should do that."

"..."

"But it won't be easy. By Dian Poitier's side is the emperor's favor, and behind her is August Ulrich Despoiné, the Duke."

Elizabeth took a sip of tea and continued carefully.

"You must secure your position as queen amidst this. You shouldn't trust the people in the palace now. They are all Despoiné's and Dian Poitier's people."

Adel listened to Elizabeth's words silently. The queen, who seemed to be lost in thought, looked at Elizabeth and asked.

"What benefit do you have in helping me establish my position in the palace?"

Her voice was low, and her eyes were sharp. Elizabeth, who felt like a jungle predator lowering its body and baring its sharp claws, momentarily held her breath. Elizabeth, also a princess of Echmont and now a Duke with a large territory, felt a sense of relief at the direct question. She decided to be honest.

"The emperor is not walking the proper path amidst those two. I desperately want you to sever the connection between Dian Poitier and Despoiné."

"To establish my position as queen?"

"Yes. Summoning Lady Hannah Gix will certainly help. However, since she was sent by the emperor, giving her the position of chief steward will cause a big conflict. Keeping her close for advice might be enough."

"..."

"Also, I advise you to announce a search for a secretary."

"A secretary?"

"The position of the queen's secretary has always existed. They manage the queen's schedule and tasks and sometimes act on her behalf. How you use this role is up to you."

"Is that the answer? I've heard the chief steward is used as a secretary."

"The chief steward is responsible for internal palace affairs, usually a woman. In contrast, the queen's secretary is usually a man. My mother, the late queen, increased the number of secretaries whenever the previous emperor changed his government."

Adel chuckled.

"So, because the emperor had a mistress, I should also have one?"

"I don't know the atmosphere of the Gothrop palace, but in Echmont, momentum is crucial."

"..."

"I'm not suggesting you create a rivalry. However, if you remain silent after the emperor publicly humiliates you, the nobles here will see you as less than a concubine. Echmont is a land of warriors who respect strength and despise weakness. You cannot afford to lose momentum."

Adel wiped the trace of her chuckle from her lips and focused on Elizabeth's words. The queen's serious attitude made Elizabeth sit up straight and lean forward.

"The current power in the palace is held by Despoiné. He controls the mages with one hand and uses Dian Poitier to win the emperor's favor with the other. Do you think there are no opposing forces?"

"Are you saying that those who oppose him will respond to my announcement?"

Elizabeth nodded.

"The queen's secretary has historically been a check on the emperor's power. If it were just a mistress, the people of Echmont would have replaced the term with a more derogatory one."

"If I appoint a secretary... Who do you recommend?"

At the queen's question, the Grand Duke thought for a moment and then listed a few family names. Adel memorized them.

"And if, by any chance, a candidate from the Valder family applies, I recommend you choose them without hesitation."

"The Valder family?"

The Grand Duke nodded slowly in response to Adel's question.

"Contact me if you need any help. You can easily reach me through Lady Hannah Gix, Your Majesty."

＊ ＊ ＊

Hannah Gix. She had been the Grand Duke's governess and great-aunt due to her connection with the late queen and had long been a powerful figure in the palace. However, her world crumbled with the unexpected arrival of Dian Poitier. When she saw Dian, who resembled a lily in a vase, Lady Gix gasped. Dian was the root of the illness that led to the late queen's death. Dian Poitier exuded an aura similar to that of Karl Ulrich's birth mother. The emperor soon fell for her and one day stripped Lady Gix of all her authority. Dian Poitier took over the emperor's duties, which was possible because the queen's position was vacant and the emperor agreed. Dian's first order was to evict Lady Gix from the palace. The Grand Duke protested this order, but Emperor Karl made it clear that it was his will and did not revoke Dian's command. Thus, Hannah Gix had to leave the palace without a formal retirement ceremony. The experienced old lady, who had been forced into an inglorious retirement, felt her heart would burst at the new queen's summons. Her tailored dress, with a high collar that was her symbol, and her silver-white hair, perfectly coiffed, made her blue eyes as clear as the sky reflected on a snowy field. While Adel evoked deep darkness, Lady Gix evoked a bone-chilling snowfield.

"Welcome. I am grateful for your response to my request."

"It is my pleasure, Your Majesty."

Lady Gix bowed respectfully to the queen.

"Please raise your head."

As she slowly raised her head, she couldn't help but scan the queen's reception room. Her nose tingled, and her eyes burned, so she quickly blinked and swallowed. This place was her life. The cold and meticulousness that had settled in every wrinkle of her face were fading just by being in this space. Adel waited for the old lady to be lost in her memories. After a while, Lady Gix composed herself and apologized to the queen.

"I apologize, Your Majesty. Being here after so long, I am overwhelmed..."

"Is everything the same as when the late queen used it?"

Lady Gix swept her hand over the sofa.

"This sofa was chosen by me. However, these old things should be replaced, Your Majesty."

Adel tilted her head and smiled. Her golden eyes, which glinted with a mysterious light, and her lips, which curved like a crescent moon, made her pale cheeks stand out. Lady Gix, captivated by the queen's appearance, stared at her face.

"I would like to entrust you with some tasks, Lady Gix."

"Hmm."

"Is it not possible?"

"I am grateful, but the emperor may not approve."

"Are you saying you are willing?"

At this, Lady Gix, who had already been standing stiffly, straightened her back even more and placed her hand on her chest.

"As I said, it is my pleasure, Your Majesty."

"Thank you."

"If you have any tasks for me, please assign them now. I can do them immediately."

Adel nodded and stood up. She wanted to discuss the palace law code with her. However, an unexpected issue arose with Lady Gix. A maid, waiting outside, knocked and entered to report a shocking matter.

"Your Majesty, the dress you recently ordered has arrived."

"Is there a problem?"

"It's... well... here..."

The maid hesitated for a long time, causing Lady Gix, who was sitting on the sofa, to frown and stand up.

"Speak clearly."

At the queen's calm request, the maid took a deep breath and said.

"The palace treasury has stated that they cannot pay for the queen's dress."

This was unheard of.

"..."

"What?"

Are you kidding me? The queen's dress payment cannot be made, what a beggar's state! She felt the words rising in her throat, but Adel bit her tongue and took a deep breath.

"So, my dress has arrived, but the palace treasury cannot pay for it..."

Her words slowed, and the queen finally closed her eyes. Her face, pale as snow, looked calm, but the aura around her was ominous. After a moment, her golden eyes, which slowly revealed a wild look, made the maid, who felt an instinctive fear, quickly bow her head to avoid her gaze. The queen turned her gaze from the maid to Lady Gix.

"Would it be better to call them to the queen's palace and pay them personally?"

Unlike the terrified maid, the experienced old lady maintained a calm expression and attitude.

"If the news gets out, it will damage the queen's reputation. It would be better to call them to the palace and pay them. You can also give them a tip to keep them quiet. However, there's no need for you to meet them personally. Leave it to me."

The queen nodded and turned.

"Go and bring them here."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

As the maid rushed out of the reception room like a frightened animal, Adel went to her room to retrieve the emergency funds.

"I didn't expect to use this so soon."

Adel took out a gold ingot and placed it in a silk bag. Her slender fingers, which gripped the heavy bag tightly, turned white.

"Let's see how this goes."

Adel, with eyes that glinted brighter than the gold, muttered darkly.