Chapter 162: Little Sisters, Big Schemes
In one of the many corners of Demor Palace.
"Bethany! Look at the dress the Head Sister commissioned for me!" Alice, a little girl the same age as her, spun around a couple of times while showing it off with a slight smile.
"Mmm, it’s incredible! I have a special one too—my brother made it especially for me!" Bethany replied enthusiastically.
The other girl made a face and kicked the ground in annoyance.
"You’re so lucky your brother pays attention to you... In my house, the men only talk about annoying things. One of my brothers even mentioned marrying me off to some old man! And the only sister who used to give me any attention at all has been acting weird lately... Though luckily she remembered to prepare my dress for today, or I wouldn’t have come. And everyone’s going to be here today..."
The girl lowered her head, depressed, but the other quickly spoke up to cheer her on.
"Marry you off? I’m going to marry my brother! You can too if you want!" Bethany offered with complete innocence. "And I’m sorry it’s like that... I also have a brother who isn’t very nice."
Alice shook her head. "Anyway, you have to introduce him to me. When I told my sister you were my friend, she immediately asked about him. She says he’s the most handsome man she’s ever seen..."
The little girl paused for a moment, looking around cautiously. Then she leaned in and whispered in Bethany’s ear: "Don’t tell him, but she even bought a portrait of him on the black market and hung it in her room, right in front of her bed, so she can see it all the time."
The pink-haired girl put on a completely confused expression. "Really? I want one too, Alice!"
"Hmmm, I’ve seen it with my own eyes in secret when she wasn’t there. He really is handsome..."
"Alice! Alice!" The sound of a woman approaching could be heard in the distance.
The one being called jumped. "Quick, Bethany, we have to hide!"
"Huh? Why? Isn’t that your sister?"
"Yes! That’s exactly why! If she sees you with me, I’m scared she’ll start acting weird!"
Alice grabbed Bethany’s hand and started running in the opposite direction of the calls.
...
Meanwhile, in the center of the palace where the coronation would take place, the preparations were already complete. At any moment, the houses that had to swear oaths or witness the new ruler would head there.
Elara was in a nearby room with Cassandra, who watched her with a mix of amusement and resignation at the princess’s anxiety.
"You won’t gain anything by pacing back and forth like that."
The princess bit her lip. "Did he come to talk to you?"
Cassandra frowned. "No."
"He should have! Especially with me! I’m going to be the Empress! I’ll handle everything for him!"
"I don’t understand what you mean."
"That I need relief, Master! Isn’t it obvious? A reward!"
The older woman rolled her eyes helplessly. "I don’t think you’ve done much to deserve one. In fact, I think he seemed quite displeased with how you acted that day, Elara."
"Huh?! But why?!"
"You’re definitely not ready for this," came Caelia’s mocking voice, accompanied by a soft laugh, as the door opened.
The soon-to-be former Empress appeared in a magnificent dress—one that would definitely draw the eyes of many men attending that day, even though she only wanted the attention of one.
Elara turned around angrily, but remembering that Caelia had been helping her with many things, she sighed helplessly.
"Everything is ready. Lisbeth Vitalis should be in place soon as well, and the hall is starting to fill up. Stop acting like a child and show all those people that you’re the winner behind all the chaos that has been plaguing Demor. The strength you display will be what the rest of the world sees—and what we’ll use to give him what he deserves."
Caelia’s last words, obsessive and utterly devoted, managed to calm Elara. She remembered that she couldn’t simply ask for a reward; she would have to earn it—especially when competing against a woman like the one standing before her.
With a deep sigh, she walked over to a table where the ceremonial crown lay. With an elegant motion, she placed it on her head, straightened her posture, and gave the two women a determined look before heading toward the exit of the small room.
...
Meanwhile, far from Demor, in the neighboring empire of Lucratis.
Vivienne Wyrne wore an arrogant, joyful smile. When the white-haired head and those eyes so similar to her own appeared among the crowd, escorted by guards, her smile only grew wider.
"My daughter! The future Empress of this empire!" With these words, Vivienne looked at the people in the room with satisfaction.
Astrid Wyrne, who had finally been found, had returned to her homeland. Seeing her mother—who had always treated her with indifference—showing such a warm smile upon her return, the disgust inside her only grew stronger. Still, she didn’t let it show in her eyes.
She approached Vivienne and, with a small nod that was neither too cold nor too warm, greeted her:
"Mother."
"Mmm, come. We have a lot to talk about..."
Mother and daughter headed to a private room. As soon as the door closed, Vivienne turned to face her youngest and scolded her:
"You killed a prince?! Do you want to start a war?!"
Astrid wasn’t surprised by the scolding, though the hint of concern in her mother’s voice did catch her slightly off guard. Still, she knew it was too late for that kind of affection.
"I wasn’t going to marry someone like him, Mother. I apologize if that caused problems for you."
Vivienne’s expression softened, and a flicker of guilt shone in her eyes. "It’s not that... It’s fine if you didn’t want to. I didn’t raise you to let yourself be stepped on if you don’t like something. But you see, your brother died, and if word gets out that you’re going to be Empress, there could be trouble... Though of course, this mother of yours will defend you no matter what. It’s not as if we’re afraid of Demor..."
Despite her words, the older woman’s eyes showed she had some idea that the other empire was going through events that left everyone in the dark.
There were other hidden concerns in her gaze as well, so she continued trying to sweeten and rebuild the relationship with the daughter she had neglected for so long.
...
Cassian, for his part, walked slowly and steadily toward the place where he was supposed to be with his family. Although everyone had scattered, most of them had ended up in the same spot at that hour.
Elric and Alexandro, along with Eleanor, had arrived a while ago. Rosalind arrived shortly after, and the last to appear was Cassian, who drew the gazes of several people who had him in their sights.
The little girls Bethany and Alice had also come, but they settled in a distant spot, looking around with a mix of fear and awe at so many people and an atmosphere that didn’t seem very festive.
Valeria Astaford and her mother arrived as well. The former followed the latter with a complex expression, while the latter immediately searched the room for two specific people.
She quickly found the first one—and Valeria also looked in his direction. The second, the one she headed toward, was Sylvia Sterling, who had already recovered and was present.
With a knowing smile shared between them, she positioned herself beside her and asked in a worried tone:
"Feeling better?"
"Are you asking me or telling yourself?" Sylvia replied, raising an eyebrow.
Selyne let out a soft laugh. "Hmm, both."
"Either way, I hope this ends quickly. I hate these kinds of formalities," she added with a sigh.
"It shouldn’t take too long, though there’s the feast afterward. Aren’t you staying?" Sylvia asked.
The Duchess raised a hand to her chin as if considering it. "Hmmm..." She gave a brief glance toward the Varkas family area and smiled faintly. "Maybe I will..."
Sylvia shook her head.
All the while, Seraphine and Valeria, standing beside the two older women, looked at each other without fully understanding what their great-aunt and mother, respectively, were talking about. Though Fengyue, for her part, already had a good idea of what was happening.
But a loud sound from the front quickly captured everyone’s attention.