A Marriage Alliance for Revenge - Chapter 33

As the familiar street came into view through the carriage window, an eerie shiver crawled up her arms.

 

Elsewhere, the scent of roses, which would have already passed and faded, faintly lingered around her nostrils.

 

Briella shivered at the strongly lingering fragrance.

 

“My lady. We’ve arrived at the Imperial Palace.”

 

Lena, seated in front of her, made her voice heard.

 

Briella nodded, biting her lip in response to the curiosity displayed in Lena’s sparkling brown eyes.

 

She’d been so sweet to her since the day she first arrived at Viterpan Manor.

 

She wanted to get along with her, but a relaxed demeanor would make her an easy target in the palace.

 

Briella was about to say something about Lena’s demeanor.

 

“Now that we have arrived at the palace, I’ll behave like palace maids. Snap!”

 

Lena’s face, filled with determination, transformed in an instant. 

 

Her eyes, which had been scanning the surroundings, gently lowered, and her previously grinning lips were firmly sealed.

 

Lena’s abrupt change in expression shattered Briella’s mask.

 

“By the way, where does this road lead? The scent of roses is getting stronger as we go.”

 

Briella looked out the window at Lena’s words.

 

“‥‥‥This road leads to the Rose Palace.”

 

“The Rose Palace?”

 

Briella nodded slowly in response to Lena’s question.

 

“My lady, you’ll be disembarking soon, so I’ll get your clothes in order.”

 

Lena said as she approached the window. She had been looking out the window, and spoke as they neared Rose Palace.

 

Lena smoothed out the hem of Briella’s gown, her face completely devoid of emotion.

 

As Lena smoothed out the hem of Briella’s dress, the carriage came to a stop, and a light knock sounded.

 

“Do you mind if I open the door?”

 

“Uh-huh.”

 

Briella nodded hastily, lost in thought for a moment.

 

Opening the carriage door, the first thing she saw was a blue sky with scattered clouds.

 

“Welcome. Duchess Viterpan.”

 

As she disembarked, holding the hand of an imperial chamberlain, she was not expecting to see a particular sight in front of her.

 

“It’s been a long time. Lady Eve.”

 

She pulled back her chin and straightened her posture with determination.

 

As she squared her shoulders and lowered her gaze to look down at her opponent, Briella saw her jaw quiver slightly.

 

Her actions caused Eve to grit her teeth in frustration.

 

Eve managed to gather her trembling lips and craft a radiant smile. 

 

Since Briella last saw her with Gusto, she’s pampered her maids.

 

All in the name of getting under her skin.

 

But from the very beginning, nothing had gone according to Eve’s plan. 

 

Briella thought it was part of the empress training, just as Gusto had mentioned. 

 

So instead of choosing the flamboyant attire she usually wore, she opted for an elegant dress that exuded dignity. 

 

Briella’s surroundings brightened when she smiled in her vibrant yellow dress, as if she were out on a promenade.

 

Up until now, it had been Eve who dictated the atmosphere. That had changed.

 

It felt as if Briella had been stripped of her authority, and Eve’s face contorted in displeasure. 

 

“I didn’t know you would summon me to Rose Palace.” 

 

The reason for Briella’s sudden change in mood since the carriage entered the palace and passed through the familiar street became clear. 

 

Olivia when she was alive, had never occupied Rose Palace as Lady Eve did during her as empress.

 

“Since the noble Duchess Viterpan has graciously offered to help me, it’s only right to extend such hospitality. That way, you will work diligently for my sake.”  

 

Ignoring the disdain in Eve’s words, Briella nodded with a smile.

 

Eve, who saw Briella smiling like a fool without realizing she was being disregarded, gracefully turned around. 

 

“I’m glad. It seems you have grasped the subject.” 

 

Eve, who was walking ahead, abruptly stopped at Briella’s words. 

 

It was a small voice, like a whisper, but it wasn’t a voice that couldn’t be heard.

 

“‥‥‥.”

 

“I thought you’d be grumbling about this in His Majesty’s embrace, but you’ve somehow managed to admit that you need my help.”

 

Briella laughed as she looked around the rose palace, built with white marble. 

 

She wanted to suppress her laughter, but she couldn’t hold it in. 

 

She never expected that, as Duchess Viterpan, she would step foot in places she didn’t dream of as the empress. 

 

“Lady Viterpan, please be cautious with your words.” 

 

Countess Lawrence, who had been standing a step behind Eve, hastily stepped forward.

 

 “It seems I made a slip of the tongue.”

 

Briella gently lowered her eyes and placed one hand on her chest. 

 

“Shall we enter?” Eve spoke with a heavily burdened voice, unwilling to easily succumb to Briella’s provocation, as if she had intentionally tried to appear magnanimous.

 

However, Briella’s provocation did not stop there. 

 

“I’m looking forward to personally guiding you and experiencing palace life from now on.”

 

Eve halted her steps at Briella’s voice emanating from behind her. 

 

She clenched the hem of her dress tightly in her hand. The meticulously prepared dress crumpled without mercy in her grasp. 

 

“Enough with this and come inside.”

 

Lady Lawrence, who had been present behind Eve, stepped forward to stand between the two women locked in confrontation. 

 

“Lady Eve, please. There are many watching eyes.”

 

Lady Lawrence gently admonished Eve, smiling brightly as she glanced around. 

 

She left Briella, who was cheerfully looking around, behind her. 

 

Despite Lady Lawrence’s objections, Eve stubbornly turned around and confronted Briella. 

 

“I look forward to seeing what help I can get from the Duchess Viterpan.”

 

Startled by Eve’s fierce tone, Briella covered her mouth with her hand, her eyes widening. 

 

The commotion that unfolded in front of Rose Palace quickly spread throughout the palace grounds.

 

* * *
 

 

“An unseemly rumor.”

 

Gusto remarked to the butler, extending his hand after hearing about the events at Rose Palace. 

 

From Eve’s perspective, it was quite lenient treatment. 

 

Gusto found Eve’s behavior, subtly gauging the situation, quite pleasing. 

 

She was like a fox who couldn’t hide her tail, despite curling it at her master’s command.

 

“How are things at Perta?”

 

“He says they are continuing their confrontation to no avail,” replied Marquis Hailey in a tone as if he had been anticipating Gusto’s question. 

 

Gusto shook his hand as if expressing his disinterest in hearing a boring story. 

 

He let out a sigh, making sure not to let his frustration show in his seemingly carefree expression. 

 

It had been over two weeks since Lucas left the capital. It was after giving orders to delay Lucas as much as possible.

 

“My cousin is good at sensing danger like a beast, but lacks luck,” Gusto remarked. 

 

Lucas had led the knights and swiftly infiltrated Perta, claiming it was a surprise attack in the middle of the night. 

 

However, the belated raindrops hindered their progress. The wet leaves made it slippery and difficult for the horses to pursue, and the rebels retaliated by throwing mud instead of swords, further hindering their movements. 

 

Upon hearing the report that their progress had stalled due to the rebel forces’ strategy, Gusto laughed. 

 

“They’ve called for reinforcements, what should we do?”

 

“Reinforcements?”

 

“It seems that there are more casualties than expected. The reports state that even now, Perta is experiencing constant rain, not long after the typhoon passed.”

 

The reason for the delayed messenger bird was also that damnable rain.

 

Gusto’s eyebrow twitched, and he pretended to be lost in thought, stroking his chin with his hand.

 

The pressure to return the cloak, subtly, had brought him back from his thoughts. The Duke’s response was that Briella was still ill and unable to move.

 

That day.

 

When he recalled Briella confessing her love for the Duke with a desolate face, wet from the rain, a strange heat surged through his body.

 

And Gusto still hadn’t received the cloak back from Briella.

 

‘Let’s wait a little longer.’

 

His mood suddenly soured when he thought that Lucas would return to the capital.

 

Gusto extended his hand. There was unspoken pressure not to bring up this issue any further.

 

This troublesome problem was truly detestable.

 

As he pressed his forehead, the attendants sitting at the office table exchanged glances.

 

Gusto had seemed in a good mood before the meeting started.

 

But now, he was snapping the stem of the rose placed before him.

 

The crushed rose petal slipped from Gusto’s hand and scattered on the dark conference table like a bloody stain.

 

“Your Majesty.”

 

The one who nervously stepped forward under Gusto’s gaze was the Minister of Finance.

 

The grand festival, the greatest festival of the Rhone Empire, was approaching.

 

The Ministry of Finance was already busy, and ever since Empress Olivia’s death, they had been working around the clock without time for sleep.

 

“Next is the matter of taxes after the autumn harvest.”

 

“What about it?”

 

The Minister of Finance’s words quickened at Gusto’s gesture.

 

“Well, collecting taxes after the autumn harvest is over will be an issue.”

 

“Haven’t they been saying it’s a bountiful year?”

 

That was true until before the rain came.

 

The crops that couldn’t be harvested due to the late autumn typhoon were piled up.

 

Perta, in particular, suffered the most damage.

 

It was, until the rains came.

 

The city, located near the river and sea, experienced flooding as the rivers overflowed due to heavy rainfall.

 

When even human lives were uncertain, there was no way the crops would be unscathed.

 

“However, we cannot avoid collecting taxes.”

 

At Gusto’s blunt remark, the face of the Minister of Finance turned pale.

 

“Your Majesty, please consider the situation in Perta.”

 

With a trembling voice, the Minister of Finance pleaded, but Gusto casually flipped through the documents with a disinterested gesture.

 

Just by his appearance, the Minister of Finance was already worried about next year’s budget proposal.

 

The Minister of Finance, who couldn’t dare to show anger in front of the Emperor, closed his eyes and counted the numbers.

 

“If exceptions are made, other territories will swoop in like vultures, asking for a reduction in taxes.”

 

Gusto tapped his finger lightly.

 

“But this flood in Perta is an exceptional circumstance that needs to be taken into account. Above all, the damage to the Empire’s citizens is significant.”

 

Despite the Minister of Finance’s desperate plea, Gusto’s expression remained unchanged.

 

In response, the Minister of Finance lowered his head, seemingly resigned.

 

“Rules exist to be upheld, don’t they? Therefore, they must be upheld.”

 

“Understood…”

 

At Gusto’s words, the Minister of Finance closed his mouth and withdrew. The atmosphere in the conference room grew desolate.

 

Adhering to principles and rules was commendable, but exceptions had to be made.

 

However, it was difficult to expect exceptions from Gusto.

 

He was a knight, someone who followed rules rather than showed flexibility.

 

“Now, how are the preparations for this year’s festival…?”

 

The Minister of Finance trailed off. Among the nobles, various conversations were already circulating.

 

“Duchess Viterpan has volunteered to assist Eve.”

 

“Pardon?”

 

The gazes of the attendants sitting at the conference table turned towards Gusto.

 

In response to their gazes, Gusto smiled mischievously.

 

“It’s quite amusing. Neither of them has a clear background or a proper lineage, after all.”

 

As laughter mixed into his voice, the attendants avoided eye contact and averted their gazes.

 

“Eve is out of the question, but no one even objects to Duchess Viterpan.”

 

Gusto’s gesture of shrugging his shoulders and rising from his seat seemed genuinely joyful.

 

Gusto briskly left the conference room.

 

There were still many matters to attend to. But no one could stop him on his path.

 

“Hmm, truly.”

 

Sighs poured out from the remaining individuals, yet none of them spoke up first.

 

“So, the Duchess Viterpan has settled in the Rose Palace?”

 

Gusto asked the butler, who followed behind him as they walked along the long corridor.

 

The red cloak fluttered in sync with Gusto’s steps.

 

“Yes, Lady Eve personally guided her.”

 

“Is that so?”

 

Seeing Briella lower herself before with just a few words from him pleased Gusto, but for some reason, he didn’t quite like the idea of Briella staying in the same palace as Eve.

 

“Usually, the maids of honor reside in the palace of the host they serve.”

 

“Duchess Viterpan is obviously not a maid of Lady Eve.”

 

The situation was ambiguous.

 

In terms of status, the Duchess Viterpan was much higher than Eve.

 

But it was Lady Eve who occupied the Rose Palace.

 

The butler was perplexed by the tangled imperial lineage.

 

“What are they doing now?”

 

“I hear Lady Eve has invited the Duchess to tea.”

 

“Tea time, huh….”

 

Gusto’s pace quickened.

 

 

 

 

* * *

 

 

 

At that moment,

 

A strange aura lingered on the terrace of the Rose Palace, where the final rose of the year had bloomed.

 

“Well then, what will you do for me today, Duchess?”

 

Eve asked impudently, crossing one leg and pulling up her shawl.

 

In response to her faintly suggestive laughter, Briella gracefully lowered the teacup with subtle elegance.

 

The quiet silence, in stark contrast to the sound of the teacup placed just moments ago, made Eve tightly bite her lips.

 

“What can I assist you with?”

 

“Ha! Can you do anything I want?”

 

“I suppose that depends on what you want.”

 

As Eve and Briella conversed, Lady Lawrence’s expression grew increasingly rigid.

 

The hands that briefly held each other under the table trembled slightly.

 

Briella, who glanced momentarily at Lady Lawrence, who was in such a state, turned her gaze to Eve, her lips slightly twitching.

 

“Empress, I desire the position of Empress of the Rhone Empire.”

 

“Hmm.”

 

Upon Eve’s words, Lady Lawrence took a sharp breath.