Chapter 99
---------------
Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org
---------------
99.
I quickly stepped backward and hid my body behind a corridor pillar.
By fortunate chance, the reception room door stood ajar at precisely the angle where I could observe everything within.
Through the gap, I watched as Fourth Concubine exhaled sharply—a brief, controlled breath—before straightening her head again.
'My, she who always maintained impeccable composure.'
No, even now her expression control was flawless, which made it all the more terrifying.
A thin line of blood beaded across Fourth Concubine's cheek, reddened as if scraped by the ring worn by First Concubine's attendant.
"I never expected such words from your lips, First Concubine."
"Your legs must no longer pain you, it seems. To see you've forgotten all courtesy toward your superiors."
"Ha!"
Fourth Concubine scoffed openly at First Concubine's words.
"And you—it appears much troubles your mind. Rather than offering a proper rebuttal to my words, you resort to striking me and lecturing about courtesy?"
She showed no sign of intimidation, her expression suggesting she had forgotten she held the lowest rank among the imperial concubines.
First Concubine, exasperated by Fourth Concubine's demeanor, rested her chin on her hand and spoke with contempt.
"Do you truly believe I would fear you, speaking in such a manner, Fourth Concubine?"
First Concubine laughed with boredom, delicately grooming her fingernails.
"No wonder—a house born of theft and treachery, with neither lineage nor history to its name."
"First Concubine!"
It was Scarlett Jamoti, the Fourth Concubine, who bristled first.
At her reaction, First Concubine rose from her seat with a sneer far more cutting than Scarlett's own.
"If you're already ashamed over something so trivial, what will you do? You've committed far too many wrongs against the other concubines for this to end here."
"Our House of Jamoti existed long before the Empire itself was even-!"
"Ah, so that's what happens when a house built on theft and clawing upward doesn't understand proper etiquette? Most families don't boast their lineage in such a manner."
First Concubine cut off Scarlett's words and approached her with languid steps, then stopped before her.
Eyes gleaming with gold contempt bore into her like a curse.
Yet First Concubine merely smiled with aristocratic grace.
That artificial smile resembled precisely how Scarlett had once mocked the other concubines during her time as Empress, pretending to care for them at the Emperor's side.
"At least one must wait until receiving a baronial title before claiming such status, yes? Though I wonder—did you even know when your title became 'legitimate'?"
"First Concubine, close that mouth at once-!"
Crack—!
With an indifferent expression, First Concubine swung her hand and struck the unblemished cheek on the opposite side.
"How dare you command me? If you're Fourth Concubine, then know your place accordingly!"
"When did the rank difference between concubines become so severe!"
"Ha, haha!"
At Scarlett's words, First Concubine laughed loudly as if it were the most amusing thing she'd heard.
"You—saying that?"
First Concubine bent forward to meet Fourth Concubine's eyes and spoke with deliberate precision.
"Just three months ago, you dared to show contempt to Empress Trisha, claiming that the Second Empress could never equal the First Empress?"
"That was when I was still Empress...!"
"Don't delude yourself, Scarlett Jamoti. Have you forgotten? It was His Majesty the Emperor himself who placed you in that position, explicitly designating you as the lowest-ranking among the Concubines."
The Fourth Concubine clamped her mouth shut.
"Now learn the reality—without His Majesty's favor, you cannot threaten anyone with mere words."
The First Concubine gestured to her attendants.
At that signal, the Fourth Concubine's body, which had been forced to kneel until then, was lifted to her feet.
"Because you are merely the Fourth Concubine, you must show respect to me. All of it stems from His Majesty's command—the very authority you were so proud of and wielded as though it were your own."
As the First Concubine waved her hand, the attendants holding Scarlett dragged her away without hesitation.
"First Concubine! You tried to kill someone, and now you cast me out like this! Is this how you intimidate me to bury the truth!"
Of course, Scarlett did not go quietly; she screamed at the top of her lungs, as if determined to leave her mark.
But the First Concubine merely let out a scoff,
"It seems the Fourth Concubine has developed some sort of madness—believing her delusions to be reality and behaving in such a manner."
dismissing Scarlett's words lightly.
The First Concubine, as though exhausted by the commotion, fanned herself lazily near her ear and issued an additional command to one of her attendants.
"The Fourth Concubine appears to require rest, so you shall visit the Rose Palace regularly to check on her. See that she does not act recklessly."
"Yes, Your Highness the First Concubine."
"His Majesty dislikes a noisy Imperial Palace, so we must be careful, mustn't we?"
The First Concubine laughed melodiously, her throat resonating with the sound.
Scarlett tried to shout at her, but another attendant immediately covered her mouth.
"Did you not hear, Your Highness the Fourth Concubine? His Majesty wishes for quiet."
"These are His Majesty's words, which you held in such high regard—and though your station is low, since you have resided in the palace for 'quite some time,' you ought to show some decorum."
The attendants dragging her out of the Reception Room spoke in an elegant yet mocking tone, offering advice to the Fourth Concubine as though it were guidance.
"Mmph, mmmph...!"
The Fourth Concubine struggled to open her mouth, but the seasoned attendants' technique was far superior.
I watched them emerge into the Corridor, then subtly shifted my feet away from the pillar, standing as though I had merely paused my steps upon hearing the commotion.
Scarlett, upon seeing me, lunged forward with her body, but the attendants held both her arms firmly in place.
They offered me a light bow and spoke as though ensuring the Fourth Concubine could hear.
"Her madness does seem quite severe—attacking anyone at any time without restraint."
"We must escort Her Highness to safety, so Salice Advisor, please return inside. Someone from the Winter Palace has arrived, and the First Concubine awaits."
Their composure was such that one could not sense the Fourth Concubine thrashing about in their arms.
'Indeed, these are the First Concubine's trusted attendants.'
They were women who had come from the Grand Duchy, married into the Imperial nobility, and served as the First Concubine's attendants ever since.
And their composure seemed to be proof that they had weathered every crisis the First Concubine had faced in the Imperial Harem.
"Bring a heavy veil."
As they passed by me, they issued instructions to a maidservant in a calm voice, ensuring Scarlett's appearance would be concealed.
It was all to maintain a peaceful facade in the Imperial Harem, undisturbed by commotion.
*
"I apologize for the unseemly spectacle, Salice Advisor."
Unlike her demeanor moments ago when dealing with the Fourth Concubine, the First Concubine gestured with elegant grace for me to take a seat on the reception room sofa.
It was hard to believe such commotion had occurred just moments before—the reception room was already tidied with remarkable swiftness.
As I settled into the seat at the First Concubine's invitation, a Countess Attendant soon brought tea and desserts before us.
The First Concubine stopped the Countess Attendant's hand and personally lifted the teapot to pour my cup.
With eyes full of warmth, she sipped her own tea and opened her mouth to speak.
"This is our first conversation like this, isn't it?"
"Yes, Your Highness the First Concubine."
We had exchanged greetings at meals I attended as Cassian Artez's fiancée, but we'd had little opportunity for actual conversation.
"We'll be family someday, so don't be so stiff. Of course, I know you're a person of propriety."
With a leisurely smile like a ripening spring afternoon, she hesitated slightly before continuing, her expression turning sheepish.
"I also know you help our daughter frequently. I'm aware that Cassian Artez and you both work very hard in many ways."
I should have demurred at these words, but my lips wouldn't move.
During settlement periods, the Second Princess's palace relied on the Winter Palace nearly as much as the Summer Palace did.
I simply offered a gentle smile.
I couldn't ask her daughter to take responsibility if she learned of it, nor could I dismiss it here and increase our palace's workload.
That wouldn't be fair to my Winter Palace colleagues who trusted me and worked alongside me.
But the First Concubine showed no displeasure at my attitude, merely nodding as if she understood.
"Since I obtained her so preciously, I've been rather indulgent in raising her. So she lacks discipline and is actually quite lacking as a princess."
The First Concubine let out a short sigh.
"In fact, when that child was assigned her own palace two years ago and became independent, I petitioned His Majesty several times. I said she was still too young to manage a palace."
The Second Princess, who was sixteen this year, was indeed somewhat innocent as the First Concubine described.
Put kindly, she was exactly her age; put unkindly, somewhat....
Somewhat.... One particular trait of adolescence that should have passed gently was manifesting rather strongly at this very stage.
"So while it's embarrassing, I have a favor to ask of you, Salice Advisor."
"...A favor?"
I felt a slight tension rise.
It wasn't that I feared the First Concubine because of what I'd just witnessed, but rather that this favor might increase my workload.
Early in my employment, I'd already been pushed into unfairly working overtime without additional compensation due to the Second Princess's requests.
I mentally ran through the Winter Palace's recent task list so I could defend against whatever request came.
However, all my careful preparation and worry proved pointless when the First Concubine's request was—
"Would you send Ashwood, the Winter Palace's Second Advisor, to the Second Princess's palace?"
Truly.
Absolutely.
It was an absurd request.
I felt regret for having thought her somewhat impressive while watching her deal with the Fourth Concubine.
---------------
Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org
---------------