Intermission
When Sophia returned with the carriage, Lilian was curled up in the corner of the cabin, her face a mask of tears, mindlessly muttering, “I was wrong,” over and over again.
She looked at Olivia and the ship’s doctor with eyes full of suspicion, but Olivia was not the type to reveal anything on her face, and the doctor simply shook his head, claiming he knew nothing.
At this point, it didn’t matter what Lilian said or what kind of shock she had received. There was nothing left to be done for her.
A servant carried Lilian off the boat at the pier. Sophia loaded her into the carriage and departed for the Imperial Palace. Only then did the cruise ship begin to move back toward the dock.
Olivia ordered the music to continue. Then, she wandered around the ship in search of Zion.
Zion was standing at the stern. The wind tousled his hair. He wore a look of profound loneliness.
Olivia hesitated for a moment before walking over to stand beside him.
“Are you alright?”
“Do I look like I’m not?”
“I’m not sure. I’ve never taken revenge before.”
Zion turned to her and replied with a refreshing candor.
“It’s incredibly sweet. I highly recommend it.”
Olivia tilted her head, sensing that it wasn’t his entire truth, and he let out a dry chuckle.
“I do have various thoughts. I wonder if it was worth enduring the feeling of my soul becoming tainted just for this.”
“…….”
Olivia knew all too well what it felt like to have one’s soul tainted. She had been gripped by that very feeling from time to time.
Zion continued.
“But when you set out to clean something, you’re bound to get dirty yourself, aren’t you? I couldn’t just refuse to do it because I didn’t like that.”
“That’s true.”
“I think I can really leave now.”
He spoke in a low voice, as if muttering to himself.
Olivia still didn’t know the full story behind his past. She had no intention of asking, either. She didn’t know where he was leaving from or where he was headed.
“Are you going back to Lanier?”
“Aren’t you going to stop me?”
He turned to Olivia and grinned.
“If I’m not here, who are you going to get to open the ‘Curtain’?”
“The performance is over. I don’t have any plans for when the second run might be. Besides, there’s no shortage of male actors in our troupe vying for your spot.”
“There is no one as handsome as me.”
“It is a confirmed fact that you are the best at seducing women.”
Zion laughed out loud at that.
“Though Lady Laila didn’t even twitch.”
“You weren’t exactly trying to seduce her, were you?”
“What’s the point of actors playing at romance on stage? It’s just a play.”
“…….”
Olivia fell silent for a moment. Zion was right. Since Laila, his partner, was not her true self, there was no intention to share anything in the first place.
She wasn’t surprised that he had figured it out. When he realized she intended to bring Lilian down, Zion must have known that everything Laila did was a fabrication.
“Now that my play is over, shall I try seducing you?”
“You aren’t the type of person to show your true self to anyone, not even in a lifetime.”
At those words, Zion laughed again and cast his gaze toward the water flowing behind the stern.
“I’m thinking of retiring. I’ve earned a fortune, so I plan to enjoy some luxurious travel for a while.”
“Yes. That sounds good.”
“I’ll come back when I run out of money. You’ll have to put me back on stage then.”
“If there is still a stage left to perform on by then.”
Olivia smiled. Zion would never truly run out of money. Setting aside the wealth he had earned as an actor, the value of the imperial jewels he had extorted from Lilian alone was enough to live comfortably for the rest of his life.
The cruise ship glided toward the dock. Zion bowed to Olivia with elegant grace and strode toward his quarters.
He would likely leave the capital tonight. Olivia prayed that there would be no more misfortune on his path.
That night, the capital was a city that never slept.
The people who had disembarked from the ship scattered to spread the news about the Empress. Guests who had previously declined the late-night ball suddenly flocked to the palace, and lights flickered on in drawing rooms everywhere.
It wasn’t just the nobles. The incident was relayed to reporters through the waiters and crew who had been on the ship, and every printing press lit up to churn out extra editions.
However, the Wisteria Annex was quiet. Having done everything they could, there was no longer any urgent business to discuss.
Theodore arrived at the Wisteria Annex near midnight. The Viscountess of Münchhausen opened the door for him herself.
Theodore was flustered and greeted her.
“Good evening, Viscountess Münchhausen. I did not expect you to be awake at this hour.”
“I simply couldn’t fall asleep. You’ve come to see Via, haven’t you, Count Lutgarth?”
The old lady asked with a kind expression. Theodore wiped his face with his palm, wanting to hide his expression.
“Yes, I have a report to make. Is she still awake?”
“I brought her some warm milk to her room a little while ago. She shouldn’t be asleep yet.”
Viscountess Münchhausen took the lead as if to guide him. Theodore followed her obediently.
He had expected to be led to the study, but the Viscountess went even deeper into the residence. Theodore was a bit taken aback.
“Viscountess.”
She knocked on a door. Olivia’s voice answered from within, “Yes.”
“Count Lutgarth is here to see you,” the Viscountess said. There was a brief rustling sound from inside, and then Olivia, wearing a dressing gown, opened the door with a flustered look.
“Theo…?”
Theodore was flustered as well. It appeared to be a space where the bedroom and living area were connected, and he hadn’t expected to be guided into such a private space.
However, Viscountess Münchhausen smiled with a calm face and said, “You two, go ahead and have your conversation.”
With that, she gave a light nod to Theodore and left.
Theodore stood rooted to the spot in confusion. It was Olivia who recovered first.
She stepped inside and opened the door wide.
“Come in.”
“At this hour, a man shouldn’t be in a lady’s room…”
“We aren’t at a stage where we need to be that formal, are we? Or would you prefer to move to the study?”
Theodore shook his head, fearing that would make it look like he was overthinking it. He stepped firmly into the room.
The room was quite spacious, equipped with a bed, a desk, a tea table, and a sofa. Olivia explained.
“I use one of the guest rooms as a bedroom so I can sleep here when I have a lot of work. I didn’t see the need to keep the living room and bedroom separate.”
“I see.”
Theodore replied, his gaze lingering on the milk cup on the tea table. Olivia asked.
“Sit. Is something the matter?”
“Ah, it’s nothing major… I just wanted to bring you the news that Zion Miller has safely left the capital.”
“Ah, thank you. Did he have any trouble getting past the city walls?”
“There’s no martial law in effect, so there were no issues. He’ll be leaving on a Veltarion ship in two days. I’ll let you know if I hear anything else.”
He knew Olivia had been concerned, but in truth, it wasn’t a matter that required him to come at this hour.
It was merely an excuse. Theodore simply wanted to see Olivia’s face tonight.
Having finished such a monumental task, he thought she might be exhausted… no, that was an excuse, too.
He simply had a feeling that today might be the last. The last day he could call her just Olivia.
The Empress was finished. The head lady-in-waiting who served her, her personal guard, the chamberlain she had appointed, and countless other positions in the Imperial Palace would all be held accountable and removed.
Only now was the environment being created for Olivia to enter the Imperial Palace with her own people. The next step was to announce the fact that she was the First Imperial Princess.
Perhaps tonight was the last time he could look her straight in the face. She would be unimaginably busy for a while, and after that, he would have to serve her as an Imperial Princess.
So, he just wanted to see her face before that happened.