The Fall of the Empress
"How is she?"
"It won't be good."
Theodore answered Olivia's question with a calm, steady voice. Duke Klaus let out a scoff.
"The wretch is finally reaping what she sowed. Even if she manages to keep her life, the Schwab faction won't leave her be. A spy whose identity has been exposed is not only useless, but a liability."
"Yes."
"Via, you mustn't let this weigh on your heart. That woman is a villain who sought to ruin your life."
"I'm not heartbroken. Why would you think that?"
Olivia replied as if she truly didn't understand, but she knew it was never easy to deceive her grandfather's eyes. Considering the things Jilke had done and the malicious rumors she had spread about Laila, she agreed with the Duke that the woman was merely receiving her due. Yet, knowing she had been stabbed as a direct result of her own schemes, Olivia couldn't help but feel a lingering sense of unease.
Theodore spoke up.
"It likely won't become much of a topic. The Schwab faction will suppress any newspaper reports, and the rumors are already so saturated with talk of the Empress that no one will have the energy to care about Lady Jilke being attacked."
"The attackers chose their timing well, then."
"Regardless, I thought it best to inform you personally, so I stopped by."
With that, Theodore stood up. Duke Klaus waved a hand dismissively.
"Are you not staying longer?"
"I have work to attend to."
The Duke hadn't truly expected him to stay, so he simply nodded. However, he was taken aback when Olivia stood up to follow Theodore.
"Where do you think you're going?"
"I'll see Sir Theodore out."
"Hmm."
Duke Klaus couldn't bring himself to say, "Is that really necessary?" After all, the Lutgarths were Olivia's benefactors.
Theodore looked surprised as well, but he did not decline. He could have sent a messenger, but he had visited in person specifically to see Olivia's face just one more time.
Leaving the dissatisfied Duke in the living room, the two stepped outside together.
They could have crossed the hallway to reach the exit nearest to the carriage stables, but instead, Olivia instructed her butler to bring the carriage to the front gate and led Theodore into the garden.
The day was exceptionally clear. As soon as they stepped out of the entrance, the fresh scent of greenery enveloped them, and the breeze cooled their faces. They walked through the garden slowly. Neither spoke.
Theodore asked, "Is there something you wished to say?"
"No, I just wanted to see you off."
Silence settled between them once more. Olivia fell into thought, feeling the strange illusion that the more they spoke, the wider the distance between them would grow. What would it have been like in her previous life? If it were then, would walking and talking like this have helped them understand each other? But it was useless to dwell on such thoughts now.
In this moment, it was enough that she could find comfort simply in the presence of the other, even without words. She tried to soothe her heart by telling herself that this alone was a luxury, when she suddenly realized Theodore was looking down at her.
"Why?"
"I was just thinking that you've removed the dye."
"Yes. I don't need Laila anymore."
"...Furthermore."
"Hm?"
"This suits you much more, Your Highness."
Olivia couldn't quite grasp the exact meaning of being "like an Imperial Princess." Did he mean she looked like the princess she was, or that she looked like the version of herself from her time at Lutgarth?
Before she could reach a conclusion, they had already arrived at the front gate. To her regret, the carriage was already prepared.
"Then, I shall take my leave. Please stay well."
"Take care of yourself."
He offered a faint smile, as if to say she was worrying over nothing.
Theodore's carriage departed. Olivia watched his retreating back for a moment before turning away.
The deposition of the Empress was carried out quietly.
Since no one had brought her new clothes, Lillian, who had been confined to her room, was still wearing the soiled maid's uniform. Dragged out without being able to bathe or even comb her hair, the only task required of her was to sign the divorce papers.
Next, the decree of deposition was read aloud.
...For the aforementioned reasons, all status and titles held by Lillian Krause are hereby revoked.
Then, the punishment followed.
...For the aforementioned reasons, all assets belonging to Lillian Krause are to be confiscated, and she is sentenced to exile.
In any case, nothing Lillian possessed had truly been her own. She who had entered the Duke of Schwab’s villa with only thirty silver coins was now leaving the Imperial Palace completely empty-handed.
As she listened to the sound of the decree being read, she recalled the face of Emperor Albrecht for the first time in a very long while. All she remembered was that she had once thought him a kind man. She had felt guilty during their nights together, but she had held hope when they married—believing that the love of such a noble man would finally be directed toward her.
But just as he had shown her no interest throughout the years, he did not even show his face before her at the very end. Lillian lacked the strength to even harbor resentment.
Those words from Sion echoed in Lillian's heart countless times.
Perhaps the Emperor had hated her, too? Was it not just a lack of interest, but a reason to despise her?
Lost in such thoughts, she was dragged by the soldiers and forced into a carriage fitted with iron bars.
"For the last time... I want to see the Imperial Princess one last time."
She pleaded desperately. She had finally remembered the daughter she had forgotten while burning with passion for Sion. The daughter who seemed not to need her now that she was grown. The daughter who no longer needed her at all.
Caroline, who had come in place of Princess Roella, looked at her with a face full of contempt.
If Lillian had cared for Roella even a little, she never would have committed such acts. Yet here she was, asking for her.
"The Princess cannot save you, in any case."
Caroline approached the carriage and said coldly. Lillian, who had not been asking to be saved but simply wanted to see her daughter's face one last time, stared at Caroline with a shocked expression. She assumed these words were Roella's own.
A pouch containing gold coins was tossed onto the floor of the carriage. Caroline spat out the words:
"This is the extent of the mercy that can be afforded to you. From now on, do not be a burden to the Princess, and live quietly until you die."
Lillian stared blankly at the pouch, then up at Caroline.
Caroline stepped back, and the carriage door slammed shut. Lillian couldn't even bring herself to pick up the pouch; she sat still for a moment before she began to sob.
Caroline had spoken as if the pouch were Roella's will, but in reality, Roella was currently throwing a tantrum in her room.
"This makes no sense! It's unjust!"
"Princess, please calm down. Eek!"
Crash!
A vase Roella had thrown shattered into pieces. The maids grabbed her in a panic.
"Princess! You mustn't walk that way! The shards of the vase!"
"If you're unhappy with me walking over them, then open the door!"
But the heavily barred door would not open. The knights kept their faces stiff, pretending not to hear her, and Helmut, standing before the door, said firmly:
"I will open it in two hours."
"How dare you! How dare you defy the orders of an Imperial Princess?!"
"It is the Duke's will."
"Even if it is Ezekiel!"
Roella shrieked hysterically.
"Deposing my mother, what is this nonsense? It was just a small outing outside the palace to meet a lover, and for that, you depose her?!"
"Please compose yourself, Princess."
"Those who spread such malicious rumors deserve to be punished for insulting the Imperial family! Helmut, get out of my way!"
"It is a matter already agreed upon by the Duke and His Majesty the Emperor."
At Helmut's reply, Roella opened her mouth wide in disbelief before bursting into an absurd laugh.
"Agreed? By Father? By what authority?"