The Master of the Imperial Palace
“Wh-what did you say?”
“Shall I repeat myself? I am a viscountess. You, on the other hand, are merely a noble overshadowed by your older siblings, with no hope of ever holding a title.”
“Hey!!!”
“Stop throwing around ‘hey’ like that. Have you no manners? The more you speak, the more I wonder if you even know who stands before you.”
At Karina’s sharp rebuke, Roze’s shoulders flinched. The lethal atmosphere made both Shuri and Molly clamp their hands over their mouths.
“Who—who do you think you are!”
Roze spat the words in a trembling voice thick with fury.
“Just who are you to act so high and mighty?”
“Me? My story is rather long. Far too long for a fledgling like you to even imagine. So refrain from poking your nose into my affairs.”
“Ha, this is insane. You’re completely delusional. A full-blown lunatic.”
Convinced that Karina was bluffing, Roze gave a loud, derisive snort.
“Ever since Her Majesty the Empress passed away, Duchess Wintera has managed every aspect of the imperial palace! And you expect anyone to believe a jumped-up maid like you can simply snatch that role away?”
“Roze Liseri.”
“What? Why?”
“Who is the master of this imperial palace?”
“What kind of nonsense is this? It belongs to His Majesty the Emperor, obviously.”
“Then why do you speak as if it belongs to the Duchess?”
“What…?”
Karina rose from her seat and brushed past the fuming Roze.
Behind the sofa stood a cabinet displaying beautiful dishes in shades of white and blue. Karina selected a single teacup from the collection.
“Baroness Turen, who chooses the tableware used in the imperial palace?”
“…I narrow the candidates, and Duchess Wintera makes the final selection.”
“Baroness. Do you know which colors His Majesty prefers? Or what materials he favors for his vessels?”
Karina turned, gazing down at the seated baroness with quiet intensity. The baroness offered no reply.
“His Majesty favors yellow. Gold pleases him even more. And he prefers transparent glass cups over ones engraved with such gaudy patterns. He wishes to appreciate the tea’s natural color with his eyes as well as his palate.”
Karina retrieved a glass cup that had been hidden behind the blue teacup and set it forward. Then she pointed to the silver candlestick resting on the long drawing-room table.
“Therefore, it would be wise to replace even these small ornaments—one by one—from silver to gold, would it not?”
“Excuse me.”
“Use the correct form of address, Liseri. Why am I ‘excuse me’? I am Viscountess Linton.”
“Yes, yes, excuse me, Viscountess. You seem to think running the imperial palace is no different from spring-cleaning a commoner’s home, but you are mistaken. Every detail here has been arranged by the Duchess to harmonize with the seasons and the mood of the year.”
“And that is precisely why I keep hearing the Duchess’s name. This is His Majesty’s house!”
Karina’s voice rose sharply, veins standing out on her neck. The repeated mention of “Duchess” grated on her like nails on glass.
“Roze Liseri. Have you ever once wondered what sort of paintings His Majesty prefers?”
“Th-that is…”
“Of course you haven’t. You simply selected paintings according to the Duchess’s taste, and she decorated the palace with whatever pleased her own eye.”
Karina swept her hand across the back of the sofa where Baroness Turen, Roze, Molly, and Shuri sat, then continued past them.
“Is it not strange? The true master of the imperial palace is unmistakably His Majesty the Emperor—yet none of you have ever shown the slightest curiosity about his preferences.”
“……”
“It appears you all revere the Duchess far more than the Emperor himself. That must be why even the smallest details follow her tastes. Am I incorrect?”
“So what exactly are you trying to say?”
Baroness Turen stared steadily into Karina’s golden eyes. Karina offered an elegant smile, mirroring the baroness’s usual poise.
“As I have already stated, it is quite simple. From now on, I will oversee the internal affairs of the imperial palace. The final decisions will also be mine.”
“Have you discussed this with Duchess Wintera?”
“This matter was discussed with His Majesty the Emperor.”
“Then what of the handover? Ambition alone will not suffice. There are countless details that require attention.”
“I will handle those myself, so there is no need for you to concern yourself, Baroness.”
“This is outrageous! I cannot—I will not accept this!”
Roze’s voice cracked as though she might burst into tears at any moment. She clenched her fists until her knuckles whitened and bit down hard on her lip. The urge to fly at Karina and settle the matter by force surged through her, yet the sight of the Emperor’s seal on the letter envelope held her back.
“In that case, I shall go submit my resignation at once.”
Baroness Turen rose, gathering her shawl. Karina’s eyebrows twitched with subtle displeasure.
“Resignation… you say?”
“Indeed. Since you claim to understand His Majesty so perfectly, what possible use could someone like me be? Isn’t that so?”
The baroness adjusted her feathered hat and cast a pointed glance at the diamond earring dangling from Karina’s ear.
“I have a keen eye. Especially for dresses and jewelry. No matter how long ago I saw them, I can instantly recognize whose they were and where they were crafted.”
Deep fury burned in Baroness Turen’s emerald eyes.
“Viscountess, never wear that jewel again. Especially not in front of Ishtel. It is not something for the likes of you to covet.”
She swept Karina with an icy gaze and departed the drawing room.
“I will never quit! This has been my duty for years—why should I abandon it?! I am going straight to the Duchess. We’ll see if you can keep acting like this once she knows!”
After screaming her parting words, Roze stormed out, still seething. Shuri and Molly, who had been holding their breath throughout the confrontation, exchanged helpless glances, unsure what to do.
Karina toyed with her earring, lost in thought. Molly spoke cautiously.
“Then… we should take our leave as well.”
“Wait. We have not yet begun our conversation.”
Karina stopped her.
“Nanny, I hear your culinary skills are exceptional.”
“Yes, people do say so. Why do you ask?”
“How fortunate. I intend to host a party in the imperial palace garden this week to celebrate receiving my viscountess title from His Majesty. Ordinarily other nobles would host it, but since none have offered, I must do so myself. I would like you to prepare the food.”
“There are countless chefs in the palace. Why choose me?”
“I wonder… Perhaps because I wish to taste the dishes you make for me, Nanny.”
“Ha, honestly…”
Molly, who seldom showed anger, frowned deeply. Karina offered a lovely smile and turned her gaze to Shuri.
“Since you are already here, Lady Telia, would you grant me one small favor?”
“Wh-what is it?”
Karina handed her a stack of invitations.
“Deliver these to the nobles on my behalf.”
Thankfully, the baby ice eagle grew strong and healthy without a single ailment. The tiny creature that once could not even open its eyes now gazed at her with bright, intelligent eyes. Its once-weak wings had gained real strength and fluttered at every opportunity.
“I love you, Mewl! I love you!”
May fussed over the fledgling as she delivered its food, treating the little ice eagle like her own offspring. Ishtel wondered what would happen once it grew larger than the girl…
“Its name is Mewl?”
Hellion, seated beside her and watching the cage, asked.
“Yes. It means ‘ice’ in the northern dialect, doesn’t it? I thought it suited him perfectly.”
“It does. It suits him very well.”
Hellion stroked the head of Khan, who perched on his stand. The bird had once been wary of him, but now accepted the touch with calm familiarity.
“Are you still terribly busy these days?”
“Inevitably. Since my sister-in-law has been assisting the Silanda county, I’ve taken on a share of the ducal duties in her place.”
After Count Silanda’s fall from grace, Count Telon had claimed the position of prime minister. He was a capable man who had long been eclipsed by his predecessor.
The one who had recommended him was none other than Ebony Bladin. With no clear reason or justification to oppose the choice, even the Regentera family had consented. Yet the development left a distinctly unpleasant aftertaste.
She’s beginning to build her own faction.
Without knowing Ebony Bladin’s true intentions, preparing an appropriate response was difficult.
“Oh, that reminds me. I haven’t seen Brother Illid lately. Do you know what he’s been doing?”
At Hellion’s question, Ishtel shook her head.
“No. I’m not certain either. Perhaps he’s occupied with discussions on capital security with the ministers?”
“……”
Hellion fell silent, lips pressed tightly together. He looked as though he wanted to say more but was forcing himself to hold back.
At that moment—
“Duchess!!!”
The shrill cry from outside the aviary made both Ishtel and Hellion turn at once. Roze was sprinting toward them at full speed, clutching the hem of her dress.
“Roze, what’s happened?”
“Duchess!!!”
Her chaotic arrival sent every bird in the aviary into a flapping panic. May snatched up Mewl and flew swiftly back to her own cage. Pushing through the swirling feathers, Roze threw herself into Ishtel’s arms.
“Duchess! I’m so furious I feel like I might die before my time!”
“What’s gotten into her now?”
Ishtel looked to Shuri, who had followed. The young woman let out a heavy, troubled sigh. Even Hellion appeared startled. Ishtel was accustomed to Roze’s dramatics, but the archduke clearly was not.
“Please do something about that tea maid! Ever since she received her viscountess title she’s been insufferably arrogant. She even declared that she will now manage all internal affairs of the imperial palace herself!”
“Roze, slow down. Tell me exactly what you mean.”
“It is exactly as I said. Look at this, Duchess.”
Shuri pulled a white envelope from her pocket and handed it over. It bore Karina’s invitation, sealed with a vivid red stamp.
You are invited to a tea party to be held in the imperial palace garden.
This gathering celebrates my elevation to the title of Viscountess, bestowed by His Majesty the Emperor.
I shall also announce that, henceforth, I will assume complete responsibility for the internal management of the imperial palace.
Your presence is requested.
— Karina Linton, Viscountess —
“This is…”
The letter contained every word Roze had spoken. It was an invitation to the tea party of Karina Linton, Viscountess, who had declared herself the new overseer of the imperial household.
“As expected, my instincts were correct,” Hellion muttered, reading the invitation over her shoulder.
“I knew she would cause trouble sooner or later.”