The Empress's Empty Throne (1)
The Empress's Palace within the Imperial Palace had stood empty for a long time after losing its mistress. Yet the Duchess of Wintera had kept the doors open to those who had been close to the late Empress, unwilling to let the warmth of the place fade away.
Chief among them were the Empress's own family, Baroness Turen—the former head maid—and the houses of Regentra and Lilche, soon to be joined by marriage. The Bladin family, the Emperor's maternal relatives, were also among the few permitted entry.
Under the Duchess's orders, the maids kept the palace spotless, so pristine that one might mistake it for a living person's residence. Not long ago, the Duchess had even entrusted the cleaning to Esi, whose hands were both deft and meticulous.
Today, too, Esi hummed as she began her work in the Empress's Palace.
“Is there anyone luckier than me?”
The beautiful and noble Duchess was the object of every citizen's admiration. To have caught her eye and been brought into the palace was surely an extraordinary stroke of fortune.
Besides, it was a delight to catch glimpses of the Archdukes, who looked as though they had stepped out of a fairy tale, and she felt a thrill whenever she happened to cross paths with His Majesty the Emperor, the father of the empire.
“Come to think of it, Karina really is something else. I'm content just being a maid, but she's been allowed to serve His Majesty up close and even received a title.”
Esi had never aspired to such lofty heights. Humming cheerfully, she picked up a freshly laundered cloth and began wiping the vanity in the Empress's Palace.
“Oh my, so you've been assigned to the Empress's Palace?”
Startled by the voice behind her, Esi looked up into the mirror. Karina stood there in a lavish gown of deep violet, smiling at her.
“Ah, Karina! I was assigned here last week.”
“How nice. Not many people come and go, so even if you slack off a little, no one would notice.”
“Come on, I can't do a sloppy job. This place is far too important.”
“Important for what? It's not like it has an owner anymore. Feels a bit eerie, actually—like a dead person's room.”
Karina folded her arms and glanced around the Empress's Palace. The residence, nearly as vast as the Emperor's own, consisted of multiple chambers connected one to another. Gold had been used so lavishly that every surface caught the light in a dazzling glare.
Far too extravagant.
Karina shook her head and turned back to Esi.
“How have you been? Is your family doing well?”
“Yes. Thanks to the money I send, they're living much better than before. What about you?”
“Look at you, asking when you can see the answer with your own eyes. I'm living in luxury I never dreamed of.”
Karina snapped open the fan in her hand and twirled in place. The full skirts of her gown flared out in a graceful circle, and Esi burst into bright laughter.
“You're right. No one has risen as high as you. Everyone in Pleco Square is proud of you. Becoming the Emperor's maid was already cause for celebration, but receiving a title on top of that—it's truly remarkable, Karina.”
“You think so? I was worried there might be gossip because of my sister.”
Karina offered a bitter smile. Esi shook her head and lowered her voice.
“The nobles may call you a liar, but we commoners don't. In fact, we think it's impressive that you brought down Count Silanda like that. Because of you, commoners have hope that we can win justice even when nobles wrong us. You're our pride.”
“I… am hope?”
At those words, a warm swell of emotion rose in Karina's chest.
She had failed to recover the nephew her late sister had left behind, and she had not fully destroyed Count Silanda. She had thought her revenge a failure, yet even this partial result had meant something to the common people.
“That's why I want you to climb as high as you possibly can. So that when people like us suffer injustice, you can help us in a big way.”
Karina smiled at Esi's words. Such a thing would never happen. Even receiving the title of viscountess as a commoner had already drawn the nobles' contempt and ridicule. Rising any higher was impossible—especially with Ishtel Regentra watching.
“You've been here a while, haven't you, darling?”
While Karina and Esi chatted, a gentle voice drifted from near the door. Ebony Bladin had arrived without a sound.
“Ah, Countess Bladin!”
Esi hurriedly straightened and bowed. Ebony waved a hand to put the girl at ease.
“No need to be so startled. It's all right. I have something urgent to discuss with Viscountess Linton, so would you mind stepping out for a moment?”
“Yes, my lady.”
Esi hurried out of the Empress's Palace. Ebony draped her coat and hat over a nearby chair and stretched with a loud yawn. When she looked up, the beautiful painting on the ceiling caught her eye.
“First time here, isn't it?”
“Yes. It is.”
“Take a good look. This is the highest place someone without imperial blood can ever reach. It was my great-aunt's residence, and the very place the Regentra family has always longed to enter.”
“What good would it do me to look? It's not a place that has anything to do with me.”
Karina's response was indifferent, far from the reaction Ebony had expected. Ebony's lips curved into a crooked smile.
“Do you remember the promise we made the first time we met? You said if I helped you with your revenge, you'd help me in return.”
“Of course. I remember it clearly.”
“I've decided how I'll use you.”
Ebony clapped her hands together in self-congratulation. Knowing that bright expression did not necessarily mean good news, Karina instinctively crossed her arms in defense.
“What is it?”
“Become the mistress of this room.”
For a moment, Karina doubted her own ears.
Has she lost her mind?
Her ears were working fine, so the other woman must have lost hers.
“You're joking far too much, Countess.”
“Why does everyone assume I'm joking? I'm serious every minute of every day.”
“You're serious?”
“Obviously.”
Ebony shrugged as if the matter were perfectly ordinary. Karina let out a hollow laugh, momentarily speechless.
“Surely you don't believe those vulgar rumors floating around, do you?”
“Vulgar rumors…?”
“Are you really going to make me say it out loud?”
When Karina bristled, Ebony let out a low chuckle.
“Well, it's not strange that people suspect it. Even I went to see you at first just to get a look at that pretty face. I thought you were His Majesty's mistress.”
It was common knowledge that Emperor Hebron had favored a commoner maid and even granted her a noble title.
To the commoners, it was a dreamlike tale of rising through ability alone. To the nobles, it was anything but. They all assumed Karina was merely the Emperor's concubine—though none dared voice it openly for fear of offending the Regentra family.
Karina herself was well aware of the rumors.
More than once, she had felt the servants' gazes in the palace. Palace staff often served as informants for the nobility, reporting every move in exchange for coin. She had been on edge, careful not to give them any leverage. Hearing Ebony's words now only irritated her further.
“I'm truly disappointed, Countess. I thought that even if others believed such vulgar gossip, you at least would not.”
“Whether I believe it or not isn't the point. The point is that people do believe it. And I intend to make use of their interest and expectations.”
Ebony stepped closer, resting her chin on Karina's shoulder, and whispered softly.
“If people think you're the Emperor's mistress, that means it wouldn't be strange if you actually became one. But what use is a mistress? A relationship without formal marriage is good for nothing.”
“So you're telling me to become His Majesty's lawful wife?”
Ebony blinked slowly, her violet eyes fixed on Karina. Karina looked away and shook her head.
“His Majesty would never allow it. Granting a title and keeping someone close is not the same as taking them as Empress.”
Karina rejected the idea outright.
“Besides, His Majesty already knows the rumors about me. He's staying silent only because he doesn't want to fan the flames. In truth, he's quite displeased.”
“But it's also true that His Majesty cares for you, isn't it?”
Ebony playfully flicked the diamond earring dangling from Karina's ear.
“His Majesty is truly a good man. Kind-hearted, too. If only his health were better, there would be nothing to worry about. It's a shame it isn't.”
“I'm taking good care of him, so you needn't worry so much.”
“Still, we should prepare for the future. For what comes after His Majesty passes.”
Even while speaking of the Emperor's death, Ebony's expression remained as playful as ever. Karina could not begin to guess her true intentions.
“His Majesty knows it too. Not only that it's time to name a crown prince, but that the time has come to put his affairs in order. Most things won't be a problem. But you, Karina—you're different. Your very existence is too foreign.”
“……”
“Ishtel Regentra despises you—that much His Majesty knows well. He also knows that once he's gone, Ishtel won't leave you alone. And that the nobles will continue to treat you as an unwelcome outsider.”
Ebony wiggled her fingers like a crawling insect, then mimed swatting it down with her other hand and giggled.
“He feels guilty toward you. He thinks his favor has provoked Ishtel. He'll do everything in his power to protect you—so that no one can touch you even after he's gone.”
“So what's your point?”
Exasperated by Ebony's evasive manner, Karina asked sharply. Only then did Ebony's smile fade.
“Become Empress. Rise higher than Ishtel Regentra.”