Chapter 66
Chapter 66
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 66
Chapter Title: The Three Women
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Before Veronica could respond, Calista burst into the room. She took one look at the tea table and let out a sharp laugh.
“You barge in without the master’s permission? Still as rude as ever.”
Unlike the startled Daphne, Veronica remained utterly composed. If anything, the corners of her mouth curved up as if she found the whole thing amusing. Calista, exploding with fury, and Veronica, perfectly serene—they were night and day.
Calista’s face flushed red with rage as she bellowed,
“You’re the one with no manners!”
She shoved the table hard, and a teacup toppled over. The sweet, fruity aroma of the herbal tea spread everywhere. Daphne watched the standoff in bewilderment, unsure what to do. Calista ground her teeth and yelled at Veronica.
“How dare you, a mere guest, not even greet the lady of the palace?!”
“The lady of the palace? What are you talking about?”
Veronica blinked innocently. She looked so guileless that Daphne thought she might genuinely have no idea what was being said.
“The palace has no lady right now. So why are you trying to play the part, Lady Calista...”
“You!”
“Were you the late emperor’s wife? I suppose the customs of Thalassa Kingdom and the Pheneios Empire must differ somehow.”
She chuckled softly, her voice gentle.
“But isn’t it a stretch to call it a marriage when they never even shared a bed? It’s been a whole year since the late emperor passed, hasn’t it?”
Veronica reached for her teacup, then sighed at the spill. A frown creased her brow.
“Lishian, what are you waiting for? Clean up this mess.”
Her voice remained refined as ever. The maids hurried over to clear the teacups.
In the midst of the chaos, Calista’s face grew even redder. She turned her gaze to Daphne, who sat there like she was on pins and needles. For a split second, shame and murder flashed in Calista’s eyes.
Daphne flinched, and Calista quickly masked it, shouting,
“Everything that woman says is a lie!”
“......”
“A beloved man? Please. The moment you snag the empress’s seat, you’ll be gotten rid of.”
“Haah.”
Veronica sighed. Calista stomped her feet and ranted on.
“How many people has she stabbed in the back with that innocent face of hers!”
It was the face of someone who’d already been on the receiving end. For Daphne, witnessing noblewomen at each other’s throats like this was a first. It felt just like the rare times Amanda and Sara bickered.
Their fights weren’t all that different.
To Daphne, they both seemed pathetic. Mind games among the highborn weren’t so grand after all.
* * *
Asherad burst out laughing when he heard the report. For a man who laughed quietly, this was rolling-on-the-floor territory.
“So those two got into it?”
“Yeah.”
Yohannis smirked too.
“Was it that funny, Asherad?”
“I didn’t see this coming. Who knew those two were sworn enemies?”
Asherad’s laughter faded into a smile.
“You saw it coming to some extent.”
“It was a gamble.”
Asherad replied. Despite the odds of two from the same homeland teaming up, they’d predictably chosen division.
“What’s your angle here, Asherad?”
Asherad didn’t answer Yohannis’s question. After all, he was the emperor now. He had to lead this country, this empire. It was the throne he’d always craved, so of course he had to secure it.
“So what did that woman say?”
Asherad still didn’t call her ‘Daphne.’ His voice, which had been bright with laughter moments ago, now sounded subdued.
Unlike his casual chatter before, that one question carried his full attention.
“Lady Daphne went straight back to rest. She seemed pretty shaken.”
“She’s timid like that.”
A smile tugged at his lips as he said it. Yohannis studied his face.
A satisfied one—more precisely, a joyful, fulfilled expression. A fresh, vibrant face, like spring had arrived.
That youthful energy lit up the doll-like features of the man.
“You look good.”
The words slipped out. Meeting puzzled eyes, Yohannis pressed on.
“You seem happy lately.”
“Do I?”
Asherad looked skeptical.
“But really, are you going through with the marriage?”
“Marriage?”
“You announced you’d pick an empress at the ball, but bringing in the Thalassa Princess has the nobles up in arms. Why go and do that?”
Asherad just chuckled. Yohannis assumed there was some deeper intent and let it drop.
Unaware of how utterly horrific it was.
***
Daphne sighed as she closed the black box that had arrived for her.
Inside was a pair of white pearl earrings. Platinum coiled around the pearls like a serpent, with tiny diamonds nestled in the gaps. A gift from Veronica.
It was unmistakably expensive. Her eyes drifted to the red box already on the table. The intense blood-red garnet necklace was something she’d never dreamed of owning in her life. The teardrop-shaped earrings in deep crimson looked just like drops of blood.
Naturally, this was Calista’s gift.
Sara and Amanda exchanged glances.
“So, Daphne, who do you want to pick?”
The rivalry between Calista and Veronica was infamous. Veronica acted as if she were already the next empress, and Asherad tolerated it.
He hadn’t met Veronica privately or treated her with special affection, but seating her first in the Imperial Palace carried heavy symbolism.
Everyone in the palace began thinking of Calista as the setting sun and Veronica as the rising one.
Veronica had warmly welcomed those who’d fled Calista’s harshness. Unlike the tyrannical Calista, Veronica’s kindness was winning cheers throughout the palace.
“Do I have to choose?”
“Of course!”
Amanda shouted at Daphne’s question.
Becoming Daphne’s personal maid had shown Amanda just how cushy this gig was.
Friends, easy work, good pay. Just as Daphne predicted, Amanda coveted her position more than anyone.
“It’s so thrilling. The Empress Dowager and the empress candidate are both fighting to win you over!”
“I get why the Thalassa Princess wants me on her side, but why the Empress Dowager?”
Daphne couldn’t grasp the palace dynamics. Hadn’t Calista spent all this time ignoring and trampling her? So why the sudden...
“She wants to recruit you to keep that woman from becoming empress.”
Daphne whipped around at the sudden male voice. It was Yohannis. With a nod from him, Sara and Amanda excused themselves.
“Long time no see. I haven’t been able to escort you lately.”
“No, Viscount. It’s fine.”
Daphne smiled warmly. Though he was Asherad’s man, Yohannis wasn’t hostile toward her. Straightforward, without hidden agendas. Spending more time with him had opened her up around him.
Strangely, Asherad didn’t seem to mind their closeness. Did that mean he trusted him that much...?
“What did you mean earlier?”
“Normally, they’d team up to boot out a thorn like you, but unfortunately, they don’t get along.”
Yohannis sneered mockingly at them.
“The Thalassa Princess wants to be empress, and the Empress Dowager wants to stop her.”
“But why me?”
“Because His Majesty favors you. They see your influence as key. The empress position isn’t set in stone, His Majesty’s stance is ambiguous, so they need a big win.”
So did that mean Daphne had to back someone? Could she even do that?
“Ah... then what should I do?”
“Whatever you want. Enjoying the situation isn’t a bad idea.”
“......”
“Both are notorious for their arrogance. Especially the Empress Dowager’s rudeness toward you—it won’t just vanish. Watch them scramble to please you.”
Wasn’t he a noble too? Why did he seem so gleeful? At her puzzled look, Yohannis chuckled.
“Do I have to pick one?”
“You can or not. His Majesty will handle what comes after.”
Asherad. Daphne gripped her dress skirts tightly. Oddly, knowing he had her back brought relief. Sadly, it did.
“This place is exhausting.”
Daphne gave a wistful smile. She’d spent her days cleaning and laundering while watching her superiors’ moods. But she’d never tangled with thoughts this complicated.
Any choice would come with a steep price.
Picking one would make an enemy, or maybe both. She wanted to run away—fast. When would the chance come? When could she escape? Daphne pictured that distant day.
Yohannis, who’d been watching her face, spoke up.
“Oh, right, Lady Daphne. Have you thought about entering a painting in the art festival?”