Published at 27th of November 2020 11:20:09 PM
Chapter 112: 112
Although Fabian was frustrated that he couldn’t go to the Empress’s Palace often because he had to do his official pile of work postponed, Evelyn checked Adrian’s sleeping condition . She toured around every corner of her Palace, which she had long left behind .
“Nora, please call Rebecca,” Evelyn said, after confirming everything was perfect .
Soon, Rebecca came into the living room with a happy face . She was worried about their reunion, but Rebecca was relieved when she watched it through her own eyes .
“Princess, did you call me? Oh, I was about to forget a gift . ”
“Gift?” Evelyn asked in wonder, but Rebecca nodded excitedly, “Nora, bring her . ”
“I’ve been waiting . ”
Before Evelyn’s still puzzled expression disappeared, she saw a little girl shyly come in and giving an example .
“Lily!”
“Princess…… I asked Lady Rebecca and came here to meet you . ”
Evelyn hugged Lily, who cried out for joy . She wanted Lily to stay in the Palace with her, but she couldn’t say it because she was sorry for her . But now, when she came to her first, Evelyn was more than satisfied . “Why didn’t you tell me if you’ve arrived?”
“That …… I wanted to regain my status as a palace-maid first . I wanted to see you like this . ” said Lily with tearful eyes .
When Evelyn looked at her, she saw a blue ribbon on Lily’s hair . It was an indication of the status granted to the Empress’ high-ranking maids and servants .
“Because this Palace hasn’t changed, I… … should look the same . ”
Evelyn laughed as she looked at Lily’s smile . No words were needed, as they both spent a long time together . So, four people gathered together to have a warm afternoon tea time . To celebrate a new beginning of the Empress Palace .
“I have a lot to say to everyone . ”
The rest nodded at Evelyn’s words . Actually, they were waiting for Evelyn to bring it up .
She took something out of her arms and showed it to them . It was a ring, engraved with the Empress’s seal .
Unlike Nora, who had already seen that ring, Rebecca couldn’t hide her relieved smile, while Lily couldn’t conceal her delighted face .
“That’s perfect . ”
Rebecca said something meaningful . Even if the Emperor said that he would reappoint Evelyn, an Empress again, he couldn’t guarantee her future without giving her substantial power .
“Your Majesty said he wouldn’t have to wait for remarriage to give me this seal,” said Evelyn, recalling her conversation with Fabian .
“That’s a brilliant idea . ”
“I took it because I thought it would be useful, too . I’m not alone anymore . I have to protect Adrian . ”
“Yes, that’s right . ”
Fabian now also had affirmed Evelyn’s ambiguous status as the Prince’s birth mother . That title gave more power that was much stronger than her previous Empress status . Now, Evelyn had a double title, as the Crown prince’s birth mother and the next Empress .
“Tonight, when the edict is promulgated… … I will be the next Empress,” Evelyn said calmly . “And, His Majesty said that he would give me full authority over my Palace considering my status . ”
“Hoo…… I feel good about everything . ” Rebecca’s honest thoughts made everyone laugh . “Of course, you’re going to use it, aren’t you?”
“Yes . Because His Majesty gave the authority to do so despite opposition . ”
At least, now, Evelyn wouldn’t wear a vague-Empress-coffin as meaninglessly as before .
“Even if there’s a rebound, it can be justified . The Empress Dowager has lived in the Southern Palace for a long time but has never taken care of the Inner Palace at all,” said Rebecca .
Rebecca was right . Initially, Fabian’s mother had to take care of the Inner Palace when Evelyn wasn’t here . But Monica never fulfilled her duties . That’s why, even if she lived in the same Palace as Evelyn now, she didn’t have the right to protest .
“His Majesty said he would overcome any backlash, but I also have work to do . ”
“Ok . It’s the women’s job . ”
“The second thing is if I say I can do better…… Am I too arrogant?” asked Evelyn with a faint smile . “You’ll do well,” Rebecca spoke sincerely in response .
“Princess, if it’s the current you, you can do well enough . ”
“But not alone . ” Evelyn’s blue eyes pointed at Rebecca . “It’s a selfish request, but I still need help from Rebecca and everyone . ”
“I’ll be sad if you don’t need me . ”
“Then, Rebecca . May I use my authority to appoint you as the chief maid of my Palace instead of the Countess?”
The Palace chief maid had been owned by a noblewoman from generation to generation . Previously, Evelyn had no chance or ambition to choose it, but it was different now .
“I have the confidence to do better than my predecessors,” said Rebecca confidently .
“Good . ”
“By the way, I’m not a noble wife right now . Would it be fine?” Rebecca maybe had a playful attitude, but she wanted to make sure everything was clear .
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Evelyn shrugged her shoulder, “I’m not an Empress now, either . ” She decided not to care about trivial things anymore as she didn’t want to waste time by being stuck in detailed etiquette and rules .
“Now that I have the full authority of Inner Palace, it’s my job to serve our guests . ”
“Ah… I see . ”
Now in Inner Palace, there were Empress Dowager and Stella . It was initially important to make it explicit that Stella, who had initially entered the Palace to become an Empress, had been downgraded to being a guest .
“If you’re going to entertain a guest anyway, why don’t you call the other ladies and wives?” Rebecca’s green eyes shone brightly . It was clear to Evelyn that Rebecca was already planning to take revenge .
“It’s a good idea . I’ll repeal Lady Satin’s punishment, so please tell her to participate . ”
“Leave it to me . I won’t leave anyone out . ” Rebecca gave a confident smile . Evelyn was very relieved to see that she had found the right person .
Now, Evelyn was taking back her own things one by one .
***
That evening, at the same time as the Imperial Bell rang, a new edict was issued .
It was only this morning that she received the news that Evelyn had returned to the Empress’ Palace . Before she even accepted it, Stella was being told another thing: Evelyn already had the full authority of Inner Palace .
“Really… … Is it okay?” Stella stared anxiously at her aunt .
Although Monica tried to calm her down, no matter how persistent her father’s wishes were, this situation was totally unfavorable to her in Stella’s eyes .
“At this rate, she’ll be the Empress tomorrow . ”
“Yeah, maybe . ” Monica spat carelessly .
“What?”
Monica glanced at Stella’s crumpled face, biting her long pipe . “I don’t know His Majesty’s way of thinking . In the first place … I didn’t even know there was such a way . ”
As she knew, Fabian had never been obsessed with anything, whether items or people . He was a cold, dry man who never gave his attachment to some object .
It was the same to his Emperor-father, and even his biological mother, Monica, was no exception . So she was surprised when Fabian was obviously obsessed with Evelyn .
“Well, what should we do?” asked Stella .
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“I don’t know……The opponent will move soon anyway . ”
Suddenly, Stella’s heart burned more because her aunt was so calm and relaxed . “Then … … Didn’t you say she couldn’t adjust to Imperial life? Shall we meet her now?”
“Hmm . ” Monica was lost in thought for a moment, spewing smoke . It reminded her of the time when she was the owner of the Empress’ Palace .
“Now, to move forward …… There is no choice but to break through head-on . Even if you were in my position, you would make the same choice . ” said Stella .
Looking at her, Monica imagined the expression of her brother, Duke Metis, and it made her laugh .
“I really don’t understand . She left because she didn’t like him, so why is she now coming back and trying to become an Empress again?”
“It’s different from before . The same goes for me . I never ruled my Palace because I wanted to . ” Monica said calmly . She was originally a girl who didn’t like to come forward, loved to daydream and decorate little things .
However, Monica’s family and her father’s will was different . What she realized was that she had to use her own power to defend herself .
“Well, the former Empress is from a noble family . She’s a Kingdom Princess, and no noble wives dare to mock her status… …,” muttered Stella in a low voice .
“In front of her, they won’t . You, too, you also have no choice but to smile when Princess Evelyn calls you right away . Or you choose to show your modest pride and act like a dog that lost the fight?”
“No, I can’t do that… “
“If you know, don’t get into a fight of small things, but stay back . ” Monica crawled out of her annoying niece . But Stella wasn’t wrong as it was definitely different from their original plan . But now, they couldn’t predict what choice Fabian would make now .
If he was the son, she had known all along . Fabian would hand over his own son, who was now his successor to Duchess Perth, to be raised .
“I really don’t know the men’s thoughts in this Imperial family . ”
The autumn night was quite chilly . Monica already missed her warm Southern Palace .
Somehow, her purpose was a little different from his older brother, Duke Metis . No, from the start, their mindset was already very different .
For Monica, who had already enjoyed everything when she was an Empress, it was the best choice right now to get out of these complicated battles and lived peacefully in a separate Palace .
“Sarah . ”
At her low call, the maid appeared quietly and bowed politely . When Monica was married, Sara was an entourage maid brought from the Duke . Until now, she was also a person who shared almost her life by Monica’s side .
“How I can get back to my warm Palace as soon as possible……I think we should think about it . ”
“Well, you can’t use the Duke Metis’ men, then . ” Sarah, indeed, knew Monica very well . “Let’s find Sir Serus… . ”
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“In case that would be nice . ” Monica smiled faintly . Sagan didn’t know, but the Empress Dowager presence was a big variable . Unless if they had the same purpose, there were no rules to cooperate with her own family .
“Perhaps, that child has changed . ”
“Do you mean… . . His Majesty?”
“No, the former empress . ”
Sarah had a curious look on her face . She had seen Evelyn herself as well . But her impression of her was faint except that she was a beauty . There was no sense of dignity as the Imperial Empress .
“When you have a child, you will feel different . ” Monica had experienced it herself . “Even if you live aimlessly, you suddenly draw a future for your child to grow up . ”
It was a story from a long time ago when Fabian was born .
“Once you have a child, everything changes . ‘Cause you definitely want to survive . ” Monica squinted her eyes, remembering the past . A Feeling that Sarah, who was childless, couldn’t understand .
But one thing that Sarah knew, Monica never treated her son affectionately .
“And you want to give your child a better future . To do that, you need the power you don’t wish and make compromises with the world . “
“Well, I see…… . ”
No one else knew, but Sarah was .
Monica’s expression was from the side, looking at Fabian breastfeeding in his nanny’s arms . Also, when she persuaded the Emperor several times, Fabian wasn’t raised by the Metis family . And when she secretly left, holding Fabian to meet the Duchess Perth, and asked that woman to raise him .
Sarah remembered all of them and agreed .
“But His Majesty doesn’t know anything . ” She added sadly . But Monica looked fine . There were no parents in this world who gave birth to their children, hoping to get a reward . No matter how noble their status, the feeling was the same .
“I’m curious about how she has changed . ”
“You mean the former Empress?”
Monica nodded .
“What if she has changed?”
“Well, maybe I’ll change my ‘side’ a little bit,” Monica gave a vague smile, putting down her long pipe . “I just need to go back to the Southern Palace anyway . ”
Sarah asked nothing more . She bowed her head, following Monica’s will