It had taken Countess Viviana several days to reply to her first request . But this time it was different . Within hours of Elena’s second letter, Michael returned .
“My Lady! Countess Viviana has requested to meet you soon!”
“Good . ”
Elena was quite satisfied with herself .
“But what did you say that suddenly made her change her mind?”
“Well…That’s top secret . ”
Elena didn’t say anything further . In any case, Michael was more pleased than curious that Countess Viviana’s high-nosed attitude had changed so quickly . On his first visit he had been ignored by the servants there, but on the second he was treated like a valued guest . He wondered what caused the change, but he put his trust in Elena .
“Send someone to Countess Viviana and ask her if she can see me today . ”
“Yes, My Lady!”
Although Stella wanted meet soon, an appointment this same day would still be difficult to secure . Michael followed Elena’s orders any objection . That was how much confidence he had in her .
‘If this is what she orders me…there must be a reason . ’
This time Michael did not visit Countess Viviana herself, but rushed a servant to deliver Elena’s request .
Night fell, and the servant finally returned with the message that Countess Viviana would see her immediately . Elena prepared to leave despite the lateness of the hour . With only a few more days left before the social gathering, she needed Stella’s support as soon as possible .
“I’ll be back . ”
“Yes . Take care, My Lady . ”
Michael saw her off as she boarded the carriage .
Stella had proposed to meet at a fancy salon called “The Secret . ” Elena knew of it . As its name suggested, it had a closed membership system and was favored by high-ranking nobles as a place to have private conversations .
Kiiiig–
The swift carriage bearing her towards her destination halted .
“We have arrived, My Lady . ”
“Thank you . ”
The coachman opened the door and she stepped outside . She glanced at the sign bearing the words “The Secret” before entering the establishment . The atmosphere inside was gloomy, and the corridors narrow . Seeing as she didn’t meet anyone in the hallway, it seemed to be constructed so that visitors wouldn’t run into each other easily . A faint smell of tobacco smoke scented the air . As she followed the dark corridor, she finally came across a clerk standing behind a desk .
“Do you have a reservation?”
“Yes . ”
“Who did you come to see?”
“I’m here to see Countess Viviana . ”
The clerk gestured to Elena as if he had done this a hundred times before .
“Come this way, please . ”
The employee seemed exceptionally experienced and meticulous . She knew it was a secretive establishment, but it there was more thorough attention to detail than she expected . The clerk guided her inside the depths of the building, finally arriving at an antique door which opened with only the slightest sound of friction . Inside the room was middle-aged woman seated rigidly in her chair . After Elena stepped inside, the clerk closed the door behind her . The two women stared at each other .
It was Elena who first shattered the silence .
“How do you do? I am Elena Blaise . ”
“I know . You are the most talked-about person these days . ”
Her tone was harsh, and her gaze was full of thorns .
“Let me ask you straightforwardly . What you wrote to me…How did you know?”
Elena couldn’t honestly answer that question .
“The question is not how I learned the secret of Countess Viviana, but whether or not I tell someone about it . Am I wrong? “
The letter Elena had sent to Stella was brief .
[I know about your hidden son . ]
Before Stella became a countess and a leading figure of society, she lay with a man as a young woman and had secretly given birth to a son . Stella’s parents thoroughly covered up the incident, and Countess Viviana had married without anyone else having knowledge of it . When the truth was revealed in Elena’s previous life, Countess Viviana’s reputation had plummeted . However, that was not the end of the story . There was further tragedy after that .
“Are you threatening me?”
“Yes . ”
Elena answered unblinkingly .
“You will do something for me in exchange for my secrecy . ”
TN: Don’t forget, the contest period ends tonight!
And if you would tolerate with me a little longer, dear reader, here is an excerpt from my new project…
Remarried Empress
Navier was the perfect empress, however, the Emperor wanted a wife, not a colleague . And so, the Emperor abandoned Empress Navier and placed a slave girl beside him . That was fine, until Navier heard the Emperor promise the slave girl the Empress’ position . After much agonizing, Navier decided she would remarry the emperor of the neighboring country .
Ch 1: I’m About To Be Removed From The Empress’ Seat
“I will accept the divorce . ”
Am I the only one who had a faint smile on my lips when I said those words?
Sovieshu looked down at me with a half-relieved, half-regretful expression . Was it a charade, or was it sincere?
Until now I had been a good colleague and a perfect empress . We had never fought — that is, until he brought her along . He cast me aside for his lover, but until the last moment he’ll want to be a good man and a good emperor .
Then there was my family and the great church which had approved of our marriage, who insisted that I not step down from the position of empress . He would certainly dislike the idea of going through a tedious divorce trial against both of these groups .
He was that sort of man, and that sort of emperor .
“Your Majesty! This can’t be!”
Marquis Farang cried out and tried to run towards me, but he was caught by the Emperor’s guards and barred from taking a step further…
Marquis Farang and Countess Eliza, my defenders . I am thankful to all of you .
I cast them a grateful glance then turned to the court minister .
“Empress Navier . Do you really agree to this divorce document without any objection?”
The court minister had a slightly angry voice . He wanted me to fight and challenge the reason for divorce .
While the odds of winning the trial were none, it would cause a scandal for the Emperor and his concubine as the people heard the news . That was what the minister, my family and my friends wanted .
I shook my head . A divorce trial may hurt Sovieshu’s reputation, but my name may be scarred as well . It’s not that I had a moral problem, but I might not be able to leverage the situation if it became too complicated .
“I accept the divorce . ”
The minister closed his eyes gravely as murmuring broke out into the room .
“And ask for permission to remarry . ”
The moment I finished speaking, the mood changed completely . The air stilled into a shocked silence and the minister’s eyes flew open . Everyone glanced at each other, unsure of what they heard .
Sovieshu looked at me confusedly, a frown furrowing his brow . The minister was in a daze .
“Empress Navier…remarry?”
Instead of answering, I stretched out my hand and pointed to one place . As if on cue, a man wearing an embroidered veil that obscured his face burst into pleasant laughter .
“Do I come up now?”
The silence was broken by the murmuring of the crowd again . The man walked through the court and stood next to me . When he took off the veil, Sovieshu lept to his feet .
“Navier! That man–“
“Is the one I will marry . ”
The minister’s eyes looked hollow . I smiled and turned the man beside me . He looked at me as if to say, “You expected this reaction, didn’t you?”
Somehow I had a pleasant feeling .
Even though it wasn’t revenge I desired .
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