AIWA 19

Chapter 19

‘Why did the setting change? Is it related to my possession?’

No matter how much she thought about it, she couldn’t figure it out.

Lucienne soon arrived in front of the gazebo where the Grand Empress Dowager was resting, so she set aside her questions and paid her respects politely.

“I greet the Grand Empress Dowager. I am Lucienne Ronater.”

The Grand Empress Dowager’s lips were pursed tightly at the greeting. There was also a hint of reluctance in her eyes as she looked at Lucienne.

It was probably because of yesterday’s refusal of the dresses, so Lucienne was not surprised by the Grand Empress Dowager’s reaction.

Rather, it was exactly as expected, and that confirmed it.

If Paello declared a divorce, the Grand Empress Dowager would swiftly support his decision.

At the same time, the nobles would pay no attention to Lucienne.

Since Lucienne would have no backing or power whatsoever.

Then they would forget her.

A life where no one knows me and I have plenty of money.

That was actually the side that would help Lucienne’s future hopes.

Just thinking that she had taken a step closer to her dream made the corners of Lucienne’s mouth lift involuntarily.

Lucienne straightened her back and waited for the Grand Empress Dowager to speak.

Whether it was good news or bad news.

Whether she said something or gestured for her to withdraw, the greeting would be over.

And if she disliked her, she would rejoice at the news of divorce—that would be the icing on the cake.

While the Grand Empress Dowager looked over Lucienne’s surroundings, Berdie scribbled something on a note and handed it to her handmaiden.

The handmaiden bowed to Berdie and hurried away.

Soon the Grand Empress Dowager opened her mouth.

“You came… alone.”

Her voice, growing quieter, carried disappointment.

At this reaction, far beyond her imagination, Lucienne was speechless.

She had originally intended to answer briskly with “Yes!”

But even the dignified Grand Empress Dowager, at this moment, looked so lonely and forlorn.

‘No, what on earth is this reaction?’

It was like a child who had gone to sleep eagerly expecting Santa Claus on Christmas morning, only to wake up disappointed with no presents; or an elderly person who had laid out a feast and eagerly awaited their children, only to spend the holiday alone.

Lucienne’s mouth opened of its own accord.

“The Grand Duke said he would come too.”

The Grand Empress Dowager’s eyes went wide.

“What? Is that true?”

“Yes. I told him I wanted to try the boating excursion. The northern region doesn’t have the right environment for boating.”

The Grand Empress Dowager stared fixedly at Lucienne. Reflexively, Lucienne averted her eyes from the Empress.

“But he seemed very busy, so I just came ahead on my own.”

The result was the same, but it was a packaged lie. Still, deceiving an elderly person pricked her conscience.

‘If the Grand Duke finds out, his blood pressure might shoot up and he might clutch the back of his neck and collapse.’

That wouldn’t be bad—it would bring her closer to divorce. But with the Grand Empress Dowager looking like that right in front of her, she couldn’t bring herself to say that Paello had no chance of coming at all.

Lucienne shrugged.

“So whether he’ll make it today… honestly, I’ll have to see.”

“…I see. I see.”

The Grand Empress Dowager’s eyes grew slightly moist, but hope was written on her face.

She had heard what she wanted to hear and fallen for Lucienne’s hope-torture.

“I fully understand that the Grand Duke is busy. Just the thought that he intended to come makes this old woman happy.”

Lucienne smiled brightly and nodded.

“Even if he can’t make it today, you’ll see him at tomorrow’s hunting competition. And even if he’s too busy to come tomorrow, he’ll greet you at the birthday banquet.”

Rather than leaving her looking so gloomy until the last day, it seemed better to at least fill her with hope during the day.

After all, she would see him on the final day.

The Grand Empress Dowager also nodded slowly. Her expression brightened considerably.

Lucienne bowed her head respectfully to the Grand Empress Dowager. Now she just needed to step back.

The handmaiden who had left Berdie’s side returned and stood in her place.

She made an OK gesture with her hand toward Berdie, so it seemed she had successfully delivered the note.

Berdie, who gave the handmaiden a slight nod, looked at Lucienne and smiled gently.

“What a lovely atmosphere. The Grand Duchess is kinder than the rumours suggest. But as I watch from the side, I find it a bit hard to let this pass.”

“?”

“Is it because you’re mixed with demon blood? You seem to take the Imperial family lightly. After all, you freely engage in disrespectful wordplay.”

For a moment, Lucienne doubted her ears.

Lucienne knew well that the heroine Berdie did not like her.

After all, in the original work, she was the heroine who quietly schemed to eliminate her and take a married man.

But her manner of speaking was different from what she knew. The Berdie of the original work used speech that carried hidden meanings.

When Hanana openly expressed her affection for Paello regardless of his marital status, Berdie had stopped her.

“Hanana, even so, isn’t it a bit dangerous to seduce a married man? Unless he’s widowed, of course.”

Hanana had thought that Berdie was scolding her for her immorality.

“I think it would be fine if I just see his face.”

“Come to think of it, I heard the Ronater territory is planning to hire an administrative secretary. That might let you see his face at least.”

Hanana was truly grateful for the information Berdie had let slip. At the same time, she thought Berdie was ascetic.

Even though she said that, she was satisfied with just seeing his face.

That was possible only for Berdie, who was as warm and pure as spring sunshine—not for Hanana herself.

Hanana did not think Lucienne would die. Nor could she give up on Paello.

So the only path left was an affair.

Even being a mistress was fine. Hanana was so out of her mind that she thought she could endure the finger-pointing as long as she could share Paello’s bed.

Much later, Berdie stood before Hanana’s grave, gave her thanks, and also said this:

“Poor Hanana. I clearly told you that if you seduced a married man, that half-breed demon would kill you. If you wanted to be with the Ronater Grand Duke, you should have used anyone as a sacrifice and started by killing that wicked woman. Just like I did.”

The true meaning of her words always came after everything was over.

That was the type of person Berdie was.

But now, for some reason, Berdie’s manner of speaking had changed. It was now so easily understandable, openly picking a fight.

“Even if you are the Grand Duchess, you’re crossing the line too far for me to tolerate. How dare you sweet-talk her like that, in what safety?”

Her commanding voice, directed at Lucienne, was filled with the confidence that no matter what happened, she would definitely win.

At the same time, the attention of those seated in the nearby gazebos turned toward them.

Berdie, rising ostentatiously from her seat, affectionately embraced the Grand Empress Dowager from behind and kissed her cheek. From a distance, it looked like a loving granddaughter expressing affection to her grandmother.

“Your Majesty the Grand Empress Dowager, I told you.”

Her voice, speaking softly to the Grand Empress Dowager, was clearly heard by Lucienne and those nearby.

“Given your advanced age, there will be those who try to cloud your eyes with false allure.”

“You mean… the Grand Duchess is telling me falsehoods?”

“Yes, think about it. The Grand Duchess is rude, and moreover, she’s a demon. She even had the audacity to disregard the gifts you so thoughtfully sent yesterday.”

“Oh…”

The Grand Empress Dowager’s complexion, which had been reluctant at first, then darkened.

“Also, has the Ronater Grand Duke ever appeared as a couple with her? Not once.”

“That’s… true.”

The Grand Empress Dowager’s gaze toward Lucienne turned cold. There was disappointment and resentment in her eyes.

Lucienne was utterly dumbfounded.

‘What’s wrong with the heroine? What makes her so bold? What, did she regress or something?’

That couldn’t be, though.

Lucienne briefly considered holding back, since her opponent was the original heroine and a princess, but quickly realised it was a pointless deliberation.

‘After all, I’m the villainess, aren’t I?’

If Berdie, who had previously hidden her true intentions, now changed her attitude and charged straight ahead, Lucienne could simply insist or deny—that was that.

That was a perfect action for a villainess, wasn’t it?

Even if it turned into a fight, Lucienne was fine.

Fighting with the princess would only add to the grounds for divorce.

If she were divorced, Lucienne planned to live in the capital. She would wash away her status and never go near the Imperial Palace or related events, so she wouldn’t have to run into Berdie.

So Lucienne also straightened her back and lifted her chin.

Since she had decided to fight, she might as well strike without reservation.

“What business do you have, Miss, to pick a quarrel so rudely with me, on our first meeting?”

Berdie and the Grand Empress Dowager’s eyes went wide, and the mouths of those nearby fell open. Soon, the surroundings began to buzz.