The last day’s ball was a success, but things were still not settled. Everyone involved in this scandal gathered after the ball in the empress’ reception area.
“…”
“…”
An awkward silence fell. Except for the emperor and the empress, everyone else sat and waited nervously.
Norma glared at the two women was were sitting next to the empress. One was Amarince, who was trembling in fear. Roberto and his mother both glared at the singer.
It was Bina who said the first word. “It was a fun night, right, everyone?”
Everyone turned towards the empress, who played with her long hair and smiled. Norma laughed finally. “Ha, you are amazing, your highness. You won. I hadn’t realized how prepared you would be. Yulia and that girl too.”
Norma was genuinely impressed. Bina smiled kindly. “Oh, not at all, Duchess.”
“… I see, but even the fight your highness had with his highness… and making a show of leaving the castle and going to Maram must have been all an act.”
Norma never had a chance. She had been played by Lucretius and Bina. These two young people tricked the duchess. Norma felt mortified at how they must have laughed at her behind her back.
Bina replied nonchalantly, “Yes. It was very fun.”
“No one has seen your highness and the princess in the castle for days… That’s amazing.” Norma glared at her niece. “And Yuli, you knew all along.”
“…”
Yulia didn’t answer. She didn’t even look at her aunt.
Norma showed her anger at Yulia and Amarince, even though she was, in truth, furious at the emperor and the empress. However, of course, she couldn’t show her displeasure at the royal family openly.
Norma also couldn’t help but feel betrayed. After all, Yulia was her family.
Bina commented to the duchess, “Duchess, this isn’t Amarince’s fault, so please stop glaring at her like you want to kill her.”
“… Your highness.”
“If you weren’t so greedy, his highness and I would have never gone after you like this. Once the law changed about the women being sent from other kingdoms, there would have been nothing to fight about.”
Lucretius continued coldly, “But then, you started to spread that ugly rumor about Bina. You started to move against us.”
“…”
This wasn’t an official trial, so Lucretius didn’t bother to hide his fury. He was especially angry at Roberto.
Lucretius added, “I am very displeased.”
“…”
“To target my Bina, and by using such a cowardly method… Even Katleyanira would be proud of the two of you for your immorality.”
Norma instinctively knew the emperor was thinking about his birth mother. Roberto’s crime must have reminded him of Empress Beatrice’s execution. Norma could see Lucretius’ anger towards Katleyanira renewing and now being directed towards her son.
She had to save Roberto. “Your highness, please don’t get angry. It is all my fault for not raising my son right.”
“Why should I listen to you?”
Norma had no pride left. She kneeled in front of Lucretius. Her son might have not realized what kind of danger he was in, but she was very aware of it.
YOU ARE READING
Empress of Another World
FantasySa Bina was on her way to write her SAT when she suddenly finds herself in a strange world. She is sent to be the old emperor's concubine, but on their wedding night, the emperor gets murdered by no one other than his own son and the heir! To surviv...
