The viscount was taken aback by her sudden interest.
"Yes." He chuckled, failing to notice her expression. "It's nothing serious. She was the one running her mouth today. His Majesty must simply want to discipline her insolence. Though she's sharper than the rest, that tongue of hers will land her in trouble sooner or later."
But the Empress Dowager was not listening.
Her eyes turned glacial, her tone icy.
"Why was that not the first thing you reported?"
The viscount flinched at the harshness in her voice. He blinked in confusion. "Your Majesty… she is merely a young girl."
"I do not think so," the Empress Dowager murmured, her gaze distant with calculation. "Describe her. Every detail. Did you notice if His Majesty looked at her? And how?"
The viscount stared at her, stunned. Then, slowly, realization dawned, and he laughed uneasily.
"Your Majesty jests. Him? Noticing a girl from a fallen family?" He shook his head with a chuckle. "Impossible. His Majesty is… not the type."
The Empress Dowager remained unconvinced.
Her eyes sharpened. "Answer."
Only then did the man realize she was serious.
He hesitated, searching his memory. "He did ask her to bring the medallion to him… personally. But that was all. He did not speak to her. Nothing else happened."
The Empress Dowager fell silent. She lowered her gaze, deep in thought.
Growing uneasy, the viscount waved his hand dismissively. "We should not waste effort on someone insignificant, Your Majesty."
At last, she nodded once, though her eyes remained unreadable. She was clearly still unconvinced.
Sensing her wavering, the viscount leaned closer and whispered cautiously, his voice eager, "Then… may Your Majesty still consider the matter we discussed earlier?"
The Empress Dowager lifted her eyes slowly, narrowing them at him.
Then she cut him off, her voice indifferent.
"You delivered little of what you promised. Wait."
Her tone left no room for argument.
The viscount's eagerness was extinguished at once. His face tightened with barely concealed displeasure, but he knew better than to protest.
Instead, he bowed stiffly.
"As Your Majesty wills."
"You may leave."
She dismissed him with a flick of her hand, not bothering to hide her irritation.
Dissatisfied but powerless, the viscount bowed again and retreated. The doors slid shut behind him with a soft thud.
Silence filled the Empress Dowager's chambers.
Her gaze lingered on the empty doorway for a long moment, thoughtful, calculating… and faintly troubled.
Finally, she spoke softly, calling to the lady-in-waiting outside.
"Lady Ashford."
A quiet rustle of silk announced the arrival of the attendant.
The woman entered with a bow, her posture elegant yet unassuming. She appeared younger than the Empress Dowager, but her beauty was mild and ordinary. What stood out were her inverted brows and thin, tightly drawn lips, like an old fox.
"Your Majesty," she greeted.
The Empress Dowager did not look at her at once. She traced a fingertip along the rim of her teacup.
"You heard him," she said at last, her voice as soft as drifting ash.
"I did, Your Majesty."
A brief silence followed.
"What do you think?" the Empress Dowager asked without lifting her eyes.
A faint, knowing smile curved the attendant's lips. "I think," she said gently, "what Your Majesty is thinking as well. Things are… rarely so simple."
The Empress Dowager's gaze lifted at that, amusement now flickering in her eyes.
"Truly," she murmured, "you are the only one in this palace who understands me."
The attendant bowed slightly at the praise.
"So," the Empress Dowager continued, "what should I do?"
The attendant paused, pretending to ponder, though her eyes shone with calculation. After a moment, she smiled again, quietly and slyly.
"Why not…" she suggested, "use the girl to test His Majesty?"
The Empress Dowager's brows arched, interest stirring. She leaned back slightly, her eyes narrowing with thought. Then, slowly—very slowly—a smirk unfurled across her lips.
"A test through her…" she murmured, the idea settling in her mind like a smooth stone. "Mm. Not bad."
A soft chuckle escaped her. "Reliable as always."
At the praise, the attendant's smile deepened, but only for a heartbeat.
The Empress Dowager lifted her hand, issuing her command:
"Go to the Office of Palace Personnel. Ask about the new personal attendant assigned to His Majesty's quarters."
She tapped her finger lightly on the table, emphasizing each word.
"Have them inform me the moment she arrives."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
The attendant bowed, ready to depart.
"Wait."
The Empress Dowager's gaze sharpened again, thoughtful.
"After that…" She paused, considering. Then, with a cold, refined finality:
"Call the head maid of the Third Prince's quarters. Tell her I wish to see her."
The attendant's eyes flashed briefly, understanding the implication immediately, but she hid her reaction with perfect grace.
"As Your Majesty commands."
With another bow, she withdrew, her footsteps soft against the floor.
The Empress Dowager remained seated, her expression half-shadowed, half-smiling.
His Majesty personally put a woman by his side?
Then she had to see… if she was a snake or a little daisy.
A quiet, deadly anticipation filled the room.
…
The cart jolted along the dusty road leading away from the tribunal. Esme sat upright inside, her hands tightly clasped in her lap. Outside, the world passed by in muted shapes and colors, and she observed it in silence.
Simple, modest homes appeared first—plain wooden walls, thatched or slate roofs, small gardens filled with vegetables and livestock. People stared as the cart passed, though most soon returned to their work.
Then larger houses emerged—brick and stone walls, brightly painted shutters, small courtyards. Servants hurried in and out, and carriages rested at the gates.
Upper-class nobles, she thought.
Soon, the road opened into vast fields once more. Tall pine trees and endless vineyards stretched on either side.
The monotony gradually lulled her into drowsiness. Exhaustion weighed heavily on her limbs, perhaps, from the shock of being suddenly shoved into this world.
Her eyelids drifted shut.
Then—
The cart came to a sudden, violent halt.
Esme jolted awake instantly, her heart lurching as she looked around in confusion.
Had they arrived?
Moments later, the two guards appeared and pulled open the cart's locks. Esme swiftly gathered herself and stood before they could reach for her.
She knew better than to make this harder than it already was. Being rough-handled was not pleasant at all.
Leaning forward, she ducked beneath the overhead plank and stepped down.
"We're here," one of the guards said flatly.
Without another word, they flanked her and led her forward.
It was only then that Esme finally saw it.
She lifted her gaze.
A massive construction rose before her.
Her breath caught.
What a palace!