ALL NOVEL Chapter 44
As Selleana’s brow furrowed in thought about it, a voice called out.
“Lady.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Startled by the sudden call, Selleana quickly composed herself and looked at the Empress. The Empress’s eyes were so dark that it was hard to distinguish between the pupil and the iris as if absorbing all the surrounding light, like the darkest black in the world.
“Is the persuasion of that person going well?”
Though the voice was infinitely gentle, an undeniable aura surrounded it.
“
Ah
… It’s still difficult, but I am trying.”
“If it’s difficult.”
“I, to find him…”
At that moment, Selleana caught herself almost revealing too much.
Was I about to talk about the request I made to the magic tower? That’s crazy!
Perhaps this almost happened because the empress treated her too comfortably. Selleana bit her tongue in self-reproach.
“Lady?”
“
Ah
. So, I mean, I am looking for a way to win his heart.”
“Is that so?” The empress smiled softly, her dark eyes shimmering.
If the saintess wishes to know the truth, she could find it out easily…
Was that why she nearly spoke the truth? Selleana calmed her surprised heart and smiled lightly.
“Yes. Just as I told Your Majesty that day. I’m trying to win his heart, but it hasn’t been easy. I’ve been praying hard to Orot.”
“Praying…?”
Though it was meant to appease the goddess-like empress, the part about praying was a lie. Feeling guilty, Selleana quickly added, “They say fate will find its way… I hope if he’s my destiny, we can meet.”
“Fate, huh.” The empress slowly repeated Selleana’s words. “You said an interesting idea.”
A compassionate smile appeared on the empress’s face. But to Selleana, it somehow felt like mockery for a misinterpretation.
…Nesia said it was just a phrase thrown around. Was there a hidden intent?
Unless the empress was just looking creepy when she said that.
“I hope you can accept the answer you’ll find.”
Accept…?
The empress’s words remained enigmatic. As if the answer was already predetermined… In the sudden confusion, Selleana found herself unable to respond.
“Then, I hope you have a blessed evening under Orot’s grace.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty. I’ll see you next time.”
“Thank you…”
The empress gave Selleana a final smile and left the area of Elard. Even as she watched the empress leave, Selleana couldn’t shake off her complex feelings.
Is this her way of telling me to participate in the selection process? Because my true fate is Pavellian?
Ah, surely not… I must be getting sensitive because of the recent stories about Michi and Nesia’s original male leads. I keep thinking weirdly.
Selleana forced herself to shake off the ominous thoughts.
With the support of the Duchess, Selleana’s skills, and Doloret’s sponsorship, Elard’s sales area was almost fully settled well before sunset.
“Big Sis, thank you so much! Thanks to the sponsorship from Benichi with drinks and clothes, our charity box was the first to be filled!”
“It’s nothing. People who didn’t know bought them because you were wearing them, which made things sell out quicker than expected.”
“
Ehem
, Lea Elard isn’t going anywhere, right?”
When Doloret and Selleana were praising each other,
“Is this not money laundering, using deceptive business practices to earn money and then using it as charity funds?”
A sarcastic comment, loud enough to be heard, pierced through the air.
“I guess that’s why she doesn’t fit in with the imperial family, right?”
“Her Majesty is generous to not frown upon her even though she wears such unfashionable clothes.”
“It’s generous of her to embrace someone who turned down such a noble position in the first place, isn’t it?”
Ah, they’re starting again…
Why do they keep picking on me like this?
Is it because they support the saintess? There seemed to be an irrational fervor in their loyalty to the empress. It was especially embarrassing since her mother was here.
Like at the Rondel party, Selleana thought about retorting sharply, but with many eyes watching, she couldn’t. In a crowd, you never know how public opinion will flow.
“We’ll have to investigate later. They say it’s for charity, but they might be pocketing a profit.”
“Did they bribe people to buy their bazaar items?”
“Who knows if they were selling cheap stuff pretending it to be valuable?”
The ladies of the empress’s faction began to overstep their bounds. Attacking not just her but also maligning her mother’s charitable activities.
I can’t just let this slide…!
Just as Selleana was about to step forward to retort,
“Oh my, Your Majesty Empress!”
The empress? The ladies of the empress’s faction clamped their mouths shut and looked around.
“…If those who claim to follow her knew how narrow-minded they were, she would be deeply disappointed. Wouldn’t you agree, Madam Ranchard?”
“
Ah
, t-that’s right, Madam Elard…”
The naturally spoken words by Duchess Elard caused Countess Ranchard of the empress’s faction to start reprimanding the ladies. For being rude, for having short-sighted thoughts.
It seemed superficial. But for Selleana, it was astonishing. Her mother had taken her side against the empress’s faction! For the first time since declaring she wouldn’t participate in the selection, her family had protected her.
Mother…
With moved eyes, Selleana looked at her mother.
“Shall we rest until the crowd disperses? We can’t leave just because we’re done when there are families still struggling, right?”
The duchess locked eyes with each of the ladies of the empress’s faction and spoke slowly. She had the same momentum as when Selleana had suppressed the ladies of the empress’s faction at the Rondel party.
This force… I only knew of mother as a role model of elegance, leading the ladies with dignity.
Mother, were you always like this? To your children, you were just kind?
Could it be that I inherited this from mother?
Was it not the memories of a past life that made her who she is, but that she was born with this temperament?
After moving to a bench in the orphanage courtyard, the words the duchess spoke were also surprising to Selleana.
“You must be feeling very disappointed all this time, right?”
No, she should have answered, but feeling disappointed was true, so Selleana grimly smiled.
“I heard everything from Aiven a few days ago. Your father… won’t you try to understand him?”
“Mother…”
“Your father is keeping an eye on Duke Langton. Since he keeps bringing up the 5th prince, your father worries what nonsense he might spread if it’s known you’re associating with him.”
Duke Langton was a figure who disturbed Rakrensius’s peace. With Pavellian now becoming the crown prince, the power of the crown prince’s faction, led by Elard, and those supporting the empress had grown.
To counter them, the imperial faction’s leader, Duke Langton, kept mentioning Rakrensius’s existence. Even though Rakrensius had renounced his claim to the throne and Pavellian had been appointed crown prince, Langton argued because Rakrensius was older and possessed a relic-like treasure, just like Pavellian.
Thankfully, he hasn’t stirred up trouble directly involving the tower master.
While Selleana’s face grew serious considering this, the duchess suddenly chuckled. “Moreover, your father and Theo, they never knew you were so thoughtful, and it’s funny how much they talk about it.”
“My father and brother said that?”
A bitter smile crossed Selleana’s lips. When she visited Theonis’s office and when she was called by her father after the Rondel party. She remembered their surprised faces at her outspokenness.
“To them, a chess piece that should obediently enter into a political marriage expressing its own will is perplexing. How amusing, isn’t it? Men who have never lived as women talking about your happiness.”
“Mo-Mother…”
Selleana was taken aback by her mother’s cynical tone, and her mother winked at her.
“As an old-timer, I married as the family wished and satisfied myself by donating my husband’s wealth to charity, but…” Her mother’s hand gently squeezed Selleana’s. “You’re a wise child, and I believe you won’t disappoint us with your decisions.”
Has she ever had such a conversation with her mother? Until now, Selleana had seen her mother as an elegant noblewoman maintaining her power in society under strict traditions. But how many new sides of her mother had she seen today?
Well, where else would my personality come from…
Feeling the awkwardness that had been present since she remembered her past life dissipating, she felt relieved.
At least mother believes in me.
As dusk fell and the workers dismantled the bazaar stalls, Selleana was lost in thought about the day’s events when,
“Lea!”
Doloret, supervising the employees clearing the beverage cart, rushed over.
“See that man?”
“Man?”
Turning towards where Doloret gestured, there stood a man. With hair as dark as the night sky and eyes of a strikingly vivid red, even from a distance…
“Collin.”
The moment she recognized him, Selleana found herself running towards him without realizing it.