AWLITEB Chapter 15

Even a three-year-old child knew that the more reliable allies you had, the better your chances of achieving your goal.

For Genos to ascend to the imperial throne, everyone ranked higher than him in the line of succession would need to be dead or ineligible to inherit.

The Emperor, the Crown Prince, the Second Prince—all of them would have to disappear. Only then would Genos's turn come around.

To carry out that process in secret required allies in high positions.

For example, an imperial princess or an empress.

The princess would be even more difficult to recruit than the empress. She'd left to study abroad too early—Genos couldn't even remember her face. And even if Genos and the princess were close, there was insufficient reason for her to push her uncle Genos for the throne over her own blood siblings.

It might be easier if she knew what the princess wanted, what her weaknesses were, but as he'd said, she'd been away from the empire far too long.

That left the empress as the target worth pursuing.

Everyone knew the empress despised the Emperor. But participating in treason was an entirely different matter.

To draw the empress in, she'd need to capture her heart. And to do that, she'd need to gather as much information about her as possible.

Since the empress rarely left the empress's palace, even Genos didn't know much about her.

Which meant she had to treasure opportunities like this, one by one.

In Isabella's eyes, the empress's figure came into view, walking some distance away with a maid.

As if confirming the rumors that she'd grown sick of aristocratic society, the empress had only one elderly maid by her side.

Like all empresses throughout history, there had been a time when she too had carefully selected her ladies-in-waiting, scrutinizing their family backgrounds and knowledge of etiquette.

But after her family's destruction, she'd allowed only a single maid to attend her. And she'd chosen to lock herself away in the closed-off empress's palace.

Isabella wanted her revenge against the White family to be perfect. For that, she desperately needed Genos's help.

She couldn't just barge in recklessly and kill Martha, Ethan, and Rosalie. She didn't yet have enough control over the witch's power, and she'd immediately be branded a murderous witch and hanged in the square.

So everything had to be natural. Like the wind blowing, like a stream flowing—both Genos's imperial succession and the White family's extermination had to proceed naturally, in step with each other.

For that to happen, Isabella herself couldn't afford to miss any visible opportunities.

Only then could she witness the White family's destruction with her own eyes as soon as possible.

Isabella steadied her mind.

Her goal was to make a light impression on the empress. It was important not to burden her.

"I should mention the adoption, too."

Isabella murmured quietly.

After her family's downfall, the empress had been operating several charitable organizations and was known to frequently volunteer at orphanages.

For Isabella, known as an adopted child, this was quite an advantageous point.

That's when it happened.

The moment Isabella made up her mind to approach the empress, the empress and her maid's footsteps stopped.

Isabella instinctively hid behind a tree.

The maid glanced lightly around and nodded to the empress.

Isabella held her breath, concealing herself completely.

The maid's surveillance was actually quite poor. That was because no one in the imperial palace paid much attention to the empress.

So without deeply considering the possibility that someone might be watching, she simply turned her head lightly and finished her reconnaissance.

The maid entered the grass and returned with a small wooden bowl. Then she opened the pouch she'd been carrying.

Many maids and ladies-in-waiting carried handkerchiefs and such for their mistresses in small pouches.

But it wouldn't be common to carry cat food in that pouch.

"Fill it generously. She's nursing kittens, so she needs to eat a lot."

"Yes, Your Imperial Majesty."

After filling the wooden bowl to the brim, the maid hid it back in the grass.

The fur on the empress's dress must have been from the cat.

To discover what the veiled empress poured her affection into—this was actually quite a significant harvest.

Instead of speaking to the empress, Isabella turned and walked away quickly before they could discover her.

Now that she'd found a way to approach the empress, it was right to prepare and come back with a better approach.

Today, she'd be satisfied just knowing about the cat's existence.

However, before returning to the table where Genos and the Emperor were, Isabella's footsteps stopped as if caught by someone.

"Huk..."

Rosalie.

Isabella's body froze like wood and stone. She literally stopped, her breath drawn in and held.

Rosalie was walking elegantly, laughing haha hoho with a noble young lady beside her, her jeweled fan covering her mouth.

But even if she covered more than half her face—even if she showed only her eyes—Isabella could recognize anyone from the White family.

The faces of those who had whipped her, hurled abuse at her, cursed her with vicious words—Isabella would never forget them even in her next life.

Should she turn and walk away quickly? Would Rosalie not recognize her emaciated body? What if she ran over and examined her face?

Isabella watched Rosalie draw closer and closer, suffocating in endless thoughts, when—

A black cloak descended over Isabella's head.

Isabella flinched in surprise and raised her head, but Genos pressed the cloak down more firmly over her.

"Stay still."

Genos whispered.

Isabella clutched the cloak as if it were her lifeline and covered her face completely.

Before long, Rosalie and Elena discovered the two of them.

"Your Grace!"

Rosalie rushed closer, her eyes full of pink affection.

Elena quickly attached herself to her side.

"Your Grace, what good fortune to meet you here."

Rosalie spoke in a voice that couldn't hide her excitement. In her two eyes was a strange sense of superiority.

Rosalie turned her shoulder slightly to open a path for Elena, as if telling her to greet him too.

Elena, not wanting to miss the opportunity, quickly stepped forward and curtsied on one knee.

Rosalie's omission of the curtsy was also meant to show Elena how close she and the Grand Duke were.

"Your Grace. Elena of House Romea offers you her humble greetings."

Elena even blushed slightly as she greeted him. She knew the Grand Duke was Rosalie's fiancé, but she couldn't help smiling automatically before a handsome man.

Rosalie glared at Elena with displeasure, but what was actually more irritating was the unknown woman standing beside the Grand Duke.

The way she was covering her face so not even a single strand of hair showed while they were greeting the Grand Duke like this was infuriating.

"I'm late with introductions. This is my paternal cousin."

At the Grand Duke's words, Rosalie's gaze, which had been glaring at Isabella, immediately cooled.

Rosalie smiled gently and curtsied lightly toward Isabella. Elena, catching on, also offered her greetings.

Isabella nodded her head lightly, conducting herself like royalty.

"Rosalie of the White barony offers her greetings. It's a pleasure to meet you."

"Elena of House Romea offers her greetings."

Afraid her voice might give her away, Isabella simply listened in silence.

When no response came, Rosalie's expression gradually became puzzled.

Genos naturally half-blocked Isabella and opened his mouth.

"After losing her husband following marriage, she's been living at a poorhouse caring for sick children. She doesn't speak easily or act familiar, so please understand."

"I see. How regrettable to meet someone doing such admirable work for the first time. But I've heard nothing of her until now... how should we address her?"

Rosalie's eyes sparkled.

Now that Isabella had been introduced as royalty, Rosalie easily became gentle.

"She came to the imperial palace for the first time in ages after much deliberation. I'm sorry, but further conversation will be difficult."

Genos said, lightly taking Isabella's hand.

Rosalie's jealousy began to simmer, but she controlled herself with the word blood relative.

"Then I'll see you next time."

Genos gave Rosalie and Elena a polite nod, then turned and walked away with Isabella.

Once the two had moved a good distance away, Elena whispered to Rosalie.

"You can tell she lost her husband."

"What do you mean?"

When Rosalie asked, Elena shrugged and continued.

"She's thin. Look at that."

Elena pointed at Isabella's slender body.

Even hidden by the thick-textured dress, the thinness showed.

Come to think of it, the hand revealed outside the dress sleeve also seemed gaunt, the bones of the back of her hand protruding.

Rosalie's face twisted with displeasure. Someone equally thin came to mind.

"Let's go, Elena. I think we've seen enough of the imperial palace."

Rosalie turned sharply and walked away quickly.

Isabella and Genos returned to the table, appropriately concluded their meeting with the Emperor, and boarded the carriage.

Once the carriage had quickly exited the imperial palace, Genos heavily swept his chest as if he could finally breathe.

"Are you all right?"

Genos asked Isabella, who had been silent for a long time.

Isabella was just staring at the sunlight filtering through the window gap.

"Isabella."

Genos lightly placed his hand over the back of Isabella's hand.

At the sudden warmth, Isabella flinched and snapped out of her distraction.

"Is it because of Rosalie?"

"..."

Bella slowly shook her head.

What was boiling inside her chest was an entirely different emotion from worry.

"No."

Isabella replied in a small voice.

"It felt good."

"What?"

"I felt so good."

Remembering just now, when Rosalie had bowed her head and greeted her, a thrilling shiver ran through her.

It had also been satisfying to watch her desperately smile, trying to please her.

Isabella exhaled a long breath and looked straight at Genos and said:

"I'd made up my mind to take revenge on the White family, but I'd never been this fired up before today."

There was strength in Isabella's voice.

Watching her intense expression and tone, even Genos's body grew hot. He smiled thinly without realizing it.

"I want to bring Rosalie to her knees completely. Rosalie, the baroness, Ethan—I want to tear them all apart. I want to make them tremble as they beg for their lives. I want to taste an even more thrilling feeling than today, Your Grace."

Heat-wave excitement boiled over with every word Bella uttered.

Genos's smile deepened as if he could no longer contain it. He gripped Isabella's hand tightly.

Today's chance encounter had infused Isabella's vengefulness with complete certainty.

A good omen.

"I'll completely capture Her Imperial Majesty's heart, too. I'll do everything I can to make our plan perfect."

Isabella spoke rapidly.

"I saw Her Majesty preparing food for stray cats. It seems to be an object of her affection. Did you know? I hope this was something Your Grace didn't know. And I'll also investigate the maid who's always attached to Her Imperial Majesty..."

"Isabella."

Genos cupped both of Bella's cheeks.

Bella, who had been pouring out words as if possessed, snapped to attention.

"I had no idea about the cats. That's good information. Thank you."

"..."

"But there's no need to rush excessively. It's true we need to move quickly, but impatience will ruin things."

"...I'm sorry, Your Grace. I didn't mean to get uselessly excited. If I bothered you, I apologize."

At Bella's apology, Genos shook his head with a look of disbelief.

"What are you talking about? I'm thrilled to death."

"Pardon?"

"Because now it feels like we've truly become partners."

The corners of Genos's mouth curled up beautifully. His chest pounded with excitement.

"Your revenge and my treason will be perfectly accomplished, Isabella. Because there's not even the smallest sliver of doubt left in your heart."

Before the Grand Duke's gentle smile, Isabella felt her whole heart become full.

She whispered as if intoxicated:

"I want to go to the imperial ball looking perfect. Please go check regularly to make sure the dress you ordered is being made perfectly."

"Yes, I will."

"I want to be careful about choosing everything—the necklace, the earrings, even the flower hair pins. Bring me several options."

Isabella's eyes sparkled like the Milky Way.

It was a beautiful sparkle created by desire.

For the first time, Genos thought Isabella was beautiful.

The mad vengefulness frosting her eyes was as pretty as a well-sharpened blade.