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Three days passed.
From early morning, the Imperial Palace was bustling with preparations for the Empress's procession.
Riel stared at the distant procession beyond the window, waiting for them to depart.
Overlapping that scene, she recalled the words the healer had delivered that morning.
"Iana Archmage will be accompanying Her Majesty the Empress today. As a guard mage."
She didn't know if her plan to go to the orphanage had been leaked, or if Iana was simply accompanying them by chance for protection.
But Riel didn't care what the reason was.
'If Iana is coming, I need to show them even more.'
Boo-oo-oong.
The sound of a horn signaling departure echoed through the Imperial Palace.
The large Imperial carriage carrying the Empress sped towards the gates, escorted by Imperial Guard knights in golden armor.
The long line of escorts, displaying the dignity of the Empress's position, was a spectacular sight.
'That's where I should be.'
Riel slowly turned around and walked towards the wardrobe. Then, she flung the wardrobe doors open with both hands.
There, a dress was hanging.
A pure white dress that shimmered subtly.
It was shaped like an elegant and pristine lily.
The maid carefully took out the dress and stood before Riel.
Riel asked the maid as if tossing the question out.
"What do you think of this dress?"
"Yes? It looks beautiful and elegant. I think it will suit you well, Lady Riel."
At the maid's words, Riel approached and touched the dress.
"It was made in the Rubena market, but I like it too."
"Yes? The Rubena market?"
The three maids simultaneously wore surprised expressions.
It was the reaction she expected. A faint smile spread across Riel's lips.
If it was an event hosted by the Empress, the noble ladies would surely be on the move.
'They'll recklessly accuse me of wearing expensive clothes, won't they?'
To make me a villainess like Alisa, who indulged in extravagance.
Riel was planning to reverse public opinion by targeting that point.
Because if the rumors were proven wrong, public opinion would change.
"The merchant's son secretly has gambling debts. To Franz."
She had already coordinated with the market merchant through the healer.
Riel slowly stretched her arms out to the sides and commanded the maids.
"Now, dress me."
✦ ✦ ✦
At that time, Iana was heading to the orphanage in a carriage with the Empress as a guard mage.
Charles had persuaded the Emperor to allow Iana to accompany the Empress. Instead, the leader of The Nine followed to the hunting grounds.
Then, the Empress, who was looking out the carriage window, opened her mouth with a heavy expression.
"His Majesty went hunting with Grand Duke Ervin again today?"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Iana carefully replied.
The Empress was silent for a while before speaking.
"I hope Lady Riel doesn't show up at the orphanage. I don't want to taint a place for children with power struggles."
Since her enthronement, the Empress had visited the orphanage every year.
The children were waiting for her, but it was also to check if the orphanage was being run properly.
To check if the sponsorship money was being used well and if the children's health was okay.
But due to the unsettling rumors, the Empress was considering canceling her visit to the orphanage this time.
Iana, who was sitting across from her, spoke calmly.
"When I was young, there was a benefactress who would visit me on my birthday. For me, who was sick."
"The benefactress?"
"But one year, the benefactress was not feeling well and didn't come. I was so disappointed that I couldn't eat properly for days."
"⋯⋯."
"I heard that the day Her Majesty the Empress comes is a festival for the children at the orphanage."
At Iana's words, the Empress sighed softly and said.
"That's why I changed my mind. I was worried that the children who were waiting for me would be disappointed."
Iana said with a meaningful expression.
"There will be a little commotion, but⋯⋯."
"⋯⋯."
"That way, Lady Riel won't use this kind of event again."
✦ ✦ ✦
After about two hours, they arrived at the orphanage on the outskirts of the capital.
There was a much larger crowd gathered in front than expected.
From people chanting 'Long live Her Majesty the Empress!' to those throwing flowers on the road.
It seemed that sympathetic public opinion had flared up like wildfire due to the rumor that the Empress might lose her position to the Emperor's mistress from a traitorous family.
At the sight, the Empress's eyes turned red.
The Empress's face was filled with complex emotions.
Clatter-.
The carriage passed through the main gate and came to a complete stop in front of the orphanage building entrance.
There, the orphanage director, dozens of orphanage children, and noble ladies were lined up.
A guard knight ran up and opened the carriage door.
Iana got out first, and then the Empress took the guard knight's hand and stepped out of the carriage.
"Wow!"
At that moment, a huge cheer erupted.
The orphanage director and a girl of about 10 years old approached the Empress and handed her a bouquet of flowers.
"We greet Her Majesty the Empress."
"Thank you all for welcoming me like this."
The Empress, who received the bouquet, smiled brightly.
The Empress greeted the children who were lined up one by one.
At that time, Iana made eye contact with Marcel, who was standing in the back.
He nodded with sharp eyes, as if to say that everything was ready.
How much time had passed? Just as the Empress, having finished greeting everyone, was about to enter the orphanage building.
Thump, thump, thump.
An Imperial carriage came running with escort knights.
The people watched the approaching carriage with curious eyes.
'Riel has finally come.'
Iana's eyes turned sharp.
The Empress, having identified the carriage, said to the orphanage director.
"Take the children inside first."
"Yes? Yes, Your Majesty."
Following the Empress's orders, the director entered the building with the children.
Clatter-.
A moment later, the carriage that had arrived stopped, and soon the carriage door opened.
As the escort knight opened the door, Riel took his hand and slowly stepped out of the carriage.
The pure white dress Riel was wearing emitted a subtle light with every step.
A figure that was both elegant and not lacking in splendor.
As the black bobbed hair was slightly disheveled by the breeze, small pearl earrings sparkled.
Black bobbed hair and an Imperial carriage.
As people recognized that she was Riel Estina, the Emperor's mistress, they stirred.
In particular, the noble ladies glared at Riel with displeased faces.
Softly, softly.
Riel, holding the hem of her dress lightly with both hands, walked towards the Empress with an elegant and dignified gait.
Iana looked at the approaching Riel and thought.
'Riel, you were like that in your past life too. You were always dignified in moments of crisis.'
Even this time, people were only murmuring, intimidated by Riel's dignified appearance and beautiful figure.
'But this time, it won't be like that.'
Iana smiled at the approaching Riel.
Perhaps sensing that her expression was strange, Riel stopped in her tracks.
"The Villainess of Rubena!"
A man shouted from among the people.
Everyone's gaze was focused on the direction of the sound.
It was that moment.
Someone threw an egg from among the crowd on the opposite side.
Whoosh-.
Before the escort knights could do anything, the raw egg flew and hit Riel squarely on the shoulder.
Thwack!
Egg yolk splattered on Riel's face, staining the pure white dress with yellow.
"⋯⋯!"
Riel's face, which had been dignified to the point of being relaxed, contorted strongly without her realizing it.
"The Villainess of Rubena, step down!"
As one person started, those around him shouted fiercely.
"Catch that guy!"
The escort knights ran towards the man who had thrown the egg at Riel.
Iana walked in front of Riel and took out a handkerchief from her robe pocket and handed it to her.
"Are you alright? Lady Riel."
Riel wiped her face with the handkerchief Iana handed her and whispered mockingly.
"Iana, is this all you've prepared?"
"Surely, you can expect a little more."
Iana twisted one corner of her mouth and stared at the man being captured.
The escort knights knelt the man, who was wearing a robe and had pulled his hood down deeply, in front of Riel.
"This is what this guy did."
Whoosh!
An angry escort knight pulled off the hood that the man had pulled down deeply.
As the man slowly raised his lowered head, he shouted loudly.
"The Villainess of Rubena, step down!"
"⋯⋯!"
Riel's face turned pale as she identified the man's face.
Iana went to Riel's side and whispered softly.
"Riel, you should greet him."
He was the helper who delivered Seulanka to Riel, an accomplice who killed Raul together.
And the shadow merchant, Riel's other man.
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