Chapter 72

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 72

Chapter Title: The Dress Conspiracy Unravels

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When Evangeline, who had been kneeling limply before me, pulled out this absurd conspiracy.

I could hardly contain the glee bubbling up from deep in my chest.

'Yes! That's more like it!'

After all, Evangeline had to walk right into the trap first, in front of everyone.

'That way, I can really stick it to her!'

Suppressing the urge to cheer, I replied as if it were nothing.

"I've never heard of such a thing. It seems Viscountess Filern is mistaken about something."

Evangeline, who had frozen for a moment, grew even more furious and urged Viscountess Filern on.

"Hurry up and tell them everything you know!"

She leaned in close to Viscountess Filern and whispered something in her ear—it was clearly a threat.

On the other hand, I waited patiently for Viscountess Filern, without any threats or intimidation.

Waiting for the fabricated accusation against me to spill from her lips.

Viscountess Filern, trembling in fear, repeated the words like a parrot.

"J-just as Lady Evangeline said. Your Highness the Crown Princess ordered me to obtain Lady Evangeline's dress design... and then had her own maid wear it. To humiliate Lady Evangeline."

Her voice, shaky at the start, grew steadier as she went on.

As if some false conviction had taken root.

At the same time, Evangeline burst into loud sobs.

"Waaah! How could you do this to me? I thought we were friends... How could you?!"

After Viscountess Filern's testimony ended, the nobles—especially the central nobles who had attended the Empress's palace banquet earlier—glanced at the Emperor.

This incident itself was just a pretext.

But how the Emperor would react to this opening was crucial.

'We need to see if His Majesty sides with the Crown Princess or Evangeline before deciding our stance.'

'The Empress is still backing Evangeline.'

'We have to watch carefully to see where the power in high society will shift.'

They were the ones who had fluttered over like bats from Lady Quinibel's banquet at the Empress's palace.

Now, they were agonizing over which side to align with.

That was when the Emperor spoke.

"Indeed... if that's true, it's hardly appropriate conduct for the Crown Princess, who must set an example and lead high society."

This had nothing to do with whether Hilia would be officially recognized as Crown Princess.

But if she had plotted to humiliate a peer out of personal grudge...

And if it got exposed publicly, that could be a problem.

Not just her character, but her competence and dignity as Crown Princess.

'In other words, we can claim her dignity is already tarnished before she even starts, making her unfit to lead high society.'

That was Evangeline's aim.

She had already realized, after witnessing the dragon eclipse earlier, that blocking Hilia's recognition outright was impossible.

So, at the very least, she had to mar it—ensure Hilia couldn't fully claim it.

That's why she was going to such desperate lengths.

It was easiest to inflict wounds before authority solidified.

And the Emperor was always one for objective judgment.

Regardless of emotions or personal closeness.

High society was, by principle, led by the Empress, so he wouldn't restrict or block such actions.

Evangeline's moves here were with the Empress's permission.

The Emperor surely knew that too.

So when words from the Emperor seemed to rebuke her, a smile crept onto Evangeline's lips.

'Even now, His Majesty won't interfere with the Empress's control over high society.'

Then, Grand Duchess Axion, standing nearby, sneered sharply.

"She looks just like a shark lunging for blood."

Evangeline glared at Grand Duchess Axion with fierce eyes.

But she quickly regained her composure.

'So what if she spouts harsh words? My claims have solid evidence and witnesses!'

And everyone involved in the dress incident had been bought off by Evangeline.

Viscountess Filern went without saying, but the designer and staff at the atelier that made the shoddy dress too.

Sealing their lips or extracting the testimony she wanted had been easy.

Viscountess Filern was proof of that right now.

But Hilia was different.

How could she prove she hadn't done such a thing?

'I've already secured all the witnesses! There's nothing you can do!'

And finally, Hilia spoke.

"I have never done such a thing."

No mention of evidence or witnesses.

"I don't know why Viscountess Filern is lying."

Evangeline, emboldened, shouted even louder.

"Then why did you go out of your way to dress a mere maid in such a flashy gown?"

The Emperor nodded and asked Hilia.

"That is indeed peculiar. It's clearly too extravagant for a maid."

Evangeline's lips curled upward almost to her ears.

But Hilia didn't waver in the slightest.

"Your Majesty, as I told the Ruth Marquis's Daughter just now, Annie is my milk sibling. I recently granted her a title and appointed her as chief lady-in-waiting. So, she's not a maid."

As the Emperor seemed to mull this over, Evangeline cried out as if utterly heartbroken.

"Whether maid or lady-in-waiting doesn't matter! Sob! What matters is that you did it to humiliate me!"

Hilia tilted her head.

"No, it does matter whether she's a maid or lady-in-waiting. Annie is now undeniably noble, and I simply gifted her clothes to express my gratitude for all she's done."

With a beaming smile, Hilia dealt Evangeline a devastating blow.

"And... truthfully, the Ruth Marquis's Daughter is of a status that could make her my lady-in-waiting. How could two women of similar standing wearing similar outfits be such a grave insult?"

"...!"

Evangeline felt a flash of rage so intense it seemed to burn her reason white-hot.

She didn't even notice the silk lace on her dress tearing under her grip.

What Hilia had just said was this:

'You're of a status fit only for my lady-in-waiting.'

Then Arpad chimed in from the side, backing Hilia.

"Well, she's right. You are my one and only consort. For a mere marquis's daughter to become her lady-in-waiting would be an honor."

Then, Lady Isefin Solenu, who had been standing near Annie, stepped forward.

"As a fellow marquis's daughter, I believe Her Highness the Crown Princess is correct."

"Oh, thank you."

Hilia smiled brightly, thanking Isefin, then asked,

"We're still newlyweds, so the household arrangements aren't fully settled yet. We're always short on hands. Would you consider becoming one of my ladies-in-waiting?"

Isefin Solenu was deeply moved.

"It would be the greatest honor, Your Highness."

Hilia turned to old Marquis Solenu and the young marquis couple.

"Would the Solenu family permit your daughter to assist me?"

The old marquis, and even the young marquis couple, bowed their heads.

"It would be an honor."

"The utmost glory."

"Thank you for taking in our unworthy daughter."

They had opposed Isefin's interest in design work, so they were delighted she was becoming Hilia's lady-in-waiting.

Finally, she would stop her pointless pursuits and take on a proper role as a noble lady.

They were sincerely grateful to Hilia for this.

Of course, they had no idea Hilia was her biggest patron in design work.

Nor that Isefin had altered one of the problematic dresses.

Nor that the beautiful cobalt-purple gown Hilia wore now was Isefin's creation.

In any case, a prestigious house like the Solenus had stepped forward to affirm it.

'It's an honor for a marquis's daughter to serve as the Crown Princess's lady-in-waiting.'

This fact alone.

Moreover, Annie was already noble by status and served as the Crown Princess's lady-in-waiting.

The pretext they had grasped so desperately had lost its shine.

Evangeline's face paled.

'Damn it! It feels like she anticipated this and prepared for it!'

Evangeline switched tactics in an instant.

"That's not the point. It's not about the woman's status wearing the same outfit as me—it's why she was made to wear the same one!"

And she made her final desperate lunge.

"The issue is that Your Highness stole my dress design through this lady!"

Finally, Hilia approached Evangeline and Viscountess Filern.

"I've said it over and over, Ruth Marquis's Daughter. I did no such thing. Why would I bother stealing the design for a dress you were going to wear?"

The talk of humiliating her by dressing a maid like her was now useless.

Hilia had just dismantled that argument.

"As embarrassing as it is to say myself, I've been at the forefront of high society fashion until now. Having someone wear the same dress at a banquet would hurt me. Weren't you the one aiming for that?"

Evangeline prodded mockingly.

"Were you that afraid of me? Enough to try checking me from the start?"

Hilia shook her head with a smile.

"Of course not. As I said earlier, you seem to have an overinflated sense of self-importance."

"Viscountess Filern testified herself. Your Highness copied my dress..."

That was when it happened.

Hilia whipped her head around.

Not toward Evangeline, but Viscountess Filern.

And asked,

"I'll give you one last chance. Do you have no intention of telling the truth?"

"Th-that's...!"

As Viscountess Filern wavered, Evangeline quickly interjected.

"Don't intimidate the witness, Your Highness!"

She grabbed Viscountess Filern's arm tightly.

Viscountess Filern felt the pinch on her inner sleeve and realized.

It was Evangeline who was threatening her.

'Go ahead and try if you want to die.'

Sensing the murderous intent, Viscountess Filern shook her head frantically.

"I-I'm telling the truth."

Hilia let out a sigh.

"What a shame. That really was your last chance."

"You're just disappointed your intimidation didn't work!"

That was when it happened.

Hilia clapped her hands.

Clap!

"Bring it in."

With that, the curtains at the back of the hall parted, and attendants began wheeling in "something" on a massive trolley.

'What is that?'

Everyone stared in confusion at the unfamiliar object, but only Viscountess Filern recognized it.

'W-wait, isn't that...?'

It was definitely that peculiar decorative item she had seen in Hilia's receiving room.

But why was it appearing now?