Chapter 88 - North Korean rabbit

Episode 88

The Head Lady-in-Waiting, Countess Epial, composed her expression without a flicker of hesitation and replied immediately.

"Her Majesty is in the best of health. I shall return and convey that His Highness the Crown Prince is concerned for Her Majesty the Empress."

It seems she is indeed a person fit to serve as the Empress's Head Lady-in-Waiting.

I smiled faintly and nodded.

"Good. Do so."

With that, the Head Lady-in-Waiting rose and made to withdraw.

"Then, with your permission, I shall take my leave to convey His Highness's sentiments."

Trying to flee, are we?

I waved my hand, blocking her path of retreat.

"No, my business is not yet concluded. You may return to convey my concern for Her Majesty the Empress after our business is finished."

"......"

The Head Lady-in-Waiting merely bowed her head in silence. She did not ask what business it was.

She must already have anticipated it.

I proceeded directly to the main point. After all, wounding the Empress's pride or engaging in a battle of wills was a matter for later.

"You are the keeper of the Platinum Key, are you not?"

The Platinum Key, symbol of the Imperial Household's internal governance.

It was the token granting access to the Imperial Privy Purse and all storehouses.

Carved upon the key was the figure of a silver dragon cradling the moon, the Empress's emblem.

However, it was deemed unbefitting for a noble lady to personally carry the keys to storehouses and treasuries.

Thus, it was customary for the Empress's foremost confidante to manage the key, never letting it leave her person.

The current keeper of the Platinum Key was the Head Lady-in-Waiting of the Empress's Palace, Countess Epial.

Therefore, she could not claim she did not have it and could not produce it.

For it was the Head Lady-in-Waiting's duty to never let the key leave her side.

The Head Lady-in-Waiting, who seemed to hesitate for a moment, reluctantly nodded.

"Yes, that is correct."

I smiled gently and spoke to Annie.

"Good. Then receive the Platinum Key from the Head Lady-in-Waiting, Annie."

"Yes, Your Highness."

As instructed beforehand, Annie walked bravely up to the Head Lady-in-Waiting.

She extended both hands and said.

"You are aware of the Imperial Decree, are you not? Please surrender the Platinum Key to His Highness the Crown Prince."

At this, the Head Lady-in-Waiting, who could not bring herself to look at me, glared at Annie and furrowed her brow.

"Surely Your Highness does not intend to entrust the custody of the Platinum Key to this lady-in-waiting?"

"Why do you ask that?"

The Head Lady-in-Waiting, her expression sharp, stepped forward and protested to me.

"Your Highness. The Platinum Key is the symbol of the Imperial Household's internal governance. Do you not know how noble an authority this represents?"

I silently crossed my legs the other way.

The Head Lady-in-Waiting's protest continued unabated.

"And yet, you speak of entrusting the role of its keeper to one so young and of insufficient status? I absolutely cannot hand over the Platinum Key to such a person!"

I asked calmly.

"Is that the will of Her Majesty the Empress?"

When I asked if the Empress now intended to defy the Emperor's will, she immediately backed down.

"Of course not. This is solely the judgment of I, the current keeper of the Platinum Key."

"So, a mere keeper presumes to judge and defy an Imperial Decree?"

At that, the Head Lady-in-Waiting gave a derisive laugh.

"How could that be? It is an Imperial Decree. I merely wish to hand over the Platinum Key to a keeper of suitable qualifications."

She spoke with deliberate affability.

"If Your Highness has been unable to find a keeper of proper qualifications, I am fully prepared to continue acting as keeper on your behalf. After all, you will soon have to return the key to Her Majesty the Empress anyway."

I had anticipated she would seize upon the pretext that the lady-in-waiting I put forward lacked both the status and age required by convention.

She had clearly discussed this beforehand with the Empress.

'It is true that my weakness lies in not yet having properly filled the ranks of palace attendants or my own inner circle within the Imperial Household.'

She was striking precisely at that point.

'But I cannot simply accept it myself.'

That was likely one of the choices they hoped I would make.

If I were to accept the Platinum Key directly now, my authority would plummet.

To the level of the Empress's lady-in-waiting.

'Indeed, she is no pushover, the Empress.'

To have calculated this in such a short time and attempted to block my smooth assumption of power.

Even if I put forward Isephin, the highest-ranking among my ladies-in-waiting, a similar reaction would ensue.

'They would claim she is unmarried, or too young to be entrusted with it.'

It was customary for the Head Lady-in-Waiting to a member of the Imperial Family to be a noblewoman of considerable age.

In that sense, it was true I still lacked a suitable candidate for Head Lady-in-Waiting.

Until now.

I let out a long sigh.

"Indeed, what you say is not entirely wrong."

The Empress's Head Lady-in-Waiting brightened.

"Thank you for your understanding. Then, shall I continue to manage the Platinum Key as before......"

"No, that won't be necessary."

I clapped my hands, summoning the person waiting in the adjoining room.

"Bring forth my Head Lady-in-Waiting."

"Yes, Your Highness."

Annie and Isephin bowed and withdrew.

The Empress's Head Lady-in-Waiting wore a puzzled expression.

She had orchestrated this knowing I still had no Head Lady-in-Waiting.

It was only natural she was startled when I suddenly spoke of one.

When the door to the side chamber opened and someone entered, her surprise turned to shock.

For a moment, I worried for the health of Countess Epial's jaw joint.

"A-ah, Your Highness the Grand Duchess of Axion?! Surely not......!"

Indeed.

The one who had been waiting in the side chamber and now entered, flanked by Annie and Isephin, was none other than Grand Duchess Martine of Axion.

She approached me and knelt respectfully.

"This Martine has come in haste at Your Highness's summons."

"Thank you so much for taking on the role of Head Lady-in-Waiting. Though it is temporary, I did not truly expect you to accept."

Of course.

The Grand Duchess of Axion was Imperial Family, and moreover, the mother of the late Empress.

No matter that I was the Crown Princess, for her to personally take on the role of Head Lady-in-Waiting was unthinkable.

It wasn't that it was against protocol, but closer to there being no precedent.

'No, to be precise, it's not that there is absolutely no precedent. Among past Empresses, there is precedent.'

The 3rd Empress had once appointed her own younger sister, who had married into the same Imperial House, as her Head Lady-in-Waiting.

It was during her pregnancy, when it was difficult to oversee palace affairs, so she entrusted it to someone she could trust.

If one were to follow that precedent, it would not be without justification.

I invoked it.

"The 3rd Empress Yurenia of old once appointed the Grand Duchess of Ruden as her lady-in-waiting and entrusted her with the Platinum Key. I, too, intend to follow that precedent."

This way, she could not evade the issue again by claiming my lady-in-waiting was unqualified.

Lady Epial protested in a trembling voice.

"B-but... that, that was a precedent from when Her Majesty the Empress chose her Head Lady-in-Waiting. It is not fitting for Your Highness the Crown Princess to follow!"

Implying I was trying to equate myself with the Empress.

'But I do intend to equate myself.'

Naturally, I had no intention of returning the key to the Empress either.

The Grand Duchess stiffly raised her head and looked down upon Lady Epial.

"Indeed. It was 'the owner of the Platinum Key' who designated the keeper. How is the present situation any different?"

Whether Empress or Crown Princess, the point of being the owner of the Platinum Key is the same.

The Grand Duchess and I intended to assert that.

And unless we brought forth a figure of the Grand Duchess's stature to exert pressure, it was obvious they would delay handing over the Platinum Key with all manner of excuses.

'I cannot waste time on such matters.'

That is why I called upon one of my most powerful cards.

The Grand Duchess of Axion acted as I had hoped.

She powerfully pressured the Empress's Head Lady-in-Waiting.

"Well now, here is Your Highness's Head Lady-in-waiting, lacking neither in age nor status. Hand it over promptly."

"Y-Your Highness! How can a member of the Imperial Family so willingly lower her own dignity!"

Countess Epial was almost in her final throes of desperation.

Her voice carried a note of resentment as well.

'Yes. Given that the Grand Duchess of Axion never acknowledged the Empress, such a reaction is understandable.'

As her confidante, it must be galling and infuriating to see the Grand Duchess, who had long disregarded the Empress, prostrate herself before me.

"Her Majesty the Empress is the rightful mistress of the Empire! How can you subject her to such insult......"

I tilted my head and asked.

"How does the Grand Duchess of Axion becoming my Head Lady-in-Waiting constitute an insult to Her Majesty the Empress?"

"Indeed. I am curious as well."

The Grand Duchess of Axion was clearly mocking the Empress's Head Lady-in-Waiting.

"Not that I would ever become Head Lady-in-Waiting to Her Majesty the Empress, mind you."

"Do not speak so recklessly, Your Highness the Grand Duchess!"

At that, the Grand Duchess hardened her expression and swung her hand.

*Slap—!*

Countess Epial's head snapped to the side.

A vivid handprint remained on her cheek.

The Grand Duchess, glaring coldly at Countess Epial whose face flushed crimson with humiliation and rage, commanded.

"Make her kneel."

"Yes, Your Highness!"

As if they had been waiting, the sturdy maidservants nearby rushed forward and forced the Empress's Head Lady-in-Waiting to her knees before me.

Only then realizing this entire situation was my design, the Head Lady-in-Waiting shrieked in a shrill voice.

"I am the representative of Her Majesty the Empress! It is not right to treat me thus!"

Then, the Grand Duchess's voice, colder than ice, cut sharply through the air.

"Regardless of Her Highness the Crown Princess, I am merely punishing you, as an individual, for your discourtesy towards me."

"Your Highness!"

"If you feel wronged, go and plead your case even to His Majesty the Emperor."

The Grand Duchess personally untied the red sash hanging from Countess Epial's waist.

The sash from which hung a long, narrow case adorned like an ornament, embroidered with the silver figure of a dragon cradling the moon.

Opening the case revealed the brilliantly shining Platinum Key within.

She lifted it and presented it before me.

"Your Highness. The Platinum Key."

Thus, the authority to manage the Imperial Household's internal affairs came into my hands.

Romance, Fantasy.