Linna didn’t stop at just earrings—she decked me out in all sorts of things. A choker that jingled with every step, bracelets, anklets, even the shoes made clinking sounds. It was maddening.

“Wow,” Linna murmured with her head tilted.

“Why does this look so wrong on you? Is it because you just look so soft and squishy?”

“L-L-Lady Linna?”

“Come here. I’m going to make you really pretty.”

At some point, she had grabbed her makeup pouch again.

Right.

I didn’t resist and offered her my face, thinking:

When in my life will I ever experience something like this again? The real Heidi would never dress me up like this…

It’s not like I’m the one late to the appointment anyway.

We’re already late—what difference do a few more minutes make?

And so Linna’s delicate brushstrokes continued for some time.

Finally, she thrust a handheld mirror toward me with a triumphant shout.

“Look! You look badass! Doesn’t suit you at all, but you look amazing!”

“Whoa…”

I stared into the mirror in awe. What an incredible look to present for my first reunion with my friends in ages.

“To think this face could produce this effect with just a bit of makeup… I’ve never looked so discontent with the world in my entire life.”

“Heehee, it’s nothing. This is my specialty.”

Linna, thoroughly delighted, linked her arm with mine and giggled.

“All right, let’s go, Heidi. We’re late.”

“Yes, my lady.”

“In that corner over there, there’s some anti-nausea pills. Grab a bunch for me, okay? When I raise my right hand, pop one in my mouth. If you don’t, I will throw up.”

“Your right hand?”

“Yep. I’m left-handed, so my right’s usually free.”

She clearly wasn’t new to this.

“With how my stomach feels right now, I’m pretty sure I’ll puke if I hear something gross. So please—I’m counting on you. Let’s go!”

The cat Divine Beast was still drowsing by the window, but Linna didn’t bother waking him. She just left.

I wonder who’s with the Empress Dowager right now?

I turned my thoughts inward.

It’d be best if both Ray and Zahid are there… but even one of them would be enough.

Because I was with Linna, I could walk right up the stairs to the Special Class cabin next door.

* * *

“…Seriously…”

Zahid stood on the First-Class deck, gripping a pipe in one hand and muttering with clear distaste.

“So damn annoying.”

The sea breeze ruffled his black hair just slightly. His deep violet eyes, towering height, and subtly decadent aura drew attention from all sides.

And with the enormous wolf sprawled beside him, it was impossible not to stare.

The Empress Dowager… That fox gets more revolting every time we meet.

The current Emperor, Calliona, had ascended to the throne at a young age. Her stepmother, the Empress Dowager, had acted as regent for a long time.

There was only a ten-year age difference between the two. Even now, the Empress Dowager clung to power, colluding with the Temple and dominating both the royal court and high society.

The Emperor had the temperament of a principled knight and was no match for the Dowager’s underhanded tricks in the social arena.

And her methods are downright sleazy…

Zahid had received a summons from the Empress Dowager that morning, along with Ray.

He couldn’t refuse—it was an order from a senior royal. And with them stuck on the ship, there was no excuse to get out of it.

The excuse was a “lunch gathering among the ducal houses,” but the motive was obvious.

They’re trying to force a connection with Linna Idra somehow…

Yuta was also from a ducal family, yet the Dowager had never arranged such a meeting with him and Linna.

Their age gap was too wide—clearly, Ray and Zahid were the intended targets.

She’s desperate to rope us in somehow.

And yet, amusingly, Linna hadn’t even shown up for the lunch. Apparently, she’d gotten drunk and caused another ruckus the night before, and still hadn’t gotten out of bed.

Her maids had all been fired, so there wasn’t even anyone left to say, “The lady is delayed.”

Once the meal was over, Zahid had taken the chance to step out for some fresh air.

It was clearly a ploy to buy time and force a meeting with Linna—so escaping was the smart move.

He couldn’t stomach the idea of tea time on top of it all. Ray had looked at him like a traitor, but he ignored it.

I’ll just show up right on time for the operation.

He had to return to the Empress Dowager eventually, for the mission.

Gazing out toward the endless horizon, Zahid exhaled a slow puff of white smoke.

Two rings adorned the ring finger of his left hand.

After Rosie had declared their engagement broken, Zahid had gone back to the base of the Imperial clocktower and found her ring. He’d declared he would wait—and kept it with him ever since.

Even when the Empress Dowager brought up the nine-year-old tabloid scandal during lunch and mocked him, Zahid had shown no reaction, continuing his meal in silence.

I told everyone not to overdo it… but once Karso goes active, the Temple becomes unstoppable.

Zahid might not care about his own life—but if the Dyfenril Duchy was at risk of destruction, he couldn’t afford to act indifferently.

Too many innocent lives were at stake.

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

Karso was being guarded in the ship’s lower levels by a squad of Holy Knights and priests. And the only one who could command them… was the Empress Dowager.

She even used the Imperial name to restrict access to entire sections of the ship, all for her boarding. She’s actively aiding Karso’s transport.

Just then—

“Look, it’s Lady Linna!”

“No way, she still had a maid?”

“Wasn’t the last one gone yesterday?”

Ah. So Linna was finally heading to the Empress Dowager.

Looks like I got out of there just in time.

Zahid instinctively turned to glance at the stairs leading up to the Special Class cabin.

Next to the extravagantly dressed Linna was a single maid. They were already climbing, so only their backs were visible.

…Huh?

Silver hair, glinting in the sunlight.

Every time Zahid saw [N O V E L I G H T] silver hair on the street, his heart would sink.

It wasn’t even that rare of a color, but…

As he turned fully toward them without realizing it, Linna and the maid vanished into the Special Class cabin.

He frowned, recalling the Idra maid uniform and the glittering accessories.

Then—

“Woof! Woof woof woof!”

Fire suddenly sprang up, barking furiously toward the Special Class cabin.

Linna and the silver-haired maid had already disappeared up the stairs.

“Woof woof woof woof woof!”

Zahid’s eyes flashed. Clenching his pipe, he began striding toward the Special Class entrance.

* * *

“Linna must be terribly lonely, don’t you think?”

The Empress Dowager was speaking gently to Ray, who was seated in front of her.

Having just entered her early forties, she was extravagantly dressed from head to toe. At official events, she often outshone even the Emperor in his formal regalia.

“There are no girls her age among the four ducal houses… It’s no wonder she’s turned out the way she has.”

Ray gave a soft smile and sipped from his personal water bottle.

The same sermon had been going on since lunch—four hours straight.

Zahid had shamelessly bailed, leaving Ray to endure it alone with all his patience.

Zahid’s clearly planning to return right on time for the operation.

The Special Class cabin, which occupied the entire floor, was enormous—like a miniature palace.

You couldn’t meet the Empress Dowager immediately upon entering. So when the clatter of noise came from beyond the walls, Ray knew Linna had finally arrived.

Though the rooms were separated, it wasn’t soundproof like the actual palace.

“She has arrived, Your Majesty. Shall I announce her?”

A court maid’s polite voice rang from outside.

The Empress Dowager, pleased, called out at once, “Send her in at once!”

“The Empress Dowager invites you to enter. Ah, and Lord Ray Lavendal is also here—he’s been waiting since lunch.”

The maid’s kind explanation was met with Linna’s gruff voice from outside.

“Oh, really?”

At just that one response, the Empress Dowager’s eyes sparkled.

“You see, Lord Lavendal?”

She sipped her tea elegantly and spoke to Ray.

“Lady Linna clearly wishes to grow closer to you or Duke Dyfenril. You can tell by how dramatically she reacted.”

Just then—

Linna’s grumbling voice rang clearly from outside.

“Ray Lavendal? Ugh, what a pain.”

Apparently, Linna didn’t realize the room wasn’t soundproof.

“Well… Better than that rude Duke Dyfenril, I guess.”

The Empress Dowager sputtered her tea slightly. Hastily wiping her mouth, she said,

“Lady Linna is… rather shy. If elders make the first move, she tends to respond very warmly…”

But before she could finish that sentence, Linna sighed deeply outside and mumbled—trying hard to whisper, which somehow made it worse.

“That fox-faced grandma’s trying to push me at another weirdo again. Maybe I should cause a scene…”

With trembling hands, the Empress Dowager lowered her teacup and drew a long, furious breath.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep