Chapter 20
***
Count Andex was the first to ask Olivia this.
"What can the Princess do?"
She had no power, no army, and no prestige. She was not trained in imperial studies, and she was unfamiliar with the politics and social circles of the capital.
Even if she could prove her identity, there was little that a penniless princess could do.
But Olivia remained calm.
"I can be a pivot."
She didn't sound too worried as she answered. There was no animosity in Count Andex's demeanor; he was simply testing her.
"Count Andex, my aunt's family, the Count of Badenberg, they're all royalists," she said, "but if things continue as they are, the royalists will either die out naturally or bend the knee to the Duke of Schwaben."
The Emperor was weak, and the only blood relative who could claim the throne was Princess Loella. Since Princess Loella was Ezekiel's person, the House had no alternative once the Emperor died.
They could search their lineage and bring back a very distant relative, but there was no way they could compete with Princess Loella in terms of authenticity. Besides, as far as Olivia knew, the closest she could get would be a Count from another country.
"If Count Andex is going to turn to the nobility, that's one thing, but if not, you'll need me."
Count Andex coughed slightly.
"Forgive my rudeness, Princess. You are right. Your presence alone is a great strength to us."
He did not ask why she was running into danger. If Olivia changed her mind, it would only put them in more trouble.
Olivia and Count Andex agreed that it would be unwise for them to reveal her identity and enter the palace right away. Not only would it be dangerous to come into direct conflict with the Schwabens right away, but they could not enter the palace where the Empress, Schwaben’s ruler, was in charge.
Olivia first decided to disguise herself as a distant relative of a Count in the Duchy of Raniere. She dyed her hair black, changed her appearance with heavy makeup and colorful clothes.
Thus, Lady Laila was born.
***
She nonchalantly sliced open the envelope with a letter knife, read the invitation, and handed it to Margaret. Inside were the titles of a few of the most fashionable songs of the era, along with the clichéd sentence, "The Princess will be holding a music salon for the Empress, and you are invited to attend.”
Margaret frowned slightly. It wasn't written out loud, but somehow it read as an invitation to come prepared.
"They want to treat you like a singer or an opera actress."
"It's okay, you knew I wasn't going to be invited otherwise."
"But this is...."
"Good, because it gives me access to the palace's orchestra and servants."
Olivia said calmly.
This was how she had planned to take over the troupe in the first place. It was very difficult to make an informant without getting in trouble with the Schwabens.
Though equally rights, musicians had a wider range of freedom than servants, and though actors were treated as second-class citizens, they had been able to win the admiration and favor of many.
Many nobles would hire musicians and actors to entertain their social gatherings, and each time her reputation was stretched a little further.
Still, it was no big deal. She had no intention of gaining any great information and turning the noble family upside down.
What she wanted was the latest fashions and what people thought of celebrities.
First, she must destroy the reputation of Princess Loella. Only then would there be an alternative when a new princess appeared.
At the same time, she had to make herself favorable to the people. She would build up her power in advance so that when she revealed her identity, she wouldn’t be looked down upon as a girl who grew up outside the palace or trapped under the empress's control.
She had learned something during her time confined to the mansion as Ezekiel's mistress. From the gossip of the maids, from the musicians Ezekiel brought in to entertain her, from the dresses and jewelry she wore but had no one to show for it.
And most of all, she learned from Ezekiel’s own words.
Margaret said with concern.
"Why don't you take Janet as your companion, and if she can accompany you, it would be a nice little trick for decent ladies to perform in the presence of the Empress...."
"Don't worry, aunt. I don't take it as an insult, I'm just worried that I can't sing."
"No, it will never help your reputation, and if you think of your purpose...."
"I have an idea of what to do, I have a burlesque act I want to perform in front of the Princess."
Olivia said with a slight smile.
"Don't worry about it. If anything, it's a good thing I got to meet the Empress so soon, and she won't be able to insult me for being a lowly revue actress."
She wouldn't even have time for that.
She could make it work. She knew Loella well.
In the days when she was alone, at night when she couldn’t sleep, she thought and thought, refining and perfecting her plan.
But it was okay to fail. She could do it again.
Any number of times, dozens of times.
She would try until she got it right. With that thought, she carved another resolve into her heart.
But before all that, there was something else she had to do. It was far more important than narrowing Loella's and the Empress's positions or destroying their reputations.
Seduce Ezekiel.
It was disgusting to think about, but it had to be done. Failing that, she would have to return to the annex and hold the jewelry box in her hands once more.
***
After dismissing Margaret, Olivia left the outbuilding.
The Marel Theater Company she owned had rented a building on the main street to use as an office. She could have set up shop on the outskirts, but she'd purposely chosen the downtown location so that she wouldn't be seen by anyone coming and going. The pawn shop downstairs was there for the same reason.
Arriving at the theater company's office, Olivia deliberately removed her hat and entered the building, revealing her gorgeously decorated face. She wanted to make sure that the impression of Lady Laila was clear.
The stares of passersby were drawn to her beautiful form. No one would recognize her as the same person as the frugal lady from Lutgard.
She climbed the narrow, worn stairs. A middle-aged man emerging from the pawnshop flinched in surprise and looked up into her face, forgetting to press his hat down.
Olivia brushed past him, nonchalantly ignoring him. She didn't forget to flick the hem of her skirt, as if something dirty had gotten on it.
She never realized how talented she was at acting before, but when she thought about it, she'd been holding herself back all this time, and in one lifetime she'd even played the part of Ezekiel's lover with a smile on her face.
When she thought about it, there was nothing she couldn't do.
She made her way to the top floor and opened the door to the office, which was tastefully decorated for an old building. It even smelled nice. Olivia did not tolerate smoking or lack of cleanliness.
"Lady Laila!"
In the office was just the person Olivia was looking for. A young operatic actor named Zion Miller, who was considered the most beautiful man in the Duchy of Raniere.
Olivia stared at his beautiful wheat-colored coriander hair and blue-gray eyes. Zion smiled and held out his hand to her.
"What's the matter, heart palpitations?"
"Just joking."
She smiled thinly and willingly held out her hand for him to kiss the back of it.
"Are you alone?"
"Yes. Everyone else went to practice."
"You're not practicing?"
"Because I'm the one who sells the face, not the voice."
He answered nonchalantly, neither proud nor ashamed. Olivia sounded concerned.
"But you should do more than the basics, at least this time."
"Has the 'time' finally come?"
Zion asked, a twinkle in his eye.
***
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