Chapter 22
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The palace glowed with a splendor that could only be seen at night.
Few guests were invited to the salon, but the entire palace was lit up, and where there were no chandeliers, crystal balls and candles were used to reflect the light. It was a night where darkness could not even invade.
Empress Lillian sat in front of the mirror, feeling lethargic.
She was nearly forty-five, but still young and beautiful. The voluptuous figure that had once captivated the emperor's eyes was still there, as was the alluring, if somewhat wrinkled, face.
But it had been a long time since those voluptuous lips had smiled. In fact, it seemed as if she hadn't smiled since she had been Empress.
She thought to herself as she smoothed her hand over her lips.
‘How fleeting is the glory of wealth.’
When she was younger, she thought money was the only thing that would make her happy. Once she had it, she thought she realized that she still needed a noble title and high position to be free.
But now that she was Empress, she could do nothing, feel no joy.
Her relationship with the emperor, with whom she had only shared a brief night of pleasure, was not a conjugal one. Her handmaidens were all sent by the Schwabens to watch her, and her social circle of friends were all at Schwaben's disposal.
Although she was said to rule the palace, everything had to be done according to Schwaben's orders. It was no secret that her social circle would insult her behind her back rather than respect her as Empress.
She had been brought into the palace as Schwaben's puppet from the beginning. In retrospect, her aspirations for a rich movie were also abstract: she was never an active ambitious person.
It was better when Loella was younger. Her daughter was her joy. She could give and receive as much love as she wanted, and she could do whatever she could to raise her.
But now that Loella was an adult, Lillian was lonely again.
Somehow, her daughter stopped paying attention to her, and they talked less. As her need for a mother's hand passed, so did her opportunity to have her say in her upbringing.
At some point, even her daughter began to feel like one of the Schwabens who surrounded her.
It was fortunate, Lilian thought, that Loella had fallen in love with Ezekiel; she was marrying the man she loved, not simply becoming a duchess or empress.
But she couldn't help but feel lonely.
Worst of all, there was no one she could talk to about it.
‘Still, one must do what one must do.’
Lillian thought as she pressed the corners of her mouth up into the shape of a smile. Since her name was on the invitation, there was no way she could back out now.
Besides, it was Loella's idea to make it for her. She wanted to enjoy it.
"Mother, are you ready?"
As if on cue, Loella walked into her powder room.
Lillian looked back at her. Dressed in a red dress that fit her perfectly, Loella was as pretty as a rose in full bloom.
"You look beautiful."
At the words, Loella smiled undeniably and twirled around, her voluminous skirt swaying lightly. Lillian wanted to smile back, but her lips were fixed, as if she had been frozen in place.
"Mother looks beautiful today, too."
"Thank you."
Loella wasn't being hollow; her mother was still beautiful, and today was no different. But she replied nonchalantly, as if the words were a formality.
"We must go now."
"Isn't Lord Ezekiel supposed to be here today, and you're supposed to be escorted by him?"
"Ezekiel is outside!"
"Oh, I see."
Lillian's heart felt heavy, suddenly overwhelmed. But she couldn't say no.
Arm in arm, mother and daughter left the powder room. Ezekiel, who was waiting for her in the dressing room, bowed respectfully.
"How are you, Empress?"
"I am well, as always, and I am glad to see that you are as well."
Ezekiel just smirked at her. Lillian felt a suffocating pressure.
Like petals blowing in the wind, Loella stepped lightly toward Ezekiel and wrapped her arms around him. Ezekiel spoke without changing his expression.
"It is only right that I should escort the Empress, Loella."
"Ugh."
Loella sighed like it was unfair. But Ezekiel released her arm and offered it to Lillian. It was only natural that the highest ranking lady should be escorted first.
Lillian shuddered for no reason, but she forced herself to take Ezekiel's arm.
They left first, and Loella followed without further complaint.
The bright lights of the hallway reflected off Ezekiel's silver hair as if he were crowned in platinum. She gazed at the sight in ecstasy, especially when she realized that it was she who would eventually place the crown on his head.
There was a subtle tension among the salon's patrons. Everyone was speculating as to why Princess Loella had invited Lady Laila, who had recently begun to rise to prominence.
While it was an honor to attend a social gathering attended by the Empress, it was uncomfortable when the occasion was to insult a lady. Besides, Lady Laila was no one's enemy.
When Ezekiel appeared, escorting the Empress, everyone bowed in unison. Silk rustled and clattered.
Lillian followed Ezekiel's lead to the throne and sat down, then asked in a low voice to Loella, who sat down beside her.
"What are those curtains?"
The room was large for the size of the guests, and about half of it was covered by a thin, white muslin cloth, which was too central to be a decoration, and the people were seated in a circle, with no room in the middle.
Loella smiled smugly.
"It's a music salon. It's staging for tonight's performance."
"They need staging?"
Usually, they just invited a few singers or musicians to listen to and critique the music, or for those who were confident enough to sing or play to showcase their skills.
But Loella was confident.
"Tonight they’re going to perform a burlesque show. Mother heard of Lady Laila, right?”
"Yes."
"They say she's put extra care into it because it's in front mother."
Loella said with satisfaction. Lady Laila had informed her that she would be participating in the burlesque performance herself, before she had even asked.
No matter what anyone else said, she thought, she must be a woman who knew her subject, so her request to have the palace set up a stage was especially gracious.
The guests all made small noises. Probably chattering about the fact that Lady Laila would be performing herself.
Loella turned her head toward Ezekiel this time. Ezekiel was languidly twirling his wine glass. He didn't seem to be in the mood to drink, but rather bored.
"Ezekiel, are you that bored?"
"I don't know."
Ezekiel half-ignored Loella’s comment.
Meanwhile, the lights went out, leaving only the one in the center of the salon. Loella was a little surprised that it was more formal than she expected.
Soon, the red-haired actress strode out into the center of the makeshift stage, bowing to her left. She knelt down in front of the Empress, and raised her hands.
"Please listen. My fiancé has fallen for another woman."
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