Morals Over Mortals

As they finished the last of the presents, my eyes slowly started to get heavy. It was tedious to see them all open presents; I felt a bit guilty for not helping them in the slightest, so when they wanted me to at least try on the clothes and accessories, I entertained the idea. 

I was incredibly fascinated by the material and quality of the clothes, as expected of the imperial family. The material was charming, both from the looks and the feel of it. But I didn't look like any normal Countess you see in society when I wore it. I looked important. 

All of the clothes were probably hand-sewn by a talented seamstress, which makes this dress extremely valuable and something I need to take care of, especially if it was a gift from the imperial family or the Crown Prince. 

If I didn't take good care of this, it would look like I wasn't taking the gifts as thankful as I should be and could start a gossip about me. I finally started to clear the rumours about my suicide attempts, and I can't afford to start another problem. 

I sighed and accidentally tripped on a dress, which caused it to rip! I was panicking at its finest!

"Maribelle! Oh my god, oh my god, what have I done!"

But a sound on my door appeared.

"Who is it?"

"It's me, Kaiserin. Can you open it?"

The root of my problems is starting. God couldn't make me live an everyday peaceful life, but no, he had to make my life miserable more than it already was back in Korea.

I hid the ripped dress in my closet and opened the door.

"Why are you here? Go back to the palace."

"Oh? Am I wrong for wanting to see you?" Kaiserin's face remained unchanged; he always had the same smug face.

"Yes."

"You're cruel."

Then he stood there even when I closed the door for around twenty minutes. I didn't hear him leaving, so I again opened the door.

"Why are you here still?"

"I want to see where my money has gone too."

I had no choice but to let him go inside my room. He scanned the place and smiled.

"I hope to see you open all of them."

Finally, he started to leave, but before he did, he stood at the entrance, looked back at me, and said, "Liselotte, where's the dress, Crimson Mirage Gown?"

The entire room had only one crimson dress—the ripped dress! I panicked from the inside out, but remaining poised in this situation was crucial. I replied, "I haven't seen it; it's probably unopened."

"Oh? I ensured the maids left it by your bed so it would be the first present you opened when you woke up. Perhaps you're lying to me?"

I shook my head almost instantly but couldn't let him find out I had ruined that dress.

"I hope you know that the Crimson Mirage is the gown my mother wore when she was crown princess. It's precious."

Empress's dress? I'm screwed.