Unraveling The Correspondence

The contents of that letter were shocking. I felt like I was teetering on the edge of something unsettling. Empress Theresa Adheld: I only know a little about her since she was never mentioned in the story. But if Anton tells me to keep on watch, that's what I'll do. 

He said in this letter that he was expecting me to go to her tea party, but the thing is that I still need to receive a letter. Does that mean I have a letter from her already? Did Pavel hide it from me? I wouldn't be surprised since I'm still grounded. But he knew that Theresa was the Empress, and she sent a letter directly to me. Why would he hide it? It's a great way to make connections through the Imperial Family. Despite that, I only know a little about Empress Theresa, like Pavel, since she was never mentioned before, although if Anton asks me to be on my guard, I should be.

I went into Pavel's office and snuck around for a bit, but no letter. I checked his drawers, and there was nothing but documents. Everything seemed out of place from when I was here last time. Unlike last time, everything could have been more organized when it looked spotless. It looked like Pavel was looking for something, but what was it? 

There was nothing for me to see here and nothing I needed to see right now. 

As I left Pavel's office, I bumped into him. He had a casual demeanour and a minimalistic expression. 

"Liselotte, were you looking for me?"

"No."

"Then why are you in my office?"

"I'm looking for a letter."

Pavel looked at me and raised an eyebrow in curiosity. He scanned my entire appearance and stared into my eyes like he was reading my soul.

"I don't have a letter concerned about you. Next time, console me about this "letter" before snooping around in my office." He walked past me, leaving me in my thoughts.

I was 100% sure he was lying to me, so I ran towards him and grabbed his wrist.

"Father, could you at least entertain me with one question?"

"What is it? Make it fast; I have somewhere to be."

"What's Empress Theresa like?"

Pavel turned around and faced me. He raised his chin in suspicion. 

"Empress Theresa? If you're lucky, you'll never meet her, and I'll ensure it's that way." Pavel was now rushing to his destination; I ran towards him, asking for answers.

"Father! Why should I avoid Empress Theresa? Is she mean? Aggressive? Cruel?" Pavel ignored me. He looked annoyed as he stopped in his tracks to look at me.

"Liselotte, please refrain from using any form of verbal speech; as you can see, your current discourse is not beneficial to my time."

Pavel was technically telling me to shut up, but I knew my boundaries, so I stopped nagging him. 

I returned to my chambers and started thinking, is it better not to get a letter from Empress Theresa? Why is it so wrong to the fact that Pavel doesn't want me to meet with her? Or does Anton request that I be careful with her? 

I sighed and looked at the Crimson Mirage, the dress formerly owned by the Empress. Did she think I stole it? Is Kaiserin setting me up? 

When you think about it, why did he give me something so treasured? He says he loves me, but why would he give away his mother's dress? Perhaps the Empress has so many dresses that she could give this one away.

I got to stop. I can't fully trust Kaiserin. Even though I'm probably not as wicked as she was, Kaiserin has been unusually calm when he's around me. I haven't seen him lash out at anyone. In the story, he is so infuriated by Liselotte's wicked deeds that he can't even look at her, and he never regrets slaying her. 

It was almost midnight. After I had bathed well, washed my face, and changed clothes, before Maribelle interrupted the atmosphere. 

"Fräulein! Fräulein!"

"Maribelle, calm down; what's going on?"

"The.. The.. The!"

"The what?"

"Empress Theresa, she wants an audience with you!"