Balle, Day 26 (2)

"There is nothing I can do until the Su'Datheram orders a place for me," she finally replied after some thought. "I've been confined to my room."

"Yes, I heard." There was a smile in Empress Lysirea's eyes and she didn't bother to hide it from her friend. "Ravena's child is perhaps more clever than Ravena herself had been."

Viola scoffed. "Diabolical is more the word."

By being kept in her room, whatever designs Viola had for the Su'Datheram were forcibly held back, and she would have to wait until she was either released or inducted into the harem before being able to bring those plans to life.

As a mother, all she wanted was a secure life for her son where he would naturally receive everything that he deserved. Her ambitions were not many, but they were incredibly high. This was one of the reasons she kept the beloved Empress of Ginzai as a trump card in her pocket.

The presence of Lysirea Darienis in the court not only represented Ginzai's political power, but would give Kaelbi Grandpire a respectable backing in the eyes of the sovereign court and naturally elevate his position above the rest of the sovereign children.

This was especially important for securing a stable life. Palace warfare was terrible business, but Viola Grandpire was a shrewd woman who had no plans of backing down.

"I quite like that girl," the Empress remarked casually. "It's refreshing to see such a brilliant young mind put to use in this country, isn't that right Zisu?"

The Empress's personal maid nodded with a smile. "That is right, Your Highness. She would thrive in our home court."

Even though Zisu was only a maidservant, her bearing was exceptionally better and her countenance was more beautiful than even those of the wealthy class in New Oalta. In fact, Zisu's grace and behaviour was on par with that of the old and new blood.

Given the lady who she served, it was only natural for her to be so magnificent. After all, the servant reflected the master.

Viola's gaze turned cold. She was not expecting her dear friend to be so full of praise for that wretched First Princess.

"Have you so quickly forgotten your origins, Lysirea? You claim Ginzai as your home court so naturally."

Zisu stiffened and darted a look at the other woman. She had not been in New Oalta long, but she had a semblance of how strictly the social hierarchy worked in this country from the presence of Oaltise nobility in the Ginzai'i court.

This woman's behaviour and address toward the beloved Empress, as if they were close friends, would not have been tolerated in Ginzai. Here in New Oalta, just the way she spoke was grounds to have her executed.

She was truly too impudent.

Despite her maid's blatant displeasure, the Empress didn't even seem to notice the disrespect. She looked at Viola Grandpire as if she were looking at the chisel of something rare and profound and said, "An entire lifetime has gone in the blink of an eye, and I have moved on from my past self. Now, I am an Empress and I rule by my husband's side. How can I not acknowledge Ginzai as my home?"

Viola's face went numb in an instant. To have Lysirea so blatantly imply that she had not moved on from the past was akin to calling her petty and frivolous, because only brainless women concerned themselves so much with times that have long gone and will not return.

She had lost face, but, it wasn't like Viola hadn't known this in advance. It was what she wanted, after all. The more Empress Lysirea asserted her place in the Ginzai'i court, the more political power Viola and Kaelbi Grandpire would have by associating with her.

After all, everyone knew how protective the Emperor Yang Chen was of his beloved wife. If anyone dared to offend her, they would offend the entire court of Ginzai, and anyone who offended her friends surely would offend her by default, right? Because, would the Her Eminence associate herself with faulty people?

Unknown to her, Su'ni Grandpire had overestimated her value in Empress Lysirea's eyes. Having lived in Ginzai for twenty-six turns of the twin suns, Empress Lysirea Darienis had seen her fair share of politics and had even followed her husband into battle. Her merits in the ally country were wide and known there, but had not been made known in New Oalta because women were kept as nothing more than breed mares.

Because of this, her impression of Verinia had fallen heavily and favourably. She had known at a glance what a cunning and vicious person the First Princess truly was, because she herself was such a way by nature.

Perhaps Verinia Hellfryne could disguise herself well, but a black heart could recognise a black heart in daylight. To have been thrust into the core of the sovereign court at such a tender age and grown up with a straight back and raised head despite all the scheming and plots for power of the harem, was no small feat for a child who had been left alone with three other children to raise.

That girl surely harboured the wrath of the hells inside her, but she knew how to use her mind well. Viola Grandpire, in contrast, had failed in this aspect from the very moment she had crawled into the Su'Datheram's bed.

If she had wanted to secure the Sovereign's favour for herself and subsequently, the power that came with that favour, she should have killed her own husband first. As a widow with the Sovereign's child, she would have been inducted into the harem ages ago and would have then known her opponent well.

"Verinia has secured her position of Su'Adrit in the sovereign court, Viola. I suggest you do not cross her."

"She is only a child," Su'ni Grandpire snorted. "What harm can she do?"

Zisu resisted the urge to roll her eyes. Indeed, this woman was not intelligent at all.

"Even the small locust can starve a great nation." Empress Lysirea rose from her seat with a gentle, carefully crafted smile. "I will visit you again soon."

Without further word, she swept out of the room and Viola was left alone again. As soon as the Empress was out of sight, her face darkened into a furious scowl.

Twenty turns, she had been awaiting to enter the palace. Twenty turns of nothing but suffering and estrangement from everyone she had once considered a friend.

She had lost everything when Kaelbi was born. How could she not take what she deserved now that she was where she rightfully belonged?

"Lula," she called her maidservant. "Present the request for an audience with His Effulgent Majesty."

"Yes." Lula received her orders and left at once.