It Turned Out She Wasn't a Favored Concubine - Episode 14

Her speech remained elegant, lips curled in a graceful manner, but her eyes weren’t smiling. She was suspicious of me. Naturally so. If she had accepted my apology right away, I would’ve been the one caught off guard.

“Given what I’ve done in the past, I understand it’s not easy to forgive me. But I wanted to convey that I’ll never act rudely or cause trouble again.”

Rozedel looked at me quietly, as if trying to gauge my sincerity. Her refined smile was slightly intimidating. Instead of avoiding her gaze, I continued speaking.

“And I heard your birthday is in two weeks. I came to speak with you about that.”

“Oh? What is it you wish to say?”

“Due to the ban on court banquets caused by my recent illness, it seems your birthday celebration won’t be held. That’s been weighing on my mind. So I plan to ask His Majesty to lift the ban. Since time is short, I wanted to inform you in advance.”

Rozedel looked genuinely surprised. She blinked twice and leaned back deeply into her chair.

“Are you serious?”

“Of course. If you’re agreeable, I’ll head straight to the Berna Palace.”

“You truly wish to do this because my birthday banquet might be canceled due to you?”

“Yes. I heard that Lady Xenia’s birthday passed while I was gravely ill. I felt terrible upon hearing that. At the very least, I shouldn’t be disrespectful to you.”

I lifted the corners of my lips in a smile. Whatever she read in that expression, Rozedel slowly nodded.

“I’ll accept your goodwill, Lady Arne.”

Relieved, I left Rozedel’s palace. The elegantly arranged garden reminded me of her graceful smile. I had suspected she wasn’t an ordinary person, and I was right.

The next step was Erich. Even more than Rozedel, he was far from ordinary—he was the emperor.

Erich welcomed me to the Berna Palace with exaggerated enthusiasm. It was clearly an act.

Count Melton, who was staring helplessly at a collapsed pile of documents, didn’t notice Erich’s performance and gave me a pitiful look.

“Arne! You’ve come all the way here…”

“Sorry for the sudden visit. If you’re busy, I can wait.”

“Nonsense. There’s always time to welcome you.”

Erich ignored the flustered Count Melton picking up papers and approached me.

“It’s good to see you like this, Arne.”

What did “like this” mean? Dropping in unannounced? Interrupting his busy schedule? It couldn’t be anything but sarcasm.

I didn’t even sit on the plush-looking sofa he gestured to before I spoke.

“I’d like a court banquet to be held for Lady Rozedel’s birthday. I’ve recovered enough to attend, so please lift the banquet ban.”

“Ah, wonderful news. You’ve fully recovered. I’ll lift the ban and order preparations for the banquet immediately.”

…Wait, what?

I was stunned. I hadn’t expected Erich to lift the ban so easily. I came prepared for rejection, ready to counter any excuse.

I had two reasons for insisting on Rozedel’s birthday banquet: to improve relations with the concubines and to use her birthday as a pretext to lift the ban.

The banquet ban had become the main reason society despised me. The emperor had extended it with various excuses to let my infamy grow unchecked.

It was a perfect tool—he could remain passive while my reputation worsened.

Even if I had recovered enough to attend, I didn’t expect him to lift the ban so readily. That’s why I added the card of Rozedel’s birthday. …Did he agree so easily because of that? Still, his quick approval felt suspicious.

“Here, Arne. Your favorite dacquoise. Please try one.”

Erich showed no signs of displeasure, which he usually did when things didn’t go his way.

He simply smiled as I chewed the nutty, sweet dacquoise.

No, I couldn’t be fooled by that smile. Even if he was annoyed, he’d never show it.

He might be smiling while secretly wishing I’d eat the pastry quickly and leave. I hurriedly stuffed the rest into my mouth and stood up.

“Why so suddenly?”

Erich looked surprised and stood up as well.

“I’ve finished eating, so I should go. Sorry for taking up your time.”

My words came out muffled with dacquoise still in my mouth. But Erich remained serious.

“Not at all. Please visit anytime. My time is yours.”

Two weeks was a short time to prepare a palace banquet. From the windows of Arlin Palace, I could see maids rushing around with floral decorations. But with the emperor’s full support, Rozedel’s birthday banquet was flawlessly prepared.

It had been a long time since a banquet was held in the capital, especially at the palace. Nobles competed fiercely to attend, but unlike the grand New Year’s celebration, the guest list was limited.

Rozedel had full authority over the invitations. She selected guests based on her own standards—mostly relatives of the Duke of Parmati, key figures of the noble faction, and rising stars in society.

I attended as well. Regardless of invitation, members of the royal family were obligated to attend palace banquets.

The old Arne often ignored that duty, but I was different now. Especially since I had requested this banquet, I had to be present.

Seeing the splendid hall and nobles enjoying themselves, I sighed in relief.

Rozedel’s birthday banquet would surely trigger a wave of social events in the capital.

That would help ease the harsh criticism I’d received due to the banquet ban.

I sipped water from the glass on the table and searched for Rozedel. She was gracefully greeting each guest, managing the banquet with poise. Dressed in a dazzling gown and tiara, she truly looked like the mistress of the palace.

She had been trained to become empress since childhood, and it showed in how naturally she asserted herself while conversing with nobles.

She must be satisfied with how this banquet elevated her status in the palace. Perhaps our relationship had improved a little?

Looking back, this banquet was a clever idea—two birds with one stone.

I praised myself and took another sip. The glass emptied quickly. I thought I was drinking slowly, but it kept running dry.

The banquet itself was a good idea. The problem was me, attending it.

The stares from dozens of unfamiliar nobles were overwhelming.

Even though Rozedel was the star of the event, she couldn’t greet everyone at once.

After speaking with Rozedel, nobles glanced at me. If their gazes had been friendly, I wouldn’t have felt so parched. But most were filled with dislike, irritation, and jealousy. I couldn’t hold my head high.

How had Arne ignored such stares? How did she endure those sharp, persistent eyes?

I had thought I could quietly linger in a corner and return to Arlin Palace unnoticed.

Such a naïve thought. As Arne’s concubine, I stood out more than expected. The gossip about her misdeeds was blatant.

I stood alone in the midst of that murmuring.

No one I knew. No one to help me.

“His Majesty the Emperor enters!”

I looked up sharply. Erich’s arrival was the first time I’d felt glad to see him since learning his true nature. If he approached Rozedel, all eyes would shift to them.

I’d shown my face—now I could slip away…

I prepared to leave and watched Erich walk slowly through the entrance.

Dressed in a dazzling white ceremonial outfit, he held his chin slightly high, gazing down at the nobles bowing before him. His expression was more rigid than usual—he was the very image of a noble, aloof emperor.

Come to think of it, I’d never seen him in such a formal setting. Towering above the bowing nobles, he looked just as fitting in this role as he did when he was the kind, golden-haired prince. And just as unfamiliar.

As Erich descended the steps indifferently, the nobles parted to make way.

A path opened from the entrance to Rozedel. She was already looking directly at him.

It was almost time. Erich would approach Rozedel, offer birthday wishes, raise a glass, and lead a toast—the noisiest moment of the evening.

I slowly stepped back. I could slip away quietly now.

But someone called out to me.

“Arne!”

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