'Once again, I am back.' Isla stared at the massive glittering palace while getting down from the carriage with the help of the coachman.
She lowered her gaze to her eye level, and a familiar woman caught her sight.
''Countess Moore,'' Isla greeted the woman walking in her direction, with two other maids trailing from behind.
''Duchess Hayes,'' Countess Moore, the Empress' maid of honor, also acknowledged her greetings with a lovely smile. ''It's wonderful to see you once again.''
''Likewise, Countess, I am sorry for my sudden withdrawal from the society.''
''No, Duchess. Don't worry about it. Her imperial majesty was just curious about your absence.''
The Countess continued to smile at Isla until her eyes shook like she just recalled something, ''Oh, silly me! I am sorry for making to stand when her imperial majesty is waiting.''
''Come, Duchess, allow me to lead the way to the tea party.'' Countess Moore affectionately touched the lower back of the Isla to guide her to the venue.
''By the way, duchess, congratulations,'' She whispered before letting her hand drop from Isla's lower back.
''...Thank you,'' Isla knew what the latter was talking about, and her awareness did not shock her, as every dialogue between them and gestures was the same as her second life.
The Countess' smile never left her lips as she led Isla to the Empress's palace. However, many thoughts filled her head about the Duchess, that seemed different from her reputed, gentle image.
The silver duchess, the rumored wife of duke Hayes, was renowned for her unforgettable beauty, warm smiles, and calm demeanor. There is hearsay that she had never gotten angry at any servants till today, even if the duke was rumored to be cheating on her with a commoner baker.
Countess Moore, who spoke to the Duchess personally for the first time in her life, wondered if people were blind.
How exactly was Duchess Hayes gentle?
Just from her reaction after congratulating her on the good news and her aloof expression, she seemed more of a reputed icy beauty than gentle beauty to the Countess.
'Anyway, I hope her imperial majesty behaves well....' The Countess thought of the Empress and prayed in her heart as she, apart from the Emperor, knew the Empress was more of a troublemaker than what her naïve appearance dictated.
Meanwhile, Isla walked with the praying Countess and the two maids respectfully following behind them. She did not look sideways at the sparkling walls of the palace nor have an expression of awe. She just...looked normal, like she was not meeting the most distinguished woman in the Empire. It was baffling to the maids, who were observing her expression on the Empress's orders.
The four ladies walked until they reached the Empress's palace, the phoenix palace, named by the Emperor, who declared his palace to be called the dragon palace. It showed his undying love for his one and only Empress.
Isla passed the familiar doors, buildings, walls, bushes, and trees until they reached the entrance of the Larisa garden. The Emperor named it after the Empress.
'Come to think of it...I was jealous of the Empress who monopolized the Emperor's love till the end.' Isla recalled her second life when she walked with some invited ladies to the Empress's garden. They talked about the history of the palaces and the garden. Then, she truly admired the Emperor and Empress for their deep bond and couldn't help but pity herself for having such a cold husband.
'Now I have you.' Isla almost touched her stomach on instinct, but she recalled her location and held in the urge to feel her unborn child.
''Your imperial majesty looks more beautiful even after childbirth.''
''No wonder his imperial majesty can't keep his hands to himself.''
''Your imperial majesty? Please forgive my insolence, but who does the crown prince take after?''
''Hmm...'' A soft and short hum, then a pleasant chuckle resounded in the quiet area. ''That's a bit tricky to say. His imperial majesty said he took after me, but my son took a lot after him.''
''Then he will be handsome when he grows up, just like his imperial majesty.''
''You flatter my son, marchioness.''
''Oh, but I am saying the truth, your imperial majesty.''
Isla could hear the familiar conversation flow through her ear about the Empress's childbirth.
The Empress gave birth to a son who was announced as crown prince the second he came into this world. She gave birth to him four weeks before Isla discovered her pregnancy.
The crown prince was one of the main characters in the story. As the second male lead, someone close to the male lead, he hated the villain and the villainess, who was also his fiancée. He had an unrequited love for the female lead but did not pursue her as he did not want to lose his friendship with his close friend, the male lead, or the female lead.
Isla, in her first life, thought of him as a decent character who knew when to stop, until now that she had memories of her previous lives. He hated her lovely son, according to the story. And so he will be part of her blacklist even if he was still a baby.
The Empress, grinning at the noble ladies and madams, sensed a movement at the corner of her eyes. Turning her gaze in that direction, she noticed her maid of honor, the two maids, and another person, the Duchess of Hayes.
'Oh?' Her lips formed into a fleeting smirk as her baby pink eyes sparkled like she had seen something interesting.
Countess Moore has been paying attention to the Empress. She noticed the familiar gaze she knew all too well and cried inwardly, as the heavens did not answer her prayers.
''The sun shines on the imperial family. Greetings, your imperial majesty.'' Isla and Countess Moore curtsied while the two maids bowed behind them.
''Raise your head,'' The Empress sent disapproving eyes to Countess Moore, who pretended not to see them before looking at the person who would make the capital less boring, much to her delight.
She smiled at Isla. ''Duchess Hayes. It's nice to meet you. We only met once, and that was during your debut five years ago. Am I correct, Duchess?''
Isla rose her head and stood upright to meet the Empress's gaze. ''Your imperial majesty is right.''
''That's wonderful. Please do join us. I thought you wouldn't come since many wonders why Duchess has been absent for the past month.''
One of the maids guided Isla to her chair, a seat from the Empress. Her eyes stayed on the chair momentarily, and she sat down.
The empty chair belonged to the Grand-duchess, a lady below the Empress in the hierarchy system. It was also a seat that belonged to her late mother, someone whom she had never met in both lives now.
As the only Duchess in the Empire, she could be considered the next lady below the Empress in the hierarchy system.
''It's just a minor issue, your imperial majesty,'' Isla looked at the Empress, who had not spoken to the other ladies since her arrival.
''..I see then,'' The Empress did not get the reaction she was looking for, which made her more interested in the Duchess, who does not want to expose her pregnancy despite the rumors about her infertility and her husband's affair.
''I don't think I ever wished you congratulations five years ago on your debut and marriage. Did I duchess?'' Empress asked as she lifted her teacup to her lips.
''No, your imperial majesty.''
''Then, congratulations, Duchess Hayes,'' The Empress smiled as she sipped her tea with relish.
Isla glanced at her, then inwardly shook her head. She knew what the Empress wanted from her, but she would not give the latter the satisfaction of satisfying her boredom.
It was the same in her second life, and she exposed her pregnancy, which was fine, but it was not after her husband's lover appeared at the tea party. And months later, everyone knew she was four months pregnant with her husband's child, meaning that during the tea party, her husband's lover was pregnant. That made her into a fool in noble families' eyes for not knowing or trying to deal with it.
If there was one thing that changed in this life, it was this conversation that never happened in her second life.
The Empress did not dislike her answer, which meant she was satisfied, unlike her second life, when she called her a fool. The Empress was hard to understand, but Isla knew one thing, she was a good person, or else she wouldn't have proposed that in her second life.
With a smile on her lips and her hand on her belly, though it was hidden under the tablecloth, Isla deeply appreciated the Empress' words.
''Thank you, your imperial majesty.''
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