Episode 19 Rumors, Tears, and a Guest
The political idea that sounded crazy to most people hit Yvonne differently. It actually felt useful. If she spread the idea that the Emperor favored “political separation,” people outside the palace would welcome it — and it would appeal to the anti-Emperor faction too.
The anti-Emperor group was mostly new nobles. Some of them were once commoners or merchants who hadn’t forgotten their roots. If word leaked that the Emperor wanted to split political power, the palace and the capital — even the whole continent — would be thrown into chaos. Frederick, who prized the status quo, would be shaken if anyone thought he favored such a radical idea. The pro-Emperor faction would fiercely oppose it, and the commoners would cheer.
Yvonne closed the political history book she’d been reading and rubbed her forehead. What if she used rumors strategically — whisper one thing inside the palace (that Frederick was thinking about political separation) and another outside (that he was planning to strengthen imperial authority)? If she managed to push Frederick into talking about reform to prove he could be “a better emperor for the people,” then planted rumors outside that he was actually trying to centralize power, everything would spiral in the direction she wanted. She’d watch Frederick falter under criticism and confusion, and that would suit her plan nicely.
Sitting in a quiet corner of the archives with her arms folded, she was deep in thought when Lucy burst in from the hallway, calling in a strained voice.
“Your Highness! Your Highness!”
Lucy, who was normally calm and ladylike, looked pale and shaken. That was a bad sign.
“What’s wrong?” Yvonne hurried out and met her halfway down the hall. Lucy’s face was drained white; something was clearly very wrong.
“Tell me slowly. I’m listening,” Yvonne said, forcing herself to stay calm. Her heart thudded.
Lucy couldn’t speak at first. She broke down into tears all at once, as if she’d hit a breaking point. Yvonne hurriedly wrapped her arms around the sobbing maid.
“What happened? Are your parents—are they hurt?” Yvonne asked.
“No, no, it’s not that!” Lucy collapsed to the floor like someone stunned, her voice shaking. “They say His Majesty found a woman in the hunting grounds.”
“…!”
“She plans to be brought home and treated kindly. He said she was so pitiful…” Lucy choked out the words. Yvonne’s fingers trembled as she comforted Lucy’s small shoulders.
If Frederick had rescued someone from the hunt, it could only be Priscilla Schultz — the same woman who had always pushed Yvonne aside in the repeats of her life. Priscilla was supposed to make her social debut at the birthday celebration — yet here she was, unexpectedly arriving in the palace.
Yvonne’s face went hard. She narrowed her eyes and clenched her teeth to get her thoughts in order. Ricardo’s sudden arrival had been unexpected — and now Priscilla was showing up in a place she didn’t expect. Was this because she attempted to alter the timeline? Or some trick by a force that controlled time and space? The questions swirled wildly in her head.
“You’ve delayed your coronation so many times,” Lucy sobbed. “You’re still only Crown Princess, and you endure that humiliation, and now he brings this woman in? He says she’s so pitiful!”
“Lucy, calm down. Even if you’re angry, watch your words,” Yvonne said firmly, soothing her and wiping the tears from Lucy’s face. Her own stomach was churning.
Priscilla had always been a danger to Yvonne — the woman who’d taken the empress’s spot and, in past lives, taken Yvonne’s life too. But this time things might be different. Maybe this Priscilla wasn’t the same as in Yvonne’s memories. The timeline could still change. Yvonne had to be alert, not paralyzed.
She helped Lucy to her feet and straightened her shoulders. “We have to meet that woman,” Yvonne said clearly.
“Meet her? That’s an insult!” Lucy shot back, outraged. It made sense — the idea of the Emperor taking in another woman while dismissing his lawful consort was humiliating. Still, Yvonne needed to see Priscilla for herself. She had to know whether this was the same woman she remembered.
Lucy, still shaking, followed behind when Yvonne moved. “Are you really going to see her? The Emperor ordered no one to enter!” Lucy reminded her.
“He’s taking her in himself. She’ll be part of the palace now. I have a responsibility too,” Yvonne replied, keeping her face calm.
The guest room where the Emperor was staying was near the emperor’s bedroom and luxuriously furnished — nearly as nice as Yvonne’s own chamber. That suggested Priscilla had already won Frederick’s attention at first sight.
A guard posted outside frowned and told Yvonne, “Orders say no one is to enter, Your Highness.”
“I’ll take responsibility. Step aside for a moment,” Yvonne said in a firm voice, and knocked on the closed door.
“Your Majesty, the Crown Princess,” she announced.
Silence. Nothing answered. In Yvonne’s previous lives, Frederick had fallen instantly in love with Priscilla and lost his judgment. If this Frederick was the love-struck type, he might refuse to open the door. She prepared for that and knocked one last time.
“Enter,” a voice said. The latch clicked. The steward’s face peered through the crack, looking flustered — even the normally composed steward seemed unsettled.
“He asked that only His Majesty enter,” the steward said, and quietly shut the door in a way that stopped Lucy from following. He locked it tight so no one could get in.
The guest room was large and luxurious. Yvonne could tell at a glance that Priscilla had captured Frederick’s attention. She swallowed a bitter thought she didn’t voice aloud and walked toward the bed, where a faint canopy draped the space.
Frederick rose slowly from his chair and greeted Yvonne with an awkward, ambiguous expression. “Yvonne, I was actually waiting for you.”
“Your Majesty,” Yvonne said, bowing on one knee. Frederick waved his hand, saying she needn’t bother with the formalities now — it was just the two of them, and something more urgent was happening.
“What urgent problem?” Yvonne asked.
Frederick looked at her like he wanted to observe how she’d react. “…You already know, don’t you? About me finding a woman while hunting.”
