Lady to Queen (Webnovel) - Chapter 221

[Side Story: The Third Episode]

The position of a lady-in-waiting at the Imperial Palace allowed complete freedom of commuting to and from their home.

When the evening came, Lorraine silently headed back to her own abode. Her home was usually an extremely quiet one, but on that day, it was crowded with the bustling presence of middle-aged men. Lorraine went to her room and changed out of the dress she had been wearing before she went to where they were waiting for her.

A man who had noticed Lorraine’s arrival called out to her, “Lorraine!” It was her father.

A light grin passed by Lorraine’s expression, which had previously not held even a glimpse of a smile. She responded, “Father, you came home early today.”

Having said that, she looked around her surroundings as she studied the other people there.

Lorraine’s father, the Duke of Witherford, replied, “It ended up being that way. I returned home early to avoid any suspicion.”

“You did well to do that, Father.”

“Yes. How are the dynamics within the Empress Palace these days?”

At the mention of Rosemond and her current escapades, Lorraine’s smooth brow was soon furrowed with wrinkles. She replied in a voice mixed with a sigh, “It is not good.”

“What exactly do you mean by ‘it is not good’, Lady Lorraine?”

“It is exactly as I have just said. The Empress’ luxurious expenditures are gradually building to the most extreme peak. Do you know what happened today? She decided to change out of the dress she wore five hours ago to then put on a new dress, just because she had stepped outside once.” With a voice that sounded a little more worked up than usual, Lorraine continued, “This happening is just the tip of the iceberg. The Empress collects various types of items, and the prices of these luxury items only continue to increase day by day. Where do the funds for all of these come from, everyone? It is all done with the money from the Imperial Treasury. Surely, the Empress must be thinking of destroying the Marvinus Empire by making it go bankrupt.”

“However that might be, she seems to be fulfilling her duties well, is she not?”

When one of the nobles asked this question, Lorraine made an expression as if she caught a whiff of something that smelled horrid. “That aspect is true. There is no room for any dispute when it comes to that. Her outstanding abilities may also play a part, but she is definitely a woman who is adept at ordering people around. She knows how to place people with specific talents in the positions that are ideal for them. That is certainly something that people might respect and want to emulate.”

But right after she said that, the refutation popped out of her mouth, “Even so, her extravagant life is beyond what we can handle while watching with our eyes wide open. The entire Marvinus Empire is suffering from the ongoing drought as it is! How can a woman who calls herself the Empress not even be remotely interested in relieving the poor, and continue to live lavishly, only for the sake of her personal life?”

Everyone nodded in agreement and understanding.

Lorraine added on sharply, “That position does not exist merely to handle the affairs of the Inner Palace. Its role serves as a mother to all the citizens of the Marvinus Empire. It is quite difficult to say that the current Empress has such qualifications!”

“I agree with your view, Lady Witherford.”

“This is why we have all gathered together here.” At the words of one noble, the rest of the people nodded.

Another person voiced their thoughts, “The Empress only provides justification for our plans. Our real purpose is not to just dethrone a single Empress, am I right?”

“You are right,” the Duke of Witherford laughed in a cynical manner. “But as everyone knows, every auspicious event needs the right justification. If we decide to move forward without knowing exactly what cause we are trying to uphold, no matter how grand our intentions may be, who would even recognize and appreciate them?”

“Even so, only going after the current Empress is not enough, Duke Witherford. We need something to connect directly with the current Emperor.”

“There is plenty to go by.” Lorraine, who had been quiet for a while, interrupted with a revelation. She elaborated in a clear voice, “The current Emperor had the previously dethroned Empress and her whole family executed by the guillotine, just so that His Majesty could make that one mistress his official wife and Empress, that is.” -How stupid his decision to do so was, he could not possibly know now.- Lorraine spit out her venomous words, “And as you all know, the whole Grochester family had been loyal subjects to the Crown. He beheaded such people as that. How poor has his judgment become, in order to be capable of making a decision like that?”

“That is correct,” the Duke of Witherford laughed. “This is the truth, everyone. His Majesty’s overall aptitude has now deteriorated, his capacity for adequate judgment being blurred to the point of clearly lacking. That is how he expelled his loyal subject of a wife, the dethroned Empress Petronilla and her family, and seated an insignificant witch in the seat of the Empress instead.”

“Oh, that is a shame.” One of the nobles clucked his tongue. “If so, is it not a very dangerous state of affairs? Such a person as that is leading this great Marvinus Empire…”

“Yes, you are right on the dot. If His Majesty is in such a bad way and condition, it would be the appropriate thing to do to hand over that position to someone who has more wisdom and is of sound mind.”

“Yes, that is so!”

While everyone else was excitedly preoccupied as they exchanged words with each other, Lorraine was alone as she maintained a smile on her face.

After a while, the Duke of Witherford took the lead on the situation by asking, “How many troops have been gathered together?”

“More than enough, Duke Witherford. The number of knights serving under high-ranking nobles who have announced their intention to participate in the rebellion is quite significant. If only the gatekeeper can be bribed over to our side, it would not be that difficult to take complete control of the Imperial Palace.”

“The people in the Imperial Palace are also suffering from the Empress’ excessive tyranny. The Empress and the Emperor are a couple, so that means they are of one body. Most likely, the two of them will also end up easily cooperating with us.”

“Oh, dear. I am worried that things are progressing almost too well,” the Duke of Witherford said jokingly.

When Lorraine heard her father’s statement, she just deepened her smile even more. She said, “That only means that the situation is that much in our favor right now. Moreover, what I have heard from the Imperial Court Physician is that His Majesty’s emotional state has been somewhat unstable ever since he ordered the execution of the dethroned Empress.”

“It seems that this is the right time, then.”

-It is most definitely the right time-, Lorraine mused, as she drew another smile.

A different noble spoke up, “It does concern me that the next Emperor will not be from the direct Imperial bloodline, but then again, what about it? A successful rebellion means that it is without sin or crime.”

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Translated by Haeli

Edited by RED