The Brown mansion in the capital.
It was none other than Layla who brought the Manera and Vanera plants, and had already known the Empress’ plans for them. Layla felt giddy when she heard that Amanda had been defeated by Madelyn at the party with the ambassadors as planned.
“Ho ho ho, isn’t it amusing to see someone who doesn’t know their place try to attack the Empress?”
Hailey was seated across the tea table from Layla. They used to talk to each other as equals in the past, but over time Layla spoke to Hailey as a subordinate. Hailey didn’t complain about, however. Though they were both nobles, their ranks were different.
“That’s right. Lady Windsor must be upset.”
“Oh, I wish I could tell everyone about this, but I have to keep it to myself.”
Empress Madelyn’s strategy was secret, and so Layla was forced to keep quiet. Of course, she was too impatient to do that, and so she bragged to Hailey, her closest aide.
Hailey spoke in a lowered voice.
“I think it was smart for Lady Windsor bring all the ambassadors though. You should never let your guard down.”
“Tch, what a fool! What can she do? Anyone can think of that! She only got this far by marrying the Crown Prince!”
Layla’s pleasant mood instantly changed stormy. Not unfamiliar with Layla’s wild mood swings, Hailey quickly changed her words.
“Yes, you’re right. She made it all the way up because of the Crown Prince. I just meant that we should plan things more carefully.”
“…Hmph.”
Layla huffed disapprovingly. She herself had been branded a villain after she suffered defeat at the hands of Amanda. Had Layla not been made a lady-in-waiting of the Imperial Palace, she would not have been able to show her face in society until now.
And so, Layla began to fixate on Amanda and despise her even more. Hailey knew she had to be more careful.
‘I sensed it last time, but Lady Windsor is more formidable than I thought.’
Hailey had her suspicions since Amanda escaped from the trap Layla had laid. Layla was more proud and arrogant than she was intelligent, nevertheless, Hailey’s family was so poor and powerless that they had to attach themselves to a more well-known family to survive.
Hailey remembered what Amanda said to her at the wedding reception.
— You should look at the line and see which side is more profitable.
A wry smile spread on Hailey’s face. Despite the fact that Amanda had become the Crown Princess, Layla still had more to offer. She had the backing of Empress Madelyn. There was no reason to turn away from Layla, an imperial lady-in-waiting.
Moreover, Hailey had not built her friendship with Layla for nothing. Layla began to lean on Hailey, and she enjoyed being in the middle more than she expected. She gave a wry smile and pretended she knew nothing.
“I heard that the Empress will push you to become the prince’s concubine.”
“Yes, she will. Her Majesty will make me the second wife. Ho ho ho ho.”
Layla’s face flushed as she imagined herself as a potential bride. Nowadays, Oliver was the envy of all the nobles and gossip of him was everywhere. His relationship towards Amanda was like out of a fairy tale.
“Soon, there will be a party with the prince… Perhaps the first impression between the two of you was not so favourable.”
“I have no choice but to go. The nasty thing ruined my image!”
Layla never called Amanda by her royal title, and Hailey smiled as if in understanding.
“Then this is your chance. You should plan how you will meet the Crown Prince.”
“I will. I won’t lose this time.”
There was a greedy glint in Layla’s eye.
In truth, any elaborate scheme Layla had ever worked on all came from Hailey’s head. Layla was too emotional to calculate such moves, while Hailey solidified herself as a schemer.
Jalang jalang—
Layla looked at the sweets and empty cups on the table and rang a bell. The door opened and Elice came in.
“I think we’ll be here longer, so bring more tea and refreshments—what? Elice, are you still here?”
“Uhhh.”
A strange sound left Elice’s mouth. In a fit of rage, Layla had cut Elice’s tongue on the day she failed to spread a false rumor that Amanda was a whore. Hailey looked on with a pitied expression.
“Get out of this room right now! Where have all the other maids gone? Dare they make a fool of themselves?”
Elice had suffered long under Layla.
*
*
*
Layla’s maids were all severely punished. Elice, who had been living like a rat, was eventually ousted from the Brown mansion.
Tilda was so badly beaten that her calves were black from bruises. She prayed, looking up into the night sky with a tearful face.
‘Mary, please, save me.’
The only hope she had left was her letter to Mary, who was still at Windsor mansion. Tilda regretted believing Elice’s words and leaving Windsor mansion. She was fortunate that Layla forgot she also previously worked for the Windsors, and she would not have been safe when Layla cut Elice’s tongue. Now the maid was desperate to get out of this hellish place as soon as possible.
‘Heug heug. Lady Amanda, I’m so sorry’.
Though overdue, Tilda sincerely repented for her mistakes. Shameful as it was, she hoped that Amanda would save her.