Chapter 7
The king had been on the throne for two years without appointing an empress, leaving the inner court without a formal ruler of the other concubines,
The noblewomen of the court still went to Mercy Palace to pay their respects and offer their greetings on a regular basis.
This meant that the Empress Dowager still held control over court affairs. If she wanted to make trouble for Arabella, even the king would have to turn a blind eye and let her do as she pleased.
Emma, ticing Arabella lost in thought, spoke up again. “You might not know this, but years ago, the Empress Dowager had a falling our with Olivia Moreat They’ve never gollen along.
Two years ago, when the new king ascended the throne, the Empress Dowager tried to make things difficult for the Empress, but His Majesty intervened and managed to ease the situations
“If the Empress Dowager plans to use this chance to target you and seule old scores, I’m afraid even the Empress won’t be able to help
you
Arabella furrowed her brow slightly. She had heard of the palace struggles during the reign of the late king.
Years ago, when the royal consort lost favor at court, the crown prince–who now weared the crown himself–could scarcely gain his father’s regard.
Tameka Goodman, relying on her powerful family, had allied with the second prince to suppress the Empress and her son, even gaining control of for a time. To put her own son on the throne, she had to first eliminate the rightful heir.
It was said that four years ago, when the Crown Prince was away on official business, Tameka had even sent assassins after him, but they
Later, when the Crown Prince ascended the throne, Tameka and her son lost their power, and the Empress Dowager took the opportunity to have Tameka executed.
The second prince was demoted to a commoner and exiled to a barren region in southern area, never to return to Althoria.
As for Arabella’s aunt. Olivia, she had been deeply favored by the late king.
Perhaps the Empress Dowager still harbored resentment over the late king’s father’s preferential treatment of his concubines, which might explain why she wanted to make things difficult for Olivia.
However, the current king was kind and generous. After ascending the throne, he allowed Olivia to live peacefully in the court in her old
nge.
The Empress Dowager was no fool; with her son newly crowned, this was the time to solidify his authority and secure loyalty. She wouldn’t openly defy his wishes, but that lingering resentment remained.
Now that she had the chance to humiliate Arabella, it was unlikely she would let it go. After all, demoting Arabella to a concubine would also bring shame upon Olivia.
“My lady… Emma called gently as she noticed Arabella standing motionless, lost in thought.
Arabella snapped out of her reverie, shaking off her scattered thoughts. She smiled and reassured her, “Don’t worry, Emma. I have a plan.”
Emma remained unconvinced. With Alexander gone, there was no one left in Althoria to support Arabella. She wondered, ‘As a young woman, how could she possibly stand up against imperial power?!
Arabella smiled and patted her hand reassuringly. “Don’t forget, the peace on Urghpool was secured by the Everhart family at the cost of hundreds of our relatives lives.
“My father, too, died young–not from illness, but because of the injuries he sustained in battle. Of course the court owes Marshal Thornfield an explanation, but they can’t just let the Marquis’s estate’s hundreds of loyal souls die in vain.”
Emma, seeing the determination in Arabella’s eyes, felt her worries ease. “Please be careful once you enter the palace”
“Sure
Before her marriage, Arabella had visited Olivia in the palace several times, so she was familiar with the layout of the inner court.
As she walked through the long corridors, her eyes taking in the towering red walls and roof tiles, she felt a wave of suffocating pressure wash over her, as if the air itself was too thick to breathe,
Thankfully, she was already married. She would never have to endure the selection process again or fight with countless other women for the king’s fleeting affections in this wretched place.
There were thousands of beauties in court affairs, and to watch her husband spend his days with different women, entangled in their fhrtations, yet be unable to feel jealous or act out–that was a heartache and helplessness she could scarcely imagine.
She was relieved she hadn’t entered this hellish place. Otherwise, it would have driven her insane.
At the end of the corridor was the Imperial Garden. Noticing the sweat beading on Arabella’s forehead, the official, with a smile, spoke up. “Miss, just pass through the Imperial Garden and you’ll reach Mercy Palace, You just need to hold on a little longer.”
Noblewomen weren’t allowed to ride in carriage when entering the palace to pay their respects, especially someone like Arabella, who didn’t yet hold an official title.
“It’s fine, I can manage. Arabella reassured him. There’s no need to worry about me.
As soon as she finished speaking, a flash of movement caught her eye.
Before she could react, a young woman in apricot–colored palace robes appeared in front of her, blocking her path.
The official quickly bowed. “Your Highness Princess Beatrice, I hope I didn’t offend you.”
“Beatrice Arabella’s brow furrowed. It seemed fate had conspired to bring them together again.
Three years ago, Charles had topped an important exams. Struck by his handsome looks, the late king had personally selected him as the top scholar, winning the hearts of many noblewomen in Althoria including Beatrice.
Beatrice had set her sights on him, and the late king’s father could hardly refuse her. But despite their mutual interest, the marriage
edict never came.
The late king, wary of the influence of the Marquis’s estate in the military, had seen the match between Arabella and Charles, the fallen Duke’s estate’s heir, as a good way to prevent Marquis’s estate from gaining further power. He had been content with this arrangement
Poor Beatrice had lost her ideal match, falling into deep sorrow and illness within the palace.
In the past three years. Arabella had avoided visiting Olivia in the palace, worried about running into Beatrice and escalating their already tense relationship. She hadn’t expected to encounter her now.
your
“Your Highness, Arabella curtsted, lowering herself respectfully.
Beatrice looked down at her coldly, sneering. “You’ve been avoiding me for three years. Why aren’t you running away now?”
Arabella didn’t know how to respond, so she simply lowered her head and kept silent.
Beatrice, used to getting her way and speaking without restraint, didn’t care for formalities. “I heard Charles brought a woman back from the borders, and they even had an illegitimate son. Arabella, you’re pathetic.”
Arabella’s eyes began to redden, and her shoulders started to tremble as she forced out a few tears, squeezing them out with great effort
Beatrice, accustomed to others submitting to her, would never back down if Arabella tried to argue. Today, she wasn’t about to let that happen
Hearing Arabella’s quiet sobs, Beatrice froze for a moment. She’s crying? This woman is from a prominent family–surely she isn’t this frugile?
After a moment of silence, seeing Arabella’s shoulders shake even more violently and hearing her sobs grow louder, Beatrice frowned and slowly crouched down
When she saw Arabella’s face streaked with tears, her eyes widened in disbelief. “I haven’t even slapped you yet, and you’re already crying?”
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Arabella quickly began to put on an act. “Your Highness is right. I’m truly pathetic. My husband brought home his bedchamber maid and an illegitimate son, and now he’s demoting me to a concubine.
I deserve all of this–I deserve to be mistreated. This is the result of my own actions. I brought this fate upon myself.”
“Demoting you to a concubine?” Beatrice’s face showed shock and disbelief.
She had only just recovered from an illness, having spent a few days lying in Cloud Hall, unaware of much of the outside world. The news of Charles bringing back a woman and an illegitimate son had only reached her from the palace maids.
She had also learned that Arabella had been summoned to the palace by the Empress Dowager, likely to pay for the grudge of three years ago. She hadn’t expected to hear such a scandalous story straight from Arabella herself.
Beatrice’s temper flared immediately, and she exploded with fury, leaping to her feet in anger.
C
