“Welcome, Pablo. We’ve been expecting you.”
Countess Hinas introduced Pablo to the noblewomen gathered at the tea party.
“This is the head of the Pablo Trading Company.”
“It’s an honor to meet you all. My name is Pablo,” he said, struggling to shake off the tension.
Being invited to the estate of a high-ranking noble after such a long time made his mouth dry and his palms sweat.
To his surprise, however, the noblewomen’s reactions were overwhelming.
“Are you the one who gifted the Countess with the Green Herb Soap? I’d like to place an order as well. Could you visit my townhouse?”
“I want to place an order too. I’ve already informed my steward, so feel free to come tomorrow.”
“And me as well...”
Pablo found himself overwhelmed by the flurry of requests.
Their enthusiasm for the soap was so intense that even Pablo, who prided himself on his strong nerves, felt drained.
The women’s obsession with beauty far exceeded his expectations, driven by a relentless determination that left him astounded. In no time, he had scheduled appointments with twenty different noblewomen.
At that moment, the Countess’s steward approached her, his face unusually pale.
“Countess, there is an urgent visitor requesting to see you.”
“Are they important? I’m in the middle of hosting a tea party with the ladies...”
“It’s Her Majesty, the Empress.”
“...!”
The room fell silent as if cold water had been poured over the lively atmosphere.
The Countess’s expression hardened. The Empress, uninvited, had come to her home.
“Bring her in at once.”
Shortly after, Elizabeth Kerin Fiad Ellano, Empress of the Ellano Empire, entered the parlor.
Her silver hair shimmered like moonlight, swaying gently as she moved. Her violet eyes were deep and mesmerizing, capturing the envy of the gathered noblewomen, who gazed at her with admiration.
Elizabeth smiled and spoke, her voice light and gracious.
“My apologies for coming uninvited. I couldn’t sit still when I heard an old friend of mine was visiting here.”
“Please don’t say such things, Your Majesty. It is the highest honor for my humble home to receive your presence,” the Countess replied, bowing low.
The other noblewomen quickly followed suit, curtsying in unison.
Elizabeth’s gaze briefly swept over the group, pausing as it landed on Pablo.
“It’s been a while, Pablo.”
“...It has indeed, Your Majesty,” Pablo replied, stiffening under her gaze.
The noblewomen gasped audibly. None of them had expected the “old friend” the Empress referred to would be Pablo, the merchant.
Elizabeth turned back to the Countess.
“I’d like to have a private conversation with my dear friend. May I borrow him for a moment?”
“Of course, Your Majesty. My steward will guide you to a room.”
“Thank you for your kindness.”
Elizabeth’s gratitude left the Countess flustered and unsure how to respond. The other noblewomen, too, seemed shocked by the Empress’s approachable and gentle demeanor.
Moments later, Elizabeth and Pablo were shown to a guest room.
Elizabeth broke the silence first.
“Pablo, I was heartbroken when you suddenly disappeared. I can’t tell you how happy I am to see you again.”
“...The pleasure is mine, Your Majesty,” Pablo replied, his expression stiff.
For him, this reunion was anything but welcome.
Pablo’s downfall in the capital had been largely due to Elizabeth. Her abrupt initiation of trade with the Eastern Continent had dealt a devastating blow to his business ventures.
‘Even a brief heads-up could have changed everything,’ Pablo thought bitterly.
At first, he had assumed Elizabeth had her reasons. But as he lost everything and was forced to retreat to the northern territories, his perspective shifted.
‘No, it’s more reasonable to believe she deliberately concealed the Eastern trade to ruin me.’
Pablo had no choice but to accept that he had fallen out of favor with his former benefactor. Over time, he began noticing other signs that supported his suspicion.
Elizabeth’s face fell slightly when Pablo didn’t react as warmly as she had hoped.
“Must you be so formal? Didn’t I tell you to call me Betty?”
“You know better than anyone, Your Majesty, that I can no longer address you so casually.”
Pablo swallowed hard after finishing his response, his Adam’s apple bobbing with the motion.
‘Why now? What reason could she have for seeking me out again?’
When he had first met Elizabeth, Pablo had believed her cheerful, unpretentious demeanor was genuine.
But that was only a part of who she was. Beneath her radiant charm, she hid a venomous cunning. Elizabeth was a woman who would do whatever it took to secure her interests.
“There’s no need to fear me so much,” she said with a sigh, running her fingers along the nape of her neck. For a moment, a faint trace of bitterness flickered in her eyes.
“I came today because of that soap you gifted to Countess Hinas. I was very curious about it.”
Pablo’s eyes wavered slightly.
“...The Green Herb Soap, Your Majesty?”
“Yes, that soap! I can’t imagine how one would think to make soap from green herbs. Is the artisan who crafted it a member of your trading company?”
“No, Your Majesty.”
“I’ve learned that the workshop producing the Green Herb Soap is located in Halo Territory. Is that correct?”
She had already uncovered that much.
Pablo silently marveled at her investigative prowess before bowing his head.
“The workshop is operated by the Lord of Halo. I am merely responsible for distributing and selling the soap under a contractual agreement.”
“So, the Green Herb Soap is actually a business of the Halo Lord? Impressive! Their business acumen is extraordinary.”
Elizabeth’s violet eyes sparkled with interest as she looked at Pablo. Despite her enthusiastic curiosity, Pablo felt his throat go dry with unease.
“Could you procure some of that soap for me? I’ll pay handsomely.”
“...Of course, Your Majesty.”
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“And would it be possible for me to meet this Lord of Halo...?”
Pablo’s face stiffened instantly.
Elizabeth let out a small sigh, glancing up at the ceiling as if resigning herself to the situation.
“I suppose there’s no point in pressing further right now,” she murmured.
“For today, this will suffice. Let’s discuss this again another time. Send the soap through one of my attendants.”
“As you wish, Your Majesty.”
“Until we meet again.”
Elizabeth turned and left just as abruptly as she had arrived.
The door clicked shut behind her, and Pablo finally exhaled a sigh of relief.
***
Elizabeth walked down the quiet corridor. Beyond the hallway, a grand lobby appeared, and through the entrance, a magnificent carriage awaited.
With a graceful movement, Elizabeth boarded the carriage, which began to move smoothly.
Inside the carriage sat a man with a fierce and sharp expression. His striking platinum blond hair framed piercing blue eyes that fixed on Elizabeth. This was Julius, the new Emperor of the Ellano Empire.
Elizabeth spoke abruptly.
“I’m thinking of inviting the Lord of Halo to the imperial banquet.”
“Do you think they’ll be of any use to us?”
“It’s hard to say yet. But one thing is certain—they’re exceptionally resourceful. It’s better to keep them close than to risk losing them to another side.”
At her response, Julius nodded. After a brief silence, he spoke again.
“I’m considering sending invitations to the Grand Duke and the Mage Tower Master as well.”
For the first time, Elizabeth’s face twisted into a frown.
“Do you think they’ll respond willingly?”
“Lianel will. He might even offer me some advice that I need.”
Elizabeth disagreed. The Mage Tower Master and the Grand Duke would not cooperate.
‘They must hate me by now.’
In the past, Elizabeth had ruthlessly used both of them as tools for her revenge. They had gone along with it, fully aware of her manipulations. But she knew they wouldn’t be so compliant this time.
‘Because I chose Julius.’
Elizabeth felt an increasing weariness settling over her.
She had finally climbed to the position she had always aspired to, but now, the only person left by her side was Julius. He was the only one she could trust.
‘I thought I would feel complete happiness after achieving my revenge.’
Yet, life after her revenge was even bleaker and more uncertain than before.
Elizabeth let out a long sigh and leaned her head deeply against the seat of the carriage.