The third song ended. The emperor and the empress bowed to each other gracefully. It was clear that they were still very much in love.
They smiled at each other and walked towards Norma and Roberto.
Empress Sa Bina smiled brightly and asked, “Oh, Duchess Lonensia. I thought you would dance with your son, but I see that you haven’t.”
Norma controlled her facial expression and replied respectfully. The game was over and she knew she would gain nothing by fighting back.
“My knees have been bothering me lately. Thank you for thinking of me, your highness.”
Bina smiled again. “Oh no. I will pray that you recover soon. Now that I think about it… I heard the Maram hot springs are great for arthritis. The Lonensian family owns a castle there, right?”
“… Yes.”
Norma’s fingers trembled. The empress was forgiving. It was clear that her highness wanted Norma to go spend some time in Maram to think about what she had done.
To other noble families, Norma spending time away from the city would be proof that the royal family won the game. Norma’s life of power was over.
The Duchess remembered what Bina whispered to her.
“Duchess, I don’t plan on being your puppet.”
Checkmate.
Norma tried her best to control her trembling voice.
“You are right, your highness. I think it would be best for me to take a trip.”
The emperor asked Roberto, “Now that I think about it, Roberto hasn’t danced with anyone at a royal ball, right?”
When Roberto hesitantly nodded, the duchess stepped in as if to protect her son.
“This boy has no experience in big social events, so he feels awkward when he attends one.”
The emperor replied as if he was genuinely worried, “I see. How sad it is that such a handsome young man is still unmarried. That is why I have decided to find a good match for you.”
“Pardon, your highness?!”
“Pardon?!”
The mother and the son gasped in shock. When Lucretius flicked his fingers, the door opened, and a woman walked in.
“Let me introduce you to her. This is my empress’ favorite prima donna.”
When everyone saw who she was, all the guests gasped. The woman who walked in had long black hair.
“Black hair? Oh my… There was another woman other than her highness who had black hair?”
“Then that rumor must have been about…”
“But her face… Isn’t she Amarince Toul? The famous soprano singer?”
“But I thought Amarince didn’t have black hair?”
People whispered curiously. As the black-haired woman walked towards Lucretius, he introduced her to Norma and Roberto.
“Now, this is the prima donna who sang beautifully at the recent performance.”
Amarince looked pale as she bowed to the emperor, the empress, and finally the duchess and Roberto.
Both Roberto and Norma kept their jaws dropped. People who knew Amarince could tell that she was wearing a wig. On top of that, she was wearing a dress a mere singer could never afford. Under the bright chandelier light, it looked expensive, but still of lesser quality than the dress the empress was wearing. It was obvious that someone made this dress with lesser quality material to make it resemble another dress.
The dress the empress was wearing at the masquerade.
Everyone knew what it looked like because the three noble ladies who were witnesses to the scandal gossiped about it excessively.
Norma realized immediately.
‘This must be that woman!’
This had to be the girl who helped Roberto by pretending to be the empress. Norma began to sweat in fear. She stared at the emperor and the empress who looked relaxed and confident.
‘So they knew everything?! And they also had a clear proof against me?’
Norma felt faint.
Lucretius asked innocently as if he knew nothing, “But this is very strange. I thought you didn’t have black hair. And that dress… It looks very similar to the one the empress wore for the masquerade. Up close, it is slightly different, but it’s very close.”
Amarince kneeled and with her trembling hand, she took off her wig.
Her red hair spilled out as she explained, “I would like to apologize to your highnesses.”
Bina asked, “Oh, apologize? For what?”
“The strange rumor about her highness is all because of my mistake.”
People gasped audibly.
Amarince continued clearly.
“… After my performance at the castle… I have come to love you, your highness, as you are the one who gave me the greatest honor. That’s why when I got another chance to perform at the castle, I was excited to participate in the masquerade. So… I wanted to dress like your highness, but when I did, sir Roberto…”
Everyone listened intensely when suddenly, Norma interrupted her.
“How dare a lowly singer to accuse my son?! What are you saying, girl! Your highness! This woman is lying…!”
However, no one listened to Norma.
The emperor announced, “No, let’s listen to Amarince. It is true that the recent rumor has caused an issue between my empress and myself. Thankfully, the singer sent a letter that explained everything, and the empress was able to forgive me and return to me.”
When Lucretius gestured her to continue, Amarince added, “Sir Roberto initially thought I… was her highness, but when he realized it was me, we became drunk with the night’s excitement and… we were together when we were seen by a few people.”
“T, that’s a lie…!”
Norma couldn’t hide her anger while Roberto just stared at Amarince.
He couldn’t believe this situation. He thought he knew Amarince very well. He was sure she was in love with him. She was the type of woman who would die if he asked.
Yet here she was, betraying him. Oddly, he didn’t feel angry. He only felt confused.
‘How?’
How could this woman do this to him? He thought she couldn’t live without him.
Amarince continued, “When I heard the trouble I have caused her highness, I couldn’t just stand by. I had to come here and officially explain myself. I know I have done an unforgivable thing, so I am ready to accept any punishment you deem fit.”
Roberto still couldn’t believe it as he continued to stare at her. When she was done, Amarince looked up and stared directly at Roberto’s eyes.
“…!”
Amarince didn’t look away. She looked at him without fear. She had never done this before.
Suddenly, Roberto realized she wasn’t under his spell. He had no control over her. It was, in fact, him who was being controlled and finally fooled by his own arrogance.
The only thing left for him was to admit that these people had trampled over him with this humiliating defeat
