As the maids accompanying the Empress Dowager shot disapproving glances towards Ingrid, the elderly woman behind the Empress Dowager, dressed in garments of a different hue, cleared her throat loudly. The sound jolted Ingrid from her feigned trance.
With a graceful curtsy, Ingrid finally acknowledged the presence of the Empress Dowager. A warm smile graced her lips as she spoke, her tone respectful yet sincere.
"Your Excellency, please accept my apologies for not recognizing you immediately," Ingrid began. "I was momentarily captivated by your radiant beauty."
The Empress Dowager chuckled softly at Ingrid's words, her laughter echoing through the garden like tinkling bells. "Ah, flattery will get you everywhere, my dear," she replied, her tone playful yet regal.
