"A mistress who cannot receive the love of the master can only control the inner residence one other way. With power. If one uses their authority as the Mistress to dominate the inner residence, those inside will quickly follow. I know this because I've personally seen it work with my mother. However, this will not happen here."
"Isn't it the easiest method? As the current Mistress, I think this is the most appropriate method for you."
"All those dominated servants fled as soon as the family crumbled. Almost as if they were waiting for it. This method won't benefit the Master, and it will not benefit me. I don't have the confidence to go through something like that again."
After Ethan received his government post, many noblewomen secretly approached Elly and offered her a reward if she introduced them to Ethan and followed their orders.
However, Adelina was the first person to speak to her with her weakness out in the open.
When Elly didn't say anything, Adelina lowered her head once again.
"I don't have power, but I'm also not you who served my husband from a young age. I'm only a shell of a mistress who cannot receive love, but I need power. Please help me."
That night, Elly did not give an answer to Adelina's request. However, instead of staying there and fighting for her way, Adelina acquiesced and quietly returned to her residence.
Although Elly had not given her an answer, she had already come to a decision. Ethan and John said that it would be best to just cut them all down in one fell swoop, but Elly thought differently.
If the opportunity presented itself, it would be wise to make a move. If Adelina was actually a wicked mistress, then Elly did not plan on letting it slide.
"It is up to you to get rid of these servants, Mistress. I do not know why they mentioned me, but I will follow your orders."
"Elly-nim!"
Having thought that Elly was the final bastion against the Mistress, a few servants cried out when Elly cut them off with the sharpness of a knife. However, Elly's eyes turned cold as she gazed at them. When Adelina thanked her, Elly nodded and turned to the pale servants.
"Didn't I warn you all to be cautious with your behavior? It wasn't just once or twice. How could you have ruined that many clothes?"
"Actually, that's… We'll explain everything to you!"
"Be quiet. I already know what you're going to say. You should all be grateful that the Mistress won't give you a flogging for all you've done!"
At Elly's roar, the servants lowered their heads in silence. After she was finished, Elly went outside. As soon as she exited the room, several people entered and placed sewing materials and extra cloth in front of the servants.
After staring at the firmly closed door, the servants turned their eyes to Adelina. Having said everything she wanted to say, Adelina was now adjusting the lengths of the sleeves and skirts of her clothes with Mona.
Adelina didn't give them a chance to make an excuse. The servants staggered and crumbled to the ground.
* * *
"What brings you here, Your Highness Consort Min?"
Although he looked neat and tidy, Cedric seemed a bit disheveled as he gazed at Consort Min.
He was in that state just because of a woman? Although he was the Emperor's son, Cedric was not qualified.
'How nice would it have been if Ethan had been a son produced between me and His Majesty?'
If that were the case, then she wouldn't have had to use her head like this in order to secure her future. Ethan was indifferent towards women, so his empress nor the empress's family would have held much power in court. And because he was cold, he would not lose himself in the temptations of the other noble families.
"You haven't left your palace all this time, so His Majesty is very worried. He wanted to visit you himself, but he is very busy with national affairs. Therefore, I told him that I'd come and visit you in his stead and let him know how you were doing."
Hearing Consort Min speak as if this were a great feat, Cedric scoffed.
All he'd seen from his own mother, the late Empress, was her sharp reaction to her inability to receive His Majesty's affection and her tears. Was this all because of the power that came with the Emperor's favor?
However, it wasn't that simple. The Consort Min that Cedric knew was not such an easy woman.
"You do not have to worry about me. I'm doing fine, so you may leave."
Although Cedric wanted to avoid all the consequences of his decisions, he was still a very selfish man. Of course, Cedric would deny this about himself, but Consort Min believed that her eyes never steered her wrong.
While it would be difficult to persuade Ethan by using a woman, this was not the case with Cedric.
"It seems that Your Highness is very upset by the postponement of the royal marriage. I better call a doctor and have him prepare a restorative tonic for Your Highness."
"I'll take care of my own body, so please return to your palace, Consort Min. I do not find this situation very comforting."
"Do you love the previous attendant's daughter that much, Your Highness?"
Cedric, who had been ignoring Consort Min, suddenly stiffened. After Adelina had gotten married to Ethan, no one had dared to utter her name in front of him.
Cedric glared at the smiling Consort Min and coldly opened his mouth.
"If you had only behaved yourself, things would not have turned out like this, Consort Min."
The people who were around them tilted their heads in confusion when they heard Cedric's words. However, having understood the meaning behind these words, Consort Min lifted an elegant hand to her lips.
"Ohohoho."
Although she managed to cover her lips, she was unable to hide the soft sound of her laughter. Her chuckle broke the silence. As she continued to laugh, Cedric's face gradually turned fierce. Terrified, the palace servants began to tremble.
"Is this very entertaining for you?"
After laughing for a while longer, Consort Min looked at Cedric with half-lidded eyes.
Consort Min had abandoned her husband for the Emperor, and in doing so, filled Ethan with a burning malice. Because of this, Ethan and Adelina got married. Cedric was laying all the blame on Consort Min.
Didn't young children hate people in the same way?
"If you don't have anything more to say, then I will go back. You should return to your residence as well, Consort Min."
"That child never completed her first night. I heard that my son won't even look at her. I'm told that she's been confined to the inner residence because she is his enemy's daughter."
"What are you saying?"
"As you said, Your Highness, I am a woman who abandoned her husband to enter the arms of His Majesty. His Majesty ignored the protests of his attendants and obtained me in such a way."
"..."
"Additionally, I had a special relationship with the girl's mother. Having her take on the role of my son's wife is such a waste. How can I let that lovely child live like that for the rest of her life?"
Hearing Consort Min's words, Cedric quickly turned around and began to head back. Once Cedric, his eunuchs, and the rest of his entourage disappeared, Court Lady Yeo approached the Consort.
"There are many ears within the Palace, so why did you say that? If His Majesty finds out, you will be in a lot of trouble."
"His Majesty and I know one thing. The Crown Prince will not move on his own. If His Majesty finds out, he'll just assume I was joking."