Chapter 3
Elizabeth sat alone in her modest room, the faint light of dawn casting a soft glow over her small, simple space. She held a book in her lap, but her mind was elsewhere, lost in the memories of Emperor Ludwig's rare but kind smiles. Though he was feared as a ruthless conqueror, she had glimpsed another side of him—a side that made her heart beat a little faster.
Her reverie was shattered by the door bursting open without warning. Lady Margot swept in, her eyes alight with disdain, taking in Elizabeth's modest quarters with barely concealed contempt. Lady Margot was not only a high-ranking noblewoman but one of Emperor Ludwig's most favored companions—a woman who basked in his attention and held a reputation as one of the most formidable figures at court.
Elizabeth quickly rose, setting her book aside as she greeted her with a respectful nod. "Lady Margot… is there something you need?"
Margot's lips twisted into a mocking smile as she approached. "Need? From you? Hardly. I only came to see if the rumors were true—that you're still lingering around here, clinging to that ridiculous hope."
Elizabeth's heart sank, but she tried to keep her voice steady. "I don't understand what you mean."
"Oh, don't play innocent," Margot sneered, her voice dripping with contempt. "Everyone sees it—the way you look at him, as if someone like you could ever catch His Majesty's eye. It's pathetic, really."
Elizabeth took a steadying breath, refusing to let Margot's words break her composure. "I have done nothing inappropriate, my lady. I am only here to serve the Emperor and this palace."
Margot laughed, a harsh, cold sound. "Serve? Is that what you call it? Don't insult my intelligence, Elizabeth. You're nothing more than a pitiable little girl, fooling yourself with fairytales."
Elizabeth looked down, feeling the sting of Margot's words but unwilling to give her the satisfaction of seeing her hurt. "I… I don't expect anything from His Majesty. I know my place."
"Oh, do you?" Margot's eyes narrowed, a glint of malice in them. "Then why do I see you looking at him as if you mean something to him? As if he might actually care for you?" She stepped closer, her voice dropping to a venomous whisper. "You really think he cares, don't you?"
Elizabeth forced herself to meet Margot's gaze, her heart pounding. "I would never presume to think His Majesty's affections are directed toward me."
Margot's smile grew colder. "Then let me tell you something. His Majesty may smile at you, may even offer you a kind word now and then, but do not mistake that for affection. To him, you are nothing but a passing amusement, a toy to be used and discarded when he grows bored."
Elizabeth felt her face pale, and she struggled to keep her voice steady. "I… I don't believe that."
"Oh, don't you?" Margot's voice was thick with mockery. "You think he truly sees you as anything more than a plaything? That he, the great Emperor Ludwig, could ever love someone like you—a girl with no title, no status, no worth?"
Elizabeth bit her lip, feeling the weight of Margot's words pressing down on her. "I am aware of my position, Lady Margot. I never expected anything more than kindness from His Majesty."
"Kindness?" Margot scoffed, crossing her arms. "Don't be so naive. His Majesty may appear kind, but do you know what he truly thinks of you? He finds it amusing to watch you follow him like a lost puppy, to see how easily you're charmed by the smallest hint of attention. You're nothing but entertainment for him."
Elizabeth felt tears prick at her eyes, but she blinked them back, unwilling to let Margot see her weakness. "I do not seek His Majesty's affections. I am content simply to serve."
Margot laughed again, her voice cruel and mocking. "Serve? How noble of you." She leaned in closer, her eyes glinting with malice. "But let me make this clear: his kindness, his smiles—they're nothing but an act. The moment you stop amusing him, he will cast you aside without a second thought."
Elizabeth took a shaky breath, trying to hold herself together. She wanted to protest, to defend herself, but Margot's words struck deep, echoing her own deepest fears. She lowered her gaze, whispering, "I… I understand."
"Good." Margot stepped back, her smile triumphant. "Remember your place, Elizabeth. You are not his equal. You're nothing but a passing shadow in his life, and you would do well to accept that."
Elizabeth's heart ached, but she forced herself to look up, meeting Margot's gaze with a quiet resolve. "Thank you for the reminder, Lady Margot. I will keep it in mind."
Margot's eyes flashed with irritation at Elizabeth's calm response. She clearly had hoped to see Elizabeth break. With a final sneer, she turned to leave, pausing in the doorway. "And remember, Elizabeth," she said, her voice a cruel whisper. "In the eyes of someone like the Emperor, you will never be anything more than a lowly servant."
With that, Lady Margot swept out of the room, leaving Elizabeth standing alone, the words echoing painfully in her mind. As the silence closed in around her, she felt her heart shatter, her hope withering like a flower under a cruel winter frost.