"Do you want someone to overhear?" she glared.
"Forgive me, my lady," Emily murmured.
"But my lady has always been hard on you and gives all the good opportunity to miss Emilia. The opportunity to become the Queen should be given to you" Emily flattered.
"Mother is just too kind and worried because of the rumors." Catherine replied, although her expression doesn't agree with her words.
"But aren't you also worried that the rumors are true? What if…" Emily asked but Catherine cut her off sharply.
"There is nothing like that. The late Queens are just foolish to get killed." she said proudly.
"And as for Emilia, once I succeed tonight and get the King to write a decree about making me the Queen, then I am going to trample her." she added, impatient to get the title.
"Exactly! Miss Emilia has always overshadowed you just because she's older and the only daughter of the master's first love." Emily snorted.
"After you become the Queen, no one will look down on you, including Miss Emilia." she assured.
"Ask the other servants to prepare a bath for me. Use rose and tailor my dress once more." Catherine instructed and paused shortly.
"Also… bring me the sachet that was delivered last week." she added.
Emily's eyes opened wide at her request and she shook her head to dissuade her but Catherine was determined. The sachet was bought for the purpose of using it on Emilia to ruin her reputation but she changed her instead and decide to use it at the palace.
~
After Emilia returned to her chamber. She sank into a hot bath, letting the steam rise around her as her thoughts swirl.
Her maids help her into a fresh gown, different from the one they had laid out earlier.
Her mind drifted back to her bold idea of marrying Cornelius Cornelius. It still seemed like the best way out. Affection doesn't matter right now.
He's a far better option than living in the palace, married to a man she doesn't love, surrounded by rival wives and the high possibility of losing her life.
"Alice, style my hair into a ponytail. Use the finest jewelries," Emilia instructed.
"If Father won't come around quickly, I might as well propose the marriage myself."
"My lady, what are you thinking?" June asked, dismayed.
"Why would you want to marry Master Cornelius?" they asked, looking bewildered and Alice added,
"Even if marrying the King is dangerous… it's still better than being married to a crippled."
They are clearly upset about her choice and would rather die in the palace than to be stuck with the likes of someone like Cornelius.The shame that came with that is forever.
"You two don't have to worry, I would take care of this properly." Emilia assured them but they are not convinced.
"What if Miss Catherine attend the banquet and is crowned as Queen in your place?" June asked and Emilia shrugged.
"Then so be it." she replied with finally and they both sighed.
Alice quietly worked on her hair while June went out to fetch her shoes and returned shortly.
"My lady, what if we met with the King instead? Maybe the agreement can still be canceled," Alice pled, making a last resort.
"Yes, my lady. Marriage is forever and divorce is never allowed. Associating with master Cornelius is going to ruin your reputation forever."
"Isn't that better than being miserable all my life and losing my life in the palace? Also, Marrying Cornelius, I don' have to worry about other women." Emilia told them calmly.
"Have you prepared the gifts I asked you to?" she asked and June nodded positively.
"Good. We will leave in the carriage in ten minutes to Cornelius's manor."
June and Alice bowed resignedly and hurry off to fulfil her orders.
Later that evening, Emilia reclined in her luxurious carriage, eyes closed, a smile playing on her lips. Her gamble had paid off.
Cornelius's family was thrilled to receive her. Though it is unacceptable for a woman to propose for her own marriage to the family of the groom. Everyone knows that Emilia held the same power as her father and her words carries much weight.
The promise to stay married to their son no matter what happens was enough to win their hearts.
They agreed to send an official proposal the next day to the Markham manor and the marriage can happen in three days.
"June, how much longer until we get home?" Emilia asked .
"In a few minutes, my lady."
Emilia calculates the time, and her family should still be at the palace's banquet which gives her enough time to relax before breaking the news to them.
Her carriage pulled into the estate, and Alice helped Emilia get down then they head inside the house but as they approached the front hall, they saw the place in a state of chaos.
The servants rushed about, the main hall is in disarray, and no one noticed Emilia's arrival.
"Don't you see the young lady?!" June snapped at a maid who nearly collided with them.
"S-Sorry, young mistress!" the maid gasped, dropping to her knees. Others follow suit realizing her presence.
"What happened? Why is everywhere like this? Why are you all out here?" Emilia demanded, her eyes flared at the disaster state of the house.
"My lady… something terrible has happened," one of the maids answered her and Emilia's brows knit.
"Where is my father?" She questioned but everyone kept quiet, looking at each other with whispered silence.
Alice and June also turned back to Emily, alarmed by the strange silent.
"Let's go inside." Emilia muttered and they rushed inside the main hall. A few servants including Emily followed them inside and Emilia is even more shocked by the sorry state of the hall as well.
"Someone explain what is going on immediately!" Emilia screamed at them and Emily went on her knees quickly and spoke.
"Everyone is in Madam Sophia's quarters. It better to hear directly from the madam."
Emilia led the way toward Sophia's quarter, her heart pounding. Inside, the air is heavy with dread and Louis hurried to meet her first.
"Sister," he called anxiously and others too stood around with worries etched on their faces. Emilia noticed Sophia lying sickly on the bed and asked.
"Mother collapsed in the palace and only woke up after the physician came to check up on her."
"Collapsed?" Emilia repeated perplexed.
"Why?" she queried and her eyes searched everyone in the room but Catherine wasn't there.
"Father… he's in trouble," Louis said.
"There was an accusation at the banquet. Someone claimed he's been sheltering rebels and planning to help them overthrow the King." he explained