As soon as Serena collapsed onto the bed, she felt the warmth sink into her tired body. Rika, seated beside her, hesitated before speaking.
"Your Grace… who do you think orchestrated that incident?"
Serena opened her eyes halfway. "You mean the leopard attacking the prince?"
"Yes."
Serena's voice was calm. "From the way it played out, it wasn't the Crown Prince."
"Then who?" Rika leaned closer, curiosity in her tone.
Serena gave a bitter smile. "Who else but the First Empress."
Both Rika and Dyanne gasped in unison. "The Empress? How could it be her?"
Serena sat up slightly, her gaze sharp. "Think about it. When the Second Prince appeared covered in blood, everyone was shocked—including me. But the First Empress? She didn't so much as flinch. Even the Second Empress looked truly horrified. And when I looked at the Crown Prince's face, his surprise was genuine—he had no part in this. Besides, why would he? He already holds the strongest claim to the throne and the support of most nobles. There was no reason for him to risk such a dangerous scheme."
Her expression darkened as she clasped her hands together. "That leaves the First Empress. She has always seen the second prince as a thorn in her side… and it seems she is willing to use any means to remove him."
Dyanne frowned. "Then wouldn't it be easier for her to simply poison him?"
Serena shook her head firmly. "No. The second prince has lived in the palace for so long—he's far too careful to fall to something that simple. And if he were poisoned, it would leave an obvious trail. His Majesty may not favor him, but even so, the death of a prince would demand a full investigation. The truth would come out sooner or later."
She leaned back, her tone thoughtful but edged with certainty. "Besides, the Empress is not the type to rely on such petty tricks. She prefers methods that are bold, decisive… and harder to trace."
Dyanne and Rika both exhaled heavily. Rika muttered, "It's truly a blessing we weren't born into the imperial family. They're far too treacherous."
Serena laughed softly. "True. Now, let's sleep—it's already midnight."
The two girls excused themselves, leaving the room quiet. Yet as Serena lay back against the cushions, her thoughts refused to rest. The incident lingered in her mind like a shadow. She hadn't been concerned before, but Lucia's words echoed now—Lucas and the second prince were close friends.
If danger came for Maximus again, Lucas might easily be dragged into the mud alongside him. She would have to be careful.
"It's been a while since we've all eaten together like this, hasn't it?" Serena said with a faint smile.
Lucas nodded, and Lucia added brightly, "True. Mother, why don't you move back to the main estate? The head butler and head maid wouldn't have to go back and forth between the main house and the annex anymore."
Serena paused, glancing at her food before looking at her daughter. "I've grown accustomed to the annex. Don't worry—I'll tell Aiden and Ashley not to trouble themselves coming over so often."
Lucas set his knife down, his tone thoughtful. "Then how about assigning a steward to you instead?"
Serena paused, considering. "That's not a bad idea. But… how will you do it?"
Lucas smiled faintly. "Don't worry. Just leave it to me."
As the night deepened, the room filled with quiet laughter and soft chatter, the warmth of family and home wrapping around them like a gentle embrace.
Finally, Serena returned to her writing, determined to complete the fourth and final volume of 'The Prophetess'. Generating new ideas was never easy, and she spent time cross-referencing the previous volumes to ensure continuity. Even though it had been her first novel, it was well-received.
Is it time I tell them my secret? she wondered. It had already been two and a half years since she had grown close to Lucas and Lucia. Given Lucas's unwavering admiration for her work, she was confident he would take the news in stride. Alright, after the deadline… I'll tell them.
"Here, Mother," Lucas said, handing her a set of papers. "These are the three candidates I found to become your steward."
Serena picked up the papers and glanced over them. "Are these the ones you selected?"
"Yes," Lucas nodded. "One of them will be chosen as your steward."
Serena spread the papers on the table. Two of the candidates had experience as butlers in noble households, while the third specialized in managing finances—he had worked as an accountant at a healing center.
Serena picked up the last one carefully, her gloved hand brushing the parchment. "This one…".
Lucas looked at the paper, "Him? I thought you'd choose one of the butlers."
Serena forced a smile. "Well, he's skilled in management."
Lucas sighed deeply—not wanting to pry further. "If you say so…"