When the Guide Stopped Playing a Villainess, the Obsession Began - Chapter 24
After returning to her palace, Lea changed clothes with Rose’s help.
Once she had changed into a comfortable nightgown, she sat down at the table to drink some warm tea at Rose’s suggestion.
She felt quite good at that moment.
The thought that she had deceived her mother without harming Calix filled her with a quiet sense of pride.
In the past, she had heard nothing but ‘idiot’, ‘fool’, ‘imbecile’ from her mother every day. But now, for the first time, she felt a sense of fulfillment from making her own decisions and acting on them.
After pouring the tea, Rose placed a few macarons and a small cheesecake in front of her and said,
“They say sweets improve your mood, Lady Haisley.”
“Really?”
Lea casually picked up a fork and took a bite of the cake, chewing slowly.
Rose had assumed she would be feeling down. After all, she had gone out all dressed up, only to return with grape juice all over her.
Unaware of Rose’s concern, Lea sipped her tea in high spirits.
“I’m going to bed early tonight.”
She hadn’t been able to sleep properly the past few days due to all the worrying. Now that she had pulled off her scheme, the release of tension brought on a wave of drowsiness.
“Understood. I’ll prepare your bed.”
“Okay. Thank you.”
Rose, about to head to the bedroom, paused and turned around at those words. Recently, Lea had been saying thank you quite often.
At first, Rose had been suspicious, wondering if it was just a temporary whim. But even though she was paying her to discreetly send food to the Crown Prince’s palace, Lea had still thanked her sincerely.
After a short pause, Rose quietly replied,
“It’s nothing, Milady.”
“No, really. Thank you.”
Lea murmured, drifting off in a pleasant sleepiness.
She meant it.
She was genuinely thankful—and sorry—to everyone she had wronged in the past.
After tidying the bed quickly, Rose led her in. She watched the now-sleeping Lea for a moment, then smiled faintly and turned off the lamp.
In the darkened, quiet room, only the sound of steady breathing remained.
* * *
The next day, Lea received an unexpected summons.
Once again, the one sent to fetch her was Zion.
“Lady Haisley, Her Majesty the Empress has summoned you.”
The thought that her scheme might have been discovered made her mind race.
Then she noticed Zion kneeling on one knee before her and held out her hand.
He took her small hand with a bright smile and pressed it to his forehead.
As a refreshing energy flowed into him, the throbbing headache he’d had vanished, and he closed his eyes.
With them closed, he could feel the energy coursing through his body even more clearly.
But the refreshing sensation disappeared quickly.
The guiding had been tantalizingly short and left him wanting more, but he didn’t show it. In fact, he was pleased by the idea that he alone knew the truth.
“My mother is looking for me?”
Lea asked with confusion, and Zion responded respectfully.
“It seems she’s curious about what happened at yesterday’s banquet.”
Zion recalled the events of the previous night. He had been secretly watching her from a distance. He had seen Lea deliberately spill the grape juice, but hadn’t told anyone.
Surely she had her reasons. Or even if she didn’t, he didn’t care.
As one of the Empress’s close aides, Zion had observed how this mother and daughter navigated the imperial court.
Though he reported most things to the Emperor, there were times he omitted details intentionally. In some ways, he might know more than the Emperor himself.
Meanwhile, Lea bit her lip in tension.
Her mother had often assigned her tasks, but she had never called her in personally afterward. The idea of facing her mother two days in a row made her feel like the breakfast she’d eaten was going to come back up.
Lea had no choice but to follow Zion.
When they arrived at the Empress’s palace, the chief lady-in-waiting greeted her with the same indifferent expression as yesterday.
Inside, Bianca was waiting.
She wasn’t receiving a massage like she had been the day before, but lounged idly on the couch—like a well-fed fox.
“You called for me, Mother?”
“Yes, Lea. Come here.”
She looked to be in an unusually good mood.
Lea, who had half expected another vase to be thrown at her, was momentarily caught off guard.
“Is it so surprising that your mother would summon you?”
