My doubts were short-lived; the Crown Prince furrowed his brow.
“You’ve seen something you shouldn’t have.”
I offer my deepest apologies to Your Highness’s eyeballs.
A fierce sense of skepticism washed over me at my situation—having to apologize for something like this now.
Why do humans live? And yet, I still want to live.
My own survival instinct was so pathetic it made me sad.
“Your Highness the Crown Prince.”
Just then, another figure besides Terni and Diano appeared—someone who attended the Crown Prince. It was an official from the Royal Household Department, mainly responsible for announcing official schedules.
“What is it?”
The official approached the Crown Prince, and the two exchanged whispered words.
I stood awkwardly, unable to do this or that, just watching for cues.
“Understood. I’ll stop by later.”
“I will relay that to His Majesty.”
The official gave a polite bow and disappeared. I wanted to get a grasp of the situation, but before I could, Crown Prince Adrian spoke to me first.
“I’ll escort you.”
Huh? I thought he would just tell me to go, but saying he’d escort me felt strange.
What’s with him? He’s not the kind of person to show such delicate consideration.
“Your Highness, don’t you have somewhere to be?”
“I do.”
“Th-then why……?”
As I looked at him in confusion, the Crown Prince clicked his tongue.
“In case you run off.”
I knew it. The fondness that had almost risen vanished—no, it was annihilated. What did I expect?
I followed diligently behind Adrian, who walked ahead. Fortunately, we arrived at Lily Palace quickly.
Will he come all the way to my bedroom?
I was watching for cues when the Crown Prince stopped in front of the door to the bedroom I mainly used.
What is it?
“Hah…….”
The Crown Prince wore a distant expression, as if lost in thought.
Come to think of it, this was the bedroom where the runaway fiancé had stayed.
Truly, he must have loved that fiancé…….
Just moments ago, I had thought he was a person utterly lacking in humanity, but now I felt a little weak-hearted.
Yes, I suppose I can’t understand that sorrow—having no choice but to dress his beloved fiancé in women’s clothes.
I looked at the Crown Prince with a pitying feeling.
“What are you looking at?”
“Huh?”
Of course, the pity vanished in one second.
He was an extraordinary person.
Chapter 3. The Real Power of the Imperial Palace
After finishing my morning studies, I was about to take a breather when Madam Lucy popped out from somewhere and caught my attention.
“Now, Lady Artienne. What is today’s schedule?”
“……What?”
Schedule? Wasn’t it just studying as usual?
I froze stiffly, thinking a new schedule had been made without my knowledge, and stared at her. Madam Lucy laughed, “Ohoho,” clearly delighted about something.
“It is, drumroll please…….”
Madam Lucy began making sound effects all by herself. How thrilling and lovely.
Following those sound effects, a sense of unease crept over me for no reason. Seeing as she bothered to mention it, there was definitely a schedule different from usual.
As if to tease my unsettled heart, she laughed brightly and clapped her hands.
“It’s a visit to Grace Palace! Ohohoho!”
“……What……?”
Grace Palace? The Empress’s palace?! There was still time before the ball, so why Grace Palace? So today was my death anniversary. If I had known in advance, I would have slept in longer.
No. I’m going to sleep forever, so what’s the use of sleeping in? Hehe, what is life…….
At the shocking schedule, my mind briefly ran away far away before returning.
“I suppose I must go?”
“What kind of obvious thing is that! Her Majesty the Empress is waiting. Now, hurry and get ready. Wake up, my lady. Ohohoho!”
I was dragged into the dressing room with a dying expression.
While Madam Lucy was busy changing my clothes, I suddenly raised my head at a question that came to mind. She was pondering what would suit me best with the most serious expression in the world.
“Madam Lucy. Will His Highness the Crown Prince be coming as well?”
He was a somewhat unhelpful Crown Prince, but going together seemed better than meeting the Empress alone.
A private audience with the Empress, whom I had never even seen—just thinking about it gave me goosebumps all over.
But nothing in the world goes as one wishes.
Madam Lucy shook her head firmly.
“No. Her Majesty the Empress secretly summoned only Lady Artienne. Isn’t it a great honor?”
I don’t need that kind of honor…….
Why do the people here keep giving me honors and opportunities I never asked for? Once again, skepticism about life washed over me.
After quite a long time, my preparations to go to Grace Palace were finished. Since the person I was meeting privately was Her Majesty the Empress, it took longer than usual to dress up.
“As expected of my skill! You look lovely, Lady Artienne. Ohohoho! Perfect, perfect!”
The praise didn’t make me happy. It was the final grooming before walking to my death—how could I be happy?
Still, it was true that Madam Lucy’s skill was excellent, so my reflection in the mirror looked better than usual.
I placed a hand on my chest to calm my pounding heart, took a deep breath, and opened the door.
I turned toward Grace Palace and slowly raised my head at the chest of someone right in front of me.
It was the Crown Prince.
“……Ah.”
I let out a low gasp.
My luck was terrible from the morning.
To see the Crown Prince the moment I stepped out of my bedroom! Today is ruined.
“Ah, my eyes.”
Even worse, the Crown Prince furrowed his brow the moment he saw my face and covered his eyes with one hand.
Picking a fight the moment we meet, ugh.
“What are you doing?”
“What?”
“I said I hate being made to ask twice.”
“Uh……. I was going to go somewhere.”
He narrowed his eyes sharply and looked at me. I shrank back and avoided his gaze.
A person can make someone ask twice, you know. He’s so impatient.
I harbored the thought that I might die the moment I said it aloud and watched his reaction. After a moment, he raised one corner of his mouth and looked me up and down.
“You? Where?”
I’m terribly sorry for trying to go somewhere, given my place…….
Afraid that opening my mouth might bring another death crisis, I quietly shut my mouth.
Perhaps thinking my behavior was defiance, the Crown Prince’s expression hardened subtly.
“I see you’ve finished your preparations perfectly. You must be looking forward to it.”
No, what am I supposed to do when the Empress summoned me!
Since she had summoned only me secretly, I couldn’t tell the Crown Prince either.
Unable to do this or that, I stood there shrinking, when suddenly the door opened and Madam Lucy came out.
She was startled to see me still not departed.
“Oh my? What are you doing, my lady, not leaving yet?”
He’s the one who wouldn’t let me go. It’s not that I don’t want to go.
“Where are you going?”
“Ohohoho. We’re going to see Her Majesty the Empress! Her Majesty summoned Lady Artienne!”
Madam Lucy chattered excitedly.
No, you said it was a secret summons. Wasn’t it a secret? If it was okay to tell, I would have told the Crown Prince.
Remembering the suffocating silence from moments ago, I felt terribly wronged.
Soon the Crown Prince turned his gaze to me. Meeting that piercing, sharp gaze directly, I shrank endlessly.
“The Empress?”
His voice was even mocking.
“If you spout nonsense, I’ll kill you.”
That low warning gave me goosebumps again.
“I’m uneasy about this. Just answer ‘yes’ no matter what.”
“What? Yes.”
He said to only say ‘yes,’ so I should answer ‘yes.’
“Aren’t you going?”
At his urging, I moved my heavy feet. But before I could take a few steps, the Crown Prince caught me.
“Not that direction.”
“Ah.”
I thought I had hidden my lack of direction well all this time, but it was exposed like this. I hurriedly turned the opposite way.
“Not that direction either.”
“…….”
The Crown Prince personally grabbed me and pointed me in the right direction. Only then could I start walking.
A private audience with the Empress—how on earth should I behave? I couldn’t even begin to guess. Surely my prediction that today was my dying day was correct.
Suddenly, the desserts I had planned to eat today flickered before my eyes.
As I walked with mournful steps, I stopped at the sound of someone’s footsteps following behind me.
When I turned my head, the Crown Prince was following me.
“Why are you coming…….”
“What does it matter to you where I go? Do you want to die?”
“No, I’m sorry. I was wrong. Please spare me.”
He doesn’t even let me speak.
After I threw a full apology party, instead of killing me, he jerked his chin toward the path.
So he meant shut up and walk. Relieved that I wouldn’t die immediately, I headed back toward Grace Palace.
The Crown Prince followed me until I reached Grace Palace. What was he planning? When I stopped in front of the door, he stopped as well.
Uh……. I hesitated and stared at his face.
“Don’t stand there blocking the way.”
“Are you…… coming in?”
“Then why do you think I came all the way here?”
“…….”
I had nothing to say.
“Um, Your Highness. It’s a private audience with Her Majesty the Empress.”
I gathered my courage and said it, wondering if he didn’t know, but he didn’t even pretend to hear. Instead, he passed me standing there dumbfounded and entered Grace Palace.
Watching his back disappear at a pace so fast I could hardly keep up, I hurried after him.
“W-wait a moment!”
Without giving me time to prepare myself, he threw open the door to the reception room.
Bang!
Beyond the door that opened without warning, Empress Ludmila appeared with a startled expression.
Wow. Wow…….
I was appalled. I knew he was reckless, but I didn’t expect him to be this outrageous.
“Welcome, Lady Artienne.”
“I greet Her Majesty the Empress. May Archangele’s blessing be with you.”
“May Archangele’s blessing be with you as well.”
To survive, I had to stay alert. I struggled to hold on to my mind that wanted to run away, and smiled at Empress Ludmila.
Then, feeling the Crown Prince’s glaring gaze, I involuntarily shrank back.
Was it because I added words other than ‘yes’ as he had ordered? But I couldn’t omit a greeting to the Empress, you villain!
“I don’t recall summoning my son?”
