“Did you wait long?”
At Adrian’s composed voice, Princess Marie pouted and cut in.
“Yeah. I waited forever.”
“Marie!”
The Empress reprimanded Princess Marie sternly, then turned her gracious gaze to her son and his wife.
“Both of you, come sit down. His Majesty is still occupied with official duties. He said he would come as soon as he finishes. Oh my, our new daughter-in-law is so pretty today. Did you dress up because you were coming to see us?”
“What? Th-that is…….”
Madam Lucy made me look like this……. I wanted to complain, but given the setting, I glanced around and simply bowed my head.
“Because I wanted to make a good impression on Your Majesty the Empress…….”
At my single remark, Empress Ludmila’s expression wavered.
Had I said something wrong? That was the only thing I could think of to say.
Just as I bit my lip, sensing I had misspoken, the Empress suddenly beamed and covered her mouth with her hand.
“What an utterly adorable reason. I nearly bit you, I did. Adrian, did you put her up to this by any chance?”
“No. Do I look like the sort of person who would?”
“I suppose not. New daughter-in-law, you truly are lovely today. Now, hurry and sit.”
I didn’t know what exactly had happened, but it seemed I had navigated it well.
As I cautiously took my seat, Princess Marie, sitting beside me, stared intently at me.
This is rather burdensome.
“Sister-in-law, you look even prettier than usual today. Is it because you dressed up after all?”
“Thank you. Princess Marie, you look even prettier today as well.”
“Oh my, then does that mean I’m usually not pretty?”
“Ah, no. That’s not what I…….”
Why did every member of the imperial family have the habit of seizing the tail end of a sentence and twisting it into something strange?
Having misspoken once and nearly ruined the mood, I was at a loss, when Crown Prince Adrian wrapped his arm around my shoulder, pulled me toward him, and glared at Princess Marie.
“You’re dead.”
“Wow, look at him protecting his own wife. Ugh. So cringey.”
“Can’t you watch your mouth?”
“Don’t want to.”
Sticking out her tongue, Princess Marie smiled and looked at me.
“I just wanted to tease you because you’re so gentle, sister-in-law. I’m sorry, sister-in-law.”
“Ah, no. It’s all right.”
“But do you really think I’m usually not pretty?”
As expected of siblings—even her grudges were exactly like Crown Prince Adrian’s.
As I smiled awkwardly, the Crown Prince glared at Princess Marie. Princess Marie smiled brightly, looked at me, then soon clapped her hands and burst into laughter.
What on earth was so amusing to her?
“I don’t know how long it’s been since our family gathered like this for a dinner. His Majesty hasn’t arrived yet, but he will surely be delighted.”
“That’s right. Sister-in-law was always ill and could never attend the dinners. I’m glad you seem to have gotten healthier these days.”
At Princess Marie’s words, I could only smile awkwardly.
Was that so? This was the first I’d heard that Artienne had a frail constitution.
I looked at Crown Prince Adrian to resolve my doubts, but he breezily ignored my gaze.
……There really isn’t a single person here to help me.
“Yes. Our new daughter-in-law was so frail and always quiet, with such a pale complexion, that I worried a great deal as well. I was relieved that you seemed to get along with Adrian, but health truly comes first.”
“Sister-in-law, let’s see each other’s faces often from now on. All right? We’re going to be family soon, after all.”
What affectionate people…….
It seemed I had suffered greatly since becoming Artienne. My heart ached. The words of Princess Marie and Her Majesty the Empress could not have been more moving.
Who said the imperial family was cold and heartless! Who on earth said that!
Looking at Crown Prince Adrian, I would have to agree, but for the two people before me, it did not apply in the slightest. Sob, sob. So kind.
“As Marie says, let us see each other often from now on. I’ve worried a great deal too, since you never seem to leave Lily Palace.”
“Sister-in-law, next time let’s have a tea party at my palace. How about it?”
“Oh my, the two of you meeting without this mother?”
“Aw, as if I would! Mother, you come too, and the three of us will have a tea party!”
“I would love that. Fu fu.”
Why was my opinion being ignored, and why was the atmosphere flowing toward a tea party as if it were already decided?
Before I could even say a word, the Princess and the Empress laughed side by side, “Fu fu fu,” and confirmed the tea party.
Crown Prince Adrian merely looked on indifferently at the two women and did not help me.
Madam Lucy, I think you were right. This is a battlefield…….
“His Majesty the Emperor is entering.”
Just then, at the attendant’s cry, the door opened and Emperor Carlo, a man of imposing build, stepped inside.
I reflexively tried to rise from my seat, but the rest of the family remained seated at ease and welcomed the Emperor’s entrance.
Uh, uh? Shouldn’t I be standing?
“Your Majesty, welcome.”
“Empress. Did you wait long?”
“No. We were chatting, and I didn’t even notice the time passing.”
Princess Marie and Crown Prince Adrian greeted him with a silent bow. I, caught off guard, also bowed to the Emperor in the same manner as them.
At Empress Ludmila’s invitation, the Emperor took the seat of honor and looked straight at me.
Ugh, I’m on pins and needles. I grew anxious, wondering if I should rise even now, kneel, and greet him properly. Wh-what should I do.
Every time, I had only seen him in portraits, or from afar with my head bowed during his processions—seeing only his legs and feet, or hearing his voice, or glimpsing him from a distance. Now, to have an audience with him up close, tension made my back go rigid.
The Emperor was the Emperor.
The tremendous pressure made it impossible to breathe properly. The heart that had melted thanks to the Empress and the Princess froze over again.
I must not let my guard down!
His Majesty’s stern expression was frightening. The sense that something about me displeased him made me even more on edge.
Was I really too rude after all? Just as I was worrying about this and that—
“Daughter-in-law.”
With a gentle smile, Emperor Carlo called for me.
At those words, Adrian’s expression crumpled miserably.
“Y-yes…….”
He was calling me, wasn’t he? In my haste to answer, I was so flustered that my voice came out strangely.
The Emperor looked at me and, with a thoroughly pleased smile, opened his mouth.
“It’s been a long time. At the Empress’s party last time, I was too busy to greet you properly, so I’m glad to see you in such a relaxed setting. You’re very lovely today as well, our daughter-in-law.”
“Th-thank you. Your Majesty.”
Every time the word “daughter-in-law” came from His Majesty’s mouth, Crown Prince Adrian’s expression changed miserably.
I wondered if it was really all right to so openly crumple his face like that, but right now my own survival was the urgent matter.
“Your Majesty, between us? Just call me Father. Haha. To have the whole family gathered like this—I couldn’t be more pleased. Won’t you come to Kristen Palace later and keep an old man company now and then?”
“C-company?!”
No, that’s a bit. Is that really all right? I’m not confident.
Just as I was flustered, at a loss for what to say, Princess Marie suddenly snapped.
“Ah, what kind of flirtation is that with your daughter-in-law!”
At Princess Marie’s unrestrained outcry, the Emperor wore a wounded expression.
“What do you mean by that, Marie. A daughter-in-law is a daughter to me too.”
“A daughter-in-law is a daughter-in-law! What kind of absurd nonsense is that? Ah, Father, stop showing off!”
Stop showing off, to the Emperor. As I held my breath in shock—
Not a single member of the imperial family except me was surprised by Princess Marie’s behavior.
No, even when I served her as a maid, she was not a person who used such a tone.
Princess Marie wore a genuinely displeased expression and kept Emperor Carlo at a distance.
“Ah, seriously. Aren’t you embarrassed? Sister-in-law is going to be Adrian oppa’s wife!”
“Embarrassed, Marie? Are you saying this father embarrasses you now?”
“Of course!”
No, wait, Princess. Hold on!
Just as I was about to stop her in alarm, the Empress elegantly and gracefully called the two of them.
“Marie, and Your Majesty. Both of you, that’s enough. And Marie, watch your words. How can you speak so disrespectfully in front of your sister-in-law? Where is your dignity?”
“What does it matter. She’ll find out soon enough anyway.”
“And what if Artie ends up disliking you?”
“Gasp. Sister-in-law, do you dislike me?!”
No, it’s not that I dislike you……. But I couldn’t exactly say I liked you either.
As I smiled, unsure how to answer, Crown Prince Adrian, who had been silent beside me, retorted flatly.
“She says she dislikes you.”
Your Highness, I haven’t said I dislike her yet.
Princess Marie visibly slumped. She had been so lively just moments ago, and now she suddenly dropped her shoulders and hung her head.
She looked so dejected that I felt sorry even to speak to her.
For some reason, Crown Prince Adrian smiled at Princess Marie like that. What a nasty personality.
As I hesitated, not knowing how to lift her spirits, the maids took that moment to wheel in trays and set the table.
Along with the pre-dinner bread, an amuse-bouche was placed before us.
The bite-sized cheese sauce and meatballs were so pretty I couldn’t easily touch them.
At the same time, the mushroom soup served in a small martini glass was unique and lovely.
“Then, in commemoration of our family gathering for a dinner after so long, shall we make a toast?”
At the Emperor’s words, everyone raised their glasses of white wine. I joined in appropriately.
Crown Prince Adrian wore an expression that asked why he had to bother with such things, but he did not voice any particular complaint.
“To the peace of Appennino.”
“To it―!”
