The atmosphere of the dinner was softer and more pleasant than I had imagined before coming. It truly felt like a family gathered together, chatting warmly, and my tension gradually eased.
I had thought everyone would be strict, but both Empress Ludmila and Emperor Carlo treated me affectionately.
Seizing the mood, I carefully set down the box I had prepared.
“What is this, Lady Artienne?”
“It’s a gift I brought for Her Majesty the Empress.”
At that, Empress Ludmila’s eyes went wide for a moment.
“Oh my. I’ve already received a gift. The Obiedo family sent one, did they not?”
“Still, I wanted to give Your Majesty a gift I chose myself.”
Had I been rude? From the very first time we met, Empress Ludmila had been kind to me, and so my guilt over lying was especially heavy.
I wasn’t even the real fiancée—did I deserve to hear such kind words?
So I had prepared it with half apology and half gratitude, but it seemed it was an unnecessary gift after all.
I glanced to the side, and the Crown Prince was staring intently at me.
His gaze seemed like a rebuke asking why I was doing something so pointless, and my heart pricked.
“I’m sorry, Your Majesty. I didn’t mean to put you in an awkward position. I simply prepared it because my gratitude toward you was so great, but…….”
As I sullenly tried to put the box away, Empress Ludmila smiled elegantly and shook her head.
“It’s not that it’s awkward, Lady Artienne. I was simply a little surprised by the unexpected gift. If it’s all right, may I open it here? I would like to share Lady Artienne’s warm consideration with everyone.”
At the Empress’s kind words, my expression brightened.
What a relief, truly. I had worried about what to do if it was an unwelcome gesture.
Feeling needlessly shy, I smiled faintly and nodded.
“Yes. Of course. I’m not sure if you’ll like it.”
It was a gift I had prepared after quite a long deliberation, so I hoped Empress Ludmila would like it.
I watched, secretly tense, as Empress Ludmila unwrapped the box.
His Majesty the Emperor and Princess Marie were also paying attention to my gift, which made my face burn.
“What on earth could the gift Lady Artienne prepared be?”
Murmuring as if singing in a thoroughly excited voice, Empress Ludmila soon opened the lid of the box.
And Empress Ludmila froze.
“Dear?”
His Majesty the Emperor called out, but she did not move in the slightest. She didn’t even blink.
Surely the teapot set hadn’t broken?
I had been so careful to keep it from breaking that there was no way!
“Oh my.”
A short exclamation escaped the Empress’s slightly parted lips. What did it mean?
“Good heavens. This can’t be. Am I dreaming right now?”
The Empress, as if she had never been frozen, cupped her cheeks with both hands and spoke rapid-fire.
“Isn’t this the work of the artisan Jürgen? I know every single piece he has ever released, but this is the first time I’ve seen this one. This delicate pattern, this sensuous arrangement. A scene that no artisan but a seasoned master could create……!”
I could feel just how much the Empress loved the artisan Jürgen’s work.
At that reaction, I let out a sigh of relief. Thank goodness. It seemed she liked it.
As I watched the Empress rejoicing with a gratified smile, she raised her head and looked at me.
“I can guarantee it. This is genuine. It’s a piece that no one but the artisan Jürgen could make. Which means this is a new work by the artisan Jürgen…….”
“Yes.”
“How did you obtain it, Lady Artienne?”
Fortunately, it was one of the questions I had anticipated.
Bringing the work of an artisan said to have ceased producing, I had of course prepared at least this much.
“It was a piece owned by an old friend of my father’s, and I brought it to give to Your Majesty the Empress. Is it truly a new work?”
It wasn’t entirely a lie.
My father wasn’t that father, and the old friend was in fact the artisan Jürgen, but still.
“Of course, Lady Artienne. This is undoubtedly a new work. Ah, truly, I can’t contain myself. I want to announce this joyous news to everyone!”
Seeing her delight made me feel good. Fortunately, the Empress was so absorbed in the teapot set that she didn’t seem to notice my vague answer about its origins.
It was quite some time before the Empress calmed her excitement.
In the meantime, Princess Marie spoke to me affectionately.
“If oppa is mean to you, tell me right away. All right, sister?”
“Yes. I will. Princess.”
“Oh my, what’s with ‘Princess.’ It’s too distant. Please call me Marie.”
“Uh…… that is…….”
It felt strange to address her so casually when she had once been my superior.
I don’t know what to do.
I checked Adrian’s reaction again, but he continued to stare only at me without a word.
I must not make a mistake. How do I get through this crisis?
“Marie! Call me Marie!”
“Yes, new daughter-in-law. Call her by name.”
Even Her Majesty the Empress!
The effect of the gift seemed to be good—perhaps too good. Her gaze had turned so benevolent that it seemed she would forgive anything I did.
Still, that was that. I couldn’t so easily address her so casually.
If I failed to read the room and used her name, it might be held against me later.
I recalled what Madam Lucy had earnestly impressed upon me. She had warned me never to trust anyone in the imperial palace.
Even herself, she said……. Wait, then should I not believe what Madam Lucy told me either?
My head grew complicated.
As I laughed awkwardly, Princess Marie pressed me further.
“I’ll call you Sister Artienne too. No, can I call you Sister Artie?”
Was Princess Marie this sociable a person?
Should I allow it? I checked Crown Prince Adrian’s reaction, but the Crown Prince, whatever he was thinking, only stared intently at me and showed no reaction.
It was another voice that saved me then.
“There is propriety even among family, Marie. What rudeness is this toward your sister-in-law?”
Emperor Carlo reprimanded Princess Marie in a deliberately stern voice.
Princess Marie, of course, only furrowed her brow as if asking what the interference was about.
“Father.”
“Why do you call me, my daughter.”
“Are you getting revenge now because I interfered when you told sister-in-law to call you Father earlier?”
“Ah, that’s not it.”
Emperor Carlo pretended not to know and looked elsewhere. Princess Marie, undaunted, continued to glare at His Majesty.
What a remarkable princess.
Having drifted from the center of attention, I turned my gaze to the main dish.
It was a thick pork loin, gently fried and glazed with mustard sauce, and the meat melted in my mouth like ice cream.
To be able to eat something this delicious—perhaps dinners weren’t so bad after all.
Just as I was filled with emotion at the happiness of a mouthful, my eyes suddenly met the Empress’s. Ugh.
“Come to think of it, Adrian, new daughter-in-law.”
The Empress, having rinsed her mouth with wine, regarded us.
“Isn’t it about time to set a wedding date and formally have the two of you married?”
I had a bad feeling about this.
At the unexpected question, I could feel the color draining from my face.
Marriage. Lord Essen was said to be returning soon, so it was time for my role to end. Which was precisely why marriage was a topic I wanted to avoid as much as possible.
I subtly glanced to the side, and my eyes met the Crown Prince’s, who had been staring at me.
The man, who had been frowning as if something displeased him, let out a sigh barely audible and turned his gaze away from me.
“It seems too early for that.”
“Too early?”
The Empress asked back as if she could not understand.
Adrian’s large hand grasped mine. I knew it was only an act, yet my heart pounded.
“My fiancée has yet to fully adjust to life in the imperial palace, and I wish to postpone such a heavy responsibility for her as much as possible, so I would like to marry after a little more time has passed.”
The Crown Prince’s hand holding mine tightened.
“Oh my.”
At the sight of us, the Empress was moved, the Emperor looked pleased, and Princess Marie wore a sour expression.
His words sounded so much like genuine concern for me that I nearly mistook them for truth, but I steadied my heart.
I must not misunderstand. Once Lord Essen returns, I must go back to my original place.
