“Your Highness. Well...”
“No, no. I understand what you mean. It’s not something I have to wear, so I could have just put it on my formal attire in the first place. I don’t know why you make people feel so uncomfortable...”
Her words, which she had left unfinished and left blurry, contained a mockery that said, “You must be so comfortable that you would bother to go through such a hassle,” but no one seemed to notice.
Or, even if they had, they would have kept their mouths shut.
Erdene said,
“Understood. Go ahead.”
The attendants exchanged frightened glances again and began to put on the accessories one by one.
It was somehow much slower than before.
‘Will it end before the sun sets?’
Erdene felt her patience disappearing by the minute. She was about to get upset at the ridiculously cautious and slow movements—by her standards—even though it wasn’t even the wedding day.
“Your Highness, the Marchioness Fiddlers and Viscountess Wickes request an audience with Your Highness.”
How odd. Erdene let out a short sigh and said without turning her head.
“I permit it, so come in.”
The short Viscountess Wickes hurriedly led the way, and the Marchioness Fiddlers followed her stiffly and arrogantly.
It was as if she was coming to collect a debt, not to meet with the Princess of another country who would become Queen tomorrow.
‘Who is that?’
Erdene knew that there were three people in her field of vision without having to turn her head.
Behind the Marchioness, there was another woman as petite as Viscountess Wickes.
Judging by her hair, her youthful face, and her clothes, she was probably the daughter or relative of one of the two.
The maids wearing their jewelry paused for a moment and gave them a brief courtesy.
The Marchioness Fiddler stared at Erdene, who was dressed in Vetor’s wedding attire as if she had no interest in their greetings. Her prominent nose twitched in discontent.
“Your Majesty, Vetor’s wedding attire suits you very well.”
Viscountess Wickes said, bowing courtly and trying to compliment her in a bright voice.
“Don’t you think so, Marchioness?”
The Marchioness snapped back.
“Her Highness’s wedding is tomorrow, and it’s against the law to call her Your Majesty, Viscountess.”
Before she could finish speaking, Erdene snorted as if to make her hear.
Was she originally stupid, or was her stubbornness making her stupid...
Either way, the result was the same, but now she was not angry but only laughing at her foolish behavior that made it hard to believe she was a Marchioness.
“How long are you going to keep me here? Put on the rest of my jewelry.”
At Erdene’s order, the pitiful Viscountess Wickes flinched.
However, the ones she was ordering were the maids who had been standing back.
The maids, who had been hesitating in the chilly and dangerous atmosphere where something seemed like it was going to happen, picked up their jewelry again.
Only then did Erdene look at them with only her bright blue eyes.
“You didn’t come here to talk about Vetor’s laws in front of me, did you?”
The Marchioness twitched her lips with a displeased expression and glanced behind her.
“Sophia, come forward.”
Only then did Erdene turn her head and look straight at the three of them.
The young lady standing behind the Marchioness slid forward.
While Erdene’s blue eyes moved as if searching, she spread the hem of her skirt and bowed slightly, bending her knees.
Her gaze was down, but her deep features showed considerable stubbornness.
Arkan’s eyebrows furrowed faintly as he closed his eyes.
His thoughts began to roll around aimlessly like a loose thread.
‘The ground is collapsing... It seems like a trap. Hmm, now that I think about it, it reminds me of old times. Was it when I was a Crown Prince and was learning about the Hirschsten Empire? About how they dug traps and annihilated their enemies at once...’
At that moment, Arkan’s eyes lit up.
He suddenly remembered what he had missed.
The maids, who looked to be of similar age and experience, each had a troubled expression on their face and muttered something for a while. They were probably just discussing whether or not it was okay to do that, but Erdene intentionally made a sour expression.
“If you start talking, then finish it.”
Among the maids who had briefly looked frightened and kept their mouths shut, one of them looked calm and looked up at Erdene.
“Your Highness, each and every one of these jewel accessories has its own meaning, so you must put them all on. You can’t take a single one-off.”
Erdene glanced at the table with eyes that seemed to have already grown tired.
There seemed to be about a dozen delicately crafted, small accessories left.
Erdene lowered her arms that she had been holding on both sides and moved her stiff neck here and there.
“They all look similar to me.”
Then the maid who had bravely tried to persuade her a moment ago spoke calmly once again.
“The opal chain on the chest symbolizes Her Majesty’s gentleness, and the blue beryl on the wrist symbolizes her wisdom. And also...”
“If you start talking, then finish it.”
Among the maids who had briefly looked frightened and kept their mouths shut, one of them looked calm and looked up at Erdene.
“Your Highness, each and every one of these jewel accessories has its own meaning, so you must put them all on. You can’t take a single one-off.”
Erdene glanced at the table with eyes that seemed to have already grown tired.
There seemed to be about a dozen delicately crafted, small accessories left.
Erdene lowered her arms that she had been holding on both sides and moved her stiff neck here and there.
“They all look similar to me.”
Then the maid who had bravely tried to persuade her a moment ago spoke calmly once again.
“The opal chain on the chest symbolizes Her Majesty’s gentleness, and the blue beryl on the wrist symbolizes her wisdom. And also...”
When Erdene waved her hand, she immediately closed her lips and raised her head with a frightened expression.
“No, no. I understand what you mean. It’s not something I have to wear, so I could have just put it on my formal attire in the first place. I don’t know why you make people feel so uncomfortable...”
Her words, which she had left unfinished and left blurry, contained a mockery that said, “You must be so comfortable that you would bother to go through such a hassle,” but no one seemed to notice.
Or, even if they had, they would have kept their mouths shut.
Erdene said,
“Understood. Go ahead.”
The attendants exchanged frightened glances again and began to put on the accessories one by one.
It was somehow much slower than before.
‘Will it end before the sun sets?’
Erdene felt her patience disappearing by the minute. She was about to get upset at the ridiculously cautious and slow movements—by her standards—even though it wasn’t even the wedding day.
“Your Highness, the Marchioness Fiddlers and Viscountess Wickes request an audience with Your Highness.”
How odd. Erdene let out a short sigh and said without turning her head.
“I permit it, so come in.”
The short Viscountess Wickes hurriedly led the way, and the Marchioness Fiddlers followed her stiffly and arrogantly.
It was as if she was coming to collect a debt, not to meet with the Princess of another country who would become Queen tomorrow.
‘Who is that?’
Erdene knew that there were three people in her field of vision without having to turn her head.
Behind the Marchioness, there was another woman as petite as Viscountess Wickes.
Judging by her hair, her youthful face, and her clothes, she was probably the daughter or relative of one of the two.
The maids wearing their jewelry paused for a moment and gave them a brief courtesy.
The Marchioness Fiddler stared at Erdene, who was dressed in Vetor’s wedding attire as if she had no interest in their greetings. Her prominent nose twitched in discontent.
“Your Majesty, Vetor’s wedding attire suits you very well.”
Viscountess Wickes said, bowing courtly and trying to compliment her in a bright voice.
“Don’t you think so, Marchioness?”
The Marchioness snapped back.
“Her Highness’s wedding is tomorrow, and it’s against the law to call her Your Majesty, Viscountess.”
Before she could finish speaking, Erdene snorted as if to make her hear.
Was she originally stupid, or was her stubbornness making her stupid...
Either way, the result was the same, but now she was not angry but only laughing at her foolish behavior that made it hard to believe she was a Marchioness.
“How long are you going to keep me here? Put on the rest of my jewelry.”
At Erdene’s order, the pitiful Viscountess Wickes flinched.
However, the ones she was ordering were the maids who had been standing back.
The maids, who had been hesitating in the chilly and dangerous atmosphere where something seemed like it was going to happen, picked up their jewelry again.
Only then did Erdene look at them with only her bright blue eyes.
“You didn’t come here to talk about Vetor’s laws in front of me, did you?”
The Marchioness twitched her lips with a displeased expression and glanced behind her.
“Sophia, come forward.”
Only then did Erdene turn her head and look straight at the three of them.
The young lady standing behind the Marchioness slid forward.
While Erdene’s blue eyes moved as if searching, she spread the hem of her skirt and bowed slightly, bending her knees.
Her gaze was down, but her deep features showed considerable stubbornness.
“This is my youngest daughter, Sophia.”
Said the Marchioness. Erdene’s gaze briefly touched the Marchioness.
Said the Marchioness. Erdene’s gaze briefly touched the Marchioness.
“She doesn’t look much like you.”
Whether it was true or because she wanted to ignore Erdene, the Marchioness said to her daughter without saying anything.
“What are you doing, Sophia? Not greeting Her Highness.”
When Sophia raised her head, her face was more clearly visible. Her large, slightly upturned eyes were impressive. Her nose and lips were small compared to her eyes, but they didn’t feel out of proportion. The slightly raised bridge of her nose made her look like a child who was about to cause trouble, which was also cute.
“Nice to meet you, I am Sophia Bischegelo Fiddler.”
Erdene and Sophia’s eyes met for a moment in the air.
“Your Highness.”
When Sophia added meaningfully, before Erdene could respond, Marchioness Fiddler interrupted.
“Sophia was originally meant to be His Majesty’s wife.”
'See? You’re going to come out and show off.'
Erdene tilted the corners of her mouth up, lowered her chin slightly, and opened her eyes.
“I see. So?”
Erdene stared intently at Sophia’s face, which refused to meet her gaze. The Marchioness, her mother, was so clearly visible, but her daughter had her eyes downcast and expressionless, making it difficult to know what she was thinking. The Marchioness continued.
“She has received a great education and is my daughter, but she is a talented woman without a doubt. Even if you look at all the children of the prominent families of Vetor, there is no one as witty and capable as she is. So how will you treat her as the close maid to Your Highness? Shouldn’t there be at least one close maid who can control and supervise those below?”
“A close maid?”
At that moment when Erdene clicked her tongue, the lips of the Marchioness Fiddlers pursed deeply and then shrank forcefully. Erdene stared at her with a speechless expression for a moment and thought, ‘Why are you making such a baggy expression?’
Marchioness Fiddlers pursed her lips as if trying to pull them in even further before saying,
“...His Majesty has given permission.”
Erdene’s expression turned cold in an instant. If Arkan had been there, he would have known that the Marchioness had lied or was about to lie just by seeing her lips purse, but Erdene had no way of knowing. She stared blankly at Sophia’s expressionless face, still unable to tell whether she had a thought or not, and muttered to herself.
‘So that’s how it’s going to come out? You’ve been lecturing me like that for a week without showing me your nose, and now you’re going to slap someone on the head without even asking my opinion.’
Erdene’s expression grew murderous. Arkan’s face, which she hadn’t seen for a week, came to mind. Erdene imagined punching him in the face with that utterly hateful grin—Arkan had never smiled like that in his life. It would be hard to hold back her anger and humiliation otherwise.
***
“Your Majesty, are you feeling chills?”
Arkan, who had been lost in thought with a book open on his lap, suddenly came to his senses at Plat’s words. His mind seemed to be clouded as if he had fallen asleep with his eyes open.
“Chills?”
“You shivered two or three times.”
“Me?”
Plat nodded as if to say, “I’ll call the palace doctor.”
“No, that’s okay. Chills? I don’t think I’ve ever shivered.”
Arkan leaned back in his comfortable, soft chair and closed his eyes. Even if it wasn’t chills like Plat had said, it was true that his whole body felt more sluggish than usual. He couldn’t even focus on his favorite book. What could it be?
Arkan tapped his forehead with the inside of his fist and fell into thought. He felt anxious as if he had missed something important, but at the same time, he felt as if an absurd incident awaited him. And it was absolutely ridiculous.
‘For example, something like this. It’s like the ground suddenly disappearing while you’re walking down the street. But that doesn’t usually happen...’
Arkan’s eyebrows furrowed faintly as he closed his eyes.
His thoughts began to roll around aimlessly like a loose thread.
‘The ground is collapsing... It seems like a trap. Hmm, now that I think about it, it reminds me of old times. Was it when I was a Crown Prince and was learning about the Hirschsten Empire? About how they dug traps and annihilated their enemies at once...’
At that moment, Arkan’s eyes lit up.
He suddenly remembered what he had missed.
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