The old page must have been quite uncomfortable, but Heidi didn't seem to care much. She said that she would soon be transferred to another palace in conjunction with the new Emperor's enthronement. And she was going to be a maid there. Perhaps that was why she didn't care much about Ines.
After Heidi left, Ines got up from her bed. She had successfully entered the palace with great hope, but she still felt lost.
The castle without a master had no knights except for those guarding the main gate.
Ines quietly walked through the deserted garden. The Crown Princess's palace was not far from Granzaim Castle where Carson was staying, but the chance to see him was far away.
"Ines."
At that moment, Casey approached her urgently.
"What are you doing at this hour?"
"I have something urgent to tell you."
Seeing her anxious expression, Ines's heart also became anxious.
"I think this castle will soon have a master."
"Yes?"
Her heart raced at those words. This palace was the palace used by the Crown Princess. It was a castle large enough for the future Empress to use. Who on earth could be the owner of such a place? Could it be the new mistress of the castle?
When Ines met Carson, she was faced with the new reality that he might marry someone for the first time.
“Who is that...?”
“Princess Louisiane will be here soon.”
“Ah...”
At that moment, Ines realized that she was greatly relieved.
It was something she had not thought of even when she realized that she had feelings she shouldn’t have had at Jacohena Square.
Carson would have a wife someday. That meant that there was one more thing she had to endure.
“Probably, the coronation will be held soon, so I think she will come before the coronation.”
If the coronation was a procedure to declare the Emperor as Emperor in front of the Emperor and his ministers, then the coronation was the place to declare the Emperor as Emperor in front of God and the people of the empire.
“We’ll probably be kicked out before the Princess enters this castle.”
It was natural. There would be no need to leave traces of the previous power behind in the place where the only blood relative of Carson, who would become the new Emperor, would enter...
“We have to move now, Ines. We don’t have time.”
Ines agreed with Casey. She wanted to stand before him proudly after becoming a maid, but she didn’t have time to do that right now.
“You won’t be able to reach the lord right away, right?”
“Well, he’s not someone I can easily meet if I ask. I can’t even ask for an audience.”
“Well, you know Sir Noah Timothy?”
“Yes.”
“Is there a way to meet him?”
“One of my friends is a maid in the palace. I might be able to deliver a letter if I ask. Of course, this isn’t certain either.”
“Then I’ll write a letter.”
Even if she couldn’t ask to be a maid right away, it would be possible for Noah to ask to have Casey and Ines stay here a little longer.
If the letter had been delivered to Noah, they could have met Carson earlier.
The two soon finished writing the letter in Casey’s room.
Ines spent a lot of time with Casey, recalling many of the times she had spent with her at Romfield. However, as expected from her prudent nature, Casey kept quiet even in prison about what had brought her there. She had only heard that she had fallen into an unexpected trap.
After finishing the letter, Casey immediately left the Crown Princess Palace.
Ines could only wait anxiously for Noah’s answer.
Several days had passed since Ines had written the letter, but in the end, the letter did not reach Noah until the coronation ceremony.
Rumors were rife that the master would soon come to the empty castle. In the meantime, those who had been thorns in Casey’s side and Ines’s eyes could not hide their scorn.
Soon, the maid Casey was ordered to leave the palace.
The two had to leave the Crown Princess Palace by tomorrow. After that, she planned to stay in a temporary residence for two days before leaving the palace and then return home.
Ines sat in a corner of the garden of the Crown Princess Palace, which would become the Princess’s castle, and looked at the distant sky.
“Wow, it’s not easy.”
She sighed involuntarily. She had successfully left the house and entered the palace, but the palace was much higher than Ines had thought.
She looked far away at Granzaim Castle, where Carson would be staying.
The castle, which was exclusively for the Crown Prince, had the highest spire in the palace, as befitting the castle of the next Emperor.
No one called Carson a Marquis anymore. He was currently staying at the Crown Prince’s Palace, but as soon as the coronation was over, he would go to the Emperor’s Castle.
Ines thought that he was just like a person who could only look up to the sky.
“Should I sneak in?”
Ines snickered as she thought of the absurd idea.
“It would be lucky if I didn’t get stabbed by the knights.”
Of course, she wasn’t planning on backing down. If she got kicked out, she could find a way to get back in. For now, persuading her father would probably be the fastest way.
The longer she couldn’t see him, the more her heart grew flat.
At this point, it was no different from being outside the castle. She couldn’t be sure where he was going, what he was eating, or even if he was in the palace. Even inside the palace, Carson was a distant presence.
“Ine...s?”
But then a familiar voice was heard, and Ines jumped up from where she was sitting. When she turned around, the person she had been longing for was standing there.
The one who called her was surprisingly Charlotte.
“Charlotte!”
“What’s going on?”
Charlotte ran to Ines in one stride. Louis was beside her.
“You’re already in the castle?”
“Ah...”
Ines hesitated for a moment, unable to answer. She couldn’t believe that they were meeting here right now, and it was a little embarrassing to say that she was already in the castle.
“Oh, can we not speak informally now?”
Charlotte blushed for a moment. Louis tried to tell her to speak comfortably when they were alone, but she stepped between them. Then, she hugged Ines tightly as if they had just met and parted ways yesterday. Ines’ eyes closed naturally as Louis’ small body was held in her arms.
“It’s been a long time, Ines.”
“Yes, it’s really been a long time, Princess. How have you been?”
Louis nodded slightly instead of answering. As Ines looked at her shiny black hair, Carson’s image came to mind.
“Wasn’t it inconvenient to come here?”
Louis shook her head at Ines’ question and snuggled deeper into Ines’ arms. It meant that she didn’t want to say anything right now.
“Who is that...?”
“Princess Louisiane will be here soon.”
“Ah...”
At that moment, Ines realized that she was greatly relieved.
It was something she had not thought of even when she realized that she had feelings she shouldn’t have had at Jacohena Square.
Carson would have a wife someday. That meant that there was one more thing she had to endure.
“Probably, the coronation will be held soon, so I think she will come before the coronation.”
If the coronation was a procedure to declare the Emperor as Emperor in front of the Emperor and his ministers, then the coronation was the place to declare the Emperor as Emperor in front of God and the people of the empire.
“We’ll probably be kicked out before the Princess enters this castle.”
It was natural. There would be no need to leave traces of the previous power behind in the place where the only blood relative of Carson, who would become the new Emperor, would enter...
“We have to move now, Ines. We don’t have time.”
Ines agreed with Casey. She wanted to stand before him proudly after becoming a maid, but she didn’t have time to do that right now.
“You won’t be able to reach the lord right away, right?”
“Well, he’s not someone I can easily meet if I ask. I can’t even ask for an audience.”
“Well, you know Sir Noah Timothy?”
“Yes.”
“Is there a way to meet him?”
“One of my friends is a maid in the palace. I might be able to deliver a letter if I ask. Of course, this isn’t certain either.”
“Then I’ll write a letter.”
Even if she couldn’t ask to be a maid right away, it would be possible for Noah to ask to have Casey and Ines stay here a little longer.
If the letter had been delivered to Noah, they could have met Carson earlier.
The two soon finished writing the letter in Casey’s room.
Ines spent a lot of time with Casey, recalling many of the times she had spent with her at Romfield. However, as expected from her prudent nature, Casey kept quiet even in prison about what had brought her there. She had only heard that she had fallen into an unexpected trap.
After finishing the letter, Casey immediately left the Crown Princess Palace.
Ines could only wait anxiously for Noah’s answer.
***
Several days had passed since Ines had written the letter, but in the end, the letter did not reach Noah until the coronation ceremony.
Rumors were rife that the master would soon come to the empty castle. In the meantime, those who had been thorns in Casey’s side and Ines’s eyes could not hide their scorn.
Soon, the maid Casey was ordered to leave the palace.
The two had to leave the Crown Princess Palace by tomorrow. After that, she planned to stay in a temporary residence for two days before leaving the palace and then return home.
Ines sat in a corner of the garden of the Crown Princess Palace, which would become the Princess’s castle, and looked at the distant sky.
“Wow, it’s not easy.”
She sighed involuntarily. She had successfully left the house and entered the palace, but the palace was much higher than Ines had thought.
She looked far away at Granzaim Castle, where Carson would be staying.
The castle, which was exclusively for the Crown Prince, had the highest spire in the palace, as befitting the castle of the next Emperor.
No one called Carson a Marquis anymore. He was currently staying at the Crown Prince’s Palace, but as soon as the coronation was over, he would go to the Emperor’s Castle.
Ines thought that he was just like a person who could only look up to the sky.
“Should I sneak in?”
Ines snickered as she thought of the absurd idea.
“It would be lucky if I didn’t get stabbed by the knights.”
Of course, she wasn’t planning on backing down. If she got kicked out, she could find a way to get back in. For now, persuading her father would probably be the fastest way.
The longer she couldn’t see him, the more her heart grew flat.
At this point, it was no different from being outside the castle. She couldn’t be sure where he was going, what he was eating, or even if he was in the palace. Even inside the palace, Carson was a distant presence.
“Ine...s?”
But then a familiar voice was heard, and Ines jumped up from where she was sitting. When she turned around, the person she had been longing for was standing there.
The one who called her was surprisingly Charlotte.
“Charlotte!”
“What’s going on?”
Charlotte ran to Ines in one stride. Louis was beside her.
“You’re already in the castle?”
“Ah...”
Ines hesitated for a moment, unable to answer. She couldn’t believe that they were meeting here right now, and it was a little embarrassing to say that she was already in the castle.
“Oh, can we not speak informally now?”
Charlotte blushed for a moment. Louis tried to tell her to speak comfortably when they were alone, but she stepped between them. Then, she hugged Ines tightly as if they had just met and parted ways yesterday. Ines’ eyes closed naturally as Louis’ small body was held in her arms.
“It’s been a long time, Ines.”
“Yes, it’s really been a long time, Princess. How have you been?”
Louis nodded slightly instead of answering. As Ines looked at her shiny black hair, Carson’s image came to mind.
“Wasn’t it inconvenient to come here?”
Louis shook her head at Ines’ question and snuggled deeper into Ines’ arms. It meant that she didn’t want to say anything right now.
Instead of the silent Louis, Ines asked Charlotte.
“Wasn’t it supposed to come a few days later?”
“We came to the capital yesterday. I was able to visit the palace thanks to Her Highness the Princess.”
That was the whole story. Carson had hoped that Louis would come to the palace for the coronation ceremony. Charlotte had not yet finished her service in the temple and was supposed to return to the temple, but Louis’ strong will led her here. And Emma had also come with her as Louis’s nanny.
“There’s not much time left, but for the time being, she will be staying in the palace as a temple maid.”
“But why did you come to this castle first? This place hasn’t been renovated yet.”
At those words, Louis shook the hem of Ines’ dress slightly. When their eyes met, Louis turned around.
“Wasn’t it supposed to come a few days later?”
“We came to the capital yesterday. I was able to visit the palace thanks to Her Highness the Princess.”
That was the whole story. Carson had hoped that Louis would come to the palace for the coronation ceremony. Charlotte had not yet finished her service in the temple and was supposed to return to the temple, but Louis’ strong will led her here. And Emma had also come with her as Louis’s nanny.
“There’s not much time left, but for the time being, she will be staying in the palace as a temple maid.”
“But why did you come to this castle first? This place hasn’t been renovated yet.”
At those words, Louis shook the hem of Ines’ dress slightly. When their eyes met, Louis turned around.
Following the child’s gaze, the maid standing behind her released two cats from a small carriage that had been converted from a baby stroller.
“Lenora and Alba.”
Louis said only the cats’ names without saying much. However, Ines quickly understood what she meant.
“Did you come here because you wanted to introduce them to their homes quickly?”
“Yes, we’re both so tired.”
She heard that cats don’t like new places very much.
“I thought they’d have a hard time if they stayed in another castle.”
“Did you want to bring Lenora and Alba here at least?”
“Yes. But I met Ines. I’m so lucky.”
Louis didn’t seem that surprised to meet Ines. As if Ines was naturally where she should be.
“Did you meet His Majesty?”
“No, we came late last night. We slept at the castle for a day and came first to the castle where I was staying. I’m going to have lunch with my brother. I’m going to meet him now. Ines should come with me.”
Ines’ eyes sparkled, but she quickly shook her head. It was impossible for her, who was not even a maid, to attend a dinner with the royal family.
“I have something to do right now, so I can’t go.”
At that moment, Louis pulled away from Ines, perhaps because the cat had moved. However, she hesitated and couldn’t leave right away.
“Don’t worry, go. I’ll wait here.”
As Louis nodded and moved away, Charlotte came close to Ines.
“What the hell happened?”
“You can talk comfortably when we’re alone. I’m so uncomfortable.”
Charlotte shook her head.
“I can’t do that because I made a mistake.”
Ines, who understood her words, nodded. If she made a mistake in this matter, it was not Ines but Charlotte who would be scolded. The two of them sat down not far from where they were standing.
“In fact... Your Majesty doesn’t know that I’m here yet.”
“What? What on earth do you mean? Speak properly. No, speak.”
Charlotte’s voice grew louder because she was so flustered. Ines smiled without realizing it, delighted at the urging voice.
Now that Louis was here, she could meet Carson. Ines quickly explained her situation.
“So you’re an assistant maid now?”
“Yes.”
“You have to leave the palace tomorrow?”
“That’s right.”
Charlotte sighed. The sometimes bewildered smile she had when looking at Ines was also there.
“How fortunate. If you hadn’t met us today, you would have gone to Landhill and gotten married.”
Ines smiled brightly at Charlotte's nagging, which she hadn't heard in a long time.
"That's right, just thinking about it gives me the creeps. Me getting married... "
“Oh, you're so sweet. Wasn't there an easier way?”
“Lenora and Alba.”
Louis said only the cats’ names without saying much. However, Ines quickly understood what she meant.
“Did you come here because you wanted to introduce them to their homes quickly?”
“Yes, we’re both so tired.”
She heard that cats don’t like new places very much.
“I thought they’d have a hard time if they stayed in another castle.”
“Did you want to bring Lenora and Alba here at least?”
“Yes. But I met Ines. I’m so lucky.”
Louis didn’t seem that surprised to meet Ines. As if Ines was naturally where she should be.
“Did you meet His Majesty?”
“No, we came late last night. We slept at the castle for a day and came first to the castle where I was staying. I’m going to have lunch with my brother. I’m going to meet him now. Ines should come with me.”
Ines’ eyes sparkled, but she quickly shook her head. It was impossible for her, who was not even a maid, to attend a dinner with the royal family.
“I have something to do right now, so I can’t go.”
At that moment, Louis pulled away from Ines, perhaps because the cat had moved. However, she hesitated and couldn’t leave right away.
“Don’t worry, go. I’ll wait here.”
As Louis nodded and moved away, Charlotte came close to Ines.
“What the hell happened?”
“You can talk comfortably when we’re alone. I’m so uncomfortable.”
Charlotte shook her head.
“I can’t do that because I made a mistake.”
Ines, who understood her words, nodded. If she made a mistake in this matter, it was not Ines but Charlotte who would be scolded. The two of them sat down not far from where they were standing.
“In fact... Your Majesty doesn’t know that I’m here yet.”
“What? What on earth do you mean? Speak properly. No, speak.”
Charlotte’s voice grew louder because she was so flustered. Ines smiled without realizing it, delighted at the urging voice.
Now that Louis was here, she could meet Carson. Ines quickly explained her situation.
“So you’re an assistant maid now?”
“Yes.”
“You have to leave the palace tomorrow?”
“That’s right.”
Charlotte sighed. The sometimes bewildered smile she had when looking at Ines was also there.
“How fortunate. If you hadn’t met us today, you would have gone to Landhill and gotten married.”
Ines smiled brightly at Charlotte's nagging, which she hadn't heard in a long time.
"That's right, just thinking about it gives me the creeps. Me getting married... "
“Oh, you're so sweet. Wasn't there an easier way?”
"An easier way?"
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