The ultimate winner of the final competition was Princess Anastasia.
It was a result that no one could have easily predicted. In fact, the members of the High Privy Council have always valued 'nobility' as the highest value in every era.
Even if the people of the empire were enthusiastic about the Princess's easygoingness, the heads of the thirteen families who had been with the empire since its founding had to maintain a higher, narrower, and more stable perspective.
Because the Emperor was the pinnacle of the empire.
In fact, the reasons for the Princess's disqualification were more than enough.
The way she treated her servants with courtesy, the way she socialized with maids, even if they were from noble families, her dealings with pirates, her unstable childhood...
Even with all that, it was utterly unacceptable that the Princess herself went into commerce during the final competition.
Around that time, news swept through the capital that six of the thirteen Privy Council examiners had voted for the Princess.
If that were true, the Princess would only have 'secured' four of the remaining votes. If the Princess were to take all three remaining votes, the competition would end with the Princess's victory.
At that time, a cheap gossip magazine asked a dangerous question.
Can a mere thirteen votes truly represent the will of all the people of the empire?
It was that night that the citizens poured into the streets. They, who had once fervently supported the returned Princess, raised their voices once again for the Princess's legitimacy.
The unprecedented fervent support of the imperial people caused even the unwavering will of the Privy Council to waver.
It must have been a huge pressure on those who had decided to raise their hand for Princess Veronica, especially since it was not a secret ballot, and even anonymity would not protect them.
Before a day and a night had passed since then, five members of the Privy Council had voted, and one had abstained.
Finally, when the messenger of Duke Ashkabad, who was on duty, arrived, the Emperor himself opened the ballot box and counted the votes.
Six red papers, six blue papers, and one white paper.
With a final vote of 20 to 18,
Finally, Princess Anastasia has gained her rightful place.
One week after the final winner is announced.
Days continued to pass by, and I felt disoriented and unrealistic.
The aspirations of the countless imperial subjects who had hoped for my victory turned into joy and excitement that spread throughout the capital.
In the streets, crowds of people chanted my name every day. From under the shabby bridges to the secret salons of the ladies and the coffee houses of the intellectuals, everyone seemed to be intoxicated by a kind of collective joy.
The Privy Council began the process of holding a ceremony to crown the Crown Princess, and the Emperor, in his joy at finding a successor, presented a huge offering to the main shrine.
The Emperor's lavishly summoned tailors and jewelers would come in early every day, and my maids would greet them with their heads held high even more than mine.
“Your Highness, please turn your head this way.”
“I need to measure my chest one more time.”
“Please hold your breath for just a little bit...”
“I think I need to touch up this embroidery pattern a bit to make it stand out more.”
The long, ornate fur cloak that filled half the reception room and the ceremonial white dress were perfect in every way, but the seamstresses treated even this as if it were not quite enough.
Lisa asked cautiously when I showed signs of fatigue.
“Should we take a little break?”
“How much longer is left?”
“The fitting of the ceremonial attire to be worn at the investiture ceremony is almost finished...”
“But.”
“His Majesty has sent word that ten more dresses must be made.”
"...”
“Besides, gifts have been arriving continuously since this morning...”
At those words, the maids who had been surrounding me stepped back. I was shocked to see a mountain of gift boxes filling one wall.
What was scarier than anything else was that it wasn't the end. The servants were coming and going endlessly, stacking boxes, not knowing where or how they were being sent.
Lisa asked with a troubled face.
“Now, there is a limit to how much I can keep. How should I dispose of it?”
“...I need to unpack them all and return the ones that are too expensive.”
I said, glancing over the boxes. Since they were gifts with a strong sense of flattery, they were obviously all expensive items.
At first, I just let it go, but after receiving what seemed to be a family heirloom, I started to feel a bit creepy.
The problem is when I will be able to open all of that...
As my expression darkened, Lisa cleverly pushed the maids and seamstresses away from me.
“I think it would be best for you to rest for a bit. I’ll prepare some warm tea.”
“Yes, please.”
At Lisa's wink, the maids retreated. I leaned my heated forehead against the window.
Those were days so close to perfection that I could almost think that everything was a dream. But an instinctive sense of anxiety sometimes made me nervous.
It was common for me to float up as if I were flying in the sky, but then quickly sink as if I were falling into an endless swamp.
I don't know why I'm like this. Is it because I haven't seen Princess Veronica since the competition ended? Or is it because news from Laskan is so late?
"Your Highness."
At the servant's call, I raised my head from my thoughts.
“The Marquis Batistan has requested an audience.”
“Congratulations on your win.”
With those words, a bouquet of beautiful white flowers was thrust into my hand. I accepted the flowers with a bewildered smile.
“...Marquis Batistan. Welcome back, no, it’s been a while.”
I ended up greeting him awkwardly because I was not used to it. However, Dmitry seemed to have expected my awkward response and passed it on calmly.
“I should have bought you a bigger bouquet. I knew you would be so happy to see me.”
“When did you come back from the North?”
“It’s been about three days. I was busy with family matters, so I couldn’t come see you right away.”
“...”
Dmitry's smile was gentle, and his eyes still held longing as he looked at me.
As if we had completely forgotten what happened the last time we parted ways.
That was the moment when I doubted him to the end, and he was disappointed in me.
Even though I knew he was trying hard to ignore the awkwardness between us, I impulsively opened my mouth.
“I heard that you had a run-in with Laskan.”
“...”
“I couldn’t send a messenger to come back right away because I collapsed from the poison. I’m sorry for causing you so much trouble...”
There weren't many options to choose from other than saying sorry.
“How is that your fault? It was my fault for leaving in such a hurry that I didn’t even tell the butler where I was going.”
Contrary to his nonchalant answer, Dmitry looked somewhat haggard.
Although his handsome face was still there, his cheeks were slightly sunken and had lost their flesh, giving him a dangerous and decadent air. Along with his unique, slightly hoarse voice.
“Of course, it’s a shame.”
“...”
How humiliating it must have been for him to reach the North and learn that he had crossed paths with Laskan, and that his long journey had been a futile one. It felt like a great mistake to have ever doubted him.
He came closer, his eyes slowly rolling.
“Still, it’s worth it.”
“...”
“Your Highness, you even make these expressions for me.”
Dmitry's hand, which was coming close enough to cup my cheek, barely stopped with a space of a piece of paper between us.
I managed to smile without seeming awkward.
“Just kidding.”
“It’s really a shame.”
“...”
“I should have seen with my own eyes the cute sight of Your Highness lying sick.”
“...Marquis, your tastes are a bit strange.”
I rolled my eyes and pushed his hand away. Dmitry let out a short laugh.
“I was going to tell you some news from the front lines that you’ve been eagerly waiting for, but you’re treating me like this.”
It was a direct reversal of the question I had initially asked, “Why are you so welcoming?” Before I could even time to match the coquetry, a dry question came out.
“What did the Marquis think?”
“There will be an outbreak of war within a few days. I heard that the barbarians and the two small northern nations have formed an alliance.”
“...Of course.”
“But there’s nothing to worry about. The commander-in-chief is Duke Ashkabad. Since he took over as commander-in-chief, there hasn’t been a single defeat for the empire.”
Those words offered little comfort.
The barbarians have often invaded across our borders, but the lands they ultimately base themselves on are the outskirts of the Principality of Thylasen and the Kingdom of Sedrak.
That is to say, those two countries suffered the greatest damage from the exploitation of barbarians.
The reason why the two countries, despite regarding the barbarians as a thorn in their side more than anyone else, were unable to touch them was that moving military forces in the border areas adjacent to the empire was burdensome in itself.
But the three of them are joining hands and attacking the empire? Why at this particular time?
“Something seems a bit fishy. Don’t you think so?”
“Even so, it’s still a rabble. Do you think war bonds were selling like hotcakes for nothing?”
“...”
“Even if the three alliances are combined, they are far inferior to the Imperial elite. Thanks to this, the Duke will be tied down on the front lines until the year after next, and the royal family and the Empire will gain enormous income.”
“But the Duke is also a member of the Privy Council. I thought he had to attend my appraisal ceremony.”
“If it were a simple suppression, then that would be the case, but since it’s a wartime situation... Oh, by the way, is it tomorrow?”
Dmitry asked curiously.
"..Yes."
“By tomorrow, it will become clear that Your Highness is the rightful successor.”
The rightful heir. My heart sank at those words.
“And don’t worry. I will watch over Your Highness’s dignified appearance from beginning to end. Including the Duke’s share, everything.”
He smiled lazily and took my hand. His sly lips briefly touched the back of my hand and then lifted it.
“Then I’ll see you tomorrow at the temple.”
Dmitry left the room, and the maids and seamstresses swarmed back in.
Tomorrow, yes, it was tomorrow.
If it turns out that I'm the real Anastasia, all the inexplicable anxiety that comes from time to time will disappear.
But somehow... I had a feeling that something was going to happen. My intuition was always right, but this time I was hoping to be wrong.
But that night, it was someone I really didn't expect who came to see me.
[I will wait behind the Temer main shrine.]
“...What does this mean?”
“It is exactly as you read it.”
Despite my cold gaze, the messenger sent by Duke Kairak remained calm throughout. The knights surrounding him with their blades raised behind him seemed invisible.
I smiled coldly.
“I don’t know who to tell to come and go. It seems that your master still thinks I am the real power in this palace.”
“...”
“More than anything, how can I trust that cunning man and have a private meeting with him?”
“He said you could bring anyone with you. It didn’t matter if it was one knight or a whole battalion of knights.”
“You’re making a scene.”
I leaned back in my chair and rested my chin on it.
“Tell the Duke that this kind of petty trickery won’t work.”
The attendant nodded as if he understood my anger. However, the words he spoke were far from understanding.
“I will. However, the Duke has told me to make sure to tell Your Highness this: ‘Everything that happens tomorrow will be the result of Your Highness’s choice.’”
“...”
“Even if it means the life of Duke Ashkabad.”
It was a result that no one could have easily predicted. In fact, the members of the High Privy Council have always valued 'nobility' as the highest value in every era.
Even if the people of the empire were enthusiastic about the Princess's easygoingness, the heads of the thirteen families who had been with the empire since its founding had to maintain a higher, narrower, and more stable perspective.
Because the Emperor was the pinnacle of the empire.
In fact, the reasons for the Princess's disqualification were more than enough.
The way she treated her servants with courtesy, the way she socialized with maids, even if they were from noble families, her dealings with pirates, her unstable childhood...
Even with all that, it was utterly unacceptable that the Princess herself went into commerce during the final competition.
Around that time, news swept through the capital that six of the thirteen Privy Council examiners had voted for the Princess.
If that were true, the Princess would only have 'secured' four of the remaining votes. If the Princess were to take all three remaining votes, the competition would end with the Princess's victory.
At that time, a cheap gossip magazine asked a dangerous question.
Can a mere thirteen votes truly represent the will of all the people of the empire?
It was that night that the citizens poured into the streets. They, who had once fervently supported the returned Princess, raised their voices once again for the Princess's legitimacy.
The unprecedented fervent support of the imperial people caused even the unwavering will of the Privy Council to waver.
It must have been a huge pressure on those who had decided to raise their hand for Princess Veronica, especially since it was not a secret ballot, and even anonymity would not protect them.
Before a day and a night had passed since then, five members of the Privy Council had voted, and one had abstained.
Finally, when the messenger of Duke Ashkabad, who was on duty, arrived, the Emperor himself opened the ballot box and counted the votes.
Six red papers, six blue papers, and one white paper.
With a final vote of 20 to 18,
Finally, Princess Anastasia has gained her rightful place.
***
One week after the final winner is announced.
Days continued to pass by, and I felt disoriented and unrealistic.
The aspirations of the countless imperial subjects who had hoped for my victory turned into joy and excitement that spread throughout the capital.
In the streets, crowds of people chanted my name every day. From under the shabby bridges to the secret salons of the ladies and the coffee houses of the intellectuals, everyone seemed to be intoxicated by a kind of collective joy.
The Privy Council began the process of holding a ceremony to crown the Crown Princess, and the Emperor, in his joy at finding a successor, presented a huge offering to the main shrine.
The Emperor's lavishly summoned tailors and jewelers would come in early every day, and my maids would greet them with their heads held high even more than mine.
“Your Highness, please turn your head this way.”
“I need to measure my chest one more time.”
“Please hold your breath for just a little bit...”
“I think I need to touch up this embroidery pattern a bit to make it stand out more.”
The long, ornate fur cloak that filled half the reception room and the ceremonial white dress were perfect in every way, but the seamstresses treated even this as if it were not quite enough.
Lisa asked cautiously when I showed signs of fatigue.
“Should we take a little break?”
“How much longer is left?”
“The fitting of the ceremonial attire to be worn at the investiture ceremony is almost finished...”
“But.”
“His Majesty has sent word that ten more dresses must be made.”
"...”
“Besides, gifts have been arriving continuously since this morning...”
At those words, the maids who had been surrounding me stepped back. I was shocked to see a mountain of gift boxes filling one wall.
What was scarier than anything else was that it wasn't the end. The servants were coming and going endlessly, stacking boxes, not knowing where or how they were being sent.
Lisa asked with a troubled face.
“Now, there is a limit to how much I can keep. How should I dispose of it?”
“...I need to unpack them all and return the ones that are too expensive.”
I said, glancing over the boxes. Since they were gifts with a strong sense of flattery, they were obviously all expensive items.
At first, I just let it go, but after receiving what seemed to be a family heirloom, I started to feel a bit creepy.
The problem is when I will be able to open all of that...
As my expression darkened, Lisa cleverly pushed the maids and seamstresses away from me.
“I think it would be best for you to rest for a bit. I’ll prepare some warm tea.”
“Yes, please.”
At Lisa's wink, the maids retreated. I leaned my heated forehead against the window.
Those were days so close to perfection that I could almost think that everything was a dream. But an instinctive sense of anxiety sometimes made me nervous.
It was common for me to float up as if I were flying in the sky, but then quickly sink as if I were falling into an endless swamp.
I don't know why I'm like this. Is it because I haven't seen Princess Veronica since the competition ended? Or is it because news from Laskan is so late?
"Your Highness."
At the servant's call, I raised my head from my thoughts.
“The Marquis Batistan has requested an audience.”
***
“Congratulations on your win.”
With those words, a bouquet of beautiful white flowers was thrust into my hand. I accepted the flowers with a bewildered smile.
“...Marquis Batistan. Welcome back, no, it’s been a while.”
I ended up greeting him awkwardly because I was not used to it. However, Dmitry seemed to have expected my awkward response and passed it on calmly.
“I should have bought you a bigger bouquet. I knew you would be so happy to see me.”
“When did you come back from the North?”
“It’s been about three days. I was busy with family matters, so I couldn’t come see you right away.”
“...”
Dmitry's smile was gentle, and his eyes still held longing as he looked at me.
As if we had completely forgotten what happened the last time we parted ways.
That was the moment when I doubted him to the end, and he was disappointed in me.
Even though I knew he was trying hard to ignore the awkwardness between us, I impulsively opened my mouth.
“I heard that you had a run-in with Laskan.”
“...”
“I couldn’t send a messenger to come back right away because I collapsed from the poison. I’m sorry for causing you so much trouble...”
There weren't many options to choose from other than saying sorry.
“How is that your fault? It was my fault for leaving in such a hurry that I didn’t even tell the butler where I was going.”
Contrary to his nonchalant answer, Dmitry looked somewhat haggard.
Although his handsome face was still there, his cheeks were slightly sunken and had lost their flesh, giving him a dangerous and decadent air. Along with his unique, slightly hoarse voice.
“Of course, it’s a shame.”
“...”
How humiliating it must have been for him to reach the North and learn that he had crossed paths with Laskan, and that his long journey had been a futile one. It felt like a great mistake to have ever doubted him.
He came closer, his eyes slowly rolling.
“Still, it’s worth it.”
“...”
“Your Highness, you even make these expressions for me.”
Dmitry's hand, which was coming close enough to cup my cheek, barely stopped with a space of a piece of paper between us.
I managed to smile without seeming awkward.
“Just kidding.”
“It’s really a shame.”
“...”
“I should have seen with my own eyes the cute sight of Your Highness lying sick.”
“...Marquis, your tastes are a bit strange.”
I rolled my eyes and pushed his hand away. Dmitry let out a short laugh.
“I was going to tell you some news from the front lines that you’ve been eagerly waiting for, but you’re treating me like this.”
It was a direct reversal of the question I had initially asked, “Why are you so welcoming?” Before I could even time to match the coquetry, a dry question came out.
“What did the Marquis think?”
“There will be an outbreak of war within a few days. I heard that the barbarians and the two small northern nations have formed an alliance.”
“...Of course.”
“But there’s nothing to worry about. The commander-in-chief is Duke Ashkabad. Since he took over as commander-in-chief, there hasn’t been a single defeat for the empire.”
Those words offered little comfort.
The barbarians have often invaded across our borders, but the lands they ultimately base themselves on are the outskirts of the Principality of Thylasen and the Kingdom of Sedrak.
That is to say, those two countries suffered the greatest damage from the exploitation of barbarians.
The reason why the two countries, despite regarding the barbarians as a thorn in their side more than anyone else, were unable to touch them was that moving military forces in the border areas adjacent to the empire was burdensome in itself.
But the three of them are joining hands and attacking the empire? Why at this particular time?
“Something seems a bit fishy. Don’t you think so?”
“Even so, it’s still a rabble. Do you think war bonds were selling like hotcakes for nothing?”
“...”
“Even if the three alliances are combined, they are far inferior to the Imperial elite. Thanks to this, the Duke will be tied down on the front lines until the year after next, and the royal family and the Empire will gain enormous income.”
“But the Duke is also a member of the Privy Council. I thought he had to attend my appraisal ceremony.”
“If it were a simple suppression, then that would be the case, but since it’s a wartime situation... Oh, by the way, is it tomorrow?”
Dmitry asked curiously.
"..Yes."
“By tomorrow, it will become clear that Your Highness is the rightful successor.”
The rightful heir. My heart sank at those words.
“And don’t worry. I will watch over Your Highness’s dignified appearance from beginning to end. Including the Duke’s share, everything.”
He smiled lazily and took my hand. His sly lips briefly touched the back of my hand and then lifted it.
“Then I’ll see you tomorrow at the temple.”
Dmitry left the room, and the maids and seamstresses swarmed back in.
Tomorrow, yes, it was tomorrow.
If it turns out that I'm the real Anastasia, all the inexplicable anxiety that comes from time to time will disappear.
But somehow... I had a feeling that something was going to happen. My intuition was always right, but this time I was hoping to be wrong.
But that night, it was someone I really didn't expect who came to see me.
[I will wait behind the Temer main shrine.]
“...What does this mean?”
“It is exactly as you read it.”
Despite my cold gaze, the messenger sent by Duke Kairak remained calm throughout. The knights surrounding him with their blades raised behind him seemed invisible.
I smiled coldly.
“I don’t know who to tell to come and go. It seems that your master still thinks I am the real power in this palace.”
“...”
“More than anything, how can I trust that cunning man and have a private meeting with him?”
“He said you could bring anyone with you. It didn’t matter if it was one knight or a whole battalion of knights.”
“You’re making a scene.”
I leaned back in my chair and rested my chin on it.
“Tell the Duke that this kind of petty trickery won’t work.”
The attendant nodded as if he understood my anger. However, the words he spoke were far from understanding.
“I will. However, the Duke has told me to make sure to tell Your Highness this: ‘Everything that happens tomorrow will be the result of Your Highness’s choice.’”
“...”
“Even if it means the life of Duke Ashkabad.”
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