Episode 2. Once a year
“You’re saying you beat up those arrogant ladies in one blow? That’s amazing. That’s really amazing.”
Hailey mumbled with cookie crumbs smeared across her lips. Her eyes were filled with awe, unlike her mouth, which moved greedily.
“If it were me, I would have been scared and run away. Or apologized profusely. It would have been really embarrassing, but what’s the big deal? It’s better than getting whipped by noble ladies.”
“What? A whirlwind?”
Hayley calmly picked up another cookie, even as she watched Emilia's eyes widen.
“Listen carefully, Hayley. The practice of corporal punishment of commoners by nobles was outlawed a hundred years ago. If that woman had swung her whip that day, I wouldn’t have stayed still. I would have gone to the magistrate and brought her to trial immediately!”
“Whoa, whoa, calm down, Emilia. I may be blind, but I know what the Equality Act is. But it’s just words on a piece of paper. It’s not written in reality. And if you’re right, it’s been over a hundred years, so who the hell is following the law?”
Emilia's mouth opened as if to protest, then slowly began to close.
“If that lady had whipped you to correct your bad habits, no one would have stopped her. If you had gone to the judge, it would have been useless. He would have told you that he was too busy to solve it, so he would have told you to come back in a year. If you go in a year, he will tell you to come back in two years. If you go in two years, he would have told you to come back in three years, and so on. Right?”
Hayley munched on the cookie, dusting off the crumbs from her hands. Emilia sighed in discontent, but couldn't say anything in return.
“The reason you were able to get away with talking back to the nobles and getting away with it is none other than that.”
"...That?"
“You are his fiancée.”
At the mention of 'him', Emilia's lips, eyes, and body began to stiffen.
“I know how smart you are, but please be careful. There’s a saying that goes, God never intended to create poor but smart people, especially women.”
Hayley chuckled to herself, pleased with herself for saying such grand things.
“Emilia Bern is a great friend to me, but in the eyes of those people, she is just a mean, greedy, and petty woman. It’s unfortunate, but that’s the reality.”
Emilia nodded with a bitter face.
“Is it just ‘those people’? Even the townspeople think so. My late father sold his daughter out of greed, and I am a foolish child who dares to covet the Duchess.”
Eventually, Emilia and her family were forced to leave the house they were living in, unable to bear the villagers' harsh stares. They hid in a small hut in the zelkova forest to the south of the village, and almost completely cut off all contact with people.
“Cheer up, Emilia. But everyone is starting to forget about the ‘Meyer’s Fiancée’ now. The pastor said the same thing a while ago. I wish your family would come back to church.”
“...Thank you for letting me know. My stepmother would be really happy to know that the pastor said that.”
Emilia tried hard to lift the corners of her lips that had been drooping weakly. The two girls looked at each other with pitiful eyes, and then a bell sounded from afar, signaling 3 o'clock in the afternoon.
“Huh? It’s already this late?”
Emilia stood up and dusted herself off.
“Are you going already?”
“Yeah, Charlotte is alone.”
Emilia busily packed her hat and coat.
“Emilia, would you mind coming to the town hall next week? We’re all going to prepare for the tasting there. I’m thinking about making giant cookies the size of your height using my mom’s special recipe.”
“Really? That big?”
Emilia's blue eyes, which had been sparkling with anticipation, quickly lost their light.
“But I don’t think that day will work out.”
"Why?"
“...It’s the day I go there.”
"Rhere?"
“A formal dinner. Meeting my fiancé.”
"Aha!"
Another look of wonder filled Hayley's eyes, whether or not she knew Emilia, who had suddenly darkened. Hayley Waldorf's head must be filled with dreamlike scenes.
Appearing holding the Prince's hand amidst the dizzying fragrance of flowers, a gorgeous chandelier, and admiring stares from people...
“I wish I could be as small as Thumbelina! I wish I could hide in your vest pocket and just take a look!”
A smile appeared on her beautiful, white face. It was a bitter smile, forced upon her.
A few days passed. The hardest day of the year came to Emilia. It was 'that day' that she had told Hayley a few days ago.
It all starts with a large four-wheeled carriage arriving in front of the house.
All she has to do is get in. That fancy carriage will take her to a mansion in Nowak, where she can stay until the time comes to return home.
Why does something so easy always feel so difficult and horrible?
“Hello, Miss Bern.”
“Hello, Mr. Hugh.”
After exchanging greetings with the coachman, she walked with heavy steps into the carriage.
“Hey!”
The carriage began to move. After leaving the forest, it crossed the endless plains.
In the clear sky above the long mountain range, dozens of birds were flying in flocks. The majestic scenery gave her a strange sense of comfort.
No one can break you unless your heart allows it.
Emilia tried hard to calm her mind, recalling passages she had read from the book.
The carriage continued to run for a long time after that.
Just when her body was starting to feel achy, she finally arrived at Nowak, the largest and most splendid city on the continent.
As if to signal the beginning of a new chapter, a large square and a clock tower came into view. Just looking at the dozens, if not hundreds, of people filling the streets made Emilia feel dizzy.
Unlike country roads, city streets were crowded with carriages and loaded carts.
As the pace gradually slowed, the beautiful River Rivier came into view. The people, carriages, and pets strolling along it all seemed like other beings from another world.
The place where the richest and most powerful people on the continent gathered was the Old King.
With a thud, the carriage that had been slowing down stopped completely. It had reached its destination. Emilia took a deep breath in front of a large townhouse with a garden.
“You’re saying you beat up those arrogant ladies in one blow? That’s amazing. That’s really amazing.”
Hailey mumbled with cookie crumbs smeared across her lips. Her eyes were filled with awe, unlike her mouth, which moved greedily.
“If it were me, I would have been scared and run away. Or apologized profusely. It would have been really embarrassing, but what’s the big deal? It’s better than getting whipped by noble ladies.”
“What? A whirlwind?”
Hayley calmly picked up another cookie, even as she watched Emilia's eyes widen.
“Listen carefully, Hayley. The practice of corporal punishment of commoners by nobles was outlawed a hundred years ago. If that woman had swung her whip that day, I wouldn’t have stayed still. I would have gone to the magistrate and brought her to trial immediately!”
“Whoa, whoa, calm down, Emilia. I may be blind, but I know what the Equality Act is. But it’s just words on a piece of paper. It’s not written in reality. And if you’re right, it’s been over a hundred years, so who the hell is following the law?”
Emilia's mouth opened as if to protest, then slowly began to close.
“If that lady had whipped you to correct your bad habits, no one would have stopped her. If you had gone to the judge, it would have been useless. He would have told you that he was too busy to solve it, so he would have told you to come back in a year. If you go in a year, he will tell you to come back in two years. If you go in two years, he would have told you to come back in three years, and so on. Right?”
Hayley munched on the cookie, dusting off the crumbs from her hands. Emilia sighed in discontent, but couldn't say anything in return.
“The reason you were able to get away with talking back to the nobles and getting away with it is none other than that.”
"...That?"
“You are his fiancée.”
At the mention of 'him', Emilia's lips, eyes, and body began to stiffen.
“I know how smart you are, but please be careful. There’s a saying that goes, God never intended to create poor but smart people, especially women.”
Hayley chuckled to herself, pleased with herself for saying such grand things.
“Emilia Bern is a great friend to me, but in the eyes of those people, she is just a mean, greedy, and petty woman. It’s unfortunate, but that’s the reality.”
Emilia nodded with a bitter face.
“Is it just ‘those people’? Even the townspeople think so. My late father sold his daughter out of greed, and I am a foolish child who dares to covet the Duchess.”
Eventually, Emilia and her family were forced to leave the house they were living in, unable to bear the villagers' harsh stares. They hid in a small hut in the zelkova forest to the south of the village, and almost completely cut off all contact with people.
“Cheer up, Emilia. But everyone is starting to forget about the ‘Meyer’s Fiancée’ now. The pastor said the same thing a while ago. I wish your family would come back to church.”
“...Thank you for letting me know. My stepmother would be really happy to know that the pastor said that.”
Emilia tried hard to lift the corners of her lips that had been drooping weakly. The two girls looked at each other with pitiful eyes, and then a bell sounded from afar, signaling 3 o'clock in the afternoon.
“Huh? It’s already this late?”
Emilia stood up and dusted herself off.
“Are you going already?”
“Yeah, Charlotte is alone.”
Emilia busily packed her hat and coat.
“Emilia, would you mind coming to the town hall next week? We’re all going to prepare for the tasting there. I’m thinking about making giant cookies the size of your height using my mom’s special recipe.”
“Really? That big?”
Emilia's blue eyes, which had been sparkling with anticipation, quickly lost their light.
“But I don’t think that day will work out.”
"Why?"
“...It’s the day I go there.”
"Rhere?"
“A formal dinner. Meeting my fiancé.”
"Aha!"
Another look of wonder filled Hayley's eyes, whether or not she knew Emilia, who had suddenly darkened. Hayley Waldorf's head must be filled with dreamlike scenes.
Appearing holding the Prince's hand amidst the dizzying fragrance of flowers, a gorgeous chandelier, and admiring stares from people...
“I wish I could be as small as Thumbelina! I wish I could hide in your vest pocket and just take a look!”
A smile appeared on her beautiful, white face. It was a bitter smile, forced upon her.
***
A few days passed. The hardest day of the year came to Emilia. It was 'that day' that she had told Hayley a few days ago.
It all starts with a large four-wheeled carriage arriving in front of the house.
All she has to do is get in. That fancy carriage will take her to a mansion in Nowak, where she can stay until the time comes to return home.
Why does something so easy always feel so difficult and horrible?
“Hello, Miss Bern.”
“Hello, Mr. Hugh.”
After exchanging greetings with the coachman, she walked with heavy steps into the carriage.
“Hey!”
The carriage began to move. After leaving the forest, it crossed the endless plains.
In the clear sky above the long mountain range, dozens of birds were flying in flocks. The majestic scenery gave her a strange sense of comfort.
No one can break you unless your heart allows it.
Emilia tried hard to calm her mind, recalling passages she had read from the book.
The carriage continued to run for a long time after that.
Just when her body was starting to feel achy, she finally arrived at Nowak, the largest and most splendid city on the continent.
As if to signal the beginning of a new chapter, a large square and a clock tower came into view. Just looking at the dozens, if not hundreds, of people filling the streets made Emilia feel dizzy.
Unlike country roads, city streets were crowded with carriages and loaded carts.
As the pace gradually slowed, the beautiful River Rivier came into view. The people, carriages, and pets strolling along it all seemed like other beings from another world.
The place where the richest and most powerful people on the continent gathered was the Old King.
With a thud, the carriage that had been slowing down stopped completely. It had reached its destination. Emilia took a deep breath in front of a large townhouse with a garden.
She can't just harden her mind. From now on, she has to block out her eyes, ears, and all her senses and endure the rest of the day.
Emilia got off the carriage and walked along, guided by the servant. Her heart was pounding. Her shoulders were stiffening, and her steps were becoming heavier.
The door finally opened.
The interior was as large and splendid as a palace. Looking at the huge chandelier and the grand staircases lining both sides, Emilia felt the power and wealth of the Meyer family.
“Miss Emilia Bern has arrived.”
The eyes of everyone gathered in the reception room turned to Emilia at once. Then, in an instant, they returned to their original positions.
As if they had discovered a fly that had flown in to annoy them.
It was different from Cavendish Manor.
No one laughed or mocked her. They simply ignored her completely.
“You came.”
The only woman approaching with a smile is Kaitlyn Meyer, her fiancé's mother.
She was nothing like the ladies of Cavendish Manor.
Although she was splendidly adorned, she was not vulgar, and her upright body exuded elegance and majesty.
“Hello, Ma’am. How have you been?”
Emilia greeted her politely with a suitable smile.
“Yeah, as you can see, I’m so healthy. How about you?”
“Thanks to you, I am doing extremely well.”
“What about your mother and siblings? Are they doing well?”
“Yes, thank you for worrying about my family. I wonder how Lord Mayer is doing. Do you think he’s getting some relief?”
“Thanks to your concern, he has regained a lot of his energy.”
Since she had mastered manners perfectly, the conversation was smooth. They burrowed into the crowd, looking like an affectionate mother-in-law to anyone who saw them.
“But, Emilia, I have a difficult favor to ask you.”
Kaitlyn looked terribly sorry.
“Why did your great-aunt come to visit us today without notice? She lives far away, so she doesn’t know anyone... I guess we have no choice but to escort her.”
Emilia quickly smiled softly.
“It’s okay, Ma’am.”
“Thank you, Emilia.”
It's been like that every year.
The old lady of the royal family came alone and had to help a certain noblewoman who had a disability, so her great-aunt came unexpectedly like this...
Kaitlyn Meyer made up ridiculous excuses to have her son sit next to someone else.
“A replacement partner will be arriving shortly. He is the second son of the Viscount Wisher. I hope you will have a pleasant time with him.”
That was the end of it. Kaitlyn Meyer left Emilia without looking back. Emilia was left alone in the middle of the hall.
No one spoke to her or made eye contact. Amid all the friendly greetings and conversations, Emilia was just being pushed around like a piece of luggage.
Maybe the people of Cavendish Manor were more humane. At least they treated her like a 'person'.
Emilia no longer existed here.
She should have brought a fan.
There was no way to hold back her empty hands.
Emilia held her hands together and fixed her gaze on the tapestry hanging on the wall. It depicted a scene from a famous myth. As Emilia gazed up at the painting as if she were possessed,
“His Excellency the Meyer’s eldest son, Prince Hadius Mayer, has arrived.”
Everyone's eyes turned to him at once. Emilia followed suit.
Hardy Meyer.
A beautiful person who has received God's grace, as his name suggests. Her fiancé is the envy of the whole world.
Even though it had only been a year, the familiar face was etched in her mind, and he was getting closer and closer.
Had he just come from Elport's military academy? He was dressed as a naval officer. His pure white uniform exuded a cold dignity.
He took off his hat and greeted people. A concentric circle formed around him.
It seemed ridiculous, but it was natural. The purpose of the banquet was none other than the successor of the Meyer family, Hardius Meyer.
Hardius spoke to people with his characteristically cool and elegant smile.
There was no way he could brag or act like he was the center of the world.
He approached even the farthest guests first. He distributed them fairly, without regard to rank or clothing.
Just one person.
Except for his fiancée, Emilia Bern.
At some point, their eyes met. The silver-gray eyes beneath the beautiful black hair pierced Emilia's heart and made her dizzy.
Those eyes are the problem. Those intense eyes stare at her for a split second, as if nothing else in the world matters.
Emilia hid her trembling body and throbbing pulse behind her cold, indifferent face.
Emilia got off the carriage and walked along, guided by the servant. Her heart was pounding. Her shoulders were stiffening, and her steps were becoming heavier.
The door finally opened.
The interior was as large and splendid as a palace. Looking at the huge chandelier and the grand staircases lining both sides, Emilia felt the power and wealth of the Meyer family.
“Miss Emilia Bern has arrived.”
The eyes of everyone gathered in the reception room turned to Emilia at once. Then, in an instant, they returned to their original positions.
As if they had discovered a fly that had flown in to annoy them.
It was different from Cavendish Manor.
No one laughed or mocked her. They simply ignored her completely.
“You came.”
The only woman approaching with a smile is Kaitlyn Meyer, her fiancé's mother.
She was nothing like the ladies of Cavendish Manor.
Although she was splendidly adorned, she was not vulgar, and her upright body exuded elegance and majesty.
“Hello, Ma’am. How have you been?”
Emilia greeted her politely with a suitable smile.
“Yeah, as you can see, I’m so healthy. How about you?”
“Thanks to you, I am doing extremely well.”
“What about your mother and siblings? Are they doing well?”
“Yes, thank you for worrying about my family. I wonder how Lord Mayer is doing. Do you think he’s getting some relief?”
“Thanks to your concern, he has regained a lot of his energy.”
Since she had mastered manners perfectly, the conversation was smooth. They burrowed into the crowd, looking like an affectionate mother-in-law to anyone who saw them.
“But, Emilia, I have a difficult favor to ask you.”
Kaitlyn looked terribly sorry.
“Why did your great-aunt come to visit us today without notice? She lives far away, so she doesn’t know anyone... I guess we have no choice but to escort her.”
Emilia quickly smiled softly.
“It’s okay, Ma’am.”
“Thank you, Emilia.”
It's been like that every year.
The old lady of the royal family came alone and had to help a certain noblewoman who had a disability, so her great-aunt came unexpectedly like this...
Kaitlyn Meyer made up ridiculous excuses to have her son sit next to someone else.
“A replacement partner will be arriving shortly. He is the second son of the Viscount Wisher. I hope you will have a pleasant time with him.”
That was the end of it. Kaitlyn Meyer left Emilia without looking back. Emilia was left alone in the middle of the hall.
No one spoke to her or made eye contact. Amid all the friendly greetings and conversations, Emilia was just being pushed around like a piece of luggage.
Maybe the people of Cavendish Manor were more humane. At least they treated her like a 'person'.
Emilia no longer existed here.
She should have brought a fan.
There was no way to hold back her empty hands.
Emilia held her hands together and fixed her gaze on the tapestry hanging on the wall. It depicted a scene from a famous myth. As Emilia gazed up at the painting as if she were possessed,
“His Excellency the Meyer’s eldest son, Prince Hadius Mayer, has arrived.”
Everyone's eyes turned to him at once. Emilia followed suit.
Hardy Meyer.
A beautiful person who has received God's grace, as his name suggests. Her fiancé is the envy of the whole world.
Even though it had only been a year, the familiar face was etched in her mind, and he was getting closer and closer.
Had he just come from Elport's military academy? He was dressed as a naval officer. His pure white uniform exuded a cold dignity.
He took off his hat and greeted people. A concentric circle formed around him.
It seemed ridiculous, but it was natural. The purpose of the banquet was none other than the successor of the Meyer family, Hardius Meyer.
Hardius spoke to people with his characteristically cool and elegant smile.
There was no way he could brag or act like he was the center of the world.
He approached even the farthest guests first. He distributed them fairly, without regard to rank or clothing.
Just one person.
Except for his fiancée, Emilia Bern.
At some point, their eyes met. The silver-gray eyes beneath the beautiful black hair pierced Emilia's heart and made her dizzy.
Those eyes are the problem. Those intense eyes stare at her for a split second, as if nothing else in the world matters.
Emilia hid her trembling body and throbbing pulse behind her cold, indifferent face.
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