"Greetings your highness, greetings sir Calix" As soon as we entered the waiting room, Madam Cecilia greeted us
I also greeted her and smiled gracefully for formality. I know I already mentioned this a lot of times but people here are really strict when it comes to empire's etiquette so I really have to be mindful of my action as a crown princess.
That's why eversince I was a kid, I've been mastering every etiquettes inside the empire
"Should we start by getting your highness's measure or will you choose a design for your gown first?" Madam Cecilia asked me respectfully after I sat comfortably at the couch
"I'll choose a design for my gown first"
He handed me a thick 'designer's book'. It is a compilation of work and designs of the owner. And I am very familiar with this because in modern days, it is called brochure. The only difference is the designer's book was made purely with designer's effort and skill in drawing every pages while brochu
Weeks passed and the debutante' ball is getting nearer and nearer. Actually, I am really nervous because this is only the second time where I'll face a lot of high ranking nobles.The first time was when dad announced that I will be his successorBefore, I am not that nervous because I am just a five years old kid that time so even if I make a mistake, it's fine because I am still a child and they don't have that much expectations.But now that I'm already a grown up lady, I have to live up to their high standards because if I don't, the reputation that I've been building will crumble.I have to be careful of my words, action and etiquette so that people won't look down and slander me.If I know some of them won't do anything than find a mistakes on my actionNobles are sly. Yes they are.They will bite you if they think they are stronger than youAnyway, let's stop thinking about stressful things like thatA while
Even after that, Calix's mood didn't get any better. He's still on his 'mad' phase and probably not on the mood to talk with us. His forehead was wrinkled and the aura that he's emitting is cold so I know he's on the verge of shouting againBut of course, I prioritized talking to Riley and Blythe. We need a lot of time to catch up with each other and I don't plan on wasting my time on appeasing Calix.They are my friends after allYes. They are really my friend."So how's your experience there?" I sipped a tea and asked them how well they trained, how much they learned and how comfortable their life was at that place.that's the border of the empire so I know it's not that easy, I'm glad they endure it well"It was hard at first but I got used to it" Blythe said while smiling. She definitely enjoyed staying there which surprised me because she really despised staying at that place and she just went there for necessity and she's a lady
We just finished hanging out with each other and went on my way to my palace.I kind of feel good to be with them after such a long time and also, it's refreshing to be with each other. It feels like all my stress faded just by hearing blythe and Riley's bickering with each other. Though, Calix wasn't in the mood to talk, we still had a great timeI know I shouldn't be so attached with my friends and just try to be acquainted with them because I don't belong in here and I'm not the real Lalaine.And they are the major characters in the novel so if anything goes wrong they could be the one who'll try to kill me."Hah, I'm so tired of everything" I sighedOne more year before the novel starts and the heroine makes her appearance.The moment she appears, everything will go according to the novel and my death is also included in that plot but I'll do anything to prevent that from happening.Yes. i'll definitely do!It would've been
One Month Ago"Young Lord, the spy on the princess's palace is here to report something" I nodded at Jared who informed me of the servant's arrival."Let her in" He then bowed and went to the door of my office to inform the knight who are guarding from the outsideNot taking that much time, Jared came back with the servant.This servant is Lalaine's second lady in waiting. Aside from shes good at her work, it's also easier to get an important information from her. Her family is not poor in fact, she came from a count noble family so I suspected that she's working for me so that she could seduce me to get a proposal from me.Too bad, I don't plan on doing that and she's not even half of Lalaine's beauty"Report" without glancing at her, I spoke coldly"Yes, Young Lord,""A while ago, the princess had a conversation with three young knights to distinguish who are the one suitable to be her highness's partner at the
'Casino huh'As expected of Marquess Ajelo's son, he has the same sh*tty hobby as his father.They are so identical to the point that the only difference between them is their age. Their greed and attitude are both the same'Manipulative bastards'Like father like son. Father is a trash bum and so are his sonI don't know whether I'll laugh and be happy that they'll be easy to dispose or feel disgusted because we are currently in one place and breathing the same air but one thing is for sure, I will definitely kill him. Not now, but soon'I have to finish this quick'I didn't hesitated to barge inside of the casino where Luhan Ajelo is currently at.The entrance door broke after I kicked it so we collected some gazes from the people insideSmell of cigarettes and alcohol dominated the whole Casino. Without even observing for an hour, I know it is a disgusting place where prostitution and gambling always happens.&nb
"Your highness, here's the tea that you ordered us to prepare"I am currently having a small talk with Calix at my room after he suddenly offered to be my partner for the incoming debutante' ball.I feel like I acted quite rude a while ago regardless of my mood so I couldn't just send him off specially when he volunteered to be my partner.And I'm also curious why he suddenly offered to be my escort and considering the timing, I feel like this is not a coincidence"Why are you looking at me like that?"'Because you're freaking suspicious'I'd like to say that out loud but he's too scary and I don't wanna risk my survival rate just to be honest with him"What do you mean by that? I am looking at you normally" I lied at him while smiling so that my words could be a little more believable"Lalaine, be honest. Am I that stupid for you to think that I can't see through your actions" I looked at him shocked.I thought I've bec
Finally, I was freed from a puzzle - like conversationOur small talk ended a while ago after the atmosphere became too awkward. I send him off forcefully but that doesn't matter because I feel like I'll be suffocated if I continue speaking with him. After he left, I immediately went to daddy's palace"Did you solved it?" He put down his pen, and looked at me as soon as I sat at the couch infront of himAs always, the documents that was placed at his tables are too many to count. It's seriously stressing to just see it so how much if you're the one who'll do the work?I feel like I will throw all of this if I was daddy."Well, gladly Calix was there to help me. If not for him, I would've been still in a state of panic" I said honestly.I may be suspicious of him but I am genuinely thankful that he helped me"That rascal? That's good but don't be too attached with him" I nodded.Even if dad didn't didn't warned me, that's what I
Your highness can you relax your legs for a bit, we have to make it look thinner"Today is finally the day of the debutante' ball and I can't help but feel anxious because I'm about to face every nobles today. And I know how sly they are so I wouldn't be able to relax even for a second'Ah just thinking about it is exhausting'And I am also a bit nervous because even though princess Lalaine's face is gorgeous,It still looked haggardIt's unfortunate that concealer is still not made in this era so I have to bear with this and trust my maidsI just hope that they won't try to humiliate me by pointing out my eye bag.And the reason is because I never had a peaceful sleep.Thanks to Calix for making me confuse.If I knew that this will happen, I shouldn't have invited him to talk to me after he offered to be my partnerIt just pisses me off, how come that this has to happen three days before my debutante'!I a
Few months after I found that book, I realized how much time I had wasted before having a relationship with Calix but now, it no longer matter as we are about to get married already. Of course, this is a national wedding since it involves me, the crown princess. 'Finally, we're getting married' Just a month ago, I felt so bad to my lady in waiting and dad's aide because of how busy they had become due to to my wedding but I can't just help but apologize because I myself is well aware that I need their help because if not, I won't be able to get married to Calix. I was still being prepared by so much people while Calix is already at the biggest church of the empire. Usually, Imperial princess like me is required to get married at the Palace but I tried to convince my father to just let me have a normal but expensive and great wedding in the biggest church in the Empire. Luckily, both him and Calix didn't had a problem with this issue and and instead, they just
Today, I came to the library to put back all the books that I got to study how to rule the empire but since it is no longer needed by me, I decided to finally put these things back. There, I asked my lady in waiting and maids to put the books where it is places last time.while I just reminisced a bit. I had a lot of memory in this place actually. Whenever I felt like I don't know about something, I will always struve hard to find out what I needed to know using this big library. Somehow, it feels amazing to be back here.Calix is currently not here as he went to go to their duchy since there was an emergency. He was even getying mad while hearing the words from a knight drom the duchy and I fekt bad for his aide so i just asked him to go for now since I had to do some things as well like this.There, I walked through in between of two big shelf and looked through books. As I was doing that, I saw how many times I spent in here as most of the books here are familiar wit
"Lalaine? Why are you spacing out?" Calix askes a she look at my face Coming back to my senses, I looked around me again and the office that I've seen a while ago is now long gone. We are now walkimg to the hallway while I am thinkim gof what had happened last time. It seems like he noticed how I spaced out while walking as he held both of my shoulder and gently shook it. "Hey? Are you alright?" he asked again and looked closely to me. Of course, as soon as I felt the knights eyes, I immediately smiled at him brightly saying that it's fine. It's just then that he cakmed down he must have been so worried that he acted a little rough I think today is the right time to give him the answer that he needs to hear "Calix, should we go and stroll to the garden. I just want to have a breathe of mind" I said as I look outside. Since we're at the second floor of the main palace, we can overlook the garden from here properly Noticing my mood, he wrapp
"It's not like I don't want you to be the next empress and ruler of this empire because I knew very well that you are a competent person so I'd like you to heat me out first before puttinf that kind of expression in your face. It feels like I betrayed you" Dad said'But really.. Why?'Not like I am sad about it because honestly, that job is too burdensome for me as well. Aristocrats fughts and succesions right. Those are just too tiring for me to even do but it's juat too sudden for me so I don't know how am I supposed to react. Hearing his words, I tried to think more but when I saw that he's still staring at my face,I cleared my face and mind while I give my full attention to what he's about to say."You know, since both of you are now grown up and I know sooner or later, you will get married. I figured out that it'll be hard for you ti managed the duchy as the dychess and the whole empire so K decided to delay it for now and wait until.you final
As I was thinking what she meant about it, a knight called me from the outside of my room"Your highness, his majesty is aaking you to come to his office" and so, after hearing the knight speak, I immediately moved to stand. As you know, I have been worrying for a lot of minutes now and I felt like if I don't go now, I'll definiteky die wonderng what is the reason of their so ling talk.There, I bid goodbye to.my lady in waiting whom I didn't has a long talk with and immediately got escorted by a knight towards dad's office. Of course as I was walking I became even more nervous and my heart beated like crazy.Soon, we reached his office. Before finalky entering, I tried to eavesdrop first to hear some talk inaide byt i didn't heard any and the knigts aroynd also looked at me strangely. They are pribabKy wondering qhy I am acting like this so I withdrew my head from the door.and fixed myself. It will be bad if my dignity got ruined here. I even made that for year
Everything went well and now, it has been months already since the ball had happened. We had our first monthsary together and enjoyed being in a relationship but today, strangely enough, both of us were summomed by my father. He said that he has something to talk about Calix and I so i was realky nervous. Actually, I kmew very well that dad is against of our relationship even before and until now so I was really hesitant and was wondering what it is that he has to say for him to summomed both Calix an I in a short noticed. Now, i am still eating my breakfast alome since Calix was already there talking with my alone as well.'I'm really nervous. Why.m did he even saud that we has to meet him separately. Now, I am getting more and more nervous as seconds passed'If I continue eating like this, I don't think I'll be able to digest every foods that are currentlt on my table. In the end, I had to call my.maids and lady in waiting to ask them to get these food sout of this t
I looked at the front where two of my bestfriends ar wstanding at. Lalaine and Calix. I can't help but feel bad as I look at the both of them. I don't know, maybe I just accept the fact that they are auited to each other"Rylie, are you sad?" Blyhe asked as he glanced at the front as well. I didn't answered . This girl have always known that I like Lalaine for a long time now so I don't th8nk I have to act as cheerful as what I usually do. There, I stayed as quiet as I can and bitterly smiled"Why didn't you confessed if you loved her this much? You knew her very well, she won't know it unless you tell it yourself" she said as low as she can fearing that someone may hear us talking"You know it as well too. I am not a someone who deserves her yet thatvs why I did my best to prove myself before confessing but I didnvt know until two weeks ago that they are already in a relationship" I said again and glanced at Calix who's now looking at me as well.I know
"Your majesty? Doena't her highness and the duke suits each other?" I looked at aide full of displeased expression. There's no way that that bastard suits my daughter. That bastard. How dare ge acts cunning tonm get Lalaine's heart."They are far from like that. Stoo blabbering so much and do your work. You'r enot getting paid for your chitchats" Insaid as I handed more papwrs to him for him to work on."But your majesty, why did you apprived of thsir relationship if you're still not satisfied with duke Finiell?" He once again so I threw him some dagger eyes to make him move. I have been too kind to this guy to act like this. I shoukd some times punish this Aide.Come to think of it, the reason why I approved of them. It's not because I found that shitty bastard deserving of Lalaine rather, it's because Lalaine likes him but if now, I would have killed him on the spot right after I knew that he and my daughter are going out. Alao, it's not like I have to w
"Her highness, the crown princess and His excellency, the duke is here!" the knight announced as we reach the hall. As expected, a lit of people are currebtly inside inckuding the knights. Some nobles whispered to each others as usual while the knights juat looked at us in amazement. Well, this must have yhe second time of me.meeting them so I gave them a short smile while Calix juat maintained his indifderent expressions toward them. The surrounding is as expensive as usual. Golds are everywhere and silvers are also distributed well in designs. The chandelier were also replaced. It seems like this Ceremony is juat that important.Again, I looked around the hall. There are also noble ladies tahtbare currently present inside the hall so I gentky nodded at the sight"Let's go over my seat" I said and pointed at the front thrones alimg with dad's. Since Calix is still a duke, he doesn't have a throne but he can stay beside me alk he want just like dad's aide qho alw