11

"And remember this, her majesty, the posture and how you act gracefully; a slow movement is better for a noblewoman because women need to look presentable at all times." I nod and slowly apply what lady Critesa is saying.

I take a sip of the tea and slowly put down the cup, tap the fabric to my lips and make eye contact with lady Critesa.

This lesson is kind of suffocating for me, I never have an education since the day I born. My mother was focused on something else, and at the moment she died, no one take care of me.

I wish that I have an early education, because this is really hard for me.

"I love the tea. It's refreshing and helps me to ease." She clapped and smiled at me.

Did I do it perfectly, or she just act that I did well, because of my status? It's giving me an anxiety attack.

I'm afraid to failed.

"Remember that even if the tea doesn't meet your standard, you cannot criticize the one who prepared the tea, especially if that is part of the nobility, because if you did that, criticize the tea, it would be a shame, just thank them for preparing a tea." I nod slowly while watching Lady Critesa; the way she talks and moves, she is perfect. What is her influence in high society?

I wonder if she can help me with my plan, but I can see that she's doing her best to became the best lady in waiting that I need.

"The noble woman always looks for an opportunity to look at your weakness because they love to criticize the people they don't like, but the right manners are to lengthen your patience and keep your smile at all times." I show my small smile to lady Critesa, and she nods, approving how I apply what I learned to her.

Acting like a sophisticated woman is tiring for me. This isn't my nature.

"But you know, sometimes I feel controlled by my desire to become presentable. The banquet for my engagement with the Emperor is getting near, and I need to perfect everything." I placed my hand on my knees and combed my hair.

I smile again, remembering the day that Sir William cut my hair.

"It feels like I am about to explode; it's suffocating on my part that it's a big adjustment for me." Lady Critesa gave me a piece of paper that she was holding. Lately, I read it and frowned.

She nods, and I burn the paper; she is informing me that the maids are listening and I should act like she didn't notice it; she is eyeing Julie, who is cleaning my closet.

I knew it, those nobility are planning something behind my back, they will use my weakness and their advantage here at their country.

I am just a princess who's a replacement to the daughter of emperor of Drivike.

I need to become better.

"Naturally, you feel that way, but remember that you will become the empress of Gribe, and being an empress is not an easy job," lady Critesa explained, and the other servant knocked at the door before opening the door.

He kneeled in front of me and bowed his head. "Greetings to her royal highness of Drivike, but the dressmaker and jewelry maker is waiting in the drawing room." Lady Critesa went beside me and helped me stand up; I was having a hard time because of the corset and long dress I was wearing.

But I need to get used with this dresses.

My body doesn't need a corset, but Lady Critesa insists that I should wear it, and I have no choice but to do it.

"You may raise." He stood up and walked behind Critesa and me.

I am getting nervous; this is my first time receiving this kind of treatment; my father never gave me something that I needed; he just fed me and gave me shabby shelter to me. The dress I usually wear is from Hannah's old dresses, and I was happy when I received a gift from my father, but now. It's a personalized dress and shoes.

The servants opened the door, and the dressmaker and shoemaker kneeled in front of me, showing their respects and smiling at me.

"Her royal highness, I am the owner, Yuevete, and it's my honor to serve you." She bowed her head, and I sat down first before they sat in front of me; lady Critesa was at the back, talking to the jewelry maker.

"I am also overwhelmed and know that Miss Bridgette's dress is one of the best quality at the Gribe." Her cheeks went red at what I said. I heard from Critesa that Miss Bridgette's dress quality is outstanding; she is hands on with her products.

"It's an honor to recognize by her royal highness, so please tell me the kind of dress that her majesty wants." She showed the dresses at her back; I stood up and looked at each dress. The quality is excellent, and the designs are better than I expected.

"The designs I brought are only exclusive; the fabric I used is from a different continent that is really hard to find at the market." A red dress captured my eyes, it's not revealing, but my collarbone was exposed once I tried it.

"That dress is my first creation, the daughter of the archduke, count and baron tried it; my employee made a mistake in adding that dress." Lady Critesa glared at the employee who was standing in the red dress.

"Are you a mocking, her royal highness?" I beckoned to Critesa, and she bowed her head.

"No, it's alright. I want to try this dress; it feels like it's calling me." I smile at Miss Bridgette, and Lady Critesa helps me to wear the dress.

My hair looks good in the dress I try, but I can't take my eyes off the dress. It fits perfectly and shows my curve; this dress belongs to me.

Miss Bridgette was surprised when she saw me walk. "It's good on you," she said and appreciating the dress; she was crying and saying that people said that this dress was a failure, her first creation was not that good, but when I wore it, she had hope that she can continue to create a similar design.

People in the drawing room celebrated and praised how good it was for me when the door opened, and Emperor Blake was there. Prince Kier was behind him, and when everyone in the drawing room kneeled, I bowed my head, showing respect.

"Greetings to the sun of Gribe Empire." Emperor Blake is looking at me and the dress I am wearing now.

"It looks good on you," he said and passed by me, he talked with Miss Bridgette, and Kier went in front of me, looking at my whole body, and his face went red when I cleared my throat.

"Make a fifteen dress similar to what Princess Delaney is wearing, and my assistant will give the sample designs of royalty's traditional dress and gown; I just came here to see my fiance; she looks good." I look away when Emperor Blake is talking; people think the Emperor likes me, but he is under my curse.

If he's not under my curse, maybe he's beating my ass, or he can't lay his eyes on me. I already saw his first reaction, when he came to Drivike, and asked for my hand for marriage.

He's fuming mad when my father tricked him, and almost hit me at the carriage.

"I am excited to have dinner with you later," Emperor whispered to my ears, and I caught his eyes glaring at me.

He's fighting.

I hide my fear with a polite smile; I can hear my heart beating rapidly due to nervousness.

"Same as mine. I can't wait for evening, your majesty." I closed my eyes when Emperor Blake reached the hem of my hair and kissed it, the same part where the assassin had kissed lately.

"Enjoy your day." I noticed the Emperor's face went dark before he left the drawing room.

I catch my breath and remove the dress I am wearing. I see it in my eyes. Emperor Blake is fighting.

I have rest for a while before having a dinner with him, or else he can break the curse easily if I didn't calm down.

"I need a fresh air, I want alone time." I walked hurriedly, and no one dares to follow me, walking away from the drawing room.

I am looking for a peaceful place at the palace, until I found a garden, a field that full of roses. It smells good here, and I sat under the tree.

Gently closed my eyes and took a deep breath. I hope this day end now. I don't want to see the emperor Blake, I need to have more time on my own, like how I used to live in Drivike empire.

I enjoy the solitude, I don't need attention from other people, even recognition, I don't want any of it.

"You seems tired and exhausted, your majesty." My eyes opened automatically and look around, but a bulk figure is in front of me, I am familiar to this voice, it's the assassin.

"You're here, it's early." I said and he gently touch my face, my eyes closed automatically and felt the gentleness of his touch.

"I can't wait to see you, and feel you. Delaney." He said and sat beside me, offered me some sweets, and I just look at those sweets.

"I won't poison you, and can you remove your eye silk, it's making me annoyed." He pull off my eye silk, revealing my red eyes, seeing how he appreciate my face at board light.

"So fucking gorgeous, how can people call you cursed, when seeing your beauty is like a blessing to mine." His lips touched my ear lobe, making me tiwtch and gently pushed him.

"Stop, it tickles." I closed my eyes and he just laughed.

"Can you see me now?" I open my eyes, at the moment my eyes met his eyes, a gentle breeze makes my hair went to my face, and he tuck my hair at my ears and show his arrogant smile.

His dead eyes, it's similar to mine, it's like I am looking at my own eyes now. But the way his presence showed to mine, it's snoozing.

"Do you want me to kill him right now? So you won't suffer at this trash empire?" I shook my head and look away.

I need a strong plan, before and after Blake's death.

If he died right now, I didn't stable my relationship with other nobility yet, and they will suspect me instantly.

"They will suspect that it's me, my curse." I said and play with my hand.

"Then come with me, I'll take you away from hell. And I'll bring heaven to you," he said, as if he's sincere to every words he said right now

What if he's sincere, but it's an insane idea. An assassin, will take the fiance of his target? For what purpose?

"I can't trust someone like you, I don't know your motive, and why you wanna kill the emperor."

But I hope that I can run away with someone, and forget my whole existence.

"Simply because he's a fucking trash, and his plans to his empire is a complete trash." He chuckled and smirk after chuckling.

"And he don't deserve someone like you, at the moment I saw you, I have this urge that you need to be save, like you need me." I twitch once more, when his palm touches my cheeks, claim my lips and my eyes automatically shut down right now.

"You're a blessing to me, because if I didn't see you that night, my life will remain the same, my sweet princess." He kissed my lips once more, before he vanish and I heard some foot steps.

"Her majesty, we are looking for you."