PLTSVA 29

The morning sunlight made me squint. In an instant, light flooded the room.

Garnet had flung the curtains wide open.

“It’s time to wake up.”

“Mmm…”

I curled up in the soft bed. Every morning, I felt like I had fused with the bed and couldn’t separate myself.

Then Garnet picked me up.

“Today is your day to visit the imperial palace.”

Step, step—

Before I knew it, I was delivered in front of the bathroom. Since I had stayed up late reading old texts until dawn last night, I was barely awake and didn’t even realize the maids were washing me until I sparkled and applying fragrant oil to my hair.

It wasn’t until the breeze from drying my hair gently blew across my skin that I finally came to my senses.

“Why does the imperial palace only receive visitors this early in the morning…?”

At my grumble, Garnet replied while drying my hair.

“There are more than a thousand visitors to the palace each day. The more important the guest, the more formal the treatment required. Distinguished guests are each assigned different times. Those allowed to visit at earlier hours are given the highest honor.”

“I just wanted to see Luca’s face…”

“It seems His Highness the Crown Prince has secured a firm position in the imperial family, contrary to your worries,” Garnet said with a smile.

According to her, today was also the day when foreign royals visiting other princes were scheduled to arrive. But apparently, I had been given an even more prestigious time slot than them.

Since I was visiting the imperial palace, it could be seen as another kind of debut — a formal introduction of my presence.

In a place where nobles from across the nation gathered, I couldn’t show up in just any outfit.

As a result, I was now being decked out by Serin and Terri, along with several maids who had rushed over as soon as they heard the news.

“Um… everyone? How many dresses is this now?”

“This is the fifth one, miss!” said Terri brightly.

That wasn’t a literal question!

It had been a while since I last saw Serin and Terri, but they seemed to get along well with the other maids. Watching them seriously debate what accessories to pair next…

“Okay, okay, that’s enough. I like this dress.”

Honestly, all four dresses I had tried earlier were so finely crafted they looked like artisans had stayed up three days and nights to make them.

As the saying goes, clothes make the person — and the green dress I was wearing now was absolutely beautiful.

Even though they had narrowed down a selection of dresses that would suit me the previous day, there were still too many!

When Serin expressed regret, I firmly crossed my arms in an X to say no.

My aching waist felt like it was about to throw a tantrum.

I looked at the ruby necklace hanging around my neck in the mirror. Luca had told me not to take it off for even a moment. So I decided to keep the necklace and simply tie my hair back with a ribbon.

Garnet had exceptional skill in hair styling.

I remembered her once saying it was a shame there were only young masters in this house and no one for her to practice hairstyling on.

She was now unleashing all that pent-up energy on my long silver hair.

The face reflected in the mirror looked like a young girl who had just gotten the toy she wanted.

With just one green velvet ribbon adorned with jewels, her magic hands had created a ponytail worthy of a fashion magazine.

“You look just like a princess!” said Terri, clasping her hands together, eyes sparkling.

I replied, “You look more like a princess to me.”

Terri was wearing one of the many dresses the duke’s household had bought each year in anticipation of Laveria’s return.

It was a dress that had become too small for me, with no owner.

Back at the orphanage, Terri used to sing about wanting to wear the beautiful dresses worn by fairy tale heroines. So I had given her a dress tailored to her size.

“Princesses, it’s time to go,” Serin said with a smile.

Terri grabbed my hand and led the way, with Serin and Garnet following behind.

In the expansive garden out front, Drelhan had already prepared the carriage.

“Good morning, Drelhan!”

At my words, he nodded.

I took his offered hand and stepped into the carriage, waving to Serin and Terri.

“I’ll be back!”

I had assumed Garnet was coming with me, but only the invited guest and their direct representative were allowed into the palace.

Inside the swiftly moving carriage, I faced Drelhan, who was staring at me intently.

“Thank you for coming with me today.”

Nod—

“It’s been a while since you’ve gone to the palace too, hasn’t it?”

Nod—

“Could you at least say something?”

Nod—

‘This guy…!’

As my smile cracked, Drelhan chuckled softly.

Was he teasing me? I didn’t think he was this kind of person…

“I also have someone to meet at the palace.”

“Someone to meet?”

“A fellow graduate from the academy.”

A fellow graduate? That would be Esil Claire.

He was the same age as Drelhan and, as his surname suggested, the eldest son of the Duke of Claire. In the original story, he was a minor villain who had a one-sided love for Senia.

He had conspired with Laveria to break up Luca and Senia, but ended up getting involved in a poisoning incident and was exiled alongside Laveria. Just another disposable character.

Since the Claire family’s knights worked in cooperation with the imperial knights, Esil Claire was probably overseeing them from within the palace.

Following the will of the original sword empress — the first duke — the Claire family had always stayed out of politics and maintained their role as protectors of the empire’s borders.

Their territory, fittingly, was the frontier region of Theora, which bordered another country.

I asked Drelhan, “What are you meeting him for?”

“It’s about the upcoming High Nobles’ Assembly. Since this whole commotion began after two years, and our duke’s household played a part in it, it’s best we secure our standing.”

The High Nobles’ Assembly. While regular noble assemblies have 100 attendees, the high assembly is limited to 30.

It’s convened to decide on major national matters. The last one was two years ago — after Luca went missing.

This time, the reason it was being held again was Luca’s return. Naturally, at the center of it all was not just Luca but also the Duke of Rayes, who brought him back.

Originally, the assembly was scheduled to be held a year later due to Senia’s responsibilities, but the agenda had changed.

Tension was rising between the Crown Prince’s faction and the concubine Jeria’s faction. With Rayes leading the Crown Prince’s faction, the support of another duchy — Claire — was essential.

The Duke of Kabloth was a major noble backing the concubine faction. It was those two who had originally conspired to kidnap Luca.

‘Honestly, I don’t know what the adults are doing, fighting over a single child like this.’

I turned my gaze out the window.

“More importantly, did you have a dream while you were asleep for those two days?”

“A dream…?”

“You were murmuring constantly even though you were unconscious. You kept apologizing to someone.”

“Ah.”

I smiled faintly as a memory came to mind.

“Yes. I had a dream where I was saying goodbye to the people I missed.”

“People you missed?”

I nodded. Drelhan looked at me, puzzled.

I didn’t explain any further.

I couldn’t.

How could I tell him I had said my final goodbyes to my family from my past life?

The carriage sped toward the imperial city.

The Duke of Rayes’ territory wasn’t too far from the capital, so the trip didn’t take long.

After getting out of the carriage, I stood in awe of the imposing Greffin Imperial Palace.

I had thought the Duke’s mansion was impressive — but the palace left me speechless.

At times, it looked like a divine temple where gods might reside. At other times, like a paradise where fairies played.

Now I understood why people went mad over the throne — why everyone wanted to rule this place.

“We’ve been expecting you. It is an honor to receive the young heirs of House Rayes.”

Three attendants came out to greet Drelhan.

“Esteemed guests of His Highness the Crown Prince, please follow us.”

As we followed the three perfectly synchronized attendants — like triplets — I began to see parts of the palace I hadn’t noticed from the outside.

It seemed I truly was the first visitor today. The maze-like gardens that would normally be filled with nobles and foreign royals were empty, except for Drelhan and me.

Even after we crossed the massive gardens, we still had to ride another palace carriage to reach the inner areas.

But rather than tiresome, it was fascinating. The carriage had no roof, so it felt more like a sightseeing tour.

Eventually, the horses stopped in front of a palace made of white marble.

“Ria.”

It was Luca’s voice.

“May the radiant glory of the Great Greffin Empire be with you. Our sovereign, our other sun.”

Drelhan respectfully greeted Luca.

I followed suit, curtsying as I’d been taught under the gaze of many watching eyes.

“May the radiant glory of the Great Greffin Empire—oh?”

Before I could finish, Luca grabbed my hand.

“A simple ‘hello’ is enough.”

“But… this is the imperial palace…”

Luca chuckled mischievously and said it was fine.

Even in this vast palace, dressed like a perfect royal, he was still the same boy who used to sleep beside me at the orphanage, holding my hand.

I couldn’t help but smile.

“Hello, Luca.”

He smiled shyly back at me.