HTSVD 03

Chapter 3

But even until her death, Eve never realized the truth.

“Your Highness… are the gloves not to your liking? Should I bring you another pair?”

The maids, nervous at my silence, kept watching me closely.

“Or… would you like another dish instead?”

“No, it’s fine.”

I put on the gloves and took a bite of the most appetizing dish first. Even a simple soup made by the imperial chef melted gently in my mouth.

After finishing breakfast, the maids entered the room carrying boxes.

The boxes on the left were filled with jewelry—countless diamonds, gold, rubies, creamy pearls, sky-blue sapphires, emeralds, amethysts… a never-ending array of gems.

On the right, there were dresses—silk, damask, velvet, muslin… all lavish Rococo-style gowns that looked like they belonged in a movie.

Even though this routine had repeated for the past four days, it still felt overwhelming every time.

Every morning, delicacies, jewelry, and dresses piled up like mountains before my eyes. It was a life of luxury beyond imagination.

…If only I weren’t going to die in forty days.

I had only about forty days left. But thankfully, I had read The Flower of Tragic Love countless times.

Even though I was now in the body of a villainess doomed to be murdered in just over a month, I remembered exactly how everything in this world played out.

The problem was… knowing all this didn’t mean I could escape on my own.

As a princess, I couldn’t just run away from the palace. And the person trying to kill me was the emperor himself.

Even if I tried to break my engagement, one word from the emperor would undo everything.

And if I caused a scene and then tried to break it off, I’d only make it more obvious why someone would want to kill me.

Breaking an engagement in high society was humiliating—almost as bad as being divorced. Imagine all the chaos I had caused trying to marry the duke, and now saying, “Sorry, I don’t want to marry anymore. I’m breaking off the engagement.”

Even without proof, everyone would assume the duke killed me. And then, what could be considered self-defense might even be justified.

Even if I survived this crisis, staying in the palace was dangerous. The emperor was ruthless enough to kill his own daughter.

I had to find a way out—a safe place.

After four days of thinking, the answer was clear.

“I have to see the duke.”

The only person who could help Eve now was the duke.

Eve had a brother, the crown prince, but he hated her and didn’t care if she lived or died. The other siblings were away at war, so there was no one else to turn to.

“That leaves only the duke. I need to see him immediately.”

But meeting him wasn’t easy. The duke hated Eve and never came to see her. Even if I sent him an invitation, he would ignore it.

“During her illness, he didn’t even show up out of courtesy.”

Of course, Eve had fallen sick while pretending to starve herself to force the marriage. The duke didn’t want to see her at all.

So if I wanted to meet him, I had to leave the palace myself.

“How can I even leave the palace?”

Eve’s reputation was completely ruined from all the chaos she caused trying to marry the duke. The emperor had ordered her to behave until the wedding.

“I’m not imprisoned, but I can’t just leave the palace freely.”

I thought about sending a secret note to the duke through the maids, but I wasn’t sure which ones were loyal and which ones were spies for the emperor. Asking them might only make me more suspicious.

I was lost in thought when a maid’s voice snapped me back to reality.

“Your Highness, the Empress has sent an invitation to a tea party.”

The words caught my attention immediately.

“Empress?”

I took the invitation from the maid. On the gold-embossed paper, elegant handwriting invited me to a tea party.

I remembered some information about the Empress.

“She’s not Eve’s biological mother.”

After Eve’s mother, the previous empress, died of illness, the emperor remarried. While no one liked Eve, the Empress had the strongest grudge—Eve had publicly insulted the Empress, who came from a count’s family.

“From Eve’s perspective, it must have felt like her father’s mistress stole her mother’s place.”

The current Empress had been a consort before the previous empress died and had given birth to the emperor’s son, the second prince, Billos. The crown prince’s position had gone to Eve’s brother, the first prince, Arentin.

Still, the Empress, who had once been a concubine, now held the main position, so she and Eve could never get along.

As I held the invitation, the maid trembled on the floor, probably sensing my anger.

“Your Highness, if you are still unwell, you don’t have to attend.”

“…”

Normally, this would seem like a considerate gesture. But the Empress wasn’t concerned about Eve. She wanted to provoke her.

“I bet she wants me to refuse,” I thought.

The Empress always provoked Eve, hoping Eve would throw a tantrum. Then, people would sympathize with the Empress and scold Eve.

Of course, I didn’t care about the Empress. But hearing about the tea party, I realized it could be a good opportunity.

With the emperor away from the capital, the Empress was the only one who could actually get me outside the palace.

“No, if I was invited, I’ll go.”

I quickly picked out a dress and jewelry from the maids’ offerings.

“A simple, elegant teal dress with white lily embroidery,” I decided. I avoided flashy yellows or beiges that clashed with my red-gold hair.

For jewelry, I chose a modest pearl necklace with a sapphire pendant and a small lily-shaped brooch.

After dressing and putting on the jewelry, I stood in front of the mirror. The maids, watching nervously, couldn’t help but admire me.

“Your Highness, you look beautiful. The dress and necklace suit you perfectly.”

I gave instructions to organize half the jewelry into one box—“We’ll need these later.”

I had to be fully prepared. Today, I had to meet the duke.

After finishing preparations, I left my palace and walked toward the Empress’s residence.

By now, I was used to wearing the tight corset and heavy dress, walking gracefully. High heels were still a bit tough.

“This is my first time going to another palace,” I realized.

I had only been inside the princess’ residence—my private rooms, library, and tea room.

I glanced through the garden windows. Beyond the glass, framed with white gold and jade inlays, the world stretched out. Snow was falling, covering the gray garden in white. The vast garden had become a frozen winter forest, like crystal and ice.

“What a picture-perfect scene,” I thought, admiring the view.

I studied the palace corridors and entrances. Knights in uniform patrolled everywhere.

“Escaping secretly is impossible.”

Of course, it was impossible to escape the palace easily. I wasn’t just any maid; I was a princess. And Eve’s position was important—she was meant to be a pawn in the emperor’s schemes, a key sacrificial piece.

“So, the only person I can ask for help is him,” I thought, continuing down the long corridor.