4. Even If I Have to Become the Mad Lady of This District (2)
My mother might foam at the mouth when she sees the clothing bill, but by then, the selection ceremony will already be over.
When I returned home feeling lighthearted, just as expected, there was an invitation waiting for me to attend the crown prince fiancée candidate selection ceremony.
Seeing my family so happy about the invitation, I made a quiet vow to myself.
That I would make sure to fail.
At least in this life, I refuse to live as Karzan’s woman. And I will uncover the one responsible for our family’s ruin and set everything right, just as the princess asked me to.
“Milady! Did you see outside? The palace sent a carriage! It’s my first time seeing a carriage with the royal crest!”
On the day the fiancée candidates were to gather, the imperial family sent a carriage to our house. The crest engraved with dragon scales and wings signified royalty. Tasha was as dazzled as she had been in the past, staring in awe at the royal carriage.
“What do you think it feels like to ride a royal carriage? It must be incredibly smooth, right?”
But to me, that carriage, which once made me shiver with loneliness, was not a welcome sight.
“You like it that much?”
“Of course! How many maids get to even see a royal carriage?”
Well, she looks so happy. Let her enjoy it to the fullest. Things won’t turn out like they did before, anyway.
“Tasha, you’re coming with me.”
“Huh? I can go too?”
“You’re my maid. You have to accompany me. You expect me to go alone?”
“No way. I should be glued to your side, milady! I’ve never been to the imperial palace before. I’m so excited. I’ve always wondered what it would be like!”
Alright. I’ll protect your fantasy, Tasha.
Her eyes sparkled with joy, overflowing with the thrill of riding in a royal carriage. At least one of us was happy, and that was a relief.
I remembered how I too had been bursting with excitement the first time I rode that carriage. How Tasha and I had explored the palace like two country girls visiting the city.
But today wouldn’t be a beautiful memory like that.
“Tasha. Pick out the shabbiest outfit you have and wear that.”
Tasha frowned like she had misheard something.
“You want me to wear the shabbiest outfit I have, not my prettiest or neatest?”
“Yep. Something very shabby, unimpressive, and vintage-looking.”
The dumbfounded expression she gave me seemed to question my sanity, but I stared her down firmly.
I didn’t blink, and eventually Tasha closed her eyes tightly and shook her head in resignation.
“That’s not right, milady.”
Her voice was unshakably resolute.
“What?”
“If I wear something like that, the other maids will laugh at me. And being mocked reflects poorly on you, milady.”
I had planned to dress up extravagantly while Tasha looked pitiful and shabby—so I would come off as a foolishly vain noble lady.
If the maid looks like a beggar while her mistress is decked out in luxury, it would surely make me seem extravagant and out of touch.
Though my mother might take some flak as well…
“There’s a reason for this. Just trust me.”
“No, milady. Other maids and even Heini will be there. Do you know how much they’ll talk behind my back? They might even gossip about you! I can’t bring disgrace to you!”
Heini was Rosalie’s maid.
I see. You girls have your own silent power struggles.
My head started to throb, but I decided to respect Tasha’s little battle.
“Fine. Wear whatever you want.”
Tasha instantly beamed, as if nothing had happened.
“Thank you, milady!”
The way her expression changed in an instant—maybe Tasha was a little fox after all.
She chose a proper outfit for the imperial palace, elegant yet refined, suitable for the occasion.
Thanks to her love for dressing up and her sharp eye, even at a young age, she had a good sense of fashion.
I picked out a plain-looking dress for myself and handed Tasha a garment bag containing the real outfit that would shock everyone later.
“We’re taking this too, so make sure to carry the bag carefully.”
Curious as ever, Tasha accepted it with a puzzled expression.
“Milady, why are we bringing another outfit?”
“I’m preparing a surprise.”
Though her eyes were full of questions, she didn’t press further.
Only after I confirmed she had the garment bag securely in hand did I climb into the carriage.
“Vanity, are you really okay going alone without your mother?”
“Mom, I’m already seventeen. I’m a young lady now.”
My mother looked worried as I boarded the carriage, even though I insisted I’d be fine. She had come out to see me off.
In my previous life, I had gone to the palace with her, but this time, I had said I needed to stand on my own, that I had grown up. She seemed proud but also deeply uneasy.
“Don’t worry about me, Mother.”
Though I might bring some disgrace to the family.
“Be careful. Always maintain your dignity, my daughter.”
“Yes, Mother.”
Just for today, I’ll toss that dignity on the ground!
Leaving behind my mother, who looked like she was sending me to some far-off land, I got into the carriage to find Tasha already bouncing in her seat.
“Milady, look! The cushions are soooo soft!”
She was thrilled, completely oblivious to my heavy heart. She looked just like a calf dancing with joy, unaware it was being led to slaughter.
“Alright, that’s enough. You’re acting like a total country bumpkin.”
The word country bumpkin was one she hated most, so Tasha immediately shifted into a proper lady-like pose.
The well-paved city roads made for a smooth ride, but the cushions in the imperial carriage really were plush. I remembered how I, too, had once bounced in excitement with Tasha.
“Oh my goodness!”
Tasha’s eyes widened and her jaw dropped as we entered the imperial palace.
You’re really having a jaw-dropping kind of day, huh, Tasha?
“Milady, I didn’t know the palace was this huge! I thought our duchy mansion was big, but this doesn’t even compare!”
The palace had a central main palace, and wings to the south, west, and east. The southern wing was the emperor’s, the western held the empress and crown prince in the Ruby Palace, and the east housed the princes’ and princesses’ wings.
Before even reaching the main palace, we passed a grand plaza with a fountain large enough to fit a thousand people. First-time visitors were often left speechless.
Tasha, in particular, was utterly dazed.
“I’ve never seen a fountain that big!”
“Right. And I bet no one’s ever seen a maid get so worked up either. Let’s go inside now.”
I guided the flustered Tasha away from the fountain and into the main palace.
“Milady, how do you know the way so well? It’s like you’ve been here before!”
“Shh, Tasha. Just be quiet for a bit, will you?”
To change into my secret outfit, I led Tasha to Library Room 5 in the palace—a place filled with boring philosophy books, which no one really visited.
“What are you doing, milady?”
“Tasha. Stay here. If anyone comes near, scream, okay?”
“Scream?”
“I don’t have time to explain. Just scream like you saw a ghost. Got it?”
“O… okay.”
Tasha didn’t look happy about it, but I needed a lookout. I left her at the bookshelf and went behind a large shelf to change into the outfit I brought.
“Milady, that outfit is… too strange.”
Tasha looked at me like I’d lost my mind—again.
Her mouth dropped open once more.
“What? What’s wrong with it?”
“This is the fiancée selection ceremony! You can’t wear that! If the duchess sees it, she’ll scold me! Please change back!”
The dress I wore was something no sane person would wear before the empress herself.
Tasha’s expression said it all.
It was an over-the-top dress, with gemstones hanging from every hem. An outfit so ostentatious that my mother would never have let me out of the house in it, which is why I snuck it out to change here.
“Are you seriously wearing that?”
“Yup.”
That’s exactly why I brought it.
Completely unfit for a future crown princess candidate, it was perfect to give off the image of a shallow, foolish noblewoman.
I planned to proudly get eliminated in a week, so I had no doubts about this dress.
“Milady, you can’t wear that! Absolutely not!”
Which is exactly why I must wear it.
Because it’s the perfect outfit to show just how out of my mind I am.
