đˇ Chapter Twelve
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“How are you doing, Archduchess?”
Rania smiled and greeted Evelina.
Today was the day of the dress fittingâ
and the day both Karina and Arsène had long been anticipating.
Before Evelina even put the dress on, Karina began showering her with praise.
“I can already see my darling child standing before me in that gown. It’s made of deep navy fabricâyouâll surely resemble Lyonelle, the spirit of the sea.”
“She might even look far more beautiful than her.”
“Indeed. My daughter is far more stunning than Lyonelle.”
Rania smiled at Karinaâs words. Evelina lowered her head in embarrassment.
Her face had turned so red it felt as if it might burst.
Fanning herself hastily to cool her cheeks, Evelina then raised her gaze.
“Rania, IâIâd like to try the dress on now⌔
“Of course, Archduchess. This way, please.”
Evelina followed Rania into a modest dressing room.
“As I mentioned last time, itâs an off-shoulder design. Still, the fabric is highly elastic, so itâs not tight or uncomfortable at all. Would you like to try moving around a bit while wearing it?”
Evelina carefully lifted her arm.
As Rania had said, the gown wasnât tight at allâit was incredibly comfortable.
“Yes, itâs very comfortable.”
“Thank the heavens. Now, Iâll tie the ribbon at your back.”
Rania began tying the ribbon with precision.
“Should I tighten it a bit more?”
“Yes⌠it feels a bit loose⌔
“Really? Then Iâll pull it a little tighter.”
As Rania tightened the ribbon, Evelina nodded.
“You have such a slender waist. I noticed it when I was taking your measurements, but truly, you need to gain some weight, Archduchess. If you keep going like this, you might collapse before the wedding.”
“Iâve been eating a lot these days⌠but I just canât seem to eat more⌔
Evelina felt as though Rania were scolding her for something and lowered her head apologetically.
“Iâm sorry. I didnât mean to upset you⌠Iâll be more careful moving forward.”
“Noâ! Th-thank you for your concern. Iâll take your words to heart.”
Evelina smiled.
She was sincere.
Because she knew Raniaâs words had come from genuine careânot criticism or reproach.
The worried look on Raniaâs face warmed Evelinaâs heart.
“Lastly, wear this shawl. Itâs not the final version yet, but itâs easy enough to drape.”
Rania wrapped a thin shawl over Evelinaâs shoulders and secured it with a small pin.
Eventually, it would be fastened with a brooch instead of a pin.
Only after carefully adjusting the hem of Evelinaâs dress did Rania straighten up.
A proud smile touched her lips.
“Now then, allow me to open the curtains.”
Evelina hadnât looked in the mirror yet.
So she didnât know what she looked like in the dress.
âI hope I donât look ugly.â
Such a lavish gown might not suit someone as cursed as her.
Even if Karina and Arsèneâs reactions werenât that great, Evelina had no intention of complaining.
But her worries vanished the moment the curtain was drawnâ
Karina and Arsène immediately showered her with admiration.
“Oh my⌠sweetheart, are you even human? Arenât you a goddess descended from the heavens?”
“Clearly, another goddess mustâve been jealous of you, which is why she cast you down to earth out of envy. Well, Iâm thankful for that, because it allowed me to meet you.”
Rather than deny it, Karina wholeheartedly agreed.
Rania chuckled beside them and instructed her assistants to bring over a full-length mirror.
“Archduchess, you havenât looked in the mirror yet. Please, take a look at yourself.”
With Arsèneâs help, Evelina walked over to the mirror.
Her eyes widened the moment she saw herself in the gown.
“This⌠is this really me?”
“Of course it is, Evelina. Itâs youâstunning and radiant.”
Arsène gently held her shoulder and whispered sweetly in her ear.
Evelina stared at her reflection, dazed.
She looked breathtaking in that dark, shimmering navy gown.
They had said she looked beautiful in itâand honestly, âbeautifulâ didnât do it justice.
She glowed magnificently in that shadowy hue.
The hem of the skirt sparkled softly like the Milky Way, and the bodice was embroidered with elegant detail.
The shawl draped over her shoulders was sheer and delicate, yet the embroidery added a refined charm.
“Do you like the dress, Archduchess?”
“Yes⌠itâs really⌠truly beautiful.”
Evelina nodded, murmuring blankly.
Karina and Arsène stood silently side by side for a long moment before finally closing their gaping mouths.
In truth, they had no choice but to stop admiring her, as Evelina now needed to look through the accessories that had just arrived.
She returned to the dressing room, careful not to damage the dress.
“Raniaâs skills improve day by day.”
“Thatâs true. Iâm truly looking forward to the wedding gown sheâll make.”
After some time, Evelina changed and exited the room.
Not long after Rania left the palace, Noel and the other maids entered the drawing room carrying the newly arrived jewelry.
“Archduchess, some accessories have arrived. Please try them on.”
The pieces were numerousâvibrant, radiant, and eye-catching.
Evelina was momentarily overwhelmed. She looked away, then glanced back at the glittering jewels.
She was too afraid to even ask the price, certain they were all exorbitant.
Sorting through the necklaces, Evelina chose the one that looked the most modest.
Karina smiled in satisfaction.
“Just as I expected, you have excellent taste. Though the diamonds on that piece are small, itâs far more valuable than the others. Itâs a limited editionâvery few exist in the entire empire.”
“Give it to me. Iâll help you put it on.”
With trembling hands, Evelina handed the necklace to Arsène.
She had picked the simplest piece, yet it turned out to be the most expensive.
This shattered the common notion that expensive things had to be flashy and ornate.
The faint click of the clasp echoed behind her neck.
“Sweetheart, take a look in the mirror.”
Karina held up the mirror Noel had brought and positioned it before Evelina.
The glimmering diamond now rested elegantly at the center of her slender neck.
Strangely, whenever Evelina turned her head, the diamond shimmered in different hues.
“Thatâs the unique trait of this diamondâit changes color depending on the lightâs angle.”
The corners of Karinaâs lips twitched as she tried to suppress a smile. Evelina looked so adorably curious, tilting her body this way and that to see the gemâs shifting colors.
The same went for Arsène.
Noticing their mirrored expressions, both quickly stiffened and turned their heads away from each otherâ
They truly were a quarrelsome mother and son.
Only one week remained until the national founding day.
Evelina was packing her things in advance to leave for the capital.
She had planned to pack the dress she would wear at the founding celebration, but since it might be damaged if handled improperly, they decided to use a magicianâs help.
Since the palace in the capital already had a chief steward, Noel would remain in the northâ
Only Berri would accompany Evelina as her personal maid.
When Evelina asked Berri to come with her to the capital, the maid had been deeply moved.
Naturally, Berri had no reason to refuse and nodded without even a second of hesitation.
Evelina sighed in secret relief, glad to see Berri so happy.
Though it was merely a trip to the capital, Evelina felt a thrill in her chest as if she were going on a grand journey.
In reality, she didnât have much to bringâjust her gown for the ball and a few accessoriesâso her luggage was minimal.
She was told that plenty of spare dresses were already waiting in the capital, so she didnât need to bring more.
However, as she wondered if she had forgotten anything, a knock sounded at the door.
“Who is it?”
“Itâs me. May I come in?”
“Y-yes.”
After Evelina gave permission, the door opened carefully.
Arsène peeked at her luggage and smiled.
“Tomorrowâs the day we head to the capital. Would you like to take a walk outside with me for a bit?”
“Yes, Iâd love that.”
Evelina had always enjoyed walkingâthere was no reason to refuse.
Arsène pulled a shawl from the closet and draped it over her shoulders.
Though the north was always cold, the palace was enchanted with warming magic, so the shawl was more than enough.
The moment Evelina stepped out the front door, a chilly wind brushed past.
“Itâs cold outside, so be sure to dress warmly tomorrow. If you catch a cold, itâll be quite the problem.”
“Arsène, you tooâplease dress warmly. You might get sick.”
“Alright. Thank you for your concern.”
Arsène hadnât caught a cold since birth.
Not only did he possess strong physical stamina, but his immunity was exceptional.
“Itâs been a long time since youâve been to the capital. Is there any place youâd like to go?”
“Are we allowed to go somewhere else?”
“Yes. Weâll have a bit of free time, so donât worry.”
Evelina, still a little hesitant, spoke carefully.
“Then⌠I want to go to the capital festival.”
“Iâve never been to a festival before, so Iâm glad my first one will be with you, Evelina. Besides, since itâs the capitalâs festival, there will be so much to see. Is there anywhere else youâd like to visit?”
“No. If I remember something, Iâll let you know later.”
“Alright. Please donât feel pressuredâjust speak comfortably with me.”
A plan was already forming in Arsèneâs mind.
The commemoration of the empireâs founding was a week-long festival, with the grand ball held on the final day.
The imperial palace set up booths that handed out food, drinks, and bread to the public, and the festival was packed with entertainment and popular foods.
The most famous event was the puppet show and carnival parade depicting the founding of the empire.
These puppets werenât made of cheap stitched cloth, but specially enchanted ball-jointed dolls that moved on their own.
These shows only took place during the national founding celebration, making even nobles venture into the streets to watch.
Though the content was always the same, it was beloved for its use of magic-based special effectsâshimmering lights and even artificial rain.
There was also a girl chosen each year to portray the Saint Nila, who founded the empire. She would ride a custom-made carriage, scattering pink flower petals down the streets.
There was a legend: catching one of the petals would bring you good luck for the year.
Evelina had once snuck out of the palace during a past founding festival, but she hadnât managed to catch a single petal.
Worse, sheâd been caught by a maid and punished with three days of starvation.
Though she hadnât regretted it, she had been bitterly disappointed to leave without seeing much.
Now, her cheeks turned red with excitementâshe could finally see the festival without anyone stopping her.
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