Chapter 185
“Yes, you should go to bed early today.”
I doubted whether I could actually sleep comfortably today either, since it seemed likely the prince would come again. But if I asked them to bring another small bed, someone might notice that I was sharing the room with someone, so I made a different request.
“Nensi, could you bring an extra blanket to my bedroom? I’ll leave one on the sofa to use.”
“Yes, I’ll bring it by this afternoon.”
Feeling a bit guilty for adding extra work to her busy schedule, I placed the cherry from my dessert onto her plate. Seeing the cherry, Nensi smiled cheerfully, as if recalling an old memory.
“Shanael, when things settle down, let’s go on an outing together.”
“Sure, anywhere is fine with me.”
Though it had been a short lunch break, it had been enough time to grow closer with Nensi. We talked quietly like friends and were almost done with our meal when the other maids came in all at once.
They too seemed tired from the increased workload, rubbing their shoulders as they sat weakly around a nearby table. Nensi exchanged eye contact with them, telling them to enjoy their meal.
Since they were sitting close, their conversation naturally floated over to our table.
“What kind of VIP is it that we were told to thoroughly clean that room?”
Faced with the slightly disgruntled question, everyone tilted their heads, unsure how to respond. Even the maids who cleaned the room didn’t seem to know the reason.
Then one of the maids at the far end, sipping water, leaned in and whispered,
“Yesterday, the emperor’s aide personally came to the palace. I overheard him giving instructions to the head maid…”
“…”
Everyone went silent, listening intently. Nensi and I pretended not to hear, but our ears were perked up, trying to eavesdrop. The whispers were low enough that we couldn’t catch the exact words.
Frowning in confusion, I noticed Nensi signaling to me with her eyes: “I’ll ask later and let you know.”
Right, I thought. I’ll subtly ask her in the evening. Who comes to the third floor has nothing to do with me, and I continued my meal—until one of the maids, startled, blurted out,
“Th-the princess?”
“Shh!”
The maid providing the information quickly covered her mouth and looked around. Only when she realized no one else was nearby did she cautiously remove her hand.
“Watch your words.”
I had thought it didn’t matter who the guest was, but hearing the word princess made my mind spin. The Veltios Empire had no princess, which meant this must be a princess from the Hildeman Empire…
A princess from another empire staying in this palace could be for diplomatic reasons, but I remembered what Jereon had hinted to me earlier:
“Recently, the Hildeman Empire proposed that we consider a political marriage with their third princess.”
So it had already started.
My heart sank.
Even though I knew this, facing it in reality made it hard to stay composed.
“What’s the reason for the visit?”
The maid who spoke first responded again, her voice lingering in my ears.
“What reason could there be? Obviously, it’s for a political marriage, isn’t it?”
Since my suspicion was confirmed, I quietly continued listening to their conversation. Unlike me, the other maids questioned and argued the point.
“Many princesses from other kingdoms have visited before.”
“This time is different.”
“What’s different?”
“Just look at the room we’re in charge of. No matter how important the guest, His Majesty has never ordered that the room be given up for anyone to stay.”
“Oh? Now that you mention it… I wonder why that room was kept empty all this time.”
“Because that room… was where the late empress stayed when she first visited this palace. So His Majesty ordered that no one enter it, and we’ve just maintained it. But now, being told to prepare that room? That means they’re expecting someone important, like the late empress. And the visiting guest is the Hildeman princess? It’s obvious what this means.”
Everyone murmured in agreement, “Oh, really,” and “So the crown prince will get engaged?” before falling silent when someone passed by.
It felt like a peach pit was stuck in my throat—I couldn’t swallow. Jereon had said he would refuse the political marriage, but I wasn’t sure it would be possible with the emperor being so proactive.
I reached for a glass of water to soothe my burning lips, and I saw Nensi looking at me worriedly.
Even without me saying anything, Nensi seemed to understand my relationship with the crown prince. As proof, she suddenly stood up and pulled me along.
“Shanael, I’ll serve you some delicious tea. Come on.”
“Huh? Okay.”
Feeling like an empty shell, I weakly rose and allowed Nensi to lead me out of the staff dining room. Even as we walked, the murmurs behind us lingered in my ears.
“Stay here for a moment.”
Nensi seated me at an outdoor table on the terrace and went back into the palace. I realized she hadn’t brought me here for tea, but to get me away from them.
I don’t need to be shaken by something that hasn’t even happened yet.
I reminded myself, though the icy winter wind made my heart feel even colder.
Following my request to go to bed early, Nensi helped me change into pajamas and left for the evening.
The room I was left alone in was quiet and still, like darkness itself. Feeling lonely, I draped a shawl over my shoulders and sat by the alcove window to read.
Outside, the transparent glass trembled slightly as the cold wind blew—a reflection of my uneasy heart. I turned the pages carefully.
Honestly, it wasn’t that I wanted to read; I just needed to focus on something to avoid letting my thoughts wander. But even as I read, half of my mind was already adrift.
Worried that I might fall asleep from exhaustion, I forced myself to read line by line. Then, a sudden, startled male voice rang out.
“Gah! You scared me!”
I jumped and looked toward the voice. The source was none other than Prince Tibrone.
“What… I thought it was my brother.”
He was standing in front of the crown prince’s massive portrait, clutching his chest. I sometimes made the same mistake, thinking the portrait was the real crown prince, so I understood his reaction.
“Oh, it’s you, Prince.”
“Why is my brother’s portrait in your bedroom?”
“The Marquess of Belz gave it to His Highness as a gift a while ago, and he insisted I hang it in my bedroom.”
“Really?”
He scanned the portrait up and down, trying to hide his embarrassment, then quickly stepped toward me. I ignored him, continuing to glare at my book.
“Why the long face?”
Having changed his clothes from the morning, the prince slouched in a nearby chair and subtly provoked me.
“Just… tired.”
“If you’re tired, then sleep.”
“I was planning to sleep early anyway.”
Prince Tibrone stared at me as I answered weakly, snickering quietly. He had a habit of teasing me, but this time he seemed determined.
“I know why you’re sulking.”
“……”
“Because the third princess of Hildeman, Riette, is coming here, right?”
“……”
Chattering nonstop, the prince was clearly trying to get under my skin.
“See? With His Majesty being so welcoming, if that princess comes, it’s natural that she’ll be engaged to my brother, right?”
“……”
“Then your little romance is over, huh?”
“……”
“Too bad. The good times are gone. You might even get kicked out of the palace for being in the way, instead of being favored.”
“……”
“Whatever your relationship with my brother is, it’s nothing special anyway—”
Seriously! That’s it!!
I clenched my rising anger and snapped my book shut.
The prince, thinking I was throwing it at him, quickly raised his hands in defense.
Even if I had the right to do as I pleased, I wouldn’t be so rude as to throw a book at him. I just glared at him and tossed the book onto the table.
Being thick, it clattered loudly and knocked over a few things. The prince looked at it as if annoyed, but I ignored him and turned away, lying on the sofa with my back to him.
Right now, I couldn’t even stand looking at him.
After giving up my bed, making warm tea to stop my coughing, and keeping my palace movements secret, this was the thanks I got—just mockery.
Today, my body and mind were exhausted. I wanted to sleep peacefully, so I remained silent no matter what he said.
“Are you asleep?”
“……”
“Really?”
The prince continued to wander around the sofa, claiming he wasn’t sleepy, rifled through my dresser, and pestered me endlessly. He even asked where I was from, if I had ever been heartbroken, and gave pointless advice that one must experience many romances to marry well.
Does he think I’m some kind of love novice? And he’s younger than me—who is he to talk?
In the end, he rambled on about how divorce is worse than a broken engagement, and a broken engagement is better than staying single. I ignored him, expecting he would tire himself out.
Even as I kept ignoring him, he didn’t stop, pitying me as if I were already heartbroken.
“My brother probably just wanted a bit of fun before marriage. Otherwise, he wouldn’t even meet a commoner like you.”
“……”
“See? You have to get something out of it too. That sword decoration by your bed? Sell it and you could probably buy a mansion. Take it with you when you leave the palace. You need something for yourself.”
“……”
“When someone gives advice, at least answer. It feels like I’m talking to the wall. Afraid to respond because I’m so far above you?”
“Tch.”
“Huh? You just sneered, didn’t you?”
