11.
Just as Duke Bobonsher hurriedly stepped forward—
“Your Majesty, that’s not what I’m worried about.”
“Then what is it?”
“I’m concerned about… what would happen if I were to die.”
The emperor, who had been radiating murderous intent at Evwa’s response, paused for a moment.
Evwa could barely breathe, but she gathered courage by thinking of Neroli.
“How could anything possibly endanger His Highness the Crown Prince, who is blessed by the dragon? But I am not so fortunate, Your Majesty.”
“Oh-ho.”
“I hate even imagining it, but—if something grave were to happen to me and our engagement were disrupted…!”
Evwa exaggeratedly made a tearful face.
“I feared our family’s dowry would end up becoming a burden to the imperial family. That’s why I requested this conversation today! The longer our engagement lasts, the greater the financial burden would grow.”
“Hah, what nonsense.”
“Hahahaha!”
The emperor’s hearty laughter interrupted Govard.
He laughed loudly and then fixed his eyes on Evwa.
“You’ve grown quite the silver tongue since I last saw you, Evwa.”
Evwa quickly bowed her head at that.
“Th-thank you, Your Majesty.”
“With such a clever future Crown Princess, I feel at ease.”
It was the first time the emperor had directly referred to Evwa as the Crown Princess.
Both Duke Bobonsher and his daughter stared at the emperor in identical expressions of shock.
The emperor, having completely shed his earlier aggression, leaned back comfortably on the sofa.
“Yes, I understand your concerns, Evwa. You’re both of age, so it’s time to hold the wedding. Do you have a date in mind?”
“Your Majesty!”
Govard called out urgently, but the emperor didn’t even look at him as he replied coldly.
“Unless, Govard, do you have a justification for stopping the Bobonsher family?”
In other words—if something truly did happen to Evwa and the engagement was broken, would he be able to handle the massive dowry and compensation? If anyone dies or the wedding is delayed, the loss of opportunity would fall on the imperial side.
Govard couldn’t answer.
The emperor clicked his tongue as he looked at his eldest son.
‘I would’ve liked to take Govard’s side if I could…’
But the Bobonsher family was simply too powerful.
Even in the mighty Lorhnord Empire, where imperial authority reigned supreme, they couldn’t afford to ignore the protector of the south.
‘And with her making such a convincing case, there’s nothing I can do.’
Meanwhile, Duke Bobonsher looked at his daughter with teary-eyed pride.
‘To think our scatterbrained Evwa has grown so much.’
She had always avoided books like the plague, yet she must have spent countless nights pouring over that thick imperial law book.
He felt so proud and touched just imagining it.
‘See? Evwa doesn’t study much, but when she does, she’s brilliant. She was such a clever girl even as a child…’
Evwa, meanwhile, was cheering internally while thinking of Neroli.
“Kyaa~! Evwa Bobonsher, you were totally awesome just now! You followed Princess Neroli’s advice and even convinced the emperor himself!”
As expected, Princess Neroli is the best!
She resolved then and there to follow Princess Neroli no matter what.
With a beaming smile, Evwa delivered the final blow to Govard.
“A month and two days from now would be the perfect wedding date, Your Majesty!”
“Hmm, that’s rather soon.”
“It’s just how eager I am to become part of Your Majesty’s family! Please consider it favorably!”
Even Evwa thought the timing was a bit rushed, but since Neroli had advised her, a month and two days from now had to be an auspicious date.
Feeling guilty over the belated wedding arrangements, the emperor pondered for a moment and then nodded.
“Very well, how admirable. Will that be alright, Duke Bobonsher?”
“The Bobonshers are always ready, Your Majesty.”
“Then it’s settled. Let’s move quickly.”
Without Govard, the discussion had moved along smoothly.
Under the table, Govard clenched his fists so tightly that his palms bled.
Why—why did it have to be that date?
‘That day…’
Did Evwa Bobonsher know something?
Had she found out?
Was he… exposed?
***
In a secluded part of the palace, there was a laundry area.
It was the time of day when the maids hung up the clothes they had washed all day.
“Huff, huff.”
From a distance, a young woman with light brown hair and pink eyes came running breathlessly.
As she arrived where the other maids were gathered, she bent repeatedly at the waist, gasping for air.
“I’m so sorry I’m late. Really, I apologize.”
But none of the maids responded. They just silently continued their work.
The woman glanced around nervously and quickly picked up the laundry near her.
“I’ll handle these ones!”
A nearby maid gave her a displeased look and snatched the clothes from her hands.
Without a word, she walked off in the opposite direction.
“Ah…”
Staring after her, the woman awkwardly fidgeted with her now-empty hands and looked around, desperate to help somehow.
Then, as if on cue, the maids each picked up laundry baskets and moved away from her entirely.
Tears welled up in her eyes, and she dropped her head in silent anguish.
One of the senior maids, unable to watch any longer, came over.
“Girl, go take a break.”
“I—I can still work!”
“Forget it. What, so we get scolded again by that knight because you overdo it?”
Several other maids nearby deliberately spoke loudly.
“Right? He yelled at us before, saying we were giving her all the hard tasks.”
“We all work hard. It’s so unfair.”
“Bet she met that knight again today and that’s why she’s late?”
“Yeah, probably. She only showed up after we were basically done.”
“Must be nice. That handsome knight’s obsessed with her. She’s probably gonna marry him and hit the jackpot.”
“Girl, please. You think they’ll marry? People like us always just end up as…”
“Hey, enough! Quiet!” the senior maid barked.
The chatter quickly died down, but the sulky expressions remained.
The senior maid sighed, looking frustrated.
“Work’s done for today anyway. Just go back to the quarters.”
“But… but I…”
The girl clenched her apron tightly, then reluctantly nodded.
No one had said anything wrong.
She turned to go back, but the senior maid stopped her.
“Hey, Agatha.”
“Yes? Should I help after all?”
“No, not that.”
Hands on her hips, the senior maid grimaced.
“When are you going to quit being a maid?”
“What?”
“Girls like you, with a pretty face, usually catch the eye of some noble or knight and quit in no time. Most end up as mistresses, but still…”
“…”
“I don’t like saying this either. But we can’t keep covering for you forever. With you around, it makes the others uncomfortable. If you’re going to keep seeing that knight, it’s better you just quit already.”
“I… I have no intention of becoming anyone’s mistress.”
“Not everyone becomes a mistress. That knight seems unmarried. If you marry him, who knows—you might even become his official wife. For commoners like us, marrying well is a skill.”
“…”
“Look, I’m only saying this because I know you’re not a bad girl. Don’t take it the wrong way.”
“…Okay.”
Agatha trudged off from the laundry area.
On the way back to the maids’ quarters, she fought hard to hold back her tears.
‘I should’ve never gotten involved with him.’
Before she met him, Agatha had gotten along fine with the other maids.
They lived together like friends, and their supervisor had been kind and fair.
But then…
Everything changed once she met him.
Her relationship with her coworkers crumbled, and now her supervisor saw her as a problem.
Alone and isolated, Agatha slumped her shoulders under the weight of sorrow.
‘I can’t marry that knight.’
She wished she could tell someone—anyone—about the rotting mess inside her heart.
If only he were just a regular knight.
Then, like the senior maid said, she might’ve dared to ask him to take her as his wife.
But…
‘It’s suffocating.’
Agatha had learned the truth about who he really was.
One of the knights, who said he was a trainee with him, warned her a few days ago:
“Stop catching his attention. You have no idea who you’re dealing with. He’s someone far beyond your reach.”
“Huh? What do you mean…?”
“The man you know as Sir Nord is, in fact, this empire’s young master.”
Her heart had pounded uncontrollably at those words.
Sir Nord had always said he was a fallen noble working as an imperial knight.
But now… he was the young master of the empire?
“He was the Crown Prince?”
A common orphan like Agatha couldn’t even dare to look up at such a man.
And because she never thought to look up, she had never realized his true identity in all the months they spent together.
“If I had known what the Crown Prince looked like, would I have stayed away?”
She had gone today to confirm it with Sir Nord himself, unable to believe what she’d been told.
She had waited endlessly in the spot they always met at during lunch.
But he didn’t show. Not even a single strand of his hair appeared.
“Ah…”
Staggering, Agatha finally sat down by the roadside.
Her tears, no longer held back, poured down and blinded her.
It felt like her bleak, uncertain future.
“What do I do now…”
She had thought she finally found someone to lean on, a place she could belong—but it had all been a foolish dream.
“If I had known it would end like this…”
No matter how persistent he’d been, she wouldn’t have given him her heart.
She wouldn’t have been swayed by his sweet kindness.
All her old relationships were already in ruins—love was all she had left.
Unable to bear the despair, Agatha hugged her knees and sobbed loudly.
“Someone please help me… What am I supposed to do now?”
She didn’t know how long she cried.
Suddenly, she sensed someone in front of her.
Startled, Agatha lifted her head quickly.
And before her stood—
“Hi there~ Why are you crying here all alone?”
A glistening cascade of platinum-blond hair.
Amber eyes gleaming like sunlight.
A beautifully sculpted nose.
Cheeks flushed a soft rosy pink.
Lips curled in a sweet smile.
“Want me to help you?”
A radiant angel, smiling like a ray of sunshine, was looking down at her.
