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chapter 34.
The dining room, where all the imperial family members were present.
Julian spun around twice, showing off her dress.
“Sorry for being late. Since it’s been a while since I greeted everyone, I spent more time dressing up.”
“Julie, that’s quite all right. You look beautiful.”
When Advan called her by the childhood nickname he used, Julian beamed and sat down.
Unlike Claude, who sat furthest from the Emperor, she was seated right beside him—next to the Empress.
“Are you feeling better now, Julian?”
“Yes, Your Majesty the Empress. Thanks to your concern, I’m fine now.”
“Then you must be back for good.”
“Now that I’m well, I plan to stay in the palace.”
The youngest, Julian, received a flood of questions filled with affection and worry. She answered while basking in the attention.
“You could’ve stayed with me, or I could’ve given you your own palace. But since you returned, you haven’t once visited me. That saddens me.”
Advan expressed his disappointment, half in jest and half sincerely. He only ever revealed such raw feelings in front of Julian.
“I’m sorry. I wanted to meet Your Majesty again when I was in better health, so I stayed in Claude’s palace.”
“Then I’ll grant you your own palace now.”
“No, I’d like to stay in Claude’s palace for the time being. It’s closer to Mother’s palace, and my precious Lai is there too.”
“I see. I understand your heart.”
Julian glanced at Claude, leaving behind a slightly sulking Advan.
When their eyes met, she smirked, lifting only one corner of her lips.
Claude was so startled by her smile that even his hand, which had been moving the cutlery, froze.
“Your Majesty. I have something to say.”
“What is it? If there’s something you want, just tell me.”
If it were Julian asking, Advan looked ready to buy her an entire country.
“It’s not something I want—it’s more of a suggestion.”
“Speak freely.”
Julian’s voice brightened, as if her opinion had already been granted.
“Do you know I recently attended the party Claude hosted for the Pene delegation?”
“Yes, Plah told me.”
“There, I met an exceptionally intelligent and witty young lady.”
“Oh?”
“Yes. She was truly someone not to be missed.”
“Do you wish to bring her in as your lady-in-waiting?”
Julian shook her head.
“No, I already have enough ladies-in-waiting.”
“Then what are you suggesting?”
“I think she would be perfect as Claude’s bride.”
At the sudden mention of marriage, everyone’s eyes widened—including Claude’s.
“What are you saying all of a sudden? Claude is still too young.”
The Empress gently placed her hand on Julian’s and tried to dissuade her, but Julian wasn’t bothered.
“Don’t noble families in Vegen sometimes marry their children off to royals at an early age? Like Brother Kyle did.”
“Well, that may be true, but…”
“I think that young lady is certainly qualified.”
The warmth in Advan’s expression shifted ever so slightly. His lips, which had been smiling at Julian throughout, stiffened.
“What is her name?”
“Eva Blanche.”
“Isn’t she the one who hosted the party?”
Instead of asking Julian, Advan turned to Claude. Claude hurried to compose his expression and replied.
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“What about you? Do you want her as your princess consort?”
Now, all eyes turned to Claude. It was exactly the situation he had predicted.
This was why he had refused her on the spot that day.
‘I think she suits you very well, Brother. She’d be perfect as a princess consort. So I thought I’d mention it to His Majesty. You know he always grants my wishes, don’t you?’
‘…’
‘Would you stop me if I recommended her as princess consort?’
‘I would. There’s no need for that, so don’t meddle.’
‘What? Why? Just one word from me, and you could marry her immediately.’
‘That’s exactly why I don’t want you to. She’s not someone to be trapped like that. And besides, I don’t want to marry her in that way. If she’s to become my consort, I’d rather make it happen by my own strength. So don’t bring it up to His Majesty.’
That was the conversation they had had after dining with Eva, Lai, and the Lawrence couple, when only he and Julian remained.
He had thought it was just the affectionate concern of a younger sister. But seeing her smiling now, he realized differently.
That smile wasn’t for him—it was for her own gain.
Recalling the murky look in her blue eyes, Claude answered Advan’s question.
“Lady Blanche is indeed a young lady well-suited for the royal family.”
He placed the family’s honor above his own feelings, as all eyes were on him.
Satisfied with his answer, Julian leaned forward excitedly.
“Since Brother also agrees, then she should—”
“But I do not agree with making her consort immediately.”
Claude cut her off. Advan watched him with an indulgent expression, as if encouraging him to speak freely.
“As Julian said, she is clever and quick-witted. She often suggests perspectives that others cannot see, and I sometimes want to seek her advice.”
“I see.”
“However, marriage to royalty is a serious matter. I think it is premature to decide hastily. I’d prefer to have more opportunities to know her better.”
He praised Eva’s intellect while sidestepping the marriage discussion. Instead, he hinted at Advan’s earlier idea of entrusting Eva with another task in the conservatory.
They were speaking in words only the two of them fully understood, but Advan caught on, smiling faintly.
Noticing that smile, the First Prince Kyle and the Second Prince Chris grew uneasy, glancing at Claude.
Things weren’t going as Julian had expected. She pleaded with Advan with sparkling eyes.
“Your Majesty, even if my brother is unsure, I truly think she would suit the royal family—”
“That’s enough. Let’s end it here today.”
This time, Advan cut her off. For the first time, she had been denied, and her face showed her shock.
“Claude is right. Doing one’s duties well and becoming a princess consort are entirely different matters.”
“But—”
“His Majesty speaks the truth. This is not something to decide on the spot. A royal marriage must always be approached with the utmost care, Julian.”
Kyle jumped in to back up Advan’s words, clearly trying to steer the conversation. Others also looked at Julian with the same intent, forcing her to swallow her words.
Yet she openly pouted, dissatisfied at not getting her way. She poked at her food like a sulking child.
Everyone else found her endearing, but only Claude looked at her with suspicion.
“Julie. Let me meet the young lady myself first, and for now, finish your meal. What if you collapse again?”
“Really? You’ll meet her yourself?”
“Yes, I will.”
“Then, please enjoy your meal, knowing His Majesty is taking care of this.”
Advan and the others busied themselves with comforting Julian.
Though not perfectly, she had managed to bend things somewhat in her favor, and only then did she return to eating with a bright smile. Seeing her cheerful again, the Emperor smiled, and the rest felt relieved.
Amid the warmth of family, Julian glanced briefly at Claude.
It was a fleeting look of hostility—resentment at him for disrupting her plan. But Claude caught it clearly.
“Since dinner is over, would you accompany me for a walk?”
“Oh, I’d love that, Father!”
With Advan and Julian leaving together, dinner naturally concluded.
As everyone departed to rest, Claude went to escort his mother, the Empress.
“I felt relieved when you calmly answered His Majesty’s question.”
“Did you?”
“But this is the first time you’ve praised a young lady like that. I’d like to meet her myself.”
“Haha, I’m sure you’ll like her very much, Mother.”
Smiling gently down at his petite mother, Claude added:
“Mother, may I ask you something?”
“What is it?”
“Do you remember the name of the illness that made Julian so sick she had to go away to recuperate?”
“Well…”
The Empress moved her lips as if to answer, but no words came.
“Now that I think about it, I can’t remember. I only recall how much she cried when she left.”
So I’m not the only one who can’t remember, Claude thought. He had spent all dinner trying to recall the name of Julian’s illness, only to be baffled.
That she had been ill was clear, but not knowing the name of the disease? That didn’t make sense. And from there, every one of Julian’s actions started to feel off.
She used to be shy, modest, without a trace of greed—that was the Julian he remembered.
Even the Emperor cherished her all the more because she yielded and gave way, while Claude, being ambitious, was often scolded.
Could a simple convalescence really change her so drastically?
Claude kept recalling the murky look in her blue eyes.
Hilton Boutique Street. Eva entered a shabby boutique with Jane.
“My lady, you usually don’t like these kinds of clothes.”
This wasn’t the kind of boutique that sold the flashy dresses or sparkling jewelry Eva normally favored.
Instead, it carried only simple, farmer-style dresses—the kind Eva had once said she disliked.
“I don’t, but I need to buy some this time. What do you think, Jane? Does it suit me?”
She held up a plain gray corduroy dress against herself.
On someone else, it might’ve dulled their complexion, but on beautiful Eva it only gave a composed look.
“Of course, my lady. You look good in anything.”
“Ha, what am I going to do, Jane? I’m scared of myself now. I can pull off anything, no matter what I wear. This endless versatility!”
“Yes, I’ll go ahead and pay for this.”
Jane, used to Eva’s dramatics, took the dress to the counter while Eva admired herself in the mirror.
“Would you like to wear it out now?”
“Yes.”
Eva, pleased with her new dress, hummed as she walked outside. Jane followed with the shopping bags.
“Jane.”
“Yes, my lady?”
“Come back here tomorrow on your own and return this dress.”
“What? Then why buy it at all? Did you not like it?”
“I need to check if someone else bought the exact same one. Please.”
Jane nodded at Eva’s serious expression, though she didn’t fully understand.
Since she had purchased from a boutique noble ladies rarely visited, if Julian bought the same dress, Eva would know for sure she was imitating her.
Now, the bait was set. Eva was ready to expose Julian.
