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Chapter 15
“We’ll probably have to tend the garden again…”
“The garden?”
As I returned to my room, Illia quickly brought me warm water and a dress, clearly worried I might catch a cold.
While she assisted with my bath, I gazed at her somber expression. Lifting my palm, she let out a sigh.
“Does it sting? You must be in pain from the hot water…”
“It doesn’t really sting. Actually, aren’t your hands more covered in eczema than mine from all the chores?”
“Well, we don’t have a choice, but you’re the princess.”
Pouting slightly, Illia finished tending to me. I had just finished washing up and was about to change clothes—
Crash!
A loud noise echoed from outside. My palace was always quiet, so the unfamiliar level of commotion made me frown in confusion.
At that moment, someone knocked on the door.
Knock knock—!
“F-First Princess! I-I’m sorry, but could you come out quickly?”
It was Mullen.
It was the first time she had ever spoken to me so urgently, so I replied, “Not yet.”
I could hear her pacing anxiously outside, and then she spoke again in a panicked voice.
“How long will it take? H-His Majesty the Emperor is currently at the First Princess’s palace. He requested to see you and has been guided to the parlor…”
“…What?”
Illia and I locked eyes as my hands froze mid-motion. Our complexions turned pale at the same time. After a moment of stunned silence, I collected myself and gave an order.
“I won’t be long. While I’m on my way, serve His Majesty some refreshments.”
“Y-Yes, Princess!”
Tap tap tap!
Mullen rushed off to carry out the order.
Then I turned to Illia, whose hands were trembling.
“Illia, finish up. Who knows what might happen if I’m late.”
“Y-Yes…!”
Why had the Emperor suddenly come to my palace?
This never happened before my regression.
He had arrived without notice—clearly, this was related to Evgenia, but I couldn’t guess what exactly.
Anxiety spread through my entire body.
Whatever it is, I’m not the fool I was before—too easily swept up in Evgenia’s schemes.
With resolve, I stepped out of my room.
There were no golden statues or extravagant decorations at the First Princess’s palace—nothing for others to envy.
The moment the Emperor had withdrawn his interest in me, several maids had taken everything of value with them.
Perhaps that’s why today the palace felt particularly desolate. Upon reaching the parlor reserved for only the most honored guests, I took a deep breath.
Beside me, Mullen and Illia watched me nervously.
“You can do this, Princess!” Illia said cheerfully.
“….”
Mullen bit her thumbnail in silence.
I only responded to Illia. Bolstered by her encouragement, I slowly opened the parlor doors.
The parlor had tall windows the size of a grown man. The drowsy afternoon sun poured in, lighting up the Emperor’s silver hair with a regal brilliance.
Swallowing nervously, I bowed.
“May the blessing and glory of Airidium be upon you. Lirien Sha Caliburg greets Your Majesty.”
“You’ve come.”
His cold golden eyes flicked to me and then motioned to the opposite sofa—an invitation to sit.
As I moved cautiously, his gaze tracked my every step.
Once seated, he asked,
“What were you doing?”
“I was walking in the garden as usual. Then I visited the library.”
“The library inside your palace?”
“Yes.”
“Still has many books?”
I was briefly at a loss for words.
“It… probably does.”
I couldn’t answer confidently because several of the more daring maids had stolen books as well.
When I was still a baby who hadn’t yet taken her first steps, the Emperor gave me only the barest sliver of attention. And my fragile mother had been too consumed by her own emotions to care for me.
Recalling the nearly empty bookshelves of my palace’s library, I offered an awkward smile.
“Your Majesty, forgive my boldness—but may I ask the reason for your visit?”
The air turned awkwardly silent. Reynold, standing nearby, glanced at the Emperor.
The Emperor took a sip of tea, set down his cup, and suddenly spoke.
“I heard from one of your maids that you fell into the water.”
“…Pardon?”
His eyes hardened at my dazed reply.
“Into the artificial lake in your garden. And I heard you hurt your palm on the thorns.”
“….”
“That’s why I came.”
“….”
“Did the royal physician see you properly?”
“As you can see… yes, he did.”
“Then why didn’t you call for him earlier?”
“…Why all of a sudden…”
Are you… taking interest in me?
I didn’t understand what he was saying anymore.
I bit my lip to hold back emotions I thought I’d buried long ago and turned my gaze away.
This wasn’t what I wanted.
What I sought from the Emperor was to know whether Lirien had value as a princess, not this kind of personal concern.
Why now…?
As I bowed my head in silence, Reynold tried to shift the mood with an awkward tone.
“I heard there were noblewomen near the Princess at the time. Perhaps the pain was so severe, she wanted immediate help.”
“…Yes. The fall scraped me up quite badly. I didn’t have the patience to wait for the physician.”
Now calmer, I responded with an indifferent expression.
Then—
“This palace feels quite barren.”
“Winter has only just passed.”
“As I walked through the halls, I couldn’t believe how shabby the First Princess’s palace had become.”
“It’s been ten years, Your Majesty. Even landscapes change in that time. This palace has stood for centuries, beyond our shared history. Rather than ‘shabby,’ I find it dignified.”
“And the matter of the garden?”
“I tripped and fell while walking. That’s how I ended up in the lake.”
“You had no guards with you?”
“I dismissed them on purpose. The maids here are already overworked, and there’s no one else suitable to guard me.”
There weren’t enough maids assigned to my palace to begin with. I didn’t want to reduce their numbers further.
Unlike Evgenia, I still don’t have a proper guard of my own. I’ll just have to wait for the day that changes.
I lifted my teacup. The Emperor spoke.
“I’ll reassign staff and guards to your palace. Handle their ranks as needed.”
He flicked his fingers, and Reynold bowed deeply. “As you command.”
My eyes widened.
“Reassign? What do you mean?”
I asked, thinking I’d misheard—but the Emperor answered in a calm tone.
“I must reward your contribution.”
“My contribution… You quelled the conspirators?”
“Half of them.”
So the rest would be dealt with once Evgenia’s banquet was over.
Gripping my teacup tighter, I parted my lips.
A reward… maybe…
“Your Majesty.”
At my call, he raised an eyebrow. I lifted my bandaged palm.
Then, with eyes full of innocent longing—like a pure-hearted child—I looked at it.
Reynold looked visibly moved.
“If they’re reassigned, won’t they lose their jobs? I’ve heard that getting dismissed from the palace leaves people with no future. Please… just give them a warning. And if I may—could I request a reward of my choosing?”
“You may.”
“Then…”
The Emperor crossed his legs and rested his chin on one hand, watching me. I didn’t avoid his gaze and whispered low.
“I want Lady Beisa Iollin to be rewarded.”
Chapter 1: The First Step in Messing with Evgenia de Caliburg
Ruin her precious day.
“Beisa, you…”
The sound of fate shifting echoed through the hall.
It was the seventh day of the birthday banquet for Second Princess Evgenia de Caliburg, the Emperor’s beloved youngest daughter.
The never-ending festivities were still in full swing when the Marquess of Iollin was summoned to the Emperor.
All eyes turned to Beisa Iollin and her husband as they were approached by the Emperor’s aide, Reynold Bishop.
Beisa stared blankly at her husband when a group of noblewomen approached her.
And then—
“This must be the reward for saving the First Princess.”
“…What? Lady Calypsa, what do you mean by that…?”
Duchess Rinaba Calypsa, one of the women Beisa had been chatting with near the First Princess’s palace that morning, sneered as she replied.
“You’re so gentle-natured… I wonder how that’s working out for you. You know helping just anyone can end up hurting you in the end, right?”
“I don’t quite understand what you mean, my lady.”
“Don’t play dumb. You helped the First Princess. Naturally, that comes with consequences.”
“Why would you speak about her like that?”
Rinaba Calypsa acted as though touching the First Princess would give someone a rash.
An adult referring to a child like that…
Beisa was embarrassed to have ever associated with such people.
Just then, a silver-haired girl like a baby chick slipped between the women.
“Ladies! What are you all doing here?”
It was the Second Princess, Evgenia de Caliburg.
With sparkling eyes, she looked at Rinaba, who knelt down and made eye contact.
“It’s nothing. We were just giving some advice to a dear friend.”
“Advice? Oh! You’re the Marchioness of Iollin! I’m so happy you came to my party again.”
“Y-Yes, Your Highness…”
Beisa bowed awkwardly. That was when Rinaba gave a smug laugh.
“Oh dear, Your Highness. I’m afraid the Marchioness might not even have the right to be here today.”
Evgenia blinked innocently. “Why not?”
Acting pitiful, Rinaba glanced at Beisa as she whispered.
“Well… this morning, Marchioness Iollin and the others took a stroll near the palace and ended up by the First Princess’s residence.”
Evgenia’s brow subtly furrowed at the mention of the “First Princess.”
“I see. Then you must’ve seen Riri, right? She likes to walk there often.”
“My, Your Highness seems to know a lot about the First Princess. You even know what she likes.”
“Well, we’re the closest of sisters. Just as I treasure her… she…”
But her words trailed off.
The princess, who always smiled so sweetly, now looked down sadly.
“Oh dear, Your Highness. Why such a sad face on your special day?”
“…It’s nothing. I just feel like I’m the only one who thinks that way…”
“Please let us share your burden. Has something happened?”
Pretending to be sincerely concerned, Rinaba urged her to speak.
All eyes turned to the Second Princess. Evgenia spoke slowly.
“To me, Riri is like a second mother… But I think I may have bothered her lately. She looked annoyed with me and got sensitive over small things… I feel we’ve grown distant, and that hurts…”
“The First Princess reacted harshly to a small mistake? What happened?”
Another lady asked, and Evgenia nodded sadly.
“There were times she went out alone with Emin… so I followed her…”
“That’s a mistake?”
“Siblings should spend time together.”
“It’s not right to favor one and neglect the other.”
“My goodness… The First Princess did that?”
The entire hall shifted into sympathy for Evgenia and criticism of Lirien.
Beisa watched it all, her pupils shaking.
Today was her first real conversation with Lirien, but even in that short time, she had sensed how mature the girl was.
So composed, like she was holding in something she couldn’t let out. That strange princess had eyes far too hollow for a child.
Just as Beisa opened her lips—
Her husband, Marquess Robin Iollin, who had been hurriedly called away by Reynold, returned to the great hall.
“Beisa, my dear!”
Nearly about to speak out against the Second Princess, Beisa slapped a hand over her mouth and turned toward his voice.
Panting, Robin grabbed her shoulders and said,
“We can return to the territory!”
“Pardon…? Return?”
“His Majesty has granted it as a reward for helping the First Princess. It’s all thanks to you!”
He pulled her into a tight hug. Beisa blinked, stunned.
Rinaba Calypsa, shocked, stood up and approached the Marquess.
“What do you mean by that?”
To which Robin replied:
“It was the First Princess’s will.”
