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chapter 72
Larissa paused, not immediately grasping the meaning of those words.
“Has my name been changed to Aya without me knowing? Even for a noble lady, isn’t it rude to rename someone without permission?”
“What are you talking about?”
Carnis said, looking bewildered.
“I said you were sick.”
“Excuse me?”
“Yes, that’s it.”
“Oh… I see.”
Carnis was completely unaffected by Larissa’s half-hearted response. She let out a sigh.
“It just made me realize how wasted my life has been.”
Whoosh.
I caught a leaf blown by the wind.
“Fallen leaf, huh.”
Felix, standing beside me, looked at the slightly tinged leaf and said.
I was dumbfounded.
“You see that as a fallen leaf?”
“A leaf is a leaf. The leaves must be starting to fall soon.”
Well, the leaf I picked up was still too green for that. Even when I looked up, it was the same.
The loud sound of cicadas buzzed relentlessly. It was clearly late summer.
By the end of August, the heat should have eased a bit, but the summer sun seemed determined to release its last burst of warmth. If one stayed outside a little longer, some people might literally melt away.
“Wow, it’s really hot. I’m dying here.”
Felix wiped the cold sweat trickling down his face with his sleeve and stuck out his tongue.
“But how come you’re not sweating at all? Are you even human?”
“Unfortunately, I am human.”
I was just using freezing magic to cool my body. I could show him a little goodwill, but considering all the teasing he’d done before, I decided not to.
Besides—
“It’s about time to go.”
Checking the clock on the Academy’s spire, I got up from my seat.
Felix raised an eyebrow at me.
“It’s 2 PM. Even if we run to the palace full speed, it’ll be 7 PM by the time we get there. Were we invited to dinner? Wasn’t it just a tea party? We’re already late.”
“Hmm, well.”
I shrugged with a meaningful smile.
The actual invitation was for 2:30 PM, about 30 minutes from now. If I stopped by Larissa’s dorm to change and then teleported to the palace, there would be plenty of time.
I waved at Felix.
“Anyway, see you tomorrow.”
[Coordinate Shift (S)]
“You’re late, Princess.”
A scolding came the moment I arrived. Political Science students had single rooms, so there was no need to worry about anyone else being there.
“Just a minute late. Cut me some slack.”
“Honestly.”
Larissa pointed to the black dress she had prepared for me.
“Do you want me to help you change?”
Wearing a formal dress could be very taxing. Some ceremonial dresses required three maids to spend an entire hour sewing it together.
“No. Just step back for a moment.”
Of course, it was simple for me.
First, I teleported my school uniform to the floor.
Then I teleported my underwear, followed by the dress pieces onto my body, fixing them in place before they hit the ground.
Perfect.
Clap!
I clapped once, and Larissa rubbed her eyes with a bewildered expression.
“I don’t know what you did, but it’s amazing… and beautiful.”
She stared at me blankly, genuinely impressed.
The Academy’s white-and-blue uniform complemented Carnis’ hair and eye color perfectly. But the body-hugging black mermaid dress highlighted her figure even more.
Looking in the mirror, it was like a character out of a novel, with a well-proportioned, imposing figure.
Still, dressed like this, I looked more like a villainess than the heroine.
When wearing my school uniform, I seemed more lively, but in all black, I looked downright intimidating. I gave up trying to look sweet.
“Time to go—oh, wait.”
I needed to stay invisible, so I activated my invisibility skill.
Once invisible, I opened my eyes. The palace entrance came into view, crowded with people trying to visit the palace.
Hmm… Maybe I should have taken a carriage, keeping the proper decorum as a future minor duchess.
It would feel awkward to just blend among the commoners, and I couldn’t appear inside the palace suddenly.
After some thought, I decided on the first option.
I deactivated my invisibility in a dark alley and approached a guard, only to see a black-haired boy and a male guard arguing.
“I’m really sorry, but may I enter the palace for a moment?”
“Well, you can’t. No entry permit, no go.”
“I know that, but this is really important…!”
“Hmph. Commoners have to be screened over there first to get a permit. No guarantee of status? Get lost! Do you think the palace is a marketplace?”
“But—”
I approached, sensing the boy’s trouble.
“Excuse me.”
“…Why are you visiting, Miss?”
The man maintained politeness even seeing me walking alone without a carriage.
Unlike the boy in plain clothes, I looked like a noble in my expensive dress.
I nodded at him.
“I’m here to see Her Majesty the Empress.”
“…May I ask your name?”
“Carnis Escliff.”
The man’s eyes flickered. His gaze quickly scanned my face.
Light-blue hair. Blue eyes.
He would likely recognize the Escliff Princess’ hair and eye color.
And he’d know how rare this color was.
“I’ll escort you quickly!”
“Oh, before that.”
I pointed with my eyes to the boy in front of me.
“Something seems to be going on there.”
“Ah.”
The guard explained with a troubled look.
“Normally commoners can’t enter the palace, but this boy kept insisting. I can handle it, so don’t worry—”
“Hey, what’s going on here?”
“…Huh? Me?”
The boy’s eyes widened at the sudden call. His face looked familiar.
The reason I stepped in for something I didn’t need to help was simple: he was an Academy student.
I didn’t remember every student, but I had often seen him on campus.
“Well, that…”
He seemed reluctant to speak.
“This boy isn’t just a commoner; he’s a 4th-year student at the Academy.”
“Wait, really? An Academy student?”
“Yes. I vouch for him.”
“Ah, then…”
The guard bowed slightly.
“You may enter areas of the palace open for official business.”
The Academy held considerable prestige in the Crocus Empire.
Though the Swordsmanship and Magic Departments included many commoners, all were highly skilled individuals selected through fierce competition.
Graduates were likely to receive titles or become influential figures in the nation.
Thus, the guard naturally used honorifics again toward the boy.
The boy entered the palace with me, looking confused but grateful.
“Thank you, Princess.”
“It’s nothing. But what brings you to the palace?”
He scratched his head awkwardly.
“My younger sibling snuck in here.”
“?”
Your younger sibling’s a ninja?
Despite a bit of commotion, we arrived at the Empress’ palace exactly on time.
‘A private meeting with the Empress.’
…I hadn’t thought much of it, but facing it now, it felt quite daunting.
“This way, Princess.”
I was led by the head lady-in-waiting to an elegant room. She must be the rank of a Countess or Marchioness.
I stopped her from opening the door and opened it myself.
It glided smoothly without a sound.
Inside, there stood a woman resembling Crown Prince Daen. Her blue eyes curved kindly.
“Welcome, Princess Escliff.”
“Thank you for the invitation.”
I bowed according to my practiced etiquette, skipping the elaborate formal greeting reserved for royalty.
“It’s been a long time. Was the last time we met when you were five?”
She didn’t comment on my simplified greeting and spoke kindly.
“I don’t remember, but if Her Majesty says so, it’s probably correct.”
“You were so cute then. You looked so much like Yuria, but small… hehe.”
‘What…?’
Was she always this kind?
‘From what Aiden said, I thought she’d be a hysterical, third-rate villain type.’
The Empress’ personality wasn’t detailed in the original story, so this was my first impression.
“Hm. Children are naturally cute.”
“Ha ha, you’re right. But I always thought you and my son would get along well. Marriage might be impossible, but you will become the Crown Prince’s closest aide, won’t you?”
“Ah… yes…”
My answer faltered.
“Well… enough small talk. Let’s be direct.”
The Empress stared at me, then suddenly spoke.
“Princess, will you become mine?”
“Excuse me?”
I straightened my face.
“I have no intention of dating someone twenty years older than me.”
“Are you insane?!”
The Empress shouted impulsively at my response.
