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Chapter 47
I had just finished getting ready to go out when I stepped into the hall.
“Your Highness!”
Marie, who had been entering the corridor, spotted me and came running with a bright smile. She bent her knees deeply to greet me.
“You’ll fall over doing that, Marie.”
She hadn’t even learned formal court etiquette yet—she was simply copying what she’d seen from others. It was so endearing.
“I told you, you don’t have to greet me like that. I’m your sister.”
Unable to resist, I reached out and ruffled her hair roughly. Marie’s cheeks turned red like apples. I wasn’t sure whether it was because I messed up her hair or because I called myself her sister.
Maybe it was because we’d lived as strangers for so long. Maybe because she grew up as an illegitimate child. Every time I told her “We’re sisters,” she looked overwhelmed and humbled.
Well, that would improve in time.
“Come on, try it. ‘Sister.’”
“Uh… Sis—”
She fumbled, and her face swelled red as if it might burst. I couldn’t help laughing and lightly cupped her cheeks.
“Okay, that’s enough for today. You were out for a walk?”
“Yes…”
It seemed she really liked the palace gardens. She’d been going out for a stroll almost every day lately.
I stroked her cheek approvingly.
“All right. Make sure you eat a good dinner. And if you need anything, tell the maids anytime, okay?”
“Um…”
Marie hesitated, then asked:
“Would you like to… eat dinner with me?”
For a moment, my expression froze. Marie immediately sensed it and panicked.
“Oh—I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have—”
“No, Marie. Don’t say it like that. It’s not because I don’t want to. I just already have plans tonight.”
I was nervous she’d ask where I was going.
Thankfully, Marie didn’t press the question. She simply bowed deeply and wished me a good time.
“See you later.”
I gave her a light hug and left the René Palace.
I was on my way to a family dinner—something I hadn’t attended in a while.
The fact that Marie wasn’t included in that “family” felt stranger than ever now.
“Princess René has arrived.”
When I stepped into the dining hall of the Solar Palace, it seemed I was the last one again.
Granted, I was a little late—following René’s old habit.
“You’re late, Princess.”
The Empress Gisela pointed it out every single time, despite this being nothing new. I answered casually:
“I left on time, but I ran into someone I was happy to see, so it held me up a bit.”
“Someone you were… happy to see? Who?”
“Princess Marie.”
At that, the Empress looked startled, Anton snorted with a grin, and the Emperor looked slightly displeased.
I shrugged and added:
“Thankfully, she seems to like the gardens at my palace.”
“…How fortunate.”
“Yes, truly, Mother. I had no idea my sister was such a kind person.”
Anton chimed in with his usual smarmy tone.
“Before now, you didn’t care whether some bastard child was alive or dead.”
“Anton, how dare you speak like that in front of Their Majesties?”
I shot back with a mocking look. Anton’s face stiffened in momentary confusion.
He didn’t even realize what he said was offensive.
And of course, the real problem: no one besides me bothered to scold him.
So this is what comes of teaching oneself manners.
“Why would I care? I trusted Her Majesty the Empress was taking good care of her.”
“M–Me?”
The Empress, suddenly singled out, looked baffled.
“I don’t know why you think I would look after her, Princess.”
“Well, isn’t it obvious? She’s still the Emperor’s child.”
I widened my eyes at her, mirroring her disbelief.
“You’ve been so focused on Prince Anton that perhaps you forgot, but an Empress has the duty to care for all the Emperor’s children, whether she bore them or not. If my mother were alive, she absolutely would have.”
“I—I never focused only on Prince Anton!”
Empress Gisela jumped as if I had insulted her honor.
“That’s very unfair, Princess. I’ve treated you like a daughter of my own—like one I gave birth to…”
Seeing her look as if she might burst into tears, I felt a chill crawl up my spine. Maybe she truly believed that.
“Is there something I neglected to do for you?”
“I wouldn’t know. I grew up perfectly fine on my own.”
“René.”
The Emperor finally spoke, sounding like he might intervene. I thought he’d tell me to stop—but instead, completely unexpectedly, he asked:
“Where is your husband?”
Ah, yes. Friedrich, now my husband, technically had the right to attend a family dinner.
I simply hadn’t brought him—mostly to protect him from the barrage of nagging he’d surely receive.
“I assumed it was for His Majesty’s direct family only. Princess Marie isn’t here either.”
Between Friedrich and me, I was the harder target. They would pounce on him the moment they got the chance. I absolutely refused to let that happen.
(Though, judging from the victory banquet, he wouldn’t go down quietly anyway…)
Still, one person suffering indigestion through this meal was enough. That person would be me.
“If I’m mistaken, I’ll bring my husband and Princess Marie next time. It’d make the trip much less boring.”
“Forget it. This is better than creating unnecessary commotion.”
“And better suited for important discussions,” the Empress added immediately.
“Now that Princess René is married, isn’t it time to think about Anton’s turn, Your Majesty?”
“Is that not too hasty? It’s barely been a month since René married.”
“The Prince is eager to start a family. He’s been holding back only because the Princess was unmarried.”
Oh, please. As if he’s been restraining himself—he only had his coming-of-age ceremony last year.
“Marriage isn’t simple, Your Majesty. You need time to find the right match. They can have a formal engagement first and hold the wedding later.”
So this was her plan—strike quickly while I was still off-balance from my less-than-stellar marriage.
“What do you think, Princess?” the Empress asked.
“I’m all for it.”
All three of them stared at me as if I’d suddenly spoken in tongues. Why exactly did they assume I’d oppose?
The sooner an ambitious crown princess comes in and pressures the Emperor to name a successor, the better.
If Anton had a child, that would speed everything up even more.
“Hurry up and get married, Anton. Living with someone you love is incredibly wonderful. Isn’t that right, Father?”
The Emperor’s smile turned stiff. He avoided my eyes.
After all, he had married Gisela immediately after my mother died—as if he’d been waiting for the chance.
Yes. I absolutely made the right choice coming alone.
This family was far too embarrassing to show to my little sister or my husband.
In the end, Empress Gisela unofficially began the selection process for a crown princess for Anton.
For me, who was about to select Marie’s governess, it was great news.
With summer starting, many nobles had been preparing to go on holiday—but upon hearing this news, every one of them stayed in the capital.
“They should just go on holiday. The crown princess is basically already chosen anyway.”
Muttering as if it were my own problem, I shortlisted several candidates for Marie’s governess.
Filtering for political neutrality and for lower nobles without ambition made the list shrink quickly.
“Contact everyone on this list, Elza. Be polite, and make sure to emphasize that they can decline.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“It’d be great if we found someone like you. Am I being greedy?”
“Should we include nobles on the verge of ruin?”
“I don’t mind, but you’re thinking in the wrong order. You’re not competent because you needed money. You were competent first—and then needed money.”
“…”
Elza suddenly fell silent. When I turned, the tips of her ears were red—even though her face stayed expressionless as always.
“Why are your ears red?”
“You’ve been… unusually generous with compliments lately.”
“It’s because I love you.”
I winked, and Elza flinched as if I’d said something scandalous.
Laughing, I grabbed one of the many invitation letters I’d received and handed it to her without even opening it.
“My beloved Elzaaa—send a reply saying I’ll attend this one.”
“…You’ll attend? Without even checking the invitation?”
Whether it was my over-the-top cuteness or the idea of me voluntarily going to a social event, Elza looked truly shocked.
René hadn’t hosted salons, rarely attended gatherings, and generally ignored the social scene.
“I’m free anyway. All that matters is who sent it.”
At that, Elza flipped the envelope to check the name.
Adelina Weiss.
A beautiful name written in elegant script. Elza’s expression grew more perplexed.
“Isn’t she associated with the Empress?”
Correct.
To be precise—she would later become Anton’s crown princess.
