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chapter 28
Our Princess
Spring had fully arrived at the Western Palace. The pond, heated by the scorching sun, had become lukewarm, and the massive, ancient trees cast dense, lush shadows with their abundant leaves.
The maids’ attire had also changed rapidly with the season. It felt like they had just taken off their cotton skirts the day before, yet now some were going without vests, and others had even switched to short-sleeved blouses, claiming it was too hot.
Summer might arrive as soon as tomorrow.
For any woman born and raised in Marma, summer was a beloved season, and it was right at the doorstep.
“Colin! Colin!”
The head maid, sleeves of her long blouse rolled up to her elbows, hurried across the corridor of the Western Palace.
Sunlight streamed obliquely through the glass windows, dazzling and making it impossible to look directly ahead. She raised one hand to shade her eyes.
“Colin!”
Colin had brought eight expensive glass vases, intending to learn flower arranging, but ended up breaking two of them. The head maid had no intention of scolding her, but Colin had panicked and hidden, prompting the head maid to search the palace for her.
“She’s probably in the rose garden.”
“Why there?”
“It’s summer. Among the young maids, it’s still the most popular spot.”
That had been the case, but it had been so long that she had forgotten. Now, having spent over ten years in the royal palace, she walked toward the rose garden where Colin had gone to meet her friends.
A winding path through the forest, a short distance from the Western Palace, led to a cozy garden where red roses bloomed abundantly. Entering it allowed one to avoid prying eyes.
Young maids would gather here whenever they were upset or distressed, gossiping freely. Whether venting frustrations or sharing secrets, this was their sanctuary.
A group of young maids sat surrounding Colin.
“It’s unbearably hot. Colin, you’re already wearing a short-sleeved blouse? We aren’t even allowed to take off our vests!”
“What? It’s this hot?”
“When you become a head maid, you have to wear long sleeves even in midsummer. You know, the stifling ones that go all the way up your neck…”
“Ugh, I really hate that. I won’t become a head maid.”
“What?”
Colin fanned herself with her hands, making a face, and the other maids burst into laughter. They asked if she knew how many girls were desperate to become head maids and whether she really intended to turn down such a shortcut to success.
Colin had short hair. Her neck was bare, free of ribbons or scarves. Wearing a thin short-sleeved blouse and a knee-length skirt, she looked considerably freer compared to other palace maids still stuck in uncomfortable attire.
“Colin, you can dress like that because there’s no princess in the Western Palace, right?”
“Exactly! It’s an unattended palace!”
“No, it’s not.”
Colin shook her head, smiling.
“Our princess isn’t like that. If I appeared wearing a long-sleeved blouse, long skirt, and vest in this heat… she would definitely say this.”
After a brief pause, Colin raised one eyebrow, her expression deadpan.
“Colin, if you’re protesting about the heat, quit immediately. No one in the Western Palace would even care if you wandered around in just your undergarments.”
Her expression and tone were startlingly similar to Adeline’s. The young maids laughed again, and Colin, thoroughly excited, jumped to her feet.
Standing on one leg, arms crossed, she looked down at the gathered maids.
“Colin! Do you think breaking two vases will destroy the Western Palace? Do you know I’m the princess of this country? It’s laughable how upset you are over a couple of vases. And why the long faces? Seeing the same boring maid faces every day in this dull palace would be amusing if I had such a gloomy expression, wouldn’t it?”
“Would she really say that?”
“You fool. Are vases more precious than people?”
That last comment sealed it.
The maids gazed at Colin with admiration, as if Adeline herself were right in front of them. They clasped their hands, sighing dreamily.
“Lucky. If a young maid in our palace broke an expensive vase, she wouldn’t get her salary and would have to stand in punishment for days. She’d probably be severely beaten, maybe even expelled.”
“The same in the Eastern Palace. Around Her Majesty’s collections, you can’t even breathe. If you even breathe near them, you get a scolding. Our chief maid even threatened to cut off our fingers if our fingerprints were left on the glassware.”
Sighs erupted from all directions. Colin, seated again, embraced each of the sad maids. The youngest, nestled in her arms, spoke.
“Sisters, I went home last time because of my brother’s wedding… At a family gathering, the topic of the princess came up.”
“Really? What did they say?”
“They said there are surprisingly many people outside the royal city who admire Princess Adeline.”
The maids listened lightly to the youngest’s story. Colin’s eyes sparkled, but no one noticed.
“The princess alone stopped a war with her bare hands. She could’ve rested, but she went to resolve conflicts. Even the disputes at the southern border were resolved thanks to her. Then she rode straight to Morgon… My uncle said we should call the princess the Guardian of Marma.”
The maids nodded. Colin pressed her cheek to the youngest’s head, smiling quietly.
“I think the princess is truly an honorable royal.”
“Indeed. Honestly, more than His Highness the Crown Prince…”
“Shh.”
A maid working in the southern palace spoke, and everyone instantly went silent. Even in private conversations, some things should not be spoken aloud. But the maid had grievances about the southern palace and muttered under her breath.
“I want to work in the Western Palace too.”
“Me too.”
“Who wouldn’t?”
They longed to work in Princess Adeline’s palace, to serve her, to be under her shadow.
Colin smiled secretly. Until the head maid arrived at the rose garden, she had struggled to contain her excitement like a swelling cloud.
If only Princess Adeline were in the Western Palace. She would rush to tell her all about it. Adeline would ignore her pretentiously but ultimately offer a casual word.
Such sweet children.
I miss the princess, Colin thought as the head maid guided her back to the Western Palace.
The head maid said nothing about the vases Colin had broken. Colin, lost in her thoughts, walked silently, eyes on the floor. Then she suddenly spoke.
“Sister.”
“Colin, you should call her Head Maid…”
“The Crown Prince has returned.”
“I heard too.”
Everyone in the royal palace knew that Cesare had returned to Marma after a significant failure at Morgon.
“They say unfamiliar knights entered the Southern Palace. During the day, it’s the same, but at night a group of knights goes out with the Crown Prince.”
“Colin.”
“Apparently, the same is happening in the Eastern Palace. Soldiers said to be from Her Majesty’s family…”
“Colin. Quiet.”
A patrol of royal guards, the 5th Squadron, passed by. They recognized the head maid and Colin, smiling and greeting them.
Once the knights disappeared into the distance, the head maid spoke to Colin sternly.
“You must be careful with your words. Now that His Highness is away, it’s even more important to act cautiously. Never do anything that would displease him.”
“I know. But sister, recently I keep thinking about something.”
“What?”
“That we… people… are all too selfish.”
Colin felt fear. She clenched her fists, then smoothed her skirt, her wide eyes swirling with emotions.
“What have we done for the princess?”
“Colin…”
“We’ve only received. I wonder if even one person properly thanked the princess. In the whole country, has anyone said, ‘Thank you for preventing the war, thank you for your efforts, I’m sorry…’?”
When Colin first went to fetch Adeline, she had been foolish and terrified. She had not fully realized how remarkable the woman she would serve truly was.
“Sister, I’m so afraid. What if one day the princess, tired of all her attachments in Marma, suddenly leaves us for a faraway place? What reason would she have to stay in this country?”
Impossible.
The head maid could not answer. She could not think of a single reason.
Marma’s Capital, Sol-Marma
When asked about the most famous tourist spots, people thought of the royal palace, the thousand-year cultural heritage, and scattered ancient ruins. But the most visited place was different: Lovers’ Square.
Ancient trees formed a long avenue leading to the square. On every bench were carved countless names, the marks of young lovers in the throes of passion.
Among trees, yellow lamps, and slanted stairs with a beautiful fountain, Lovers’ Square was a must-visit for couples. Young people came here to recall first love memories or, conversely, to check their partner’s past love.
“This place hasn’t changed.”
Adeline stood before the flowing fountain.
