🔊 TTS Settings
Chapter 6
“So apparently they’re preparing bridal lessons for you at the Empress’s Palace.”
“Bridal lessons? What bridal lessons? …Wait, don’t tell me they mean me?”
“Who else would they mean?”
“But nobody mentioned anything like that yesterday. Why all of a sudden? …It’s not because I acted improperly yesterday, is it?”
“Of course not. Even noble families normally make future daughters- or sons-in-law take lessons before marriage. And since this is the Imperial Palace, it’ll naturally be even stricter.”
“I see…”
Since neither my sister nor brothers were engaged yet, I didn’t know much about this sort of thing.
“Bridal lessons, huh… This is making me nervous.”
“Sis, what exactly do they teach you in bridal lessons? Since it’s at the Imperial Palace, I feel like it’ll be something extreme.”
“Well, I don’t know the details exactly, but…”
Even while saying that, my sister began counting on her fingers and listing everything I’d probably be taught.
“First would be imperial etiquette, obviously. Then the history of the Empire and imperial family, how to manage the inner palace and oversee the entire Imperial Palace household. And if you want to dominate high society, you’ll need to memorize the entire noble registry, study the arts to refine your taste, and learn mandatory foreign languages for diplomacy…”
“…I want to quit this engagement!”
My sister burst out laughing as though she’d expected exactly that reaction and lightly pinched my cheek.
“Do you think that’s possible at this point?”
“Can’t you just take me and run away?”
“Nope. I’m an imperial knight, remember? If anything, I’d be the one sent to capture the runaway fiancée of a prince.”
“Boooo.”
Of course, even though she said that, if I really ran away, my sister would definitely help me.
Which was exactly why I couldn’t joke about it any further.
“Well, it can’t be helped. Since it’s come to this, I’ll work so hard people start calling me the Heaven-Sent Empress!”
If you can’t avoid it, enjoy it—that had always been my life motto.
Besides…
“I needed an excuse to regularly check on Lionel anyway.”
Now I had a perfectly good reason to enter the Imperial Palace frequently.
And honestly, I was smart even if I didn’t usually bother studying!
“Bridal lessons? I’ll clear those easily.”
* * *
“My goodness, you’re absolutely perfect! Your posture, pronunciation, eye contact, and walking style are all flawless. You must have learned from the Duchess of Roheim herself, yes? With someone like her around, what more could I possibly teach you? I believe I shall take my leave now.”
“Your writing ability and vocabulary are truly exceptional. And your historical knowledge is impressive as well… Ah, of course! You must’ve been influenced by the young Duke Roheim. I heard he was called a genius during his academy days. Indeed, talent runs in the bloodline.”
“Your harp playing was already masterful, but to think your painting skills are this remarkable as well… I truly look forward to the future Empire that you and the Second Prince will lead together.”
“Oh my, you flatter me.”
The teachers summoned by the Empress to evaluate my abilities conducted a series of basic tests, then showered me endlessly with praise.
Honestly, it was all thanks to my family.
“My family always used ‘teaching me things’ as an excuse because they wanted to monopolize my time.”
“It’s truly astonishing. To think the duke’s daughter possesses such refinement.”
Actually, there was something else I was best at, but people should know how to stay humble.
So I bowed politely with one hand resting over my chest.
“Thank you for evaluating me so generously. I understand very well that my words and actions reflect upon my family’s reputation, so I’ve always worked hard to learn.”
At my modest words—which I delivered without even blinking—the Empress’s expression turned oddly sour.
Her face practically screamed: If you know that so well, then what exactly was that behavior at the banquet last week?
Why? Maybe you should reflect on your own conduct first.
“Judging by your accomplishments, Lady Roheim, you should be able to begin memorizing the imperial history and genealogy immediately.”
“Ah… genealogy?”
I nearly failed to control my expression.
“Yes.”
At the Empress’s nod, the head maid standing nearby placed a massive thick book onto the table.
Good grief, that’s the genealogy?!
Even families obsessed with ancestral rites wouldn’t force people to memorize something like that!
“It cannot be taken outside the palace grounds. Therefore, you shall come to the palace twice a week to study it. My head maid will assist you.”
“I shall serve the future princess consort with all my sincerity.”
I hadn’t even agreed yet, but the head maid bowed respectfully to me anyway.
And what was I supposed to do?
I couldn’t exactly throw a tantrum and refuse like a child, especially in front of someone old enough to be my grandmother.
“Well then.”
I forced a polite smile.
“I’ll do my best.”
“For today, you may leave.”
“Yes, Your Majesty. Please rest well.”
After bowing respectfully and leaving the Empress’s Palace, I walked forward with a faint elegant smile on my face, careful in case anyone was watching.
Inside, however—
This insane Imperial Palace!
I was cursing viciously in my head.
This isn’t bridal education! It’s straight-up harassment!
It was obvious they intended to crush my spirit before bringing me into the imperial family, which annoyed me immensely.
Still, I wasn’t worried.
Because I already had an easy method for passing this impossible test.
“First, though, I should accomplish the reason I came here.”
Once I’d completely left the Empress’s courtyard, I spoke to the attendant leading the way.
“Excuse me, we’re heading toward the carriage station now, correct? Before I return home, I’d like to visit the Second Prince.”
“The Second Prince, Your Highness? …Ah, yes. I shall guide you there.”
The attendant looked surprised for a moment before apparently remembering that I was the prince’s fiancée.
“However, we’ll need to take a carriage first. It’s quite far.”
“Really? Alright then.”
So the Second Prince’s palace was far enough from the Empress’s Palace that we needed a carriage…
Meanwhile, the First Prince’s palace was located right beside hers.
Was that arrangement intentional? Or coincidence?
Knowing Lionel’s circumstances made me overthink even tiny details like this.
“If only the Emperor and Empress had behaved properly, I wouldn’t have to worry about things like this.”
They only had two children, yet they openly favored one over the other.
How could the neglected child not grow resentful?
“Though the person himself acts like he’s transcended all worldly concerns.”
Still, perhaps he wasn’t completely uninterested in his fiancée, because even though I arrived without notice, Lionel agreed to see me immediately.
And so my second meeting with Lionel took place.
He did limit it to thirty minutes, but still, I considered that a victory.
“I heard you began your bridal lessons today. It seems you came directly from the Empress’s Palace.”
After dismissing his aides and instructing the attendants to bring refreshments, Lionel sat perfectly upright without the slightest disorder in his posture.
Today as always, he resembled a doll in so many ways.
Honestly, the version of him from the novel almost felt more human.
Smiling sweetly, I replied,
“Yes. The teachers Her Majesty gathered showered me with compliments. Aren’t you pleased?”
“Me?”
“Yes. Aren’t you happy? Your future wife is pretty, from a good family, and intelligent too.”
“Is that something I should feel pleased about?”
Seriously, what is wrong with this man?
For a second I almost got irritated again, but he looked so genuinely confused that my anger immediately fizzled out.
Not a single emotion or intention could be read from his doll-like face.
At this point I was genuinely curious how the Empress had raised him.
“How else? By raising him with discrimination.”
Maybe the reason this man eventually turned dark and kidnapped me in the original story was because he’d never experienced ordinary affection.
Maybe unhealthy obsession was the only kind of love he understood.
“Wait a second. Then maybe…”
If I taught him what healthy affection and proper love looked like…
Could I prevent his descent into darkness?
“Alright! Every long journey begins with a single step!”
“Of course it’s something to be happy about. I’m happy too. My future husband is handsome and intelligent. Oh right, my sister mentioned your swordsmanship is exceptional as well.”
I started by shamelessly flattering him, but Lionel didn’t react cutely by blushing or anything.
Instead, he simply nodded.
“Lady Bellrose’s thrusts are as fast as lightning while remaining perfectly accurate to vital points. Very few imperial knights can even keep up with her speed.”
“Right?! My sister is incredible! And her movements are so elegant too! Honestly, when most knights spar, it’s boring because I can’t even follow their swords properly. But whenever my sister spars, I always run over to watch. She’s just too cool!”
I enthusiastically praised my sister for quite a while before suddenly snapping back to reality.
“Wait… how did the conversation end up over here?”
At some point, the head attendant had already arranged refreshments across the table.
The fiancée of the Second Prince—and the youngest daughter of House Roheim—was visiting the palace.
Naturally, the person attending us should’ve been the head steward of the Second Prince’s residence.
But for someone in that position, he looked remarkably young.
Normally such roles were given to people with years of authority and connections.
“This too probably happened because of the Empress’s interference.”
The thought made me sigh unconsciously.
I didn’t particularly like how the young steward flinched nervously and started gauging my reaction from just that sigh.
So instead, I pushed away the cup as though mint tea didn’t suit my taste.
“Next time I visit, prepare rose tea instead. Uni.”
At my call, Eunice silently handed the steward a tin filled with dried rose petals.
The young steward stared at it in amazement.
“These were made from roses personally cultivated by the Duchess of Roheim! I heard it’s such a precious tea that money alone can’t buy it… I never imagined I’d see the real thing.”
Was it really that valuable?
I drank it every day at home, so I honestly had no idea.
“Since things turned out this way, maybe I should be generous?”
Just as I smiled and opened my mouth—
“Do you intend to come here often?”
This man again!
