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Chapter 36
As she stepped inside the front door, a hall greeted her, adorned with marble columns and a domed ceiling.
The interior of the house was dominated by dark blue tones and furnished with straight-lined furniture.
On the walls hung solemn religious paintings by Rubens and Rembrandt, reflecting the Crown Prince’s distinguished taste.
“Reginald, I’ll show the lady to her room. You may step aside.”
“Yes, Your Highness. If you need anything, Lady, please do not hesitate to ask.”
After bowing respectfully, Reginald stepped back, and Damien gestured for her to follow him.
As they ascended the spiral staircase, Bada couldn’t stop marveling.
‘This isn’t a house people live in—it’s like a museum.’
“I’ll show you the layout of the house tomorrow. For now, I’ll just show you your room.”
Their footsteps came to a stop at the door at the far right of the second-floor corridor.
Damien turned the doorknob and said,
“This is the Primrose Room.”
Following him inside, Bada looked around the room.
“…Wow.”
Unlike the generally dark tones of the house, the Primrose Room radiated a bright, cheerful atmosphere.
Peach and apricot-colored wallpaper, green-toned moldings, a white canopy bed with lace curtains, Rococo-style furniture, and Sèvres porcelain.
Everywhere, the room exuded charm.
On the table, there was a bouquet of flowers, a card welcoming her, and some macarons.
After thoroughly inspecting the room, Damien spoke.
“I have some work to attend to. If you need anything, ask the staff.”
As he was about to leave, Bada stopped him.
“Um, Damien.”
He turned toward her, and she leaned in, whispering into his ear while glancing around.
“Are we going to use separate rooms? I was thinking maybe we should share a room since people are watching.”
Damien tilted one corner of his mouth and asked,
“You’re not trying to add personal motives to the contract, are you?”
“…What?”
Bada’s face flushed as she was caught off guard by his probing.
“No, I mean…!”
Damien lightly patted her shoulder as she stumbled over her words.
“According to royal protocol, sharing a bed only happens after marriage. Don’t worry, just rest.”
“…Alright.”
After Damien closed the door and left, Bada cautiously began exploring the Primrose Room.
The adjoining dressing room held clothes made to her measurements—classic dresses, shirts, and two-piece outfits.
The spacious bathroom was neatly equipped with top-brand toiletries, and the window overlooked the garden and fountain.
At first glance, the house seemed very classic, but a closer look revealed a cutting-edge smart home system.
A touchscreen on the wall controlled the calling system for the staff, as well as the room’s temperature and humidity.
Bada took out her diary and some small items from her travel bag, placing them on the bedside table.
Even so, the space still felt unfamiliar.
She flopped onto the soft bed, thinking,
‘This is going to be my home for the next year.’
It felt like she was dreaming.
The bathroom was filled with the scent of steam and roses.
Bada sat in the bathtub, fidgeting nervously, as the attendants stood nearby, fully aware of her nakedness.
“…How long are you going to stand there?” she asked cautiously.
One attendant replied nonchalantly,
“His Highness ordered us to focus entirely on caring for you today, Lady. You’ll get used to it soon enough.”
One attendant brushed Bada’s wet hair and applied hair cream generously.
Another even squeezed toothpaste onto her toothbrush.
‘Do we really have to go this far in the 21st century?’
Just as the awkward bath time seemed to end, all the attendants descended upon her at once to begin dressing her.
Even her underwear was ironed, making Bada tremble in embarrassment.
She prayed silently for the ordeal to pass quickly.
Once the dressing was finished, an attendant brought a heavy tiara.
The tiara, decorated with ruby- and diamond-sized stones, looked extremely heavy at a glance.
Placing it on her head felt like a slab of reinforced concrete had been set on her skull.
The pressure on her neck was unbearable, and Bada complained in pain.
“Ugh… It’s too heavy. I can’t manage this.”
The attendant, staring at her intently, leaned closer.
Then, her mouth stretched unnaturally wide, and her pupils turned completely black.
“You must endure even if your neck breaks. Did you come here without that kind of resolve?”
Bada tried to scream but her voice would not come out, as if paralyzed.
“Ugh!”
She flinched, shaking all over, and opened her eyes.
Reflexively, she raised her hands to her head—but the tiara was gone.
‘…It was a dream.’
It must have been triggered by a romantic fantasy novel she once read amusingly on her way to work.
Of course—there’s no way attendants would bathe someone for them in this day and age.
Just as she tried to calm her startled heart, there was a sudden knock at the door.
“Ah!”
Hearing Bada’s scream, a voice called from outside.
“Are you alright, Lady?”
“Yes, I’m fine. Who is it?”
“I’m Lea, your personal secretary. May I come in?”
“One moment!”
Bada sprang from the bed like a spring, hastily putting on a cardigan before opening the door.
There stood a red-haired woman in her mid-thirties.
Dressed in a suit and holding a tablet, she exuded complete professionalism. She appeared at least a head taller than 170 cm Bada.
“Nice to meet you, Lady Yu.”
“Pleased to meet you. You said your name is Lea?”
“Yes, Lea Greenwich. I apologize for waking you despite your jet lag.”
“No problem! Please, come in.”
The two sat on a sofa placed in one corner of the bedroom.
Meanwhile, attendants placed a tray with a teapot and cups on the coffee table.
Lea introduced herself briefly.
She had worked for years in the Crown Prince’s direct secretariat and would now serve as Bada’s exclusive secretary.
Bada felt dazed by the situation.
‘…I actually have a secretary now.’
“I’ll give a brief overview of today’s schedule. In the morning, we’ll tour Winswood House.”
According to Lea, Bernhardt had twelve royal residences, including Windmere Palace, the King’s official residence.
Gilmore Hall hosted official guests and major royal events.
The summer palace, Everdare Grove, and Whistlingwood Cottage, with its vast hunting grounds, were among the other properties.
Bada sipped her tea, trying to absorb all the information Lea provided.
“After lunch, there will be media training. Think of it as a rehearsal for a press conference at 5 PM today.”
“A press conference?”
Bada’s eyes widened at the unexpected schedule.
“Yes. As the Crown Prince’s fiancée, this will be an official introduction of you, Lady. The venue is the reception room here at Winswood House.”
As Bada listened to Lea, questions formed in her mind.
Why the rush? And is it really okay to announce me as the fiancée without seeing the King and Queen first?
Even though they said it’s a rehearsal, Bada still didn’t know anything about the actual press conference.
