The maids who would newly enter the Palace had their names written on a register and were reported to the Emperor through the head maid.
Since the position of Empress was vacant, the Emperor himself was managing the Imperial household affairs. This was because there was a decree stating that no one other than the Empress was allowed to interfere with the internal affairs of the Imperial Palace.
It was to prevent the concubines from using the Palace’s internal administration to satisfy their own greed.
For that reason, several concubines had died or had been expelled.
The Emperor valued the dignity of the Imperial Family more than anyone and disliked corruption. Therefore, he was managing it personally.
In a way, he was an impressive person.
Governing the state must already be exhausting, yet he was even taking responsibility for the Imperial household administration. Perhaps that was why people often called him a wise ruler.
“Please guide the maids around the detached Palace, Head Maid.”
“Leave it to me.”
Liliana looked at the four maids in turn.
“After the tour of the detached Palace is finished, you will receive training from the Head Maid. I hope you will do your best.”
“Yes, my Lady.”
“Please do not worry.”
“I will do well.”
“Me too.”
Daisy, Jennifer, Anna, and Elisha answered in turn.
Liliana showed a satisfied smile and looked at the head maid, Marianne.
“I leave them in your care, Head Maid.”
“Yes, my Lady.”
Marianne looked at the maids.
“Follow me.”
When she turned around, the four maids followed behind her.
Daisy and Jennifer turned their heads to look at Liliana. When Liliana nodded, the two looked at Elisha and began walking.
***
Elisha toured the detached Palace together with the three maids under the guidance of the head maid Marianne.
The detached Palace was decorated similarly to the ducal mansion. Liliana had such a strong attachment to her home that her tastes had been reflected in it.
‘If it were me, I would have decorated it much more lavishly. This is too modest.’
Each room contained only the necessary furniture, and even the ornaments were simple.
When they were finally shown the maids’ rooms, Elisha frowned.
The room was decent, but it was too simple. It only had a reasonably sized bed, a wardrobe, a table and chair, and a small dressing table.
Unlike Elisha’s crumpled expression, the three maids looked fairly satisfied with their rooms.
Elisha quickly composed her expression. Although it couldn’t compare to her bedroom in the Baron’s mansion, she decided to endure it.
‘I won’t be staying here long anyway.’
Marianne explained the interior structure of the detached Palace in detail.
***
In the Sapphire Palace office, Estevan was pondering the engagement gift he would give Liliana.
Several gifts were placed before him. They were gifts specially commissioned from artisans in the marketplace.
“Leon, which one do you think would be better?”
“Hmm, well.”
Leon carefully examined the gifts.
“This one does not seem like it would stand out much, and this one is too flashy. I think this one is good.”
What Leon chose was a gift inside a silver box.
It was a diamond necklace made of platinum, with a teardrop diamond set in the center as the highlight. The earrings were also teardrop diamonds.
If Liliana wore it, it seemed like it would suit her well.
“You have quite a good eye.”
At the praise, Leon grinned.
“I happen to be quite interested in things like this.”
“Then choose a ring as well.”
Leon carefully looked at the rings placed on the table. Every single one of them was precious.
“This will not be easy to choose.”
“It does have a bit of difficulty.”
Estevan also found it difficult to choose. Each one had been crafted with such precision.
Any of them would suit Liliana well.
“Still, since it is a special day, how about the one with a moonstone?”
“I don’t think the white crystal looks bad either.”
White crystal was a gemstone called the mineral of the gods, and since it contained a small amount of divine power, it had the effect of calming the body and mind.
In the end, Leon grabbed his hair.
“No matter what, even for me this is difficult to choose, Your Highness.”
“But if you had to choose?”
“Moonstone would be better.”
“The reason?”
Leon spoke with a mischievous expression.
“I heard that Prince Mikael gave the Lady jewelry with a moonstone as a gift.”
A peculiar smile appeared at the corner of Estevan’s lips as well.
“So you mean that if he sees this ring, Mikael will be provoked.”
They would have both given the same moonstone, yet if Liliana wore the ring Estevan had given her, what kind of expression would Mikael make?
“Not a bad choice. The ring will have a moonstone.”
“An excellent choice.”
Once the gift selection was finished, the next thing waiting was the fitting of the engagement ceremony formal attire.
The engagement attire had been made with a design that matched Liliana’s dress.
Liliana’s dress was an elegant one in a beige tone, accented with rubies.
To match it, Estevan’s formal attire was decided to be in a white tone with ruby buttons and a gold tie.
“It came out well.”
The formal attire suited him so well that even Leon exclaimed in admiration.
“At this rate, the young ladies might faint when they see Your Highness.”
“I will pass on exaggerated jokes.”
“But it is true.”
Among the Imperial Family throughout history, Estevan had inherited the most intense bloodline of the sun.
Brilliant golden hair. Clear crimson eyes like rubies. Pure white skin and a solid physique.
Everything formed a perfectly balanced appearance.
Estevan carefully fitted the formal attire. The size was adjusted so that it was neither too tight nor too loose.
Thus, the preparations seemed to proceed smoothly.
***
Elisha woke up at dawn.
For the past few days, she had been so busy receiving maid training that she had no peace of mind at all.
Court etiquette in particular had been extremely strict, to the point that even she, a noble, felt her teeth grind.
After barely composing herself, Elisha looked into the mirror and steadied her resolve.
‘Today is the day.’
Today was a day without training.
Since it was a free day, she could have left the Palace, but Elisha stayed because she had something to do.
Because today was the day she would go to meet Prince Estevan. More precisely, a meeting disguised as a coincidence.
‘I will make him fall completely.’
Standing in front of the mirror, Elisha dressed herself up as beautifully as possible and quickly left the detached Palace.
Perhaps because it was dawn, the detached Palace was quiet.
As she walked along the corridor, she recalled the map of the Sapphire Palace that Mikael had given her.
Elisha left the detached Palace, picked up the bucket and ladle she had prepared in advance, and wandered around the garden near the Sapphire Palace.
This path was one that maids frequently used, and since the maids watered the flowers here, carrying a bucket and a ladle of water didn’t seem suspicious.
‘He’s here.’
From afar, she saw someone’s silhouette.
Elisha quickly took out a small pill and a bottle from her pocket. She hurriedly swallowed the pill and opened the bottle to sprinkle the liquid over her body.
Mikael had insisted that she apply it, saying it was a special fragrance that would make the other person feel attracted to her.
He had also told her to take the purification pill beforehand, since she herself could be affected when spraying the fragrance.
The purification pill was a medicine that cleansed harmful things entering the body. After taking it, the fragrance she sprayed on herself didn’t affect her.
‘Perfect.’
As the silhouette drew closer, Elisha scooped water with the ladle and sprinkled it over the flowerbed. Then she suddenly turned her body and splashed the water.
“Ah!”
The man who was drenched by the splash looked at Elisha in surprise.
Seeing the man, Elisha hurriedly apologized.
“Ah, I am sorry. Are you very wet?”
Elisha took out a towel and wiped the man’s chest, pressing close enough for him to smell the fragrance.
The man frowned and pushed her away. When Elisha looked at him, she was startled.
‘That’s not Prince Estevan.’
The man who had been splashed with water was a blue-haired man.
He smiled gently and said,
“It’s alright. That can happen.”
“Ah, yes…”
At that moment, a voice scolding the man came from behind.
“Leon, what are you doing there?”
“Ah, Your Highness. It is nothing. This maid made a small mistake.”
“A mistake?”
Estevan, who had approached closer, looked sharply at Elisha.
Under that fierce gaze, Elisha lowered her head. It was too frightening.
“I am sorry, Your Highness.”
A cold voice struck down over her head.
“It seems the head maid failed to properly train the maids, judging by the fact that you splashed water on my aide.”
Estevan’s gaze moved toward her belt.
“Seeing that your belt is purple, you must be a maid assigned to the detached Palace.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“The Master of the detached Palace is my fiancée. You know that your mistake could become a stain on her reputation, don’t you?”
“I am deeply sorry, Your Highness.”
Elisha bit her lip tightly. At this rate, it would be a disaster.
Her mind worked quickly. She needed a way to turn this crisis into an opportunity.
Elisha knelt down and grabbed Estevan’s trousers.
Estevan frowned and looked down at her. A strange fragrance was coming from her.
‘It worked.’
Elisha, inwardly cheering, pleaded earnestly.
“Your Highness, I made a mistake because I have only recently entered the detached Palace. Please forgive me with your generous heart.”
With tears in her blue eyes, Elisha pleaded.
Estevan and Leon looked down at her with stiff expressions.
Strangely, the moment they saw her, it felt as though their anger was surging.
