CHAPTER 41
“First Princess, Princess Yevgenia has sent you a gift.”
As soon as I entered the palace, I heard her name, and my brows instantly furrowed. Mulin, looking awkward, offered me a flower basket and carefully observed my reaction.
“She said you must be very shocked, so she sent this… It’s a gift from a princess, so I accepted it, but… should I just throw it away?”
He asked, and I shook my head.
“We don’t know what rumors might start. It’s better to keep it for now.”
“Then, where should I place it?”
Mulin blinked while looking at the flowers in the basket—a low-growing shrub called Trailing Cowberry.
Its flower meaning was: comfort for emotional pain.
‘She’s the reason everything got this bad, and she thinks this counts as comfort?’
Yevgenia’s attempt to smooth things over with a plant instead of properly kneeling and apologizing to both me and His Majesty was beyond disgusting.
I was the only one who knew the truth of her actions, so I couldn’t even talk about it. Suppressing a sigh, I gave Mulin an order.
“Just toss it in a storage room somewhere. Or keep it yourself—do as you wish.”
“Oh, then may I decorate my room with it? The berries are too pretty to throw away.”
“Sure, it’s yours now. Do what you want.”
Mulin beamed and bowed deeply.
“Then I’ll gladly accept it, Your Highness!”
With that, he scurried off toward the dormitory—the residence for palace attendants or staff who often worked overnight shifts.
As Mulin left, Illya entered.
“Your Highness.”
“Illya, I’m tired. I’d like a short nap—”
“No, absolutely not! We have to take your measurements!”
“Huh?”
Perplexed, I turned around to see at least five maids following behind Illya.
Illya smiled brighter than usual.
“To prepare for your banquet next month, the first step is to have a brand-new dress, don’t you think? Regent Dmitri gave the order, so we can’t ignore it.”
Dmitri…?
He had told me not to worry about anything before I left the palace.
‘He’s already so busy handling His Majesty’s affairs—why go to this extent?’
In my previous life, that man hadn’t shown even the slightest interest in me.
“Come now! There’s no time to think, Your Highness! If you want to enjoy the greatest banquet in history, we’re already running late! This grand party is for you, all for you, so let’s go to the dressing room!”
Illya was practically brimming with energy, so I reluctantly nodded.
I trudged toward the dressing room, and more maids began to trail behind.
Once we arrived, around twenty maids grouped up and addressed me.
“We’re the skin-care team.”
“We handle measurements.”
“We’ll find accessories that suit Your Highness.”
“And we’re in charge of the dresses.”
Let’s do our best, Your Highness!
“O-okay…”
Overwhelmed, I just kept nodding.
The process repeated endlessly—measuring, trying on dresses, testing accessories, and more dresses.
By the end, I collapsed onto the sofa, utterly worn out. The maids looked at me with regretful eyes.
“There are still so many dresses we haven’t tried, Your Highness.”
“The news of your banquet has already spread across the capital. If we don’t hurry, we won’t be able to get the outfits in time.”
“The guests you personally invited have already tailored their clothes weeks ago.”
“Isn’t this enough…?”
The maids shook their heads. Pale-faced, I raised my hand toward them.
“I trust my maids’ judgment… I don’t even have the energy to stand.”
“But…”
“I used to dream about wearing dresses my caring maids picked out for me. Wouldn’t you help make that dream come true?”
“Y-you mean, us…?”
I silently stared at them, and they blushed.
That’s right, when would royal maids ever get to choose the dress a princess wears?
Let them fight over who gets to pick the best one until the banquet.
While they were busy quarreling, I snuck out of the dressing room.
Right outside, Cecile was waiting. She bowed her head slightly and asked,
“Have you chosen a dress for the banquet?”
“No, I asked the maids to choose one. I’m heading to the back garden. Will you come with me?”
“As your guard, I must follow you whether you like it or not.”
“True. That was a pointless question.”
I casually walked past her and exited the palace. Cecile followed at a polite, but not too distant, pace.
We soon arrived at the back garden of the First Princess’s Palace. The place had been transformed into a colorful display, far removed from its once pitiful state.
‘These flowers weren’t here before…’
So much had changed while I was neglectful.
Before returning to the past, my garden was nothing but overgrown grass. Not even wildflowers bloomed there.
Nobles had mocked my garden as pathetic, but I treated it as my sole place of peace and remained outwardly composed.
Even so, I had secretly hoped the garden would one day blossom in full color.
Maybe things really are getting better…
If these small changes keep happening, perhaps the future where I die at the hands of my half-sister will change too.
As I walked, silently praying, I discovered a narrow path—barely wide enough for an adult woman.
I knew this path well.
It connected to the Emperor’s palace.
Cecile, who had been following my gaze, noticed it too and remarked with surprise,
“There’s a path here? I didn’t notice it before—was it hidden by vines?”
“…Really? It’s been here for a long time.”
“Do you know where it leads?”
…I may not, but little Lirien surely did.
That lonely child had once followed this path to secretly watch the Emperor resting in the garden.
“…Not really. I think I just passed by it once on a walk.”
“Then why not go see where it leads?”
“Too much trouble.”
I didn’t need to rely on that path anymore. I wasn’t that foolish child anymore.
“I want to go see His Majesty.”
“A hospital visit?”
“I haven’t seen him since that day. It’s only proper.”
“I see.”
Cecile stifled a laugh behind me. She must have caught on to my fake indifference. Embarrassed, I tilted my head down to hide my reddening face.
We walked away from the path. For the first time, I was able to ignore it.
News of my visit spread quickly, prompting even the busy Reynold to come.
As he jogged toward me, I offered a vague smile.
“You didn’t need to come out. Aren’t you busy coordinating with the regent?”
“I wanted to greet you. Also, Regent Dmitri granted permission for me to escort you.”
Unusual, isn’t it?
He seemed to say that with his smile. I averted my eyes. Reynold chuckled and extended his hand.
“May this humble servant have the honor of escorting the First Princess?”
“Sir Cecile is here though.”
“Ha ha, you wound me, Your Highness. I was just trying to avoid competing with Sir Blonmind’s strength.”
“It was just a joke.”
When Reynold drooped his eyebrows, I laughed and offered him my hand. He returned a gentle smile and lightly held it.
With our height difference, we looked more like father and daughter.
“If His Majesty sees this, he’ll scold me again!”
“Is there a rule forbidding his aides from escorting royal women?”
“No, nothing like that, but…”
Reynold hesitated, clearly reluctant to speak. I looked up at him, puzzled, and he avoided my gaze.
“If I say anything, I may lose my head, so I’ll keep silent.”
“…Right.”
So there was some kind of unspoken rule?
But I clearly remember Reynold escorting Yevgenia often…
Although, she had begun refusing his company at some point.
I remembered how upset he had looked then, deepening my suspicion. While I was lost in thought, I felt his hand slowly loosen its grip.
He smiled at me.
“We’re here, First Princess.”
“Thank you.”
“My pleasure. It’s my duty.”
He knocked on the Emperor’s chamber and announced my arrival. Once permission was granted, he slowly opened the door.
A golden canopy decorated with white and gold embroidery loomed ahead. I could just make out his silhouette beyond it.
“I greet Your Majesty.”
“You came. Thank you.”
“Not at all. I only regret not visiting sooner.”
After our brief formalities, I glanced at the canopy obscuring him.
Is he not… going to pull it back?
I had come to see his face, yet I couldn’t even do that. A faint disappointment crept in.
After a moment of hesitation, I asked,
“May I come closer?”
“….”
“It feels strange to stand so far away…”
“Do as you like.”
At his permission, I quickly walked up. He would now be able to see my silhouette too.
“Are you well? You were badly injured the last time I saw you.”
“I’m receiving treatment. Don’t worry.”
How could I not, when you were hurt saving me?
I wanted to pull the canopy aside and inspect his hands right then—see if there were scars, if his burns were truly healing.
The court physician said it was a third-degree burn…
Even applying ointment must be agonizing.
I bit my lip and opened my mouth.
“Your Majesty… May I ask a question?”
“What is it.”
“Why… did you save me?”
Rius Epsilon Caliburg—this era’s strongest Emperor, nicknamed the “Butcher Emperor.” A man with unmatched magic, martial arts, and aura mastery.
How could such a man end up injuring his hands just for me?
“You could’ve just cast a protective spell. Besides, you assigned Sir Cecile to me. She would’ve saved me.”
You didn’t need to hurt yourself. Cecile would’ve handled it.
So why did you do it?
Why did you save me?
You were never like that. Not once did you look at me when I died before.
When I was poisoned—what were you doing?
Did you cry for me? Feel even a shred of guilt?
Or did you, as always, not care at all?
If you thought of me as nothing more than a burden finally gone… then I…
Then all those years I spent trying to earn your love feel completely wasted.
And yet, now you’re suddenly acting like a father—and I hate it. And it makes me happy.
Part of me wants to scream and cry, Why didn’t you love me sooner?
I was barely restraining myself from ripping the canopy away to confront him directly.
“Please… don’t do that again…”
“….”
“I’ll protect myself. Especially now that you’ve assigned Sir Cecile to me. So please, don’t worry about me.”
“….”
“That’s all I came to say. I’m sure you’re tired. Please rest well.”
With a sniffle, I turned to leave. Even as I grasped the doorknob and it clicked shut, the Emperor’s presence remained oddly still.
But I could tell…
He was holding himself together—barely.
“Did you enjoy your visit?” Reynold asked.
I gave him a dry look.
“Do I look like I did?”
“Ah, no. You seem quite displeased right now.”
“Then don’t ask. It’s tiring to think about.”
I snapped, and Reynold slumped like a scolded puppy. Cecile gently patted his shoulder.
“Sir Bishop!”
A frantic aide came running toward us, calling for Reynold. The latter quickly composed himself and turned to the man.
“What is it?”
“Well…!”
The aide glanced at me, then leaned in and whispered urgently to Reynold.
“They… said she collapsed…”
“What?”
“It looks like she had another seizure… Without His Majesty’s magic…”
“You know how His Majesty is right now—!”
“What’s going on?” I cut in.
Both men stiffened and gave me troubled looks.
I raised an eyebrow, and the aide glanced at Reynold.
Reynold pressed his fingers to his forehead and spoke.
“It’s… Princess Yevgenia…”
“…She collapsed?”
“Yes, it appears she had a seizure.”
“….”
“We need His Majesty’s help. But regrettably, His condition…”
Right. His hands are in tatters. If he tries to cast magic now, the damage could worsen.
I narrowed my eyes and looked at Reynold.
“That’s strange.”
“Pardon?”
“Didn’t I gather herbs in the Forest of Darkness that day when I requested support from Regent Dmitri?”
Don’t tell me… you didn’t trust me?
“….”
“….”
No response.
So that’s the truth.
