Chapter 135
On both sides, time flowed quickly.
The Founding Festival lasted for a total of two weeks, with the Imperial Palace banquet held during the middle week, including Founding Day itself.
Today marked the fifth day since the festival began.
Which meant—it was the day the palace banquet would finally begin.
‘…Why am I nervous for no reason?’
Leaning lazily in the bath, Riana let out a sigh.
Just a few more hours, and the banquet she had spent nearly a month preparing for would start. The thought alone unsettled her.
Why did this feel more nerve-wracking than stepping onto a battlefield?
She was just about to sigh again when—
“Your Highness!”
“Hm?”
“You can’t keep sighing like that! I have to apply a facial pack while you’re getting your massage!”
When Riana turned her head, Betty, who was waiting on her nearby, scolded in a stern voice.
“But Betty, I’ve got a question.”
“Yes, Your Highness. What is it?”
“Do we really need to start this early? The banquet doesn’t even begin until six o’clock, and it’s not even eight yet.”
Riana tapped the petal-strewn bathwater with a genuinely curious tone.
The banquet was nearly ten hours away, yet she was already required to begin preparing.
She knew there’d be massages, but still… those didn’t take six whole hours, did they?
But Betty’s horrified expression looked as if she had just heard something absurd.
“Your Highness.”
“Hm?”
“You said you understood when I explained it last time!”
“…Well, I thought it sounded reasonable at the time. I didn’t know it would take this long.”
It wasn’t as though Riana had never attended a banquet before.
She might have been a powerless princess, but she had still been royalty.
Back then, her preparations had only taken about an hour—just slightly longer than usual.
But now it had increased tenfold.
“Phew… This is exactly why I adore Your Highness. Anyway, let me explain the order again.”
“Haha…”
“First, you’ll finish bathing and receive the first massage.”
Wait—first?
Before Riana could raise a question, Betty’s words poured out like rapid fire.
“After the first full-body massage, you’ll bathe again using different petals and oils. Then comes the second massage—this one includes every strand of your hair.”
“…”
“Then there’s a facial massage and skincare treatment. After that, you’ll take a third bath, and only then do we begin with dressing and adornments.”
What did I just hear?
Her mind went hazy.
So… two massages? No, three? And three baths on top of that…?
“…Betty, my body feels like it’s going to swell up and burst.”
“Pardon? Oh, Your Highness, what a joke!”
Betty laughed brightly, convinced Riana was teasing.
No, but I’m serious…
Riana genuinely feared her skin would be scrubbed raw like laundry.
Of course, a knight of her rank wouldn’t be harmed by something like that, but it was the thought that bothered her.
“Let’s cut it down a bit. Honestly, this feels like too much. Just the first round should be enough.”
“….”
“Betty?”
When her maid didn’t reply, Riana turned her head curiously.
And then she saw it.
Betty, frozen stiff like a statue, her pretty brown eyes shimmering with unshed tears.
This was the same Betty who, despite her gentle looks, could swat bugs bare-handed without flinching.
“…Fine. We’ll do it your way.”
In the end, Riana accepted her fate, even if it meant her body might feel waterlogged.
“Ha…”
Immersed in the bath for the third time already, Riana regretted her decision from hours earlier.
“Hehe. Tiring, isn’t it? But don’t worry, this is the last of the basic prep!”
“Haha…”
Riana didn’t bother pretending it wasn’t exhausting.
Because it was exhausting.
The past six hours had been brutal.
She would’ve rather spent six hours cutting down monsters instead.
The only thing that kept her going was the Emerald Palace attendants, who were more excited for her first official public appearance than she was herself.
Those shining—slightly unhinged—eyes made her think, Fine, I’ll just endure it.
There was one other thing that helped her through the long hours.
“Your Highness! A message just came from the Ruby Palace. What should I do?”
That.
Riana thought for a moment, then asked Betty,
“They said I still need twenty more minutes, right?”
“Yes! To let the oils and herbs sink in properly, thirty minutes is best!”
“Alright then.”
“Hehe, I’ll step outside for a while. Call me if you need anything!”
Quick to catch on to Riana’s intent, Betty handed her the comms orb, smiling proudly, before leaving with her fellow maid.
Click—
The doors closed one after another, until even the heavy bathroom door sealed shut.
Riana cleared her throat softly, then activated the orb.
Wuuung—
Ianheart’s face appeared in the round sphere.
He was still in his black shirt, apparently working.
—Riana.
His expression was calm yet warm as he spoke her name.
For a moment, he stared intently at her, then let out a small laugh.
—How many times are you going to soak in that tub?
“This is my third time.”
—Maybe I should’ve called later.
“Why?”
—Because out of the four times I’ve contacted you today, three times I’ve only seen my own face reflected in the water instead of yours.
His playful complaint made Riana laugh softly.
Ianheart had been checking in often, knowing her preparations would take long.
But most of the time, she had been stuck in the bath, unable to show her face.
“You should love your own face more.”
—I don’t have that kind of strange hobby. But you love it, don’t you?
“…I keep telling you, it’s just that I have excellent taste.”
—Which is why you love my face. That means it’s enough to satisfy your refined standards, doesn’t it?
“Well… that’s true.”
Her candid admission made Ianheart laugh heartily.
“Good grief… Most people get embarrassed if their lover says they only like their face, but you just brim with pride.”
Muttering under her breath, Riana shook her head.
—That’s because most of them have nothing else to offer. I don’t have to worry—I’ve got plenty.
“Oh wow… That was unbelievably arrogant.”
—What can I say? It’s true.
“Ugh, you could at least pretend to be modest.”
Riana sighed at his teasing tone, though she couldn’t deny his words.
—You’re not too tired, are you?
“Well… Want me to be honest?”
—Yeah.
“My body feels twice as swollen as normal. But somehow I look slimmer, thanks to these massages or whatever. It’s like magic—no, more magical than magic.”
Her whispered complaint made Ianheart struggle to hold back laughter. A moment later, he was shaking with it.
He really does laugh more these days…
Riana found herself smiling along with him.
She glanced at the mirror by the tub to check her reflection.
Unlike the earlier baths, she wore a thin robe this time.
She pulled the fabric tighter around herself, covering the exposed curve of her shoulder and collarbone.
This should be fine.
Her hair was a little damp, but her face wasn’t too bad.
After a brief hesitation, she called softly,
“Ian.”
—Yes?
“Are you alone in your office?”
—Right now? Yeah.
“Not even Sir Raviel?”
—No. He’s a high noble, remember? He needs to dress properly and make an appearance at the banquet, so he’s preparing.
Riana thought for a moment longer, then tapped the comms orb again.
Wuuung—
A ripple spread out.
—…Cough!
Ianheart’s composure cracked. He even coughed in surprise, his eyes darting like an earthquake had struck.
It wasn’t like she was naked.
Maybe it was a little embarrassing, but his reaction was far more exaggerated than hers. Riana smirked, amused.
“I’m wearing clothes, you know. You said you wanted to see my face, so here it is.”
—Ha…
He rubbed his face with one hand, sighing.
—So that’s why you asked if I was alone?
“Yes.”
—…And you don’t mind showing me like this?
“What do you mean? I told you, I’m dressed. And besides… we’ve kissed, haven’t we?”
She wiggled her fingers teasingly, watching as his ears flushed red—even through the orb.
Honestly, it was impossible to predict what embarrassed him.
Before they started dating, he had shown her his bare chest without hesitation. Now, even after kisses and plenty of touches, he was blushing like this.
Cute, but puzzling.
“I still can’t figure out what makes you embarrassed.”
—…Neither can I.
“Heh. So do you hate it? If it’s too much, I’ll end the call.”
Riana tilted her head, tapping the water lightly with her fingers.
The answer came instantly.
—I never said I hated it.
His quick, honest reply made Riana burst into laughter.
