Chapter 146
The inner palace of the imperial palace.
It had been incredibly quiet for the past few years, but in the last few days, it had been complete chaos.
“I don’t want to wear this!”
Eve threw the clothes the maid brought straight onto the floor.
The maid gasped in surprise and hurriedly picked them up, brushing off the dust.
“But Lady Eve, this is the standard formal attire for the royal family here, as Your Majesty has designated.”
“It’s ugly!”
Honestly, the outfit wasn’t ugly. It just wasn’t the bright, fancy color a child might like.
The brown, calm daily attire was what royals wore when they met the emperor in the palace.
“But the palace wardrobe officer…”
“No! I want to wear Madam Crevel’s dress! It’s prettier!”
Eve pouted and crossed her arms.
At this point, one would hope she would give up.
“But according to etiquette…”
Ignoring her words, the maid tried to hand her the brown outfit again. Eve snapped.
“I said no! Are you stupid? I said I don’t want it!”
She flopped to the floor, kicking her feet and crying.
“I won’t wear it! I just won’t!”
The maid looked to Izriella, as if asking what to do.
Izriella sighed, “Here we go again,” and gestured for the maid to leave.
The maid left, relieved not to have to deal with Eve any longer.
“Bring me Madam Crevel’s dress! It’s prettier! I want to wear it to see Daddy!”
Her words sounded like cute whining.
A child wanting to look pretty for her father was normal. Anyone might think it sweet, even boast about how much their daughter adored them.
But not here.
Izriella saw Eve crying loudly. It was clear no one else could calm her.
‘No wonder. She’s now recognized as royal, and everyone bows to her—she won’t listen to anyone.’
To discipline a stubborn child, a firm adult is needed. But no one could say that to Eve now.
‘Well, almost no one.’
There was one person who could: her father, the emperor.
But if she acted like this while going to meet him, what would that accomplish?
Izriella, however, was not worried.
In the past few days, the palace maids had begun to appreciate her presence.
She was the only one who could calm Eve.
Everyone wondered how she did it, but she never revealed her methods.
It was something only she could know—and it was a little funny too.
“Lady Eve.”
Izriella finally sat beside Eve on the floor.
“Eve Alden doesn’t act like this. That’s why His Majesty cherishes her.”
The moment Izriella said Eve’s name, Eve stopped crying.
It had been a fake cry.
“How does she do it?”
Eve still puffed her chest, not fully calming, and glared.
“She always wears the academy uniform properly, never cries, doesn’t whine for prettier clothes, and behaves neatly in front of His Majesty. She knows he likes that.”
“Then I’ll do that too!”
Eve jumped up and handed the maid the dress, signaling her to help her change.
It worked.
Izriella smiled and took the dress.
Earlier, she had said, “If you keep acting out, His Majesty might like Eve Alden more!” thinking it might calm Eve. To her surprise, it did.
Izriella realized that Eve was very conscious of Eve Alden.
So she casually mentioned how much the emperor liked Eve Alden, and Eve’s jealousy made her cooperate.
Today was no different.
Izriella called the maids, who quickly helped Eve change and finish her grooming.
When the time came, a servant arrived to escort Eve.
Izriella held her hand as they walked to the audience room.
‘Why hasn’t His Majesty officially recognized her as a princess yet?’
She was the daughter of the emperor’s beloved wife—why wait so long?
‘But it’s only a matter of time.’
Izriella had visited Count Aradman yesterday.
The mansion had changed completely. Once empty and dark after Eve’s expulsion from the academy, the front yard was now packed with carriages.
The lobby was full of people waiting, ready for the count’s return.
The news that Count Aradman brought the princess had spread everywhere.
‘Good thing we announced it at the Seasonal Festival.’
It took less than a day for the rumor to spread across the capital.
Soon, they arrived at the audience room.
“Lady Eve, have a good visit.”
Izriella whispered to her.
“Don’t forget to get officially recognized by His Majesty.”
“Okay, I will.”
Eve nodded firmly and followed the servant inside.
Inside, Eve saw Clois sitting and smiled brightly.
‘Daddy!’
She had only seen him briefly at the Seasonal Festival banquet.
But she already liked him a lot.
‘The most handsome person I’ve ever seen!’
Was it because he was the emperor?
Clois was the most impressive person Eve had ever met.
Golden hair, deep blue eyes, tall and strong.
And the elegant face and aura were unlike anyone else she had ever seen.
Inside the palace, she had seen nobles and tall, strong people—but none compared to Clois.
‘My dad.’
Eve suppressed her smile, pushed past the servant, and ran to him.
“Daddy!”
Izriella had explained all the privileges and joys of being a princess.
Eve would now attend palace festivals holding her father’s hand, wearing beautiful clothes and shoes, and eating delicious food.
Just before she could leap into Clois’s arms, he spoke.
“Stop.”
“…!”
The emotionless voice froze Eve in her tracks.
“Daddy?”
She looked at him, puzzled. She thought he would welcome her warmly this time.
“….”
Clois studied her for a long moment.
“Eve, I need to ask you some questions.”
His voice softened slightly, but he still called her Eve, not Evebien.
Clois looked at the little girl in front of him, unsure of what to do.
She had lived deep in the mountains without knowing her parents.
He remembered she was seven, just like Eve Alden.
Even if she had stayed a few months at the Aradman estate, the sudden change in her life would be overwhelming.
“I’ve heard how you’ve lived. It must have been very hard. I have some questions about that.”
“Yes…”
Hearing “questions,” Eve bit her lip.
Instinctively, she knew she had to answer carefully, just as Noma had taught her.
“Lady Eve!”
Izriella approached Eve as she left the audience room.
“How did it go? When will she be recognized as a princess?”
“I don’t know. They just said to rest today…”
Izriella sighed. Why delay so much?
Eve suddenly asked,
“Is Eve Alden still at the academy?”
“Why do you ask?”
“I want to meet her.”
Eve thought. If the emperor liked that girl, then if I do the same…
‘Daddy will like me more.’
She didn’t know what the academy did exactly, but she could do everything that girl did.
