Chapter 41
Please Stop the Misunderstanding
“Do you want to get dressed up too?”
The unexpected suggestion from Princess Pireone drew the quickest reaction from Anten.
“Princess, what do you mean by that?!”
Anten jumped in surprise.
“Dressed up? Surely you don’t mean you want to put Haon in makeup?”
“Why not?”
Princess Pireone tilted her head lazily. Her drowsy gaze fell on Haon.
“Of course I mean to ask if I should dress up Haon.”
Haon looked back and forth between Princess Pireone and Anten, flustered.
Princess Pireone, calm and casual, asking for Haon’s opinion, and Anten glaring fiercely—both gazes felt piercing.
“Uh, Princess… thank you for the offer, but…”
“So Haon likes it too, right?”
Haon wasn’t even done speaking.
Without waiting, Princess Pireone tried to command the maids.
“Have Haon sit at that table and make her look presentable. There should be a spare mirror, right?”
“No, Princess?”
Just as it seemed Haon would be swept along, the stern Anten intervened.
“Princess Pireone. What do you intend by dressing Haon up?”
“I thought I’d take her to the tea party.”
Once again, Princess Pireone spoke as if it were nothing at all. Her tone suggested it was as casual as saying, “The sun’s out today,” or, “Pancakes for lunch sound good.”
“Princess!”
Anten shouted, incredulous.
“You plan to take a mere maid to a tea party?”
Princess Pireone picked up the invitation lying on the edge of the dressing table with her fingertip.
“See? It says, ‘Partners, friends, or anyone accompanying you is welcome. Please come and brighten the occasion.’”
“Even so, taking a maid along?”
“I don’t have any other friends.”
Princess Pireone said this plainly, without bitterness.
Even Anten didn’t immediately contradict her this time.
“Everyone else will have companions. You want me to attend alone?”
Princess Pireone stared at Anten. Her face was devoid of exaggerated emotion, which made her look even lonelier.
Anten’s expression remained stern, but he was slightly shaken.
“Still, bringing a maid along is…”
“It says ‘anyone’ is welcome.”
The invitation fluttered at Princess Pireone’s fingertip.
Anten, lips twitching, eventually let out a sigh and dropped his shoulders.
“How could I go against the Princess’s wishes?”
For over twenty years, Anten had been closest to Princess Pireone. He knew her better than anyone, and he also knew that further argument would be pointless.
Anten cast a sharp glance at Haon. Haon gave a tentative smile.
“We must be careful not to cause the Princess any trouble. Careful… and careful again.”
“Of course.”
Regardless of Haon’s wishes, the tea party companion was decided.
A tea party…
Haon sat obediently at the table by the window, receiving makeup.
A junior maid dedicated herself entirely to Haon, brushing and puffing her face gently.
It had been a long time since Haon had worn makeup. And to have someone do it for her? An unexpected luxury.
Suddenly? Me? With Princess Pireone?
The thought of sitting beside Princess Pireone, laughing together, drinking tea—gleaming reception hall, dazzling nobles, and herself awkwardly stuck in between—felt utterly mismatched.
“Princess, I really…”
“Oh, Haon!”
Princess Pireone turned toward Haon, excitedly exclaiming:
“How perfectly it suits you! Once you put on a dress, it’ll be flawless.”
“Really?”
Encouraged by the compliment, Haon glanced at the small mirror on the table.
A refined young woman’s face reflected back at her.
Fair, flawless skin, modest makeup, long eyelashes framing neat eyes, lips soft and moist like honey.
Even the hair, hastily tied with a lace headband before, had been carefully combed, braided, and pinned atop her head, the remaining hair flowing down elegantly.
“Wow…”
Haon couldn’t help but exclaim. She tilted and turned her head, inspecting herself in the small mirror.
All this in just a moment…
The speed at which the professional maid had finished Haon’s makeup was astonishing. Since it was Haon, not Princess Pireone, the effort had been slightly less meticulous, which made it faster—but by no means sloppy.
Haon didn’t mutter the obvious line, “Is this really me?” She had three years of experience with makeup since turning twenty.
“Indeed, a professional’s touch is different.”
Haon was simply in awe.
“I wonder if we can find a matching dress.”
Princess Pireone rose to select dresses, and Haon followed her.
Who would have thought she’d end up picking dresses side by side with Princess Pireone?
“Your hair is dark, so even flamboyant dresses will suit you. Something modest wouldn’t be bad either.”
Princess Pireone seemed more interested in Haon’s dress than her own.
“Princess, how about this one?”
“Not bad.”
“Since it’s a tea party, maybe something simpler?”
“It’s fine.”
She barely glanced at her own dress, offering a single word of comment.
Anten, meanwhile, grew increasingly anxious.
“Princess, please properly look at the dresses!”
“I am looking.”
Princess Pireone rummaged through the hangers and pulled out a dress.
“How about this?”
Of course, she handed it to Haon. Anten placed a hand on his forehead. Haon’s heart raced at his sigh.
This was indeed a nerve-wracking situation. Experiencing it firsthand made the idiom hit home.
“Alright, perfect. I’ll take this one.”
Haon accepted the dress without inspecting it closely.
“Now, Princess, please choose your dress too.”
“This one will do.”
Princess Pireone vaguely pointed to one of the dresses Anten had been holding. Her fingertip barely indicated the dress.
Princess, at least pretend to care…
Haon had a strong premonition that Anten would give her a thorough scolding once they returned from the tea party.
Better finish quickly and get going.
As Haon prepared to put on the dress, she froze upon seeing the one chosen by Princess Pireone.
“Princess, are you serious?”
“Huh?”
“You really want me to wear this dress?”
“You said you liked it too.”
Princess Pireone replied calmly, as always.
“I thought it might be too flashy for my hair, but it would suit you, Haon.”
Haon pondered Princess Pireone’s sense of aesthetics seriously.
“This… is a bit overwhelming for me.”
The dress was extravagantly adorned—practically a flower garden.
A soft beige silk dress with a wide neckline and flared sleeves, filled with white lace. Every edge—sleeves, chest, waist—was covered in blossoming floral ornaments.
A seven-year-old princess-in-training would wear this perfectly…
Even as a child, Haon had never wished for such a floral skirt. And now, fully grown, she was expected to wear it.
Haon couldn’t pick another dress without Anten noticing, so she reluctantly accepted the floral masterpiece.
Once fully prepared, Princess Pireone and Haon descended to the outer courtyard of the palace.
The carriage was ready. A coachman waiting for Princess Pireone bowed deeply and opened the door.
Princess Pireone reached out her hand to Haon.
“Come on up.”
“Do I ride the carriage too?”
Haon asked, surprised, glancing at Anten reflexively.
“Did you intend to walk there in that dress?”
Princess Pireone raised an eyebrow, as if listening to some absurd suggestion.
“Well… I guess not.”
Haon looked at the long hem of her dress. The tight shoes pinched her toes even without checking.
“Of course you ride a carriage to a party.”
Princess Pireone beckoned again.
Haon carefully took the Princess’s hand.
“Excuse me, then.”
Once Haon was in the carriage, it set off shortly after. The jolting ride felt unfamiliar, but the plush seats made it bearable.
“I see why Anten wants to dress me up every day.”
Princess Pireone looked intently at Haon. Her eyes sparkled.
“It’s much more fun to dress others than myself. Watching your appearance change is genuinely enjoyable.”
“Ha ha, really?”
Haon replied with an awkward smile.
“I suppose it is my duty as a performer for the Princess’s amusement.”
If it amused the Princess, Haon was ready to endure Anten’s wrath. She demonstrated her professional spirit admirably.
“Shall we dress up together more often?”
Princess Pireone smiled, gently stroking Haon’s hair near her ear.
“I wonder when Anten will take my life for this…”
“Such a grim joke.”
Princess Pireone laughed.
What sounded like a joke to her was, for Haon, a statement carrying serious intent.
“But really, why are you bringing me along?”
Haon was certain: Princess Pireone would never feel intimidated, even if attending a party alone. She simply didn’t care about such things.
“I thought it would be good for you, Haon.”
Princess Pireone smiled.
“You can look forward to it.”
“…Look forward to what?”
“Well…”
Princess Pireone only chuckled, giving no clear answer.
She seemed unusually excited. Haon felt a strange unease at the Princess’s unfamiliar expression.
