Extra Story 3
While the Grand Madam rested briefly at a dessert shop during their outing, Anje stood in a lace boutique, rubbing her dry eyes as she examined lace to decorate her dress.
Preparation for battle—women’s battle—was truly exhausting. And to her eyes, all the lace looked the same.
“Oh my, Your Ladyship truly has a discerning eye. The one you’re holding is our most popular piece. The only drawback is the price—it’s quite dear, since noble ladies in the Kingdom stay up all night to make it by hand.”
“In the Kingdom, noblewomen make lace themselves?”
“Yes. Unlike the Empire, women’s nightlife there is rather… restricted. Oh dear, what am I saying to Your Ladyship? I only meant that the ladies of the Kingdom are more modest. Please don’t misunderstand.”
The shop owner belatedly noticed Anje’s black hair and grew cautious.
“It’s fine. Go on.”
“Well, whether in the Empire or the Kingdom, noblemen attend banquets late into the night, do they not? But in the Kingdom, it’s different for married women. They’re expected to return home early and wait demurely for their husbands—that’s considered virtuous. But do men ever think about that? Men behave however they please, no matter the country.”
“….”
The owner sighed lightly and shook her head.
“So what are women to do through those long nights? They make delicate lace and swallow their resentment. They even gather to show off the lace they’ve crafted. Such intricate patterns aren’t easy to create. Since they’re made by noble hands, they’re quite precious and difficult to obtain.”
Perhaps because she was soon to be married herself, Anje felt an unexpected surge of irritation.
Forgetting the fragile lace in her grasp, she tightened her fingers.
“Oh my, Your Ladyship! If you grip it like that, you’ll ruin it. Oh dear, what shall we do?”
“My apologies. I’ll purchase all of these.”
“Y-You will? Oh, thank you kindly. Just a moment, please.”
The shop owner’s face brightened instantly as she hurried inside to wrap the items.
Left waiting, Anje’s gaze drifted to the window. There was a commotion outside.
“The delegation is arriving today. It seems they’re passing by now.”
The owner returned, holding the neatly wrapped bundle.
“They say the Princess of Nayan is breathtakingly beautiful. Men are all the same—old or young, highborn or low. Look at them swarming like clouds just to catch a glimpse. Oh! Forgive me—His Grace would never be like that. You needn’t worry.”
“How would you know?” Anje asked quietly, eyes fixed on the window.
“Oh, how wouldn’t I? Everyone in the capital knows how much His Grace cherishes you. I’ve seen him clear out the dessert shop across the street just to bring treats to you.”
Despite the owner’s chatter, Anje’s expression only stiffened. The owner tilted her head, then approached cautiously.
“Did I say something wrong? You don’t look well—”
She stopped mid-sentence, eyes widening.
A magnificent carriage was passing by outside, flanked by foreign knights on horseback.
And at their head rode none other than Duke Joseph Side, astride a black stallion, leading the procession.
From time to time, he turned his horse toward the carriage, appearing to inquire after the princess’s well-being. His manner seemed almost tender. The princess responded with a radiant smile, speaking to him in a way that, at a glance, suggested intimacy.
Oh, my reckless mouth!
The shop owner slapped her own lips silently before turning back with exaggerated cheer.
“Since the delegation is led by the princess herself, His Majesty must have sent the Duke as a courtesy to escort her.”
“….”
“There’s no other reason His Grace would be there, is there?”
“I suppose not.”
Anje nodded, yet she could not tear her eyes away from the sight of the Duke and princess conversing at a distance close enough for their faces nearly to touch.
Then—perhaps by chance—the princess’s eyes turned toward her.
Or perhaps it was imagination. A crowd had gathered like a sea of clouds. Even if the princess recognized someone, it would be difficult to pick them out.
Yet the moment her gaze met Anje’s, a bright smile curved her lips—and she leaned toward Joseph, close enough as if to whisper into his ear.
“That must be it.”
Coldness dripped from Anje’s eyes.
The reassured shop owner nodded—then froze upon seeing Anje’s expression.
Her Ladyship’s gentle smile was still in place, but something in her gaze was anything but gentle. And why did “That must be it” sound more like “It had better be”?
Perhaps her ears were failing her.
“Of course. Yes… that must be it.”
* * *
“Your Grace, the princess requests an audience.”
At his adjutant’s words, Joseph barely managed to smooth the expression threatening to twist his face. Crowds had gathered to glimpse the famously beautiful foreign princess; too many eyes were watching.
“And what is it this time?”
“She says she will tell you in person.”
Joseph ground his teeth behind a tight smile.
The princess was truly an exasperating woman. After enduring her demands all day, he felt like marching straight to the Emperor in protest. But what good would that do now?
Composing himself, he turned his horse toward the carriage. As if waiting for him, the window opened and Ilya Baht revealed her face.
Heaven’s beautiful refuse. The calamity hurled by the King of Nayan….
That was Joseph’s candid impression of her—one he was doing his utmost to suppress. If he allowed his irritation to deepen any further, he might find himself drawing his sword.
“What is it now, Your Highness?”
He asked politely, concealing his irritation behind a smile.
“I wish to proceed quietly.”
Joseph straightened and surveyed the surroundings. The boulevard was packed with cheering crowds. Some tossed flowers; others played instruments.
“Are the people of the Empire always so loud and disorderly?”
Her voice nearly drowned in the noise, forcing Joseph to lean closer to hear.
“Could you not consider it a greeting of welcome?”
“So lacking in dignity—and lacking in awareness as well. The people of the Empire are truly hopeless. Do you know how far it was from the palace gate to here? It was dreadful.”
“Indeed. As Your Highness may know, I once lived in the Kingdom as a prisoner of war.”
At that, a flicker of surprise crossed her proud face. But she quickly recovered, lifting her chin haughtily.
“Then you understand how difficult this is for me. Dismiss those noisy people.”
“Dismiss… them?”
Was she serious? Joseph’s eyes narrowed.
Since departing the capital gates, she had not ceased making demands.
At first, asking to rest shortly after departure was almost charming. Then she complained of sore legs despite riding in a carriage all day. The snacks displeased her palate. Later, she whined that a knight had glanced at her improperly.
Unable to watch his men suffer further, Joseph had stepped in personally. At first, she had seemed cautious with him—but had that been his imagination?
“I understand, Your Highness,” Joseph said, his smile sweeter than ever.
His adjutant, long accustomed to him, subtly edged away. His superior was safest when expressionless.
“However, please recall the purpose of your visit to the Empire. I could disperse them—but what conclusions might people draw?”
“You, Duke, should remember why I am here.”
“….”
“Your younger sister is the Empress, is she not?”
Lowering her gaze, she cast him a sidelong glance.
“I understand your coolness toward me. But if I were you, I would think ahead.”
If she were capable of thinking.
Joseph’s expression hardened. He no longer felt any need to continue the exchange.
Turning his horse to rejoin the front of the procession, his eyes caught a familiar figure ahead.
“Anje!”
The irritation from moments ago vanished instantly. His mind cleared; a smile tugged at his lips.
Forgetting the watching crowd, he called her name again, louder, warmth spilling into his voice.
“Anje!”
She had been striding quickly through the crowd. At his call, she faltered and turned.
Joseph reined in his horse and waited for her gaze to meet his.
Even from afar, her dark, beautiful eyes found him. He waited a heartbeat longer—holding his breath—for the light of recognition and joy to bloom across her face.
But…
The gaze that seemed about to reach him slid past indifferently, brushing over others before turning forward again.
Did she not see me?
No—that couldn’t be. Of all people, Anje—sharp-eyed enough to have worked as an information broker—would never fail to notice Joseph on horseback.
