Chapter 36
The Prince Dies and Starts Over!
“Sorry, Anna…”
“No, it’s my fault for not keeping my head straight… But still…”
Anna’s face was clouded with distress.
For some reason, I felt like I had done something terribly wrong.
Could she really be this upset over a single ruined dress?
“It might be nothing for you, my lady—just one dress—but for me, it’s not.”
“That’s not it, Anna.”
“You don’t know how much I cared… how I felt… I worked so hard because this is the first time you’ll be welcoming guests since you were born, and I didn’t want anyone to find a single flaw…”
Her voice trembled, and then Anna burst into tears.
“You’re the most precious person in the world to me… What if people speak ill of you?”
“Don’t worry. I’ll just beat them all up.”
“You can’t just hit people…”
Anna flung the dress far away.
Instead of the dress, I ended up in Anna’s arms.
Of everyone in the world, I knew best how much effort she had put in lately.
But I hadn’t truly understood her feelings.
I thought she just liked fancy accessories or playing dress-up.
I didn’t realize she was doing it so that no one at the Rudbekia court would find fault with me.
Now that I thought about it… long ago, when I first started kindergarten, my mom was the same way.
Even when she was rushing to work, she took care to dress me neatly and fix my hair every morning—because she wanted the teachers and kids to treat me kindly.
Of course, you shouldn’t judge people by how they dress… but there are always people who do.
“I’m sorry, Anna. From now on, I’ll wear whatever you pick out for me.”
“Well, of course you will…”
“And I’ll beat up anyone who badmouths you or me.”
“Please don’t hit anyone…”
Anna started crying again, but this time, the tears were different—
no longer from hurt, but softer, calmer.
“I was wrong. I’ll really listen to you from now on.”
I hooked my pinky finger with hers.
Then I sealed the promise—signed, stamped, copied, and faxed.
“What… what are you doing?”
Anna, who had been quietly sniffling, blinked in surprise.
“It means this promise is legally binding. If you break it, you’ll face the full wrath of the law.”
“Then I won’t make the promise at all! People break promises sometimes… and what kind of law hits you for that?”
“It’s fine. I’ll dodge the punishment.”
“Oh, goodness…”
Anna finally laughed.
Holding my hand, she chattered about how startled and upset she’d been.
I nodded and listened carefully.
We also talked about how the dress had turned out after the “transformation.”
“…Do you really have to wear that one? There’s a backup dress, you know.”
“No, it has to be this one.”
“Then at least let’s add some finishing touches. It looks too plain as it is.”
Anna decided to add extra frills to the hem and lace to the socks.
“Sure, let’s do that. Want me to help?”
“You can help by not touching anything, my lady.”
“Everyone keeps saying that… but I’m actually good at sewing.”
“Yes, yes, I’m sure you are. …By the way, have you eaten?”
She clearly changed the subject—she didn’t believe in my sewing skills.
“I’m serious. I’m good. I can do everything.”
“Of course… So, have you eaten?”
“Not yet. I was waiting to eat with you.”
“Oh, you should’ve eaten first! Skipping meals like that will upset your stomach.”
Anna quickly ordered a servant to bring dinner.
We practically inhaled the meal.
Afterward, we worked on our outfits again—Anna on the dress, me on the socks.
With my stomach full, my eyelids began to droop as I stitched lace onto the fabric.
“My lady? The lace is all crooked!”
“…That was on purpose. It’s a design choice.”
“Really?”
“…I’ll redo it.”
I meekly took the scissors and snipped away the thread I’d just sewn.
Anna giggled each time the thread snapped.
And so, the night before the engagement ceremony quietly slipped away.
* * *
The long-awaited engagement day arrived, and Anna woke me before dawn.
Because I was guilty of “yesterday’s sin,” I didn’t even complain—I sat up immediately.
Even at such an early hour, the palace was already bustling.
The ceremony was set for noon, but the staff had been preparing since sunrise.
“Do I really have to put this on?”
“Of course!”
“…Right. I was just thinking the same thing.”
I recited the greetings I’d memorized while wearing a mysterious hair pack Anna had insisted on using.
Next to me, Anna was adjusting my hair ornament—
the old one had been too modest for the new dress, so she was making it more elaborate.
Even on the big day, there was still so much to do.
Anna moved with the speed of someone with ten hands, and I followed her every instruction obediently.
By noon, the preparations were finally complete.
Half an hour before the ceremony, someone knocked on the door.
“Good morning, my lady! Today you look—gasp!”
“Hello, Sir Peter.”
Sir Peter, who had greeted me with his usual friendly smile, jumped in place like a startled fish.
“Y-you-your dress—!”
“Pretty, isn’t it?”
“It is, but… is that really okay?”
“Of course! Why wouldn’t it be? You’ll see—this might start a trend across the Empire.”
I proudly twirled, showing off the shortened skirt.
Just wait—one day, mini dresses will be the fashion in Letitia.
“I-I see…”
Sir Peter looked uncertain, but soon remembered he wasn’t here to critique my clothes.
He awkwardly offered me his hand.
“Not yet.”
“Pardon? But if we don’t leave now, we’ll be late.”
“Just ten more minutes.”
Though he looked anxious, Sir Peter sat down as told.
Exactly ten minutes later, I took his hand and headed to the garden.
Countess Lurupel had set up the ceremony in front of the grand fountain at the center of the garden.
In this world ruled by magic rather than science, water that defied gravity was a rare and beautiful sight.
‘Hm? What’s that sound?’
As we got closer, I heard faint voices—recognizable ones.
Listening carefully, I realized it was the Count and Countess Lurupel.
“Your Highness… forgive me for saying this, but that outfit is rather…”
“In Lurupel, we wear clothing that reaches below the ankles—unless, of course, one is short on fabric.”
They were criticizing the Third Prince’s attire.
The Third Prince stood there silently, shoulders drooping.
Even from behind, I could tell he was deflated.
Oh dear, that poor baby duck.
“Your Highness, the Count, and Countess are all here.”
“I see them.”
“Shouldn’t you greet them first?”
“I will.”
But… greeting them dressed like this took some courage.
I had volunteered to be the spectacle instead of the Third Prince,
but facing the Count and Countess’s disapproval was much harder than enduring the whispers of strangers.
I paused, took a deep breath, and then called out brightly—
“Good morning, Your Highness! Father, Mother! Did you sleep well?”
Three pairs of eyes turned toward me at once.
“Ha—Ha—Hariela!”
Count Lurupel grabbed his neck as he stammered over his own daughter’s name.
It seems more and more people have been stuttering in front of me lately.
“Hariela, what is that indecent outfit you’re wearing!”
“It’s not indecent, Mother—it’s cute!”
“Hariela!”
Even the usually composed Countess Lurupel raised her voice.
But before her scolding could continue, the bells from the nearby temple rang loudly.
“Oh my, I must’ve taken too long. It’s time already.”
“Hariela!”
“I was taught that being late is impolite, remember? Anyway, Your Highness—”
“Y-yes?”
The Third Prince flinched as I suddenly addressed him.
“My left hand is empty.”
His face flushed bright red.
The Third Prince hurriedly reached for my hand, and I gladly linked my arm through his.
“Shall we go?”
“Y-yes, let’s.”
“Ah, wait a moment…”
Up close, I noticed his cravat was slightly crooked.
I reached up and straightened it for him.
I could feel his warm breath on the back of my hand—
he was still running a fever, it seemed.
‘I hope he doesn’t faint again…’
I studied him carefully, but his complexion looked fine.
Only his eyes and lips were a bit flushed—
and I was the only one close enough to notice anyway.
‘Still, just in case…’
I tightened my grip on his arm.
He swayed slightly toward me, then straightened up in surprise.
‘Such a fragile thing…’
And so, leading my frail Third Prince,
I stepped with him into the ceremony hall.
