n

n

n

n“Well, I think …”

nI suddenly felt my heart beating faster. I was only vaguely thinking that one of the five princesses would be his final choice, but I felt mixed feelings as the emperor wanted to take into account what I felt toward them. So far, I had been looking forward to the day I would be freed from the imperial family, but now I felt nervous somehow. Taking a deep breath, however, I tried to shake off my nervousness and anxiety and said firmly, “… I think Princess Frincia is the most suitable candidate.”

n“Really? Why? ”

n“As the Lua kingdom is a strong country, I thought it would be good to have an alliance with the kingdom on this occasion. Although there is the Eet kingdom, I hear Princess Moira is strongly supported by the noble factions, and the Lisa kingdom is…”

n“Hmm, an alliance with the Lua kingdom? Thanks for your feedback. Let me take it into account.”

nI barely breathed out, which I was holding back, as the emperor nodded. I felt sorry for Princess Frincia, but I thought it was the best decision for the empire.

n‘Good job, Aristia. As the emperor said he would consider it, maybe he would decide on her. Now, it’s all over. If you can hang in there a little longer until Jiun arrives, you can be a free woman.’

nThe emperor, who was looking at me silently, suddenly smiled and said, “Come to think of it, you look very different from the old you I used to watch. I heard that the prince suddenly ordered clothes and ornaments for you. Are you wearing them now?”

n“Ah yes. Yes, Your Majesty. ”

n“Hmm, I think he picked them wisely, but one thing is lacking. Don’t you think so?”

n

n

n“Pardon, Your Majesty? What do you mean by that?”

n“You have a dress and a necklace, but you don’t have an accessory on your head. Something is lacking there. How about this? This is my gift to you.”

nHe then smiled at me as if he had some mischievous intention. I received a small box uncomfortably. When I opened it hesitantly, I noticed something I never expected.

nI stiffened in spite of myself.

nChecking it inside the box, my father said with a sigh, “Your Majesty.”

n“Yes, Marquis Monique?”

n“Isn’t this a tiara? Why are you giving it to my daughter? ”

n“Did I not tell you? I’m giving it to her because something is missing on her hair.”

n“Your Majesty.”

nIt was a tiara that was inside the box that I received from the emperor. A sparkling tiara decorated with pastel pink stones and diamonds on a gold background. As it was a symbol of women’s authority, it was an ornament that only royal family women in the empire could use their hairs. This wasn’t something I could use as a daughter of a mere marquis. Since my father knew the meaning of it, he was now balking at the emperor’s gift.

n“Got it. Let me explain to you, so don’t be so displeased with me.”

n“… ”

n“You know that since your daughter joined the knights division, there were rumors circulating that her engagement to the crown prince was broken off, right?”

n“Yes, Your Majesty. I know that.”

n“Don’t you remember I made the promise in the past? I told you we’re going to have a grace period until she comes of age. In that respect, she is the crown prince’s bride-to-be. Right?”

n“…Yes, that’s right.”

nAs my father responded a bit slowly, the emperor said with a pitiable look, “Besides, you know that the noble factions are on the offensive these days. The two dukes and you agreed with what we discussed a moment ago. How do you think Duke Jena will react after I announce it? I guess they’re going to raise the issue again, which they had forgotten for sometime. In that respect, it’s better to solidify her position before they take up the offensive and attack us again. That way it is easier to protect her.”

n“… ”

n“Marquis.”

n“Okay, Your Majesty.”

n“Thank you,” said the emperor sadly, watching my father letting out a deep sigh.

nObviously, they discussed me among themselves. What the hell did they discuss?

nAnd what is the emperor going to announce?

nAs I was kept in the dark, I couldn’t figure out what they discussed. When I looked at my father with a puzzled expression, he sighed once again and said, putting his hand lightly on my shoulder, “As the emperor gave the gift to you in person, please say thank you, Tia. ”

n“Oh, Daddy, but… ”

n“Are you now going to disobey me?”

n“Oh, no, Daddy. I’m honored to receive the gift, Your Majesty.”

nMy father used to talk to me softly and gently, but this time his voice was so harsh that I felt I could not refuse his order. When I thanked the emperor gently, he smiled gently and said, “Can you come to me with that tiara?”

n“Yes, Your Majesty.”

nWhen I approached next to him carefully, he took out the tiara and put it on my head.

nThen, moving it back and forth without caring about me, he said with a satisfied expression, “It looks good on you.”

n“I’m honored to hear that, Your Majesty.”

n“As I see it perfectly matched, I think it has found its owner. I’m satisfied. Hmm, why don’t you go to the banquet hall with her first? I’m going to join you after I talk with the marquis a little more.”

n“Okay, Your Majesty.”

nGetting out of the room with him, I walked down the hallway silently. When I was close to the banquet hall, someone came running to him from a distance. The man, who appeared to be his aide, came with a bunch of papers and said, gasping for breath, “Your Majesty, here you are. I’ve brought the papers you asked for. Princess Beatrice and Princess Moira, and … ”

n“Wait a minute!”

nLooking at me, he stopped the aide who was speaking quickly.

n“Lady Monique, can you go in first? Let me follow you soon. ”

n“Yes, Your Majesty.”

nThinking I shouldn’t hear their conversation, I nodded and entered the banquet hall first.

nGiven that he mentioned Princess Beatrice, it looked like he was talking with the aide about her.

n‘Huh? If so, why did he mention Princess Moira? Does she have a secret?”

nWhen I walked a few steps, there were several men stopping me violently.

nThey were Duke Jena and several other nobles. As if they were trying to scare me off, they were staring at me, with their back upright. I couldn’t look stupid in front of them.

n“What’s wrong? Do you have anything to say to me?”

n“Are you asking me what’s wrong? Don’t you really know, Lady Monique? ”

n“No, I don’t,”

n“You don’t know? As a mere marquis’s daughter, you don’t know it when you are wearing a tiara on your head now?”

nWhen Duke Jena shouted at me, Lady Genoa and other ladies following her came running to me and stopped in front of me as if they protected me. However, Duke Jena said angrily, without caring about them at all, “Hmm… no matter how young you are, how come you are so childish?”

n“Why are you gathered here?”

nAt that moment, Princess Moira appeared with the ladies of the noble factions including Lady Hamel and smiled brightly.

n“Oh, it’s a pretty tiara, Lady Monique.”

n“… ”

n“I understand a tiara is only put on by a royal family woman, but I guess I’m mistaken.

nIn my kingdom, it is hard to even think that a non-royal family woman wears it. I think you are more generous in this empire.”

n

n

nAlthough she said softly, her green eyes glowed coldly. I looked at the noble faction members around me. I sighed somehow.

n‘This is why I didn’t want to receive it.’

nEven though the emperor and the crown prince allowed me to wear it, I had no legitimate reason to justify it when they tried to interpret the imperial rule that only “a royal family member’ could wear it. If I could not defend my position properly, it was clear that I would have to wage a boring and unfavorable fight.

nAt that moment, someone stopped before Princess Moira who was undermining me with the support of the ladies of the noble factions. She was Lady Genoa with light brown hair.

n“I’ve been watching you from the first day you arrived here. How rude you are to her!”

n“…I beg your pardon?”

n“First of all, I’m telling you this on my own. If you’re going to insult her like you did last time by using me, stop it now.”

nThe princess nodded as if she was dumbfounded, after looking at Lady Genoa full of anger.

n“Even though you came here as one of the crown prince’s bride candidates, you went in and out of the crown prince’s palace without obtaining any understanding or approval of Lady Monique who’s going to be our empress. Don’t you think so?”

n“So what?”

n