Chapter 5 – Issen (Part 5)

Although it was only about three hundred years ago that Theobald I founded the Trissen Empire, his ancestors had ruled the southern continent for a very long time. Along with Mendel in the central region and Windberg in the north, Issen in the south is a very historic city and is officially the Empress’s territory. Following the founding Emperor’s wishes, the Trissen Emperors have maintained the tradition of granting the capital’s governing rights to their consorts.

However, now that the feudal era has ended and parliamentary politics have taken hold, like other nobles, the Empress’s authority as the capital’s ruler is almost nonexistent. Nevertheless, as the lord of Issen, the Empress’s dignity remained, and her signature was formally required as the final decision-maker on important documents.

Reinus Fervrante. The Emperor’s wife and the Crown Prince’s mother, she hails from the Kingdom of Ritten, Trissen’s greatest ally, and carries the blood of its royal family.

As a child, Evelyn had cut out and kept in her diary the newspaper photos of the Crown Prince’s wedding, which had been prominently featured. The then-Crown Princess Reinus was an incredibly beautiful bride, but Evelyn was more captivated by the look in her eyes as she gazed beyond the photo. A gaze full of confidence and dignity at the age of just twenty. The most noble woman in the Empire.

Today, she would meet her in person.

“Whew…”

A long breath escaped through her rounded lips. The middle-aged maid who was tending to Evelyn’s hair looked at her face. The two women exchanged slight smiles in the mirror.

“You seem nervous.”

“I can’t help it.”

“Don’t worry too much. Mr. Clifton will be with you.”

The maid continued as she fixed a pin in Evelyn’s hair.

“He often meets with Her Majesty the Empress, so he’ll surely assist you well.”

The maid, who gently reassured her, looked at the woman in the mirror with satisfaction. The voluminous hair, elegantly pinned up, looked pleasing even to Evelyn’s own eyes. The maid had a very skilled hand at doing hair.

“Does it look done?”

“It’s really pretty. Thank you, Selma.”

“It is my pleasure, Miss.”

The maid replied politely and opened the leather box on the dressing table. The diamond earrings on the black velvet reflected the sunlight. After receiving them one by one and attaching them to both ears, Evelyn faced the woman in the mirror. The top-quality navy blue dress and elegantly twisted brown hair. The white, shimmering jewels in between. It was the most extravagant attire she had ever worn in her life.

“You look absolutely stunning. Truly.”

At the maid’s generous praise, meant to bolster her courage, Evelyn smiled bashfully. Then she lowered her eyes to check the clock on the dressing table. 10:40. It was the time the butler had mentioned when he had just visited.

“Shall we go now?”

“Yes, Miss.”

Evelyn gathered the hem of her long dress and rose from her seat. After putting on the gloves handed to her by the maid, her attire was complete. The white silk gloves that reached below her elbows were part of the etiquette for entering the palace. The corset, tightened more than usual, held her waist straight.

Evelyn took a light, deep breath once more before leaving the room. She descended the stairs with the maid. He would be waiting in the hall on the first floor. With each step down the stairs, her heart tightened with tension.

And when she reached the final landing, she stopped.

The townhouse’s first floor had a high ceiling. Sunlight pouring through the large windows filled the lofty space. Standing on the landing, Evelyn looked down. The man standing at the bottom of the straight staircase. She met the eyes of the man looking up at her.

It was the first time Evelyn saw Bryant in formal attire. The intricate silver embroidery from the high collar down to the chest first caught her eye. The dark green tailcoat matched well with his dark blond hair. Standing naturally and confidently in formal attire, Evelyn was reminded anew that he was a noble.

Bryant continued to look at her. In his silent upward gaze, a faint smile lingered. Meeting his eyes, Evelyn gripped the railing tightly. For an inexplicable reason, her heart was racing.

And slowly, she descended the final steps.

Adjusting the hem of her dress and lowering her gaze slightly, she raised her head only after safely reaching the end of the stairs. The man, who approached as if he had been waiting, bowed his head in greeting. The familiar scent of his cologne was strong.

“Good morning, Miss Dale.”

“Hello, Mr. Clifton.”

Bending her knees in response, Evelyn met his gaze. The man’s eyes lingered on hers, then moved past her right cheek to her earlobe. They traveled down her exposed neckline, brushed her prominent collarbone, and reached the swell of her chest, pushed up by the corset. Although his gaze lingered there for only a moment, Evelyn held her breath, trying not to let her chest rise and fall. As always, his gaze quickly returned to her eyes.

“I can’t think of an appropriate adjective. I don’t know what praise to offer.”

While calmly expressing his admiration, he extended his hand. Evelyn lightly placed her left hand on his gloved one. Expecting the escort etiquette as usual, she was surprised when he bowed his head and kissed the back of her hand.

The kiss was brief. Because of the glove, she barely felt his lips. Even so, her heart pounded wildly. When he raised his head and met her eyes over the back of her hand, Evelyn felt as if she were dreaming. Doesn’t everyone have such dreams at least once? Dreams that you don’t want to wake up from precisely because you know they’re dreams.

“Shall we go?”

Bryant moved the woman’s hand to his arm.

The two attendants standing by the entrance opened the doors simultaneously. As the doors swung open, the morning sunlight poured in. Evelyn saw the large carriage standing in that bright light. A black carriage drawn by two white horses. The carriage, gleaming as if oiled, bore an unbelievable crest.

A blazing golden sun. The emblem of the Fervrante Imperial family.

“My goodness…”

“His Majesty sent it.”

He explained softly as he guided her. Evelyn still couldn’t take her eyes off the carriage.

“It’s a courtesy for guests of the Imperial Palace.”

As the two approached, the waiting man opened the carriage door. The crimson coat he wore was the uniform of an attendant working at the palace. Bryant boarded the carriage first and then helped the woman who followed. The seat facing forward was for the lady. The seat covered in red velvet was plush.

The attendant who closed the door sat next to the coachman. As the coachman lightly flicked the reins, the carriage began to move. The sound of the horses’ hooves clattered lightly. Evelyn slowly looked at the scenery outside the moving carriage window.

“How do you feel?”

Bryant, sitting opposite, asked. Evelyn, who had been examining the carriage’s interior decorations, turned her head.

“It feels like a dream.”

At her candid expression, the man laughed.

The townhouse on Linden Street is located along the banks of the Sophia River. Crossing the bridge to the east leads directly to Glanz Court, and from there, the Imperial Castle is six districts to the north. Without traffic, it was less than a 20-minute journey.

The gleaming carriage naturally drew people’s attention. Pedestrians on the sidewalk stopped walking, and coachmen nodded lightly in respect. Stirring curiosity and envy to boost the passengers’ pride was one of the purposes of the palace providing such a carriage. Sitting in the plush seat of that splendid carriage, Evelyn took in the cityscape visible outside.

The central avenue was bustling on a weekday morning. The street she had walked countless times. Sometimes with someone, but mostly alone. The route from the riverside park through Fede Square to the Imperial Castle was her favorite walk.

The carriage traveled straight along the broad central avenue. The castle walls, once visible in the distance, were now close at hand. The inner castle of Issen, built high with white granite.

A drawbridge was lowered over the dry moat. As always, a dozen guards stood in formation in front of the castle gate. The black cloaks and silver half-armor symbolizing the Imperial Guard. The guards made way with precise movements upon seeing the carriage. There was no procedure to confirm who was inside. The coachman slightly slowed down while crossing the drawbridge and then regained speed after passing through the castle gate. The two white horses trotted briskly.

“We’ve arrived.”

The man’s tone, sitting opposite, was nonchalant. But Evelyn couldn’t take her eyes off the scene outside the window.

Inside the castle gate, a lush green expanse unfolded immediately. In the middle of the vast garden stood a white castle. The outline of its high towers, massive glass windows, and smooth outer walls. The building she had seen countless times in old paintings and postcards. The reality of the Trissen Imperial Palace was overwhelming. Evelyn forgot to even be amazed.

“We’ll head straight to the main palace. After meeting Her Majesty, we’ll take our time touring the palace. We just need to leave before sunset.”

Evelyn, who had been absent-mindedly looking outside, turned her head. Seeing the man with a calm face, her fluttering heart seemed to settle a bit. Just being inside the Imperial Castle made her heart race. Excitement and tension. Pressure and a bit of fear.

“Thank you.”

So Evelyn was very grateful.

“For coming with me.”

That this man was by her side.

“I’m glad if I’ve been of help.”

“You’re proving to be much more helpful than I imagined.”

“Of all the things you’ve said to me, this is the greatest compliment. I’m glad you’ve finally found my usefulness.”

“Please don’t misunderstand. It’s such an obvious fact that you’re a capable person that I didn’t bother to express it.”

Bryant laughed softly as he watched the woman conceal her tension with a calm joke. For a moment, Evelyn felt an impulse to reach out and grab his hand. She wanted to show her vulnerable side and rely on him completely. Then, this inexplicable anxiety might ease a bit.

However, she maintained her elegant seated posture until the end. The man sitting opposite her also did not move closer or reach out to touch her. Dressed in splendid formal attire, he sat across from her with a calm face, maintaining a consistent distance.

“It is indeed my pleasure.”

Bryant responded politely, nodding slightly with a hint of playfulness. Evelyn masked her tension and anxiety with a composed smile.

The carriage carrying the two of them finally came to a complete stop in front of the main palace, where the Emperor’s bedroom and audience chamber were located.