Chapter 25

To enter the royal palace, one must pass through three gates.

First, there was the outermost gate, called the “Gate of Wisdom.” Lower-ranking nobles and those working at the palace would disembark from their carriages here and proceed on foot.

Crossing the square, one would reach the palace’s front, where a long colonnade stretched. This was called the “Gate of Honor,” where nobles below the rank of Earl would get out of their carriages and walk.

Finally, there was the “Gate of Glory,” which led directly into the palace interior. Only members of the royal family and meritorious retainers were permitted to ride their carriages through this gate.

At the Gate of Wisdom, the attendants waited for Evelyn.

“Are we supposed to wait here? Shouldn’t we be at the second gate?”

“She’s just some woman whose family background is unknown. How could she possibly disembark at the second gate?”

“True, that makes sense.”

There was an unusually large crowd gathered at the Gate of Wisdom. Most of them, like the attendants, had come out to watch. Every time a carriage arrived, people craned their necks, looking for unfamiliar faces.

“Look, that’s the Duke’s carriage!”

Someone’s shout drew everyone’s attention.

From a distance, knights on horseback and an ornate carriage approached. The waiting crowd began to stir and gather.

The knight at the forefront, holding the Duke’s banner, scowled and shouted,

“How dare you block the Duke’s carriage! Step aside!”

The knight looked ready to draw his sword, causing the crowd to hesitate. The palace guards stationed at the gate hurried over.

“Stop! Fighting in front of the palace is strictly forbidden!”

“Then clear these ignorant fools away immediately.”

The knight, his face still angry, demanded. Blocking the Duke’s banner was as disrespectful as obstructing the Duke himself.

Without hesitation, the guards drove the crowd back. Soon after, one of the palace guards returned, drenched in cold sweat, and asked,

“I deeply apologize, but may I ask whom you are escorting?”

“My lord, Duke Elmaier, is escorting his fiancée, Lady Evelyn, into the palace. Here is the royal decree issued by Her Highness for the lady. Verify it yourself.”

The knight proudly pulled out a parchment. He was so thrilled to be escorting the lady for the first time that he couldn’t hide his excitement. He even made the slip of saying the Duke was “escorting” her.

But no one, not even the Duke listening inside the carriage, pointed out the mistake.

Receiving the parchment respectfully, the palace guard signaled to his colleagues. At his signal, the guards immediately opened the gate.

“Thank you for your cooperation. You may proceed directly to the Gate of Honor.”

“Much obliged.”

The knight, tucking the parchment back into his coat, led the procession forward. The carriage quickly passed through the gate.

The attendants waiting to catch a glimpse of Evelyn’s face were left inhaling the dust kicked up by the carriage.

“Tch, the Duke himself is accompanying a mere maid into the palace?”

“She must be arrogant and conceited, no matter how beautiful she is.”

They muttered curses under their breath, careful not to be overheard by the Duke’s people.

***

The carriage, moving without pause, came to a stop before the final Gate of Glory.

Knights dismounted and lined up in perfect formation. The Duke’s banners and the colors representing his knights fluttered in the wind.

The attendants hurriedly placed a step stool in front of the carriage and rolled out a red carpet.

Their elaborate actions were a clear protest against the “orders the King had given Evelyn.”

Watching the scene unfold, the King, who had come out earlier, remarked with amusement,

“Has there ever been such a grand entrance for one of my maids?”

“It is also unprecedented for you to personally greet a maid, Your Majesty.” 

Fiona, the head maid of the Lily Palace, replied coldly. But the King still looked pleased.

“It seems I must personally escort her.”

Without hesitation, the King descended the stairs and crossed the red carpet. As the King approached, an attendant bowed respectfully and opened the carriage door.

The King, curious about Evelyn’s reaction, paused. Inside the dark carriage, Evelyn was fast asleep, leaning against the Duke’s shoulder. Acting as her pillow, the Duke raised a finger to his lips.

The King instinctively clamped her mouth shut, frowning. If this continued, they’d all be stuck standing there until Evelyn woke up. The King immediately raised her voice.

“Evelyn!”

“Ahh!”

Startled awake, Evelyn jumped. The King deliberately spoke in a stern tone.

“Get out of the carriage immediately.”

“Y-Yes!”

Panicked, Evelyn tried to jump out of the carriage. The Duke, holding her back, shot the King a defiant glare.

“She’s coming out now. Please step aside.”

The King, who had wanted to see more of Evelyn flustered, pouted but stepped back.

Moments later, the Duke stepped out of the carriage, carrying Evelyn in his arms. A waiting maid from the Duke’s household took Evelyn into her care.

“This way, my lady. Let’s fix your attire first.”

“But Her Majesty is waiting…”

“It would be a greater disrespect to appear before Her Majesty in disarray.”

The maid, pulling out a clothes brush, began tidying Evelyn’s outfit. Other maids joined in, smoothing out creases and fussing over her appearance. Their every gesture seemed to say, “Our lady is this precious!”

The King knew why they were acting this way. They were protesting the unreasonable treatment of someone destined to become the lady of the Duke’s household.

Ordering a noble young lady to run ten laps around the training grounds was highly unconventional. To outsiders unaware of the context, it would seem like outright harassment. The Duke’s household had every reason to be upset.

But the King’s command had actually been an act of consideration for Evelyn.

Even if Evelyn only pretended to run, any accusations of disloyalty to the King would disappear. Afterward, the King planned to use her failure to comply as an excuse to bring her into the palace as a maid.

Who could have predicted that Evelyn would insist on running all ten laps and collapse in the process?

‘Foolish girl. Who told you to push yourself so hard?’

Feeling a twinge of guilt, the King suddenly realized something.

‘Wait, wasn’t it that guy who first suggested the training ground?’

The King glared at the Duke, who stood there with a brazen expression. His shameless attitude was infuriating.

‘If not for the countless times he saved my life…’

The King owed the Duke a significant debt. During the seven-year war, the Duke had saved the King’s life dozens of times. Coupled with the Duke’s tragic past, the King had no choice but to overlook his occasional insolence.

‘Fine, I’ll let it slide this time.’

Just then, Evelyn approached hurriedly and bowed deeply.

“I, Lady Evelyn Hynes, greet you, Your Majesty. I deeply apologize for my tardiness.”

The King hesitated for a moment.

‘Why is this girl so adorable?’

Compared to the King, who was taller than average, Evelyn was incredibly small.

Whether it was her natural build or the result of malnutrition, she was petite all over. Her round head, slightly bowed, looked like it could fit perfectly in one hand.

“Your Majesty.”

Fiona’s whisper snapped the King out of her thoughts. Clearing her throat, she said,

“Ahem. Welcome to my palace.”

“I am honored, deeply honored, to answer your call, Majesty.”

Evelyn replied politely. While her response followed proper etiquette, it somehow felt unsatisfying.

‘I liked her better when she was chattering freely.’

The King had enjoyed Evelyn’s lively chatter, like a free-spirited bird. Feeling a pang of regret, she impulsively said,

“You’re still clumsy with court manners. It’s unpleasant to hear.”

“I-I apologize. I will strive to…”

“Don’t bother with awkward attempts. Speak as you normally would. I won’t require court etiquette from you.”

“What?”

Evelyn looked up in shock, her large eyes darting like a startled rabbit’s.

“Your Majesty!”

The Duke’s sharp voice made the King flinch. Her hand had somehow reached out to pinch Evelyn’s cheek.

‘Wait, how did my hand get there?’

Feeling the Duke’s piercing gaze, the King quickly withdrew her hand. The soft sensation of Evelyn’s cheek lingered on her fingertips.

“Ahem. In any case, speak comfortably from now on. It’ll be less grating on my ears.”

“Yes.”

Realizing the King was serious, Evelyn smiled shyly. The red mark on her white cheek became even more noticeable, making the King feel a bit awkward.

‘Did I pinch her that hard?’

It felt like she could hear the Duke grinding his teeth. Meanwhile, Evelyn, the one who had been pinched, seemed completely unbothered.

‘If it hurt, she should’ve shown some dislike. Foolish girl.’

Feeling inexplicably guilty, the King raised her hand and summoned the royal scribe.

“By royal decree, Evelyn Hynes is granted the right to ride her carriage through the Gate of Glory.”

“Your Majesty?”

“Your Majesty, please reconsider!”

The royal scribe and other attendants raised their voices in alarm.

Allowing her to bypass court etiquette was already an extraordinary privilege. Now, granting her a right reserved only for meritorious retainers was utterly unprecedented.

‘What is this? A royal mistress?’