Chapter 1 – Part 3

Although she had been given permission, Mail had no intention of lying on the prepared seat. For one thing, she didn’t want to be in the same state as Riela in the same space.

But exhaustion shows no mercy. As the journey stretched into the second week and Riela’s relentless barrage of “How much longer? When will we arrive? Are we there yet?” continued, Mail eventually collapsed onto the seat.

Even after she was thoroughly worn out, Riela’s questions persisted. The coachman, noticing the situation inside, mercifully picked up speed toward the end of the journey.

“We’ve arrived.”

After thirteen long days, they finally stepped foot on imperial soil. Mail, overwhelmed with emotion, carefully stepped out of the carriage.

“So? Does the empire’s air feel different?”

“Of course not.”

But the air outside the carriage was certainly different from inside. Mail took a deep breath, savoring the feeling of liberation. Thirteen days was an awkwardly short yet long period, but it had felt like a year.

‘Wow, an extreme carriage experience. Well done, me.’ Mail secretly swallowed a tear.

“By the way, Mail.”

“Yes?”

“Why aren’t there any fireworks here? In our country, they always set them off when we arrived.”

“That was His Majesty’s personal extravagance—uh, generosity for you, Princess. Normally, they don’t do that.”

“Hmph.”

“Princess Belthier, Lady Vizeart, please follow me.”

A soft voice addressed them. Without needing an introduction, the speaker correctly addressed them by their titles, indicating that word had likely reached the palace before they passed through the outer walls.

Mail exchanged a brief nod with the person and followed behind her with Riela. Although dressed as a maid, the woman’s walk displayed a dignity that far surpassed her visible rank.

‘She must be the head maid.’

Mail guessed as much, recalling the air of experience on the woman’s face. After all, the head maid was in charge of everything in her domain, despite her limited title.

In the kingdom, they don’t let just anyone sit in such a position, so how much stricter must the empire be? Mail could see that the empire was taking care of the candidates for the consort selection in its own way. Hmm, it seemed like they were really intent on selecting an empress.

“This is the place. If you need anything, please pull the cord inside.”

Mail and Riela were shown to the same room. Well, considering how many people from different nations must have come with their entourages, assigning rooms individually would quickly deplete the available rooms.

With the maid’s help, Mail took off her coat and looked around the room. It was spacious enough.

Spacious and luxurious.

Riela, who had already lightened her attire and was sitting on the bed, seemed quite pleased with the view.

“Wow, this jewel is really pretty! Though, of course, it’s not as pretty as me.”

She had even started critiquing the jewels. And, of course, her self-praise never failed to make an appearance. Watching this, Mail could easily imagine how Riela, who had no friends and no particular hobbies, spent her time.

‘Is she playing right now?’

“This ornament is also beautiful. But still, it’s not as pretty as me.”

Mail considered giving a half-hearted response but gave up and lay down. After being jostled around in the carriage and staying tense during the introduction, she had no energy left. She didn’t even have the strength to muster a polite reply.

Fortunately, Riela wasn’t seeking any response. She kept chattering away, indifferent to whether Mail lay there like a corpse.

“Your Highness, I’ll just rest for a bit…”

Before she could finish her sentence, Mail dozed off. The accumulated fatigue overtook her the moment she met the soft bed, pulling her into the world of slumber. She didn’t even remember when she closed her eyes.

How long had she been in a deep sleep? She was jolted awake by the sound of bustling activity.

“Ugh… Your Highness?”

Mail, still half-asleep, blinked her eyes and groggily sat up. Judging by her hoarse voice, several hours must have passed.

She was first startled by her voice, then again by the sight that greeted her as her vision cleared.

“…Where are you going?”

Riela was in the process of transforming—from a person into a bundle of lace.

“Huh? Mail, your face and hair look hilarious.”

“…Anyone would look like this after just waking up. Please don’t attack me. More importantly, where exactly are you going?”

Even as they conversed, the number of lace pieces and extravagant ornaments adorning Riela’s voluminous dress steadily increased.

Mail looked at her with a mix of exasperation and admiration. She now knew what had woken her, but what puzzled her more was why Riela was doing all this.

Since Riela didn’t seem inclined to explain, Mail grabbed a nearby maid for answers.

“Can you explain this to me?”

“Oh, you didn’t hear? There will be a first gathering of the candidates in the central banquet hall shortly.”

“A gathering?”

“Yes. Most of the candidates on the list have arrived by today, so it’s been decided that they’ll have a brief introductory meeting.”

Mail’s expression subtly shifted upon hearing the explanation. An introductory meeting? So they were giving people the chance to size up their potential competitors before the real battle? It might not turn into a bloody fight, but… still.

With the last traces of drowsiness gone, Mail swung her legs out of bed. The ideal scenario would be that Riela, after meeting the emperor, would lose interest and pack her bags to return home immediately. However, depending on how things unfolded, she had to be prepared for the possibility that Riela might get into trouble with her rivals.

Even if there wouldn’t be any physical altercations, a psychological battle of trying to bring each other down was sure to take place.

Mail imagined Riela losing her temper and pulling some rival princess’s hair in a fit of rage.

‘That seems plausible!’

It felt all too realistic. It was just a thought, but it sent a shiver down her spine. Mail felt a sense of duty, previously dulled by exhaustion, reignite like a fire stoked with fresh logs.

Upon reflection, she realized that even without poison, there were plenty of other ways to ruin a nation.

Yes, wars have often started over the smallest of things. Mail made a firm resolution: protect Riela. She would stick by her side and ensure that Riela didn’t impulsively strike another country’s royalty. Stay with her at all times! From now on, no freedom!

But Mail’s solemn resolve was thwarted right from the start.

“You don’t have to come with me.”

“Huh?”

“You’re not a candidate for the empress selection, so what would you do there? Just stay here.”

Riela flatly refused to let Mail accompany her. Left unexpectedly to “guard the house,” Mail was dumbfounded and stared at her in disbelief. Wait, why?

“Why?”

“It’s a gathering for the candidates only.”

“Your Highness, here I’m your attendant. Isn’t a proper attendant supposed to always stay by their master’s side, ensuring they’re well cared for at all times? What if one of the ladies picks a fight with you? I’d have to step in and save you!”

Save that poor lady from having her hair pulled by you!

Mail’s plea, which left out the real motive, sounded like genuine concern for Riela’s safety. Riela, in turn, responded in a tone meant to reassure her.

“It’s fine. I’m bringing a guard just in case.”

“…Who?”

“Rose!”

“You called?”

The person called out stepped forward as if they had been waiting for this moment. At that instant, Mail lost her words.

With strong eyes, a robust build, and bulging arm muscles, the maid named Rose, dressed elegantly in a maid outfit, exuded a shocking aura that suggested she could win an arm-wrestling match against a monster.

“How about that? Reliable, right?”

Mail couldn’t bring herself to say otherwise, even as a mere compliment. There was a sense of dependability about Rose that made Mail feel that she could protect Riela even in the moments of the world’s end.

Of course, what Mail truly wanted to protect wasn’t Riela, but she couldn’t voice that truth outright.

There was no way around it. Mail was in despair.

“Well then, I’ll be off, so you rest here!”

Riela, having finished her preparation—her body draped in lace in a way that made it hard to tell whether she was wearing it or hiding in a pile of it—left the room with the other maids.

With a sharp sound, the door closed. For a while, Mail stood there silently, staring at the closed door. How could she even define the feeling swelling inside her?

“Ugh… I feel abandoned for no reason…”

Muttering uneasily, Mail eventually moved her body. She quickly washed her face and put on the coat she had taken off.

As if shaking off her earlier disappointment, she gathered her spirits and took a determined stance in the center of the room.

“Alright, I’m going stealthily!”