Parties continued day after day at the Astian Imperial Palace. Emperor Hector naturally loved festivities, but this time there was a legitimate reason. 

The parties were meant to honor Princess Evelyn, who was being sent to marry the elderly emperor of their enemy nation for the sake of peace.

The protagonist, Evelyn, had been busy preparing since morning. Sarah marveled at Evelyn’s slender waist, which needed no corset to appear trim.

“Lady Evelyn, you’re truly amazing! How can you have not an ounce of excess flesh?”

“…I run every day. But don’t tighten it too much.”

Sarah pulled the corset strings with all her might. Eventually, feeling pain that threatened to break her ribs, Evelyn grabbed the corset and roughly tore it off. The head lady-in-waiting’s jaw dropped.

“Y-Your Highness!”

“Enough. I won’t wear a corset.”

Evelyn tossed the damaged corset to the floor and dusted off her hands.

“…It’s fine without it, I suppose.”

With no excess flesh, she didn’t look strange without a corset. Evelyn donned a purple dress, a color reserved for royalty, and braided her long silver hair into several strands adorned with hair ornaments. Brilliant amethysts embedded throughout her hair sparkled magnificently.

Purple dress, purple shoes. Even a silver-gleaming handbag.

The mirror reflected not an ordinary knight, but a lady from a noble household. Sarah admired the sight, but Evelyn felt uncomfortable, like she was wearing clothes that didn’t suit her.

“I’m so happy to see you looking so princess-like, Lady Evelyn!”

“You’ll outshine everyone! Hoho.”

Evelyn inwardly sighed at the two women. Being the 300th concubine of the Peshar Emperor—the very phrase undoubtedly showed contempt for the Astian Empire. Moreover, the current Peshar Emperor had, in his youth, been full of vigor and conquered other nations.

Though they said he had become more restrained with age, one never knew. If they invaded the Astian Empire, it would easily crumble. The Astian nobles, lacking any sense of crisis, dismissed the Peshar Empire as barbarians with nothing but brute strength.

This was the result of being steeped in peace for too long.

Within Astia, factions supporting Hector battled those supporting Evelyn. Evelyn stayed out of this conflict. Now was not the time for internal strife but for cooperation to defend against external threats.

That was why Hector had removed her entirely. Though his decision hurt, she understood it was unavoidable for an emperor.

‘Do I really have to attend this party? I’m tired.’

The parties would continue for an entire month. After that month, she would take a carriage to the border where Peshar Empire envoys would collect her. She didn’t know what she was supposed to do at parties in this situation.

Was Hector making her feel his abandonment for a whole month? Wanting her to resent him?

Evelyn just wanted to disappear. She wanted to live somewhere uninhabited, growing crops. Without any complicated thoughts or obligations.

‘Not that farming is easy.’

Though it required daily watering, fertilizing, and weather monitoring, since most commoners were farmers, she wanted to live that way too. That was why she had posed as a powerless commoner knight at the border.

There was still time before the party began. Evelyn sat on the sofa drinking tea, glancing across at Sarah.

Sarah Barnes. Third daughter of Count Barnes.

Evelyn felt guilty whenever she looked at Sarah. Unlike Evelyn who had been confined to the Cold Palace, Sarah had grown up enjoying wealth from childhood. Since becoming Evelyn’s maid, Sarah seemed to endure nothing but hardship. Even now, Sarah was sniffling.

“Why must you become the Peshar Emperor’s concubine? Couldn’t you marry Duke Perry even now?”

Sarah had been delighted by Evelyn’s transformed appearance while dressing and decorating her. But her mood seemed to have soured after remembering what this party was for. Evelyn tried to comfort her.

“…Duke Perry is full of ambition. Marrying him could lead to disaster for the country.”

“But…”

“Sarah. Instead of talking like that, with parties all month long, why not look for a potential husband? You can’t remain a maid forever. You might miss your chance to marry.”

“What are you saying! I’m going to follow you to the Peshar Empire!”

“…That would be dangerous.”

Evelyn immediately became serious. Honestly, being the 300th concubine was meaningless. So why would the Peshar Emperor accept her as a concubine? She had a bad feeling about this.

She couldn’t say it for fear of worrying Sarah more, but such intuitions were usually right.

‘If I had conceived Jenkins’ child, I might have escaped and lived somehow…’

Evelyn felt regret whenever she looked at her unchanged lower abdomen.

“Dangerous? What do you mean?”

At Sarah’s question, Evelyn shook her head.

“Nothing. Just that going to an enemy country means we don’t know what might happen. And they’ll assign Peshar people as my maids. There, I won’t be a princess but merely a concubine, unable to express any complaints.”

“That’s exactly why you need me! I won’t let anyone disrespect you, Lady Evelyn!”

Sarah’s sentiment was touching, but Evelyn didn’t want to put any more precious people in danger. One person in danger—herself—was enough. There was a knock at the door, and another maid entered.

“Your Highness. The party has begun.”

“…I’m the guest of honor today, so I can be late, right? Let me know when all the nobles have arrived.”

She really didn’t feel like attending the party. The maid looked troubled, then bowed and left. Evelyn placed an opal necklace around Sarah’s neck, who was wearing a snow-white dress.

“It suits you.”

“…But this is yours, Lady Evelyn.”

“It’s a gift.”

Evelyn rarely wore accessories. She found them cumbersome and uncomfortable, but seeing the necklace provided by the palace reminded her of someone. Small yet containing a variety of hidden colors. The opal necklace matched Sarah well.

“Lady Evelyn…”

“Sarah, I hope you meet someone good.”

“…You are the best person for me, Lady Evelyn.”

“No. There must be someone who will cherish you.”

As a warm, cozy atmosphere enveloped them, the door burst open roughly. There stood Hector in a purple suit, his expression furious. Behind him stood a line of attendants and maids. The maid who had informed them about the party earlier had a swollen cheek, looking like she had been slapped.

Seeing the maid wearing the opal necklace he had given Evelyn, Hector frowned with apparent disbelief.

“Everyone out!”

After Sarah and the other attendants left, the door closed. Only Evelyn and Hector remained in the room. Hector looked down at Evelyn.

“Evelyn. What’s the meaning of being fully prepared yet planning to arrive late? Could it be you don’t want to see my face?”

“Why would I dislike seeing Your Majesty? That’s not it…”

“Call me Hector like you used to.”

Evelyn looked up at Hector with her lips pressed firmly together. When their eyes met, Hector seemed to calm down and continued speaking more composedly.

“I don’t want to send you away either. But…”

“Even if I were emperor, you would have sent me to another country. Or perhaps even killed me.”

“…What are you saying?”

Hector’s green eyes emitted a deadly light. Evelyn met that gaze directly. She wasn’t afraid of Hector who had helped her since long ago.

He was her benefactor. Without him, she and her mother would have starved to death in the Cold Palace.