Although the harem functioned as a communal living space, Evelyn, who had been granted her own palace by Jenkins, enjoyed a life of comfort. Unlike the other women in the harem, she didn’t have to share the same bathhouse or stroll through the communal garden. She often heard rumors of women quarreling in the corridors, but such matters had nothing to do with her.

As she lay on the sofa eating snacks, the maid chattered beside her.

“Lady Louisa seems to particularly pressure other women by flaunting her high noble status.”

“…Really?”

Given Louisa’s personality, she would probably act like a queen there too. If she had been a princess, she might have been even worse. Thinking about this, Evelyn smiled.

“Oh, I received a request to deliver a letter to Countess Stone.”

“…Mm.”

Sarah had also insisted on entering the harem, but Harvey had prevented it. Harvey took Sarah as his first wife and brought her to his estate. Sarah, who had become Countess Stone, often sent letters to Evelyn.

This letter’s content wasn’t different from the others. She would help Evelyn escape the harem, so if she needed help, she should ask anytime. This letter would have been inspected before arriving, yet she was quite bold.

‘The old man asked me to take good care of Josh…’

Could she ask Jenkins to let Josh work in the imperial palace here? Evelyn pondered briefly. If she wanted Josh to be happy, now wasn’t the time yet.

Since Hector said he would raid this place.

The coronation was already approaching in two weeks. It was difficult to communicate with the outside world. She couldn’t ask Sarah, who was just enjoying her newlywed life, for help either.

Then bells rang frantically. The maid who heard the bells turned pale. She clasped her hands together and prayed silently toward where the bells were ringing. Evelyn tilted her head.

“What’s that sound?”

“…His Imperial Majesty has passed away.”

The emperor had died – what would Jenkins think? Evelyn didn’t have many memories with her father. Her father had abandoned her mother and her in the Cold Palace. Yet when her father passed away, she felt melancholy all day.

‘Jenkins must be heartbroken too…?’

Unlike her, who had many siblings, Jenkins was alone. So how much love had he received growing up from the Peshar Emperor?

At the border, he had seemed very free, but now he would become the Emperor of Peshar. Being an emperor meant taking responsibility for and caring for many people, which would be a very heavy burden.

Since that night, Jenkins hadn’t visited Evelyn, probably being busy. Evelyn understood his situation and woke up early in the morning, running in the garden or swinging wooden swords until afternoon. While she was swinging her wooden sword vigorously, a maid from the crown prince’s palace came looking for her with quick steps.

“Lady Evelyn!”

“…?”

Only Jenkins treated her as a slave. All other servants and maids were respectful to her. Rather, they treated her carefully, worried she might break or get hurt. Though she owned nothing, everything except clothes was provided adequately.

“His Highness the Crown Prince commands you to attend the coronation!”

“Ah… Really?”

At the coronation, the Pope would attend and personally place the crown on the crown prince’s head. Since this hadn’t been done, Jenkins was still called the crown prince. Would they normally call a slave to such an important occasion?

Evelyn smiled awkwardly.

“…So when is the coronation?”

“It’s in two days. Lady Evelyn, you need to be fitted for a dress, so please come inside.”

When she entered the imperial palace, a designer who took measurements was waiting. The maid said he was a designer who made dresses for noble ladies and was quite famous.

“Aren’t men forbidden from entering the harem?”

No matter how she looked at it, the designer was a man. The maid spoke awkwardly.

“That’s right. But dresses and accessories are exceptions.”

When Evelyn removed her cloak, her pure white body was revealed.

Jenkins still told her to go around n*ked and only allowed the cloak when going outside. It was amusing that he would have a dress made for her. The designer swallowed his breath seeing n*ked Evelyn.

“Silver hair and purple eyes! You’re so beautiful.”

The designer, being tactful, didn’t mention the royal crest carved on her neck. While he carefully took measurements, the maid from the crown prince’s palace stood waiting. Evelyn stood there hoping the measuring would end quickly.

That’s when it happened. The designer twisted Evelyn’s n*pple tightly so the maid behind couldn’t see.

“…Ugh.”

“Your n*pples protrude too much, so more fabric will be needed.”

Evelyn frowned at the designer spouting nonsense. The maid watching them was dozing off while standing. The designer who had wrapped the measuring tape around her body boldly put his hand between her legs.

“…!”

Scratching inside her moist entrance with his finger, he stroked his chin.

“Dripping like this… Something will be needed underneath. Can’t have you soiling my dress.”

As his finger continued moving in and out below, Evelyn panicked and gripped his wrist tightly. When she pulled it out with force, he frowned.

“You should help me take measurements, shouldn’t you?”

“…Do you want to die?”

When Evelyn glared at him, he chuckled.

“Are you saying that to me now?”

Then the maid who had woken up looked around. The maid yawned and spoke to Evelyn.

“…I’ll bring some snacks.”

“Fine.”

The maid’s eyelids were half-closed. But no matter how sleepy she was, how could she leave the emperor’s concubine alone with a male designer? The maid acted so nonchalantly that Evelyn wondered if she was being oversensitive.

As soon as the maid closed the door and left, the designer approached Evelyn again to take measurements. Evelyn backed away, avoiding him.

“Don’t come near me.”

“I’m just doing my job. If the dress doesn’t fit, you’ll be the only one in trouble, won’t you?”

“Ha…”

‘I can’t even beat him up.’

Wasn’t this a threat that if she didn’t listen, he’d make a dress that didn’t fit her body? 

Evelyn had no choice but to stay still. The designer lightly slapped her buttocks with his palm, then wrapped the measuring tape around. Then he stuck close behind her back and gently caressed her thighs.

His knee came between her legs and pressed up firmly. Though the designer was clothed, Evelyn was completely n*ked, making her face turn bright red.

“Stop it…”

“This is my only chance to touch the crown prince’s property, isn’t it?”

His hand began rubbing her cl*toris. When Evelyn flinched, he licked her neck.

“…You smell very nice.”

Behind her buttocks, she felt the designer’s swollen front. He inserted his finger inside her entrance while rubbing her cl*toris with his other hand. Evelyn’s legs trembled violently. She swayed like she was about to spill something any moment. Then the designer licked her ear and whispered.

“I’ll make you a very beautiful dress that fits your body. Hehe… So spread your legs for me.”

“…Haa. Are you… crazy?”

“My, you don’t listen.”

The maid who said she’d bring snacks never came. The finger moving in and out below moved faster. When her cl*toris swelled tautly, Evelyn collapsed to the floor.

“Mmgh…!”

Love juice dripped between her legs. Seeing this, the designer pulled down his pants. The excited designer grabbed her waist and made her stand. He rubbed his member against her entrance.

“…I’ll make you catch the crown prince’s eye with the most beautiful dress that will never exist again in this world. If you have s*x with me, I’ll make that happen.”

She’d rather not receive that attention. Rather, Evelyn considered Jenkins not looking for her as a rest. Evelyn stood up abruptly and moved away from the designer.

“I don’t need a beautiful dress.”

“…What?”

He looked at Evelyn with a bewildered face. Between his legs, his dark red member stood *rect.

“I don’t know how well that worked on nobles, but not on me. I don’t need it.”

The designer pulled up his pants with a flustered expression. While he straightened his clothes, Evelyn suppressed her unpleasant feelings. The designer gathered his tools and whispered to Evelyn again regretfully.

“…Since you said you don’t need it, you can’t blame me if a strange dress arrives. I don’t know about Astia, but Peshar nobles care very much about dresses.”

He gave Evelyn’s hand a wet kiss and went outside. As soon as he left, the maid entered with snacks.

“Lady Evelyn. Did you finish taking measurements? He’s a very skilled designer, so the coronation should be no problem.”

“…Really?”

It seemed she had ruined the dress. Evelyn headed to the bathroom with a sour expression.

“…I need to wash up.”

Her lower area was a mess with love juice. She understood why Jenkins didn’t let men into the harem. They were all perverted bastards anyway.

* * *

The next day, the dress arrived very early, but it was a disaster. Though expensive fabric was used, the design was very tacky, making even the maids look at the dress with horrified faces. It was so bad that it seemed deliberately made carelessly.

“How could this happen… Oh, there’s a letter the designer sent. It says he’ll come to re-measure if the size is poor.”

Evelyn slipped into the tacky-looking dress, immediately noticing how poorly it fit. The top was far too short, leaving her chest completely exposed, while the bottom clung tightly to her buttocks. It was the kind of outfit only street pr*stitutes would wear. 

As she adjusted the dress, which exuded no dignity and only vulgarity, Evelyn let out a deep sigh.