“Welcome, Your Highness.”

Cedric greeted Helia with a polite bow. Helia returned his greeting with a bow of her own.

“Thank you for the warm welcome. My name is Helia Bailey.”

Her tone was that of someone meeting a stranger for the first time. One of Cedric’s eyebrows twitched slightly, and the corner of his lips curved into a faint smile. However, as if it had never happened, he quickly concealed his expression, replacing it with a friendly smile.

“Cedric Prekin.”

A simple exchange of names followed as they both knew who the other was. The rest of Bailey’s delegation had already disembarked and was standing by, awaiting Cedric’s orders. However, Cedric’s attention was focused solely on Helia. He had no interest in or need to concern himself with the others. A man in her entourage, seemingly the highest-ranking member, hovered nearby, trying to engage him, but Cedric didn’t spare him a glance. His gaze remained fixed on Helia as he called for Basen.

“Basen.”

“Greetings, Your Highness. I am Basen Patru, the Crown Prince’s aide.”

Helia nodded. Basen gestured to a maid standing beside him and continued respectfully.

“This is the maid who will attend to you, Your Highness.“

“My name is Beth. It is an honor to serve you, Your Highness.”

Beth offered a deep bow. Helia received her greeting with a composed expression.

“We will escort the delegation to their accommodations, where they will stay for the next ten days. Beth will guide you all.”

The delegation followed Beth. Helia was about to join them when Cedric stopped her as if waiting for this moment.

“Since you must be tired from the long journey, how about a simple dinner with just the two of us tonight?”

It was a contradictory suggestion. Shouldn’t he have simply suggested she rest if he knew she was tired from the journey? Helia looked at him directly, her expression of disbelief, and replied sharply.

“That is a rather excessive and inconsiderate suggestion.”

Cedric smiled broadly. Was this man planning to brush everything off with his charm? Even after hearing her rebuke, Helia found it deeply unpleasant that Cedric seemed so delighted.

“I thought you might have many things you’d like to discuss with me.”

That was true. She needed to question him about how all this had come to be. Of course, there were still ten days left, and since the chancellor wouldn’t likely involve her in the delegation’s meetings, she’d have plenty of time.

“Very well. I have things I wish to hear as well.”

With that, she attempted to follow the delegation, but Cedric blocked her path.

“This way, Your Highness.”

He then extended his hand to escort her. Helia stared at his hand before suppressing her irritation and snapping back.

“Are you saying I should be separated from the delegation?”

Her voice rose sharply. She couldn’t discern the intentions of the man before her. Why was he insisting on isolating her? To leave her stranded?

At that moment, Basen stepped in hurriedly to explain.

“Your Highness, you are a noble figure who may become the Crown Prince of Pteria’s fiancée. We cannot treat you the same as the delegation. Please understand with your generous heart.”

Helia cast a curious glance at Cedric. He was still smiling.

‘So, they want to completely separate me from Bailey.’

While she couldn’t be sure of his intentions, this arrangement wasn’t a bad start. Being separated from the delegation was something she had hoped for as well. It would be challenging to continue pretending to be a foolish princess in front of them while trying to discern the Crown Prince’s motives. Helia nodded and took Cedric’s hand.

Cedric led Helia to enter a palace as grand as Bailey’s main palace. Basen walked alongside them, discussing how this was a unique guest palace for distinguished visitors, but Helia barely paid attention.

“I will come to escort you for dinner later.”

Cedric escorted her to her chamber and departed with Basen. When the attendants opened the door, Helia entered the room with a weary expression.

The room was much simpler than the Rose Palace where she had stayed. While the Rose Palace was adorned with ornate decorations and sculptures, this room lacked such embellishments. Instead, the materials and furniture, such as the carpets and curtains, were of the highest quality. Even without intricate decorations, the room did not appear cheap. Only someone of at least a count’s status could appreciate its value. Helia glanced around slowly, wondering how such a style could maintain elegance.

‘The revolutionaries could learn a thing or two from this.’

While thinking about such matters, Helia suddenly found herself chuckling in disbelief. What an absurd train of thought. Even in this situation, she worried about Bailey, and the realization made her laugh at herself. They’ll manage. There’s no point in wondering what will happen in a world without me. Helia closed her eyes.

She must have dozed off briefly, as the room was pleasantly warm when she awoke. Rising from her seat, she noticed that the shawl she had tossed aside earlier was now neatly folded. Looking around, she found the service bell rope and tugged it. Beth, who had been waiting outside, promptly entered.

“Did you call for me, Your Highness?“

“I’d like to bathe.”

Beth responded as if she had been expecting the request.

“The bathwater is already prepared. Shall I escort you now?“

“Yes.”

Helia followed Beth. Upon arrival, Beth checked the water temperature and added flower petals before Helia entered the bath.

“These are petals from the Lilia flower. They help relieve tension and soothe the body and mind,“ Beth explained.

Beth and a few other maids tended to Helia with practiced grace, carefully pouring water over her shoulders as she soaked in the tub. While having attendants assist with bathing was not unusual in Bailey, this level of meticulous care was unfamiliar. Helia stared blankly at the ceiling, enjoying the luxury of doing nothing. When she came to her senses, the bath was over, her body had been rubbed with rose oil, and she was seated in front of a mirror.

“We’ll prepare one of the dresses you brought for now,“ Beth said.

Helia nodded absentmindedly, but then the phrasing struck her as odd. “For now?” She had brought twenty dresses—enough to wear a different one every day during her stay without repetition—carefully selected to match her infamous reputation. They were newly tailored specifically for this journey to the Empire. Tilting her head slightly confused, she was distracted again when Beth began massaging her shoulders.

Helia followed Beth’s lead with measured steps, dressed in a deep navy evening gown adorned with sparkling crystals like a starry galaxy and draped in a white shawl. Soon, they arrived at the grand banquet hall on the first floor of the guest palace. A long table was set, and at its far end sat Cedric, who stood and approached her the moment he noticed her. Pulling out a chair for her with a smile, he greeted her.

“I had instructed them to prepare the smallest table possible, but it seems the head chef wanted to go all out for your first meal here.”

After taking his seat, Cedric made this remark, to which Helia responded with curiosity.

“Why the insistence on a small table?“

“So I could see you better, of course.”

Resting his chin on a hand propped on the table, Cedric smiled his usual charming smile. Helia, uninterested, treated his remark as meaningless chatter and did not respond.

Soon, the meal began. As Cedric had mentioned, the table was lavishly adorned with various dishes. From exquisite amuse-bouches to tantalizing aperitifs, creamy avocado soup, tomato bisque-topped quenelles, and veal filet mignon in red wine sauce, one dish after another was presented in a dazzling procession.

Helia sampled only small portions of dishes that suited her taste, a practiced habit at grand banquets where finishing every course was impossible.

Cedric watched her with a contented expression, though she occasionally cast him indifferent glances.

“Does the food suit your palate?“

“It’s not bad.”