〈To Elia.〉

Reading the first line, a strange sense of relief warmed Elia’s heart. The rest flowed naturally.

Anyone watching would wonder why her eyes had grown so round, as if this were some grand love letter. Who would believe this paper contained mere greetings?

〈……From Rockfort, who always wonders about your well-being.〉

Her white fingers caressed that sentence. Though the ink had smudged in places due to the rain-soaked paper, the sentence quickly engraved itself in Elia’s blue eyes and heart.

“Always……?”

After pondering deeply, Elia pushed out her lower lip in a pout. The reply had come too late to use the word “always.”

But he was the emperor, and though trivial, he was on the battlefield. No one had the right to demand a swift reply from him.

“……Is there another dirty one?”

Elia unrolled a crumpled, soaked note that caught her eye on the tray. Different carrier pigeons seemed to have arrived at similar times.

〈I forgot to add a postscript. The incompetent information officer missed your precious letter, which is why my reply was delayed, so please understand generously.〉

Unlike the previous letter, this one showed clear signs of being hastily scrawled, making Elia burst into a small laugh.

She must have grown accustomed to Rockfort’s arrogant tone. Instead of apologizing for the delay, he asked her to understand generously.

“So like him.”

In a way, he was truly a consistent man.

Previously, this fact had cut into Elia’s heart, but as misunderstandings between them cleared, his consistent attitude was gradually melting her hardened heart.

“Since it’s His Majesty’s order, I must understand.”

Elia whispered to herself. In any case, she was saying this while intending to reply immediately.

Elia was about to look for pen and paper when she suddenly rang the silver bell on her desk.

“Yes, my lady. Did you call?”

Cyril quickly came running and paid her respects.

“The flower petals we dried a few days ago…… are they properly dried now?”

“I’ll need to check, but they should be dried by now. I’ll bring the best ones right away.”

True to her diligent nature, Cyril moved quickly. She must have instructed Mona on the way to find the petals, because soon Mona arrived with warm tea and refreshments.

“My lady, please have some tea and snacks.”

Since Marienne had heard the imperial physician’s instructions, she had been bringing food not just for three meals but whenever possible, making Elia worry her dress might burst.

“I’ll just have tea for now. You two share the cookies. Ah, here comes Cyril.”

“My lady, I’ve brought the flower petals. Please choose the ones you like.”

Elia nodded. Mona was alternating glances between the cookies and Elia, clearly waiting for permission.

“Split the cookies between you. Now.”

“Really? Thank you!”

Mona excitedly bowed her head repeatedly and grabbed a cookie, munching happily.

“This is our secret from Marienne.”

“What? Yes! Once I’ve eaten it, it will disappear without a trace!”

Seeing Mona brushing off the crumbs on her mouth and Cyril silently eating her cookie with satisfied nods, Elia found their youthful behavior endearing.

“……I apologize. Mona, you should cover your mouth while eating.”

Misunderstanding Elia’s gaze, Cyril tapped Mona’s shoulder to instruct her. Seeing Mona nod while watching Cyril’s reaction, it was clear they got along well.

“I was just enjoying watching you. You’re always so energetic.”

“Heh…… all I have is excess energy!”

Mona spoke excitedly but then checked Cyril’s expression again.

“Please forgive her, my lady. Despite being scolded often by the head lady-in-waiting, Mona struggles to correct that nature of hers……”

So even his constant scolding was actually for Mona’s benefit. That made sense.

“Some of it is fine. Even ladies-in-waiting are people with emotions.”

“My lady…… such kind words……”

Mona looked at Elia with eyes that had suddenly welled up with tears. Her girlish, ever-changing emotions were simply adorable.

“It’s our fortune to serve someone as kind as you, my lady.”

Cyril felt the same way. Though they had barely been selected as ladies-in-waiting and assigned to the precious inner palace, their fear was equally great.

Depending on one’s master, a palace servant could lose their head at any moment without it being strange.

“……Enough. If you’ve finished your cookies, please bring me stationery. Which color do you think would be good?”

Mona excitedly opened the drawer containing stationery. Cyril seemed to be internally selecting something while looking at the lined-up ink bottles and pen nibs. At first, Elia had disliked having more people in her quarters, but once she got used to it, their energy helped alleviate her emptiness.

“White would be best after all. Since the flower petals are purple.”

After consideration, the basics proved best.

“Here’s your usual pen. Will you use black ink as well?”

“Yes.”

Cyril handed over the pen and neatly cleared the dishes with calm movements. Then, seeing Elia contemplating what to write, he nudged Mona’s side and led her out. Indeed, the greatest virtue of a palace servant was their perceptiveness.

“What should I write this time……”

Only greetings came to mind, nothing else. She had barely managed the first reply, and thinking of the carrier pigeon flying through the rain made her feel burdened, preventing words from coming easily.

“First.”

Elia picked up her pen.

〈I humbly send this letter to Your Majesty the Emperor.〉

She was confident in this sentence. It was proper according to protocol and appropriate to his status.

“I am doing well…… no, I already wrote that before.”

Was simply exchanging greetings such a difficult task? Elia rested her chin on her hand and stared at the dried flower petals on the blank paper for a while.

Much later, around sunset, Elia rang the silver bell again. Hannah, who happened to be passing by, immediately entered and knelt before her.

“My lady, do you need something……?”

“Ah, nothing special. Just…… give this to head chamberlain Victor.”

“Oh my, is this a letter for His Majesty?”

Elia pretended to be indifferent and merely nodded. Hannah swallowed her smile and respectfully received the letter.

“It’s almost time for dinner.”

“Did Marienne supervise again?”

“Of course.”

Hoo, Elia sighed deeply.

“No matter how important nutrition is…… isn’t this too much?”

“You ate too little before, my lady. You’ve always had a small appetite since childhood.”

Elia’s lower lip protruded again.

“If I eat all the dinner Marienne brings, my stomach will be so full I won’t be able to sleep until midnight.”

“The imperial physician said you need abundant nutrition, so even I must…… side with Lady Themis on this.”

“Hannah!”

Elia made an aggrieved expression at this betrayal from a trusted ally, but it seemed she would still have to eat a dinner that was closer to a feast tonight.

* * *

Two days passed. Would today begin with the same routine as usual?

Elia rubbed her eyes as she woke up and looked out the window filled with sunlight. The occasional rain had stopped, and now the flowers that had bloomed fully in the garden had completely fallen.

“My lady, may I come in?”

Hannah appeared at the door with a knock. Unlike the usual peaceful atmosphere, she seemed tense.

“What’s wrong?”

Sensing intuitively that something had happened, Elia asked, and Hannah approached closer.

“Just now, news arrived that the carriage carrying the princess has passed through the capital gates.”

“This early in the morning?”

“It seems…… she traveled through the night without rest.”

Hannah lowered her voice. Her cautious attitude in speaking about others in the imperial palace was newly reassuring.

“It takes less than an hour from the capital gates to the imperial palace.”

“Yes. So…… you should hurry.”

Elia nodded immediately. After traveling for days, and even rushing through the night to arrive at this hour, it was difficult to even imagine the princess’s mood.

“Traveling by carriage for days is so exhausting…… she must have been in a great hurry.”

“Yes. Lady Themis is now finalizing preparations to welcome the princess. Head chamberlain Victor has also completed preparations for the imperial decree.”

Now she fully understood why Rockfort had left his close aides with Elia. Without these experienced palace servants, everything would have been complicated and difficult.

“There’s no time, so I’ll skip breakfast.”

“My lady, that……”

“Can’t you see I’m still full from last night’s dinner?”

Even Hannah had to concede this point.

“Help me wash up and get ready. Call Mona and Cyril too.”

“Yes.”

Though her body wasn’t fully healed and she couldn’t properly go out to welcome the princess, she couldn’t greet the princess who had returned with such difficulty looking unkempt either.

“Arrange my hair neatly and choose a simple, tidy dress. Even though I’m a patient, make sure I present a clean impression.”

“Yes. Lady Themis has already instructed the palace people accordingly.”

Elia nodded. She didn’t know what connection had brought her to share quarters with a princess she had never seen in her previous life, but as a woman, she felt sympathy for the princess’s situation.

“I hope the princess can rest comfortably.”

Hannah nodded at these kind words and began helping Elia prepare.

Soon, the original owner of this palace would return. This fact had the entire palace buzzing.

* * *

The carriage carrying the princess stopped at the entrance of the palace. Led by Elia, all the palace people had come out to wait and welcome her.

Dain respectfully knocked on the carriage door and opened it, and Leticia stepped onto the carpet laid out for her.

“We greet the princess.”

All the palace people bowed in unison.

Elia, seated, carefully observed the princess. Dressed in black with a black veil, the princess descended from the carriage holding a small child’s hand.

The child also wore a hat, making it difficult to see their face, creating an inherently gloomy atmosphere.

“You must receive His Majesty the Emperor’s decree.”

Dain was faithfully carrying out his assigned duty. Leticia silently nodded and moved along the carpet to where Victor stood. As a princess, she would know palace etiquette better than anyone.

“Princess Leticia receives His Majesty’s decree.”