Actually, this wasn’t her first visit to the imperial palace.

In her previous life…… she had visited the imperial palace once to visit the temple right before she died.

Though she hadn’t gotten to see the inside of the palace since she went straight to the temple after entering……

She still couldn’t forget the sight of the snow-white temple that looked as if everything was covered in snow.

Perhaps…… it had been quite mesmerizing. 

 However, the imperial palace was always a frightening place to visit.

While it housed those enjoying the highest glory in the Empire, it was also where perhaps the most unfortunate people in the Empire resided. 

 Inside the imperial palace was the Supreme Court.

It was the only place in the Empire that could hand down the ‘death penalty.’ 

 As the Empire continued to develop, its laws developed alongside it, but the current Empire’s laws were quite poor.

At this point in time, it would be fair to say there were no nobles among those sentenced to death.

The targets of the death penalty were maids from noble households who injured nobles, ordinary imperial citizens who bumped into nobles in bad moods on the street. 

 She too had received a death sentence in what could be called quite a developed period for the law.

Well…… in a way, she had almost gone to the execution ground for the crime of offending the Masipacius family’s feelings.

Though she ended up not going because she was hit by a carriage right before, but still. 

 While she was lost in such useless thoughts, the carriage gradually slowed down.

Through the carriage window, she could see the imperial palace’s enormous and splendidly decorated main gate. 

 Seeing the imperial palace like this was very different compared to her previous life.

Who would have thought there would come a day when she would visit the imperial palace by invitation rather than being dragged there. 

 Getting off the carriage, she felt the palace’s intimidating presence all at once.

She took a deep breath to calm her rapidly beating heart from the tension, then moved her steps toward the main gate. 

 As she approached the main gate, the gatekeepers blocked her path.

In contrast to how they had looked at her with sharp gazes in her previous life, they addressed her with gentle expressions. 

 “What brings you here?” 

 At their question, Mylene who was standing behind handed them the invitation.

They seemed to read the invitation before hurriedly bowing to her. 

 “Please excuse our rudeness!” 

 They appeared flustered, probably thinking she might be the Crown Prince’s guest.

She stepped back, more flustered by their reaction. 

 After fidgeting for a while, they finally opened the main gate to let her enter the palace.

As she and Mylene were about to head inside…… 

 The gatekeepers blocked her path again with very apologetic expressions. 

 “We’re sorry but…… only the person named in the invitation may enter.” 

 She tilted her head at their words. 

 “Lady Rowenloa Masipacius may enter, but your servant cannot accompany you inside the palace. Please understand this is for palace security.” 

 Hearing those words, Mylene seemed slightly flustered before telling her she would wait in the carriage since she might be late for the appointment time.

“No. You should take the carriage back to the mansion first. I’ll return by carriage when I’m done.”

“But how can I leave you alone, Miss……”

“The talk might go long. I’m worried about you, so go back.”

So she gave Mylene some money, and Mylene reluctantly took her leave.

Only then could she enter the palace alone. 

 But there was a problem. 

 She had entered the palace but…… where exactly was this ‘Soleifs Reception Room’ they mentioned? 

 As she was standing lost in the palace’s massive garden, a woman dressed similarly to Mylene approached her. 

 “Are you perhaps Lady Rowenloa Masipacius?” 

 Her calm voice seemed to soothe her startled feelings. 

 “I am Frill, who works at the imperial palace. His Highness the Crown Prince ordered me to guide you when you visited the palace.”

“Ah…… pleased to meet you.” 

 So Frill naturally took the small bag hanging on her wrist and began guiding her.

The inside of the palace was much larger than she had imagined. 

 Since she had only been to the temple and courthouse in her previous life, this was her first time actually seeing the outer garden and palace interior.

The palace interior was, naturally, decorated more splendidly than any noble residence she had visited so far.

Not only were there various paintings pleasing to the eye, but expensive-looking decorations were placed here and there, making her think one would have to sell their family if they knocked something over. 

 Following carefully behind Frill, they soon arrived at doors that looked twice as large as those at the mansion.

There seemed to be a sign in the middle of the doors indicating what room this was. 

 “Soleifs Reception Room……” 

 When she read the writing on the sign, Frill looked at her with a surprised expression. 

 “Have you already graduated from the academy?” 

 At her comment, she shook her head with an embarrassed smile. 

 “This language…… is the ancient demon race’s language that’s said to be difficult to master even with a specialized teacher, only used among mages……”

“Hmm…… shall we say I’m just smart?” 

 At her casual words, Frill stared at her face for a while before hurriedly bowing and apologizing. 

 It was natural for her to know that language.

She had learned it at the academy in her previous life. 

 She remembered studying desperately, thinking she could survive even if she got abandoned by her family if she could just speak that language. 

 “I’m so sorry for my rudeness to you, Miss!” 

 She waved her hands and helped Frill up. 

 “Who in this Empire wouldn’t be surprised to see me reading the ancient demon race’s language? It’s fine, don’t worry about it.” 

 Only after receiving many apologies from her could she finally enter the reception room.

Compared to the splendid corridor, the reception room’s interior was decorated very simply.

The spacious interior was decorated in clean white tones. 

 “Please sit on that sofa and wait. If the wait happens to be a bit long, feel free to look at the books on the bookshelf. I’ll prepare some light refreshments.” 

 So after confirming she sat on the sofa, Frill left the reception room, and she sat staring blankly at the wall.

When the wait became longer than expected and she got bored, she pulled out a random book from the bookshelf. 

 As expected, it was a book written in the ancient demon race’s language. 

 It seemed this reception room’s concept was related to the ancient demon race. 

 While sitting on the sofa reading for a while, she suddenly heard someone behind her. 

 “What are you reading……” 

 Startled by the sudden voice, she reflexively swung the book she was reading and hit the unknown person’s head. 

 That’s right.

She had forgotten.

That this was the imperial palace and she was waiting for the Crown Prince. 

 That in this situation, if someone spoke to her it would be the Crown Prince. 

 “Oh no! What have I done!” 

 After confirming who she had hit with the book, she stepped back more shocked than the person who was hit.

Then in what could only be called a majorly inconsiderate reaction, she tripped over her own feet and started falling toward the window. 

 She tightly closed her eyes anticipating the pain, but strangely her body didn’t hurt.

Rather, it felt like she was properly balanced…… 

 Opening her eyes, it seemed the person whose head she had just hit had rushed over and caught her body right before she fell out the window.

Seeing the Crown Prince’s sullen face right in front of her eyes, she truly…… truly felt mortified. 

 Soon after he let her go, and she immediately bowed. 

 “I greet Your Highness the Crown Prince, no that’s not it…… I’m truly sorry, Your Highness.” 

 When there was no response to her apology, she started feeling more anxious. 

 Right, even she wouldn’t want to accept an apology from someone who hit her head with a book when they were supposed to meet…… 

 She bowed even deeper than 90 degrees and spoke again. 

 “I’m truly sorry, being nervous about visiting the palace for the first time, I unconsciously…… please forgive my rudeness.” 

 After she apologized profusely for a while, the Crown Prince finally spoke. 

 “It’s alright, my lady. But do you…… perhaps do strength training regularly……” 

 That must have hurt…..

Right…… with a body that trains with the knight commander twice a week, it couldn’t not hurt….. 

 “About twice a week…… training with the knight commander……”

“Ah…… with that body, my head……” 

 At his words, she bowed to him again while sniffling. 

 “I truly have no words even if I have two mouths.” 

 He stayed silent for a while seeing her behavior, then let out a “pfft—” laugh.

Surprised, she carefully raised her head to look at him, and he seemed to keep letting out “heh—” laughs while covering his mouth as if unable to stop laughing, before finally starting to laugh out loud “haha—” 

 She watched carefully and tried to put on an awkward smile following his lead. 

 “Ah, I’m sorry. The apology was so different from what I usually receive from ladies that I couldn’t help……”

“Not at all…… how could Your Highness laughing at my words be any issue when I dared to hit Your Highness’s head……” 

 Hearing those words, the Crown Prince now laughed openly like he’s no longer trying to hide it, then extended his hand to guide her to the sofa.