Lucretius had his lips on the back of his hand, which was holding my hand. I got closer to my hand and kissed the back of my own hand.
At that moment, our lips were apart only by our own hands.
An indirect kiss.
Suddenly, I realized what I had done. I became red.
Why? Why did I do it?
I tried to look calm as I said to him, “Well, there. Now I don’t have to feel sorry.”
He seemed to be genuinely surprised. He opened his mouth to say something. I needed to escape this situation, so I pulled my hand and turned around.
I tried to run, but I realized I was in my own bedroom!
Within a few seconds, he grabbed me from behind.
“I got you!”
“Gyaaa!”
He pulled me back to the bed and laughed in delight.
“But… I can’t help feeling disappointed. This was a good chance to get rid of the dowager empress.”
He tried to console me gently. He was so sweet. A few months ago, if someone told me Lucretius could be like this, I wouldn’t have believed it.
“Don’t feel bad. It would have been nice if we could implicate the dowager empress, but there was never a guarantee this could bring her down. She is not an easy enemy.”
“I… I guess.”
I had to agree with him. Even if we were able to implicate her in an attempted murder of the emperor and me, the dowager empress wasn’t someone who would go down easily.
Lucretius added, “I always considered the possibility of something not going according to our plan.”
“But still…”
When I seemed upset, he asked me, “Are you afraid of her?”
“…”
I couldn’t say no. I couldn’t even lie about it. He would know the truth anyway.
He kissed my forehead lightly and tried to make me feel safer.
“Don’t worry. That woman has been trying to kill me for the past 20 years, and I haven’t died yet. I will protect you no matter what.”
“…”
I almost fell for him then.
I must have been feeling more anxious than I realized. Small kind gestures seemed to affect me much more than usual.
I added quietly, “I am also worried whether the baby will be a prince or a princess.”
“Now that I think about it, her due date is very soon.
“Really?”
“If I remembered correctly, it was supposed to be at the beginning of the ball, so it has to be either today or tomorrow.” He added ominously, “It would be best if it is stillborn.”
“…”
It was an atrocious thing to wish for one’s step-sibling, but I couldn’t say anything because I felt the same way.
I also had little feelings toward Lisbeth and her family’s death.
I liked to think it was because of my situation, but it was a poor excuse.
I realized the way I think and feel was changing since I arrived in this world.
***
Only ashes remained of the Bonafit family. I didn’t want to go see to confirm.
It was considered an embarrassment to have an unfortunate accident right before such a big international event. To have important guests see the remnants of the fire was unacceptable.
At least from the outside, the castle had to look intact.
Every able-bodied men were called to clean up the place. Any burnt structures were removed and cleaned. New trees and flowers were planted around the area. Thankfully, by the time the guests arrived, there was no obvious evidence of the recent fire.
It was a relief not to have to see the burned wing anymore. It was a constant reminder of the dead Bonafit family. I hated them, but I didn’t wish them to burn to death.
I felt bitter. I knew who did this terrible thing.
Dowager empress Katleyanira.
She killed Marquis Toruka and the Aeal family to protect herself.
In doing so, she killed so many others, but I was sure she didn’t care.
She still stayed in Girand getting ready for the birth.
I was scared. Could we really defeat this woman? Would I be able to survive this?
***
It was finally the time for the ball.
The first day started early in the morning. Even before the sun rose, I woke up and took a bath with help from my maids. The bath water was covered with white rose petals.
It was heavenly and over-the-top. I could sense that my maids wanted to make me look my best. They also seemed to want to cheer me up.
After the bath, my whole body smelled like a rose. On top of that, the maids put on a luxurious body facial made of honey, butter, and essential oil over me. It felt funny putting honey butter on myself like a piece of bread.
I remembered the honey butter chips from Korea. It was very popular it sold out in most stores. My older sister was able to get a few bags for me, and I remembered eating them.
Perhaps when I went back home, it would be easier to buy them.
Afterward, the maids cleaned my body with a warm cloth. My skin felt so soft and shiny.
“Please take a deeper breath, your highness.”
“Just a little bit more…”
“…!”
Samantha and Agnes tightened my corset much tighter than usual. It was so uncomfortable I worried my ribs would fracture.
Thankfully, it was over soon. Samantha let me go.
“It’s done.”
When I panted, Yulia complimented me smoothly.
“Your highness will have the narrowest waist at the ball.”
Elza added.
“Exactly, and your skin and hair look extra shiny today. Everyone will be awed by your beauty, your highness.”
“…”
I felt embarrassed… But it still felt nice to be complimented. I was a woman after all, so I couldn’t help but like being dolled up.
Luis soon brought in the new dress made especially for this ball. It was an elegant beautiful dress.
“Oh my! It’s lovely!”
“Please try it on!”
It was a deep violet dress. When I was on earth, I heard this kind of purple color was made from crushing certain insects. I wondered if they did the same here.
I put on the gorgeous dress ordered by Lucretius. He made sure a dress fit for a Cransian royalty was made for me. This was why the royal color was used.
The top part was a silver silk shirt decorated with pearls. It gradually darkened into violet as it went down to the skirt portion. Multiple violet silk layers made up the skirt, making it look almost black. The skirt was huge with pearl and diamonds placed in-between layers.
On the top layer were depictions of four seasons, stars, and the moon.
No matter how you looked at it, this was a dress made for an empress.
“…”
When I realized this, I didn’t know how to feel about it.
Only an empress could wear such a dress, so why did Lucretius order it for me?
I was doing things an empress would usually do, but I definitely was not his empress. This was why during his coronation, my dress was purposely made not to have this purple color and designs that symbolized the empress.
When people saw me in this dress at the ball, they would make two possible assumptions.
Either I was designated to become the next empress, or I had the ambition to become the empress.
I didn’t like either of them because I wasn’t consulted on the design, I had no idea the final product would look like this. It was Lucretius who made all the decisions.
I contemplated for a second. I felt like the right thing was to not wear this dress, but I didn’t have enough time to get another dress ready.
I had no choice.
“It is really beautiful. I don’t think we have much time left, so could you help me?”
The maids gathered around me and continued to prepare me.
I looked at the mirror. It was so strange to see me like this. It didn’t even look like me.
My maids started to put on my makeup. My face and neck were covered with a foundation made with pearl powder. My eyebrows were drawn with coal and oil mixture. Purple eyeshadows and gold power were placed lightly above my eyes.
Yulia exclaimed that I looked seductive.
My lips were reddened with a mixture of honey and pink flower powder.
My hair was minimally decorated as my dress was extravagant. A diamond tiara was all I wore on my head.
“You are ready, your highness.”
Now, the last thing I needed was my partner to escort me to the ball.
