I was drenched in cold sweat. The Duke Donovan's gaze, as he looked at my face, was unbearably burdensome.
"From today, I will be assisting you in attending this founding banquet and taking charge of your overall education."
"It will be tough, but I hope you can keep up."
Tension made me unsure if I was answering properly. I just nodded my head vigorously.
'...How did it come to this?'
My memory traced back to a conversation in the Emperor's office a few days ago. When I heard that I would be attending the founding banquet, the one who got excited was my father.
"The one who stands out the most at the founding banquet should be my daughter."
I cautiously rebelled, but my opinion was not taken into account. Instead, Gustav and Lisandro even chimed in.
"You're right. After all, this isn't the first time Her Majesty is making her debut in society. A memorable first appearance is important."
"I can't even imagine how adorable she'll be."
Father, with a serious face he never showed during meetings, nodded solemnly.
"Right. Mabel will stand out, but she needs to shine even more."
There was no place for me to interject in the conversation. I munched on a macaron while listening to the three men's enthusiastic discussion. Gustav nodded and began.
"Then, the dress and accessories must be important, right?"
"Right. Hmm. Do you know any popular dressmakers among the young ladies?"
In response to Father's question, Gustav and Lisandro closed their mouths like clams.
"Are you ignoring my question now?"
At Father's chilly reprimand, Gustav and Lisandro hurriedly shook their heads.
"Popular dressmakers among the young ladies..."
The atmosphere turned somber. I shook my head at the procession of fools and frowned, displeased. Father then made a decision.
"...Just leave it to Madame Lupé."
I thought my role as a lady-in-waiting would be entrusted to Madame Lupé, the governess. However,
"I'm sorry, Your Majesty. I caught a cold and can't attend to you..."
The governess fell ill, leaving the position vacant. Father said he would find someone to fill the gap.
'But I didn't know it would be Father's ex-wife!'
Snapping out of my reverie, I slightly raised my gaze and immediately lowered my head when I met Duke Donovan's eyes.
A cold, expressionless face. Cold, sunken green eyes.
'A documentary-like person...'
Why did Father entrust me to Duke Donovan? Duke Donovan was an intimidating person on her own. Moreover, the relationship between her and me added to my fear. The Emperor, who was her husband, divorced her and remarried, having me. Naturally, she wouldn't look at me kindly. Besides, I had pushed aside the next in line for the throne, Oscar, and claimed the throne for myself. How much must she despise me? Duke Donovan asked me in a flat tone.
"Have you received any palace etiquette training?"
Father, treating me like a small child, never arranged for etiquette training. He said I could learn it at seven. So, I learned etiquette by observing others.
"Then, have you received any dance training?"
"What are you currently studying?"
A moment of silence followed.
Her calm response made her even more intimidating.
'Even I think there's not much I'm learning for an Emperor.'
When Oscar was the likely next Emperor, Duke Donovan was in charge of his successor education. How pitiful must I look in her eyes? Feeling intimidated, I fidgeted with my fingers.
"What's your schedule for tomorrow?"
"The schedule is... arithmetic."
Tomorrow happened to be a day without regular meetings. My schedule, if you could call it that, consisted only of showing up for regular meetings and stamping the imperial seal.
"Then, I would like to visit a few boutiques on Ricavelli Street tomorrow. What do you think?"
"Ricavelli? Can I go out?"
I asked, wide-eyed. Ricavelli was a high-end shopping district frequented by nobles. Until now, my clothes were made by designers who came to the palace to take measurements and consult with the governess, then sent the clothes later. This was common for royals and nobles, as they usually called people to them rather than going out themselves, given their wealth.
"Calling a designer would be convenient, but it's hard to see various designs. It would be better to go and visit several boutiques. What do you think?"
"I'll inform His Majesty."
Answering Duke Donovan's questions awkwardly, the meeting ended before I knew it. As we left the audience chamber, Lisandro, who had been leaning against the wall, waved.
"Hey! The combination of our little Emperor and sister is refreshing, isn't it?"
"Don't be so disrespectful, Ritt."
While he answered, Lisandro didn't stop his playful attitude.
"Your Majesty, did your sister cause you any trouble? She's a very scary person, you know."
Of course, she was scary, but she didn't torment me. Instead, Duke Donovan treated me, despite my young age, with proper respect as the Emperor.
'Other ministers just found me cute.'
"It's okay. Your Majesty isn't the only one who finds your sister scary. Even Oscar turns pale when he sees her—"
Duke Donovan cut off Lisandro's words mercilessly. Lisandro, who met her gaze, awkwardly laughed and looked away.
"One day, that light attitude will trip you up."
"I know, but you keep cursing me..."
Turning away from the grumbling Lisandro, Duke Donovan looked down at me.
"Then, I'll come to the palace to escort the Emperor tomorrow."
I watched Duke Donovan's retreating back and secretly sighed.
'What should I do tomorrow?'
I'm already worried to no end. *** Oscar, leaping lightly, swung his sword downward. Clang! Eidan easily blocked the attack.
Grating. The clashing blades made an unpleasant sound, and soon Oscar's sword flew and embedded itself in the ground.
Thus, 978 battles, 978 losses. Since impulsively challenging Eidan to a sparring match the first time they met, Oscar had never once defeated him, even as his skills improved dramatically. Eidan responded nonchalantly.
"It's fine. I'm just strong."
"Sorry, but that's not comforting at all."
Oscar sighed and picked up his fallen sword. Three years was enough time to develop a sense of familiarity with someone you didn't like. At some point, Oscar and Eidan became training partners, often practicing together. After the ban on young nobles entering the palace, including Enrique, it was even more natural. Initially, Oscar was wary of Eidan, known as the Devil of Develin. How could he feel friendly towards an enemy country's dog who committed massacres? But Eidan, in direct confrontation, turned out to be a decent person. Despite his many suspicious aspects, he didn't seem to be on Develin's side.
'I still don't like him being next to Mabel.'
It was natural as her older brother. But since Mabel decided to keep Eidan by her side, Oscar had no intention of interfering.
'I'll just make sure he doesn't get too close.'
"Let's do one more sparring match."
Oscar readied himself again. This time, a faint aura enveloped his entire sword. He was summoning his sword qi, ready to fight seriously. He assumed Eidan would naturally agree to the sparring match. But the boy didn't move.
Eidan's gaze was directed over Oscar's shoulder. Oscar followed his gaze and felt a presence approaching. Pitter-patter. Pitter-patter. A familiar step. And the more than ten guards following behind. The presence of the knights lurking in the darkness was imperceptible unless one paid close attention. Soon, a small pink figure appeared at the entrance to the training ground. Peeking around. The small child, looking around, soon found a familiar face and smiled brightly.
Seeing her run over, Oscar quickly approached and picked up Mabel. Mabel, who had been watching, cautiously grabbed Oscar's clothes.
"Are you training? Should I go back?"
Oscar smiled warmly as if nothing had happened. The sword he had been holding, ready to spar with Eidan, had long been discarded on the ground. Oscar's smile made the nearby knights training flinch.
'Can't get used to it every time...'
'The only one His Highness Prince smiles at.'
'The one and only, Her Majesty the Emperor!'
To Mabel, Oscar was a gentle and affectionate older brother. But his public image was that of a prince who was indifferent and cold to everything. If evaluated positively, that was the case; if negatively, it meant he had a terrible personality. The knights, who found the scene curious, glanced at the royal siblings but quickly averted their eyes when they met Oscar's chilly gaze.
"Hmm. There are bugs flying around."
Suddenly, the knights training became bugs.
"Since there are a lot of bugs here, let's go back to the room, Mabel."
Ignoring the knights' aggrieved gaz