“This is the bedroom assigned to Lady Hildea of Hillington.”
I was walking through the darkened corridors of the palace, guided by a palace maid.
And in front of a certain room, the maid stopped and opened the door.
The ornate golden door with intricately carved leaves was quite majestic.
“If you need anything, just shake the bell next to the bed. We once again apologize for the inconvenience of not being able to bring the exclusive maidservants of the family, but it was done for the security of the palace. We appreciate your understanding.”
“Ah, yes. It’s a very spacious and lovely room. Thank you for the consideration shown to Hillington from the palace.”
As I spoke in a formal manner, I gazed at the room. Particularly, I thought about the bed that seemed spacious enough to accommodate five people.
‘The epitome of luxury.’
Indeed, a palace is a palace.
‘I imagined them giving me a small room in the corner though.’
I hadn’t made a good impression on the Empress due to my association with Benjamin, I was concerned that it might put pressure on the room assignment.
However, the Empress didn’t seem that petty. Perhaps she intended to let it slide.
Thinking that way, I felt relieved in my heart.
“May I rest immediately?”
“Of course, Lady Hillington.”
As I sat on the bed with aching legs, the palace maid who was waiting for my reaction quickly added an explanation.
“The palace maids are always on standby, so you can call them anytime, regardless of the time.”
“I see.”
“They will come in with a change of clothes for bathing and indoor wear.”
“Understood.”
“…If you need any light snacks, please let us know. Is there anything else you would like me to explain?”
I absentmindedly stroked the lace trim of the cushion and asked without much meaning.
“Is my younger sister, Roseriel’s room far from this one?”
“No, it isn’t. The room you see first after circling the corridor is where Lady Roseriel Hillington will be staying. Shall I also guide you about Duke Hillington’s room?”
“Yes, please. I would appreciate that.”
As I nodded, her explanation continued.
The location of Father’s room, things to be careful of in the palace.
I quickly absorbed the information about the strict curfew times and other things that always kept palace guards on their toes and nodded along.
I also thought that living in such a tightly regulated place like the palace would be quite a headache.
“We have already organized and arranged the luggage brought from the mansion in the carriage. You can check it if you’d like. Shall I assist you with clothing and bath preparations right away?”
“Yes, I would appreciate that.”
With those words, the bell rang, and I let out a sigh, surrendering myself to the swarm of palace maids rushing in.
Finally, the long and endless first day of the banquet had officially come to an end.
Gabriel angrily threw the tight cravat he was wearing, not bothering to hide his annoyance.
Dian, his lieutenant who had been waiting, unable to participate in the banquet due to his commoner background, silently bit his tongue at Gabriel’s attitude.
“Why, my lord? What is bothering you so much? Is it because your escort didn’t go well? No, wait, is it because you froze up like ice, as usual?”
Gabriel’s eyebrows furrowed fiercely.
That wasn’t it. In fact, they seemed to have had a more amicable conversation than usual.
They had made eye contact and even held hands.
Thinking about it, it seemed that the unease he had felt due to Roseriel had slightly dissipated.
Hildea’s red eyes and the red necklace hanging on her neck.
He knew that all the nobles had talked about it at least once.
A satisfying yet shy smile crossed Gabriel’s face.
‘No matter how much I look, I can’t get used to it.’
And watching him, Dian made a facial expression as if he were biting his tongue, shivering.
Even though he was handsome, Gabriel’s face didn’t give him any immunity…
It would be better to marry him off quickly.
“Prince Benjamin is the problem.”
“What? Not the princess or the emperor?”
“Yes, Prince Benjamin. It seemed like he was close to Hildea.”
“That can’t be true…”
Dian tilted his head and murmured repeatedly. There was no way that could be true.
Dian knew his lord better than anyone else, and he realized that the face he was making wasn’t just the face of a man blinded by jealousy.
“Investigate in detail.”
“About where they met?”
“No.”
“Then what should I investigate?”
“Look into Prince Benjamin in detail. Something feels off.”
Gabriel’s chilling voice made even Dian, who had been playfully retorting, tense.
He knew his lord better than anyone else, and he realized that this face wasn’t just the face of a man blinded by jealousy.
“Do you have any suspicious points about the prince?”
“I don’t know exactly. But he felt like a dangerous person. Especially his gaze toward Hildea.”
Mumbling like that, Gabriel rubbed his temple as if he was tired.
Then he suddenly looked at his own hand. The blush that started to appear on his cheeks clearly revealed what he was thinking.
“My lord, I will carry out your orders, but if you keep reflecting on the memories of holding hands with Lady Hildea, would it be okay for me to leave and rest comfortably? You must have had a pleasant time dining and conversing with Lady Hildea multiple times in the splendid banquet hall, but I had to sit alone in this unnecessarily luxurious room, waiting for you…”
Gabriel raised his hand.
“You damn chatterbox.”
He retorted coolly.
“Fine. Get out.”
Dian’s face, covered in a bright color like a tail-wagging puppy, looked pitiful.
“Since it’s late, I’ll wash up and go to bed early. So, please don’t call me even if you’re lonely and your heart aches because you want to see me, Master. I’ll be going to Dreamland early.”
“Dian.”
Gabriel couldn’t help but respond to the whining words.
“There’s no need to call for you. Leave right away.”
“Yes!”
When Dian, who was singing a tune went out in response to his Master’s icy command, something rolled in through the open window.
Gabriel raised it with a cold gaze. It was a small note containing someone’s writing.
[1 a.m. at the garden. Can you meet?]
It was also the moment when the face of a handsome man, like a sculpture, was crumpled.
I woke up suddenly.
When I blinked, my whole body was soaked in sweat, either because I fell asleep in an unfamiliar place or had a forgotten nightmare.
I looked at the intricate patterned ceiling, remembering that this place was a palace and that I had a debut dance.
I sighed and got up. When I rose slowly, the pale moonlight shone through the window.
Unfortunately, it didn’t seem like I would fall back asleep anytime soon.
I recalled the warning given by the palace maid. The palace garden was incredibly beautiful and worth visiting, but it was forbidden to wander around after curfew.
“But…”
I felt restless.
Usually, in times like this, I would use my abilities and relieve stress by watching plants grow vigorously.
Or I would exercise. But I can’t exercise here.
“It’s really impossible.”
As I pondered fiercely, I eventually got up, grabbed my shawl, and slowly opened the door, heading towards the garden of the palace.
Would I really encounter someone there at this late hour?
I thought as I walked.
Indeed, it was late at night, so the garden was quiet. I reached out, tugging at my shawl as it fell.
Using my abilities feels like I have an extra hand or foot that can’t be seen.
And I would think.
I want this flower to grow. I want it to bloom brightly. Like this.
“…It’s pretty.”
The fully bloomed flower looked particularly fresh and sparkling.
I still didn’t have a special interest in flowers and plants, but my attention was drawn to the things affected by my abilities.
Especially this flower.
“It’s the same color as Gabriel’s eyes.”
While the edges of the petals were close to white, they spread to a deep purple toward the center, making it incredibly beautiful.
Without realizing it, I found myself smiling awkwardly and then pressed my lips together.
For some reason, my senses shifted to my hands.
‘Hildea.’
The man who had called me that.
A man who was so strange and distant.
And yet, once in a while, like this, he would make me feel like this about him.
The nape of my neck stiffened at the sensation of someone’s hand still entwined with mine.
Somehow, I knew.
He must have been in the dream I woke up in a cold sweat from.
Maybe that’s why my heart was throbbing like this. It throbbed like I had an arrhythmia just thinking about Gabriel these days.
“…Why do I have to see you here?”
Yeah. Occasionally, Gabriel’s voice would sound like an auditory hallucination…
“Then where else should I see you, in this wide palace? There would be a lot of misunderstandings if we’re seen sending and receiving letters for no reason.”
I could only freeze like a statue in response to the familiar voices.
My heart, in a different sense from earlier, felt like it was about to burst.
When I came to my senses, I found myself crouching behind a tree, which was roundly decorated and cleverly cut, hiding myself.
I covered my mouth with my hand, afraid that my breath would be heard.
‘Why did I hide?’
I should have just left.
Or at least avoided the spot quickly!
When I tightly closed my eyes, the voice that had been coming from afar became closer and clearer.
It was certain. The owner of the voice was…
