Unable to respond to my question, Ian let out a sarcastic laugh.
“Sister has always been like this. Insisting on taking on everything by herself, not caring if she falls apart in the process. That’s why I’m always afraid that Sister might abandon herself at any moment…”
“Ian.”
“No, never mind. Please pretend you didn’t hear what I just said.”
Possibly realizing he had let his emotions get the better of him, he caught his breath with eyes fierce. I instinctively reached out my hand towards Ian’s face, which held not even a fragment of peace, but just before my hand could touch him, Ian tilted his head to avoid it.
“I will follow Sister’s decision. Now, I will leave as I have a headache.” With those final words, Ian turned away without a shred of reluctance, not giving me a glance, and left our mother’s bedroom.
After he was completely out of sight, mother muttered softly, “Ian seems to be very worried about you.”
“Indeed.”
I couldn’t help but agree, my gaze still fixed on the closed door.
My mother, who had been staring at me as I poured all my attention towards the door, murmured,
“Half a year.”
“Pardon?”
“If you want to proceed in that way, you need to live in Serbia for at least half a year. Would that be alright with you?”
I had momentarily forgotten. Forgotten what I had been talking about.
I looked into my mother’s green eyes, trying to discern the true intent behind her question, but to no avail. It felt like an eternity as my mother’s and my gaze entangled in the empty air.
Then, regaining my composure, I tried to smile as brightly as I could.
“I,”
Making sure that no one, not even my mother who gave birth to me, could detect my true feelings.
“I’m really alright with it.”
Truly, it’s the worst.
***
Three days later.
Tick-tock. The sound of the clock hands moving endlessly filled the quiet bedroom.
“……”
I sat in front of the mirror, silently staring into it.
There, a strange woman with dark auburn hair and clear green eyes was reflected. She looked very much like my sister, but she wasn’t her.
“Ha.”
After gazing into the woman’s green eyes for a moment, I let out a self-mocking laugh.
What am I doing, Selena?
I looked ridiculous, as if I was wearing clothes that didn’t fit.
“Is there anything uncomfortable for you, Lady?”
The careful voice of a maid brought me back to reality from my deep thoughts. It seemed she mistook my laugh for a sigh.
Feeling uneasy, I quickly shook my head.
“It’s nothing. Don’t worry about it.”
I couldn’t afford to show even the slightest vulnerability to others. If I did, it would soon be revealed that I was the fake Serbia.
Don’t let your guard down for even a moment.
I vowed to myself again and erased all emotion from my face, to look perfectly like “Serbia Obelton” to anyone who saw.
But no matter how hard I tried, my hands wouldn’t stop trembling. It was when I was holding the hem of my dress tightly, trying to hide my shaking hands and taking a deep breath.
Someone knocked on the bedroom door, and then I heard the voice of a maid outside, announcing the arrival of a carriage from the palace.
“Lady, the carriage sent from the palace has arrived at the main gate.”
“……”
At the same time, the ticking of the clock stopped.
I closed my eyes and then opened them again, feeling as if I was hearing tinnitus from afar. And finally, with difficulty, I managed to speak.
“……Alright.”
It was no use delaying any longer; confronting it was the best strategy.
I calmed my trembling heart and stood up.
A dress far more splendid than the one I wore to the masquerade a year ago rippled with my movements. The see-through red dress was dazzlingly beautiful, but it didn’t touch my heart much.
Because it wasn’t mine, it belonged to ‘Serbia Obelton’.
“Ah.”
With a low sigh, I straightened my back and moved forward.
As I reached the first floor, I met Ian’s blue irises.
“Ian.”
As soon as I saw him, I was reminded of what had happened that day and called Ian quietly.
I approached him a few steps.
Fortunately, Ian seemed to be in better condition than that day. When he saw me, he gently furrowed his brows.
“You look beautiful today, sister.”
It was blinding.
Seeing Ian sincerely compliment me made the tension that was tightly bundled in my stomach loosen a bit.
“Do I look a bit like an elder sister now?”
“Yes, sufficiently. Others would be completely fooled.”
“That’s a relief. I was really worried that my act would be easily seen through.”
“Don’t worry too much. And don’t forget that the Obelton family is always behind you.”
Until 11 years ago, Ian had difficulty adjusting to the new status of nobility. But now that he was saying this, it felt surprisingly new.
“Got it. Thanks for saying that.”
“It’s nothing.”
“Then, I’ll be on my way. Please take good care of the Obelton family and mother while I’m away, Ian.”
I spoke to Ian in a calm tone, gave him my last farewell, and started to move my feet again.
Just as I was about to cross the threshold of the door, Ian suddenly murmured from behind me.
“Yes. Sister, I hope you also take care well and are not unhappy in the palace.”
Healthy, and not unhappy.
***
I killed time by looking at the scenery outside the window while the carriage was moving.
Everyone passing by was smiling, and for some reason, I envied them.
Thanks to that, immersed in various random thoughts, I had spent about two hours in the carriage before realizing we had already arrived at the imperial palace.
“Please, alight.”
Soon the carriage stopped, and with a deep voice coming from outside, the door of the carriage opened. Glancing at the light seeping in through the opening carriage door, I took a deep breath.
Then, with my resolve firmly set, I stepped out of the carriage. Right after stepping out, what unfolded before my eyes was the majestic main palace. It didn’t feel strange to me, perhaps because I had been here once before.
While I was looking up at the main palace, which I couldn’t take in at a single glance, a middle-aged man who had been waiting nearby introduced himself.
“Hello, Lady Obelton. I am Wilson, the head butler of the main palace.”
“Ah, nice to meet you, Wilson.”
Only then did I divert my gaze from the palace to Wilson and greeted him, to which he replied with a kind expression.
“There’s no need for you to speak formally to me. I am just a head butler, and you, my lady, are to become Her Majesty the Empress.”
“…Got it.”
It was impossible for the chief steward working in the main palace, the royal palace, to be just ‘anyone.’
However, because I couldn’t find anything wrong in Wilson’s words, I hesitated for a moment but soon agreed.
Seeing me like that and smiling softly, he gestured with his chin towards the woman beside him.
‘This is Isabella, who will be serving as your dedicated maid from now on.’
‘Hello!’
As soon as Wilson finished introducing her, the woman, Isabella, greeted me brightly. I felt my mood lifting along with her cheerful energy.
‘I’m counting on you, Isabella.’
‘I’ll do my best.’
I found myself looking at her as she clenched her fists with determination, and I smiled. While we finished exchanging greetings, Wilson, who had been waiting, spoke slowly.
‘You must be tired from coming here, so please go in and rest comfortably.
The bedroom is already prepared, and Isabella will show you the way.’
‘Just follow me.’
Isabella, speaking confidently, seemed just like a big puppy.
Just like Beth…
Without realizing it, I swallowed the bitterness that surged like a flood.
“Lady?”
When I remained silent without any response, Isabella looked at me with puzzled eyes.
At that, I snapped back to my senses and hurriedly composed my expression.
“Then, please lead the way.”
“Yes!”
Seeing Isabella smile brightly again, my scattered thoughts slowly faded away.
Not completely, though.
***
“So, from what I’ve heard, it seems that after taking bridal lessons, Lady will have a wedding.”
“I’ve heard that too. That’s why they’re starting with the engagement ceremony in four days.”
“Yes, that’s right.”
I walked with Isabella, talking about the events that were to come.
The long hallways of the palace were lined with various paintings and sculptures on display.
However, I lacked the leisure in my heart to appreciate them as I walked.
“Then, is there anything I need to do before the engagement ceremony?”
“Hmm. From what I’ve heard, there’s nothing. You should just rest comfortably until the engagement ceremony.”
“Hmm, I see.”
The fact that there was nothing to do was very pleasing, yet I kept feeling like I was missing something.
What is it? What am I missing…
“Ah.”
That’s right, I hadn’t seen the emperor. According to proper etiquette, I should have been on my way to meet the emperor by now, but Isabella and I were on our way to my bedroom, not his office.
“By the way, Isabella. Do you know where His Majesty might be?”
“I think I should go and greet them,” Isabella hesitated in response to my question.
“His Majesty is…”
As Isabella struggled to speak, she paused and glanced at me again, as if trying to gauge my reaction. I soon found out why.
“His Majesty is not currently in the imperial palace.”
“Why?”
“He has gone on a trip due to the drought in the southern region.”
“Ah.”
I remembered hearing from Ian before. This year’s drought in the southern region has made it difficult for people to get through the winter.
But is it normal for the emperor to take such direct action instead of delegating it to his ministers?
While I was pondering this, Isabella raised her eyebrows as if to encourage me.
“However, the chamberlain said he would return before the engagement ceremony. So, don’t be too discouraged.”
“…?”
Is she trying to comfort me?
I stared at Isabella’s mysterious face for a few seconds before I burst out laughing. It seemed she had mistakenly thought I wanted to meet the emperor soon.
The reality was quite the opposite.
“Thank you for trying to comfort me.”
As Isabella responded with the thought that she was cute, her eyes momentarily glazed over.
Then, regaining her focus, Isabella flashed an awkward smile. It was as if she had the expression of a child caught lying.
“Don’t mention it… Ah, we’re almost there.”
She changed the subject with a somewhat awkward tone.
I tilted my head at Isabella, who suddenly seemed to malfunction.
However, I decided to let it go, seeing her desire to hide something. After all, everyone has secrets they don’t want to share.
The bedroom that Isabella led me into was twice the size of mine in the duke’s residence. It was filled with luxurious decorations and expensive furniture.
Surveying the bedroom carefully, a small smile appeared on my lips.
I could see the Emperor’s care in every corner of the room. And so, I found myself thinking unwittingly.
Perhaps, the Emperor might not be such a bad person after all.
