Though Prince Garbo spoke with a smile, his tone carried such certainty that the Emperor could only nod.
“I see.”
“Your Majesty.”
“Hmm?”
Prince Garbo addressed the Emperor carefully.
“If it’s possible, once I return to Gellang, may Florin stay as a guest in one of the noble families here?”
The unexpected request narrowed the Emperor’s eyes.
“Is she uncomfortable in the Imperial Palace?”
“No, absolutely not,” Garbo replied hastily, clearly flustered.
“I just thought it might be best for Florin to familiarize herself with this country’s customs, in case she truly ends up marrying a nobleman from here.”
Prince Garbo seemed to hold absolute faith in the oracle’s message. The Emperor let out a hearty laugh at that.
“Ha! Hahaha! That makes sense. You’re right, Prince. And while the oracle may decide her match, marriage is one of life’s most important choices. It’s only wise to be sure. All noble families with sons of marrying age must permit Princess Florin to visit. This is an imperial command.”
The nobles raised their glasses and cheered. Naturally. The gleam of desire in their eyes was impossible to miss.
Even those who had already promised their sons to other brides were now openly considering “changing course” if it meant a chance with Florin. They had been holding back out of decorum, but with the Emperor giving them the stage, their true intentions spilled out shamelessly.
“Oh, come on. Isn’t everyone being a little too obvious—huh?”
I was whispering to Armin when I suddenly felt someone staring at us. I turned my head, only to find Princess Florin’s jewel-like green eyes fixed directly on us.
“Armin?”
“Hmm? What is it?”
I never thought I’d feel something as petty as jealousy. But the idea that this stunning princess—whose beauty couldn’t even be compared to mine—was looking at Armin unsettled me.
“Shawl. Give me my shawl.”
“Didn’t you say you weren’t cold earlier?”
Armin’s eyes curved into a smile.
“I’m cold now. Are you going to refuse me?”
I narrowed my eyes at him as I asked.
“Of course not. Here you are, my lady.”
Armin feigned being frightened and draped the shawl over my shoulders playfully. It was childish, but somehow, showing a little affection in front of Princess Florin made me feel a bit more at ease. I wanted to stamp a bold sign that said: this man is taken—stop looking at him like that.
“Oh, and another thing.”
It seemed the oracle’s proclamation had piqued the Emperor’s interest. He looked around at the gathered nobles and continued.
“A divine revelation is not to be taken lightly. Let’s not cause unnecessary interference. Until Princess Florin’s oracle is fulfilled, I declare that no weddings shall be permitted.”
“What?!”
Before I realized it, I had shouted in the middle of the quiet hall.
All eyes turned to me. But I didn’t care. The Emperor’s declaration had hit me like a bolt from the blue.
“Shhh, Vivi.”
“No! We’ve already finished all the wedding preparations!”
The frustration bubbling inside me wasn’t about to disappear so easily.
I had waited months for the Crown Princess selection and her formal appointment to conclude. Months! That may sound simple, but it has been endless. I am now at the point where even the sight of a gemstone or dress gave me hives.
This sudden decree from the Emperor made my mind go completely blank. I had finally managed to convince my mother and the Duchess, and I could already picture the two of them teaming up again the moment they learned we had more time.
The Emperor looked at me and said with a hint of laughter in his voice:
“Prince Garbo, I hope you’ll understand the fuss. That young lady over there is Lady Roha, and she’s been preparing for her wedding for months now.”
“Ah, I understand completely.”
“Lady Roha, I understand how you feel, but please show proper courtesy to our esteemed guests.”
Though the Emperor’s tone was playful, Prince Garbo seemed genuinely touched by how much effort was being made to accommodate him and his sister.
Receiving such respectful attention from the royal guest only made the Emperor lean further into the moment.
“Then let all the eligible young men who are not yet married step forward.”
At the Emperor’s solemn command, the noble sons attending the ceremony began looking around at one another. Some were even standing beside their fiancées just moments ago.
Is this some kind of matchmaking audition or what?!
But this was the Emperor’s command—there was no refusing it. Even Armin, who had just draped the shawl over my shoulders, and Sasha, who had fled earlier grumbling about not wanting to see us together, were both made to step forward and form a line.
Despite the spring sunlight streaming warmly through the stained glass windows, a chill crept through me, and I pulled my shawl tighter, uneasy with the way things were unfolding.
“Now then, Princess. Please choose one among them whose household you would like to visit first.”
He might as well have been a top-tier TV host. I found myself boiling with resentment at the Emperor’s showy theatrics. And worse, the one who stood out most among the gathered men—my own lover—was right there in the lineup, adding fuel to my anxiety.
Soon, Princess Florin’s finger began to move slowly. Then, she pointed.
“Oh?”
At the Emperor’s reaction, I shut my eyes tight. Of course—it had to be Armin Grey. Among that entire lineup, he was the brightest star by far. Even if she’d picked with her eyes closed, he’d stand out like the North Star. There was no way she wouldn’t notice him.
But then murmurs began to spread through the hall—and shockingly, it wasn’t Armin who’d been chosen.
“Isn’t that the young master from House Roha?”
“Alessandro Roha? Not Armin Grey?”
“Wow. The Grey family won’t be too pleased with that.”
The name being whispered was one I knew all too well. And I wasn’t the only one caught off guard—Sasha, who had been standing in the back row, looked completely stunned. He even dared to question the princess.
“Me?”
“Y-yes…”
Princess Florin gave a small nod, her voice barely louder than a grain of sand. Clearly, Prince Garbo’s claim that she was shy wasn’t an exaggeration.
“Well, then. It’s settled!”
Still frozen in shock, my brother and I were at a loss for words. But the Emperor—ever the enthusiastic host—continued on briskly.
“Prince Garbo, you said you’d be returning to Gellang tomorrow?”
“Yes. The voyage here was difficult due to the storms. Considering the time it’ll take to return after receiving the next oracle, I thought it best to make haste.”
“Very well, then. We’ll have the princess’s belongings moved to House Roha tomorrow morning. Lord Roha?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
The people standing near my father quickly stepped aside to indicate his position to the Emperor.
To my flustered father, the Emperor spoke in a firm tone.
“She is a guest of the country. Make sure nothing is lacking in her welcome.”
“Of course, Your Majesty.”
As I looked between Sasha’s stiff face and Princess Florin’s expression, I suddenly realized something.
She had been staring this way all along—not at Armin, but… at me?
She wasn’t looking at Armin. She was looking at me…?
The strange sensation sent a shiver down my spine. I quickly turned my head, avoiding her gaze, and made a fuss over Sasha’s dumbfounded state instead—anything to distract myself from the odd feeling that lingered as I kept my eyes away from Princess Florin.
* * *
“Miss.”
“Yeah, Michelle?”
“Say it again.”
Before the princess’s arrival, our entire house underwent a full-blown cleaning operation. Since no one knew which room Princess Florin might choose to use, we had to practically turn the entire Roha estate upside down. And with her expected to arrive early in the morning, I was subjected to round after round of “mental discipline” from both my mother and Michelle.
“That’s right, Vivi. Go on now, repeat it.”
“Uh, right… First, don’t steal and wear my brother’s pants.”
“Good. And next?”
“Um… Bathe every day.”
“And?”
“Umm… Don’t eat cookies in bed.”
I hated to say it myself, but my personal habits—undoubtedly our household’s biggest secret and most persistent problem—had my mother dead set on preventing a diplomatic disaster with a foreign princess.
“Vivi, honey. I’m not asking for much. Just these three things, alright? Just be careful with these three.”
“Yes, Miss. Whether Master Sasha and the princess hit it off is a separate issue. But if this turns into a diplomatic incident, we’re really in trouble.”
“Ugh, just the thought of it makes me sick.”
My mother shuddered.
“The princess is supposed to marry a nobleman of this empire, right? She doesn’t know anything yet, so what if she mistakes your behavior for our imperial customs?”
“Exactly, Miss. We can’t have her thinking that the future Duchess Grey is someone who doesn’t bathe properly and steals her brother’s pants.”
The way they were more terrified of my disgrace being exposed than my brother’s romantic fate told me all I needed to know about their priorities. I tried to reassure them.
“Don’t worry. I know when to act properly. Who just lies down and sleeps anywhere without checking the place first?”
“Oh, Miss, you sleep just fine in the most cramped spots.”
“Exactly. How many times have we had to wake you curled up asleep on the sofa?”
As they clearly disagreed with my self-assessment, I waved my hands in surrender. Honestly, the fact that they believed I’d actually pull any of those stunts with a royal guest in the house showed just how low their expectations of me were.
“A-alright, anyway! Just trust me, okay? I’ll behave.”
“Haa… Say it again. The three things you must never do!”
“Yes, Miss. Say them again, please.”
And just like that, I spent the whole night being harassed by Michelle and Mother.
