“His Majesty the Emperor has given an imperial decree.”
“A decree? What kind of decree?”
“It’s about giving Lady Lamont a palace.”
“…”
Pristin almost blacked out when she heard the servant.
‘What did I just hear?’
Granting a palace? Not a title or a land, but a “palace”?
Pristin, with a bewildered expression, was unable to say anything. But Claret, who had been listening to the conversation, clapped her hands. Pristin’s gaze naturally turned towards the princess.
Claret had a very satisfied expression on her face. Pristin had a foreboding feeling.
“As expected, my brother is so smart!”
“Pardon?”
“To grant a palace, of course!”
Claret said, smiling.
“To the benefactor who cared for and saved his younger sister, a mere title or estate would not be enough, right?”
Strictly speaking, even Claret couldn’t add the adverb “mere” to what she had just said.
A title or estate was not a trivial matter, and it would be difficult to bestow such honors unless there had been significant contributions.
“So, where is this palace being granted? Is it the Kreslin Palace? Or perhaps the Morpha Palace? It would be nice if it were near here.”
“Y, Your Highness.”
Pristin interrupted Claret before she could say more.
“This seems a bit inappropriate.”
“What do you mean?”
“To grant a palace. It is too extravagant for me.”
“But Pristin, surely you said you would stay at the imperial palace until just now?”
Claret asked with a voice of doubt.
“Did you change your mind? You said you’d write a contract, but…”
“No, that’s not it. What I meant to say was that I would temporarily stay here.”
“I see. So you can stay in the palace granted by Brother.”
“But… Are you telling me to use an entire palace?”
“Yes. Is there a problem?”
“But I’m not of noble blood. It’s impossible…”
“But you are a valuable guest, Pristin.”
“Even so…”
“I think Brother’s decree is very appropriate. It’s not excessive at all. Not at all.”
“Princess, but…”
“As I said earlier, Pristin has taken care of me throughout my exile. You even saved my life recently. Do you know how remarkable that is?”
“Of course, I cannot deny such contributions, but still…”
“One must repay their savior.”
Claret cut off Pristin’s words.
“This is the principle of our family, Pristin.”
It was a signal for Pristin to stop speaking.
Pristin looked at Claret, at a loss for words. Not only had the decree been given, but it seemed that Claret greatly approved of it.
Even if Pristin were to somehow convince Jerald to revoke the decree, Pristin had a feeling that Claret would oppose it. Pristin couldn’t hide her expression of frustration and a headache as she spoke.
“I had only planned to be a lady-in-waiting to the princess or stay here. What maid would use an entire palace for herself?”
“There are always exceptions.”
Claret had an attitude of indifference, as if it didn’t matter.
“I want to do whatever I can to make Pristin’s stay here as enjoyable as possible, just like how you took care of me during my exile.”
“…”
“That’s how I feel. Let me repay you, too.”
To that extent, even Pristin had nothing more to refute.
However, the idea that ‘this isn’t right’ still lingered in her mind.
‘Anyway, I’ll have to meet Jerald and talk about this in person.’
If it is known that a whole palace was being used, unnecessary rumors may arise. Of course, she didn’t care what bad rumors about her would go around, but she was afraid it would cause trouble for Jerald or Claret.
Wasn’t it the beginning of his reign? It was not a normal succession to the throne, so he should be more cautious.
“Your Highness, I have brought what you have asked for.”
Just in time, the maid brought paper and a pen. Claret picked it up with a grateful look and handed it to Pristin.
Pristin asked with a puzzled expression.
“So, what should I write here?”
“Until I give my permission.”
Claret smiled and stared at Pristin.
“You just need to write a contract stating that you won’t leave my side.”
It was the agreement they had reached earlier. But now, as Pristin reached out to take the paper and pen, she felt a strange unease.
It felt as if writing this document would bind her to the palace for the rest of her life…
‘No way.’
Pristin believed that Claret’s affection for her was merely a fleeting bond formed during her time in exile. Therefore, she had only agreed to a temporary stay (according to her own thoughts). But suddenly, she felt an unnecessary sense of anxiety about whether the princess might actually have long-lasting feelings for her.
It was during this hesitation that Claret, observing her hesitation, cautiously asked, “You haven’t changed your mind, have you?”
Pristin snapped out of her reverie.
‘…It can’t be.’
Pristin couldn’t fathom such a thing happening. Soon enough, Claret would show that she would be fine even without her.
‘She’s still young, after all.’
Moreover, young children get bored easily. So, it was just a pointless thought. So, concluding that it was a useless idea, Pristin moved her hand gracefully on the paper.
“There, I’m done.”
After a while, Pristin gave Claret a contract that she had finished writing.
“Wow!”
Claret, who received the contract, looked pleased. She instructed her maid to store the contract separately, then clapped her hands and said to Pristin.
“Well, now that we’ve sorted things out, why don’t we decide how to spend our time from now on?”
“Oh, wasn’t I supposed to stay here as Your Highness’s lady-in-waiting?”
“You’ll be staying here as my guest and friend. So, yes, you’ll be a lady-in-waiting, but… that term doesn’t feel quite right. After all, I didn’t hire you, Pristin.”
“In that case, what will be my role during my stay here…?”
“You just need to enjoy delicious meals prepared by the chef, listen to beautiful songs performed by talented musicians! And have fun, eat well, and sleep well with me!”
“Ah…”
However, Pristin’s expression was not just happy.
Confused by the sight, Claret asked.
“Why? Is there a problem?”
“No, it’s just.”
Pristin began to say, but she swallowed her words just in time. It was unnecessary to mention the fact that she couldn’t remember the last time she had such a leisurely lifestyle.
“And, occasionally, just talk to me.”
“I can do that every day if you’d like.”
“I’m glad you said so. I was worried you might find it bothersome.”
“I would never, Your Highness.”
“But you said you would leave.”
Claret said, in a slightly sullen voice.
“That’s why I thought so. Am I being a bother?”
“No, not at all.”
Pristin shook her head in a hurry.
“Now that I’ve written a contract, you can rest assured.”
“That’s right!”
Claret, who responded bravely, changed the subject as if she had forgotten for a moment.
“Oh, by the way, there was something I wanted to ask earlier.”
“Yes?”
“So, what kind of relationship did you have with my older brother?”
“…”
Ah, the princess had a subtle persistence to her. Pristin swallowed her dry spit with a look of bewilderment.
‘It will be difficult to hide any longer.’
Pristin was forced to open her mouth.
“The thing is…”
“The thing is…?”
“…In the past.”
Pristin went on with great difficulty.
“A few years ago, for a brief period… We dated.”
“…With my brother?”
The princess’s expression transformed into shock.
Pristin nodded. Claret murmured with an expression of disbelief.
“I’ve never heard of my brother dating anyone.”
Naturally, their meetings had taken place in a foreign country, which was why there had been no word about it in the royal court.
“Was it a secret romance?”
“Well, kind of…”
“Oh, I guess I wouldn’t have known then.”
Claret quickly came to terms with it and nodded her head.
“More than that, my brother is Pristin’s…”
“…”
“He’s an ex-boyfriend?”
“Yes, well…”
It was like that. As Pristin nodded, Claret’s face brightened quickly.
“Pristin!”
“Yes.”
“You were going to become my sister-in-law!”
“…What?”
Pristin asked, realizing that Claret had misunderstood something.
“Si-, what do you mean sister-in-law?”
“My brother’s wife is my sister-in-law, right?”
“No, that’s right.”
The title was correct, but…
“I ended my relationship with His Majesty the Emperor a long time ago, Your Highness.”
“The relationship ended?”
“It means we broke up.”
“Why did you break up?”
“That’s…”
Strictly speaking, Jerald was at fault for their split. But Pristin didn’t want to tell the truth. She fully realized the circumstances on why Jerald had to do so when she reunited with him today. Apart from the hatred and resentment that accompanied the process.
“It just happen to… That’s what happened.”
“Ah…”
Somehow, Claret, who had been expressing a hint of sorrow, asked Pristin with a hopeful tone.
“Do you have any intention of trying again?”
“With whom are you referring to? Surely not…”
“With my brother.”
“…How can I dare.”
“‘How dare you?’ You must have known before that he was the crown prince.”
Claret asked Pristin in confusion.
“So, being a crown prince is acceptable, but not being an emperor…?”
“No. That’s not the issue.”
Pristin answered, shaking her head.
“I didn’t know his identity when I met His Highness the Crown Prince.”
“Huh? Really?”
Claret widened her eyes in disbelief, as if questioning how that could be possible.
Pristin, realizing that the story was getting too long, quickly concluded the conversation.
“The important thing is that I have no intention of resuming the broken relationship with His Majesty.”
“Well, my brother can be as cold as an icy wind, but…”
“…”
“But he would treat his woman very well. Trust me, Pristin!”
Pristin knew that better than anyone else. However, getting involved with him again was out of the question. Not after knowing who he truly was. And not after she had fallen so far.
“And if you marry my brother, you can become an empress. You will become the most noble woman in the empire, Pristin.”
“I do not want a position like that, Your Highness.”
Pristin said sternly.
“I would appreciate it if Your Highness would stop talking about this.”
“…All right.”
Feeling the reluctance to continue the conversation, Claret took a step back with a crestfallen expression. However, her mind was already spinning in a complex web ever since she learned that the two of them had been in a romantic relationship.
‘They were like that…’
Realistically, it was impossible to keep Pristin in the palace without any official position.
There was a time limit to her services, after all. Above all, Claret disliked uncertainties.
‘If Pristin marries my brother and becomes empress, she can stay with me in the palace for the rest of her life.’
It was a wonderful plan. In her heart, she wanted to make Pristin a lifelong maid in the princess’s palace. However, seeing Pristin’s resistance to even a temporary stay, it was unrealistic.
‘The important thing is what my brother thinks.’
Although she had not yet asked, Claret predicted Jerald’s inclination would be highly positive.
‘If that’s not the case, what is the point of giving Pristin the palace?’
He obviously hasn’t forgotten his ex-lover.
Therefore, it is not to lower the title or the castle, but to lower the palace and live in the imperial palace.
So instead of changing her rank or status, he was letting her reside in the palace itself.
‘And Pristin didn’t blame herself for the break up.’
Claret knew that, due to Pristin’s character, she would have confessed honestly if they had broken up due to her fault. However, seeing that she evaded answering, there was a high possibility that they had broken up due to Jerald’s imputation.
‘I don’t know what that reason might be, though.’
For now, she would have to subtly pry into the matter.
“Your Royal Highness.”
At that time, a servant who had come from the central palace called out to Claret in a hushed voice.
“If it’s not an inconvenience, would it be all right to have Lady Lamont accompany me for a moment?”
Thank you!
Thank you for reading!