Pristin, who followed Aruvina to Camer Palace, was very embarrassed.
‘It’s right next to him.’
It was because the palace was located right next to the central palace where Jerald lived. It seemed obvious why he had chosen this palace.
‘How should I respond to such a clear decision?’
Pristin looked around the interior of the palace with a puzzled expression. It was very fancy and huge. She asked for a small palace, but it seemed that he just decided by distance. Pristin sighed inwardly.
“This is the room that the young lady will mainly use.”
Listening to Aruvina, Pristin entered a room.
As was the case outside the room, the appearance in the room was quite colorful and beautiful. Huge things seemed to be the default. Pristin looked puzzled as she looked at the bed where three people seemed to be able to sleep together, even if Pristin couldn’t.
“Am I going to use this room all by myself?”
“Yes, young lady. And…”
Aruvina bowed gracefully to Pristin.
“My name is Aruvina Korsol, who will serve the young lady in the future. Please feel free to call on me.”
“Thank you, Madame Korsol. But I think you were supposed to serve His Majesty…”
“Yes. I was working as a senior maid at the central palace.”
“…”
“As of this time, I will be the court lady of Camer Palace. I got promoted.”
Aruvina laughed, saying so optimistically. Pristin, not quite accustomed to her attitude, hesitated for a moment before asking.
“Since you’re serving someone like me, wouldn’t it be considered a demotion rather than a promotion?”
“Yes? Um, I don’t think so.”
“It would have been better for you to stay at the central palace.”
“But young lady, you are someone worth serving just as much.”
Aruvina spoke in a nonchalant tone.
“I heard that you have made a significant contribution to the exile of Her Highness.”
What significant contribution? Pristin felt her cheeks burning just from listening. She quickly denied it.
“It wasn’t that much.”
“What do you mean ‘it wasn’t that much’? I heard that before His Majesty sent the soldiers, you rescued Her Imperial Highness from a house covered in flames.”
“…”
When did the story spread again? Aruvina continued to recite various anecdotes without Pristin being able to say a word.
“I heard that you carried the unconscious princess out of the collapsing house after she took sleeping pills. And there was also a time when you caught and killed a snake that was threatening the princess’s life.”
“Well, where did you hear all that?”
“Her Highness the Princess informed everyone after her return to the palace.”
“…”
It was also the work of Claret.
‘Although everything she said is true.’
She had always brushed off those incidents as insignificant, so being treated like some kind of heroine made her feel embarrassed. As if to showcase this fact, Pristin’s cheeks had been red since earlier.
“And you seem to have a special relationship with His Majesty.”
“…Who did you hear that from?”
“Oh, no one told me. It’s just that when I came in, the atmosphere between the two of you seemed a bit peculiar.”
At that moment Pristin realized that she had made a slip of the tongue and shut up.
“In fact, it was just something I said in jest, but it seems my intuition was right.”
“…”
“I won’t dare to ask about the nature of your relationship. Nothing is more important than suppressing curiosity in the palace.”
The vague words made Pristin more ashamed. In addition to not knowing the details, Aruvina also seemed to have noticed that the two had a personal relationship in the past.
“Anyway, you must have been tired from coming a long way, you should take a bath first. I know you’re having dinner with Her Imperial Highness, and once you finish bathing, it should be the perfect timing. I’ll arrange for the maids to attend to you.”
“Thank you.”
Pristin answered briefly, and then called Aruvina back as if she had almost forgotten something.
“Well, Madame Korsol.”
“Yes, lady.”
Aruvina immediately turned around and said.
“Please go ahead.”
“…”
But even after those words were heard, Pristin hesitated for a moment.
“Well…”
“What I guessed is a secret.”
When she said what she wanted to say instead, Pristin looked a little surprised.
Aruvina grinned and said to Pristin’s innocent response.
“In the palace, if you misspeak, it could cost you your life. You don’t have to worry.”
───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────
There were a lot of maids in Pristin’s care.
For now, five people were put into the bath alone. Aruvina said there would be about ten maids to attend to Pristin at Camer Palace.
She said this number was also small, but Pristin did not think so. Even before her family fell, she considered such a number to be excessive. Nevertheless, after thoroughly bathing and changing into an expensive dress, she headed to the princess’s palace.
“Pristin!”
When she went to the dinner room, Claret welcomed Pristin in a different dress from before. Claret’s appearance inside the palace was much more lovely and beautiful than in exile. Pristin greeted Claret with courtesy, smiling.
“I see Your Highness, the star of the empire.”
“You don’t have to use such a formal greeting between us. It’s awkward.”
It was the same line she heard before. The situation felt like déjà vu, resembling a decalcomanie*.
[*TN: Koreans use the word to show resemblance between something – or in this case, people. Something that is the same but at the same time different.]
…As if they aren’t siblings.
“You didn’t do that in exile.”
“Well, it was a place of exile.”
“Even now, we are just two individuals.”
So Claret asked Pristin to be more comfortable.
“I hope the Pristin from that time and the Pristin now are the same person.”
“But there are eyes watching. It’s difficult not to observe formality, Your Highness.”
“Still, when it’s just the two of us, treat me like we were in exile. Okay?”
“If that’s what you want, I’ll do that.”
Pristin nodded helplessly. After a while, the two sat down at the table, opposite each other. The attendants carried the dishes to the table endlessly and set them up. Pristin felt a new emotion as she watched the lavish dishes.
Their meals had never been so fancy. So, having a meal befitting of Claret was a first for them. It was when Pristin took a bite of the potato salad in front of her.
“How is it? Is it good?”
Claret asked eagerly, looking at Pristin. Pristin responded with a smile on her face, just like before.
“I’ve only had a bite of potato salad, but it’s delicious, Your Highness.”
“That’s great! Salad is always important. It makes the following dishes taste even better.”
Claret smiled brightly and then picked up the salmon canapé in front of her. A happy smile passed by Claret’s mouth after a delicious bite. Pristin, who was looking at the figure, said casually.
“Exile must have been very difficult for you.”
“Huh? Me?”
“Yes. After eating only delicious things like this, you suddenly ate my humble cooking…”
“Huh? No, Pristin.”
Claret wiped her mouth with a napkin and lowered her head.
“Pristin, you were such a great cook. Every dish was excellent.”
“But compared to the palace chefs, my skills were nothing special.”
“But there was no dish that had as much care put into it as the ones you made.”
Claret, who followed Pristin’s tone, continued with a smile.
“It was probably the first time in my life that I had such a sincere meal. You can be proud of your cooking. Pristin’s dishes are the best.”
“I am honored by your kind words, Your Highness.”
“Although the memories of exile were undoubtedly terrible, if there’s something to remember from that time, it’s all thanks to you, Pristin.”
Claret continued, looking a little shy.
“Someday, when we left exile and returned to my rightful place… I promised myself that I would tell you. Pristin, you were an important presence to me back then.”
It was a words that made Pristin feel overwhelmingly happy and proud. A gentle smile crossed her lips.
“I’m at a loss because you like me so much.”
“Of course, Pristin! I really like Pristin!”
“Thank you for liking me.”
“And this is just the beginning.”
The last word sounded rather significant. Just as Pristin was about to ask what she meant by that, Claret’s question pierced her ears.
“Do you enjoy dancing more?”
“Dancing?”
Pristin looked puzzled at the sudden question.
“I don’t particularly… love it or hate it. I just dance occasionally when I get the chance.”
“When you get the chance? Perfect!”
“What’s going on?”
“Probably next month or the month after, there will be a ball.”
Claret spoke with a bright expression.
“It’ll be the first ball since my brother ascended to the throne. I’m so excited!”
“Good for you, Your Highness. It seems you enjoy balls.”
“Yes, I love parties.”
Claret chuckled and glanced at Pristin.
“And Pristin will accompany me to the ball.”
‘I…What?’
Pristin blinked her bewildered eyes. In response to her reaction, Claret widened her eyes and asked.
“Did you think you weren’t going to go?”
“Uh… it’s just that it’s unexpected.”
Pristin replied with an awkward voice.
“Going to a ball is a very rare event for me. Moreover, I’m not sure if it’s appropriate for me to be there…”
“What are you talking about, Pristin? I’m sure everyone wants to see you.”
Claret retorted with a voice that implied there was no doubt.
“Pristin, you’re the hero who took care of the princess and even saved her life during exile! I’m sure by now, everyone is curious about your face. I’m certain!”
“Haha…”
Pristin smiled with embarrassment. The huge title of “hero who cared for the exiled princess and saved her life” was a title she first heard today, but every time she heard it, she became embarrassed. She thought it would take quite some time to get used to it, and then Pristin spoke.
“If you wish for me to attend, I will. However, I must admit that my dancing skills are not that impressive, so I worry that I might not be worthy of being in the presence of the princess.”
“Oh, don’t worry about that. It’s fine. If you’re really concerned, you can practice dancing until the ball! I’ll introduce you to a teacher.”
After casually replying, Claret smoothly transitioned to the question she had been wanting to ask.
“By the way, if you attend the ball, you’ll need a partner.”
“Oh, a partner…”
“Yeah! Do you have someone in mind?”
…There’s no way. Pristin had just visited the palace for the first time today.
Claret quietly waited for Pristin’s response, and then she uttered the next line.
“Well, maybe you don’t know anyone, but there is one person!”
“Huh? Who might that be…”
As Pristin was about to ask who it was, she suddenly thought of someone and narrowed her eyes.
“Could it be… His Majesty the Emperor?”
