In one of the rooms bathed in the enchanting sunlight that streamed through the silky curtains, Amelia, the maid, was tending to me with great care. Since entering this room, I have been stunned by everything around me. Is this truly the life of the nobility? I, who grew up in a world far removed from this luxury and opulence, couldn't help but mutter: "My God, this warm bath... and the fragrant scents filling the air."
But while I relished these rare moments, Amelia was taking great care of my hair, giving it attention and delicate touches. "Don't move now, Serafina. I want to prepare you as befits a future bride."
She was so strict, but I couldn't deny that she was a professional in her work. With every touch, new thoughts would swirl in my mind. But this corset... it's choking me! And this dress?! Every layer of it makes me look like a giant balloon!
"Amelia, I think I'll suffocate if you keep tightening this dress!" I screamed, but Amelia didn't seem particularly affected. "It's for your beauty, my lady, don't worry. You'll get used to it."
I closed my eyes slightly, trying to adjust to this new treatment. But at that moment, the maid knocked on the door and said: "Countess Adeline has arrived."
Countess Adeline! My heart leaped. Is our meeting going to be like this?
Countess Adeline entered with firm steps, her features stern. She was a tall woman, with sharp facial features but a natural beauty that couldn't be ignored. Her blonde hair was elegantly styled down her back, and she wore a luxurious dress made from shimmering fabrics that no one else could carry.
"Well, Serafina, it's time to start your lessons. I know you're not quite ready for this, but there's no time to delay."
Her voice was sharp, like a knife cutting through the silence of the room. I struggled to hold back a smile, reminded of the strict teachers of old-fashioned schools.
But then she said: "Don't think I'm here to be nice to you. Nothing is built on kindness, future bride. A bride must be more than just a beautiful face, she must be strong, capable of ruling this palace."
I couldn't hold back, so I asked in a low voice, even though I feared being scolded: "Is this the first lesson? To be strong?"
Countess Adeline turned her head toward me and said: "Yes, girl. Those without strength in this world have no place."
Then, as I tried to digest her harsh words, the conversation shifted to the Evermore family, the empire's most powerful family.
"The Evermore family... In fact, they are the family behind our power. But they don't trust me, and I can't blame them." Countess Adeline said in a calm tone, despite her stern expression. "They don't like interference in their affairs, but in any case, we are here... and we will stay with them as long as they trust us."
I watched her closely, realizing that she was carrying a heavier burden than it appeared. "Is there something we should do about them?" I asked in a low voice, feeling a tinge of worry seep into my heart.
"Don't say that. We have no choice." Countess Adeline replied, then stood up suddenly and said: "It's time to start your first lesson. You will learn, no doubt. But you must endure the hardship."
As she walked out, I felt like the weight of the world had fallen on my shoulders. Am I ready for this?
But at that moment, Amelia came to me and said with a small smile: "Don't worry, everything will get better. And you don't look like a balloon, you look like a princess."
A princess? I simply couldn't believe it.
In the flower-filled garden that looked like a carefully painted masterpiece, the colors of the flowers blended with the sunlight reflecting off the golden vases placed before us. On the table, luxurious sweets sat, like an invitation for indulgence in the pleasures of the world.
Despite the beauty of the scene, I felt a twinge inside. Countess Adeline's gaze was sharp and fixed on me, as if she were reading my thoughts and judging every movement I made.
"You must control yourself," she said in a calm voice, yet filled with authority. "Sit properly, today's lesson is about table manners."
Her voice carried a tone of firmness, warning me that any mistake could be held against me. I tried to adjust my posture, took a deep breath, but all I could think about was the sweets in front of me, almost forgetting myself amidst the temptation.
"I chose to have the lesson outdoors because the environment affects human behavior. The place teaches us more than we expect."
I nodded hesitantly, trying to understand her words. Though she was right, I was still trapped in my memories. My previous life had been completely different. I lived by a strict system, refraining from sweets, following a harsh diet just to gain the attention of the one I loved. But now? I didn't feel the need for any of that.
"Remember, always sit straight while eating, and don't let your back bend."
Her voice brought me out of my reverie, and I tried my best to follow her instructions.
"You must eat without making any noise. And most importantly, don't fill your mouth with food. Eat everything in moderation."
As I tried to focus on her instructions, I felt the presence of someone watching us. I turned slightly and saw a shadow approaching with steady and confident steps. The countess quickly stood to greet the newcomer with a slight bow.
"Greetings to the sun of the empire, His Royal Highness, Prince Charles Alexander Evermore."
Time seemed to freeze for me. It was him! The man with deep brown eyes, the one I had seen just a few days ago in that strange dream when I woke up in this body.
His gaze was steady, carrying a cold charm and an irresistible authority. His sharp features gave him an undeniable dignity, and his royal attire completed that perfect image.
He responded to the countess's greeting with a slight gesture of his hand, as if his voice was a luxury he would not grant to just anyone.
But the countess, who usually was strict with me, seemed displeased with my presence, shooting me a look that meant a lot.
I felt nervous, quickly standing and bowing slightly, trying to speak in a steady voice: "…Greetings to the sun of the empire."
He paused for a moment, then said in a cold voice, yet with a hint of hidden warmth: "Enough with the greetings. Sit down, Miss Sira."
Sira? He shortened my name like that? I was surprised by his direct and unexpectedly friendly manner, but his smile, though barely visible, made me swallow any questions I had in my mind and sit down quietly.
As I tried to sit upright according to the countess's instructions, my mind was completely disoriented. Prince Charles's piercing gaze made me feel like a child who had made a grave mistake. I tried to focus on the sweets in front of me to calm my nerves.
"Miss Sira," he said in a calm voice, yet his authority made me flinch. I quickly raised my head to him, so much so that I bumped into the glass in front of me, spilling the tea onto the silk tablecloth.
"Ah! I'm sorry! I didn't mean…!"
I quickly tried to clean up the mess with a small napkin, but my nervous hands made things worse, and a small piece of candy flew directly toward the prince's royal coat.
Time froze again. The countess looked at me in shock, as if planning to send me into exile, while the prince remained silent, staring at the small candy that had landed on the collar of his royal coat.
"Well..." he said calmly, lifting the candy with his hand. "I suppose this is better than the royal anthem as a greeting."
His tone was slightly mocking, as if testing my ability to respond. I felt embarrassed, but I couldn't stop myself: "At least... it will be a sweet greeting!"
The countess froze, but she stifled a small laugh, while the prince raised an eyebrow, then let out a light, unexpected chuckle. "You have a unique style, Miss Sira. But please, don't try to feed me candy again."
My face turned red, but I felt that this moment had broken the ice between us.
As I tried hard to follow the countess's instructions on eating calmly while under the scrutiny of the prince's piercing gaze, something unexpected happened. The sound of slow footsteps cut through the quiet of the garden.
I raised my head hesitantly and saw a young man approaching us with slow, confident steps. He was tall, and his clothes exuded a refined elegance that couldn't be mistaken. His silver eyes sparkled in the sunlight, and his long black hair was carefully tied behind his head. He was such a captivating sight that I couldn't take my eyes off him.
"Valen Lucres Draconia, heir to the Marquisate," he said in a deep voice, bowing slightly before the countess, then shifting his gaze to me directly. "Finally, I meet the young lady everyone has been talking about."
I froze in place, unable to respond. His gaze was intriguing, yet it carried a mysterious warmth that made one want to know more.
Before I could say a word, the countess raised her voice, trying to break the tension: "Marquis Draconia, we did not expect your visit at this time."
He smiled a side smile, then said confidently: "I couldn't miss the opportunity to meet Serafina. It seems she's causing quite a stir in the empire."
His words were enough to ignite an invisible tension in the air. Crown Prince Charles, who had remained silent all this time, calmly raised his gaze to him, but his eyes reflected something like a warning:
"Valen, the garden is not the place for your theatrical performances."
Valen turned to him and smiled lightly, as if challenging him: "Theatrical performances? I don't think praising beauty counts as a performance, does it, Your Highness?"
"Then... you should know your place."
I couldn't stop myself from feeling that I had become caught in the middle of a silent battle between two powerful men. Each of them had an unmatched presence, but in completely different ways.
Valen took another step toward me, then said in a barely audible voice: "But I think I will stay for a while, there's much to discover here."
The atmosphere in the garden was charged with a heavy kind of silence, as if the wind had stopped moving to watch the scene. While the Countess was correcting my posture and giving me strict instructions, Valen took another step toward the table. His movement was calm, but every step seemed to cast a heavy shadow on the place.
"Serafina," he said my name in a sweet tone, but it carried something strange, as though every letter was being tested. "Have you gotten used to this new life?"
I hesitated for a moment. The question seemed simple, but it was strange in its timing. I couldn't understand whether it was genuine interest or an attempt to provoke me. I tried to respond confidently, though my trembling hand on the napkin revealed otherwise.
"I... I'm trying to adjust."
He looked at me for a long moment, then smiled, a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. "That's good. Adaptation is a valuable skill, especially when you find yourself suddenly in the middle of a game larger than yourself."
His words seemed ordinary, but they carried a deeper meaning I couldn't decipher.
"Game?" I muttered to myself in a barely audible voice, but Crown Prince Charles was quicker to respond.
"Valen," he said in a cold voice, his tone carrying an indirect warning, "Don't you think such topics are inappropriate here?"
"On the contrary," Valen said with a side smile, shifting his gaze between me and Charles. "I think knowing the rules of the game is far more important than eating sweets. Don't you think so, Miss Serafina?"
I felt like I was trapped between them. Charles' sharp gaze made me feel guilty, as if he were asking me not to be swayed by Valen's words. As for Valen, his calm smile was full of mystery, as though he were testing me.
"I... I think I need more time to understand everything." I tried to appear confident, but my voice carried an obvious hesitation.
Valen tilted his head slightly, as though assessing my response. "Time, yes. But it's not always on our side."
I felt uncomfortable with their words and wanted to break the tension in any way. I smiled nervously and said: "I think sweets are the best way to understand the rules of the table, at least!"
That was a mistake.
Valen laughed lightly, but his laughter carried a hint of mockery, while Charles sighed quietly, as though losing patience with me. The Countess, for her part, raised her eyebrow in clear frustration.
"At least you have a sense of humor," Valen said, extending his hand for a small piece of candy, but he stopped before taking it. "But don't make yourself just a piece on the playing table."
His final look at me made me feel a slight shiver. There was a warning in his words, but I couldn't determine the reason or meaning.
As he turned to leave, he said in a barely audible voice: "It would be a shame to let such a gem fall into dishonest hands."
I froze in place. Was he referring to me? Or did his words carry a deeper meaning I didn't understand?
... End of the chapter