The hallway was pitch black.
Within it, the Forbidden Room that had existed in the Palace since the day the Duchy of Guinevere was born – had its doors opened. It was a room known to have been closed by the first Queen of Guinevere.
“Princess, if the Grand Duke finds out…!”
“You must have realized from the moment the door opened. My father isn’t a forgiving man, he won’t be pleased if he catches us doing this.”
Katie clung closely to Hilaria from behind.
“Are you still going in? Oh dear, my Princess!”
Katie trembled and looked around.
In the hallway at dawn, where everyone else was asleep, with not even a single ant to be seen: the Grand Duke would surely come and drag them away by the neck if he caught wind of their plan.
Katie locked the door and walked slowly to stall for as much time as possible.
Regardless of whether she felt fear, Hilaria ran across the room without hesitation.
Hilaria’s slender, white hands shone with golden brilliance even though there was no light source. Soon, golden butterflies began to fly and circle Hilaria.
The temperature of the room began to rise thanks to the butterflies fluttering wings as they hovered around Hilaria. Using their light as her guide, Hilaria made her way to the center of the room.
A marble the size of a baby’s fist was floating in the center of the room, which had until then been considered empty. The marble pulsed with a strange vitality. It looked red, then gold, or even silver.
The marble swayed as if it were breathing. Katie clutched the hem of Hilaria’s skirt in fear.
Hilaria reached out towards the marble. The magical power flowing from the marble so close to her palm was too strong for Hilaria to handle.
It looked like it was suffocating.
“This is it..…”
It was a secret handed down to the Duchy of Guinevere, and it was their origin. These Marbles of Origin had existed for a very long time. The marble was beating like a heart; each wave swept through Hilaria and Katie before spreading out into the room.
The butterflies circling her flapped their wings quickly, preventing her from getting pushed away from the waves. Butterflies that were once beautiful began to show their teeth like wild beasts.
“It’s okay.”
Hilaria let out her energy to calm the butterflies, who settled somewhat. Hilaria was now about to break Guinevere’s taboo.
To glimpse into the future.
She held a crumpled letter in her left hand. Hilaria glanced at it and stretched out her right hand toward the marble again.
The marble that had seemed to reject Hilaria accepted her this time. It felt as if it was resonating with her.
“Princess!”
Katie watched Hilaria as she was pulled towards the marble.
“N… No, no! No!!!”
There, Hilaria tasted hell. She saw herself struggling with despair as if her heart was being torn from her chest. Hilaria stepped back to avoid the red liquid soaking her feet, but she couldn’t help but fall.
That was the future that would be experienced if the Emperor refused to lend his aid: if she didn’t enter the Palace as an Empress.
No one would help her.
The Imperial Palace did not forgive the Duchy of Guinevere for refusing the Emperor’s favor. The wheat beneath the sickle of the reaper, a scapegoat of war. Guinevere, who guarded the Empire’s western border, fell under the swords of tens of thousands of troops.
***
The carriage carrying Hilaria stopped in front of the gate of the Imperial Palace, its maw-like entrance open like an anglerfish.
“We have to walk from here. They say that carriages are not allowed inside the Imperial Palace, Miss.”
Hilaria blinked.
“Miss?”
Hilaria’s maid, Katie, sighed deeply.
“Miss!”
Eventually, only after Katie reached out and shook Hilaria’s body hard did she come to her senses.
“Have we arrived?”
“Yes, Miss. It took 3 hours.…”
Katie pulled out a handkerchief and patted Hilaria’s lips.
“You know I get motion sickness in a carriage.”
“And I know that’s an excuse. Let’s get off now, Miss.”
Hilaria giggled and nodded. Katie looked back at Hilaria, confused, realizing that no one had come to greet her.
‘As expected, no one came to greet me.’
Katie was very excited about the wedding, but only duty occupied Hilaria’s thoughts.
Marriage to the Emperor was something that every young girl would have hoped for at least once…
But not Hilaria Guinevere.
She came all the way here solely for Guinevere, willing to become the Emperor’s hostage.
She was here for the wedding, and there was no way she could feel any excitement from just entering the Palace. Especially knowing neither she nor the Emperor was sincere about this marriage.
It was not until Hilaria got out of the carriage that a man dressed in a suit came out of the Imperial Palace with neatly slicked back hair.
“Greetings, Lady Hilaria. My name is Svein, Vladislav’s Emperor’s vassal. Welcome to the Imperial Palace.”
The man’s smile was as neat as his appearance. However, Hilaria couldn’t be deceived so easily.
‘Svein. Isn’t he the Emperor’s dog?’
He is a man who would do anything the Emperor told him to do.
‘Last month, I heard that Empress Venice was taken from the Imperial Palace as a corpse and that he was the one responsible.’
Rumors of Svein’s cruelty and frightening meticulousness, along with his skills with a blade, had been circulating in the Duchy.
‘That’s all I know about him….’
The men of Guinevere, who lived and thrived in the wastelands, were frequently invaded by Zakari, honed their skills, and raised their swordsmanship to levels matching even someone like him.
Instead, Hilaria snorted inwardly.
“Yes. Perhaps my carriage arrived quicker than expected because the weather was so good. So, fortunately for me, I was able to arrive on time for my appointment.”
Svein already knew she was on time… but then understood, raising his eyebrows when he realized he had arrived late.
Svein smiled as if he had painted it on.
“It’s indeed a nice day, isn’t it? I will take you to Vladislav now. Also, I will show you where you will be staying.”
Hilaria followed gracefully.
‘The Imperial Palace is a place where people live… well.’
Katie followed Hilaria, who was not nervous at all, with anxious eyes.
“Miss, Miss!!!”
“It is indeed a lovely day. I can’t believe I’m at the entrance of the Imperial Palace. Doesn’t it look like we’re on a picnic?”
“A picnic?”
“Yes. They say the landscape of the Imperial Palace is so beautiful. It’s lovely, and I see it perfectly matches your reputation.”
Katie shook her head. Hilaria’s boldness had always made her tongue stick out.
“Are you not worried? Aren’t you afraid?”
Hilaria glanced back and grinned.
‘Afraid?’
She had already seen more filth than this. The heads of her beloved family and friends rolling to the floor, and their blood soaking Hilaria’s toes. The Palace of Guinevere, where she had lived all her life, was burned and desolated, and Hilaria stood alone.
She was the only one who survived in the future that Hilaria had secretly seen. No one listened to her voice when she cried and crawled on the ground.
There, she stood looking at the future Hilaria.
It was such a terrible feeling that she wanted to vomit her heart out. It would have been better if she had died, but she survived alone.
A future shown by magic tools always comes to pass. And this was the future that it had shown her. A future where she refused this arranged marriage, and the Duchy of Guinevere lost the Empire’s protection.
So Hilaria chose to marry the Emperor for the sake of Guinevere. Hilaria was ready to risk her life for Guinevere, her loving family, and her hometown.
Feeling rejected everywhere else, her home and heritage were like a cradle where she could rest comfortably.
‘I won’t let anyone ruin it.’
‘I chose a different path, so I had no regrets or fears.’
‘I’ll walk on my own two feet!’
There is nothing but firm determination.
***
The Imperial Palace was built like a maze.
Within, the place where Hilaria would stay; the West Wing of Vladislav. The Emperor’s bedroom was in the East Wing, so encountering him was almost impossible.
When she first entered the Palace, she had sent all the guards and maids back to Guinevere except Katie. The Emperor had commanded it.
Svein took Hilaria back to the hall where the maids were waiting. One of Vladislav’s West Wings buildings connected by a bridge fell to Hilaria’s share.
The maid that reminded her of Svein bowed her head in front of Hilaria.
“This is the Steel Rose Palace in the West Wing. It is one of the most beautiful palaces in the West Building. Your Majesty the Emperor is presenting the beautiful majesty of this place to the Lady of Guinevere.”
Hilaria looked around.
‘As she is the Princess of Guinevere, I should try and act sincere and enthusiastic.’
It’s not like Hilaria couldn’t read her intentions.
If Hilaria had been treated poorly here, Guinevere would be allowed to raise a complaint with the Imperial Family, but it wouldn’t be worth it.
“I am Celeste, the head maid in the Steel Rose Palace. From now on, I will serve you.”
“Please take good care of me. Celeste, this is Katie. She is a maid whom I spent my childhood with; please take good care of her as well.”
“Yes, Miss. Let me show you to your bedroom first.”
The bedroom….
‘Are you spending the first night with the Emperor?’
It was, after all, a concubine’s wedding, yet it went unspoken. The marriage paper that Hilaria signed a week ago was really all she had.
Hilaria laughed softly.
It was natural that she had to spend the first night with the Emperor today. Katie glanced doubtfully at Hilaria, who was following Celeste.
She was not the Hilaria who would sit still when faced with injustice. Why else would she be called the Princess of the Dukedom?
Whether she knew her or not, Hilaria’s steps were light.
‘One head maid and five maids.’
It was quite generous.
The bedroom was located in the center of the main hall on the second floor, and it seemed to be twice as spacious as Hilaria’s room in Guinevere.
While Hilaria looked around, Celeste signaled to the maids. Pre-prepared hangers and jewelry boxes came in.
Meanwhile, Hilaria examined the curtains embroidered with red silk and gold thread. The scented candles lit all over the room seemed to tell a complete story of tonight’s plans.
They seemed to be intended to create an eerie atmosphere.
Hilaria wrinkled her nose.
However, this smell would not stimulate or affect Hilaria.
Initially, Guinevere was famous for their swordsmanship, but it was also renowned for handling medicinal herbs masterfully. Since she was young, she has been exposed to many incenses and herbs, developing a tolerance for all kinds of drugs, fragrances, and poisons.
Hilaria grinned and relaxed her grip on the curtain of the bed, and walked towards the side where Celeste was waiting.
‘You did a great job.’
Celeste, who wasn’t sure what Hilaria was thinking, glanced at her and said,
“You were born with the characteristics of a northerner, so you have a particularly fair complexion. Any dress would suit you.”
The maid, Celeste, concluded.
“How about red?”
Hilaria nodded quietly. Sooner or later, she would subdue her pride, and she would be made to lie down at Hilaria’s feet.
When Celeste clapped her hands, the maids moved in unison. Hangers with red dresses came to the front, and they varied in size and design.
“I’ve brought you a dress, so how about trying to wear it?” replied Celeste, expressionless.
“Here in Vladislav, you can never wear what you have brought with you.”
Celeste blinked, and the maids took a dress and turned it over. A pink flower was embroidered on the inside near the chest of the dress.
“This is a symbol of Vladislav. His Majesty the Emperor uses purple, Her Majesty the Empress red, and the concubines use pink flowers. The grandchildren use yellow. It is against the law of the Imperial Palace to wear clothes that are not embroidered with these flowers.”
Hilaria nodded at Celeste’s remark.
‘I think there are all kinds of annoying laws.’
‘Did they do this so I can’t change my mind?’
There were also poisons that acted when they came in contact with the skin.
‘Hmm, what does it take to buy the tailor.…’
Celeste had no idea what Hilaria was thinking.
Hilaria knew she was not someone who got bullied but the one who tricked and pranked others. And Celeste’s words became useful information for Hilaria.
“You will have to study a lot in the future. If you want to see His Majesty more often…”
Hilaria, quietly listening to Celeste, smiled and looked back at her.
“Did you say your name was Celeste, the maid who will serve me?”
“Yes,” replied Celeste politely.
Hilaria’s shoe steps resonated as she walked to look through the hangers full of dresses. The dress she brushed with her hands shook with a rustle.
It was a trivial act, but suddenly, it felt like Hilaria filled the room with an aura of intimidation. The atmosphere she was creating stifled the air in the room, making it almost hard to breathe.
However, Hilaria’s voice was as light and soft as the wind on a spring day.
“I am a simple person. That’s what most of the people in Guinevere are like.”
Hilaria’s eyes gleamed with vigor as she looked back at Celeste, and her heart began pounding.
She entered the Imperial Palace as a maid at the age of 18 and has served for 20 years. And besides, this was the fifth concubine of the Emperor. One of them had died, and the others had left the Imperial Palace.
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But, this is the first time she has seen a person like this.
Celeste’s throat was choking with anxiety.
Hilaria spoke in a dazing voice fueling Celeste’s anxiety further.
She said the words that made everyone’s heart drop, including Celeste’s.
“I don’t desire to look good in front of the Emperor. Or have a son, or live in this Palace any longer than I have to.”