5. …Is This a New Kind of Bullying?
“You’re telling me to wear this?”
Anette never imagined she’d end up complaining about clothes in her life, and she was flustered by her own reaction.
In front of her lay a pale pink dress adorned with lace and frills.
The nightgown she’d worn earlier had already felt floaty and burdensome, but seeing this dress made her realize the nightgown had actually been the more modest option.
‘It’s even prettier than the ones Brigitte used to wear as a child…’
Its subtle sheen clearly showed it was made from expensive fabric, and when she touched it, the soft texture far exceeded her expectations.
Perhaps because of the powers passed down through generations, daughters were rare in the Alkan imperial family, and it was well known that no princesses had been born.
Even now, the Emperor and Empress only had a crown prince—so where had they suddenly found this elaborate children’s dress?
“Her Majesty the Empress said that Her Highness the Princess would look very adorable in it—ah, I apologize.”
The maid, startled by her own slip of the tongue while answering Anette’s question, hastily covered her mouth and then quickly corrected herself with a serious face.
“She personally selected it, saying it would suit you well.”
“…I see.”
Anette, who had grown used to scorn and mockery, didn’t find the remark rude at all.
She looked curiously at the flustered maid and nodded.
After all, since it was chosen by the Empress herself, she couldn’t refuse.
‘I’m only borrowing it anyway, so asking for something else would be unreasonable.’
Besides, the dress looked so complicated that she couldn’t imagine putting it on by herself. In the end, Anette had to ask the maids to help her change.
Embarrassed by her emaciated body, with ribs slightly visible, she kept her gaze lowered as she was dressed. Once done, the maids began trimming her long hair, which reached down to her hips, to a prettier length.
As Anette was being gently groomed for the first time in her life by the cautious hands of the maids, she found herself lost in thought.
‘…Is this a new kind of bullying?’
✧ ✧ ✧
“I’ll introduce myself again. I’m Charlotte, the Empress of the Alkan Empire.”
After finally changing her clothes, Anette was guided not to the audience chamber or reception room, but to a banquet hall.
From healthy dishes easy to digest to gourmet cuisine that made her mouth water just by looking at it—Anette was briefly entranced by the lavish table before Empress Charlotte’s voice snapped her out of it.
Startled, she looked up, only to see Charlotte burst into a soft laugh.
Despite being the mother of an eight-year-old son—just like the Emperor—Charlotte’s refreshing smile made it hard to believe.
Something about the way the Empress kept smiling at her made Anette feel oddly ticklish inside, and she blushed as she apologized.
“I’m sorry.”
“No need to be. You traveled all the way from the kingdom—it’s only natural to be hungry. Please, eat.”
“…Thank you.”
Relieved by Charlotte’s words, Anette nodded more comfortably.
But she had no experience with such extravagant tables, so she had no idea where to start.
What’s more, she was used to eating alone in a tent during her campaigns, so dining face-to-face with someone felt unfamiliar and awkward.
‘Good thing the Emperor isn’t here…’
Just then, Charlotte began with the steaming soup in front of her.
Anette quickly followed her lead, scooping up a spoonful and bringing it to her lips.
Gulp. The moment it touched her tongue, the flavor filled her mouth.
The warm, smooth soup slid down her throat, and her already-weakened body felt even more relaxed.
Maybe… her guard dropped along with it.
Anette glanced at the Empress, who was now nibbling on a fresh salad.
Their eyes met, and Charlotte smiled again, her eyes gentle and kind.
There wasn’t a trace of contempt or hostility.
If anything, there was a hint of affection.
Perhaps because she had spent her entire life surrounded by negative gazes, Anette was extra sensitive to such feelings—and this unexpected warmth left her flustered.
She even felt guilty for suspecting earlier that the Empress was mocking her.
As an unfamiliar and strange emotion swelled in her chest, Anette lowered her gaze and took another spoonful of soup.
Just then—
“When it’s just the two of us, you can call me Charlotte.”
“Cough! Cough…!”
Startled by the sudden intimacy, Anette choked and coughed, but Charlotte kindly handed her a handkerchief and pressed on firmly.
“We’ll be family soon, so I hope we can be close.”
Anette’s pupils widened in shock.
‘Family?’
Though she had come to the Empire to marry the Grand Duke of Harzent, she had never once thought of gaining a family from it.
Charlotte, seeing the dazed expression on Anette’s face, gave an awkward smile, wondering if she’d gone too far.
Just then—
“His Majesty the Emperor enters!”
Lucius strode into the banquet hall and sat beside Charlotte, offering an apology.
“Sorry I’m late. I had to quickly inform the Grand Duke after confirming the princess’s identity…”
As he continued speaking naturally, he paused and tilted his head.
He had sensed a strange tension between Anette and Charlotte, who were seated across the table.
“Did something happen?”
“Nothing at all, Your Majesty.”
Thankfully, Charlotte broke the awkward silence first and asked,
“More importantly, what did the Grand Duke say? Did he say he’d depart immediately upon hearing that Lady Hayworth is here?”
“Well…”
Watching Lucius hesitate, Anette felt her mind go cold.
Her heart, which had been racing like a child’s, slowly settled.
A warm bath, a thoughtful meal, the kindness of those around her—
For a brief moment, she’d been under a dangerous illusion.
‘As if I were someone truly welcomed here…’
But she wasn’t Brigitte—Hayworth’s treasure, beloved by the people.
Even so, Anette straightened her back.
She wasn’t Brigitte, but she had come as the kingdom’s representative and would carry herself with dignity.
And so—
“The Grand Duke is currently away subjugating monsters. He likely never expected Hayworth to send the engagement contract in the princess’s hand. I did send word to his estate, but since we don’t know when the hunt will end… it may take some time for him to arrive in the capital.”
“I understand.”
Anette nodded calmly, showing no hint of disappointment—as if she hadn’t expected anything to begin with.
Her nonchalant response made Lucius look a bit sheepish.
Having spent more time with Anette, Charlotte guessed her feelings and spoke gently.
“My lady, the Grand Duke will surely come as soon as he hears the news.”
“I’m all right, Your Majesty.”
Anette smiled faintly, trying to reassure Charlotte.
“Monster outbreaks are always sudden. My subordinates—no, the royal knights of Hayworth—also left on an urgent subjugation not long ago.”
In truth, Anette suspected the Grand Duke was simply avoiding her.
But not wanting to disappoint someone who had shown her rare kindness, she said otherwise.
It wasn’t a complete lie either. The royal knights had left for subjugation shortly before the Empire requested an alliance.
“Thank you for being so understanding, Princess.”
“I’ve had monster hunting experience too.”
Anette lowered her gaze and murmured shyly.
“Besides, looking like this… I wouldn’t want to face him anyway.”
“…Hm?”
Lucius blinked in confusion at her comment.
Charlotte, too, looked perplexed.
Lucius chuckled, thinking Cardine would be furious if he heard this.
Anette misinterpreted his laughter as a polite gesture and asked,
“Since the topic came up… may I ask? Is it true I was discovered looking like this?”
The once-gentle atmosphere instantly tensed.
Lucius dropped his smile and nodded.
“A soldier at the gate reported that a child collapsed after handing over an envelope with the imperial seal. If not for the engagement contract and your red hair, no one would’ve guessed your identity.”
Already expecting the answer, Anette sighed and turned to Charlotte.
“You asked earlier if I could explain what happened to me.”
“Yes. Can you?”
“No. To be honest, I don’t understand the situation myself. I did encounter monsters on my way here, but I don’t know why my body changed like this…”
“Could it be because of the monster’s blood?”
“…It’s possible.”
She’d been injured before during hunts, but never to this extent.
Now that she thought about it, during the journey to the palace, her heart had felt hot, and her blood had moved strangely. Maybe it was related.
‘Or… maybe I really am a monster seed…’
If that were the case, she didn’t know how to explain it to the imperial family.
Just then, Charlotte muttered with concern,
“I’d heard you resigned as a knight due to injury, but I didn’t realize your condition was this serious. Serious enough to lose your sword.”
“My sword?”
“Yes. You were brought straight to the palace after collapsing at the gate, but there was no sword with you.”
“Oh, I didn’t bring it with me.”
“What? You didn’t bring Ruberino?”
“No, I returned it to the royal armory when I stepped down as captain… Wait, Ruberino?”
Anette had heard rumors that people called her sword Ruberino—meaning red poison—because it never dried from monster blood.
But hearing that name come from the Empress’s mouth was beyond surprising.