Chapter 4

After returning home with a shackled heart, the invention to attend the preliminary fiancee selection came as I expected.

When I saw the invitation and looked at the happy families, I pledged quietly.

I’m going to drop out.

I will not live as the woman of Karzan in this new life. I will surely uncover the culprit who led my family to ruin, and make everything right at the request of the empress.

* * *

Lady Vennita! Have you looked outside? There’s a carriage from the Imperial Palace! I’ve never seen a carriage with the royal crest embedded on it.”

The day the fiancee candidates gather together. A carriage sent by the Imperial Family arrived at the front of my home. It had a pattern of dragons blood and wings engraved on it. Tasha was mesmerized by the imperial carriage, displaying the same reaction as she did when she saw it for the first time in the past.

“How do you feel about riding an imperial carriage? It would be great, right?“

But I wasn’t at all pleased with that carriage, It caused me to linger with loneliness.

“Are you that happy?”

“Of course! There are a number of maids approaching just to see the imperial carriage.”

Alright. I’ll make sure we enjoy ourselves. There won’t be any misfortunes before the selection ceremony anyways.

“Tasha, you’re coming with me.”

“What? Are you sure I can go with you?”

“You’ll have to go with me to attend. You want me to go around alone without you?”

“No way. I’ll stick close to you, my lady. It’s my first time going to the Imperial Palace. I’m so excited. I’ve always wondered what the Imperial Family would be like.”

Yes. I’ll make sure to protect your fantasies, Tasha.

Tasha’s eyes began to shine brightly. Her eyes expressed the excitement and joy of wanting to ride the imperial carriage. I’m glad there’s someone who likes both.

(she’s referencing the excitement and happiness of tasha riding the carriage)

When I first rode the imperial carriage in the past, I wasn’t at all excited. Even when I entered the imperial family, Tasha was excited to see us together, just like the people who had visited the city from another village.

However, today will not be as beautiful as it was then.

“Tasha. Pick out the most shabby looking clothes you have.”

Tasha’s forehead frowned, as if she had heard something wrong.

“I’m not the prettiest, nor the most neat, so you want me to wear shabby clothing?”

“Yes. Wear something very shabby, bare and empty.”

While Tasha looked at me with a vague expression, her eyes seemed to ask me, “Is she crazy?” But I did not take my eyes off Tasha.

I was not going to lose this fight, and Tasha closed her eyes tightly and shook her head in a decisive way.

“I don’t think so, Lady Vennita.”

Tasha’s voice was full of determination.

“What?”

“Then the other maids are going to look down on me. I’ll be ignored because it’s a disgrace to you, my lady.”

I tried to make Tasha look shabby and go to the Imperial Palace that way, instead of her going in with luxurious clothing. That way, I can seem strange to others.

If the maid’s a beggar, but if her appearance seems extravagant, the maid can look extravagant and innocent.

Of course, my mother will also be criticized a bit.

“I have my reasons, listen to me.”

“No, Lady Venita, other maids will come and Heini will also be there. How much will I be excited about? Then I don’t even know if you will be happy! I can’t do anything to become a princess!”

Henie was Rosalie’s maid.

Okay. I guess you guys have some secret war of nerves game going on.

My head was pounding, but I decided to respect Tasha’s nerve war.

“Fine, wear whatever you’d like.”

Tasha quickly smiled as if she had done so.

“Thank you, my lady.”

Seeing her expression change in a flash, I thought Tasha may really be a fox.

Tasha was well-dressed for the imperial court etiquette. It was a luxurious, neat and elegant looking dress.

Thanks to Tasha’s personality, She always liked to dress up fashionably, and bedazzle her neck with jewels, she had a sense of dressing in harmony even at an early age.

I picked up a plain-looking dress from the closet and handed it over to Tasha, a suitcase containing a dress that would frighten people.

“I’m going to take it with me, so pack your clothes well.”

Curious Tasha looked puzzled as she picked up her suitcase.

“Lady Vennita, why are you packing another dress?”

“I’ve prepared a surprise show,”

Tasha, in a hurry, looked confused, and although she gave me a questioning look, she did not ask any more questions.

I only entered the carriage after I saw Tasha carrying her suitcase with her.

“Vennita. You sure you don’t need a mother?”

“Mom. I’m already seventeen years old. I’m a lady now.”

My mother did not hide her worries while I got on the carriage.

In my last life, my mother was the one who went with me to the Imperial Palace, but I was told I needed to let go of my mother’s arms. On one side, she looked scared and uneasy, but on the other she looked at me as if telling me to let go.

“Don’t worry about me, Mother.”

I’m going to go and do a little bit of family disgrace.

“Be careful, always. Don’t ever lose your dignity, my daughter.”

“Yes, mother.”

I’ll only throw dignity to the floor today!

As she climbed into the carriage, leaving her mother with a grin as if she were sending her daughter anywhere, she could see Tasha, with her ass in the carriage.

“Lady Vennita, look at this! The floor cushions are super fluffy!”

I couldn’t help but be happy with Tasha because she was so excited without knowing her heart’s content. In my eyes, Tasha was like a calf running around without knowing if she was being dragged to the slaughterhouse.

“Okay okay, stop it. You look so ugly right now.”

Perhaps because one of the things I hated most is the word “rustic,” Tasha began acting like a noble, just like playing a game.

The well-paved city boulevards didn’t rattle the carriage well, but the chairs inside the imperial carriage sat firmly and fluffy. When I think about it, I remember shaking my ass like Tasha because I was so excited.

* * *

“Oh my gosh!”

As we entered the Imperial Palace, Tasha’s eyes grew and her mouth widened.

Your mouth has opened several times today, Tasha.

Lady Vennita, I didn’t know the Imperial Palace was so big. I thought our peacock was quite big, but I can’t compare it to this.

The Imperial Palace was split up into four directions. South, west, and east, respectively, including the main palace in the center. The Emperor’s Palace was located in the south, the Empress’s Palace was located west, also known as Ruby Palace… and expectantly, the Imperial Palace was located east, with the Crown Prince.

Before entering the main palace, there was an incredibly large fountain that was still visible, even though a thousand people surrounded it, so the people who entered the Imperial Palace for the first time we’re always amazed.

In particular, it was Tasha, who was mostly mesmerized.

“Oh my God.”

Yes, Tahsa. Nobody’s ever seen a maid like you. Let’s go now.”

I led Tasha, who was trying to get to the fountain, inside the main palace.

“Lady Vennita, aren’t you a bit too familiar with the roads? I feel like someone who’s already been here once.”

“Shhh, Tasha. Would you keep quiet?”

I led Tasha to the Fifth Library in the main palace to secretly change my clothes. It was one of the least visited places, with lots of boring philosophical books.

“What are you doing there?”

“Tasha, I’m waiting here. If someone comes up here, could you scream for me?”

“Scream?”

“I don’t have time for a long explanation. Anyways, if someone comes up here, I want you to scream like you’ve seen a ghost. Okay?”

“Uh… alright, I’ll do it.”

Tasha had an unwilling look, but because she needed someone to keep an eye out on her dynamics, she hid behind a huge bookshelf to change into the clothes she had brought from home.

“Your dress is so strange.”

After seeing the dress I brought from home, Tasha looked at me with her eyes, asking me if I were insane.

In a word, I opened my mouth again.

“What? It looks fine.”

“I’m a prospective fiancée, but what’s the clothes? If the Duchess knows, I’m the only one. Please, change again, Lady Vennita.”

I changed into clothes that should never be worn in front of the empress, unless that person isn’t sane.

Tasha’s expression was outrageous, even if she didn’t say anything.

The dress seemed to be extremely extravagant, with jewelry sewn into the hem of the dress.

It was a garment that my mother would’ve never let me wear, even if she had seen it, so I took it secretly and wore it here.

“You really intend to wear that ?”

“Yes.”

I brought it for that.

This dress is not suitable to wear at the fiancee selection ceremony, but is perfect for giving people the image of an innocent lady.

I chose this dress without hesitation because I was going to show what an extravagant, conceptual lady would drop out a week later.

“My lady, you can’t wear that! Never!

No, that’s why it’s so special.

It’s the perfect dress to show everyone how insane I am.

***

END OF CHAPTER 4