Chapter 3

When I finally got off with my father, I looked around and couldn’t help but admire the surroundings.

“Wow….!”

The palace was the main background of the novel and it was refreshing to see it.

The sunlight hitting the crystal glass was reflecting on the white marble and the gold-plated decorations caught my eye.

“Mir, are you amazed? But what should we do? We might be late for the appointment, His Majesty has been waiting, and if we don’t……”

“I’m coming right now.”

My eyes were intense for a moment.

I immediately turned down my father’s suggestion to look around.

I couldn’t be late for my appointment with the emperor.

It might lead to a death flag.

I arrived at the interview room, but the emperor and empress hadn’t arrived yet.

I sat quietly in the beautifully decorated room.

I didn’t swing my feet around while sitting; it wouldn’t be good to accidentally kick and scratch the ornaments.

The Marquis would not lose his neck over a broken ornament, but his honor would have been damaged with my improper behavior.

“The Young Lady of Saeron is truly elegant.”

The court maid praised me for my attitude.

No, it’s not elegance, I was just scared stiff.

“His Majesty is coming.”

The door opened after the servant politely announced the emperor’s arrival.

The court maid set the teacups and carefully retreated to the wall.

Soon a man and a woman came in, and I would’ve known they were royalty without anyone telling me.

I stood up carefully with my dad next to me.

“I greet His Majesty the Emperor, Sun of the Empire. I am the daughter of the Marquis of Saeron, Emir Saeron.”

Fortunately, it wasn’t too long of a greeting.

In movies, at least four or five sentences were recited starting with the imperial’s titles, but the imperial greeting here was relatively simple.

Thankfully I said hello without a hitch.

“Yes, sit down.”

Contrary to my expectations, the two were as kind as their benevolent appearance.

In the novel, the emperor and empress were the parents of the prince, but they did not have an important role, so I didn’t know what their personalities were like.

That’s why I was scared.

They were kind to their children and daughter-in-law, but I thought they might be strict and scary with me.

But fortunately, they were the benevolent Emperor and Empress after all.

“I was very happy to hear that the Young Lady was willing to enter kindergarten.”

“……I’m glad, Your Majesty. I am happy and honored to be attending your kindergarten.”

The words came out smoothly.

I didn’t know, but I guess I was a con artist.

Until a while ago, my hands were sweating, but now I was speaking with confidence.

The conversation led to everyone smiling when I said I was happy.

“I would be glad to have such a brilliant child, Marquis. I envy you.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty. You also have an intelligent and beautiful princess.”

The faces of the Emperor and Empress hardened for a very short moment after my father’s polite reply.

It was such a fleeting moment that I wondered if I had seen anything; their expressions quickly changed to a benevolent smile.

The Emperor cleared his throat.

“……hmmm. The reason I invited you to the palace today is to introduce you to the prince and the princess.”

It seemed as if the emperor was changing the subject, but it was probably just my imagination.

His Majesty ordered the servant to bring the prince and princess.

After the order was issued, my complexion was worse than before.

The prince and the princess were the male lead and the villainess of this novel.

Since I decided to attend kindergarten, they were the characters I knew I would meet someday, but I couldn’t help but be nervous.

***

I belatedly realized the reason why the Emperor’s face hardened earlier in the conversation when my father said, ‘the intelligent and beautiful princess’.

In the novel, the princess was simply not a character that would be described as ‘intelligent’. She was the stupid villain with a vicious temper who repeatedly harassed the female lead who stole her brother’s heart.

‘She was even nicknamed the worst villain in the novel.’