CH 12

"Miss Coco, this is not something to be so angry about. Of course, I will be the one to do the physical examination, and if Miss Yulia is uncomfortable, I can be replaced by someone else."

"Madam, excuse me but…"

"It’s the same with the background check. We will just ask a few questions, that’s it. We really didn’t want to do this either."

The housekeeper tried to convince Coco in a gentle voice. However, her way of speaking was similar to that of reasoning with a child, so it could have been quite unpleasant to hear.

When the royal that a maid of honor served died, it was common for her to hold the position of housekeeper instead of going back to her family, as a way to show her loyalty to the royal family.

"I will tell the officials as well, that Miss Yulia is His Highness Prince Lewicia’s person now and that she should be treated properly."

As she said so, it seemed like their side was making concessions. Yulia thought that the housekeeper was a bit sly.

Now, they really couldn’t fight. If she didn’t resolve this situation, it could escalate into something worse and Coco would get unnecessarily involved.

"Coco, I’m really fine with it."

Yulia took a step closer to Coco and grabbed her sleeve lightly before letting go. Then she looked up and smiled faintly.

It seemed to make Coco even more annoyed. She glared at the officials and bit her red lips. Then, she said to the housekeeper.

"Whether it’s the background check or the physical examination… Do it here. In front of me. I can’t juste let you drag away an innocent person."

"Let’s do that."

The housekeeper walked forward with a gentle smile on her face.

*****

In a small room inside the Prince’s palace, Yulia sat facing the officials and answered their questions. Most of the questions were related to her childhood at the orphanage, the sponsorship from the Marquis of Marjoram as well as her time at Brewe Academy.

The officials wanted to ask Yulia about her relationship with Vasily Marjoram and how they had tried to run away together, but they couldn’t do so due to Coco who was in front of them and sending them menacing looks with her arms crossed.

The physical examination took even less time.

After sending away the officials, the housekeeper told Yulia to undress, leaving only her underwear on.

Even then, Coco didn’t leave the room and stood guard.

Yulia took off her dress. The housekeeper circled around her and made sure she had no tattoos or illnesses.

Yulia had an overall delicate appearance and a long neck like a deer. Her posture was neat and straight, and the shape of her body extending from her back and waist to her legs was beautiful.

When they stood close to each other, Yulia was a span taller than Coco, but since she had slender limbs, her body didn’t look big.

“It’s over." 

After the physical examination was over, the housekeeper smiled and tapped Yulia on the shoulder. Then, she even helped her wear the dress that she had taken off.

"It’s been a while since I’ve seen someone this beautiful. There have been a lot of fancy and attractive people until now, but I believe that having such an elegant appearance and a classic face makes you a true beauty."

As the housekeeper complimented her, Yulia thanked her casually.

"Thank you."

But Coco was also displeased with that and snorted briefly.

"This child is a maid of honor. Not His Highness’s lover."

"Of course, Miss Coco."

"If you’re done, go back. As soon as this commoner maid of honor arrived at His Highness’s palace, she was dragged away to be investigated without even knowing where her room was."

The elderly housekeeper smiled softly and nodded her head despite Coco’s scathing reaction. It was only after she had told Yulia not to be upset and wished her to do well at the palace that she returned to the Department of the Royal Household.

"Follow me."

Coco, who could finally guide Yulia to her room, opened the door so hard that it made a loud noise.

She could have been guided by a maid or an attendant, so for what reason did Coco wait until the end of the investigation?

Yulia told Coco.

"Coco, if there is something you want to say, say it."

"Hey, you. Go back home."

Coco stopped walking and her words poured out as if she had been waiting.

"Do you want to live here like this? Didn’t you earn the Brewe medal? Then, you won’t have a hard time making a living wherever you go."

"I don’t have anywhere to go. I don’t have a home or a family to return to."

"Even so, why did you enter the royal palace? Pull yourself together. You already know how these people view and treat a maid of honor who is a commoner since you’ve just experienced it. This is nothing. From now on, there will be even nastier and more irritating incidents."

"I don’t mind."

"You don’t mind? Are you going to say that you don’t mind if you get slapped or whipped in the future?"

It wasn’t a lie when she said that she didn’t mind. She couldn’t get hurt by something like that. It was only to the level of being troublesome and annoying. Compared to what she had to endure in the past until now, this was nothing.

Although Coco didn’t seem to think that way.

"It wasn’t enough to be called a wicked woman who enticed the heir of Marjoram, this time they will call you a greedy girl who entered the palace in order to seduce Prince Lewicia. Why do you have to be in the palace and be subjected to this kind of treatment?"

"Because I don’t want to die."

Yulia smiled slightly. She had a calm and detached attitude.

"The hyenas hired by the Marquis of Marjoram are aiming for my life. They will chase after me no matter where I go."

"You could have entrusted yourself to another noble family…"

"Is there a place in Ortega that is left untouched by Marjoram’s influence? I don’t think so."

Coco blinked slowly. She looked lost in thought. Coco must also be aware of the rumors about Yulia and thinking about them right now.

"Then…. It wasn’t enough for Vasily Marjoram to play with you and throw you away, that bastard also left you to die… Are you saying that you couldn’t do anything after things got this far?"

"Yes."

"You really have poor taste in men. To an extreme extent."

Yulia, who had been listening to Coco in a calm manner until now, opened her eyes wide for the first time. She looked a little bit surprised.  "Why, are you offended? That’s why I said it. Among all the men that exist, how could you pick a man who is this pathetic and selfish? Even though you have eyes, you don’t seem to know how to use them."

"No, it's not that."  Yulia smiled softly.

"It’s because I’ve heard the same thing before."

Coco, who couldn’t stand it, walked ahead and took Yulia to her room before quickly disappearing.

Yulia was assigned a large room on the second floor of the Prince’s palace. A dressing room and a bathroom were attached to it.

Originally, maids of honor would bring at least two maids from their family, but since Yulia was a commoner, she couldn’t afford to call someone to attend to her. That’s why she decided to receive the help from the palace’s maids only when she needed it.

"Don’t… don’t be too offended. She was probably worried that you would get hurt."

The attendant, who had waited for the officials to go back and carried Yulia’s luggage to her room, was trying to comfort her. He thought that Yulia might be disheartened due to Coco’s sharp attitude.

"I think she’s a good person."

"Pardon?"

"She came forward and resolved the situation when the maids were uncomfortable because of me. I thought that she was a good person from the start."

"So… sorry?"

"I am also aware that she was worried that I would be harassed after going to the Department of the Royal Household because I am commoner."

The attendant's face twisted strangely. His smiling face hardened and he seemed to wonder whether to believe Yulia’s words or not.

"Don't worry. Because I like Coco a lot."

"Ah… yes, I see. Then, make yourself at home. The prince will return tomorrow, so I'll let you know when he arrives." 

After thanking the attendant, Yulia sent him out. She entered the dressing room, removed the dust from the only two dresses she had before hanging them. She took the wallet which contained the money given by Bavaslov. She was reminded of how he had told her to buy snacks with it and put it in a drawer.

Then, she walked to the window and opened it wide.

The thin curtains fluttered. Outside the window, the fickle spring wind was blowing. The green garden spread before her eyes and the soaring castle tower could be seen in the distance.

Ortega Palace, the most beautiful place in the continent. Yulia, who put her hands on the window frame, slowly engraved the view of the palace in her eyes.

The sun was setting. The unusually red sunset colored the evening sky and reminded her of Coco’s scarlet eyes. 

‘Coco.’

She will not be fighting outside this time. Inside the palace, she will take care of her enemy one step at a time, like climbing up stairs.

Since that’s what she had promised.

A smooth smile appeared on Yulia’s face.

‘I met you again.’

Cordelia Hinch. In Yulia’s eighth life, she was her companion who fought by her side until the end against Marjoram.