CH 15

Lewicia meant it when he said that he would buy Yulia dresses. It was because Coco had told him that as a commoner orphan, Yulia wouldn’t have the money to buy dresses suitable enough to wear around the palace.

However, early in the morning the next day, dozens of boxes were delivered to Yulia.

"Where did all of these come from?"

To Coco's question, Yulia answered that she didn't know. The workers who brought the boxes came from outside the palace and told her that everything had already been paid for.

"Your sponsor has sent these."

"My sponsor?"

"Yes, he said you were free to buy everything you needed."

"Ah."

Her sponsor. Carus Lankea. She suddenly remembered his gaze when he looked at her on the day they parted at the inn.

Coco looked at the boxes with a wary expression. She seemed to be curious about the identity of the person who would sponsor a commoner who had grown up in an orphanage to such an extent.

However, she couldn't reveal that yet. Above all, Yulia didn't expect Carus to go this far.

Right after putting down the boxes, the workers hurriedly left. From there, the attendants working at the Prince's palace took care of bringing the boxes all the way to Yulia's room. Yulia thanked them one by one before greeting them and returning to her room.

Inside the boxes were several dazzling dresses. All of them were elegant cream-colored dresses befitting of a royal palace's maid of honor.

Seeing as how there were both appropriately warm clothes and lighter clothes adequate for the current transitional season between winter and spring, it was obvious that meticulous attention had been paid. Moreover, the boxes didn't only contain dresses. From shoes and gloves to coats and even small handbags, nothing was missing.

The clothes and shoes fit her perfectly as if they had been made specifically for her. Yulia burst out laughing without realizing.

The words Carus told her before they parted came to mind.

"If you need anything, go look for Maxwell. He will be able to help you."

Carus's subordinate appeared and gave her an expensive gift before she even went to find him.

Was it a warning, or a favor? Although the gift implied that he was watching her closely, she wasn't sure yet what it meant.

'Maybe....'

Yulia thought that by now, Carus and his men had probably confirmed that the Imperial fleet was transporting the pirates' money.

*****

The contest organized at the royal palace every year was more important to the children of noble families than to the royal family itself.

It was because it allowed them to know which member of the royal family they should line up behind, which one was a leader who had the ability to bring them wealth and honor, as well as determine which noble family was on the side of whom. 

On the other hand, it was also an opportunity to officially showcase one's talents and abilities.

Some would put forward their academic knowledge and intelligence, some would promote their business abilities, some would highlight their artistic talent and some would boast off their swordmanship.

The three princes, the princess and many children from noble families were very curious about what would be the the first event of this year's contest.

Although they couldn't prepare for it in advance because it was different each time, there were many participants who were anxious to know even one day early.

"It's composition."

"What?"

"You will be asked to write a New Year's address dedicated to the Emperor of Baikan."

Of course, Yulia, who already knew what was the event, was able to tell Lewicia first.

"How do you know that?"

"Because this year is the twentieth year since the Kingdom of Ortega has received the protection of the Empire of Baikan, and because the Emperor has recently put a stop to the Conquest War and is working on ensuring the stability of the Empire."

"What does that have to do with it?"

"The Emperor will demand loyalty from the vassal states. However, instead of paying taxes, Ortega has allowed the Imperial fleet to remain stationed at sea. That's why the King of Ortega will be asked to at least write a New Year's address in order to express his loyalty."

"Since it hurts my father's pride to write it himself... he will have children like us write it for him, is that what you're saying?"

Lewicia was clever and quick-witted. Yulia nodded to express that his guess was right, and continued what she was saying.

"Your Majesty's job won't be to become the first winner of the contest and dedicate a New Year's address to the Emperor. You won't be chosen no matter what you do anyway."

"Then?"

"It is to attack the pro-imperialists and set fire to the hearts of the young nobles who want Ortega's independence."

Although the King claimed to be neutral, he was in fact a pro-imperialist, similarly to Marjoram who was Ortega's representative pro-imperialist.

The first Prince and Vasily were no different than the alter egos of their fathers, the King and the Marquis.

What Yulia wanted was to show that Lewicia, unlike them, was a royal who wanted to protect the pride of powerful and independent Ortega.

"Neutrality is good, but that's not enough. Ortega is not a colony of the Empire of Baikan. Although it is called a vassal state, it is more akin to a protective alliance."

"That's what a vassal state is."

"Even if everyone else says so, Your Highness shouldn't say that. Celebrate their victory and support peace, but never act submissively."

"Then, they will surely attack me saying 'What will you do if the Emperor sees this, gets upset and thinks he should conquer Ortega?'."

"The Emperor doesn't care about that. Also, no matter how perfect Your Highness's New Year's address is, the pro-imperialist faction will be chosen anyway."

Lewicia straightened his clothes in front of the mirror. The red scarf matched with the dark gray suit in a stylish way.

He looked at Yulia through the mirror.

"You will write the New Year's address."

"Me?"

"In any case, Kristin will be the one to write it on that side. Vasily's writing skills are weak and the first Prince is not someone who does these kind of tasks himself, so Kristin will inevitably do it. I want to see my maid's skills too."

"I understand."

Yulia willingly accepted and nodded her head. Since they had decided to go together, doing this much was not an issue.

"Brace yourself."

After he had finished getting ready, Lewicia turned around. His transparent white skin, light brown eyes and long blond hair blended well together.

Lewicia knew that people liked his beautiful appearance. Although he was the son of a concubine with no power nor influence, he had gained quite a bit of popularity thanks to his looks.

"Shall we go, Yulia?"

"Yes, Your Highness. I will escort you."

She didn't see Coco anywhere. Yulia, who came outside the palace with the Prince, looked back for a moment, but Coco's window remained tightly closed.

*****

The contest venue was set up in the second largest building in the royal palace. It was once an indoor theater where painters, actors and singers came to show off their talents in order to receive royal patronage.

The cloud-like gray curtain covered in pure white lace shone brightly under the bright lights.

Yulia walked behind Lewicia, following him into the venue.

Most of the nobles stood in groups. The first Prince and Vasily Marjoram's group was the largest one, with the first Princess's group coming in second. The rest of them gathered and talked in groups depending on their level of closeness.

"Wait here."

Lewicia moved towards his few friends, leaving Yulia at the entrance of the venue.

Coco said that it was a small battlefield.

Yulia's gaze, that had been browsing through the venue, calmly settled. Looking at them from a distance, she felt it even more clearly. The nobles were creating factions around the royal family, and used their energy to expand their connections.

The third Prince was still too young to participate in the contest, and the Princess and two Princes prepared for the contest by moderately accepting and rejecting those who approached them under the guise of friendship.

Despite his popularity, Lewicia had no faction of his own. It was because he was the son of a concubine who was not mentioned as a potential successor to the throne. As a result, at the contest venue, he mainly hung out with a few nobles who were not interested in power battles.

At that moment, someone approached Yulia, who was standing in a corner and busily studying the atmosphere.

It was Kristin Marjoram.

"Yulia, you..... What are you doing here?"

Kristin was adorned to the fullest. Three aristocrats, two young men and one young woman, were stuck to her side.

With her eyes almost static, Yulia engraved all of their faces in her mind.

"Answer me."

"I came to support the Prince as his maid of honor."

"You?"

This time, the words didn't come from Kristin, but from a young man with oiled wavy brown hair. Yulia quickly examined his appearance and recalled that he was one of Majoram's collateral relatives.

"Is a commoner allowed to be at the contest venue? I didn't hear anything about this. I thought that only the royal family, nobles, and maybe royal secretaries at most were allowed to attend."

Yulia knew why the young man was picking a fight so childishly.

His family was no different from cattle that could not live without the food thrown at them by Marjoram. Therefore, they were ready to make a commoner maid cry and have her kicked out for the sake of Kristin, who was called Marjoram’s princess.

"I know. Lewicia is quite mean, too. It's obvious that he will kick her out anyway, is he taking her around to tease her or something? It's usually quite fun to make fun of pretty and arrogant girls."

"Even if a commoner is arrogant...."

They looked at each other and exchanged smiles. This time, Yulia looked at the young woman who received the young man's words.