༒
Bella and I walked around the palace for a bit longer before attending the training class, I listened carefully as Bella explained.
"Miss, in conclusion, These classes are to train you to become a proper palace lady, and even if you are sent home, it is a great achievement to have!" She stated proudly. I nodded.
'It seems that I have come here just at the right time! It will be much easier to make a mistake now rather than later on.' I thought to myself. I looked down at my dress.
"Bella, what will everyone else be wearing?" I asked. Since the previous night, I was always dressed in white.
'Maybe that is the protocol?' I thought. Bella's eyes widened in realization before smiling.
"Miss, everyone will be wearing a similar dress attire yesterday. I nodded.
Soon, we had arrived at one of the many palace courtyards. I could see some of the ladies in training already standing there. I gulped.
They all had beautiful dresses on, a mix of light-colored fabrics which complemented their pale skin perfectly, their dark hair held up in unique hairstyles with silver and golden clips. I couldn't help but sigh.
'I would stand out.' I thought to myself. Shaking off my nerves, I quickly walked towards them. As I got closer, some of them turned towards me. A few of the girls looked away before whispering.
"I hear she is marring the 4th Prince!"
"The 4th Prince! Is she crazy?!"
"She must be, no one would willingly marry that monster."
"Hmph! At least now she will stop pestering the other princes, especially the Crowned Prince! She is so shameless!"
"I know! What a vixen."
Hearing the whispers, I couldn't help straighten my back, I kept my eyes on a random tree in front of me. Bella tapped my arm before bowing.
"M-Miss, would you like me to-"
I quickly shook my head and remained standing. I took a deep breath.
"I'm fine. Leave them be." I said. Her face grimaced but she only sighed before quickly bowing, returning to my side. I pursed my lips tightly as we waited for the training to start.
'I had completely forgotten, the female lead is always the most hated!' I thought to myself. Thankfully, before anymore gossip could continue, the Instructor quickly rushed into the courtyard. We bowed in unison towards her.
She took a small glance over many of the girls, once her eyes met mine, she quickly bowed.
"Miss! What are you doing here?" She said. I turned to Bella in confusion. She faced me with a similar expression.
"Miss," I turned to her again. "I am here to receive the lessons of course," I said. She quickly waved her hands in front of her face. She looked worried.
"M-miss! This will not do, please return to your chambers." She said, bowing again. I squinted my eyes at her.
"What?" I said. I clenched my fists. Even the instructor was picking on me?? Seeing my expression, she panicked and bowed.
"Miss! You misunderstand." She quickly replied. "The 4th prince has instructed you to have personal training at his manor." She said with a hushed voice. The entire courtyard quickly was filled with low whispers.
"What?The 4th Prince?"
"Then it's true? They are to be married??"
"She will be marrying the 4th Prince!"
Their words turned from sarcastic remarks to disbelief. I couldn't help but scoff. With one mention of the 4th Prince, they were already shaking! Nonetheless, I remained my composure and bowed toward the instructor.
"Thank you for telling me, I shall take my leave," I said. I hurried and left the courtyard. I sighed heavily once being out of eyesight.
"Bella, were you aware of this?" I asked her. She quickly bowed while shaking her head vigorously.
"Miss! I was also not aware of this. If I was, I surely would have told you!" She declared. I pursed my lips.
"Alright, let's go," I said. She nodded and quickly escorted me back towards the manor.
'This 4th Prince… what happened to my life of peace??" I thought.
***
The handmaid entered the room. Assisting the 1st Concubine to sit up. Carefully, the maid stepped back, her gaze remaining on the ground. The 1st Concubine signaled for the other maids to leave the room. After hearing the door close, she cleared her throat.
"What have you found?" The 1st Concubine said. The maid bowed.
"My lady, this girl seems to always have her guard up. I was unable to find anything." The 1st Concubine frowned.
"The two handmaids? I had instructed them carefully to test her." She said.
"Your highness, they both said that this girl still did not behave out of line, no matter how unruly they acted." The maid said, a hint of skepticism in her own words. A loud slam was heard.
"You! Useless! With everything I have given you, and you cannot find one thing on her?!?" The 1st Concubine yelled, enraged. The maid quickly fell to the ground, kneeling.
"M-My Lady! Please spare me! She has already come here under her mother's disapproval, and her mother has no knowledge of her daughter being the black jade. She is definitely hiding something!" The maid quickly said. The room went quiet as the 1st Concubine thought.
"Stand." She said. The maid nodded shakily.
"Y-Yes my lady." The 1st Concubine looked at the maid, her gaze hardening.
"I will give you two months' time to find out what she is hiding. If you can not find it, I shall have you killed!!" The 1st Concubine said coldly. The maid quickly bowed again.
"Yes, Miss!"
༒
(Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoyed.)