The Empress Dowager had finally announced on the end of the week before the ball that she restored my position as the Imperial Princess. There were many nobles and ministers gathered along with me and the Empress Dowager held the meeting, with me as the theme of the meeting they probably thought not to attend but this was a personal and direct invitation came from the Empress Dowager herself so they had to option but to come. I wouldn't forgot about the 2nd Princess and the two Princes in the meeting as well, Prince Harold and Prince Ulrich. Specially Ulrich, he looked me with a deep hatred and disgusted feeling quietly.
The Empress Dowager announced that I would stayed as the Imperial Princess and there's when the arguing began...
"But how about the rumors!" "It doesn't matter whether the rumors are true or not. What's important now is the qualities evaluation of the 1st Princess!" "That's right! How come Princess Poinsettia, who recently being assaulted and ignored by Imperial Palace..." "Is that you all can say? The Empress Dowager has speak up her mind and it means she cares for the 1st Princess!"
Those nobles and ministers kept barking out their opinions in pro and contras, of course I wasn't dumb. Those who took my side were licking my foot so they wouldn't be headed off or punished and those who against me took this chance to kick me out of this country or worst. There were never a good result for me.
"Aren't they the nobles whom the 1st Princess punished to write down a whole book of the empire's history in the library?" Claimed a minister. "Yes! I saw them. They wrote the entire pages of the history book that day," claimed another minister. "As the lords said, the 1st Princess did not commit an assault but only punished those who did not follow the courtesy of the royal family." "Sir, do you think writing all those pages are a simple punishment?" Asked a noble. "Are you whining?" A minister asked back triggering the nobles' anger. "When did I whine? I was asking," the noble denied. "Enough!" A shout from the Empress Dowager echoed in the meeting hall. "The preparations are completed and the date has been set. You have no rights to intervene anymore in my decision. This is in the name of the deceased Emperor and myself as the Empress Dowager. This announcement is to shut down all the bad rumors about the 1st Princess," she said.
The Empress Dowager sighed as she sat down tiredly and massaged her temple and stole a glance to a portrait of her deceased son. "Everyone here will be the witnesses and on the day of the ceremony, you will present with a red poinsettia flower to be placed on the red carpet for the Princess to walk. The flowers must be in full bloom after being harvested at the sunrise of the day and already watered up," she continued her explanation. I was impressed with her plan for this event, but I caught the glanced from the two princes towards me again. Prince Harold looked like he was calm but never knew what's inside that mind and as usual Prince Ulrich couldn't hid his reactions, he looked extremely angry and kicked his seat before leaving the hall. While Lobelia was smiling sweetly full of hidden intentions.
I returned to my room after the noisy meeting, "Your Majesty, I have a message to tell you". Catherine approached me really close and whispered in a small voice. "Is it good or bad?" I asked. "I cannot say how sure I am," she replied. "Okay. Emily, go get me a cold champagne." "Yes Your Majesty." Emily left the room, after making sure the room was empty, Catherine and Bell poured everything out about the 2nd Princess.
"It's dangerous, Your Majesty." Bell looked a bit worried. "Calm down and tell me slowly," I said. "As you ordered last time, I watched the 2nd Princess. Because we had to stay vigilant, I took a young servant who works under the 2nd Princess and asked for the situation..." Catherine hesitated before she could continued. "Well?" I asked. "It was said that Her Majesty Princess Poinsettia rejected half of the party dresses." "Oh.. Because the designs and patterns were not my style?" I asked again. "It was also said that some of the designers who were in charge of Your Majesty's dresses and 2nd Princess had a close relationship. She gave a large amount of money to buy a whole shop and she took the designs they made," Bell added. "So, she decided to wear the same dresses as mine for the ball?" I asked. "Yes." Two of them answered as they nodded. I laughed out loud, "What a childish plan." "Eh?" Catherine and Bell looked at me confusedly. "Don't you think it's a very stupid and old fashioned evil plan? I thought Lobelia was a better villainess than that, but it's very disappointing." I chuckled as I shook my head, soon after Emily returned with a bottle of a champagne in a bucket of ice. "Your Majesty, here's your champagne." "Thank you. So that's all the story about the 2nd Princess?" I asked. "I thought it was urgent so I'd like to report it right away," Catherine answered. "Good job. So who are these designers rumored to leaked the dress designs away?" I asked as I sipped my champagne. "Madam Vanessa, Madame Roxanne and Madame Juliana," Bell answered. "Good thing it wasn't Madame Isabelle. I loved her dresses the most how heartbreaking it will be if I have to remove them," I uttered. "Yes Your Majesty. We need to call for other designers as soon as possible and tell them to prepare some dresses for the Princess," Catherine said. Really them, my loyal subordinates. I might be looking stupid and reckless also too relaxed in this called emergency situation. "Now this is the time for all the nobles are busy ordering their clothes. If we look now, we won't know when will the dresses will be done." In the end, I spent the night with Noah's sister Victoria completing the design I wanted with a total of give dresses.
The next morning, we went to a small tailor store. At first the seamstress refused to make these dresses under pressured for few days, not even a week due. But the huge amount of coins had him surrender and agreed to make the dresses for me.
Victoria who said she helped to make the dress and embroider some on the dress, stopped by my room with the tailor. My identity had been revealed to him, that made him wobbled on his legs and fell on the floor paying respect for me. "I dare not recognized the Her Majesty the Princess. Please forgive me," he said. Victoria and the servants were busy putting the dress on a mannequin. It caught my attention that I admired it so much. The dark red dress, which was looking much richer and more antique than what I instructed them to do, was breathtaking beautiful like a giant rose.
"Your Highness, do you like it?" Victoria asked with a proud smile. I returned a smile at her then I told the tailor to stand up straight. "Since my identity has been revealed, I'm telling you this only once. If things go well, I want to hire you two as my exclusive designers. You're a famous designer and you're much more capable than anyone." "It's an honor," he bowed again in respect and grateful feeling. "Thank you, Your Highness." Victoria covered her mouth in happiness.
I sincerely, desperately hope that the party season came quick. I couldn't wait to imagine Lobelia's distorted face expression when she saw what I was going to feed her.