The 2nd day of the Winter Blossom Party.
"Miss Duncan! I got a call that the messenger had arrived at the Imperial Palace entrance for the dress. Please go and get it for me!" "Sophie! Bring a set of sapphire necklace from Her Majesty's Amethyst box! Don't forget the rings from the Rose Quartz box!" "Yes Miss Catherine!"
The Imperial Palace was busier than ever. Yesterday has splendidly raised my status and my room was filled with presents. The attendants who had been organizing the presents and letters accumulated throughout the day re-affirmed the presence of the 1st Princess and moved busier to make the rest of the party perfectly.
"After I died and lived, I moved to the better palace and then I received these much gifts." "It must be because of Your Majesty's majestic presence last night. Here are hundred of letters praising Your Majesty's beauty."
I got up at dawn to eat salad, moved to a packed schedule from bathing, massages, makeup, hair done, nails, etc, even that was fun but I felt those were too much. "The gifts are good but Lobelia's expression was so funny that I still feel the joy of butterflies in my stomach. I hope you also saw her face last night," I said. "If she looks at Your Majesty's new dress today, she'll makes that silly face expression again," Catherine nodded. Millions of diamonds were sparkling all over the pure white dress. Noah's sister, Victoria, embroidered on Madame Isabelle's dress. "It is the skill of a skilled person. Sir Noah's sister said that she embroidered well and she's telling the truth. This dress is amazing," I agreed. "Yes. It seems to be better than that of quite a professional designer," Catherine added as she looked at my dress that made of high quality fabrics that fit perfectly to my body, called the maids again and told them to change the necklace and earrings into a set of blue diamonds from El Cache. Overall, blue diamonds, which were only collected in a small rural village called El Cache, were usually white transparent like other diamonds, unlike other blue diamonds, they were very precious gems that only revealed a subtle royal blue color when exposed to light. "Much better than sapphire," I uttered. "Last night we overwhelmed the audience with an intense red so it will be better to show a soft and subtle beauty tonight." My loyal dog, Catherine, who is trustworthy and flawless and clean.
"When this season party is over, stop doing this kind of work. I already told the Duke Franz, so you have to go to his office three times a week." Catherine stopped her hand and dropped the comb that was combing my hair. "Really?" She asked as she was unsure. "When did I tell a lie? I hope you will learn a lot under his guidance," I said. "Thank you! Thank you, Your Majesty!" Catherine said in tears of happiness. Duke Franz was Catherine most respected figure, and her ultimate goal was to became a public official like him. "Since there are only few people like you, I am worried about your vacancy, but I think we can conduct an interview next week for new maids. Do you have some recommendation?" I asked her. "Would it be okay to tell you after I think about it?" She asked in return. "Certainly."
When I was ready, there was a knock from outside. "I'm here to pick you up." "Sir Noah. You're dazzlingly handsome today," I told him. Inside a velvet jacket elegantly embroidered with the Schaumberg family pattern on a black background, a white shirt was wore inside, the long and firm legs wrapped with black pants. He shone like the actor I saw on TV before I died.
"Wait, what's that?" "Ah... It's nothing." The thin red line on his neckline attracted my attention. "It's obvious that it's a wound but you can't answer me right away! Who did this to you?" I asked in high pitch tone. "... He was a well trained drunkard." "Are your siblings okay?" I asked again. "Yes. Fortunately, I was ambushed before we got home. There were three in total, two died and one was handed over to the Knights for interrogation, but I was told that he committed suicided," Noah explained. "Did you put on the medicine?" Noah's body suddenly tensed up at the hand that gently rubbed the wound. The hand of the princess, who seemed to laugh when she saw blood, was the stigma of the world, was softer and warmer than he thought. "...It's alright, Princess. I'm just worried that Princess is not comfortable with this wound," he said. "Be more careful next time," I told him. "I'll keep it in mind."
Afterwards, Noah said nothing all the way to the banquet hall, but when he arrived at the door, he opened his mouth. "Would it be okay to stand by Her Majesty's side today?" "If you want to," I answered. "Thank you." Last night, due to an unfortunate event, I didn't have time to look at how magnificent this banquet hall, the size was as large as the main hall. We took a step into the golden hall full of sparkling and splendid things. "Your Majesty Princess Poinsettia has entered!" The Empress Dowager did not join for tonight, she joined last night for the loyalty and formality. So the most important person tonight was me, the 1st Princess. People bowed down at once and sent greetings with respect. Some of them glanced at me, maybe they were the ones who sent the letters this morning. Those who were calling me as a ghost of imperial palace, now praising me so high. I felt sick with disgust.
After swallowing the feelings, I held the 278 years old Ron Dia champagne and shouted a toast to announce the start of the party. "I wish you a glorious night together for you who gathered to brighten up this place tonight!" "Cheers!" I sat down as Noah stood by my side after finishing my speech. Tonight the party was relatively full of free atmosphere, Lobelia had already occupied in the corner chattering with the young ladies. 1st Prince headed to the private room on the 2nd floor with the older ministers, and the 2nd Prince was among the married women who were not embarrassed as he placed his hands around their waists. "How shameful." Bell who was standing next to Noah suddenly spoke quietly. "What do you mean?" Noah asked. "I'm talking about how this party look alike an empire nightlife where you can get in and out unconditionally if you have money. It's a place where people gather and party at night, regardless the status. All the filthy relations of the empire will come there," Bell explained. "Huh? There was such a fun place and I've never heard of it?" "But, did the Duke of Oncidium attend tonight?" I asked. "He is in the entry list but it seems that the figure has not been seen around," Bell answered. "I see." No matter where I looked, I couldn't find that good looking man. While giggling and laughing, Lobelia and a group of young ladies gathered from a distance, looking back at me and were busy chattering. "I'm going to get some fresh air." I stood up and headed to the garden with Noah.
"Sir Noah!" A young knight suddenly approached us. "What's wrong?" "Oh.. Your Majesty. Forgive me for being rude but this is urgent," the young knight said. "It's okay. Tell me what's going on," I told him. "This was found on the body of the man who attacked Sir Noah last night." "What?" Noah looked surprised, what the young knight held was a piece of a cloth with a peculiar thorn pattern on it. "But I can't let Your Majesty alone right now," Noah said. "Is the security of the Imperial Palace that poor? Who dares to harm me, the Princess?" I replied. "Then I will send supplementary knights to Your Majesty right away." "Be careful." Noah was reluctant to leave me alone for a while, but it was an urgent situation so I had no choice but to let him off.
Suddenly there was a grumble noise between the bushes. "Who's there?" As he approached, he couldn't control his body and he looked quite aristocratic with his noble looking clothes. "Do you think you are amazing just because your clothes are gorgeous?" Then that person stumbled and tried to get up from the ground, but eventually he had to lean on the wall and looked at me. "Lawrence Oncidium.." I was wondering if he was the same Duke of Oncidium who I saw last night. "Oh shit..." I raised my eyebrow. "Does he know that I'm the Princess?" I asked to myself as I observing his condition. "Do you know me?" I asked him. "Who... How dare you to ask me question when my head is hurt!" He yelled and spit on my dress. "..You.." I grabbed his head and pulled him closer. "I'll kill you," he uttered. "You are.. so insulting.. while living.. such shameful.." "How much did you drink?" I asked. The closer I was to the Duke, the more I could smelled the alcohol. Grabbing his black hair with a strong grip, I stared at him for the last before my lips pressed on his red lips that reeked of alcohol. He struggled desperately, but with a drunken body he had no way to overpower me. "Open your mouth before I tear it up apart," I uttered. The Duke of Oncidium was not willing to open his mouth had no choice to open his mouth and thought he could just bit off this arrogantly awful 1st Princess's tongue. I devoured his alcohol taste mouth and pulled away before he could bit off my tongue. The Duke of Oncidium fell on the ground, stunned. I looked at him and scoffed, "I don't even know if you are this country's peacock or just a street prostitute. Look at yourself."
The Duke of Oncidium looked up at me with full of hatred eyes, "You will not get away with this." I noticed a man servant was passing by while holding an empty tray, I called him and told him to bring the drunk man into my room.