The next day Estelle started her day by doing the duties of a Crown Princess. Doing paperworks, attending tea parties, doing site visits, healing the sick, and many more. This is now her daily routine for two weeks.
One day, she encountered a document that she cannot decide on her own, so she went to the study room of the Emperor to seek advice from him. Luckily, his Royal Advisor just came out of the room.
"Excuse me, Mister Gino. I need to seek some advice from His Majesty regarding this"
Estelle said as she handed the document to him.
"He just went out with Princess Camilla awhile ago, Your Highness. If you allow me, I will inform you immediately upon their return"
Gino awkwardly said.
"Oh... I see, that's okay. I will just bring this document with my note on it on His Majesty's table and relay the topic later at dinner. By the way, is it okay if I ask where did they go?", she asked.
"Princess Camilla asked His Majesty to assist her in picking up her dress for her upcoming debut and 20th birthday. His Majesty immediately leave his study room to assist the Royal Princess"
The Royal Advisor replied and somewhat she felt hurt.
"Hm... okay. Thank you Mister Gino"
She said with a forced smile. The butler opened the door for her. When she placed the document on the Emperor's table, she noticed that he urgently left despite many paperworks that he need to attend to. It is much more work than hers and somehow she felt sorry for the emperor. He needs to work hard for the Empire and at the same time he needs to be a good father to his first child whom he just met months ago.
"Um... Mister Gino, may I ask your assistance to organize some of His Majesty's paperworks?"
Estella asked help from him.
"I see no problem... Your Highness"
Gino replied with a surprised look.
They started organizing the paperworks in the morning and ended it in the afternoon. Estella suggested that they put notes in each document so that the emperor does not need to read the whole thing. It's like summarizing it. She also suggested that they can also put alternative solutions to the documents that contain issues and problems of the Empire, so that the Emperor could decide faster. Since Estelle is good at organizing paperworks using the modern way, the Royal Advisor got amazed on her.
"Done~!"
Estelle said while stretching her arms.
"You are truly amazing, Your Highness!"
Gino said with his sparkling eyes since he can feel that he do not need to do another all-nighter.
"Thank you for your hardwork, Mister Gino"
She replied while smiling and patted his shoulder.
Emperor Victor XI and Princess Camilla went back to the palace late at night. Estelle waited for them so that they could have dinner together but she was informed by the Emperor's butler that they already had dinner outside and they both want to rest on their chambers.
"I see... thank you Butler Norman"
She said and started to eat alone. After her luscious dinner, she went back to her study room and continue her work. She finished her work until late midnight that she started to yawn.
"Sleepy..."
She mumbled and decided to took a nap. She was not able to heard the knock from her door. It was the emperor. He wanted to give her credits for what she did in making his paperworks easier but he needs to call an urgent meeting due to the increasing cases of exorcism of 'the evils'. He noticed the untreated calluses in Estelle's finger and got worried. He wanted to wake her up to scold her about it but she started to snore indicating that she have fatigue. He felt guilty hurting her physically twice because of his temper.
"Sorry..."
He whispered before he left the room.
"That was a good nap"
Estelle said when she woke up. She noticed a small box in her table.
"What's this?"
She asked herself and opened it.
"Whoa~"
She reacted when she saw 3 pieces of eclairs. She happily ate it so she can regain some of her energy.
"Who leave it here? Is it Camilla? Well, whoever it is, may Althea bless you all the way"
Estelle thought and started to nibble again.
The next day, Camilla visited Estelle.
"Estelle, do you want to come to the capital?"
She excitedly asked.
"As much as I want but..."
Estelle replied and sighed at the sight of paperworks on her table.
"Come on~"
Camilla insisted and used a cute tone to her that Estelle cannot resist.
"The power of the female lead, really..."
She thought as she was happily dragged by her sister inside the royal carriage.
"This is going to fun!"
Camilla excitedly commented when she felt the tense air between the Emperor and Estelle.
Inside the carriage, only Camilla keeps on talking and sharing stories to lighten up the mood. She successfully made the Emperor and her sister laugh on her stories. Despite the tension between his father and sister, if an outsider saw them, they look like a happy family.
They went to boutiques to buy clothes and jewelries then they eat lunch at a fancy restaurant.
"Estelle, your 18th birthday is one day after mine, right?"
Camilla asked while they are eating.
"Yes, why?"
She casually asked. For her, birthdays are just a normal day since she work even on special occassions. Unknown idols do not have such privelege as celebrating their birthdays.
"Do you have anything that you want? You're elder sister will get it for you"
Camilla excitedly said and anticipating to Estelle's answer. She actually wanted to answer nothing but she do not want to make her embarass in front of the Emperor.
"Um... choco cake, a simple one"
She replied. The emperor and Camilla slightly tilted their heads.
"That's all? A chocolate cake, right?", Camilla asked.
"Yes...", Estelle replied.
"Dress? Jewelries?", Camilla insisted.
"No, I don't want", she immediately replied.
Estelle changed the topic, so Camilla will not ask any more questions about birthday gifts.
"If Your Majesty won't mind, is it okay to ask about the strategy that the council came up with about 'the evils'?", she asked.
"About that, they decided to end the lives of those being possessed by 'the evil' since our temple cannot handle the massive number that they need to exorcise"
The emperor calmly replied but he looked bothered by it.
"That's... cruel! Is there any other way? Can't we just ask our neighbor empires for an assistance?", Estelle commented.
"I brought up that idea of yours in the council but they are firm with their decision", he replied.
"Those damn nobles!"
Estelle thought while she tightly gripped her fork. It even makes worse when she saw Sir Litton inside the restaurant, the Royal Knight who played the violin for her after the war. He is walking blankly, his eyes turned red, mumbling unknown words, and black ancient words started to cover his body.
"No..."
Estelle said as she immediately stand up and worriedly approached the knight.