"Careful, careful!" Ingrid's steps slowed upon hearing the familiar voice of Dwight Harris, the caretaker of the Lily Palace. She approached the foyer where the commotion was coming from and saw servants carrying oversized cardboard boxes.
"What's happening?" Ingrid inquired, her curiosity piqued as she observed the scene from the second-floor balcony.
"Greetings, Princess," Dwight greeted respectfully, bowing. He had been serving the Lily Palace for five years. Though Ingrid hadn't interacted with him much, his reputation for responsibility preceded him.
Dwight gestured toward the direction of the servants, and a wide grin lit up his face. "These are dresses, shoes, and jewelry sent from the Rose Palace," he explained. "They're for your preparation to attend the Moonlight Festival, Princess."
Ingrid raised an eyebrow, her gaze darting between the boxes. "Moonlight Festival? But why are there so many?"
Dwight's eyes lit up with genuine enthusiasm. "But of course! Your stay at the Rose Palace is booked for three delightful days!" he exclaimed. "Unfortunately, Mrs. Adelaide has just given birth, which means there is no permitted dressmaker who can come at the moment. However, worry not, for we have a selection of exquisite pre-made outfits for you to choose from. And should you desire any adjustments, let me know! I am here to ensure your stay is nothing short of perfect."
Ingrid's composed expression soured. "Three days? Why would I need to stay that long?" she asked.
She couldn't fathom why people would want to engage in prolonged socializing, especially in the Rose Palace, which she sensed would bring nothing but trouble.
"There are many things to do at the Rose Palace," Dwight said, extending his hands gracefully. "In the morning of the first day, you may join a tea party with several noble ladies," he suggested with a proud smile.
"No, I do not want to join a tea party," Ingrid replied, her voice lacking enthusiasm.
"Well, in the afternoon, you may visit the temple," Dwight continued, his brows raised.
"Unfortunately, I am not a believer in your Goddess," Ingrid said, her refusal firm.
"W-well, in the evening, you may watch the beautiful night sky from the Ruby Palace," Dwight stammered, giving an awkward smile.
Ingrid crossed her arms gracefully. "That is not much different from the view at the Lily Palace," she answered, unimpressed.
Dwight closed his eyes momentarily, as if doing so would stop him from hearing her reluctance. "On the second day, you may stay there to prepare for the party. You are a guest of His Imperial Majesty himself. You will be served by the most experienced servants of the royal family," he continued, trying to maintain his composure.
"I only need a few minutes to prepare, Mr. Dwight. And my servants can do more than enough," Ingrid said with a smile.
Dwight was starting to sweat under the pressure but continued with a hopeful tone, "At least stay for the evening, Princess. The party will feature a lot of dancing and socializing. You might find it tiring, so staying at the Rose Palace for recuperation would be wise."
"I understand your concern, but I'll just find a quiet corner and sit until the party is over. There's no need for recuperation, and it won't take more than 20 minutes to return to the Lily Palace," Ingrid replied.
Dwight, almost on the brink of despair, tried one more time. "Princess, why not take this opportunity to explore and enjoy yourself? It may be a once-in-a-lifetime chance."
Ingrid's gaze wandered toward the door, deep in thought. Her gaze returned to the servants below her and sighed. "Perhaps," she said.
Dwight, sensing a glimmer of hope, clapped his hands together in delight. "Then, where should we place these box—"
"But who knows, I might fall ill on that day," Ingrid said as she slowly turned away. "Please inform the Emperor's aide that I'll only attend the masquerade party."
"Pardon?" Dwight exclaimed. "Wait, my lady! Oh, right! You can access the Grand Library from there!"
Ingrid paused. "The Grand Library, huh," she pondered.
"In the Rose Palace, there's also a gallery showcasing works by the most renowned artists of the empire," Dwight added, hoping to capture her attention.
"Hmm. A gallery?"
"I believe it even has works from Bresailes and the Fengli Kingdom," Dwight continued, sensing he was getting closer to persuading her.
Ingrid's brow raised as she listened intently.
"Even Fengli?" she pondered. "That is interesting. However, I don't believe it's compelling enough to justify prolonging my stay at the Ruby Palace."
"The Emerald Sword that Princess Katarina gifted to Sylvania should be on display there," Dwight revealed, knowing he had found the key to unlocking her interest.
"The Emerald Sword," she thought, recalling the tale. "Princess Katarina said it was supposedly crafted for her."
Seeing the princess hesitate, Dwight couldn't help but smile, sensing he had struck a chord with her. "What do you think, Princess?" he asked.
Ingrid slowly turned around, her head held high and her expression calm.
"Dwight..."
"Yes?"
"Just two days," Ingrid declared firmly. "And I won't be staying there overnight."
Dwight and the servants beamed, their smiles stretched from ear to ear. "Yes, Princess!"
With practiced efficiency, he and the servants quickly set to work, placing the oversized cardboard boxes carefully in Ingrid's room.
Once they were gone, Ingrid silently watched the imposing presence of the boxes from her perch on the edge of her bed, hugging her knees close to her chest.
The boxes came in an array of sizes. Though not as numerous as the "gifts" that used to arrive at the Lily Palace for the previous royal captives, there was a stark difference this time – these deliveries were made without her request.
"I don't know what they expect from my presence there, Your Highness," Ingrid whispered into the air, as though her late mentor, Princess Katarina, could hear her thoughts.
She had no desire to leave the palace, let alone attend a party when she was mourning. The Emperor's invitation to a celebration, seemingly expecting her to move on so swiftly, and the servants' radiant smiles, as though they had not served Princess Katarina — it all weighed heavily on her.
"Everyone's worlds seem to keep turning," Ingrid murmured, barely audible above a whisper, "as if they have completely forgotten you."
Ingrid's melancholic thoughts were interrupted by a soft knock on the door. "Princess, a dressmaker has arrived," Jaquelyn announced.
Ingrid raised her eyebrows. "A dressmaker? But Dwight said the dressmaker couldn't come," she thought.
"Who is this dressmaker, Jaquelyn?" Ingrid inquired.
"G-greetings, Princess Ingrid. I am D-Danica Walt, Mrs. Adelaide's apprentice. I have been sent by Mr. Dwight," a nervous voice replied from the other side of the door.
Ingrid slowly straightened her posture. "You may enter," she said.
The door creaked open, revealing a petite woman with brown curly hair. She wore a beret hat, a pair of eyeglasses perched on her nose, and an orange dress that clashed with her blue shoes.
"She... is Mrs. Adelaide's apprentice?" Ingrid caught herself judging the woman... or girl... and quickly chastised herself, "I shouldn't judge people by their appearance."
"H-hello, Y-Your Highness," Danica stammered once more.
"She is so cute. But, is it okay for a royal dressmaker to be so timid?" Ingrid thought.
In an effort to make Danica feel more comfortable, Ingrid spoke gently, "You do not have to call me 'Your Highness.' You may just address me as 'Princess.'"
Ingrid understood the nuances of the royal titles, where the captive royals were granted titles more as a form of decoration rather than a reflection of power. Her late mentor, Princess Katarina, however, had held a higher status due to her brother's marriage to a Sylvanian Ducal Princess and is often referred to as 'Your Highness'.
Danica visibly relaxed at Ingrid's friendly demeanor. "Thank you... Princess. I appreciate your understanding," she said, her voice steadier now.
"So, you are here to help with the dresses for the Moonlight Festival?" Ingrid inquired.
Danica nodded, her hands fidgeting slightly. "Yes, P-Princess. Mrs. Adelaide sent me to assist you with choosing and fitting the dresses." She pointed to the boxes. "She has already prepared a selection based on your preferences, but the m-measurements may be a bit off."
"I see," Ingrid replied. "What should we do first?"
"I-I need to take your measurements, Princess," Danica said. "If it's okay, m-may I kindly request to assist you in removing your outer garments?"
Ingrid's eyes widened at the request. "Oh, typically, only my maids are permitted to attend to me during the measurement process. They have always been responsible for this task. Would it be possible for me to summon them?" Ingrid asked politely.
Danica gasped and quickly bowed. "Oh! I-I apologize for my presumption, Princess. I did not mean to overstep," she said, her eyes began watering.
Ingrid hurriedly reassured her, waving her hands dismissively. "Oh! No, no, do not apologize. I'm just not comfortable exposing much of my skin to others."
"I-I understand. I'm genuinely sorry..."
Knock knock.
"P-Princess, the Grand Commander is here," Jaquelyn announced.