"Are you sure about this, your highness?"
Hera looked at Miseok through the reflection of the mirror, sensing worry in her voice again. She turned around to face her with a smile.
"I am. Do not worry too much. I am going to be fine." She squeezed the old woman's hand in assurance.
"Can I really not persuade you to stay?"
Hera shook her head. "No, you can't. Haven't you grown tired of it in the last week?"
Miseok smiled sadly. "I will never get tired of protecting you, your highness. This is just so dangerous for you. The emperor—"
"—can fuck himself." Hera turned around and adjusted her necklace as if she did not just insult the most powerful man in the kingdom.
Miseok frantically looked around in fear. Luckily, she had sent away the other maids and it was only her and the princess. "You mustn't say that, your highness! That is treason!" she reprimanded Hera, her voice trembling slightly and lowering in volume as she approached the end of her sentence.
Why are emperors all assholes in these types of stories? Hera idly thought, rolling her eyes.
"I apologize. I shall refrain from doing it again." She didn't mean it, but she found that empty sentiments like this assure Miseok just fine.
"Very well," Miseok regained her composure and continued fixing the princess' hair. "As I was saying, the emperor forbade you from ever leaving this manor. It was a royal decree. I am frightened for you."
"Yet, here you are, putting my hair up with the most beautiful ribbon in all of Hrysos," she pointed out. "Moreover, if the emperor wanted me to obey him, he should have acted like a father more."
Miseok smiled. "I am frightened for you, but know that I shall always be by your side." She hooked the ribbon one last time before she stepped away to look at her creation. "You shall never forget that, your highness."
Hera smiled and looked at herself in the mirror. Her eyes glimmered with delight, and although there was a hint of fear in those shades of pink, she knew that it could never tarnish the excitement she had for this day.
She had only seen her father, or Hera's father, in portraits. The original Hera also did. Never once did he show up in front of her after her mother's death. It also did not help that she wasn't the empress but the emperor's mistress. He loved her, but his love wasn't enough to bear the nobles' respect. Hera had her mother's face, and the emperor could not stand seeing the only woman he loved on the face of the person he believed killed her.
That is why he had her hidden in the isolated manor in the palace. The princess' manor was built in the palace grounds, but it was so far and secluded that one had to endure a one-hour ride from the main castle to reach the manor. No one dared enter it as well because the emperor had completely turned his back on the princess. She was already illegitimate, but the emperor had to also abandon her. It would not be an exaggeration if the people of the empire could not remember her existence. In fact, that was what she expected and hoped for.
If she were to infiltrate the ball tonight, she had to go there undetected. She could not show up and have herself beheaded for defying the emperor's orders before she could even step into the palace gates. She tried hard not to show it but she was also as afraid as Miseok.
After all, tonight could single-handedly cause them all their lives. Miseok could lose her life. She could lose her life.
But she couldn't just sit idly. She had to do something. She couldn't stay imprisoned forever. Until she could learn how to get out of this world, she had to at least make the most of it.
Satisfied with the way she looked, she turned to Miseok and embraced her. "Thank you, nanny."
The old woman reciprocated the same warmth and put her hands on her back. "You are most welcome, your highness."
When they separated, Miseok's eyes were glossy, so Hera gave her a reassuring smile. Soon enough, the servant knocked on the door, advising them of her departure.
She only had one carriage in this manor and it was worn out since it was the one Miseok used to get Hera to the manor eighteen years ago. The stables boy had to smuggle one from the outside under Miseok's orders. Since it wasn't an official carriage, she was dropped off in the corner, just outside the castle grounds.
"I'm not allowed inside. This was just a favor from one of my friends," the driver told her.
Her servant made this happen, but it didn't mean it was legal. She also had a feeling that the driver must not know that he just took part in treason by driving an abandoned princess who should not even be a step outside her manor. Good thing Miseok had her wear an inconspicuous cloak on top of her beige dress. It was eye-catching in the night, you see. Even more so given that the dress wasn't the typical one ladies would wear to events like this.
It was a short dress, cut a couple inches above her knee. It had a train attached to the skirt that reached the floor. She wore it with matching beige heels embedded with diamonds. It did not help that the sleeves were off on the dress, exposing her neckline and shoulders.
She would be cold tonight, but the purpose of this dress was greater than that. She would endure.
She got off the carriage with a meek, "Thank you." There was a long line of carriages waiting to be let inside the gates. It was a good thing that she had already come from the inside of the palace, so she did not have to enter through the royal knights.
She walked stealthily at the side of the road in the shadows holding the train of her dress. Her hood was perched on top of her head, hiding the half of her face. The gates had not been opened, yet and the knights were scattered in pairs.
She looked around, looking for a door or even a hole to get into. It was not in vain since behind the castle, there was a wooden door that a knight entered. He was wearing something formal, so he must be heading to the ball as well.
Hera basically walked on tiptoes to get to the door. It was surrounded by bushes and it was adjacent to the main hallway. Once she stepped on the concrete pathway, she quickly undid her cloak and hung it by the bushes. She fixed her hair on her shoulders but held onto the train of her dress to not sully it before she could show it off to her father.
So far, she thought, this night is going according to pla—
"Pardon me, my lady, but what could have brought you here?"
She stood frozen on the spot when she heard a voice coming from behind her. Her heart sank as her palms began to sweat.
And she was just about to say this night was going well!
She turned around as gracefully as she could muster to see the knight she had been following in the flesh. He had crimson red, white, and gold uniform, making him one of the royal knights. He had several badges and crests on his chest that Hera could not be bothered to discern. What she could not help looking at were his sharp jawline and flushed, plump lips. He had a menacing gaze, but it wasn't intimidating. He had layered long black hair that did not reach past his shoulders. And among everything else, he was blocking the door that would lead her inside.
She turned on her princess-ness, if she even had any.
"I apologize, my lord," she stepped forward to hide her cloak with her body. "I seem to have lost my way."
It was brief, but she saw him switch his gaze from the bushes to her.
He took a moment before responding. "May I be of any assistance to you, then?"
"Oh, please! I shall be eternally grateful to you, my lord, if you could just show me where the ball is!" Hera tried to smile softly as if she were truly sorry.
The knight smiled at her and offered her his arm. Hera gracefully took it and quickly maneuvered his gaze forward.
She was lucky that the knight who found her was foolish! Did he not see the cloak? Did he not feel that she was suspicious? Weren't knights supposed to know about these things? Were all the royal knights this foolish or was it just this guy?
Nevertheless, she was contented it worked out. However, she knew she wouldn't be as fortunate next time. She must be extra cautious.
"What house are you from, my lady?" he asked as they walked on the hallway leading to the castle doors.
"I'm offended that you didn't know, my lord," she answered him, looking sad. She was so committed to the act that she even put her hand on her chest while she pouted. "Shouldn't nobles and knights alike know each other especially if they were granted a special entry in such events like this?"
She knew in herself she was saying nonsense, but she couldn't be caught this soon!
"Absolutely, my lady," the knight admitted. She felt pretty proud of herself. "I suppose I just wanted to be certain as it is also customary for noble ladies to introduce themselves, especially on the first meeting. But of course, unlike your ladyship, I have not been in the kingdom for a while, so I may have missed out on the current societal pleasantries. Gusranteed, however, that if it was due to my negligence, I shall be dreadfully sorry." He smiled at the end, making his eyes turn into small curves. But no matter how hard he tried, the brightness of his smile could not veil his sarcasm.
Hera returned the same smile although through gritted teeth. "Then, can we just come to the agreement that neither of us should entertain each other's negligence as we seem to have been both at fault?"
"I shall do what pleases you, my lady," he told her with a small bow.
"Thank you for being so kind, my lord."
She faced forward as they walked in silence. She thought for a moment he didn't look bad, but his face seemed to irritate her now. It was wise of him to not attempt another conversation, since she had already indirectly told him to shut up.
She would ask for his name, but she realized she didn't care. After all, she would not be seeing him after tonight.
They soon reached a line of crowd leading to the inside of the palace to be introduced by the herald. Some of the attendees had already been let inside. The pair fell in line.
It was when only a couple of nobles stood before them that Hera realized that she must escape. She had no title or family to say to the herald. She was even arm-in-arm with a royal knight! She would be apprehended before the emperor could even see her!
"My lord," she called out to the knight. "I've already gone through the herald. Perhaps we should enter through a different entrance."
"But this is the first line of attendees, my lady. The ball has just started."
"I am aware, but you see, I have been granted a special entry."
"And where might that be?" The knight frowned. "The door behind the castle? I shall let you know that that led to the male knights' loo."
Hera dropped the act and glared at the knight. He had this annoying grin on his face that she would give the world to smack off.
Only a pair stood between her and the herald. She had to leave now.
She started to unlink her arm from the knight, but someone had talked to her.
"May I know your name, my lady?" The attendant asked her as he scrolled through the list of attendees.
"There is no need. I shall—"
The knight fixed her hand on his arm by putting his on top to prevent her from getting away.
"Sir Simon?" the attendant pressed, now asking the knight.
The pair before them was announced. They were next.
"Hey—" Hera nudged the knight, but he just smiled at her and moved right to the herald with her in tow.
He leaned and whispered something to the announcer. Whatever it was, it was certainly mind-boggling that the herald had his eyes agape in shock.
"But my lord—"
"She's with me. Isn't that enough proof?"
The herald's gaze lingered on Hera for a moment before he sighed and cleared his throat. It wad then that the trumpets were fired and the music filling the air was halted. Everyone's heads turned to the stairs as they all waited in silence.
"Entering her royal highness, the daughter of the kingdom's sun! Princess Hera Ellisa Lanceforth Hrysos!"
Hera's breath hitched. The trumpets were blown again and the flags were raised. She looked at the knight beside her, but he was already unlocking her arm from his and stepping away.
"Enjoy the night, your highness." He bowed and took her hand before planting a kiss on her knuckles. Then, before she knew it, he was striding away.