I quickly turn in the water, the liquid splashing softly against the marble
as I stand up and bow deeply.
"Your Majesty," I say, my voice trembling slightly.
I don't look up. My head remains bowed, eyes fixed on the rippling water. I wait for the insult. I wait for the disgust.
But there is only silence. Heavy, suffocating silence.
"Rise," she commands. Her voice is not loud, but it vibrates through the floor, compelling absolute obedience.
I slowly straighten my back, though I keep my gaze lowered.
"Look at me," she says.
I force my eyes up. Empress Seraphine is terrifying. She isn't looking at my nakedness; Her eyes move over me with cold focus, like a jeweler inspecting a flawed gem—deciding whether it's salvageable.
"Yesterday," she says smoothly, her voice echoing in the vast chamber, "you stood at the altar wrapped in Vaeloria silk. Pretty. Silent. Hollow."
She steps closer to the edge of the pool. Her shadow spills over the water, swallowing me whole.
"I came to see what lies beneath the ceremony," she continues. "To see if the frailty you showed in the Great Hall was an act."
Her gaze sharpens. She searches me—not for beauty, but for power. For magic force. For anything that proves I belong here.
Her eyes find nothing.
"It appears it was not," she says, her disappointment palpable. "You shake. You hesitate. And you carry the presence of prey—not a High Elf."
My breath hitches. She's dissecting me, peeling back layers I didn't know I had.
"However," she pauses, tilting her head slightly. "You passed your first night in this palace."
She steps back, her expression unreadable.
"Kaelen did not remove you. Eldric raised no objection. That alone... earns you my attention."
I opened my mouth to speak—Ihave to say something, right?—but the words died in my throat.
No. I can't.
My tone is nowhere near a royal's yet. If I open my mouth and sound like a confused intern instead of a haughty Princess, I'll mess this whole thing up. Silence is safer.
I desperately look around for something to cover myself with. Just then, Elin finally rushed back in, her arms laden with fresh clothes and a thick towel.
The moment she saw the Empress, she froze, then dropped into a deep, terrified bow.
"Glory to the Sun of the Eryndor Empire, Your Imperial Majesty," she breathed out, her voice trembling.
Empress Seraphine didn't even blink. She spared Elin a single, indifferent glance before turning her back on me completely.
"Prepare her."
Empress Seraphine's voice followed, calm and precise. The words landed heavier than any insult.
She looked over my shoulder, addressing the room rather than me. "This girl represents the Eryndor Empire now. I will not have uncertainty displayed as virtue."
Her gaze flicked to Elin. Just once.
"Remove excess softness. Teach her how to stand like a proper lady."
Crap. Am I standing weird? I instinctively tried to straighten my spine.
"Restrain anything that reads… unstable," she continued, ignoring my movement.
So this is all about presentation, huh?
She looked ahead, her profile sharp and unyielding. "She will attend the Morning Audience. On time. Composed. Silent unless spoken to."
Her eyes returned to me—cool, distant, already done. "We do not embarrass the Empire with fragility."
She turned to leave, the heavy silk of her dress swishing against the marble, but then she paused. She looked back at me one last time.
"And do not show nervousness like yesterday," she said, her voice cutting deep. "You are now the Eryndor Empire's Princess, not a child of the Elvanyr Dominion."
Then she stepped away.
She didn't wait for acknowledgment. She didn't need it.
Elin quickly offered me her hand as I stepped out of the water. She started drying me with frantic, gentle motions, her eyes full of apology.
I just stood there, letting her work.
Tsk... A Morning Audience? Already?
I bit my inner cheek. This wasn't the plan. I wanted to hit the library first, learn the players, the customs, maybe figure out who hates who before I walked into a room full of them. Now I was going in blind.
The Empress's remaining maids descended on me like a silent flock of birds. They began draping me in layers of heavy, shimmering royal silk.
I stood stiffly, letting them pull and pin. I wanted to ask Elin a questions—but with these three watching my every breath, I couldn't say a word.
I sighed internally. I didn't want my second life to be just as political and exhausting as my first. I wanted peace. But apparently, peace is a luxury not afforded to princesses. Fine. Let's see where this goes.
An hour later, I was transformed.
High heels that felt like weapons, a gown that weighed more than I did, and hair pinned so neatly I was afraid to move my head.
Elin stepped back, bowing low, though her eyes were still filled with worry.
"Your Highness," she whispered. "You are ready for the Morning Audience."
The Empress's maids gestured sharply toward the door. It was time.
As I tried to take a step, the sheer weight of the dress nearly pulled me backward. I instinctively grabbed Elin's hand to steady myself. She gripped my fingers tight, guiding me with a gentleness that felt desperate.
"Your Highness, please... be careful," she whispered, her voice sounding like a plea.
"Don't worry, I'm trying not to fall," I joked lightly, trying to ease the tension.
Elin didn't smile. Her face went pale. "Your Highness, if you stumble or fall... I will be executed for failing Her Imperial Majesty's command."
My smile froze. Executed? Just for a trip?
"Haha... don't worry. I'll manage," I said, my voice tight. I squeezed her hand once before letting go.
Elin opened the heavy door to the bathing chamber, and I stepped out into the hallway. It seemed empty at first glance—no guards, no retinue.
Eh? I was expecting Kaelen to be waiting for me.
But then I turned my head, and my heart jumped into my throat.
Leaning against the wall, arms crossed and staring at me with eyes cold as ice, was my husband. Lucian.
Fuck. I didn't even notice him.
Startled, my heel caught on the hem of my heavy dress. I pitched backward, bracing for the impact of the hard stone floor.
But before I could fall, a pair of strong hands gripped my shoulders, steadying me instantly.
"Your Highness!" Elin squeaked in panic from the doorway.
I looked up to see Kaelen standing behind me like a solid wall. He gave Elin a brief, reassuring nod—but instead of calming down, Elin looked even more startled, shrinking back into the room.
Kaelen gently steadied me, then stepped around to offer his hand. "My Lady."
I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding. "Thank you," I nodded, taking his hand to regain my balance.
I glanced over at Lucian. He hadn't moved. He hadn't flinched. He had just watched me almost bust my head open with that same bored, cold expression.
How rude. Not even a reflex to help his own wife?
Finally, he pushed himself off the wall. He ignored Kaelen completely and extended his hand toward me.
"Let's go," he commanded.
I gulped, looking from Kaelen's steady, safe grip to Lucian's open, demanding hand.
I slowly let go of Kaelen and placed my hand in Lucian's.
The moment my skin touched his, the air in front of me shimmered.
A blue system screen flickered to life right in front of my face.
[ Celine, prepare yourself. Morning Assembly ahead. ]
[ Survival Tip: While surviving the wolves, try to make friends with Elena. ]
Eh? Elena?
I blinked at the text.
Wait... I saw her at the wedding. That quiet girl... my sister-in-law??