“Your Majesty the Queen gave me this?”
It was a velvet dress made with a deep square neckline, adorned with puffy sleeves, the type that has been popular recently. On the vibrant cream-colored fabric, delicate embroidered lines of gold and silver thread spread throughout. All the patterns are roses, the symbol of the royal family, and each small quilted box has a tiny pearl attached.
The ruffled collar is made from organza fabric and the tatting lace is so sophisticated that just looking at it makes your eyes dizzy because of its extreme luxury.
But it's not just my outfit.
“Your Majesty also sent His Royal Highness the Crown Prince's outfit.”
Another chest opened, revealing some splendid men's clothing. Among them, the most outstanding thing was the tuxedo for him, sewn to match my dress perfectly, also on an iridescent cream fabric, with brilliant gold and silver embroidered motifs. An exquisite justaucorps.
Accompanied by a doublet, formal shirt and tie. I'm not familiar with men's clothes, but just a quick glance tells me that they are the most beautiful.
“……”
As soon as I looked at that shirt, my throat suddenly felt tight. Seeming to understand that feeling or not, Countess Elvira softly spoke as if singing:
“I heard you made a strong promise to Her Majesty the Queen.”
She meant my vow to make Cesar look like a human being at the upcoming banquet. I remained silent, waiting for her to continue.
“Her Majesty the Queen said that she is truly dedicated to taking care of her husband, so she specifically instructed her to spare no effort in supporting the two of her highnesses.”
Her voice did not carry any mockery or sarcasm, on the contrary, it was very calm.
"So if you need anything, please tell me directly. His Majesty orders you to support me as much as possible."
“…Anything?”
"Yes, anything. I have to help you at all costs."
I was still bewildered when the countess slowly added:
“And… please don't let failure happen just because you lack something.”
“……”
She glanced deeply at my face, then nailed the last sentence:
“Be grateful for Her Majesty the Queen's favor.”
The phrase “the Queen's favor” made my breath hitch. Actually, the Queen sent me this gift as a warning.
That I have no way back anymore.
“I will also take care of your comfort, Crown Princess.”
“Is that also your Majesty's order?”
Elvira smiled slightly, but did not answer.
I felt like I had just fallen into a terrible trap, as if I had been thrown into the abyss and then placed on the stage of a meticulously staged play. In that play, who am I? Is it tragedy or comedy? No one knows, not even me.
I tried to think differently. Maybe that's good. Some help is better than nothing. After all, it was all a reckless gamble that didn't bring any benefit to me. If you take the risk, just accept support.
I straightened my back and calmly said:
“Please convey that I am extremely grateful for the favor of Her Majesty the Queen.”
Elvira's eyes curved into a crescent shape. She turned to the door and leisurely said:
“May the light of the Holy Cross shine upon you two.”
After that, the servants kept bringing more boxes one by one to fill the room. With each box I put down, I felt like my throat was being squeezed by an invisible hand.
Giovinetta Flores strode down the hallway, each time her stiletto heels hit the floor, there was a sharp echo.
Duke Flores's servants quickly bowed their heads and avoided it, afraid of being caught by the angry eldest lady. Giovinetta's destination was the living room.
“Mom!”
The heavy door opened. At that moment, Celestina was enjoying afternoon tea.
“Gionette, you are so inelegant.”
Celestina placed the teacup on the table without making a sound. But Giovinetta didn't care, she quickly walked over and sat down next to her mother. A maid quickly brought her a glass of cold water.
“Have you heard the news yet?”
Giovinetta gasped, gulped down the glass of water, and regained her breath.
“What news?”
“It's Irenea!”
Celestina raised her eyebrows slightly.
“What does it do?”
Giovinetta blinked repeatedly as if she couldn't believe her mother's calmness.
"It's alive! And it's alive with both eyes wide open!"
Contrary to her daughter's excitement, the Duchess was extremely calm.
“I thought it was something big.”
That indifferent response made Giovinetta sigh in frustration.
“I prepared the outfit, hat, and gloves to go to the funeral!”
She also planned to wear a thin lace veil, choose flowers to attach to the hat, wear a waist-hugging dress with a deep lace collar to highlight her bust, all to look beautiful.
It's so elegant when mourning
, an image that will surely make everyone pity and pay attention. A perfect opportunity to make an impression but it went wrong!
“I told you, Irenea never brings any benefits.”
"Be careful with your mouth. Don't say those words outside. What if people gossip about you?"
"Do you think I'm an idiot? I only said that in front of you. But a funeral... is truly a golden opportunity to appear with the sad, mournful appearance of a lost loved one!"
She pouted. Such unexpected dramatic places were always ideal for a romantic encounter in Giovinetta's mind.
Recently, the family she was engaged to invested in a mine in Xizhou, but went bankrupt after several failures. The marriage was annulled. From then on, she insisted on a "natural meeting."
Celestina rubbed her temples tiredly. The girl who doesn't understand life still talks loudly:
"But the rumor that the Crown Prince was cursed turned out to be false? Otherwise, why would he be the only one alive?"
"It can't be. The curse is real."
Celestina curled her lips. But she also felt strange in her heart: how did that little girl survive?
According to what she heard, Irenea just... survived and was taken to the palace.
“Then why can you still breathe?”
Celestina gently touched her daughter's lips with her finger, blaming her love. Then she smiled, her expression mixed with a bit of venom:
“It's very tough.”
“Yeah… that's true.”
The two looked at each other with interest and then laughed lazily. That girl Irenea is always like that.
Merciless. Creepy to the point of being scary.
Even though he was pinched and beaten, he didn't cry once. Perhaps because of a lowly background? Even though it was treated less than a slave, it still didn't react in the slightest. One time they even tried to lock it up and starve it to see how long it could last, but it never said a word, just silently picked up tree roots, even mud mixed with bread to gnaw through the day. The servants investigated and told the story, surprising even the homeowner.
They hired tutors, forced them to push the amount of homework beyond the standard, and punished them mercilessly every time they couldn't do it. But that girl only seemed tired at first, then gradually... studied all night long, memorizing the entire book. Making his basic level surpass that of his tutors, forcing them to teach advanced programs.
A girl who is not cute at all. If only he would cry or beg, he would be pitiful. But here, with a street background, he is too smart and annoyingly stubborn.
When he was pushed down the stairs and almost died, he just curled up in his room, silently enduring. That alone is enough to say it all.
“But it probably won't live long.”
Celestina smiled coldly. There was something like certainty in her voice. Giovinetta wasn't sure if it was a belief or a desire.
“The curse of Quang Long is inherently poisonous.”
“I hope so.”
“Besides… Her Majesty the Queen will not leave it alone.”
"Really?"
Celestina glanced around, then leaned into her daughter's ear and whispered something. Giovinetta's cheeks immediately turned red. Mother and daughter giggled.
“Just wait and see.”
Their faces shone with a chilling venom.