"...Please braid my hair into one braid. And keep the pin as a decoration."
Ena obediently braided my hair as I requested. The bangs that wouldn't stay braided and kept falling down were pinned back with the pin Ray gave me.
Even after that, there were more things to choose. Accessories like necklaces and bracelets, but since the dress was simple, there was no need to choose something flashy.
"I'll take a choker."
I chose a black ribbon choker with a sapphire pendant. This much was a reasonably polite outfit, so I didn't choose anything else.
Just this had already taken an hour.
Hurrying downstairs, my mother was there, perhaps having heard the news.
"What's going on? Take this with you."
Despite her panic, Mother had prepared a gift for me to bring to the Empress' Palace. It was a hastily arranged bouquet of flowers plucked from the garden.
While perhaps too modest for a gift to Her Majesty the Empress, it was the best choice given the circumstances.
I couldn't possibly take a piece of jewelry from her collection that she had worn herself. The Empress wouldn't fault me for presenting such a hastily prepared gift, would she?
'If she does, I might feel slightly disappointed...'
I kept my emotions in check, not wanting to add to my mother's already overwhelming worry. She was already fretting so much that I didn't want to burden her further with my own feelings.
"I'll be back soon."
"Stay safe."
After exchanging farewells, I climbed into the carriage prepared by Her Majesty the Empress.
***
This wasn't my first visit to the Imperial Palace. Of course, it was my first in this life.
I had my debutante ball here at 15 and broke off an engagement here at 17.
After that, I'd come several times as a merchant to meet Her Highness the Empress. I even went to pay formal respects to His Majesty the Emperor to meet the ability user...
While not exactly familiar, it wasn't an unfamiliar place.
Still, it's uncomfortable.
Perhaps nervous would be a better word. I'd feel less anxious if I were here for business...
How should I treat a friend's mother?
Can I even consider her a friend's mother?
I wasn't sure why the Empress had invited me.
I briefly recalled what the Imperial Concubine had told me during my second life when I'd first come to the palace to meet the ability user.
"Her Majesty the Empress, you ask? She's not an unreasonable person. Though it's hard to call her benevolent given her position, she's not a bad person. She even understood the other woman (the Concubine) her husband took out of necessity..."
"Yes, however. At the same time, she is a pitiable person. So much so that I truly regret it..."
The Concubine's bitter voice echoed in my mind. She closed her mouth after that, so I still don't know in what way she was pitiable.
'Why would that be?'
Both Majesties married after a fresh romance and had a very good relationship. Their devotion to each other even after a long time was a model for all lovers.
That's why everyone was shocked when His Majesty the Emperor took Her Highness the Imperial Concubine...
'But even so, the direction of his favor didn't change.'
Although he took Her Highness the Imperial Concubine, he didn't show more affection for her than for Her Majesty the Empress.
He was always with Her Majesty the Empress in all matters, and he didn't have any more children with Her Highness the Imperial Concubine, excluding the Imperial Princess.
'Was she referring to the situation of sharing her husband with another woman as pitiable?'
While I was lost in thought like that, the carriage had already arrived at the Imperial Palace.
It was thanks to the Imperial carriage being able to use the teleportation gate without having to get off, allowing it to travel quickly.
After passing through the Imperial Palace Avenue in the outer palace area and entering the inner palace area where the Imperial family lived, my tension grew severe, and my mouth felt completely dry.
Upon reaching the palace where the current Empress resided, it felt like no saliva would come out of my mouth anymore.
"We have arrived."
The carriage door opened along with the coachman's words. The person who opened the door appeared to be an Imperial Knight. He bowed politely and extended a hand to me.
"I will escort you, Lady."
The treatment was more courteous than was appropriate for an 11-year-old child, making me feel slightly embarrassed.
I pretended to be fine and extended my hand, but perhaps due to being overly nervous, my hand was visibly trembling badly.
Pretending not to notice, he placed my hand on his arm and walked slowly, matching my pace.
Holding the bouquet brought from home, I walked through the corridor of the Empress's palace, escorted by the knight.
The invitation stated that lunch would be in the garden as the weather was nice.
The weather was so good it felt unreal, making me wonder why I was even here, and as I walked blankly down the corridor, the knight walking beside me opened his mouth.
"You do not need to worry."
"...Yes?"
"Her Majesty did not summon the Lady to scold you."
"Ah..."
"Normally, I shouldn't voice my lord's intentions so freely, but... Lady seemed excessively nervous..."
Saying that, the knight smiled kindly. Only then did my tension ease a little, and I began to notice my surroundings.
I also realized only now that the knight escorting me was female. As my stiff movements relaxed, the knight's smile deepened. I also smiled awkwardly and matched her pace.
Upon reaching the end of the corridor, I saw a table set up far in the distance near a large garden tree.
I also saw busy palace staff moving around nearby, and an elegant noblewoman sitting at the table.
'That person...'
I had seen her face a few times. I had my debutante ball at the Imperial Palace, and I usually attended the social events hosted by the Imperial family.
The Imperial Prince, Imperial Princess, and Her Highness the Imperial Concubine didn't often attend events, but both Majesties always made an appearance, so their appearances were familiar.
The Empress seemed to have been watching me before I even came out of the corridor, as her head was fixed in place.
Her gaze was overtly direct. As the knight said, there was no hostility in her eyes, suggesting she hadn't summoned me to scold me, but the thorough gaze felt like being evaluated.
Approaching close enough to make my greeting, I lowered the hand I had placed on the knight's arm for the escort and bowed, bending my legs and head.
"I greet Your Majesty. May you have glory forever."
"Welcome."
Indeed, perhaps because she wasn't trying to torment me, she didn't do anything unpleasant like refusing my greeting.
Since she accepted my greeting right away, I stood up and handed her the bouquet I had brought as a gift.
Receiving something like this, it was formal etiquette to pretend to smell it once and then hand it to a nearby attendant. However...
"Oh my, are these flowers from the Count's estate? Thank you."
Saying that, the Empress hugged the bouquet and didn't let go, leaving the nearby palace servant with an awkward, surprised expression and an outstretched hand.
Truthfully, they were fresh as they had just been picked, but they weren't particularly rare flowers.
There was no one in the household who had gardening as a hobby; they had only planted common varieties that were decent enough for appearance's sake.
But the Empress treated that bouquet as if it were a legendary flower, which was bewildering.
'Is she subtly criticizing it?' I wondered, but looking at her expression, it didn't seem so.
'I seem to be seeing things too negatively.'
It was rude to keep interpreting things negatively when the other person had no such intention.
Reflecting on this, I sat in the seat opposite her as she motioned.
"I apologize for summoning you so suddenly. It seemed like there wouldn't be a better time than now."
At her words, I waved my hand, saying it was fine, while thinking about the reason why it had to be now.
'Was there something happening in the Empire at this time?'
I didn't recall anything major... Perhaps it was the Empress's personal circumstances.
Despite being so nervous on the way here, Her Majesty the Empress was genuinely kind.
"Is there anything you cannot eat? Allergies, perhaps?"
"Ah, no. Anything is fine."
"But there might be things you don't prefer, mightn't there? For the sake of enjoying your meal, which only happens three times a day, feel free to speak comfortably."
At her words, I thought for a moment and then spoke. There were foods I didn't eat much, not because I couldn't eat them, but simply because they didn't suit my taste.
However, I hadn't mentioned it to avoid seeming picky, but since she requested it so strongly, I had no choice but to speak.
"I... don't like strong scents. So, things with a lot of spices are a bit... Ah! It's not that I absolutely cannot eat them, though..."
I was about to add that there was no need to remake the dishes even if they had prepared such food, but the Empress spoke in a happy voice.
"Oh my! You have the same taste as me. I also like simple flavors and don't use much spice."
She genuinely seemed happy. 'Is sharing a taste something to be that happy about?' I wondered, replying awkwardly, and her words continued.
"Among my children, only Ray shares my palate. The others find it bland and sprinkle so much pepper on top..."
"Ah... Ray does?"
He had visited my house often, and we had eaten together a few times, but he never said anything like that... Noble food was generally full of spices, so only I ate bland food at our house.
Ray hadn't said anything specific, so I had served normal noble food...
'No, why didn't he say something?'
Making me feel bad... I thought everything was fine because he ate whatever was given to him so well.
I vowed inwardly that I would have to tell him to change his 'anything is fine' attitude the next time I saw him, when the Empress's eyes sparkled, having heard my muttering.
"You call him Ray, I see."
"Yes? Ah..."
Oh dear. I was supposed to treat him formally as an Imperial Prince publicly, but the nickname slipped out of habit.
I tensed up, wondering if calling an Imperial family member by a nickname, especially a prince, would be considered rude, but the Empress kept saying unexpected things.
"That looks very good. It seems you two are truly close."
"Cough! Cough!"
Startled by her words, I choked on my saliva. The Empress, startled in turn, quickly offered me a cup of water.
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