Shadow Queen

Chapter 19

Sect. 4 Masks

“What do you think, Liv? Does it look good on me?”

Elena bragged about her dress, which will be worn at the birthday party tomorrow. Leabrick answered reluctantly.

“… It’s too fancy.”

“I asked the dressmaker to pay special attention, but it’s so much prettier than I thought.”

As Elena asked, the dresser Lusen brought with her a dress reminiscent of the Milky Way. The dress was packed with high-end jewelry, from the shoulders of the Milky Way to the tip of the tooth. As a result, you couldn’t erase the colorful yet crude feeling.

“Princess, I think you’d better wear this dress for the next banquet.”

“W-what’s wrong with it, Liv?”

“The birthday party is a reverent celebration in honor of the first family of Friedrich’s family. I’m afraid this dress is too fancy to wear for this banquet.”

Elena was about to cry when Leabrick poured cold water on her.

“What can we do, Liv? I really want to wear this dress…”

“Do as I say.”

Leabrick cut her off with determination, as if to stop bringing it up. Then she took out a simple but elegant dress from the wardrobe.

“It’s an early dress made by Lusen, the dressmaker. It fits, so wear this.”

“…”

“Princess, won’t you answer?”

Leabrick’s eyes changed.

“What? Yes. I like that dress, too. I’ll wear it.”

Elena nodded reluctantly, saying she would do so. As if it was regrettable, she did not forget the test of alternating dresses.

‘It’s not even a dress that I wanted to wear in the first place.’

The purpose was to remove and dispose of the jewels decorated in the dress, which did not have to be worn at the banquet. If she had enough money to run away from Leabrick’s eyes, that would be enough.

Anne and Lunarin, the maids of honor, were brought into the room and changed their dresses. They also changed shoes and decorations to suit their elegant style.

“I think I’ve finally found a suit for the princess. I bet the main character of tomorrow’s banquet will be a princess.”

In a compliment that didn’t sound sincere, Leabrick pointed out the things to keep in mind at tomorrow’s banquet.

First, save your words as much as you can.

Second, do not act independently.

Third, never bump into Ren. Avoid encounters inevitably.

The first two things flowed. It wasn’t the story for Elena of now.

Elena noted the last mention of Ren Bastasche. Even if Leabrick did not give advice, she was well aware of his dangers. Ren was an unpredictable man. A man like him who never got tamed. As soon as she is found to be fake, he would rush to take away even a piece of rotten meat.

‘I don’t know what else to do, but I have to be careful of that son of a bitch.’

He could be a stumbling block to Elena’s revenge. That much should be avoided.

“Always keep it in your chest. A little mistake could make you lose everything you’re enjoying now. Then rest early for tomorrow, princess.”

Leabrick put the tension into the room until just before she left. Elena, who changed to everyday clothes, told the maids to serve refreshments. Sitting on the terrace, enjoying tea time, she saw carriages that were coming without break enter the house through the garden.

“It’s already tomorrow.”

It was the day Elena made her first debut in the role of Princess Veronica. She remembered the rest of her nervous mistakes.

“What does Lord Hurelbard think of when he sees those carriages?”

Although embarrassed by the sudden question, Hurelbard was good at facial expressions to match the prestige of being the knight of the ice.

“I thought there were a lot of aristocrats in the Empire.”

“Yes, there are a lot of them.”

Hurelbard stared at Elena without a word. Elena, who felt the gaze, looked back.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“I’m sorry.”

Hurelbard quickly apologized, taking it as a reprimand.

“If you’re sorry, keep looking at me like that.”

“What?”

“You earn money.”

This uncontrollable whim of the lady left Hurelbard perplexed. Elena enjoyed the reaction while drinking black tea. Hurelbard, who watched her without saying a word, took out his sincere heart.

“…… It is not possible to tell the true story of the Princess.”

Sometimes he felt like he was seeing the aristocratic spirit of that age, which is snobbish, vain, and immature. However, sometimes she shows authority that cannot be resisted and nobility that could be respected.

“Is that a compliment? Or is it a curse for insinuation?”

“Curse, that’s absurd. I’m telling you because I think you’re out of my depth.”

Elena smiled as she watched Hurelbard, who was worried that she might misunderstand. It was a pure smile that she had never made before.

“Then I’ll keep trying. A lady you can read the mind of is not attractive.”

“…”

Also, Hurelbard tried to accept her rather than understand her. Elena suddenly threw someone’s name at him.

“Ren Bastache, have you ever heard of this name?”

“I remember him as heir to the Bastache family, who became independent of the Grand Duchy.”

Elena nodded.

“He’s such a bully.”

“What are you saying now…”

“He’s a man who can’t look for manners even after washing his eyes. Very rude and disgusting.”

Arrogant. Is there another expression that’s more appropriate than that?

Hurelbard was speechless by the vulgar words that came from Elena’s mouth, which showed her aristocratic nobility.

“He’s coming to see me tomorrow. Without an appointment.”

“…… Your Highness the Princess?”

“Sir, keep in mind what I’m saying from now on. Don’t stand up to him no matter what he does. Do you understand?”

Hurelbard, who did not understand the true meaning of the words, asked back.

“Is that an order?”

“Yes.”

In response to Elena’s short and decisive answer, Hurelbard wanted to ask why, but he was just a knight, so he shut up.

“I’ll follow.”

Elena’s lips crept up when he answered that he would do so obediently.

‘Please understand that I want to hide you more.’

She hated to admit it, but Ren was strong. He was not recognized as one of the three swords that supported the empire. It was not necessary to create a quarrel with Ren and reveal the existence of Hurelbard.

“Sir, can I tell you a secret?”

Hurelbard lowered his chin and made eye contact. Elena’s eyes bent like a crescent moon. It was an eye smile that was so fascinating that his heart sank.

“Sir is my only pride.”

“…!”

Hurelbard’s expression was strangely distorted by the compliment without a subject. He guessed it was because of his appearance, but he felt bitter because he seemed to be recognized only for his appearance, regardless of his duty as a knight. He didn’t even know it was his misunderstanding.

***

The Friedrich family, which boasts a long history, had countless events throughout the year. Among them, the anniversary of the birth of Duke Rosette, the founder of the Vesilia Empire, was considered the most grand event in the family. The goal was to praise the achievements of being a member of the hero who opened the door of the empire and the achievements of leading the family, and to have a heart of gratitude for generations to generations.

It was the largest event in the family, and this year, the scale was even bigger.

Princess Veronica. This is because rumors have spread throughout the capital that she has returned to the Grand Duchy, where rumors of bad news have been rampant for nearly two years.

Princess Veronica is the only daughter under Grand Duke Friedrich, who was at the core of the Empire’s power and the leader of the four great families. As women can inherit the title, Princess Veronica was the heir to the great house in name and reality. It was natural for aristocrats to pay attention to her return to society to celebrate the birthday of the first Duke.

Despite the official banquets scheduled for dinner, the mansion was packed with aristocrats who had gathered since yesterday. Even now, a carriage procession of aristocrats waiting to be identified and entered the mansion continued along the capital’s streets.

In the drawing room, many rare gifts were piled up in celebration of the nobles. It was impossible to count the kinds and numbers of rare artworks, jewelry, cars of the best quality from the East across the sea, and silk from the north. If you dispose of these gifts alone, you will be able to buy at least one of the estates with a lump sum.

At that time, an aristocrat man was walking around the mansion like it was his own. His shirt, which did not feel formal, was not buttoned to the end, revealing his chest. Even a whistle that blew as if he doesn’t care about others’ gaze to his unorganized, free-spirited, semi-curly head. He seemed to be a noble, but his appearance that did not look like a noble was more rebellious and attracted attention.

“Who is he? He’s not supposed to be in here…”

“He’s a noble, isn’t he?”

“Don’t you think so? Between you and me, he seems a little bad for a nobleman.”

“He’s a little crooked.”

It was at that time when the maids chatted as they watched the man freely roaming the main building, not the annex to welcome the nobles.

The man walking past the maids suddenly turned around. The woman shuddered as he approached her with power in his eyes and threatened her.

“Hey, I’m curious, I have to ask. What are you talking about so openly? I feel bad.”

“I-I’m sorry.”

The maids were embarrassed and tried to leave as if they had fled.

Slowly.

The man stretched out his feet quietly. The girl who was running away hurriedly tripped and the women fell like dominoes.

“Who told you to go? I heard a bad word and got an indelible wound in my chest.”

“I-I have committed a crime worthy of death. Please forgive me once.”

The women repeatedly begged without knowing that they had skinned their knees. Since they had seen countless women who were kicked out or harmed for being hated by the eyes of the aristocrats, they had no choice but to cringe and beg.