135.

Anna blinked, seemingly bewildered, yet answered faithfully.

“Um… about three or four days ago? Her Imperial Highness urgently requested my presence.”

“Urgently? Why?”

“She said she needed someone reliable to attend to the Young Lady. I happened to be staying at Valdemore territory, so I could arrive at the palace quickly.”

Ro’s eyes sparkled. Three days. It wasn’t much time, but it was enough to sense something strange. Ro tightly gripped Anna’s arm.

“Tell me, during your stay here, did you notice anything suspicious?”

“There was.”

Anna affirmed quickly, without even pausing to think. She lowered her voice slightly and continued.

“It might be my own sensitivity, but overall, things feel rather odd.”

“In what way?”

“Actually, I wasn’t originally the Young Lady’s personal maid. After the ‘incident’ at the palace, the Duchess of Valdemore immediately dismissed the girl for failing in her duties…”

“Just get to the point, please.”

“Anyway, that girl was quite talkative. She used to chatter endlessly about everything that happened in the palace, and what I’ve seen now feels different from what she described.”

Anna frowned in thought, then cautiously continued.

“For one, she said the garden blooms all year round, but as you can see now, there isn’t a single flower in sight. Well, perhaps one could just assume it’s the Crown Princess Consort’s preference.”

“…….”

“Everyone’s expressions are strangely uniform. Conversations flow normally, but there’s absolutely no liveliness. Of course, one could generously interpret this as a virtue of palace staff.”

“…….”

“The most suspicious thing, though, is this place.”

“This place?”

Anna glanced around cautiously, then gestured subtly. Ro leaned in, and Anna brought her lips close to Ro’s ear, whispering.

“I’ve seen quite a few people come in this direction, but not a single one has come out. Does that make sense? Also, right now, all the lights in the residence are off… Wait, why are you suddenly getting up?”

“I can’t stay any longer.”

Anna gently grasped Ro’s shoulders, as if sensing her unease.

“Where are you going? Wouldn’t it be better to wait until morning?”

“No.”

Ro shook her head. The scribbles in Nick’s diary—Demecharon, the Royal Library. A strong intuition told her that answers to this situation lay hidden there.

“Right now…”

Suddenly, Ro sensed someone’s gaze and sharply turned her head. All around were walls, except for the glass door leading to the terrace, which was covered by a curtain. Ro glanced at Anna, placed a finger to her lips, and quietly approached the terrace. Then, in one swift motion, she flung the curtain open.

“…….”

Naturally, there was no one on the terrace. Ro searched every corner thoroughly, then finally let out a long sigh, rubbing her temples. It seemed fatigue had made her nerves overly sensitive. Just as she was about to draw the curtain shut again, she suddenly felt a faint draft slipping through. A sharp sense of dissonance struck her. She quickly realized the source.

“Damn it…”

The door handle, which should have been locked from the inside, was slightly misaligned, leaving a tiny gap between the glass doors—as if someone had attempted to break in from outside. Ro opened the door and stepped onto the terrace. She couldn’t pinpoint exactly where, but now she clearly felt that strange, watching gaze. Ro stared into the empty air with cold eyes.

“Fine. I’ll go first thing tomorrow morning.”

* * *

When the sun rose, the eerie atmosphere from the previous night had completely vanished. The unsettling gaze was no longer detectable either. Ro, who had spent the entire night awake, now felt almost indignant.

Perhaps what fueled that feeling most was the sudden arrival of seamstresses sent by the Imperial Princess early that morning. Supposedly to assist with ball preparations. As a result, Ro had been trapped in her room since dawn, unable to step even one foot toward the Royal Library. Even Anna, who had been trembling with anxiety earlier, now seemed perfectly cheerful, as if nothing had ever troubled her.

“Young Lady! Take a look at this.”

“…….”

“Which do you prefer—this light purple ribbon or the sky blue one? Maybe a bolder color would suit the dress better?”

The seamstress standing nearby nodded quickly and chimed in.

“The Young Lady has fair skin, so the light purple would look absolutely stunning.”

“What about turquoise, matching her eye color?”

“If we go with a white base for the dress and embroider with golden thread…”

“And tie the waist with this ribbon.”

“Oh my, it’ll be simply magnificent!”

“What does the noble lady think?”

They treated Ro like a doll, standing her up and chatting among themselves endlessly, only occasionally remembering to ask for her opinion.

“Do whatever you want. Just do it.”

Ro waved her hand dismissively, her face showing zero enthusiasm. Immediately, they huddled together again, whispering. To her, they were holding fabrics that looked damn near identical! Damn it, this wasn’t the time. She needed to get to the Royal Library and find Demecharon as soon as possible. Ro clapped her hands to draw attention.

“Alright, alright. That’s enough for now. Everyone…”

At that moment, there was a knock on the door. It felt ominous. If possible, Ro would have preferred to silence everyone and pretend no one was there. But Anna completely ignored Ro’s desperate gaze and opened the door. Ro almost growled.

“What now?”

“These are the jewelers sent by Her Imperial Highness.”

“And after them?”

“The lace fan merchant, the perfumer, the beautician, and this one is…”

……Damn it. They were apparently planning to empty every shop in the Empire. And Ro soon realized this was only the beginning.

* * *

From the next day around noon, carriages began arriving at the residence one after another. Nobles from all regions flocked in like waves, gathering for the Victory Ball.

Once rumors spread that the Young Lady of Montrosa was staying there, the palace no longer had any excuse to keep the residence empty. Ro suspected the Imperial Princess had heavily influenced this decision. As nobles began arriving, their attendants, maids, coachmen, and errand boys followed, turning the palace into a bustling hub almost overnight.

“Did you hear? The war reparations—they’re saying it’s the largest sum in history?”

“Tilsen is completely cowed now.”

“Feels like a huge weight off the chest… Ah, another glass, please!”

The benefits of victory, the surge of loyalty and patriotism toward the Crown fueled by the war, and the pride in the Navy had elevated the mood immensely. Even before the ball, nobles gathered and erupted into champagne and laughter. The festive atmosphere was so intense that Ro couldn’t help but be swept up in it. The suspicious gazes and desolate ambiance that had troubled her before now seemed like distant, almost forgotten memories.

“Now then, Young Lady Montrosa. We’re done. You may lower your arms.”

“Is it finished?”

“Yes. Only minor, delicate embellishments remain.”

The seamstresses nodded, removing the pins from the dress. After several nights of nonstop work, the first fitting of the dress was complete. With only fine details left, Ro finally regained her freedom. It had already been five days since her arrival at the palace—meaning only two days remained until the ball. Spotting Anna entering the room, Ro smiled brightly and tightened her robe.

“Anna. Get ready. We’re going to the Royal Library.”

“Read the letter first.”

“Letter?”

Anna smiled knowingly, handing her a silver tray. On it lay a thick envelope.

“Yes. The Young Lord sent a letter.”

Ro hastily grabbed the envelope. The letter spanned five pages, filled with Cardier Montrosa’s elegant handwriting—lengthy, affectionate inquiries about her well-being. Was she unwell? Was she eating properly? Was her sleeping comfortable?

Ro traced the last line with her fingertips. A smile came, then tears welled up. Who could blame her? She wanted to see him just as urgently. If only this could all end safely, and she could hold him in her arms once more…

She would give up everything without regret.