While the Duke of Shroud was delivering another speech to captivate the nobles, Serena quietly slipped out of the ballroom. Thankfully, Lucas’s large frame helped her avoid prying eyes.

“Ah…”

Anna, who had been watching Serena from a corner of the ballroom, quickly came over and supported her arm.

“Are you very tired? Still…”

“No, it’s okay. Don’t worry about the two of you. The Crown Prince commanded it.”

“Huh?”

Anna looked puzzled, but this was not the place to explain.

“Let’s go to my chamber for now and rest. We can talk later.”

Seeing the sincerity in Serena’s face, Anna hesitantly nodded. Neither Serena nor Anna were familiar with the palace, and it showed.

“Hey, Lily. Come here.”

Anna called for Lily, a young maid who had been waiting in the corridor outside the ballroom.

“Yes, my lady.”

While Serena leaned heavily against the wall, Anna asked Lily a few questions and then sent her away.

“Your Highness, hold my hand. Someone might see.”

She had always thought the term ‘Your Highness’ belonged solely to Lucas. Hearing it directed at her felt awkward and ticklish.

Still, it wouldn’t do for someone to see her, who had become ‘Your Highness,’ leaning against the wall in such a sorry state.

“Um… where should we go?”

“Someone will come to guide us. Lily has gone to fetch them.”

“Who?”

Even Head Steward Peter was unfamiliar with the inner layout of the palace. They couldn’t just grab any palace maid. If they did, their plan to move discreetly would be ruined.

“A maid assigned to the Crown Princess’s chamber will be here. She should be waiting nearby and will arrive shortly.”

Sure enough, one maid would hardly suffice for the Crown Princess. While Serena had been preparing things at the Duke’s residence, the palace preparations had likely been even more meticulous.

“Your Highness Crown Princess, my respects.”

A child Serena’s age, dressed as a palace maid, came and deeply bowed.

“From now on, I will be serving Your Highness Crown Princess. My name is Bekka.”

Upon Serena’s nod, Bekka stood upright.

“There’s a less-traveled passage. I will guide you.”

Those were welcome words.

“If you take a carriage from the back entrance, we can quickly reach your chamber.”

“A carriage?”

The Astel Duke’s residence was also vast, but they never used carriages within its confines.

“With so many carriages today, we’ll hardly stand out.”

Bekka’s calm voice and demeanor were already endearing, especially her resourcefulness at the maze-like junctions of the corridors.

“This way… here’s the exit.”

For the first time in a while, Serena deeply inhaled the fresh air. She finally felt alive, having escaped the hot, crowded ballroom.

Bekka summoned a servant waiting at the entrance, who soon ushered Serena into a small carriage. Once Serena, Anna, and Bekka were seated, the servant climbed to the front and spurred the horse.

“The palace is vast. This is the largest ballroom, and Your Highness Crown Princess’s chamber is inside. We will arrive in about five minutes.”

The scale of the empire was indeed different. The Astel territory was also extensive, but there was no need for a five-minute carriage ride just to get to a chamber within a residence.

“The servant driving the carriage is named Allen. He will be serving Your Highness Crown Princess.”

As they rode, Serena looked out at the expansive and intricate gardens, nodding in response.

“Also, there’s a maid named Shia waiting to tidy up your chamber. The Queen has commanded that familiar faces serve you, so your chosen head maid and head steward will assume those roles.”

Serena had yet to learn much about Adeline, but she was grateful for the meticulous preparations, and that manpower had been arranged around her.

“Um, I’ll listen in detail later.”
A moment later, the carriage came to a stop, and as Serena descended with Anna’s help, a grand white building appeared before her eyes. It was obvious that the place had recently been renovated; it shone in all its corners and not a single weed was present in the garden.

“Her Highness the Crown Princess has arrived.”

Hearing the carriage, a maid about the same age as Becca stepped out and bowed respectfully.

“My name is Sia.”

Nodding, Serena followed Becca into the Crown Princess’ residence. The white marble, intricately decorated in various ways, was impressive, but what she needed the most right now was a bed.

“The bedroom is on the second floor.”

Both sides of the symmetrical stairs were carpeted, absorbing any sound her footsteps might have made.

When she reached the second floor and proceeded down the corridor to the innermost part, a large, imposing door came into view. It was obvious to anyone that this was the most important place: the bedroom.

“I will open the door to the bedroom.”

Carefully, Becca and Sia opened the doors on both sides.

“Inside, you will find two reception rooms, a waiting room, and the innermost space is the bedroom with an attached bathroom.”