“Lady Litania. I think it would be better to let your hair fall naturally.”

“Um… Should I? Please do.”

Snow sat Litania in a chair and moved his hands busily, then clapped as if he had finished in no time.

“It’s done, Lady Litania!”

“…Wow.”

Litania marveled anew at her reflection in the mirror.

Her brown curly hair, which she had thought was ordinary, was elegantly curled, looking full and soft.

The light green dress with a design that wrapped around her neck had delicate pleats that covered her thin shoulders, and the flower-shaped lace on the chest area gave a sophisticated feel without looking dull.

The full green sleeves that hung down under the white lace covering her slender shoulders fluttered like flower petals or leaves every time she moved her arms.

The full skirt below her slim waist was made of glossy green satin, and with layers of white lace brightening the color on top, it gave an overall gentle impression.

‘I didn’t know because I’ve never dressed up like this before.’

Litania was a bit surprised herself, feeling that the combination of her dark brown hair and light green dress made her look just like a tree fairy.

“Snow, how do I look?”

“You look perfect for welcoming the best spring, Lady Litania!”

“Haha. Thank you.”

At this rate, even if not the male lead, she might be able to captivate a supporting character and escape from the original story, right?

Filled with hope, Litania left the Northern Palace and headed towards the ballroom.

* * *

Soon after the flower carriage announcing the start of the Spring Festival departed from the Imperial Palace, a drizzle began to fall. Litania walked along the corridor leading to the Crystal Palace where the ball was being held, with a slightly troubled expression.

‘I heard the flower carriage that left the Imperial Palace would circle the capital once and return, but at this rate, it’ll be soaked and the flowers will all be wilted when it comes back.’

The Spring Festival was such a big event that most of the local nobles were said to attend the ball, but seeing the bad weather from the start gave her an ominous feeling.

‘No, don’t think unnecessary thoughts. If I miss this ball, who knows when the next opportunity will be.’

She couldn’t live her whole life stuck in a corner of the Imperial Palace as a neglected princess. Litania headed towards the ballroom, hoping to make new connections.

“Oh? Princess… Ah, ah! Um…!”

The attendant in charge of guidance was visibly flustered. Although news of Princess Litania attending the Spring Ball had been announced, she had never left the Palace before, so they apparently didn’t know her face.

If such an attitude had been shown to other princesses or princes, there would have been an immediate reprimand, but unfortunately, Litania didn’t have such power. However, she confidently demanded without being intimidated.

“I heard that princesses are given a waiting room to rest in until the ball starts. Please guide me.”

“Y-Yes, of course.”

The attendant, with an awkward demeanor that couldn’t fully suppress his bewilderment, guided Litania. Although she was a neglected princess, she was still a princess after all, so he couldn’t ignore her words.

“Princess, this way to the waiting room… Oh!”

“Oh my?”

There was already a guest in the waiting room the attendant had guided her to.

“P-Princess Herna, it’s an honor to see you!”

The attendant bowed 90 degrees to the woman holding a fan.

‘Princess Herna.’

According to the information Litania had gleaned from Snow so far, Princess Herna was the same age as her.

There didn’t seem to be any brotherly affection, but it wouldn’t hurt to greet her. Litania stood straight so as not to appear servile, lowered only her eyes, and greeted politely.

“It’s the first time we meet in a place like this. Nice to meet you, Princess Herna. I’m Litania.”

“Yes. It’s the first time I’ve seen your face.”

Her words were brief.

“Come to think of it, I heard you were attending the Spring Ball. Did you come to greet me on purpose?”

“There’s still time until the ball starts, so I just came looking for the waiting room given to princesses.”

“Can’t you see I’m resting here?”

She meant she didn’t want to share the same waiting room.

Herna smiled sweetly and turned her gaze to the attendant. The attendant, who belatedly understood her meaning, hurriedly bowed his head.

“I apologize! I’ll guide you to another waiting room.”

The attendant, flustered, urged Litania with his eyes to leave quickly.

She had expected them to be on bad terms. The other was the real princess, a child of the Empress, while she was a fake princess, a child of a maid.

‘There’s no need to create unnecessary trouble.’

Litania, not wanting to make enemies from the start, lightly bowed her head to Herna and turned to follow the attendant.

She heard Herna laughing behind her back.

“That dress, it’s one I threw away.”

So the dress Snow had borrowed from another princess was Herna’s.

“I wore it once and never took it out again because it was too tacky, but when someone begged for a dress, I gave it away considering it trash. So it was you.”

“…”

“Well, it suits you perfectly.”

It was clearly mockery.

‘Should I endure this too?’

She could understand Herna not wanting to share the same waiting room with her. They weren’t close, and she wasn’t in a position to be considerate. If conflict could be avoided by taking a step back, she could do so willingly.

‘But if she’s going to pick a fight like this, that’s a different story.’

Litania stopped and turned around. Her eyes met Herna’s.

“So it was a dress lent by Princess Herna.”

“Yes. It’s quite tacky…”

“No wonder, it was tight in the chest and had room for two fists in the waist. My attendant had a hard time altering it.”

In fact, Snow hadn’t had much trouble, but still.

Herna frowned sharply as Litania spoke gently with a smile.

“What?”

“I’m sorry for disturbing your rest, Princess Herna. I’ll go to another waiting room.”

Litania turned around swiftly and closed the door of the lounge.

The door was thick, so it was hard to hear what was being said inside, but judging by Herna’s expression just before the door closed, it was clear she understood what Litania had said and was upset about it.

‘You should have been a bit kinder.’

She would have endured a little disrespect, but picking a fight from their first meeting was going too far.

“Where is the other waiting room?”

“Ah, yes, we need to go around that corridor.”

Following the attendant’s guidance, Litania went around the corridor and suddenly saw someone crouching and groaning near the stairwell.

“Just a moment.”

As she stopped and approached, she saw a noblewoman holding onto a maid, struggling. Judging by her quite swollen belly, she seemed to be pregnant.

“Excuse me, are you alright?”

“Haa, haa…”

“My lady is in a delicate condition, she shouldn’t have exerted herself. She should have stayed in the lounge, but she came out to see her younger brother…”

The maid supporting her replied with a tearful face. Her eyes were clearly asking for help. She probably thought Litania was a passing noble young lady.

“Then let’s give her my waiting room. It’s right in front. You there, please help move this lady to the waiting room.”

“Pardon? We can’t. That place is…”

The attendant who was about to guide Litania showed a visibly flustered expression.

Private waiting rooms within the Crystal Palace are only allowed for royalty.

Other invited guests all have to wait in the common lounge, and even though she was pregnant, it didn’t make sense to arbitrarily let a noblewoman into a waiting room meant for royalty.

“What’s the problem with using the waiting room given to me as I please?”

“Ah, I understand.”

When Litania pressed, the attendant quickly opened the door to the waiting room and helped move the collapsed noblewoman inside.

Litania went to the tearful maid following behind and told her to call for a doctor, then checked on the noblewoman’s condition.

“Are you alright? Can you speak now?”

“Thank you. But this place…”

“It’s my waiting room. It’s fortunate it was close by.”

“So you’re a princess.”

The quick-witted noblewoman quickly grasped the situation and bowed her head.

“I apologize for not recognizing you, Your Highness. I was in such a state…”

“It’s alright. It’s my first time attending the ball too, so it’s natural you wouldn’t recognize my face.”

“Your first time… If I may ask, what is your name?”

“I’m Litania.”

The noblewoman’s eyes wavered a bit upon hearing Litania’s name. She might not know her face, but she seemed to know the name.

Well, given how widespread the rumors about the fake princess were, any decent noble would know.

Litania quickly changed the subject.

“Where is your husband?”

“My husband is busy, so I came alone. I came to meet my younger brother briefly before the ball started, but suddenly I felt dizzy and…”

“Sister!”

A tall man rushed in through the open door. Judging by the silver armor he wore, he seemed to be an imperial knight.

“I told you not to come since you’re due soon. You were so stubborn…”

“Do you think pregnant women are invalids? I was fine until I got out of the carriage.”

“Still…”

Seeing the noblewoman and the knight bickering while still caring for each other, Litania quietly left the waiting room to avoid disturbing them.

‘Come to think of it, I gave away my waiting room, so where should I go now?’

She had come out feeling awkward about staying there with people she didn’t know, but once outside, she had nowhere to go.

‘Should I take a short walk?’

Litania walked along the corridor, looking at the rain-soaked garden. It had been drizzling when she left the Palace, but now rain was pouring from the dark sky.

“At least once I enter the ballroom, I won’t see outside… Ah!”

Splash!

As the flower carriage that had finished its tour arrived with a noisy wheel sound, muddy water splashed up and wet the hem of Litania’s dress.