Meanwhile, Laila hesitated as soon as she entered the bathroom, at a loss for words.

The warm water filling the snow-white ceramic bathtub with four golden feet, the scent wafting from it, dozens of glass bottles and dried flower petals, and beyond the rising steam, a soft beige robe spread out like a headless doorkeeper…

It was a luxurious place that would have made ordinary girls scream with joy or pretend to faint, but Laila felt like she might actually faint for a different reason.

The attitude of the employees calling her “young lady” was bewildering enough, but more than that, the fact that she had to rely on their hands even for undressing was utterly absurd.

She tried to resist a little, saying she would undress herself, but they cited a strange rule that “there must be no lack in serving the Crown Prince’s guest.”

“Hah…”

Whether it was because the bathwater was warm, or because she had to watch others wash her body while wearing only a thin robe that revealed everything underneath, Laila had no strength left to even move a finger when she came out of the bathroom.

The employees took Laila’s clothes somewhere, and instead led her behind a partition that had been set up in advance.

“What is this? Where are my clothes?”

“The clothes are here.”

Laila raised her heels slightly at the familiar voice heard from beyond the partition. Himierd Marchioness’s face was the first to be seen. Next to her was a clothes rack with three or four dresses hanging.

Laila shook her head before she could properly see what they were.

“I can’t wear such things.”

“That’s not true, is it? On the contrary, you can’t continue to stay here in your current attire, can you?”

At the Marchioness’s words, Laila looked down at herself anew. Instead of the thin robe she had worn while bathing, she was wearing a thicker and softer top and skirt, but it was nothing more than underwear no matter how you looked at it.

Himierd Marchioness said,

“Don’t worry. I’ve chosen ones that will be the least uncomfortable. Hmm… Your face is youthful and beautiful, but that hair color is quite tricky. This pink and yellow won’t suit you at all. Well… Blue might be alright.”

Fortunately or unfortunately, Laila barely heard the Marchioness’s mutterings. She was half-distracted, desperately trying to retrace where exactly she was and what she had come here to do.

“Now, Miss Laila. Let’s have you wear this.”

As the Marchioness pointed to a dress, the employees standing behind quickly brought over the clothes rack.

When they had dressed her in a soft lace petticoat, a stiffer and more voluminous inner dress, and thin undergarments to shape the waist and bust, Laila finally came to her senses.

“Wait, the ribbon is too…”

Laila had a thin build, but the employees mercilessly pulled the ribbons on the undergarments to cinch her waist as much as possible. Laila, touching her tightly bound lower abdomen, said,

“I can’t breathe!”

At her loud voice, the employees were startled as if they had seen a ghost and stepped back hastily. Laila immediately added with a complicated expression,

“I’m not angry. It’s just that…”

Himierd Marchioness flicked her fan towards the employees.

“It must be her first time wearing such things, so loosen it a bit.”

As the employees loosened the ribbons slightly, the breath that had been trapped somewhere in her stomach finally flowed out.

She wanted to say she wouldn’t wear it at all, but it seemed that wouldn’t do… It was clear that Himierd Marchioness wouldn’t allow that much.

The blue dress that the Marchioness had chosen for Laila was cut in the shape of butterfly wings above both breasts, subtly revealing an alluring line, but other decorations were minimized.

The skirt was full and puffy due to the petticoat worn underneath, but not to the point of making it difficult to walk.

Himierd continued,

“I’ve prepared shoes that are as comfortable as possible for now.”

“I’ve never worn shoes before.”

“You can’t wear leather shoes with that dress, so you’ll have to bear with it.”

There was nothing to say in response. No, that’s not true! There were plenty of things she wanted to say —including asking if they couldn’t bring Eustar right away— but Laila obediently followed Himierd’s words for now.

After all, she had been ordered by Eustar to take care of her, so she didn’t want to make things difficult.

“Is it alright?”

As the Marchioness had said, the shoes had low heels like those for children, but for Laila, who had always worn loose and worn leather shoes, she couldn’t tell what was supposed to be comfortable. At least she could walk after stumbling a few times.

“I think it’s okay. Maybe… I won’t be able to walk far though.”

“Don’t worry. You can stay in this room until His Highness the Crown Prince gives separate orders. You’ve already seen the bathroom, and the bedroom is through that arched entrance on the right. Opposite that is the toilette room, which Miss Kristrad probably won’t need to use… at least not right now. But feel free to look around if you’d like. The kitchen will soon bring up some snacks. His Highness the Crown Prince will surely invite you to the banquet, so it’s best to eat lightly even if you feel hungry.”

It won’t be just a measly bean, right? Laila suddenly thought.

Even though she knew that wouldn’t be the case, she couldn’t stop her thoughts from wandering… In fact, if she didn’t do that, she felt like she might really go crazy.

“If you go this way, there’s a reception room, study, office, and a second bedroom. Use whichever bedroom you prefer, but I recommend the one I mentioned first. The sunlight lasts longer there. Stay here until His Highness the Crown Prince arrives, and if there’s anything urgent, tell the employees.”

Laila asked,

“Will you not be staying here, Lady Marchioness?”

Himierd Marchioness chuckled as if to say, “Is that even a question?” Although it felt like being teased, her intention didn’t seem particularly unpleasant.

“Relax. I understand you’re flustered, and I’d like to help, but I have matters to attend to. If you need anything, tell these two. They’re Cel and Milly.”

Laila stared blankly at the two employees. Their skill in quickly undressing her earlier seemed unmatched… At least, fortunately, they wouldn’t be undressing her from this outfit.

“I understand.”

“Then, get some rest.”

Himierd Marchioness left a brief greeting before turning and leaving without any lingering. Looking at her straight back as she walked away, Laila felt as if she had been discarded as useless. It was a strange experience.

As the Marchioness had said, food was soon brought from the kitchen.

There was a pastry baked with thick milk cream and honey, red tea with a sour fragrance, and an apple. Though not particularly large, the shiny red color of the apple suddenly made her feel hungry.

As Laila took a bite of the apple, the employees—Cel and Milly—looked at each other’s faces in astonishment.

“Um, young lady.”

Laila glanced at Cel.

“I’m not a young lady. I’m just a girl who lived in an unknown rural village.”

“As you are a guest invited by His Highness the Crown Prince, we have no choice regarding the form of address. Please understand. More importantly… Shall I peel the apple for you?”

Laila looked down at the apple she had taken a big bite out of. And from the uneasy expressions of the two employees, she realized one thing…

“That’s how it should be done here, right?”

Milly said,

“Not necessarily. But usually, ladies… do it that way.”

Ladies, huh. Laila mused inwardly. Who would have thought there’d come a day when someone would refer to her as a ‘lady’? Not the fools in Lizicus village, and certainly not even the mother who bore her.

“It’s fine. But from next time, I’ll eat it peeled.”

Cel and Milly said nothing more and silently watched Laila eat.

That too was quite burdensome for Laila, but once warm and sweet food started going into her empty stomach, nothing else seemed to matter.

“His Highness the Crown Prince has arrived.”

The doors opening to the corridor swung wide open, and an attendant’s resonant voice was heard.

Laila jerked her head up. Eustar was indeed striding into the room. He must have bathed too, as his hair, which he almost always kept tied up, was now completely loose.

“Is it to your liking?”

Laila, having just swallowed what was in her mouth, carefully nodded.

“May I sit?”

“Yes… Of course. Don’t you not need to ask me such things anymore? Aren’t you the Crown Prince?”

Eustar shrugged as if to say it was no big deal.

“Whether a crown prince or a king, one must ask permission when sitting opposite a lady. Anyway, thank you for allowing it. I was about to collapse.”

Eustar, settling into the chair with exaggerated exhaustion, glanced sideways at Cel and Milly.

“You two, step out for a moment.”

The two left the room without delay. Of course, they didn’t forget to close the door properly. Left alone, Laila, no longer able to eat the pastry ravenously, quietly put down her fork.

Eustar said,

“What’s wrong? Keep eating.”

“Don’t you have a lot to explain to me?”

Though it wasn’t her intention, somehow her tone ended up sounding accusatory. While Laila mentally smacked her own head, Eustar looked at her with that smile whose true meaning was impossible to discern.

“That’s right… A lot. We might not have enough time even if we talked all night. So, Laila, feel free to ask anything you’re curious about. I promise to answer honestly.”

Laila didn’t believe in verbal promises. But it’s not like she could get him to sign a statement saying ‘I will tell all facts without hiding anything’ in this situation…

‘It would have been nice if I could make a tincture. What did Mom call it again? Right, ‘Prescription for Habitual Liars’.’

Just a drop or two in morning meals or evening soup, and the person who consumed it would spill all their carefully hidden secrets without any resistance. It was a terrifying kind of tincture.

While it had no physical side effects, people who took this invariably collapsed after finishing their story.

Partly due to exhaustion, but more so for psychological reasons. Sometimes, there are secrets that no one should ever know.

It would be convenient if I could make Eustar drink that now. Laila thought. But she soon erased that thought from her mind. No, it was erased… She felt it would be better to believe in his promise.

“Are you really the Crown Prince?”