Chapter 36: CH 36

(Eve’s POV)

“My older brother, the Crown Prince has already approved of it. And this was personally requested by the Grand Duke himself. He wanted us to discuss the wedding as well as my opinion regarding the decoration of my room in the Duchy.”

“Eve, you’ve been to the temple twice already, you even went to the Duke’s ball. Busily roaming is not the behavior of a bride-to-be.”

The Empress sighed then immediately glared at me as if she was dealing with an immature child.

“The best thing for you to do is just to stay quiet in the Palace and leave the wedding planning to the maids of the Imperial Palace, let the design of your room be handled by people in the Duchy. Perhaps, the Grand Duke may be pleased with that.”

The Empress persistently persuaded me adding a friendly voice to it.

Since it was difficult to forcibly block what the Crown Prince had already permitted, that’s why she was convincing me this way.

It’s okay though.

I already expected this kind of reaction, so I prepared a better way to confront this in advance.

“After listening to it, I think mother was right.”

“Perfect! As expected….”

“So, I decided to go to the monastery and stay there.”

“Wait, what do you mean by that?”

The teacup in the Empress’s hand shook greatly at the sudden decision.

“I realized after listening to my mother’s words. That my father, His Majesty the Emperor will be delighted if I repent of my wrongdoing while praying in the monastery until the wedding day. And I know that the Grand Duke would be delighted with the gentle and pious appearance of his bride-to-be. Won’t he?”

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“But isn’t it too harsh to go to a monastery?”

“Why would it? Didn’t my great aunt, Princess Latesia do the same thing? She prayed at the monastery and cleansed her soul right before her wedding. Same thing happened with the previous princesses.”

“Yes, but that is….”

The Empress seemed bewildered as she blurred the end of her speech.

My great aunt, Princess Latesia, has been living in a monastery since she was young just because her mother was executed as a criminal.

Most of the princesses who were in such a difficult situation would stay in the monastery until they were sold through marriage.

Of course, it was broadcasted as a way to cleanse and pray, but the truth is, they used the monastery to imprison the princesses.

“You don’t need to do that much! And besides, you still have a lot of things to prepare for the wedding.”

“Didn’t you say that preparations would be handled by my handmaidens? As well as the people from the Grand Duke?”

Of course, if the Princess was suddenly sent to the monastery and appeared at the wedding in a modified dress, it would become a huge topic.

And all sorts of speculation would be created based on what had happened between me and the Grand Duke at the ball last night.

The Empress wouldn’t be able to keep me locked up inside the Imperial Palace, per the Emperor’s order.

It was because the monastery is outside the jurisdiction of the capital.

‘Originally, I thought of running to the monastery just like what I’m doing now.’ 

It’s the easiest way to get out of the Imperial Palace.

However, after much deliberation, I gave up on that thought, because even if I’m imprisoned in the monastery until marriage, I would eventually die there.

Once I’m inside the monastery, I won’t be able to communicate with the people from outside that easily, and the Grand Duke will not be able to protect me.

There would be no way for me to escape alone from the monastery.

The Empress looked at me with a baffled expression.

“How are you going to survive a monastic life?”

In the monastery, everyone leads a frugal and modest life.

As they would only be eating simple vegetarian food, wear frugal clothes with no luxurious items, and pray all day long.

Even if I’m the princess, I would have to lead a similar life while I’m there. 

“I think it would be perfect for me to live a frugal life even once right before marriage. The people would feel my sincerity to change, and if I tell them that I’m just following my mother’s advice, I don’t think that everyone would look at me badly.”

“…….”

There was dark displeasure in the Empress’s eyes.

And everyone would think that it was too much for the Empress to send her step-daughter to the monastery while the Emperor is at war.

The way this is going, some people may even sympathize with me.

The Empress wouldn’t be happy about it.

Because this woman didn’t want Eve to have a good impression from other people. And of course, she didn’t want her image to be tainted as well. 

The Empress agonized over the situation, as she looked at me with a puzzled face, then she regained herself right away.

“Let’s think about this a little more. I’ll ask the Emperor’s opinion as well.”

“I see.”

I put down the cooled tea and smiled at the Empress.

“Then, is it okay if I meet with the Grand Duke tomorrow?”

At that moment, a strong gaze fell on my face. She seemed to have realized that I threatened her if she didn’t approve of me seeing the Grand Duke.

Please do not repost our translation. Read only at Pink Muffin Translations.

I pretended not to know anything and smiled sweetly.

The Empress started to show remorse and said.

“How dare you….”

Tok, tok. 

A sudden knock stopped the Empress to continue her words. She immediately calmed herself, then answered in a cold voice.

“Come on in.”

The maid, who opened the door, bowed her head and said.

“A person from the Grand Duke’s residence came and gave this letter

“What?”

The Empress, who was lying at an angle, immediately sat down.

The palace maid handed over the envelope to the Empress. It had the seal of the Grand Duke stamped on it.

The Empress gently tore the envelope and took out the letter inside. As she reads the content of the letter, she looked back at me and said,

“The Grand Duke sent you a gift.”

“Really?”

I was surprised by what the Empress said.

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“What did the Grand Duke send?”

Of course, it has been a long-standing custom in this world for the groom to send a gift to the bride before marriage.

It’s just that the Grand Duke considered this marriage as the most terrible decision that he’d had, that’s why he never sent any gifts until now.

“The Grand Duke sent you a wedding present. It will be arriving soon.”

The Empress was still confused and shocked as to what had happened.

She knew the story about how much the Grand Duke hated Eve, but then all of a sudden he would send gifts and even a formal letter just right after the ball.

“As in now?”

As I gazed outside the window. It shows that it’s still morning.

Did he just send the gifts at this hour?

I think it’s been like 12 hours since the time we separated from the stairs at the Duchess’ mansion.

It seems that they had prepared in advance, knowing that the wedding is just a month away. Still, it was delivered too quickly.

‘Why is he behaving like this? We haven’t talked about these things yet?

“Did he send a letter just to let us know about the gifts?”

The Empress put down the Grand Duke’s letter with an addled look on her face, as she pondered about the letter’s content.

“He wanted to discuss the wedding with you, that’s why he was asking permission to bring you out of the palace today.”

“Really?”

I rejoiced with sincerity, like the immature Eve.

“Does that mean, I can go out to meet the Grand Duke?”

“……”

No answer came back.

I don’t want to add anymore since the Grand Duke had already requested it.

It would be difficult for her to refuse since the Crown Prince has already granted permission and the Grand Duke himself has asked for it.

The Empress, who was very troubled about the situation, immediately composed herself as if she had finally made up her mind.

“Since the Grand Duke requested it, you should go.”

“Thank you so much, mother.”

The Empress looked anxious about agreeing on letting me go out today.

‘The Empress will immediately inform the Emperor of today’s events.’

Even if the Emperor notices something strange is happening, considering that he is currently on the battlefield, nothing will happen within a day or two.

He’ll need to figure out about the changes that happened while he was away. And because of that, we can have at least five days up to a week to think of a plan and of course to ease up the tension.

With that thought in mind, I returned to the Princess’s Palace.

While walking, I can see the bright morning sun that’s shining brightly on the hallway.

It was early in the morning, but a loud sound could be heard.

It was before I entered the main gate of the Princess’s palace, A loud chatter and noise coming from the inside, was heard.

Please do not repost our translation. Read only at Pink Muffin Translations.

“Princess! Please come here and take a look at this.”

As soon as I arrived at the door, the maid surrounded me and made a commotion.

“What’s going on?”

“Your Highness, you need to go upstairs, right away!”

I was pushed by a group of palace maids and brought me to my bedroom upstairs.

As soon as I entered the bedroom, I saw another group of maids surrounding the window.

“Princess, come please, come over here! Look outside the window!”

The maids led me directly to the window. As I approached, I became curious as well. 

Just what is it that makes everyone chaotic?

At that moment when I looked outside the window, I stopped in daze.

Every morning, when I open the window of my bedroom. I’m used to seeing the snow-covered garden. I became so familiar with it that I got used to seeing it everyday.

A pine tree that still retains its green leaves even in the snow.

A flower bed planted with flowers that bloom like fluffy flowers even in the middle of winter.

It hasn’t snowed in the past few days, but the cold weather still leaves remnants of white snow everywhere in the garden.

But now, that refreshing white color was nowhere to be found. Because the whole garden was now filled with red hues.

Red flowers of unknown names filled the overlooking garden, giving off such a refreshing and calm feeling.

As I looked around, those red flowers covered not only the stone path in the garden, but also the small courtyard, flower beds and even the rest of the flowers planted were covered as well.

At a glance, I can already tell that there were tens of thousands of them.

“What is all this?”

“It’s a gift from the Grand Duke. The servants brought them in several carriages.”

“A gift?”

I was reminded of the custom here that appeared in the original work belatedly.

Here in the Albion Empire, gifts from the groom to the bride were traditionally flowers and jewelry.

‘Even so, why is it so……’

This level is no joke. I don’t know what came to the Duke’s mind to send this much. But the most common way of sending flowers is usually a bouquet or in a basket.

As I ponder, the maids next to me continue to watch the flowers, no, rather the waves of flowers full of admiration.

“Wow, all of them are Rastana flowers.”

“What is that?”

“Your Highness, you don’t know? This flower symbolizes true love.”

Oh…. -really?

It must be a unique flower that only exists in this world.

It is a flower that symbolizes love.

It certainly is attractive and beautiful. But it kind of looks like a peony.

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