I Tamed the Monstrous Prince - Chapter 48
Chapter 48
Countess Elvira’s intervention brought about a change, though not entirely unwelcome. Everything afterward became… easier. At my request, the staff was replaced. I couldn’t say whether the new servants were trustworthy, but they were at least competent.
The palace, perpetually a source of anxiety for me, was thoroughly cleaned, and the chaotic atmosphere settled considerably. However, far more servants were assigned than I had requested.
The Emerald Palace, once quiet and secluded, now bustled with activity. One might expect this influx of people to bring a sense of liveliness, but it felt strangely more desolate than before. Observing them, lips pressed tight as they focused solely on their tasks, I almost preferred the previous maids who had been so brazenly disrespectful.
At least they had possessed some semblance of humanity. Now, I felt only their presence and their gazes, a heavy silence pressing down on me. The constant, unspoken surveillance was suffocating.
The knights who had so relentlessly tormented Cesar were also replaced. The new guard was from the Second Division of the White Rose Crusade, an order composed exclusively of sons from hereditary noble families, answering directly to the Empress.
These knights possessed a starkly different air. Even I, with my limited knowledge, could recognize their considerable skill. Their movements were precise, their bearing imbued with the characteristic coolness of swordsmen. They seemed as unyielding as iron, never making an unnecessary move.
“It’s… fine,” I whispered, a terrible anxiety gripping me. Despite everything being objectively better than before, better even than when I first arrived at the Imperial Palace, I felt a knot of unease tighten in my chest.
Clad in their armor, yet moving without a sound, they watched us from all sides. It was protection, yes, but it was also surveillance. I was plagued by the morbid fantasy that if anything went amiss, their gazes would betray my failings, and their blades would turn on me in an instant. Perhaps the Empress knew everything. Perhaps she knew I was trying to… acclimate Cesar, and these were her spies, planted to uncover my secrets.
“Your Highness, you’re pale.”
“I’m… fine.”
Delphina, ever attentive, placed a cool compress over my eyes. The gentle chill was a welcome sensation. I hadn’t slept properly in days, a persistent haze clouding my thoughts.
“I’m truly alright,” I murmured, more to myself than to her. ‘I need to get a grip.’
I began my morning preparations. Delphina dusted powder over my pale face.
“Your Highness,” she began hesitantly, broaching the subject of the Empress’s gifts.
“What is it?”
“We need to take your measurements to alter the garments Her Majesty sent.”
Such fine clothing, unless newly commissioned, always required adjustments. My own dresses were already being altered, Delphina having taken my measurements the day before. Cesar, however, presented a different challenge.
“Where’s Cesar?”
Delphina shook her head. “Lady Aronzo tried to see him earlier, but she couldn’t.”
“I figured as much…”
The sounds of the new staff echoed through the palace as they continued their cleaning. Was it their increased presence, or their unsettlingly quiet efficiency that had disturbed him? I couldn’t be sure. Cesar had been shut in his room for days, refusing meals and, unlike before, not even sneaking into my chambers at night.
“I’ll go.”
Delphina finished braiding my hair, tying it off with a ribbon. I couldn’t bring myself to wear the Empress’s finery, opting instead for a simple gown embroidered with ivy. Stepping out, I finally got my first glimpse of Cesar’s door. Mercedes, as expected, stood guard. But she wasn’t alone. The Empress’s knights stood beside her, barring the way. As I approached, the captain of the White Rose Crusade offered a silent bow.
