In the Doghouse - Chapter 105
VIII.
Courtney opened a box that should have remained closed, but the world did not end. The sun continued to set in the west and rise again in the east every day. There was no room to try anything new yet, as the festival was still ongoing.
And so, the last day of the Harvest Festival dawned. It passed somewhat anticlimactically, without any major incidents or accidents. A grand festival filled with dancing and music would soon unfold in the square, and the imperial palace was bustling with preparations for the banquet.
Before preparing for the banquet, Courtney was holed up in her bedroom.
In her hand was still “that book.” By now, it was practically her favorite read as the Crown Princess. As she read it more, she found several parts to be quite interesting.
“Hmmm…?”
Focused on reading, thinking it was something worth trying, the bedroom door suddenly swung open. Isabella Millen, dressed in the new gown Courtney had gifted her, spoke in a cheerful voice.
“Your Highness, it’s time to get ready.”
“Alright.”
Courtney placed the book under her pillow and stood up. Rebecca Morrison entered and led her to the toilette room. Like Isabella, Rebecca was also dressed to the nines. Madam Berricker and the other attendant maids were already waiting in the toilette room.
While preparing for the Harvest Festival, Isabella and Rebecca had proven to be reliable ladies-in-waiting. Despite still adjusting to life in the imperial palace, they worked tirelessly without any complaints. Even the demanding Duchess Herbert seemed to hold them in high regard, judging by how often she nagged them.
Isabella, being a realist and calm by nature, was of great practical help, while Rebecca, who was around the same age as Courtney and had a bright and candid personality, was more like a comfortable friend. The first maid interviews, though hastily conducted, had turned out to be a success.
Madam Berricker hesitated as she began dressing Courtney in the new gown prepared for the day.
“It seems Your Highness has gained a bit of weight.”
“I thought so too… Do you think the dress won’t fit?”
“No, it’s not that. You look even better now.”
Madam Berricker made the comment lightly, but Courtney’s appearance had indeed noticeably improved since her days in the Devon household. Part of it was due to the care the maids had taken with her, but the busy schedule and high-quality meals had given her a healthy, fuller figure.
This was Courtney’s first banquet as the Crown Princess. She wore a golden dress symbolizing abundance. The maids carefully braided half of her black hair, weaving in gold thread, and left the rest to fall naturally. The fan she held was lavishly decorated with long, plush feathers that extended beyond the spokes.
To Courtney, the overall look seemed excessively ornate, but she complied quietly, knowing that being impeccably adorned symbolized the strength of the imperial family. Perhaps it was because of the long years of poverty, but she always wondered if what she enjoyed now was an undeserved luxury.
Isabella and Rebecca, who would attend the banquet alongside her, were also dressed more extravagantly than usual. The new dresses they wore had been paid for out of Courtney’s own pocket—a gesture of camaraderie, for they had all struggled together.
When she thought of it like this, Richard’s suggestion that she maintain a certain amount of personal wealth didn’t seem entirely wrong. After all, she didn’t want to be stingy with those around her, even if it wasn’t for herself.
“You look absolutely stunning today, Your Highness!”
Rebecca exclaimed with admiration once the preparations were complete. In the past, Courtney would have been flustered and embarrassed by such compliments, but now she handled them with ease. Perhaps this was a sign of growth.
Smiling, Courtney extended her hand.
“Thank you. But could you help me sit down?”
“Oh, of course!”
Thanks to their haste, there was still some time to spare. Rebecca carefully helped her sit without wrinkling the dress.
With the heavy headpiece and the rustling dress that swished with every movement, the reality of the banquet finally set in for Courtney, and she felt a wave of nervousness. Although attendance at the Harvest Festival banquet wasn’t mandatory, nearly every noble in the capital would attend unless they had a reason to antagonize the imperial family.
Could she properly fulfill her role as Crown Princess in front of them? No one dared to openly disrespect her anymore, but she still didn’t want to become a subject of ridicule behind her back. The members of the Devon family, save for the young Edvard, would also be attending, and she was uneasy about that as well.
Still, the fortunate thing was that so far, everything had gone smoothly in preparing for the banquet. The wine, food, and the staff’s logistics had been checked multiple times. In that respect, she felt confident. What else should she prepare for? Had she forgotten anything?
As she pondered these important thoughts, the contents of the book she had read last suddenly flashed through her mind. Along with the illustration that had made her heart race.
What if she tried that at tonight’s banquet? It was undoubtedly a crazy idea. She knew full well that it was insane, but once the thought crossed her mind, she couldn’t shake the impulse.
Wouldn’t it be okay to try something like that? If Richard agreed, there wouldn’t be any issue, would there? She began justifying it to herself, knowing full well that Richard would undoubtedly agree.
After a moment of internal conflict, she finally spoke.
“Rebecca.”
“Yes.”
“Could you ask His Highness the Crown Prince to stop by my room for a moment?”
“Yes! I’ll go right away.”
As Rebecca energetically left the room, Courtney asked Isabella to fetch a few items from the wardrobe. Along with a stern warning not to open any of the other boxes.
Once everything was set in motion, Courtney’s heart began to race. For a different reason, she was suddenly looking forward to the banquet.
