11. Opening of the Grand Reconciliation.
On the evening of the opening day of the Grand Reconciliation.
The event planned by the imperial family had been prepared since morning, but Lilian, who had no loyalty to the emperor, had no intention of following it.
Lilian, who had decided to show her face only in the opening banquet in the evening, was being dragged by Mrs. Maureen all day.
“A milk bath is the best way to whiten your skin!”
The day began by placing the sleepy Lilian in a porcelain bathtub filled with warmed milk, honey, and scented oil.
In the bathtub with golden shells, Lilian fell asleep.
Either way, Mrs. Maureen was excited as she washed Lilian in sparkling milk that even had dissolved gold dust.
“With this miracle bath method, you will become the most beautiful woman in the imperial capital today!”
“Okay.”
Rita nodded, recalling her expressionless face. Lilian was dazed, continuing to doze and think.
‘Don’t you soak it in milk to remove the smell of pork…?’
…fortunately, thanks to being too sleepy, the misfortune of those huge words coming out of her mouth did not happen.
The skillful maids massaged Lilian’s limbs as she slumbered.
A maid who wasn’t aware of it said, “oh, Your Ladyship has a lot of bruises on your body”.
She babbled, but Mrs. Maureen quickly shut her mouth and everyone blushed and shut up.
Lilian was troubled but didn’t bother to explain. No one seemed to believe it when she explained that these bruises were purely from living a normal life, and that they hadn’t healed well recently, so there were several left.
A milk massage, a bath in clean water, a scented oil massage and another massage.
Lilian kept dozing and waking up repeatedly, confused as to whether this was a beauty process or a marinade process to eat delicious meat.
When she came to her senses, it was afternoon. Lilian, finally freed from her massage, munched on a small sandwich and cookie that Rita put in her mouth.
Meanwhile, Mrs. Maureen conducted the ladies in waiting as if conducting an orchestra. The maids rolled up Lilian’s snagging hair with a heated iron. Then, with a swift movement of their hands in an intricate manner, they braided her hair, put her makeup on, and trimmed her nails.
The outfit that Madame Annege and Mrs. Maureen had carefully chosen was a dove-colored dress.
It was a color that seemed to blend well with Lilian’s pale skin. The light gray and bluish fabric was not dyed after making the fabric. It was only when the blue thread and the gray thread were weaved differently that the weft and warp lines were used to create this subtle color.
The only place in the whole continent that has the technology to make such cloth is the Eastern Kiyomun. The Kiyomun silk that was used to make these clothes was expensive enough to buy a luxury three story apartment in the capital.
The silhouette of the clothes was still simple, but the jewels became more colorful.
Around her neck, she wore the Empress Dowager’s necklace with seven 20 carat diamonds, and three long pearl necklaces of different sizes. Even on her head was a crown of pearls and diamonds, like melting snow.
A series of bracelets were hung on both her arms, and rings were also worn on her fingers. Then, as she got up, Lilian stumbled momentarily.
“Your Grace!”
“Oh, our greed was too much!”
They took off all her bracelets and earrings. Lilian was able to walk properly only after the ring with the largest blue diamond was left.
They apparently measured Lily’s finger and put it all together when she received it as a gift. Maybe it’s because she had lost weight, or maybe because it was so big, the heavy diamond kept shifting sideways.
When she looked in the mirror, there was a strangely decorated woman standing there.
“It’s like the Winter Queen…”
One of her ladies in waiting muttered involuntarily.
Although Lilian usually had a soft impression that made it easy to talk to her, her aura was not easy to be touched like some kind of magic.
“Do you like it, Your Highness?”
It was a voice full of pride.
Lilian smiled and congratulated her.
“Yes, it looks like someone else. Everyone really worked hard…this…”
Rita helped the staggering Lilian again.
“Is it still very heavy? It’s a bit hard to remove trinkets beyond this…”
Lily shook her head. Her attire is also directly related to the prestige of the Grand Duke’s family.
“It’s my first time wearing something like this. Once I get used to it, I should be able to walk.”
In the end, Lilian slowly left the room with others fussing over her by grabbing her from the front and the back.
Today’s partner, Matteo, is wearing a shirt made of Kiyomun silk the same color as Lily’s. It wasn’t a color that suited Matteo very well, with his dark blond hair, blue eyes and healthy apricot complexion.
“You’re here.”
Lilian unconsciously thought that Damian would look much better in that shirt.
“It’s an honor to be with you today.”
“It’s inevitably a nuisance to His highness. Please take good care of me.”
“What nuisance? I don’t think so…”
Looking at Matteo, who was somehow avoiding her gaze, Lilian tilted her head.
‘It must be that he’s ashamed to hold his aunt’s hand when attending the banquet.’
It was a thought that, if Matteo heard it, he would take a deep sigh and rub his face.
***
With the assistance of the maids gone, Lilian had to walk slowly, like a nine month old baby holding a father’s hand to practice walking.
Matteo, with uncharacteristic patience for a boy his age, kept her pace. Thanks to this, Lilian was able to safely board the carriage.
Soon the carriage arrived at the Imperial palace. When the wagon bearing Damian’s crest arrived, the carriages standing in line stepped aside to pay respects to the imperial family.
Unlike the other carriages, the Grand Duchy’s carriage was able to enter the castle where the ball was being held.
“Be careful getting off.”
Matteo, who went down first, held out his hand. Lilian carefully got out of the carriage.
A melody played by an orchestra could be heard in the distance. She could feel the heat generated by the gathering of many people.
There was a faint smell of gunpowder from the fireworks fired during the day in the air. The flowers that burst into buds early with magic were gorgeous.
It was like a summer night.
The attendant guarding the entrance of the venue was nervous and accepted the invitation.
The door opened.
“Little Splendor of Imperial Rupenwein, Your Highness the Noble Crown Prince, Duke of Sisak, Marquis of Tourmarine, and Standard-bearer of the Blue Banner, His Highness Matteo Sisak Tourmarine Rupenwein!”
It was a bloody cry. But the difficulties didn’t end there.
“Her Highness the Grand Duchess of Rupenwein, Lady of Turin and Hemmenlinna, Duchess of Hemenlinna, Mistress of the Alt Sea, Countess of Palmiens, Imperatrix Leyengrad-“
She wondered if he’ll ran out of breath. Lilian got nervous.
“Lilian Mariestad Islar Rupenwein, Her Highness is entering!”
When Matteo gave a signal to the knight standing behind him, he said, “good work” and gave the attendant three gold coins.
Matteo asked softly.
“Are you ready?”
Various people were mixed in this venue.
Enmity, favor, hate, love, sorrow, joy. Various emotions were coming and going on the web of relationships.
Sometimes literacy is tested, sometimes luck.
For a moment, Lily’s mind recalled the time she had spent at the sorority tea parties.
A lot of things happened there too.
Right now, she’s just going on a bigger stage, but the essence hasn’t changed.
Lilian smiled. And nodded her head.
“Yes.”
***
Matteo and Lily took a step into the perfectly decorated venue. The band stopped playing.
People who had been enjoying the alcohol and music everywhere without paying attention to the call of the attendant began to look around when the music suddenly stopped. The people who were dancing grasped the atmosphere and stepped back in panic.
On the road made by people stepping back…
“Oh my gosh, my nephew!”
Claude I appeared.
He was a handsome middle-aged man, befitting of the family genes. His face was filled with a happy expression that could not be distinguished from the truth.
He spread his arms as if the Emperor was inviting him to come. But…
As mentioned earlier, Claude had to hold his arms a little longer than expected, thanks to Lily, who had to walk at the pace of a nine month old.
They ended up a couple more steps away from Emperor’s side before he got tired.
“Welcome, welcome.”
The way he hugged Matteo was suddenly like a really cool uncle.
“…I see His Majesty.”
“Wow, when did you grow up like this? Just like when you’re a kid, it’s okay to call me uncle.”
Tuk tuk, and a friendly pat on the middle of the back caused a thin crack on Matteo’s face. Lilian stepped out without even knowing it.
“I greet Your Majesty.”
“Aren’t you Marquis Turin’s younger sister?”
Their eyes met.
The emperor’s eyes were purple, similar to Damian’s, but his pupils were subtly dilated, giving a slightly different impression. Scars remained on his eyebrows and cheeks as if they had been severely torn and attached.
“It’s good to hear that Damian met a new person and settled down. It’s my concern that he spent a long time on the battlefield.”
Lilian smiled. And answered calmly.
“He must have been loyal to His Majesty.”
It wasn’t because he liked it, but because he ordered it, was the answer.
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