Countless daughters of nobility were waiting in the hall of the imperial palace. Surprisingly enough, many had gathered to apply for the position of lady-in-waiting, even though every girl and her neighbor shied away from the seat of the empress.
The position of empress lady-in-waiting was not directly connected to the emperor, but it did co with the privilege of being in the know of most matters within the imperial palace, as well as the benefit of a certain degree of nobility aside from the title of court lady. This was why daughters of nobility who could not inherit their family showed all the more interest in the position, and the sa went for every noble house involved; there was no position better than that of a lady-in-waiting to observe everything from the center of the imperial palace, by the side of the empress, whom the emperor was said to be smitten with.
There were also many with scheming thoughts that ran along the lines of,Plus, theres the fact of His Majesty falling for the empress and even treating her well. If I find out what it is that chard him and throw out the powerless empress before a child is born, Ill beco the second empress. And there wont be a third! Because Ill kill them all!
The fact that the emperor had not killed the empress, contrary to the expectations of all, fueled them with courage. All those gathered were daughters of noble families, so no one fell short in appearance; however, even among them, there were those dressed with extravagance in a display of their respective familys status and authority.
Elysia was one of them. She let out a small smile as she looked over the other young ladies.Im the best, after all.
Her thought was not wrong. Be it her looks, attire, or house, she was the most suitable person here to beco a lady-in-waiting.
They wont be picking only one person, so let see. I wonder who else will be chosen.
Elysia wondered as she scanned her surroundings, but then her eyes stopped on one spot. She saw soone in the corner of the hall who looked obviously nervous. It was a young lady who appeared sowhat rustic when compared to the others; she was wearing a very large and heavy erald brooch on her chest. Laughter escaped Elysias lips at the young ladys noticeably awkward attire.
Another young lady acquainted with Elysia whispered to her from the side. I hear shes the daughter of Margrave Kaniche. Her na is Tania, I think? I was aware that their land is in an extrely remote corner, but its a wonder as to why they sent his daughter as a lady-in-waiting candidate in that outfit. I suppose they thought putting on a large jewel would make it look fine. The poor girl.
The young ladys tone that oozed mockery, a contrast to her sympathetic words, evoked laughter from Elysia. Anyone with eyes would not choose a woman who looked like that as a lady-in-waiting. After all, anyone could see the brilliance of the daughters hailing from the best noble houses, which included herself. Tania seed to have noticed the way people were looking at her; she dropped her head even lower than before.
Still, this will make for a good experience, wouldnt you agree? Going back to the distant backwoods where she ca from after taking a glimpse of Her Majesty the Empress will be enough to be the proudest mory of her lifeti, after all.
As the two were ridiculing Tania, the voice of an attendant rang in the hall. Her Majesty is coming!
The noise in the hall ceased at the announcent. The won who had been waiting inside stood in lines and bowed in salutation as the empress entered through the hall doors.
All hail Her Majesty the Empress.
Shortly following the greeting of hundreds, the empress bid them be at ease. You may rise.
Elysia looked at the empress after lifting her head following imperial etiquette. The empresss beauty was one thing, but it was the unexpected aura about her that made Elysia closely observe the forr. The empress seed very accustod to this sort of situation. The sort of situation where she took the lead amidst the attention of all.I heard she was a neglected illegitimate princess in the Kingdom of Navitan, but
While the empress might have undergone education a month before her wedding, so things could not be filled without actual experience and one of those was none other than aura. It was like how uncomfortable shoes had to be put on to learn to walk properly with them, and like how suffocating formal dresses had to be worn to grow used to their stifling feel.
Such was the case with clothes, and all the more so in the case of attitude. The empress exhibited an air of indifference, sothing that could only be accomplished by those accustod to these sorts of events from a young age. That impassive face of the empress that seed to say she would not stand for any nonsense
Shes a formidable one.
As she reflected on herself for belittling the empress under the assumption that the latter had rely fascinated the emperor with her pretty face and crazy antics, Elysia corrected her posture. The empress was walking in her direction. She would soon spot her and co to a stop. When that happened, she would greet But the mont Elysias thoughts reached that point, the empresss eyes suddenly ca to life.
She followed the direction of the empresss gaze.What is it? What on earth is it that caught her eye when she seed indifferent to everything just a mont ago?The empresss footsteps quickened, and she began to walk to the very back of the lines of won.
What is your na? The empresss voice sounded a little excited.
It is Ta-Tania, Your Majesty.
Tania? That bumpkin from before?Elysia looked back in surprise and saw the empresss eyes were locked onto the green brooch on Tanias chest. Elysia was not the only one who saw. The lady-in-waiting candidates recalled what happened after the empress ca to the imperial palace. The emperor had offered her all the jewels of the imperial family, but not finding it to be enough, she told the emperor she desired the treasure of the Kingdom of Tetin.
Everyone in the hall ca to the realization that to draw the empresss attention, they needed jewels. And big ones of good quality at that.
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