NOVEL NEXT Episode 16
Episode 16
As the vivid memories of the previous night flooded her mind, she had to admit that it happened again because she had initiated it.
But why apologize…?
“I was too rough. I apologize.”
Don’t speak so seriously. Don’t apologize. Just pretend you don’t know!
Carlos’ words, which echoed the most embarrassing and humiliating line she had said the night before, made Verona want to jump out of the window.
“You said you liked it rough, so I lost control.”
“…”
“I shouldn’t have done that.”
Carlos added with a regretful expression.
“It’s not good for the child to be exposed to such intense… movements. I was reprimanded severely.”
“You didn’t actually ask someone about that, did you?”
“Of course, I consulted the royal physician. You can trust the diagnosis of a veteran. Fortunately, green apple wine isn’t harmful to the fetus either.”
“Why! Why did you tell them!”
Why don’t you just spread the news all over town! Verona glared at Carlos with a face about to explode from embarrassment.
“Calm down, Verona. It won’t happen again. I promise.”
Verona buried her face in the feather pillow and pulled the blanket over her head. She just wanted to pretend she hadn’t heard anything.
Carlos, who was struggling to comfort her, eventually got out of bed after an hour. Instead, he called for Luigi.
“Make sure the princess rests well. She might be uncomfortable, so give her some warm food.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Luigi’s voice from beyond the blanket sounded incredibly cheerful. Verona could sense Mary’s excitement nearby as well.
“Verona.”
After giving various orders, Carlos approached the bed again. He gently stroked her head through the blanket and spoke softly.
“Do you remember who gave you the drink last night?”
“…The person who gave me the drink?”
“Yes.”
Verona peeked out slightly, sensing that Carlos wasn’t about to say something more embarrassing. He spoke cautiously.
“The drink you had was low in alcohol, so you shouldn’t have been that drunk after just two glasses. But judging by your condition last night… it seems like someone tampered with it.”
“But you said there were no serious issues? Why would anyone do such a thing?”
“Thankfully, yes.”
Carlos took her hand from under the blanket and gently played with it.
“It’s really fortunate there was no harm done.”
“…”
Verona had thought she was merely drunk, but Carlos was worried about something more.
“I’m sorry. I drank without thinking.”
“It’s not your fault. I never imagined someone would do such a thing at the imperial banquet.”
Carlos gritted his teeth.
“Verona, if you had been harmed, I wouldn’t have been able to forgive myself.”
“Why is that your fault, Carlos? I’ll be more careful from now on.”
“No, that’s not enough.”
“What?”
“If someone has malicious intentions, how could a fragile princess like you defend yourself?”
“…”
“So, I’ve decided it’s best to assign you a bodyguard.”
Carlos stated firmly.
“I need someone to protect and guard you closely when I’m not around. I’ll send someone to the detached palace today, so don’t worry and rest well. I’ll visit again in the evening.”
Before Verona could respond, he kissed her forehead and left.
“Phew…”
Verona crawled back under the blanket, feeling sore all over as if she had been beaten.
While she was massaging her shoulder, the door opened and Mary rushed in.
“Princess! Princess! Please get up.”
Verona shot her a look that said ‘please go away,’ but Mary ignored it and pulled off the blanket.
“We don’t have time for this.”
“Can’t I just sleep a bit more…?”
“The sun is already high in the sky. Because you slept in, His Majesty missed two meals and stayed by your side.”
“Two meals?”
What time is it?
Startled, Verona sat up quickly but winced at the sharp pain that shot through her body.
Seeing this, Mary openly displayed her joy and handed her a bowl of soup.
“His Majesty carried you in at dawn and even washed you himself.”
“What? He even washed me!”
She was about to ask how drunk she must have been for that to happen but stopped when she saw Mary’s beaming face. Verona buried her head and focused on eating her soup.
“We’ve been busy ever since the engagement ceremony ended. I only got four hours of sleep.”
“Why were you busy?”
And why do you look so happy after only a little sleep?
Verona handed Mary the empty bowl and asked. Mary tossed the bowl to Olivia, who had just entered the bedroom, and returned to the bed with a gleeful shout.
“There’s a flood of gifts coming in. It’s a tradition in the Empire to send gifts to the one who will be the Empress. His Majesty even made a list and told us to use the west warehouse.”
There were jewels of unknown kinds, intricately crafted ornaments, dresses made according to the latest trends, beautiful flowers and birds, rare sweets, and even a portrait of her that was still drying.
“Isn’t this a sign of loyalty to the princess?”
Mary grinned as if she had received the gifts herself.
‘No wonder she looks so lively despite her dark circles.’
Though it felt overwhelming, she accepted it, thinking it wasn’t exactly bribery but a customary practice.
Mary casually instructed Olivia to bring a comb and then began to re-tidy Verona’s hair, which Carlos had left in a mess.
“So, the organization should be done soon. If there’s anything you want to use immediately, just pick it from the list and let me know.”
“Uh, okay.”
With Mary’s excitement, Verona grew curious about what was on the list.
After finishing her hair, Mary tossed the comb aside. When Verona glanced that way, she saw Olivia quietly pick it up after letting it drop once. Her face showed no emotion, looking calm and composed.
‘What’s with her?’
Her quiet demeanor was unexpected.
Verona knew Olivia to either be more excitable than Mary or barely hiding her jealousy. This silence was unusual.
‘Something’s off.’
But it wasn’t the right time to ask her about her thoughts on the situation, so Verona looked away from her.
‘Maybe she’s the angriest right now.’
They say it’s scarier when a kind person gets angry.
Olivia, who was an expert at appearing kind, could very well hide her true feelings if she was truly angry.
“Princess, the lists are ready.”
At that moment, another maid came in with several scrolls tied with red ribbons. Mary intercepted them from Olivia and handed them to Verona.
“Wow. What’s all this?”
When Verona untied a ribbon and let a scroll roll out onto the bed, it seemed as long as she was tall.
“These are your gifts, Princess. Take a look.”
Mary urged excitedly. Verona nodded and read the first name on the list.
‘Osmund Portrey, Grand Duke.’
As the second most powerful person after the Emperor, he was appropriately listed first.
His list of gifts was extravagant, filling an entire scroll. It included an ebony mirror inlaid with gold patterns, diamond earrings, a platinum ear cleaner, a dust brush made of kingfisher feathers, and more.
‘And five boxes of delicate lace, perfume, a yellow-feathered nightingale, young leaves harvested from Blenica Snow Mountain on New Year’s Day…’
The list seemed endless. Dizzy, Verona set the scroll aside.
“Should we check the next one?”
“No, later.”
She gestured to Mary to stop handing her another scroll.
“I’ll look at them later. It’s too much for my head right now.”
“As you wish.”
While Verona rubbed her aching back, Olivia quietly spoke.
“The Grand Duke sent the most. It seems he thinks highly of the princess.”
She smiled serenely.
“May I ask what His Excellency sent? I couldn’t help with organizing, so I’m curious.”
“Why do you want to know?”
Mary cut in sharply.
“These are the princess’s belongings. Don’t you know it’s overstepping your bounds to take an interest just because you were once the Grand Duke’s ward?”
“I was asking as the princess’s maid, thinking it might be useful.”
While Mary’s point was valid, Olivia also had a reason. As a maid, she’d eventually learn the inventory details anyway.
“Ebony mirror, earrings, lace, and perfume, things like that.”
“…I see. Thank you for telling me, Princess.”
Olivia quietly expressed her thanks. Without further reaction, even Mary seemed surprised, raising her eyebrows.
“Princess, His Majesty’s guards have arrived.”
Luigi announced. Verona instructed them to be shown to the parlor and got out of bed. Olivia left, stating she had to prepare dinner.
“That woman is so creepy.”
Mary grumbled while helping Verona.
“Thank goodness His Majesty sent the guards quickly. They might need to protect you more from internal threats than external ones.”
I think so too.
Verona agreed inwardly while changing clothes.
‘But… is it really okay to keep the original heroine around?’
Perhaps it was the lingering effects of the previous night.
Different thoughts kept surfacing in her mind. She bit her lip as she left the bedroom.
* * *
“Is that really the guard sent to protect me?”
“Yes, so they say.”
Verona skeptically eyed the man in the parlor. He sat with his back to the door, a mess of black hair barely combed, with his feet propped on the table, napping.