Chapter 35

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 35

Chapter Title: Star Festival and the Ashen Wolf (7)

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Roxiana's permission had barely been given when the maids came rushing into the drawing room. At first, she thought they must have come to complain about something. But like Petria, their cheeks were flushed pink, and their eyes sparkled brightly, as if they were thrilled about some delightful event.

'What's going on?'

Among the maids were some familiar faces from the laundry, mixed with strangers. One of the maids she'd gotten to know there stepped forward cautiously.

"Princess. We've prepared something for you..."

Only then did Roxiana notice the large bundle they'd brought in. The maids set it down and pulled out a dress from inside.

It was a white dress.

Lace adorned the shoulders and wrists, tiny beads dotted the hem, and a long lace layer had been added beneath the skirt—which originally fell to mid-calf—to cover the ankles. A large pink ribbon graced the waist, small white ones trimmed the sleeves, and sparkling beads were densely embedded around the neckline.

As Roxiana stared at the dress in bewilderment, it took her a moment to realize it was the white sundress she'd picked out the day before.

"This is...?"

Petria explained to Roxiana, whose eyes had widened in confusion.

"Since you're going out today, we thought you should wear something a bit more glamorous. We altered the sundress a little using things we had."

"Ah..."

She didn't know what to say.

Pretty lace, fine ribbons, translucent beads...

To nobles, they might be worthless trifles not worth missing. But Roxiana knew they meant something entirely different to the maids.

These were treasures the maids had collected one by one over time, saved for the day they'd someday decorate their own dresses. And now, they'd given them freely to her.

Roxiana felt something hot and swelling rise in her chest.

She'd always been treated with care. But back then, it was simply the deference owed to royalty.

Now, stripped of everything and a slave, this unexpected kindness from strangers at an unforeseen moment felt excessively loving, dazzlingly radiant. In her barren heart, which had only contemplated death since losing it all, the spring rain of emotions was impossible to contain.

Roxiana blinked slowly, trying to suppress the lump rising in her throat.

Misinterpreting her prolonged silence, the laundry maid spoke up.

"Of course, it might look shabby in your eyes, Princess, but we used the very best we had..."

"No."

Roxiana answered quickly.

"No, shabby? Not at all. It's wonderful."

Her fingertips trembled faintly as she took hold of the dress that had once been a simple sundress.

"I've never received anything so precious before. I don't know how to express my joy... Thank you so much. I never expected this. I'm truly grateful."

The maids beamed as they watched the princess hug the dress tightly, expressing her thanks so endearingly.

The maids knew bits and pieces of Roxiana's situation. When they first heard that the princess, who had lost everything and become a slave, had taken over Lily Palace, they'd grumbled inwardly: 'Lily Palace, when she doesn't even know her place... Does she still think she's a princess?'

But as time passed, they realized she knew her station well, treated the servants politely, and even under the Grand Duke's protection, constantly wished for death. Yet she still healed those fallen ill from the contaminated water.

No one knew exactly what power she'd used, but anyone who mattered knew she'd collapsed in near-death agony after curing them. Still, Roxiana never boasted about it and carried on quietly as always.

How could they not feel drawn to her, concerned for her?

Seeing the princess, who always wandered like a ghost without expression, now flushed with joy around her eyes, lifted the maids' spirits too. They felt like if only she could smile even once in a happy moment, they'd do anything for her.

Even after the maids left, Roxiana clutched the dress for a long time. The warmth conveyed at this unexpected moment felt so comforting, as if it whispered that she wasn't just worthless trash not worth saving.

As noon approached, Roxiana sat on the drawing room sofa, gazing at the crackling fireplace.

'What should I do now?'

She'd tried everything to be useful, but Floyd got angry every time she did anything, leaving her with nothing she could do. And she certainly couldn't live like a noble lady, idly attending parties as he suggested.

'If I become someone helpful to Torkan, there won't be much backlash when I ask to retrieve my family's bodies. Or... should I shamelessly ask the Grand Duke for commoner status and leave the palace?'

She'd considered earning money outside to hire mercenaries and sneak into Kanta, but it seemed too time-consuming. Besides, hiring reliable mercenaries alone as a woman wasn't easy.

Noble ladies often fell victim to scoundrels when hiring shady mercenaries for protection. Though each country punished assaults on noblewomen harshly, the mercenaries escaped justice by selling them to slave traders.

'Sorry, she was taken by bandits,' they'd claim, and that was that.

'Staying here shamelessly might be the best option after all.'

As she agonized over the unsolvable dilemma, Percy, Hexston's wife, visited. As always, she carried a large basket.

From past experience, Roxiana knew what was inside before even checking, and her mouth watered instantly.

'I guess I'm getting used to living now.'

Realizing she had things she must live for had made her want to survive, and with the will to live came appetite.

Inside Percy's basket were homemade wild strawberry jam, kumquat jam, perfectly baked lemon pie, and fluffy bread. The nutty aroma of the fresh bread and the sweet scent of the jam filled the drawing room.

"Am I disturbing you when you're busy?"

Roxiana shook her head at Percy's question.

"Busy? Not at all. I've had nothing to do, so I've just been staring at the fireplace."

"The streets are buzzing with festival excitement. Why not go watch?"

"Ah. The Grand Duke already invited me to see the circus together this afternoon."

Percy's eyes widened. For some reason, she stared blankly at Roxiana's lips before exclaiming, "Oh my, oh my goodness, oh!"

"His Highness invited you to the circus? Together? Just the two of you?"

Percy's voice rose higher than before. Roxiana couldn't understand why she was so excited but answered calmly.

"Yes."

"Oh my, oh. What is this? The circus... together... oh. The circus..."

Seeing Percy blush to her cheeks and mutter, Roxiana suddenly wondered if in Torkan, going to the circus with a man was as taboo as sharing a bed.

Had she said something she shouldn't have?

At that moment, Percy leaned forward abruptly.

"Have you chosen your dress? Since it's this afternoon, you should start preparing. Am I taking too much of your time? Where are your dressing maids? Oh, do you have any jewelry?"

Blinking at the barrage of questions, Roxiana went to the drawing room wardrobe and pulled out the dress the maids had made.

"I'm planning to wear this. The servants put so much effort into making it for me."

Anyone could see it was a plain sundress patched together with extras. It wasn't even close to the latest fashions, and up close, the stitches from the added lace and glue marks from the beads were plainly visible.

But reading the tender look in Roxiana's eyes as she gazed at the sundress, Percy tactfully said nothing about it.

"Then I'll lend you a matching hat and shoes. With a blue gem hairpin and necklace, that dress will shine so much more."

Roxiana didn't refuse Percy's invitation to head to Viscount Lenadro's estate. She had been worrying about hats, gloves, and jewelry anyway. It didn't matter for her, but since she was accompanying a ruler of a nation, she had to consider her partner's position.

As she left Lily Palace with Percy toward the waiting carriage, people glanced at Roxiana but none stopped her. Whether because she was with Viscountess Lenadro or due to Floyd's orders not to hinder her wherever she went, she couldn't tell.

'He hasn't imprisoned me.'

Knowing she could leave the palace anytime lightened her heart a little.

'Come to think of it, the Grand Duke never told me not to go anywhere.'

That didn't mean she'd wander recklessly.

'If someone recognizes me and tells Lucas, it could spark conflict between Torkan and Gania.'

In the rocking carriage, Roxiana parted the curtain slightly and took in the passing scenery.

'Now that I think about it, this is my first time in a carriage since then.'

The scenes from the carriage window back then were vivid in her mind.

She never dreamed she'd witness the end of the loyal, strong Sir Robert Chenare with her own eyes. The prudent, tight-lipped knight who occasionally cracked jokes, dying so futilely and easily—she never imagined she'd see that.

The sorrow she'd barely suppressed surged up suddenly, and Roxiana quickly clenched her eyes to hold back the tears.

No matter how painful.

'Not now.'

Roxiana gripped the hem of her skirt tightly.

This wasn't the time to cry.

'Someday, when I recover my family. Then.'

She'd cry. Until her lungs burst and her heart tore apart, until her tears turned to blood and no breath came from her ruptured throat.