Chapter 16 - An Unexpected Gift {Part 1}

The ladies-in-waiting had finished preparing me for the day earlier than usual, so I sat with them as I drank my breakfast coffee. In the meanwhile, The Grand Duke Of Murcadina, my own father had sent a servant bearing a gift that was then passed to me via my maid. Euphemia De Corte.

"Your Highness, The Grand Duke of Murcadina has sent you something."

One of my most loyal servants, Euphemia De Corte said To me, she was merely a commoner, nothing more than that she shouldn't really Have a last name, but His Majesty, The Emperor gave her one when she helped save their 3rd son… Prince Heinley who was injured by an assault from some assassins..

"Father?"

"Did my father really send me something?" I was stunned as I looked at the maid, willing to accept this gift from my father.

"Ah, Yes Your Highness!"

"I believe the Duke did so, princess," Euphemia explained calmly as she looked at me, handing me the box it was in.

I looked up from my coffee cup and examined the item on the servant's outstretched hands. It was a gorgeous blue silk cloth that shone like the scales of a koi fish. Pretty, delicate and expensive.

Though I never cared much for the expensive jewels I cannot help but be grateful and thankful for what my dear father has gifted me.

"His Lordship, also sent a letter"

"A letter?"

"Yes a letter, Your Highness"

Quickly, I received the letter from Euphemia's outstretched hands as I Pondered over the delicate emblem of the Manor in Murcadina on The front of it, My home. The Place I grew up in. The place I cherished deeply. . . .

The place I had always longed to return to.

I sighed and put down my coffee. The silk looked beautiful and expensive, but it was hard to accept it purely considering the intentions of the father. I knew he was a man who already held power but I also knew he would do anything to bring more power to himself as he is only the Grand Duke of a small part of the Eastern Empire.

"Thank you, Euphemia"

"Go and tell the servant who brought that i will Send my thanks to my father"

This had happened many times before, my father already knows How much I love him.. But? I would so wish for him to stop showering his affection in gifts and lavish jewels. The empire will soon suffer From A recession after all, and I don't want to cause any more conflict than I can already have done.

This had happened many times before, and the servant smiled awkwardly as if she expected it too. She murmured a respectful "Yes" and stepped back, leaving me alone in my chambers as my coffee lay still on the table in front of me. The coffee, it's quite cold now, a noticeable difference from when it was boiling hot as I was able to see the smoke emulate up from the coffee as it casted a warm haze across my room.

"His grace? hasn't gotten tired yet."

"I thought that the old man would get tired after some time? Did you not agree? Lady Beatrice"

Countess Audreyn watched as she slightly scowled at Countess Eliza as she spoke her mind, disrespecting the Eastern Duke. Countess Eliza slightly bursted into a maniacal sense of laughter before she then caught the cold gaze of the Crown princess. Quickly shutting her mouth as she retorted with her voice below a whisper.

"Sorry, Your Highness"

"I didn't mean to -"

The Crown prince, glaring at the Countess, quickly Pressed the matter to an end, Elisabeth wouldn't tolerate any disrespect to the eastern region or to her own family. The thin line of patience she was always known to carry, slightly wearing thin.

"Countess Eliza…."

"Speaking so rudely for my family?"

"I won't tolerate it… The blatant disrespect you have for my father is clear?"

"Countess - I'm sure if i told His Majesty, The Emperor about this? That they would dismiss you as one of my Lady's-in-waiting? Would he not? Or do you believe he would be a lot kinder because of your family status?

Countess Eliza, her eyes widened as she looked at the Crown Princess, her, a woman of power and status.. being treated like this by some Easterner? No - She wouldn't stand for this.

Countess Eliza, slightly bit Her bottom lip before she then quickly apologised to The Crown Princess who was staring into her soul like she was nothing but a thorn to the bristle of a branch by her side.

"Sorry Your Highness"

"..."

Quite unexpectedly, a second visitor was announced. I went to the central palace after breakfast every morning, so few visitors came here in the early hours. But two people in one morning? I allowed admittance of the visitor, although I remained curious.

Fortunately, the second visitor was not a servant of a noble who offered bribes, but an official who came to coordinate the day's agenda. It was not a difficult task, and after exchanging a few words he finally left…

Finally, Hopefully I can now Have a small area of peace in this place.

To my surprise, a third visitor appeared.

This time, it was Rosette, The Countess.. Who I had thought that I'd rarely Meet face to face or with unannounced visits.

"Rosette? Really" I muttered under my breath as I stood still in my room.

I really.. Couldn't enjoy one of my mornings in peace without the disturbance of other people's problems, but then again? I am The Crown Princess of rodwine? What can I expect?

I'm expected to solve their one and every problem.

I looked back at the guard in surprise. He bowed his head and answered "Yes" with a look of contempt. Countess Eliza clicked her tongue again.

"Why does she dare come here?"

The guard did not know; he only stood by the door and announced the arrival of visitors. However, it seemed like he felt responsible telling me the news, and he had an embarrassed expression on his face. Countess Eliza turned to me anxiously.

"Will you receive her, Your Highness?"

"Well..."

Frankly, I did not want to meet her at all. Why should I be obligated to see someone that would only hurt my feelings? Someone who would plot against me? Someday, I may be able to laugh and talk with Leonardo even if he has many beautiful concubines by his side. That time wasn't now, however, and it was still difficult for me to treat Leonardo's lover in an easy manner.

Especially, when I know that she doesn't have good intentions in that pure black heart of hers.

However...

"Let her in."

"!"

My ladies-in-waiting cried out in surprise.

"Your Highness!"

"...."

I picked up the handle of the half-full cup of coffee. I did not want to see her, but Rosette was just a concubine, and Leonardo's first love...was it love or was it last? The first woman he loved. Leonardo had been chilly towards me since she first appeared in front of me when I met her in an encounter at The Imperial Palace Gardens…I did not want to fight with him again. Even if I could not love him passionately, I did not want to be hated by the Crown Prince. I could tolerate just this one visit…

"Just this once" I muttered to myself as I slightly let out a small chuckle.

"This is our second time meeting, Your Highness. I am Rosette."

I didn't know if she was pretending to neither know nor care about the incident with Countess Audreyn that had happened in the Imperial Palace Gardens, but Rosette greeted me with a bright smile as soon as she came in.

Countess Eliza did not hide her displeasure and sat back in stony silence, while I schooled my facial muscles into something as blank as possible. Fortunately, I had a great deal of practice in hiding my emotions in less than ideal situations, it's what you get trained to do.. well after experiencing multiple lives.

The pain? Your emotions? It gets a lot bearable especially when you're in your 50th Life on another timeline.

" ...Unlike before, I am sure you are his concubine. Congratulations."

"Thank you!"

I gave a mechanical greeting...what was I supposed to say now? I thought over it for a moment and decided to go straight to the point.

"What brings you here?"

"What brings me here?"

"?"

"You and I are like sisters now, Your Highness. Family."

"Family?" I Pondered as I looked at the Concubine, she was surely Dumbfounded.. I would never think of her as a sister.

Countess Eliza was caught by surprise and choked on her cold coffee. She placed her hand in front of her mouth as she coughed and glared at Rosette. I was equally bewildered.

What did I just hear? Sisters? Family?... Does this girl not know court Etiquette?

"Family?"

"Because we have the same husband. "

My smooth face almost cracked. I fought to keep down a twitching nerve. The concubine contract was JUST a contract, and they were not recognized as part of the Imperial Family. During the contract a concubine could receive a favourable amount of wealth, but if the contract was not extended, she had to leave the Imperial Palace.

As well as always clarifying that the children born by the concubine were not considered princes or princesses, even if they were fathered by the emperor.

Yet now the girl considers us family just because we had the same husband? There were so many errors in that statement that I didn't even know where to start. As I tamed my thoughts, Rosette gathered both of her hands together.

"May I call you sister?"

Sister - is Rosette insane? Has she lost her sanity or what else had remained of it already? This soon!

The air chilled around me. I pressed my lips down. This was the limit of my generosity

I could deal with a concubine sharing my husband because I knew for a fact that the Crown Prince would Postpose consummating his marriage with me for as long as possible.

"No."

Rosette's expression dropped. She blinked her eyes and stared at me as if in fright. As if she never anticipated an answer like this. That was more amazing to me than anything she would ever plan or do in the future.

She practically said, "Yes, let's be sisters. I took away your husband, but can we get along right! Ellie?"

"Is it because you don't like Rosette?"

Her large, doe-like royal-blue eyes glistened as they began to Swell up with tears.

"No - it's not a matter of me hating you"

Of course I hated her, I hated this woman, she plotted against my own life. There was no doubt I wouldn't hate her in all my lives. If it wasn't for what she had done…

"You may have become the Crown Prince's concubine, but YOU are not my sister."

I tried to explain this difficult truth with a smile, but Rosette only seemed to cry more. She must have thought I was ridiculing her. Smiling didn't work, so I wiped it away and decided to end our meeting there.

"Leave." I said with a stoic and blank expression on my face as I glared at her.

After Rosette left, everyone in the room looked around in shock.

"Indeed...I really don't know what to say about her."

Countess Eliza was dumbfounded. And so were the other ladies-in-waiting. Most of them had never met a Crown Prince's concubine before. It was Unheard of; For a Crown prince of an empire to ever take a concubine officially as most of the royal laws never allowed it until they ascended the throne… Unless it was proven that your wife was Infertile.

As well as one that called on the Crown Princess like she was a servant or had to speak to her consistently. With a frown, I turned to the oldest lady-in-waiting.

"Is that what a concubine is like?"

Although I had been in and out of the Imperial Palace since I was young only when my father came to visit and report about the Eastern part of the empire., I had never met any of the emperor's concubines while being educated in etiquette.. I hadn't been old enough to debut in society yet, and so I had nothing to do with the concubines of the emperor and who he wished to have beside his wife who he loved dearly.

I barely remember a Younger Empress, Empress Laria Odenne.. She was beautiful when she was younger. I only ever glanced at her face once when I had lost my father and I was scared.

"Concubines rarely see the Empress, well that's what most of them have experienced. It would only hurt each other's feelings, and the concubines don't want to be disliked by her."

"..."

"But! Your highness! Surely The Crown Prince isn't allowed to take a mistress - surely it's wrong? No Crown prince in the History of Rodwine, Has ever taken a concubine while having a crown princess"

Maybe Leonardo liked a character like Rosette . Countess Eliza sighed.

"She will need a lady-in-waiting sooner or later. The Emperor says she is a low-ranking noble, but she acts more like a commoner if anything?.. I wonder if any young woman would want to be the lady-in-waiting of a concubine…"