How I Ended Up Becoming the Imperial Princess While Trying to Pay Off an Illegal Loan - Chapter 20

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

020.
“I’ve heard enough. You’re dismissed.”
Leon waved the handmaiden away with a casual gesture, then turned his attention to Tamia, who continued to chatter on without pause.
“……You really did dance, didn’t you? I had a dancer friend back in Arderin Territory who could sprint up mountains for two nights straight without breaking a sweat.”
“The Empress is older, so her body must have weakened.”
“This is serious, truly. I’ll have to teach both His Majesty and the Empress about exercise later. Oh, but what about the dancing?”
“I’ll teach you to dance. So don’t worry yourself too much.”
“Really? I’m so glad you’re here! Without you, I’d have withered away from intimidation in this wilderness of a palace.”
It was amusing to hear such words from Tamia, who had the gift of cowing everyone at once.
Meanwhile, Leon himself was thinking how grateful he was to have her here.
He’d barely let slip to Tamia that the Empress Malisia was from the borderlands, and yet she’d managed to get under the Empress’s skin so thoroughly.
Leon regarded Tamia with a look of satisfaction, then casually shared a fact he knew she’d appreciate.
“Soon a dedicated budget committee will be formed for the wedding, and they’ll allocate funds to you for the ceremony.”
“A budget?”
Tamia’s eyes lit up at once.
“How much?”
“You’ll need to purchase three dresses and three matching sets of jewelry. And you’ll have to select the bridal bouquet yourself. For handling all of this, you’ll be given twenty thousand Der in total.”
“Twenty thousand Der?! That’s way more than I expected!”
Tamia’s mouth fell open, and she began to babble on about things no one had asked her.
“Actually, I already knew a separate budget would be given! My mother told me about imperial wedding ceremonies back in the day.”
“……So that’s why you pestered the Empress with all those questions about how expensive things were.”
“Heh, you caught me?”
Tamia grinned sheepishly and stuck her tongue out at him.
In moments like this, she looked utterly like a girl. It was a mystery how such explosive power could pour forth from that small frame.
“I’ve summoned the most famous dressmaker in the Capital. She’ll arrive at the Imperial Palace soon with her catalog. Choose the dresses and jewelry you like, then spend freely up to twenty thousand Der—any leftover amount is yours to keep.”
“Can I keep a lot left over?”
“There’s no rule against it, but…….”
“What if I buy the dress and jewelry somewhere else instead?”
“That’s your choice, but I’d appreciate it if you remembered that your status is my status.”
“Don’t worry about that! I’ll make sure your status doesn’t suffer in the slightest.”
Watching Tamia smile so brightly, Leon felt an uneasy feeling creeping up on him.
Just then, the head handmaiden of the Empress Palace, who oversaw all wedding arrangements, approached them with a troubled expression.
“There are several things that need to be decided for the wedding, but the Empress has fallen ill. What should we do?”
“What things need to be decided?”
Tamia’s eyes flashed for a moment, though unfortunately the head handmaiden failed to catch it.
“First, we must select the main flower for the hall’s decoration. The entire concept of the hall changes depending on the flower chosen.”
“The wedding will be held in the Hall of the Sun, naturally?”
Leon interjected with a question.
“Yes, of course. For the wedding of the Prince and his bride, we must open the grandest hall. Since it’s summer, white roses are usually preferred, but…….”
“How much budget has been allocated for the floral decorations?”
“Up to ten thousand Der can be spent freely.”
“Ten thousand Der…….”
Leon folded his arms and watched the exchange like a spectator at an amusing play.
“Could I receive the budget directly and select and execute the flower arrangements myself?”
“Ah, Your Highness?”
“It’s my wedding, so I want to choose the flowers myself.”
“That has merit indeed. The Empress is so ill that she can barely speak, and time is short, so please proceed. I’ll send over the dedicated budget administrator shortly.”
“Thank you. I’ll be waiting.”
A greedy glint flashed across Tamia’s eyes.
* * *
“I’m only telling you this.”
That night.
Tamia, now accustomed to the routine, flopped onto the bedroom sofa with a blanket and began chattering.
“Go ahead.”
“I’m not getting a new dress made. I’m going to reuse the one my mother wore.”
As expected, that’s how it would be.
Since he’d anticipated this from the start, he wasn’t particularly surprised.
‘My status is the least of my concerns, but I do hope Tamia doesn’t show up looking too shabby.’
After all, being humiliated in front of many people was precisely what Malisia would want.
When Leon made no reply, Tamia suddenly bolted upright and grinned at him wickedly.
“You’re worried about your dignity, aren’t you?”
“Ah, caught red-handed.”
“I won’t let your dignity suffer in the least. Trust me.”
“I’ve always trusted you, Tamia.”
“And tomorrow, let me go out. I’d like to see my parents.”
“You don’t need permission for something like that.”
“But if I disappear without saying anything, you’ll be startled and confused.”
The moment Leon’s eyes met Tamia’s, her face—luminous and unblemished—broke into a radiant smile.
He found himself wondering what cunning scheme lay behind that ingenuous expression.
“Well then, tonight let’s have one more evening where we keep our distance and sleep soundly!”
Tamia switched off the lights with practiced ease, then sprawled across the sofa.
Shortly after, when Leon heard her breathing softly into sleep, he downed three cups of the sleeping tea prescribed by the Imperial Palace physician and lay down in bed.
‘Sleep well, Tamia.’
Turning slightly toward the sofa, Leon gazed at Tamia’s sleeping form and smiled before closing his eyes.
Only then did sleep finally find him.
* * *
Two days after Tamia returned from her outing.
Empress Malisia had finally regained consciousness after lying ill for three solid days.
“Four days have already passed?”
“Yes, Your Majesty. You were gravely ill. We’re truly fortunate you’ve awakened.”
Malisia’s lady-in-waiting, tears glistening in her eyes, expressed her relief.
“How are the wedding preparations? What of the Imperial Princess?”
“Her Highness has selected the flowers to decorate the Hall of the Sun. Given your illness and the pressing timeline, we had no choice but—”
“She deliberately tried to spite me!”
Malisia’s anger flared suddenly, and she bolted upright in her seat.
“Your Majesty! You’re not yet fully recovered. Please, compose yourself!”
“No, I’m fine now. Summon the Imperial Princess at once!”
“This very moment?”
“There’s much more instruction to be given. Today I shall teach her proper deportment.”
Malisia planted her feet on the floor. Though she swayed slightly, she quickly steadied herself and spoke with resolution.
“Prepare twenty thick volumes as well. Immediately!”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
The lady-in-waiting bowed and rushed from the room.
Soon after, Tamia arrived at the Empress Palace.
“Your Majesty! Are you feeling better now? I’ve come to see you every day, but you were unconscious each time.”
Tamia seemed genuinely concerned for Malisia’s well-being, yet Malisia found her appearance entirely displeasing.
First, that shabby attire.
‘An Imperial Princess wearing such a slovenly dress!’
Unable to comprehend Tamia, Malisia gave a small nod.
‘Perhaps it’s fortunate after all. Better that people whisper about her dreadful wardrobe than praise the Imperial Princess.’
Having calculated her approach, Malisia greeted Tamia with a smile.
“Thanks to your concern, I’ve recovered well. I’d like to continue the etiquette training we didn’t finish last time. Would that be acceptable?”
“Of course! What would you like me to do, Your Majesty?”
“Try placing these ten books on your head.”
Malisia issued the instruction in an offhand tone, as though it were nothing.
“Books?”
“To cultivate graceful movement. Your current gait resembles rather more that of an elephant.”

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————