The Munchkin Princess Wants to Run Away - Chapter 4

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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“Of course, the dress design itself is splendid enough that we need only change the embroidery and accessories—hardly a serious problem.”
Marcel, who’d grown tired of the mounting tasks, had offered a solution.
“Then I’ll have you see to it.”
Cedric was satisfied to have resolved the matter so decisively.
The princess had been wearing a shabby dress fit for a servant. There was no reason to object to the expensive Ceremonial Dress the Duke’s Estate had prepared.
Cedric recalled Ivanna flushing, uncertain how to respond to his words.
She’d simply accepted her circumstances and made do.
A woman like that wouldn’t suddenly reveal her true nature simply because she’d married.
After visiting the Princess’s Palace in person, he understood why Justin had requested that the allowance for maintaining her station be paid directly into her personal account.
“The princess won’t cause any trouble. Simply ensure the servants are well-managed.”
He’d planned to grant her no real authority, yet neither could he allow the princess to be treated poorly by the household staff.
There were no books the Imperial Palace could be held accountable by, after all.
“Make certain not the slightest whisper of scandal reaches anyone’s ears.”
Having issued his orders, Cedric was confident that everything would conclude smoothly.
His married life, too, would proceed much as before.
A man who’d never tasted failure was certain in his judgment.
* * *
“Your Highness, look at this! Goodness, how perfectly it suits you!”
As Anthony held the earring up to her ear with theatrical enthusiasm, Ivanna mustered an awkward smile.
She couldn’t help but feel a flutter of excitement herself.
It had been years since childhood that she’d worn jewelry this fine. Her eyes kept drifting to the glittering gems without her meaning to.
Though she’d been earning money through the Merchant Guild, she hadn’t yet reached the point where she could spend freely on luxuries.
This wedding day was the sole extravagance of her life.
Life was indeed a sequence of unknowable things.
She straightened her posture, keeping her spine rigid as she noticed the Duke’s Estate’s maids glancing at her from beside her.
“Authority emerges from expression, bearing, and action, Ivanna.”
Never to be daunted, no matter the circumstance; never to forget that you are of royal blood. She pushed away the warm voice she’d heard in childhood.
In truth, everything paled before money.
Had she not slipped out of the Imperial Palace in secret and labored to earn gold after receiving her Power, she would have starved long ago.
Perhaps the Duke’s Estate would prove much the same. If she wasn’t left hungry, she’d count herself fortunate—and if she was, well, she’d find a way to slip out again.
While Ivanna imagined the worst of her life at the Duke’s Estate, the maids couldn’t tear their eyes from the princess.
The princess seemed little changed from her childhood, when she’d been praised for her angelic beauty.
Dressed in her Ceremonial Dress, she emanated the ethereal, graceful presence of a goddess rendered in holy paint.
Yet Ivanna herself regarded her reflection in the mirror with hollow eyes.
‘It’ll all be hidden by the veil anyway. Why bother with the makeup?’
Her mind was filled only with the thought of finishing the ceremony quickly and lying down in bed.
Since the Duke’s duties kept him occupied, they’d arranged to visit the Duchy Territory when time allowed, rather than take a honeymoon.
But when that might happen was uncertain.
So until he felt inclined to visit the Territory, she could seclude herself in the spacious rooms of the Duchess’s chambers.
She harbored no expectations or excitement regarding the wedding night.
The Duke who’d insisted on living by the terms of their Contract would have no reason to come to her.
And the Contract contained no provisions concerning such matters.
“The ceremony begins shortly!!”
At the attendant’s cry, Ivanna rose from her seat. The staff all bowed their heads at her graceful movements.
At last, she was leaving the Imperial Palace.
Ivanna found that single fact alone gave this marriage sufficient meaning.
* * *
“Phew, I’m exhausted.”
After the ceremony ended, Ivanna returned to the Bedroom, changed into comfortable sleeping clothes, and collapsed onto the bed.
As she’d expected, the tedious, emotionless ceremony had concluded quickly.
She’d seen her family’s faces for the first time in a while, but felt nothing.
Only Justin had given her a warm glance, though her expression was hidden behind the veil anyway.
It was a relief that she felt no longing. Not even tears came.
During the wedding banquet that followed, the nobles’ interest briefly focused on the princess who’d spent most of it in seclusion.
But Ivanna was soon able to slip away from the banquet hall under the pretext of exhaustion.
After changing out of her Ceremonial Dress and dismissing all the maids save Anthony, she spoke.
“There’s been no word of the Duke coming, has there?”
“No message has been received, Your Highness.”
At Anthony’s words, Ivanna slowly burrowed under the blankets.
She’d been dragged around all day, and exhaustion weighed so heavily on her that the moment she closed her eyes, sleep would claim her.
“How are your quarters?”
“We each received a private room, so there shouldn’t be any harassment.”
The request she’d mentioned beforehand in the contract seemed to have taken hold.
Ivanna found herself warming to the Duke for honoring even minor requests concerning his servants.
So he wasn’t entirely closed off after all.
“Wouldn’t it be better to stay somewhere outside the Duke’s Estate rather than here?”
“How could you possibly manage alone without us? That’s nonsense.”
Anthony shook her head firmly.
“The household staff will likely keep their distance for a while anyway.”
Confidence radiated from Anthony’s expression.
“If it becomes too difficult, just say the word. I’ll send you home.”
“How could I leave you behind?”
“Then I’m sneaking out with you—that’s how.”
Their eyes met, and both laughed soundlessly. In truth, they’d rarely stayed long in the Imperial Palace’s auxiliary residences.
They’d always used their Authority to slip away from the Imperial Palace and spent their time in a Merchant Guild safe house they’d prepared.
“The Duke won’t hand me the Mistress of the Household’s Authority, so there’ll be no one checking on me. He won’t even notice I’m gone.”
Ivanna had spoken with such certainty, but the very next day, she was proven wrong.
“We shall prepare washing water for you.”
She’d assumed no one would come calling on a Mistress who hadn’t even experienced her Wedding Night.
Yet the assigned handmaids appeared early that morning.
Despite the Duke’s instruction to live as though invisible, the maids treated her with excessive deference.
Even the head steward and head maid came to pay their respects, assuring her they would do everything in their power to make her stay comfortable.
‘They’ve been trained to avoid giving the Princess grounds for complaint.’
As several maids clustered around her from early morning, Ivanna felt her energy drain. She had to remain vigilant.
The satisfaction she’d felt receiving such attention lasted only briefly.
“My lady.”
Ivanna, sitting with impeccable posture as she sipped her tea as usual, turned at the cautious call.
“What is it?”
“The spring cleaning has begun and we’re short-handed. Would it be all right if I went to help?”
One of the maids asked, her face uncertain.
“Ah, the steward informed me cleaning would start yesterday.”
“Yes.”
“Go and lend a hand.”
The only places she could visit were her Bedroom and personal Reception Room anyway.
So Ivanna’s days followed a simple pattern: wake in the Bedroom, eat, move to the Reception Room to drink tea.
She would request books from the steward to read, and that was the extent of it. There was no reason for dedicated maids to hover at her side constantly.
“Thank you. We’ll arrange a rotation so someone is always nearby to attend you.”
The maid bowed with a grateful nod, her face brightening, and left the room.
‘So it’s finally beginning.’
The cleaning was clearly just an excuse.
To a lady’s maid, keeping watch over her mistress was the most important duty.
Before the Day of Authority, the maids assigned to her had never left her side, no matter how busy they were.
Now that the Duke hadn’t appeared in days, they’d likely decided there was no reason to remain.
At last, she could breathe a little easier.
Ivanna smiled to herself and lifted the teacup to her lips.
* * *
“Is this really all right, Ivanna?”
Anthony sat comfortably on the sofa, her face full of complaint, and Ivanna waved her hand dismissively.
“Otherwise, we won’t have time to look at the documents.”
After claiming to need help with cleaning and arranging a rotation, the maids disappeared after a week.
Had they continued following her all day as before, she would have had to process Merchant Guild records in secret late into the night.
She’d expected the Duke to keep her under watch with assigned maids, as was done in the Imperial Palace, but instead they’d withdrawn of their own accord.
She couldn’t fathom the Duke’s intentions, but truthfully, Sola and Anthony were servants enough.
She no longer had the will to invest her heart in people who weren’t truly hers.
“The maids hovering and helping constantly was inconvenient, but I have to admit—it’s nice how clean everything is here.”
Sola, reviewing documents on the opposite sofa, sipped her tea with an impassive expression.
The rich, fragrant aroma of quality tea filled the room.
True to Sola’s words, the Duke’s Estate Mistress’s quarters were smaller than the Princess’s Palace but immaculate.
Though the maids no longer lingered beside her, they came daily to ensure the room remained spotless.
He probably didn’t want the butler or the head maid finding out.
Ivanna laughed softly to herself.
Because of it, she could now freely review the Merchant Guild’s documents!
She had no duties as the Duke’s wife, but as the Guild’s master, the work was endless.

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