Debutante Day

"Princess Ellena is a cold person, right?"

"Yes, true. At the second Prince's funeral she didn't even cry."

"I don't like the princess, at that time I tried to talk to her but she looked away instead, hmph."

"Princess Ellena is very different from Lady Vivian, Lady Vivian is very warm and sweet, and also very charming."

"Yes, you are right, Lady Vivian has become a flower among the nobles, many have even proposed to her but she refuses gently."

"Oh, it is said that she has a crush on the Crown Prince, right? If that's true I think it will be a beautiful fairy tale."

"His Majesty the Emperor, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, and Princess Ellena entered the banquet hall."

Ellena POV

Music filled the room, I walked in the middle of the room holding the Emperor's hand and right behind me the crown prince would dance the first dance of the day with me. Doesn't that sound like a beautiful story? But no, the crown prince doesn't like me, the emperor doesn't care about me either, oh, and in addition, you guys have heard them gossiping about me, haven't you? Yes it's all true, they hate me, but I don't care, they overestimate my every action. Let's just carry on today, I haven't even been here long but I'm tired. Who? Lady Vivian, huh? Hm, hm. She is charming enough to men that they cling. Charming, sweet and kind? For someone who has a heart for the crown prince, you think that will be enough to make you Queen? Hahaha, I can't imagine the day the crown prince married you and dumped you in a few months because he was more interested in concubines, just like this wise emperor beside me, right, father?

The first dance song has started, hm, my dear brother, shouldn't you ask your sister to dance? Well I'll wait like a doll here.

"Ellena, will you give me the honor to be your partner to do the first dance?" Oh, look at that face, what kind of bitter smile did you make brother? If you hate me so much you shouldn't, hm ... interestingly, it turns out that Lady Vivian is putting on a hopeful look at my brother, and people are talking about how poor she is? I want to see that cute lady embarrassed!

"I am honored, prince."

Her face ... flushed! Gosh, it turns out that Lady Vivian also has high self-esteem, huh? I stepped into the middle of the dance floor and bowed my head in salute, I grabbed the crown prince's shoulders and hands and started dancing.

"Brother. You hate me don't you? Why ask me to dance just because the nobles are talking about Lady Vivian?" The crown prince who lowered his head focused on the dance looked at me.

"Hate ...? Ah, no I dance not because of nobility, father told me. Formality."

"Is it like that?" I focused on dancing, but I accidentally caught Lady Vivian staring at me with angry eyes. What the heck? Seriously, she hates me just because I danced with the guy she likes!? It's not like I can marry my brother anyway, her mind is too complicated, annoying.

The debutante party has finished, all the nobles have returned to their residences. I saw myself in the mirror, my hair combed by the ladies. Ellena Virreti Ocrisia, what kind of name will I get when I get married? Ellena as the only daughter of the Emperor, Ellena with light blue eyes and brown hair, beautiful? I have never been praised like that except by the ladies-in-waiting and servants. What good is it if I have a pretty face? Is it easier to get married? Huh, just I am an Emperor's daughter, what person wouldn't want to marry me? Right ...?

Vivian Halstone, so that woman is so famous. Just look at the party earlier, when she was sad because the Crown Prince's first dance on the day of her debutant was paired up by me who was also debuting. But what? Everyone immediately asked her to dance, what a sly fox. I want to sleep, today is too long.

"Princess Ellena"

"Yes, butler."

"There is bad news, you know the news about the war of the North region of the Ocrisia Empire, right? We lost. According to the original agreement you will be engaged to Emperor Ashtel, the one who won in this war, you seem to have guessed it, right?"

"Hm, yes. Continue."

"The problem is not only that, the Northern Territory is Duke Halstone's territory, losing the war, bringing harm to the area, and it seems that Duke Halstone gave his daughter to Emperor Ashtel to become a concubine in exchange for a small portion of the land that the Ashtel Empire won."

"Hahaha, is that so? It turns out that Duke Halstone is very greedy and petty, huh, butler? A lady who loves the crown prince but has to become another emperor's concubine because of her father's greed, the title of the story is interesting. But the Duke also thinks about it enough, he has a successor, no matter how valuable his daughter is, but the land of ownership that his Son will succeed in is certainly more important." The butler's gone. I knew there would be a day when the war would end and we lost, I knew the original agreement about my engagement, but the addition of Lady Vivian as the emperor's concubine surprised me a bit. Living together with Lady Vivian in one palace, how interesting is that?

I needed to clear my mind, I took my parasol and walked to the back garden of the palace. Unexpectedly the air turns out fresh, for this isn't it ...

"Lady Vivian ...?" I was shocked to see Lady Vivian crying on the teahouse chair

"Oh dear, Princess! I greet the princess, may you always be blessed with divine light. Sorry for showing my disrespect."

"Yes, enough greetings. What were you doing in the back garden of the palace crying?" I preceded her and sat on a chair in the teahouse. "Sit" I ordered her.

"Ah, the princess must have heard about it, but I will be sent to become Emperor Ashtel's concubine. I know from this defeat you will also become engaged to Emperor Ashtel and become Empress. I came here to ..." Her face turned red, I think I know the reason. she came here, she came here to see me and-

"I want us to cooperate. Please help me with your empress' strength." She lowered her face, I guessed half of what she said, but it was shocking that she put aside her pride to say 'my empress power'.

"Lady, I appreciate your courage. But cooperation means I also need something from you, and I am not in need of anything. You should be able to get everything you want when you are the Emperor's concubine, if you want, won't it just remain to have his love?" I glared at her, she lowered his face deeper, she muttered something, but I only saw her shed tears. Yes, look at that, I was more fortunate to have only just gotten engaged, but you, lady, arrived at the Ashtel Empire you were immediately a concubine, moreover you love someone else.

Four days have passed. In the morning I finished putting on my make-up and wearing a blue velvet dress wrapped in a puffy ribbon. "Princess, how about using the latest apatite jewelry set?"

"I am fine." My eyes are staring at the bedroom window, from this distance, I can see Lady Halstone who is walking towards the Main Palace which I think is unusual coming this early.

I get into the lead carriage with Amy. I saw the Crown Prince coming out of the Main Palace with a pitiful face. I was surprised that it was not obligatory for the Crown Prince to send off the Princess or the others, but the Crown Prince's next shout was even more shocking. "Lady Halstone ... Don't forget our sweet love even if you become someone else's wife, okay!" Embarrassing. I had thought that during the 17 years he lived, aristocratic manners were the basic pillar for him, this is a shame for everyone here.

The group left immediately. The Ashtel Empire was a long way from here, to think that after the war was over even the knights of the Ashtel Empire only got there today, I am really tired. The journey was tiring, Lady Halstone did not say much or complain throughout the journey, as if she was looking for a way to win over Emperor Ashtel.

Finally we arrived at the Ashtel Empire. Lady Halstone and I were welcomed by the Imperial Elders and Ministers. We headed for the Emperor's Throne Room. A man around 20 years of age appeared on the throne of the Emperor, followed by several knights behind him.

"Introduce yourself." The emperor said.

"My name is Ellena Virreti Ocrissia, Your Majesty." I bowed.

"My name is Vivian Quila Halstone, Your Majesty." The emperor looked at us closely, and with a mocking tone he said,

"Well, Princess Ocrissia is the future Empress right? Hahaha, please adapt here, Princess. And Miss Halstone, you will be inaugurated as a Concubine tonight, at the welcoming party. That's your ladies-in-waiting, they'll show you your room. " He left the room.

"Let me take you to the East Palace, Your Highness Princess."

I quickly lay down on the bed, when something popped into my mind.

"What is your name?" I pointed to the maid who was tidying my luggage.

"My name is Aster and this is Delilah, Your Highness." I thought for a moment,

"Is the Queen lives in the Main Palace?" Aster and Delilah looked at each other doubtfully, but in the end Delilah opened her voice,

"Her Majesty is in the Northern Palace, Your Highness."

"Huh? Really? I thought the North Palace was a Harem Palace?" Amy also looked at me confused whether because of my question or Delilah's answer earlier.

"Your Highness, actually, a few years ago Her Majesty the Queen asked the North Palace to be made her Palace because it was not used. There was a confrontation because the Nobles didn't like seeing the Queen of their group living in the Harem Palace, then ..."

"Enough." Aster looked tense and broke out in cold sweat, I immediately asked them to come out.

"Wow, a Queen lives in a Harem Palace? How destroyed is this Empire." Amy laughed as she shook her head,

"I know right? But keep words like that in front of them, you could provoke a scene."

"I will keep it in mind, Princess" Amy smiled as she brought bath water.

"Her Royal Highness Princess Ellena Viretti Ocrisia entered the dance hall" I looked around the room. Hm, this dance room is great too. Look at that, isn't that Vivian? Wow, the dress shows the style worn by the aristocratic hostess, there are no ribbons, thin lace, dark colors, and a chest that is almost showing off. I want to laugh, but how can I make a weird first impression? Oh look at that, Emperor Ashtel has not yet taken the throne, and right next to him means my seat. I sat neatly and looked down, some of the nobles glanced at me, some looked away, and others looked at Lady Vivian.

"Emperor Hoshtiez Avarum Ashtell enters the room"