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As she whispered these words, Eve looked proudly at the inscription on the back of her hand, but soon her eyelids turned red with tears.
“Really, it's a tragedy... That girl, she'll definitely hate me, right?”
Immediately, Ezrealla took out a handkerchief from her bag and began gently wiping Eve's tears.
“To even think about that girl’s feelings! You have a kind heart, Eve. But that girl doesn’t even deserve your pity.”
In a gentle, friendly voice, Isriela continued scanning the contours of Eve's eyes. But, perhaps because she was not accustomed to such things, her hand seemed to be pressing too hard, and Eve suddenly frowned and said:
"What are you doing? It hurts!"
“Oh, I apologize!”
With a voice mixed with annoyance, Isriela quickly withdrew her hand. Her face had an embarrassed smile expressing regret, but inside her, anger was rising.
“Me, calm down baby girl?!”
Ezriela had never been used to serving anyone in this way in her life. Eve, in particular, was a very complex girl.
If something did not satisfy her taste even a little, she was easily upset, and often burst into heartfelt tears.
If she wanted something, she wouldn't stop insisting until she got it.
Since Eve's arrival at the Count's palace, the number of items that Isriela has seized from her possessions has been quite a few.
It started with a hairpin or a hat, then progressed to clothes and jewelry, until Eve announced that she liked Ezrealla's room best, and she took over the entire room.
Under normal circumstances, Ezriela would never have tolerated such behavior. But, unusually, she fulfilled all of Eve's desires with complete obedience. She had no other choice.
“Because this girl is Princess Evpian.”
When her father first told her about this, Isriela doubted her ears. Princess Evbian? That princess who was said to have died the moment she was born, and whose body was sponsored by the Emperor himself?
Isriela had heard that the tomb of the Empress and Princess was located within the Imperial Palace itself, although she did not know its exact location. How could this princess be alive?
“I thought she was a fraud.”
In fact, just after the current emperor took the throne, several people appeared claiming that the princess was alive, offering young children to support their claims.
They thought, in their ignorance, that the Emperor would lose his mind and believe any child who looked like the princess.
They would bring young girls with blond hair, who knew nothing about the intentions of the greedy adults, to meet the emperor.
But, as expected, these impostors were beheaded for deceiving the imperial family and plagiarism. After that, such cheap attempts disappeared completely.
How could a girl claiming to be the Emperor's daughter appear now? What's even stranger is that her father, the Count, is not the type to fall for such tricks easily. But the Count, noticing Isriela's hesitation, said:
“I have confirmed everything. You will see for yourself when you look at the back of her hand. That girl bears the inscription of the imperial family.”
Inscription of the imperial family. Ezreala knew something about it, her brother, who had an interest in all things strange and exciting, had told her about it. But she thought:
“Couldn’t such an inscription be forged?”
But when she saw the inscription on the back of Eve's hand with her own eyes, Ezrealla fell silent. It wasn't just a fake tattoo. Sometimes it would disappear completely, then suddenly appear with complete clarity.
“But couldn’t it be magic?”
“You think I didn't check that?!”
When Ezrealla asked her question cautiously, the Count became angry. Then he added:
“It is not just the inscription, there is an exemplary witness that made me believe.”
"a witness?"
“Yes. The Empress’s close friend, who was the Princess’s governess, is still alive. She is a woman His Majesty the Emperor knows well.”
The Count told her that this woman would arrive in the capital as soon as she finished her preparations, to present the princess Evbian to the Emperor.
“So, we have to make Evpian look more elegant and princessy before that. Now she is just a rebellious child who did not receive a proper education.”
Then the count smiled and said:
“This is even a good thing. If you teach her well, the princess will be able to regain her position more quickly, and the credit will be yours. You will be her first lady-in-waiting, and if the princess inherits the throne, you will gain unparalleled power.”
As she listened to her father's words, Isriela imagined herself as the princess's first lady-in-waiting. This position is not for anyone; They are chosen only from among women of noble families, and in history, there have been first maids of honor who rose to high positions in the state.
“If that happens...”
Being expelled from the academy would no longer be a disgrace to her.
Rather, it will be the academy itself that will be ashamed because it expelled a person like her. Isriela remembered the looks that stabbed her as she left the academy.
“They were praising me and thanking me one day, and then those looks made fun of me!”
There was no one to pity her. Rather, everyone avoided her for fear of the emperor's wrath, and some even mocked her.
Isriela imagined herself entering the Imperial Palace alongside the princess, and wondered at the expressions on her classmates' faces at the time.
I felt ecstatic just thinking about it.
“I'll show you then. Especially Irene Terrence and Ebby Alden, I won't leave them!”
The Emperor treats Evie, the girl from the orphanage, kindly for one reason: because she reminds him of the princess she was her age.
But now, with the true princess back, will the Emperor still care about Evie? You will definitely become an annoying presence. Ezriela laughed secretly as she imagined Eppie in this position.
“And Irene Terence, what a farce!”
What about the title “Princess of the South”? In the end, she just became a friend of an orphan girl. While Irene became an orphan's friend, Isriela became the princess's friend. Isriela smiled triumphantly, realizing the huge difference between them.
"Ezri? Are you listening?"
Ezriela suddenly became aware of Eve's grumbling voice. She turned to see Eve looking at her with annoyed eyes.
"Oh, my apologies. I was thinking about designing a dress for you, Eve, and I overlooked your words. Everything looks great on you, but since it's a fall party, we have to choose carefully."
At the mention of the fall party, Eve's frowning face was replaced by a smile.
“That's right. It's a very important party, isn't it? And since I'm meeting my parents for the first time, the clothes are very important. I have to be the most beautiful and eye-catching!”
“Of course. On that day, who would dare to overshadow the princess’s brilliance?”
Isriela noticed that Eve's mood had improved, so she made an effort to please her more.
“You are gorgeous and beautiful now, but when you wear the clothes of this place and adorn yourself with jewels, you will be the most beautiful and charming girl. His Majesty the Emperor will be very happy!”
“Isn't it?”
As the praise continued, Eve's face relaxed completely.
"Yes. The maids will be arriving soon, so you'd better put your gloves back on now. You don't know how light-mouthed the public are, Eve."
Ezriela carefully returned the gloves to Eve's hands.
“It might be annoying, but bear with it. If your situation is found out, we don’t know what the scoundrels might do.”
“Yes, I was told that things might be dangerous until I entered the palace. If something happened to me before I met my father, he would be very sad.”
"exactly."
Isriela nodded as she arranged Eve's gloves.
“No one should ever find out about you.”
What an opportunity! If it became known that the real princess had appeared, people would flock to take advantage of her.
“The credit must all be mine.”
After all the trouble and service, this is the least you deserve. Isriela counted the days until Eve's nanny arrived.
“Just a little patience...”
Isriela smiled as she imagined that day.
—
“Where is that girl?!”
Irene was seething with anger, as if she was about to roll up her sleeves and attack with her fists.
“I'm fine. The sisters restyled my hair beautifully.”
Confused, Evie tried to calm Irene down as she held her. When Irene exited the chat room with Crevel, Evie approached and told her that Isriela was here.
"Now? You weren't supposed to come until three hours later!"
Crevel looked confused, too. She knew that Isriela had been expelled from the academy and that her relationship with Irene was very bad, but she couldn't refuse to take her in completely.
After all, Ezreala was from a count family, and there was no direct problem with the store.
However, fearing any confrontation, Isriela's appointment was booked for a different time, but she showed up early without arrangement.
At that moment, one of the workers approached and whispered that the girl who came with Isriela had pulled Evie's hair. At that moment, Irene's eyes burned with anger.
"I'm not okay! I'll go and pull her hair too! Terrence's family pays back tenfold, that's our motto!"
Evie tried hard to calm Irene, who was charging like a raging bull. Of course, Evie was feeling angry too.
I thought she should have reciprocated the attraction! Even if Irene had gone and had returned, Evie might have felt some relief.
“But...”
The moment she saw that girl, Eve, Eve felt something strange. A feeling that made her never want to face her again. That's why she didn't want Irene to face that girl either.
“I'll just be patient this once. But next time, even if you try to stop me, Evie, I won't be patient!”
“Okay, I get it. Next time, I'll scream loudly and tell her to stop! And if she doesn't stop, I won't let her go!”
Hearing Evie's bold response, Irene stared for a while at the room where Ezriela and Eve were, then took Evie and took her downstairs.
Crevil followed them to bid them farewell, and it seemed that she did not want to return to facing Isriela and Eve for a long time.
—
A week later, in the morning:
"Hey, Evie. I came to pick you up."
Evie was facing Arcel who came to visit her early in the morning. Behind her, Irene, her eyes still full of sleep, was whispering:
“Who comes to pick up anyone at this time of dawn...?”
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