TOPWL 88

The space was so wide it was hard to tell whether it was a hall or a drawing room, and over ten people were gathered within. All of them appeared to be masters of their respective crafts.

Dressed in extravagant attire, each held one or two books as thick as a person’s torso, their eyes lighting up like hunters who’d just spotted their prey—Yudit. A few had pincushions strapped to their arms, threaded with needles and spools, and their belts were lined with scissors and folded fabrics—likely tailors. Among them were also what looked like leatherworkers and merchants accustomed to door-to-door selling. Yudit blinked in surprise and turned to look at Khalid.

“What are you doing, not going in?”

Prompted by Khalid, Yudit stepped into the drawing room almost on instinct. As if waiting for that moment, the butler Wender scanned the artisans with a sharp, discerning gaze.

“We’ll proceed in the order discussed earlier,” he said.

At his words, a woman with a pincushion on her arm stepped briskly toward Yudit, thick book in hand. When Yudit showed signs of tension, the woman gave him a warm, reassuring smile.

“I’m Richet, and I’ll be making Your Highness’s garments. Do you have any particular styles you prefer?”

“Rather than excessive embellishments, focus on high-quality fabrics. The parts that don’t show can be as lavish as you like.”

Though the question had been aimed at Yudit, it was Khalid who answered, his expression confident as he glanced over at him. Yudit gave him a look, as if to say, You know my tastes a little too well, but didn’t argue.

“I, too, believe that true elegance lies in subtlety. I’m truly honored to craft garments for someone with such discerning taste,” the woman said smoothly, guiding Yudit toward a sofa as she flipped open the book.

She paused midway through the pages and showed them both an illustration.

“How about this one? The flowing fabric gives an air of luxury without the need for gaudy decorations.”

“This one,” Khalid replied without a moment’s hesitation.

Eyes sparkling, the woman opened a second book. While the first showcased various styles, the second was filled with square fabric swatches that could be easily removed and arranged.

“Do you have any preferred materials or patterns? With such pale and clear skin, every color should suit you beautifully.”

Yudit timidly pointed out two or three. Khalid, beside him, pointed to six or seven more without pause.

“I’ll pay seventy percent upfront. Use the finest materials without restraint.”

“Of course, Your Grace. I’ll repay your trust with garments worthy of it,” the woman said, practically glowing. She looked at Khalid as if he’d handed her an island of gold—nothing in the world could’ve made her eyes shine more.

Just touching and holding the dozens of fabrics against his skin easily took over thirty minutes. When Yudit glanced at the clock, Khalid noticed and spoke up.

“We’re running short on time, so we should get your measurements now.”

At that, everyone stood up at once. The fervor in their movements gave Yudit a strange sense of dread.

They descended upon him like a tide—measuring his head, neck, chest, waist, hips, thighs, calves, wrists, ankles, and even the length of his feet—recording each number with dizzying speed. And just as swiftly, they receded like the ebbing sea.

***

Yudit stood stunned in the aftermath, and Khalid, looking smug, leaned over.

“See? I told you I’d make it quick.”

Yudit leaned tiredly against the carriage seat, realizing the imperial palace was drawing near. When he pulled aside the curtain, towering spires pierced the sky, and the maze-like garden, endless from end to end, spread before him. The layered stone archways of the entrance and the ornate carvings etched into the palace walls were grand and beautiful—but to Yudit, they only brought a bone-deep weariness.

The carriage came to a stop, and the door opened. Yudit stepped out, taking in the cold, heavy air as he stared up at the imperial palace. His nape stiffened with tension, and the breeze lifted the fine hairs along his neck.

Though he had been born here, not once had he ever felt comfortable within these walls. Taking a deep breath, Yudit began walking toward the dazzling golden prison.

‘What did you say you’d do this afternoon again?’

‘I’m heading to the palace. There’s a lot to handle, and I think I’ve got letters waiting.’

As he walked the corridor, Yudit recalled the conversation he’d had with Khalid.

‘After that, I’ll go straight to District 3 in Bern. So I won’t be back for a while.’

‘Alright. Got it.’

It was a surprisingly agreeable reaction from someone who’d been hit with both flower petals and flying objects just that morning. Yudit had clearly said he wouldn’t be back for a while, but Khalid hadn’t looked the least bit disappointed. It was strange, even a little unsettling.

He’d seen him plenty of times by now, and still, there wasn’t a single thing about Khalid he could pin down.

When Yudit stepped into his bedroom, he saw his nanny fast asleep on the bed. The sun was high in the sky, but she was snoring away. An empty bottle lay beneath the bed, and the sharp sour smell made it clear—she’d drunk herself into a stupor.

The room was thick with dust, as if it hadn’t been cleaned in ages, and spiderwebs clung to the corners. Yudit pressed a finger to his lips as he looked at Shane. When Shane nodded, Yudit carefully opened the door that led from the bedroom to the study, making sure not to wake her.

It wasn’t so much about not disturbing her sleep—more about avoiding the hassle she would surely bring if she woke up.

The study was in a similar state to the bedroom. If anything, it was a relief that no one else was there. A mountain of letters was piled on the desk, and here and there were parcels. Yudit began sorting through the letters, reading the names written on the envelopes. Most were from Selena, with some from Yasin, Lyett, Huyan, and Wadiram. Just thinking of Yasin sent a chill through his chest.

Yudit opened Yasin’s letter with a paper knife. As he read, he bit his lip and let out a quiet sigh. The letter said that his husband had sincerely reflected on his actions and that they were returning. He expressed his deep gratitude and ended by mentioning he was sending over some newly prepared tea leaves.

Yudit pressed the letter to his forehead and took a deep breath. The paper carried a faint herbal scent, as though the tea had infused even the ink. He sat down and went through the rest of the letters. Unlike before, there were quite a few invitations to noble gatherings. Most had arrived today, likely in response to Khalid’s engagement announcement. It didn’t feel like they’d immediately taken Yudit’s side—it was more like they were testing the waters.

Many were from lesser noble houses, but a few prominent names were sprinkled among them. Yudit frowned, then pulled out a sheaf of paper. Writing rejection letters one by one was tedious work. As he groaned softly, Shen, who had been quietly watching from the side, spoke up.

“Shall I help you?”

“No. It only means something if I do it myself.”

In the end, Yudit wrote over ten rejection letters by hand. After letting them dry, he folded each one, sealed them in envelopes, and pressed wax seals onto them. Only then did he finally let out a breath and begin reading the letters from Selena and Lyett.

Lyett’s letter was mostly about how much she missed him, saying she hadn’t seen him in too long. Selena’s was similar, though she included more details about her recent life. She wrote about selling a drink recipe to a noble who had asked for one, and to her surprise, the payment had been far more than expected. She didn’t know what to do with such a sudden windfall.

Yudit smiled at the mundane, cheerful contents—but his expression gradually darkened. The second half of the letter was the opposite of Yasin’s. Selena wrote that his husband had come to take Yasin away, and since then, no one had been able to contact him. When they tried to visit, they were told he was ill or out of the house. They refused to let anyone see him.

The shocking news left Yudit’s chest heavy.

“Are you alright?”

Shane, seeing Yudit sitting still at his desk for the first time all day, asked with concern.

“…Yeah. I’m fine.”

He said he was fine, but his insides churned. The headache that had lifted for a few days now returned in full force. What should he do? He tapped the solid wood desk with his fingers, then stood as if he’d made up his mind.

He opened a large bag and began stuffing items into it—letters, envelopes, a fountain pen, books, notebooks, and anything else he thought he might need. Then he left the study.

Next was the wardrobe. He packed a few sets of casual clothes, a few for indoors, then went to the bedside drawer. From it, he took candy and other essentials before opening the hidden compartment.

“…”

Yudit stared blankly into the drawer. The item that should have been there was gone. He slammed the drawer open and shut with a loud noise, which woke the nanny from her sleep.

“Mmh… Your Highness?”

Rubbing her eyes, the nanny called to him. Yudit turned toward her almost absently—and his expression hardened.

“Don’t you think you’ve been away from home too much lately? If you’re gone too long, the servants start getting complacent again.”

“…”

When Yudit glared at her, stone-faced, the nanny flinched and shook her head as if trying to shake off the drowsiness.

“Why are you looking at me like th—”

Then she looked down, following Yudit’s gaze, and gasped. She quickly hid her hand behind her back. Yudit grabbed her wrist and pulled it up.

There, on her middle finger, was a ring he had never seen on her before. A deep blue sapphire. It was the very same ring Khalid had once gifted to Yudit.

Startled, the nanny blinked rapidly and began to speak in a rush.