“When I visited her, she told me I was a concubine, but not her sister. Is that how it’s supposed to be, Baron Limonet? Or does the Empress hate me?”

There was no contract signing ceremony or an official ceremony as you would have expected with a marriage. All that was needed was for the pope to Intiialise a concubine in the Imperial Palace, All the documents had to be signed by the current Emperor and Empress as well as the Concubine… it couldn't be granted without the wife's permission and even if it was? It would be immoral wrong? 

Leonardo was just A Crown Prince, yet he had the authority and spirit of his father, Emperor Virion II with the added bonus for a  temper fitting for a mad and inhumane ruler at that.

“You visited… Her Highness?”

“...”

“The Crown Princess?”

“Yes! She sent a gift to Me And i thought I should thank her in person…”

Baron Limonet, groaned and pinched his head as he looked at the Countess? Surely she Would've had an education in court etiquette, but with her low-ranking nobility status due to her fathers backgrounds and treasonous roots that they were still, being punished for to this day? It made sense.

“What is it? Did I do something Wrong?”

“Worse Than that, My lady” Baron Limonet continued as she spat the words of how he used the status of the countess

“?”

“The positions of A Countess And the Crown Princess Are in opposition to each other.”

“Why? They both serve the same husband.”

“We both share the Crown Prince!”

Is that what This mere mistress  said to the Crown Princess! Baron Limonet was momentarily dizzy. However, Rossett's innocent and doe-like light royal blue eyes convinced him she acted out of innocence. One did not hold children accountable like adults.

More like when you spoke to a child and tried to scold them for their actions and they were quite clueless and confused on why they were being reprimanded by harsh words being shouted.

Rosette was more ignorant of aristocratic society than even aristocratic children, and so he had to show some consideration. But even so…. Blatantly…Disrespecting her Highness like that isn't a good move… It could easily give her father an exile order for their family to the nearest empire while they were stripped of their fortune.

“Countess?”

“Did anyone stop you when you were going to visit The Crown Princess?”

Baron Limonet questioned as he looked at Lady Rosette, those eyes of innocence… It wouldn't do her any good in this place, only make her and her family a more known target to crude and disrespectful comments made by the staff and the aristocratic society.

Did she not know how cruel society would be? Or was she completely clueless about it?

“Ah- now that i think about it”

“It was Lady Carail and Lady Féela!” Rosette said softly as she looked at Baron Limonet, knowing that he would believe the lies and deception she had just spoken. No one stopped her.

That's the truth to it.

She knows if she used her mind she would be kicked out of this place.

She couldn't have that, not when she had her own goals and achievements To do in her fathers name, To avenge her family, the fallen house Toussaint… She wanted to restore it, she needed to?

“Who are they?” Baron Limonet questioned as he looked at the concubine.

“They?.... They are the Princess’ Ladies-in-waiting!” 

“Her Majesty, The Empress Laria! She assigned those Two to serve her Highness and teach her the ways of The Imperial Palace!

“Does?...”

“My lady? Not have any ladies-in-waiting of her own”

Rosette tilted Her head slightly to the side as she looked at him. Her eyes Hiding her true intentions from the world.

“No..” she muttered as she looked at the Baron, pretending to not be as confident in herself as she should be.

Baron Limonet stood up from his seat with a determined look. On that note, he went back to The Crown Prince Leonardo and reported on his visit with his Concubine, Rosette.

“Your Highness. Rosette is now your concubine, but she is ignorant of aristocratic society. She has her maids, but she is also in need of a lady-in-waiting.”

Another secretary listening from the side commented, “Would a noblewoman want to serve a commoner like Rossette, someone from a fallen noble House that only ever caused this empire pain and torture”

“Rosette is not the first noble to become a concubine.” Baron Limonet restored As he glanced at the secretary, an old man in his 50s who had said that.

“She may not be the first However”

“Her father and family line in general… Caused a lot of problems to arise in the Empire!”

“You know that almost led to a rebellion!” 

The secretary explained out of frustration, as he didn't understand how The Crown Prince could love someone who's family almost destroyed And ruined the entire empire as well as being known for causing civil unrest all over.

“You should at least give her a lady-in-waiting to guide her in aristocratic society.”

Leonardo made a sound of agreement.

“It was something I had already been thinking about, Baron Limonet.”

I can't have the person that I love, the one I cherish and care about.. being blinded by society. Rose? She's too innocent for that? She wouldn't survive on her own.. like a delicate small flower that constantly yearns For protection.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Find a lady-in-waiting that will be responsible for helping Lady Toussaint.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

*

*

*

I was strolling through the gardens at the western palace, when I saw a large, handsome bird perched on a huge flower, picking its feathers.

“What a strange bird.”

“I haven't seen these in the East? Is this breed quite common here in the North?” I questioned myself as I pondered over the beautiful white bird that suddenly appeared before me. Frightening the life out of me.

The ladies-in-waiting hadn’t noticed it, as they were busy chattering on the futility of Leonardo’s secretaries trying to find a lady-in-waiting for Rosette.

I approached it carefully by myself. When I reached out my hand, the bird quickly hopped on. It shook its wings and nuzzled its beak against the back of my hand, as if accustomed to humans.

Was this bird raised by nobles - it was far too tame to be a wild one, quite extraordinary at that when it looked at me with that adorable face.

As I stroked its small head, I noticed a small piece of paper tied on its foot by a ribbon - just how has it not come loose yet in its hours that I will presume of flying.

Quickly.

 I opened it, and found a handwritten note in a small letter format

“I’m a foreign guest who will arrive on New Year’s Day. Wrote this after drinking, whoever receives this would you dare have a bit of scotch with myself”

I let out a laugh, and the ladies-in-waiting came over to see what had happened.

“Oh, that’s new.” Lady Audreyn commented as she looked at the birds recognising the type it was

“Pretty.” a couple of the other ladies-in-waiting muttered to each other as they exchanged glances at the beast.

“What a handsome bird. What is it called?”

“I know it’s a bird that’s difficult to tame...isn’t it used for hunting?” Lady Audreyn Commented as she looked at Lady Beatrice before then Pointing with one of her fingers to the bird.

When I showed them the letter, the ladies-in-waiting grinned and encouraged me to write back. I smiled broadly. Was this really from a drunk foreigner? There will be many foreign ambassadors arriving here for New Year’s Day, so it wouldn’t be unusual if it was one of them....

Usually the birds flew towards a bird pagoda that gave off a unique scent that attracted them. It was amazing and astonishing how this bird flew all this way.

 I took out a small pocket pen that I always carried with me, and another lady-in-waiting retrieved a piece of paper from nearby.

“A drunken bird flies back. If it finds the right way, will it be better off than its master? If not it'll find its way to a lake and drop itself” 

A stupid note, yes it might have been? But for someone who was intoxicated by their own drunkenness… It would have made sense to them.

The ladies craned their heads to watch me write the letter and burst out in laughter again. I tucked away the pen, watered the bird, then tied my note onto its leg. The bird nuzzled its beak against my hand again and flew away.

“How adorable.”

“That bird seems to like the Princess.”

“Yes, isn’t it amazing that it only goes to the Empress?”

When I returned to my room after listening to the ladies chatter about birds, I found one of Leonardo’s secretaries waiting for me.

“What’s going on?”

It looked like he had been waiting for a while, and he answered immediately.

“The Crown Prince has summoned you.”

The ladies’ faces hardened. As well as mine. The pleasure of seeing the handsome bird disappeared, and my heart became stiff. Before, I never minded when Leonardo called for me, but now I couldn’t help but think “What else is going on?”

“...I understand.” I said casually as I looked at the secretary before I then quickly followed him, dismissing my ladies-in-waiting.

Rosette was now a concubine, and I turned away her attempts to be more friendly with me than was necessary. That was it. Shouldn’t it be the end?

Is he going to criticise me for not calling her my sister...? No. No matter how much he thinks of her, it’s not to that degree, but then again I Always follow the court etiquette. I just wish someone would teach Lady Toussaint about it.

Leonardo had seen his mother as he grew up, and knew how empresses and concubines were like.

“Please wait.”

After entering my room, I took off my dress and changed into a more formal one. Fortunately, I did not run across Rosette again, when I followed the secretary to the Crown Prince’s room.

I walked in, and Leonardo offered me a cup of tea and immediately entered into conversation.

“While concubines don’t require a lady-in-waiting as much as the Empress or the Crown Princess… they should still have one or two to attend to them. I will give Rosette one or two as well.”

“So I’ve heard. I see your secretaries are searching around.”

“...Yet after a few days, no noblewomen have come forward.” Leonardo groaned slightly, annoyed as he glared at me… acting like I could do something about this issue, when I barely had any authority in the palace as the Crown Princess.

“Is that so?”

“I think they are not coming forward because the Crown Princess, The Imperial Palace's next owner, is not coming forward. So can the Princess herself find a lady-in-waiting for Rosette?”

“Your highness? With all due respect?”

“Could you not ask Mother?” I questioned as I looked at him, Why would he want ladies-in-waiting for a concubine? she's not meant to hold or be in a position of power or authority in the imperial palace. I'm aware that The Countess should hold authority and power to some decree…however,  It scares me, what if we give her too much power? In the end? Would it destroy us all or herself?

“Her majesty? Mother?” Leonardo replied swiftly as he looked at me.

“Yes The Empress”

“Is she not as considerate as to Give Lady Toussaint a Lady-in-waiting?” I questioned as I looked at The Prince, understanding why The Empress wouldn't give a mere concubine who's family's known for causing trouble and mischief To the empire that would bring around Its downfall.