THE NORTHERN CONTINENT'S EMPRESS

Chapter 9: The Engagement (3)

When the communication device turned off, Crown Prince Alberu was quick on his actions and soon enough, the aristocrats heard about the ball being hosted at the Imperial Castle and the extended invitation towards the Empress of the North.

The rumors circulated in the Capital and everyone started to plan ahead about meeting the prospective wife of the famous Cale Henituse of their kingdom.

The female nobles of all ages who greatly admired Cale Henituse, were gathering in small meetings and putting their speculations and flowery insults against the North Continent's Empress.

And one week was enough to estrange the Foreign Empress in the Aristocrat Circle.

Back in the Henituse Duchy, Empress Helena was grumbling while looking at the pile of different cloth that will be in use for dress-making.

"Ah seriously, this is too troublesome, and what are these fabrics iffy looking dresses, Can't I just use my own dress?" Empress Helena frowned at the Dress Maker sent by the Crown Prince. Rosalyn who was together with her and Lily, stared at her back while she looked at the dress catalogs.

"Empress Helena, wearing a dress made with Roan Culture means you are embracing your Fiance's culture and kingdom," Rosalyn said while also looking at the catalog while listening to Empress Helena's whines. 

"That make sense, but these dresses that the nobles wear are too stuffy, and corsets! these evil things, I will never wear them!" Empress Helena glared at the pair of maids who were assigned to the corsets, and as expected, they both cowered in fear.

Rosalyn only shook her head before she looked at Lily's direction and found her engrossed on the dress catalogs.

"Just try picking a cloth and design first, then let them do the rest." Rosalyn suggested and Empress Helena agreed to it.

In the end, She picked a sapphire-colored satin cloth and the dress-design she picked is the mermaid dress.

"Shall we go?"- Rosalyn stood up and met the bewildered look of Empress Helena.

"Where to?"- She asked confused.

"You cannot just stay inside the Duchy while you're staying here right? Let's go to the plaza, we have a lot of things to sight-see," Rosalyn said and Lily also stood up and looked back to Empress Helena with a giddy look on her face.

"Yes, Your Majesty! Our Duchy is rich in culture, delicious foods, and beautiful things! I'm sure you will enjoy your time in the plaza!"

"If that's the case then I'll change first before going,"- Empress Helena smiled before hurrying to change clothes with the help of two maids available in the room.

Rosalyn and Lily also prepared for their departure and left the Empress's room. When they meet at the front door of the mansion, the two of them were a bit surprised by the clothes that the Empress fits into. 

"What? Can't a woman wear pants? You're missing out if not," Empress Helena shrugged her shoulders before walking towards them. 

The Empress was wearing a plain white sleeved shirt with a collar, some tight black pants, a pair of low-heel boots and her long aquamarine hair was tied into a high ponytail. 

"N-No, Your Highness! Y-You look very cool!" Lily exclaimed in admiration and Rosalyn just smiled at them. As soon as they left the mansion, Choi Han who was idle inside the mansion decided to tail them for precautionary measures.   

The three ladies went to the plaza to watch some street plays, eat some tasty street foods, and walk around the duchy. Empress Helena had a great time and they decided to dine in a restaurant to eat a meal for lunch. 

"The steak and wine are delicious and the creamy potato as the side-dish, its good," Empress Helena said after she sips in her wine glass filled with red wine. Lily agreed to her and conversed with the Empress comfortably. Maybe because they started to spend more time together, Lily was able to calm her nerves and speak comfortably with the Empress as she does with Rosalyn. 

 As they made their way back to the mansion, Empress Helena curiously asked the two of them. 

"Can I see Sir Cale's Black Castle? I don't mean to be rude but I'm very interested in seeing the real deal with my own two eyes," Empress Helena said and the two ladies looked at each other. 

"I'll be sure to ask Sir Cale first before giving you an answer, Your Majesty... after all, we are just retainers of that castle," Rosalyn said with an apologetic smile and Empress Helena nodded in understanding. 

That was the truth, and they were not the owners of the Black Castle, how could they just waltz their way in there?

Arriving at the mansion, it was already dusk, and not one person from the Henituse Duchy do not know that the famous Magic Tower Sorcerer Rosalyn, The Prodigy Swordsman Lily, and the Empress herself walked around the town in leisure. 

Based on the vendors that made direct contact with them and at the same time those who observed them while they were in the plaza, the Empress was already in good terms with the comrades and the family of their Hero, Cale Henituse.

This news spread like wild fire, from the Henituse Duchy, passing through other lands and reaching the Capital City in just a few days.

The Nobles who were in the capital for the ball were flustered and were agitated, they didn't know that Cale Henituse and his family will welcome such a person! It was out of their context and they thought he will reject a foreigner, but he didn't!

"It doesn't matter! We will still reject that foreigner! Who cares if she have the favor of the Henituse Duchy? Cale Henituse is still the Roan Kingdom's noble, he still needs the approval of the Royal Family!"

The small tea gathering of the nobles talked about the fate of the social debut of the Foreign Empress at the ball.

Three days before the ball, The Empress went back to the Capital City and rested in the guest room for foreigners inside the Royal Castle.