This Life Will Be My Last

Chapter 4 - The Imperial Palace {Part 1}

As His Highness, The Crown Prince Leonardo Helped me out of the carriage after a long and tedious journey throughout the empire going from Eastern Region to now the Northern Region, where the climate difference was quite apparent. The cold and harsh winter I was used to; Was there blazing hot summer over here as the sun gradually rose from the setting, quite higher than I was used to yet the heat was quite apparent.

Grabbing onto my hand gently, as he helped me out, making sure I didn't trip over the train of my dress. I slightly looked around as I glanced at the large white columns and pillars on the sides of the palace that contained various sculptures of flowers and engravings carved into the wall.

The various Palace staff mumming and whispering amongst themselves, it was odd surely . . . something like this hasn't happened for the past 200 years- as well as similar unions.
The eastern parts were always left out, because of the religious connotations and phrasing they used as well as their overall beliefs, something like that would never have been a good match in general.

"Greeting to Your Highness and Her Highness, The sun and moon of the Tienne Empire now conjoined with Rowdinne in the Eastern parts"

"I trust that your Journey here was quite tedious but also relaxing"

"I am the Head butler of the Palace, who oversees all of the finance and over m-in-keeping of The Imperial Palace"

The head Butler said, as he greeted both of us formally. . . one thing people don't want to do is anger the new wife. If I wanted to, I could easily start a war, but in this life ; all I ever wanted to was to survive until my coronation. or at least not cause a downfall. I wanted peace.

Peace, I thought to myself in my mind as I glanced at the palace staff before my gaze then landed on someone quite distant, standing out by the jewellery that rattled on her arms and on her dress. Expensive surely? The Northern Parts of the Empire were known to be more warm, so it would make sense for them to have more money in general.

A coy smile spread across the girl's face, I could tell she was a noble of some description, However it took me another glance around to realise that she was Rosette Toussaint, The Known Countess of Jina by her father as well as being known as The Crown Prince's Mistress.

She would cause something, I'm sure of it...

doing something stupid , as she always managed to do.

" . . . . "

"Where is the Emperor and Empress? Are they busy right now. . . "

The Emperor and Empress always should come to greet the new member of their family. It's the protocol and etiquette that I'm sure they both know quite well. I don't understand where they are, but then again I'm sure a problem has arisen and they would be dealing with it accordingly and appropriately. Solving it to the best of their efforts, as they are good rulers.

For now, I won't question it as much as I should, I think I'll let it go to the back of my mind, as all I have to do. Is survive in this life and make it to my own coronation.

Leonardo glanced at me after he quickly hushed and shoved his advisor away from him.

"There busy"

"I'm sure you'll greet them tomorrow, but if there's an issue you can speak to Your Ladies-in-waiting"

"Ladies-in-waiting?" I questioned as he looked at me, before he abruptly let go of my hand. I knew he would show no affection for me publicly or privately.

It would always be her who got it.

It didn't bother me that much, but it did cause a lot of scandals and rumours in high society.

"I've got somewhere else to be, Your Grace. . ."

"Don't bother waiting for me tonight and just go somewhere else, i'd rather not keep you busy, any longer than i already have"

Leonardo said as he looked at me before he then quickly walked away from me, leaving me standing there quite perplexed and confused.

"!"

I quickly made my way over to my Ladies-in-waiting, as they greeted me.

One of them being Audreyn Ellia Carail, The Countess of Verena, Whose father was known for being a merchant and a trader, who has helped profit the empire in quite amazing ways and discovering various new inventions and jewels. Her father, The Earl of Verena was also knighted for his duties and how he has served and helped better Benefit the empire over the past 30 years.

The second Lady-in-waiting, Baroness Adrienne Féela, Not well known is society as her family and her in general are quite unknown. They are in my opinion, from what i knew in my previous lives that they are slowly rising in popularity

The Third and Fourth Lady-in-waiting, Lady Eliza and Lady Beatrice, Both known in society to an extent; They've nothing extraordinary but we're looking to serve the crown in general while also avoiding marriage as they wanted to start their own individual business in textiles and fabric.
From what I remembered in my Previous lives ; they went on to succeed quite well on their own, independently. Lady Eliza succeeded in various arts and clothing design, earning a lot of money from the business, as she sold the patterns and designs to be used, To the top designers in the empire. Who would have been able to get big and major clients across the empire. Compared to Lady Beatrice, who succeeded in designing Various clothing for nobles and was later known to create most of the trends that would follow in that season or the next year.

Taking a stroll in the Imperial Garden, in the palace quite early. As I was getting used to the layout, My four Ladies-in-waiting were quite patient with me, but also interested in what the Eastern part of the empire was like. But, also if it was any similar to the various rumours that surrounded it.

The garden that it was in, was quite close and nearby to my quarters which is why I liked it. I could permit my lady-waiting to join me in the garden, or anyone in general. The rules had always stated that none of the lower ranking Nobility, such as from A Count and under couldn't come in as they were classed as the more lower ranking Nobility. If they wanted to come in they would have had to ask permission from The Crown princess, or be formally invited by myself.

At least I could somewhat enjoy my own peace here while also getting to know the Ladies-in-waiting who have been assigned to me.

I promised to myself that I'd make sure my own fate is different this life; that's only if I can figure out what scenario had changed from the last time I was alive in the other timelines.

Gosh - I Should really learn from my own mistakes that I have made, instead of repeating them constantly.