I unfolded a new sheet of paper and began writing again.
Starting with the introduction, I rewrote the rest of the letter as well.
[Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to clear my name yet. I’ve tried to prove my innocence, but things haven’t gone as I hoped. Well, it feels like the entire situation has been changed on its head, as if someone switched the sleep charms.]
I felt heavy-hearted.
Even though I wanted to reassure my parents, I couldn’t help but feel like I was imposing a difficult request on them.
So, I erased the part about the mark of guilt.
‘I’m curious about it, but right now, that’s not the most important thing.’
Now, it was time to finish the most important part of the letter.
At this moment, my family was probably still worrying about me.
[P.S. Just in case you’re wondering, please don’t worry about me at all. Even though my status is still that of a criminal, I’m living comfortably here! I have a soft wool pillow and blanket by my side. I’ll try my best to clear my name and return to Mederland as soon as possible. And I’ll always make sure to live in a way that won’t shame our family!]
Once I finished the final words, I folded the letter.
Just thinking about the possibility of getting a reply from my family made my heart float like a cloud.
‘I hope they can feel a little more at ease.’
***
After that, there was no time to relax.
I had to get ready for the ball.
Even though I still couldn’t leave my room, just figuring out where to place the dozens of gift boxes that piled up each day was enough to keep me busy.
“Do I really need all these clothes and shoes just for a ball?”
“It doesn’t matter how many times you go to a ball, does it?”
“Why’s that?”
“Well, imagine you’re like a never-ending spring of money. Is there a difference between pulling out a coin or grabbing a handful?”
Perfect analogy.
Being the Emperor of a nation, this amount of stuff probably didn’t faze him at all.
“You’re right. That was a pointless question.”
After spending the entire day sorting through clothes, accessories, and shoes, the day passed by.
The day of the ball was even busier than the previous day.
I had stayed up late, but my attendants barged into my room early in the morning to help me get ready.
Naturally, their gazes toward me were not kind.
The hostility in their eyes was clear.
“Good morning. The clouds look so soft and fluffy today, don’t they?”
I tried to ease the atmosphere with a greeting, but all I received in return was silence.
The attendants only glared at me coldly.
‘What do I do?’
I could understand why they were upset, but this was the only opportunity I had.
I had to charm them somehow to ensure I could attend the ball with the Emperor as his partner.
At that moment, Perry, who had been watching the situation, sighed deeply.
“Anyone who doesn’t want to work, can leave right now. There are plenty of people who can do the job.”
Her irritated voice made the attendants glance at each other nervously.
They looked as though they wanted to leave the room immediately.
“Can I really leave?”
“Yeah. It’s fine.”
As I wondered what would happen if they really left, Perry continued with her words.
“But I’m not sure if it’s fine to defy the Emperor’s orders.”
“The Emperor’s orders?”
“Yeah. Even though you look all silly and clumsy, you’re going to the ball as the Emperor’s partner. Do you think you can handle it if you keep acting like this?”
The eyes of everyone in the room widened.
Even though they came to help me get dressed, it seemed they didn’t know who I was going to be partnered with.
“You didn’t know that? Then who do you think sent all these expensive and precious items in this room to an assassin who tried to kill the Emperor?”
Their gazes shifted toward the dresses and accessories stacked around the room.
I could almost hear their breath catch as they swallowed.
“I’ll give you one last chance. You can either start helping her look like the most radiant one at the ball, or you can defy the Emperor’s orders and never set foot in this palace again. Make your decision quickly.”
As soon as Perry finished speaking, the attendants, who had been standing stiffly, rushed over with urgency.
Although they forced smiles, they were far more serious than before.
“Your skin’s so fair and flawless that I think any color of jewel would suit you.”
“Yes, that’s right. And your lovely curly hair would look beautiful if we left it loose, but it would also look nice tied up. Do you have a preference for your hairstyle?”
“The latest fashion for dresses shows off the bust and fits tightly around the body to highlight the figure. Should we go with something like that?”
In the midst of the endless questions, I answered absentmindedly, not even sure what was going on.
I tried on and took off the dress multiple times, and the makeup process felt never-ending.
I couldn’t help but wonder if my eyes, nose, and mouth were going to disappear with all the powder and paint.
Just as I was imagining how terrifying that would be, the attendants who had surrounded me finally stepped back.
Perry looked at me in surprise and admiration.
“Oh! Now you don’t look so dumb anymore.”
One of the attendants strained to bring a full-length mirror in front of me.
The person in the mirror was almost unrecognizable.
‘Is that me?’
I stared blankly at the reflection.
The attendant, noticing my silence, hesitantly spoke.
“D-Do you not like it?”
They had braided a small section of my hair and rolled it up with the rest, creating a soft, round updo.
Normally, I kept my hair in its full, voluminous curls, but with this new style, I looked both cute and elegant.
The addition of color brought life to my previously pale face, and I felt as though someone had breathed new life into me.
‘In Medderland, I always emphasized a more natural look, but here in Hamilton, it’s completely different.’
The dress I wore was the most daring and extravagant I had ever tried on.
The shoulders were barely covered with a thin fabric that revealed the skin underneath, and though the dress didn’t show much cleavage, it hugged my curves tightly enough to make my body shape clear.
But instead of feeling uncomfortable or revealing, it somehow felt like it was meant to be—beautiful and graceful.
As I stared at my reflection, Perry, with a slightly puzzled look, turned to me.
“If you don’t like it, just say so. There’s still some time before the ball, right?”
“No, it’s not that…”
I realized then, seeing myself like this, that it had truly sunk in—I was going to the ball as the Emperor’s partner.
It was only now that I felt the weight of the role I had taken on.
‘What if I make a mistake? What if I ruin the whole ball?’
I was afraid I might make things worse.
Chasing after opportunities and making them a success was different from merely trying to improve and move forward.
Unlike others, I felt like I was always stuck, going nowhere, and never improving.
Perry narrowed her eyes and watched me carefully.
“What did the Emperor tell you to do?”
“He said to observe the people around me. Pay attention to every little detail and watch closely.”
“Anything else?”
“If it gets dangerous, run away…?”
Perry let out a long sigh.
“That’s it? That’s all?”
“…Is that not enough?”
“Are you planning to set the ballroom on fire or something?”
“No, of course not!”
“Or maybe you’re going to assassinate someone again?”
“Absolutely not, never!”
“Then what’s the problem? Let’s say you make a huge mistake. But you were already an assassin who tried to kill the boss, so how much worse could your image possibly get?”
Oh, come to think of it…
Here, I was no longer Meihen of the Slimehalla family. I was nothing more than a criminal.
There would be no one expecting or depending on me.
That realization hit me with a strange shock, yet also a sense of liberation.
“No, you’re right. I think you’re right.”
“Then stop overthinking. It’s a waste of time anyway.”
“Thanks, Perry. I feel a lot lighter now!”
“Don’t get mistaken. I didn’t say that to make you feel better. I just didn’t want you messing up the boss’s work.”
Perry turned her head sharply and responded with a tone that was a little too harsh.
Somehow, she seemed almost embarrassed by her words, and I couldn’t help but find it cute.
Once the preparations were finished, I met Sir Beratry, who had come to escort me.
He explained that he and Perry were responsible for taking me to the ballroom this time.
“By the way, you’ve gotten better since I last saw you. Could it be that you’re better suited to a life of confinement?”
What nonsense was that? I almost burst out laughing at the absurdity.
“There’s no way. Who in the world would be that much of a pervert?”
With a playful smile, Sir Beratry shrugged.
“Well, you’d be surprised. There are plenty of perverts who defy logic.”
He then asked me, “Shall we head to the ballroom now?”
“Sure.”
On my left was Sir Beratry, and on my right was Ferri. The two of them bickered back and forth like old friends, exchanging playful banter.
“You didn’t cause any trouble, did you, Ferri?”
“What are you talking about? You muscle-bound idiot. You think I’m you?”
They argued like cats and dogs.
Or more accurately, Sir Beratry provoked Ferri, and she reacted.
Occasionally, Ferri would stop mid-step and tilt her head, looking confused.
“What’s wrong?”
She repeated this a few times before Sir Veratri, noticing her odd behavior, finally asked,
“Why do you keep stopping?”
“Doesn’t it smell weird somewhere?”
“Smell? I don’t smell anything.”
“You don’t? Are you sure?”
When Perry looked at me, I also sniffed the air, trying to detect anything unusual, but I didn’t smell anything.
“I don’t really smell anything?”
“That’s odd. It smells like sewer rats—stale and unpleasant…”
“Your nose must be crooked. Stop overthinking and let’s keep moving.”
At Sir Veratri’s reprimand, Perry gave a confused glance but continued walking.
The mention of sewer rats reminded me of someone I had met in the labyrinth.
‘I wonder what happened to Cat?’
Despite falling from such a high place, I hoped they were okay.
They didn’t seem like a bad person.
But as we hurried towards the ballroom, those thoughts quickly faded from my mind.
The ballroom was nothing like anything I had seen before—it was grand beyond comparison.
The walls seemed to shimmer as if they were coated in gold, and the chandeliers hanging from the ceiling sparkled as if adorned with jewels.
Passing the wolf statues, which were the symbol of Hamilton, I stepped into the grand hall and was met with the sight of noblewomen dressed in extravagant gowns, looking as regal as peacocks.
“I heard His Majesty is coming today. I wonder why he’s walking all the way here?”
“I’m more curious whether he’ll dance with his aide again.”
“Hoho, who knows? He might have changed his partner in the meantime.”
As the women whispered to each other, their conversation came to an abrupt halt when I entered.