Chapter 13
13. On Official Duties
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After finishing breakfast and returning to my room, I found a large number of wooden boxes being brought in. Inside were the finest silks, the finest woven veils, lace, ribbons, and even an abundance of jewels to decorate garments. The embroidery threads were also of the highest quality, and just looking at them filled me with excitement.
When I stroked a bolt of glossy, pure-white silk, it was smooth and wonderfully pleasant to the touch.
Although my betrothal ceremony had been set for summer, silk is breathable, so it likely wouldn’t feel uncomfortably hot.
Just having such an abundance of the highest-quality materials gathered in my room made me feel happy.
I wanted to begin working on my betrothal gown at once, but I restrained myself and continued embroidering Emperor Aleksanteri’s jacket. For children’s clothing, embroidery was often made large and easy to see, but for Emperor Aleksanteri’s adult jacket, I edged the sleeves, hem, and collar with small interwoven patterns of blue vines.
As I concentrated on stitching, Lady Laval arrived, and I pulled the thread from the needle and stuck it into the pincushion.
I was dressing the jacket onto a torso prepared in Emperor Aleksanteri’s size when Lady Laval entered the room.
“Good morning, Lady Lacey. That is His Majesty the Emperor’s jacket, isn’t it?”
“Good morning, Lady Laval. The embroidery is taking a little time, but it’s nearly finished.”
“It’s a splendid piece of work. I doubt even the imperial tailors could create something this fine.”
Her praise made me very happy.
Truly, I would have liked to also make a shirt and trousers to match, but if I did that, the garments wouldn’t be ready in time for the betrothal ceremony. I had also been tasked with creating my own betrothal dress.
“His Majesty Aleksanteri told me to make the dress for the betrothal ceremony as well. I’m thinking of this sort of design—what do you think?”
Just once, I had always wanted to make a gown with fabric so plentiful it would trail across the floor. Such a gown was impractical and could not be worn many times, and above all, it required far too much fabric—normally impossible.
But under Emperor Aleksanteri’s patronage, such a dream could come true.
I showed Lady Laval the design sketch, and she studied it carefully.
The front was slightly shorter, showing the feet, while the back extended long enough to trail on the floor.
“I think it reflects the youthful sensibility of Lady Lacey. His Majesty the Emperor will not mind what you wear, so long as you attend the betrothal ceremony. It is a wonderful design, perfectly suited for standing beside him.”
“Thank you very much.”
I was delighted by such unreserved praise—but then suddenly realized something.
“Oh, that’s right. This… this is my dress, isn’t it?”
“Of course. Who else but Lady Lacey would be betrothed to His Majesty the Emperor?”
“My… gown…”
I had been so caught up in the joy of using the finest materials that I had completely forgotten—
This was my dress.
What a realization!
I had, it seemed, been tempted by fine fabrics into agreeing to participate in the betrothal ceremony.
“W-what exactly does a betrothal ceremony involve?”
“It is the occasion where His Majesty presents his future consort to the nobility and the royal family. It will be Lady Lacey’s day of honor.”
“Specifically, what happens?”
“His Majesty will give an address, and Lady Lacey will also make a brief speech. It would be good to speak of your resolve in becoming his consort. Since His Majesty will most likely have your face concealed by a veil, there is no need to be overly nervous.”
“Would something like: ‘I shall serve His Majesty, and strive to bring peace to his heart’ be sufficient?”
“It may be better to say something more domestic, such as: ‘I will support His Majesty both publicly and privately.’”
I see.
How fortunate I was to have Lady Laval here to guide me.
“Let us also include practice for the betrothal ceremony in your consort’s education from now on. Your manners are nearly perfect, Lady Lacey, but when standing before royalty, even the slightest mistake is not permissible. We will review everything together.”
“Yes, I’ll be in your care.”
Having Lady Laval as my ally was truly a blessing. Grateful, I received her instruction.
We took lunch together that day.
It wasn’t for the purpose of inspecting my table manners this time, so Lady Laval sat at the same table and dined with me.
From the raising and lowering of her knife and fork to the way she dabbed her lips with her napkin, Lady Laval’s movements were refined. I had been educated at the academy, so I could perform to a degree, but in the Dian Viscount household we had dined quite freely, and I feared those habits might surface—so I was rather tense.
“There will be no banquet at the betrothal ceremony, but the wedding will include a reception, and Lady Lacey will also attend the banquet. For that occasion, let us confirm your table manners.”
“Will it be a large reception?”
“His Majesty may say he doesn’t wish it to be too grand, but without a doubt the imperial family, high-ranking nobles, and vassal kings will be invited.”
Hearing that made me nervous again.
Watching Lady Laval dine gracefully with her knife and fork, I finished my meal.
In the afternoon, until tea time, Lady Laval continued my consort’s education.
Some customs of the vassal states I had learned at the academy, but I didn’t know all the details, and there were countries I knew nothing about. It was very educational.
I would be the consort of His Majesty, the Emperor of this Valen Empire that ruled over many vassal states. Even as a secondary consort or concubine, I would be his only consort. Surely I would be taken to official functions.
With that in mind, I steeled myself to learn the manners of every land.
“Lady Laval, will there be occasions when I must accompany His Majesty Aleksanteri in official duties?”
Normally, official duties fell to the Emperor’s primary wife, the Empress. But since I would be a secondary consort or concubine, I could not assume I was exempt. His Majesty Aleksanteri did not yet have an Empress. Given the stories that he had long refused marriage, he might never take one.
If that were the case, then it was quite possible I would be brought along in her place.
“His Majesty wishes to grant Lady Lacey as much freedom as possible, but there are a few unavoidable duties you will be expected to attend.”
“What sort of duties?”
“His Majesty’s birthday festival, Lady Lacey’s birthday tea party, and banquets held for dignitaries from the vassal states, among others.”
Lady Laval always answered clearly, without evasion, and that made things easy to understand.
I already knew about Emperor Aleksanteri’s birthday festival—it was a grand celebration throughout the realm. Even when I was studying in the imperial capital, the city would be swept up in festivity. In the Dian Viscount’s lands, too, we celebrated it.
“It’s in the spring, isn’t it?”
“Yes, in spring. So Lady Lacey’s first official duty after your marriage may be His Majesty’s birthday festival.”
I knew well that His Majesty Aleksanteri’s birthday was celebrated every spring.
That meant he had just turned twenty-eight this past spring.
Though he had always felt like a distant figure, I realized that from birth I too had been celebrating his birthday all my life.
“I hear Lady Lacey’s birthday is in the autumn?”
“Yes. It’s coming soon.”
The betrothal ceremony was now only a month away, and then another month after that would be my birthday.
“Since you are engaged to His Majesty, a tea party will likely be held for your birthday.”
“For my birthday, you mean?”
I had thought such things would only happen after I was formally wed and made a secondary consort or concubine, but it seemed my public duties would begin sooner than expected.
I resolved that I would need Lady Laval’s help in preparing for that tea party as well.
