7. Hoping for More Would Be Shameless
 In the meantime, Lucius continued speaking.
“Yes. Since the imperial family is born with divine powers, they tend to grow slower in their early years.”
His tone was quite meaningful, but Anette, who was still coming to terms with the fact that she had truly become a child, couldnât fully grasp what he meant.
Besides, to think that her ten-year-old body was about the same size as the eight-year-old crown princeâhow frustratingâŚ
Anette swiped her small hand across her face with a troubled expression, regretting that she had boldly claimed to be ten years old.
Seeing this, Lucius barely stifled a chuckle and then, as if remembering something, rummaged through his robe.
“Come to think of it, I had something to give the princess. I nearly forgot.”
“âŚIs it a purification stone?”
Anette immediately recognized the small white stone emanating sacred energy and asked.
“Yes. Since you got blood from the magical beast on you, you need to be purified. But in your current state, going to the temple might be difficult. Of course, we could ensure discretion, but still⌠this isnât the imperial palace.”
“I’m fine. Itâs probably safer if fewer people know about my current condition. And⌠itâs better this wayâI donât need a priest to purify me.”
It was less troublesome, and frankly, more convenient.
Feeling a little embarrassed at having blurted out her honest thoughts, Anette added in a small voice.
But deep down, she was genuinely relieved that she didnât have to visit the temple.
Not just because she didnât want to reveal her condition. Every time she visited the temple in the Kingdom of Heyworth after subjugating magical beasts, sheâd been met with discomforting stares from the priestsâmemories that remained vivid in her mind.
She had always sensed their true thoughts as they reluctantly performed the purification rituals.
âPurifying the spawn of a magical beast⌠what a waste of sacred power,â their eyes seemed to say.
Thatâs why she had always desperately wished for a purification stoneâsold only at the High Temple of the Alkan Empire.
It was said to be the masterpiece of Emperor Lucius himself, created by mobilizing both temple and mage tower resources, and reportedly made for his younger brother, the Grand Duke of Harzent.
âApparently, the Grand Duke missed the window for purification after a beast subjugation and became hideous in appearance.â
Though far more expensive than the donation typically required for priest-led purification, the stone’s convenience made it highly popular. Knights and mercenaries heading out for long campaigns always made a stop in the capital to purchase one.
Except for the Heyworth Royal Knights. With a limited budget and no royal approval to travel to the Alkan Empire to purchase one, they had been left out.
They were uncooperative purely because she was the commander. That made Anette feel even more responsible, pushing her to fight on the front lines. But now that she could no longer do that, she found herself worried about her remaining subordinates.
âI wonder if I could request for purification stones to be sold in Heyworthâs templesâŚâ
If that were possible, the royal court would have no more excuses.
Even with that thought in mind, Anette hesitated to speak.
As part of this political marriage, the Alkan Empire had promised military support in the event of an invasion by Bayendor.
Though she hadnât seen the gift list herself, she had heard the delegation chatter about how the Empire was sending an extravagant amount of gifts to the kingdom.
âI couldnât even prepare a proper dowryâŚâ
Of course, the Empire had explicitly said she didnât need to bring one.
Still, as a princess being married off, she had at least expected Heyworth to provide the basics out of courtesy to the Empire.
But the King of Heyworth had sent Anette to the Empire completely empty-handed.
Anyone who knew how Heyworthâs royal treasury was managed would have been dumbfounded.
But unaware of all this, Anette simply thought to herself:
âRight. The Empire offering an alliance in the first place was already an act of generosity. Hoping for more would be shameless.â
And now that the knight order had been reorganized, perhaps the royal family would stop being so stingy.
Brushing aside her regrets with that belief, Anette reached out to receive the purification stone from the Emperor.
Zing.
A sharp jolt ran through her hand, like a static shock.
Startled, she looked up at the Emperor, but Lucius only smiled gently, unaffected.
Instead, with a curious lookâas though heâd been wondering this ever since she identified the purification stoneâhe asked,
“The Heyworth Royal Knights have no record of purchasing purification stones⌠Do you also know how to use it?”
“âŚYes, I received one as a gift once.”
Receiving a gift was rare enough to be memorable, and the recollection made her nod slowly.
Lucius and Charlotte looked curious, but Anette kept her lips sealed and avoided their eyes.
For some reason, she didnât want to talk about that memory.
It was then that a lady-in-waiting from the Empress entered the banquet hall, bearing a message from the Empress Dowager.
“Her Majesty the Dowager has requested to have tea this afternoon.”
“Did she specifically ask for the guest to attend?”
“Yes, she insisted the special guest must come with you.”
Lucius frowned slightly at the words.
“You already told her?”
“Yes, we had no choice⌠We had to urgentlyâ”
“Ah, I suppose the palace doesnât⌔
Lucius and Charlotte turned to Anette and, after asking for her understanding, began a hushed and serious conversation.
“If we leave things as is⌠she might be too shocked⌔
“But itâs unavoidable⌔
Anette politely turned her head to avoid eavesdropping, but the Empress Dowagerâs messageâand the furtive glances from the Emperor and Empressâwere making her ears perk up.
Then, Charlotte carefully broached the subject, as if it were difficult to bring up.
“Lady Heyworth, it seems youâll have to accompany me to meet the Empress Dowager this afternoon.”
“Pardon? But in my current condition⌔
“Sheâs already been informed, so you neednât worry.”
Anetteâs heart sank.
Even though sheâd somewhat anticipated this situation, the Emperor and Empress had accepted her condition far too naturallyâit was beginning to worry her.
How would the highest elder of the imperial family react?
She recalled Lucius and Charlotte whispering and her anxiety grew.
âMaybe⌠theyâll suggest replacing the bride.â
Anette let out a silent sigh, thinking of Bridget crying and saying she didnât want to get married.
But she steeled herself.
There would be problems down the line, sureâbut first, she had to face what was in front of her.
“Are you that nervous?”
“âŚSorry?”
“You just seem really tense, Lady Heyworth.”
At Charlotteâs words, Anette nodded.
Truthfully, she couldnât recall a time sheâd been this nervous.
âEven my first beast subjugation was less stressful than this.â
Before visiting the Dowagerâs palace, even after breaking the purification stone and undergoing the ritual, even while getting dressed again with the help of the maidsâher heart was racing.
What if her body didnât return to normal? What if Bridget refused to yield? What if the alliance broke apart?
Her unease must have been obvious. One of the maids who had cut her hair in the morning joked that it seemed her hair had already grown a bit, trying to cheer her up.
Anette was touched by the kindness, but she didnât notice any real change in her body.
Sigh.
Seeing her exhale deeply, Charlotte let out a small laugh.
“Her Majesty the Dowager is a good person. Sheâs much warmer than she appears. But⌔
But what?
Anette looked nervously at Charlotte, who trailed off mid-sentence.
“In any case, thereâs no need to worry too much. I know itâs not easy meeting the woman whoâll be your mother-in-law for the first time⌔
“âŚWhat?”
Anetteâs eyes widened in shock.
Mother-in-law? Mother-in-law??
Thatâs rightâshe really was her mother-in-law!
Anette had been so focused on whether the alliance would collapse that sheâd completely forgotten she was here to greet the Empress Dowagerâthe mother of her future husband.
Her scalp tingled, and she felt even more overwhelmed.
“The Dowager will see you now.”
The doors to the drawing room of the Empress Dowagerâs palace swung open.
Thump-thump-thump. Her heart pounded fiercely.
She had come to the Empire for a political marriage, and yet like a fool, she had only just realized that the Empress Dowager would be her mother-in-law!
Barely suppressing her nerves, Anette entered the drawing room, determined not to make a mistake this time.
She had rehearsed it countless times in her head. Left foot back, slightly lift the hem, and bend the knee.
As a princess.
âŚAs a future daughter-in-law.
“Princess Anette of Heyworth greets Her Majesty the Empress Dowager of the Alkan Empire.”
She felt relieved that she had managed the greeting without major mistakesâbut that relief was short-lived.
The reception room was silent.
Startled by the utter lack of response, Anette kept her head lowered and endured the heavy silence.
Thenâ
