The basket of snacks

After rising from bed, Esther carefully placed the rose in a glass of water on her nightstand. She headed to the bath and returned freshly dressed, hair still damp from washing. Sitting before her mirror, she picked up her comb and gently began brushing you golden blonde hair.

Ding.

She rang the servant bell.

Five minutes later...

"May I come in, Princess Esther?" a maid's voice called softly.

"You may," Esther replied curtly, finishing her final hair pin. Her expression, cold and distant, didn't waver even slightly.

The maid entered with a respectful bow. "Do you require anything, my lady?"

Esther rose, walking to her wardrobe. She gestured toward the pile of garments she had tossed aside the day before. "These clothes. The good ones donate to the poor. The rest... discard them. Use them as rags or burn them, I don't care."

The maid nodded quickly and knelt by the wardrobe, sorting through the dresses with careful hands. "Is there anything else you need, Princess Esther?"

Esther walked back toward her study table, her voice calm but firm. "Prepare the carriage. I will visit the market today."

She sat down, eyes already scanning the letters and scrolls on the table. "Do not disturb me until it is ready."

The maid bowed once more and left the room in silence.

Few minutes later~

Knock Knock

"Esther, are you inside? May I come in?" A gentle voice called from outside the door.

Esther sprang to her feet, heart stirring. She rushed to open the door and there stood Crown Princess Sierra, radiant in the morning light.

Her elder sister wore a soft orange gown embroidered with intricate gold threads. Even the smallest details shimmered like sunlight on spring water. Her long black hair had been styled elegantly, adorned with a graceful tiara that rested gently on her crown. When she smiled, it was the kind of smile that warmed even the coldest corners of a palace.

"Were you studying? Did I disturb you?" she asked softly.

"No, Elder Sister," Esther said, her voice tender. "You didn't disturb me at all. I was just… revising."

Sierra stepped inside and offered her a woven basket, neatly tied with a silk ribbon. Esther untied the knot with gentle fingers.

Inside were all her favorites: soft sandwiches, golden pastries, sweet dumplings, and delicate cookies. The comforting aroma of freshly baked treats wafted upward.

"You're always so busy studying, you forget to eat," Sierra said, her tone gently scolding. "Look how slim you've become. That's not good, Esther."

She raised a hand to Esther's forehead and rubbed it softly, like a mother soothing her child.

"I brought your favorite snacks. Finish everything, okay?"

Esther looked at the basket, then up at her sister. A smile bloomed on her lips like a flower in spring. Her purplish-blue eyes sparkled, reminiscent of the midnight sky kissed by stardust.

"Thank you, Elder Sister. I will finish everything."

Sierra, her only family member who had ever shown her warmth. The only one who had wept for her death. And even now, she made time for Esther despite her heavy crown princess duties.

Sierra chuckled, continuing to pat her head. "Silly girl. You don't have to try so hard. I'm so worried about you."

Esther held her sister's hand tightly, her voice gentle and steady. "Don't worry, Elder Sister. I'll do well. I'm not a child anymore," Esther said softly.

"To me, you'll always be the little girl who followed me through the palace halls with scraped knees and a dozen questions."

As Esther and Sierra continued their quiet conversation, a knock echoed from the door once again.

The same maid entered after bowing respectfully to both sisters. "Princess Esther, the carriage is ready. Guards have been prepared to accompany you. Which maid shall join you? Shall I send your personal maid?"

Esther paused, her expression flickering for a moment.

Esther blinked. Personal maid? Did she… still have one?

A soft chuckle escaped her lips one without warmth. Her personal maid had been taken away by Suzy six years ago. No one had replaced her. Her parents hadn't even noticed… or perhaps they had and simply didn't care.

She lowered her gaze, the corner of her eyes tightening as a dull ache settled in her chest. There was no one left who served her. No one who even belonged to her.

She turned to Sierra, recovering her composure. "Elder sister, I need to go. I'll talk to you later."

Sierra stood as well, worry creasing her usually serene face. "Please be careful, Esther. Isn't this your first time stepping outside alone in... five years? Take care of yourself and go out more often."

Esther nodded slightly.

"Do you want me to send my guards with you? They're trained, discreet, and loyal—"

"No," Esther cut in gently but firmly. "They're yours. As Crown Princess, your guards should always stay by your side. If our parents learn I borrowed them, they'll… punish me."

Sierra's jaw tightened. "Esther"

"It's fine. I'll manage with the palace guards. I'm leaving now."

Esther turned briefly toward the mirror, adjusting a silver pin in her hair before sweeping out of the room.

Sierra watched her go, the faint trace of a smile vanishing from her lips. "How can I not worry about you?" she murmured, voice barely a whisper. "They've given you nothing no support, no protection. You deserve so much more. I swear, if I had the authority..."

Her hands curled into fists.

Soon, she thought. Soon I'll have the power to protect you. Or… help you escape. Even if it means burning bridges I spent years building.

Esther stepped outside and found a horse carriage waiting before the palace gates. It was a luxurious vehicle, gilded and polished, bearing the royal sigil etched in gold upon its door. Surrounding it were eight guards on horseback, donned in the Empire's crest but their eyes held only disinterest, as if escorting a ghost rather than a princess.

She climbed aboard in silence.

The interior was warm and spacious, cushioned with soft velvet seats and trimmed in silk. It almost felt too gentle… too kind for someone like her. She sat upright and tapped lightly on the wooden panel. "Take me to the famous boutique," she said, her voice composed.

The carriage jolted forward.

Through the window, Esther watched the town slowly come alive. The cobbled streets were alive with morning bustle. Vendors called out cheerfully, holding up glimmering fabrics and baskets of fruit. Laughter rose from corners as women haggled playfully and men shouted over carts. Children darted between stalls, bright-eyed and carefree, their small hands clutching sweets and toys.

Some of them paused, eyes wide as they caught sight of the ornate royal carriage. Their wonder made her chest tighten.

An hour later, the carriage slowed before a grand storefront gleaming with crystal windows and elegant arches. A gold-plated sign shone under the sunlight, etched with the name: L'Éclat et la Vie.

It was a name known across all four empires. In the SilverCrest Empire alone, there were many branches, and within the Sylvia Kingdom—four.

Esther stepped out of the royal carriage in silence.

The crest of the SilverCrest Empire gleamed proudly on the dark, lacquered door. Eight guards, dressed in imperial black with silver embroidery, stood still upon their horses, their gazes aimless, their expressions indifferent. No one bowed. No one greeted her.

Not that she expected them to.

She walked alone toward the tall arched doors of the boutique—L'Éclat et la Vie, a name whispered with admiration in every court of the four great empires. It was said their fabrics were kissed by moonlight, their jewelry blessed by the stars, and their cosmetics brewed with the beauty of ancient enchantresses.

The inside was warm with luxury. Chandeliers glistened like frozen rain. Dresses of every color and silhouette swayed on golden stands, and the scent of imported perfumes floated gently in the air. The ground and first floors were lined with exquisite garments. The second carried hairpins and diadems that sparkled like frost, and the third—Esther had heard—was a paradise of powders, rouges, and oils.

She wandered through the ground floor, her fingers lightly brushing the edge of a crimson silk gown. It felt like water running over her skin.

But before her thoughts could settle, a shrill, venomous voice broke the air behind her.

"What are you doing here? Tsk! Who the heck let you in?"