I should wear a dress that my empress has sent me. Im just thankful for the beautiful dress as a gift.

Your Majesty, the Empress?

Isnt this a gift from Her Majesty?

I dont understand, Arya said, smiling at the aristocrats who were tilting their heads.

Black. Isnt it a good color for Princess Sienna?

She whispered in Siennas ear,

To you who was wearing someones shirt without a husband on the first night. I wonder whose footprints were on that white dress.

Oh, my God!

Sienna was so absent-minded that day that she didnt even think of Carls footprints on her dress or his shirt on herself. However, the owner of the footprints could not be Carl. She pulled up the stiffening corners of her mouth and smiled instead of answering.

It looks really good on you.

It looks so good on you that I think it would be better for another position rather than this one.

Shut up!

Sienna was likely to be cursed because of Arya, who used the word street whores, and the aristocratic wives who followed her. She certainly didnt swear very well, but ever since she came to the imperial family, her desire to curse frequently has been aroused. She thought that imperial life was never having a good effect on her mental health.

Thank you very much. I was very surprised when I thought about why Her Majesty gave me this dress.

Arya listened quietly to what Sienna was going to say.

Youre interested in the history of the Empire, so you sent me this suit to look like Empress Dijane? Ive read the record that Empress Dijane, the wife of Emperor Rioli, who led the war against Abecia to victory and made Laifsden an empire who enjoys wearing black dresses. I will accept your wishes and work hard to help King Carl do the right thing as a member of the royal family.

The whole area became quiet. Sienna said, calling out the name of one of those who treated her as a prostitute.

Oh, I heard that Count Kemion is also well-versed in history. Then you must know that. Empress Dijane liked to wear a black dress when it mattered. The Empress said that if the sun was shining brightly during the day, she would rule the people like the moonlight that lit the deep night. Im sure the wife knows better if she hasnt been lazy in studying history.

Of Of course, I do. I heard that Empress Dijane wore a black dress at every banquet. I know its probably a painting.

Sienna praised her, struggling to contain a burst of laughter.

Youre also well-educated Countess Kemion. History is called the mirror that reflects the present. You should also try to learn the wisdom of our ancestors by studying history hard, taking after Countess Kemion into consideration.

Of of course. History is important.

History is important! Thats funny.

Its true that Empress Dijane was the wife of Emperor Rioli, but the fact that she enjoyed wearing black dresses was a hoax she had just made up. She must have been busy writing the work of Emperor Rioli in his history books, for there was not a sufficient record of his wife.

Countess Kemion, who was perplexed or sweating, doubted whether she could read even the words, let alone the art of history.

The illiteracy rate was quite high in this era, and in the case of male aristocrats, illiterate people were quite well established. It was even harder to find noblewomen who knew how to write, as the male aristocrats looked like it. In Siennas case, although she was taught because of her fathers education officer, it was not a flawed era for women to not know how to write and read.

I think Countess Faron is great, too. I was surprised to hear that some of the aristocratic wives couldnt read and write and that they couldnt even write their own names, and even when they sign for things, they have to have their representatives with them or replaced at times. A noblewoman that cant read and write. They cant be called nobles, can they? Its like middle-class or working-class people who dont know what to say. No, the wealthy middle class is better off because they know how to write and count. It would be worse not to be better than them.

It was only natural that middle-class merchants, who had to sign contracts and draw up books, knew writing, reading, and counting. She said as if the middle class with their abilities was better than the upper class, the dumb aristocrats.

However, comparing them But the nobility is decent

Someone gave an excuse. Sienna spoke to her with a stern face,

Queen If a monkey from across the sea wears a pretty dress and is dressed up like a jewel, it will make you feel as if youre a human being and pretend to be gentle-like. Just because youre so stylish doesnt mean you should call it out in decency.

The women around her blushed and fanned their hands. Sienna opened her eyes as if she knew nothing and said, looking back at them,

No one cant read, can they? If thats the case, I should apologize for making a big mistake. Its not a crime to be ignorant

Sienna asked, eye-to-eye with them,

They responded to Sienna in a trembling voice, saying, Why would there be such an aristocrat? and Its a matter of course for us as a noblewomen in fear of exposing themselves to illiteracy.

Ah! Im so cool.

As she kept holding on to Kemion, she was worried if she was making too many enemies, but soon she changed her mind. They look like hyenas, and they were anxious to bite at any moment. If she were to become strong, she would not rush herself for fear that she would be humiliated.

Princess Sienna.

Arya opened her mouth when she saw Sienna holding the upper hand and wielding people around.

Be careful.

What do you mean?

Its been rumored from time to time that there are men in and out of Princess room.

At Aryas words, the woman shouted, Oh my, oh my! Still, no one was as quick as before to repeat or condemn her. This is because they didnt want to be seen like Kemion and antagonize Sienna.

Of course, I dont believe that. What kind of woman would you ever hold another mans hand if you hadnt even met Prince Carl?

Arya criticized her wedding without Carl, sneering into the nuance that she was cheating.

Thats right. Thats a crazy rumor. The only man Ive ever met since I got married is Valore, the Crown Prince.

When Sienna suddenly took out Valores name, Arya wriggled her eyebrows as if she didnt like to hear that. As she vented her discomfort, Sienna immediately continued,

Of course, you shouldnt misunderstand. His Royal Highness Valore stopped by to deliver me a wedding gift. Im afraid Im going to lose my reputation because of the spread of some strange rumors.

No one would have such a misunderstanding.

No one believes it, but itll upset you if its talked about it like this way. Its okay because Im a piece of jewelry with no ones interest, but isnt His Highness, Valore, the heir to the throne? Ah! I hear theres a very interesting rumor going around in the capital these days.

A rumor? What do you mean, Princess Sienna?

Arya asked sarcastically,

The word rumor brought out by Sienna, the aristocratic women around her pretended not to care but listened to her. They seemed curious because they were so fond of gossip.

You really didnt hear of it? I heard that every bar in the capital is making a lot of noise because of it. The story of a Southern aristocrat who fell in love with a minstrel from the brown-haired coveted Castro. The story begins with The womans black hair and eyes were darker and more mysterious than the night.

At Siennas words, Aryas face was visibly pale,

Only

Speak it out. What kind of rumor is that?

Someone couldnt bear it and had to ask.

I thought everyone knew about it because it was a rumor going around the capital from what Ive heard

The faces of those around her were full of curiosity.

Do we need to hear something thats unclear?

Arya stopped Sienna. But Sienna didnt intend to stop talking.

When you move around with peoples mouths and ears wide open, the source becomes unclear. But just because the source is unclear doesnt mean the whole story isnt true. Of course, Im not saying that this rumor is true. Its just a story that Ive heard so far.

Im curious, so please tell me.