Secrets and Opportunities
***
After Queen Gilsis stepped forward and executed Helen, the public opinion that she was behind the attempt on Judith’s life significantly dwindled.
However, this was less due to the nobility believing her innocence and more out of fear of the queen’s ruthless decisiveness in eliminating those who had pledged allegiance to her without any hesitation.
Cheraan, armed with a recommendation letter she had practically wrestled from her father, volunteered to become Judith’s lady-in-waiting.
Furthermore, she sent three maids who Duke Berzi trusted to replace those who had been dismissed or disappeared following Helen’s execution.
Marianne was overjoyed.
While she had been treated by Helen’s maids as if she were their own servant, she was overjoyed by the new maids, who were all unfailingly kind and gentle.
With the addition of these obedient maids, Judith’s life became considerably easier.
Embroidering the handkerchiefs seemed like a never-ending task, but with the maids taking turns assisting Judith, they were nearing completion.
“Her Majesty is quite something, isn’t she?
She seems to have mastered the art of tormenting others.” Cheraan remarked, her voice laced with sarcasm as she helped Judith with the embroidery.
Always outspoken, she didn’t care if the other maids were present as she criticized the queen.
Though she knew they were specifically chosen by Duke Berzi, Judith occasionally reminded her maids to be mindful of their words.
Sometimes she did so firmly, and at other times, she used the power of material possessions to ensure their discretion.
“How does this look, Your Highness?” Cheraan asked, holding out the handkerchief with delicate leaves embroidered on it.
Despite being labeled a hopeless tomboy and a wild horse by the refined ladies, her embroidery skills, past and present, were impeccably neat.
“Nobody could find fault with this,” Judith replied.
“You should really lower your voice.”
“You graciously offered to serve me, but I want to be friends with you.
You’ll get used to it gradually, so please understand for now.”
Cheraan chuckled, unable to help herself.
She had realized through Helen’s incident that Judith was capable of unexpected cunning.
However, her demeanor towards Cheraan and the people from the princess’s quarters was no different from the first impression she had of Judith.
She was gentle, fragile, and occasionally shy.
This made Cheraan wonder if it was actually closer to the real Judith, amplifying her curiosity about her.
“Speaking of which, Your Highness, have you heard about the new academy that just opened in Delaca?”
Delaca was the name of an empire located on the eastern continent, reachable only by crossing the sea.
It maintained a close relationship with Lotheir through trade.
Judith, although already aware of the rumors, shook her head with a composed expression.
“No, this is the first I’ve heard of it.
An academy, you say?
Is it a place where people study?”
“Yes.
It’s a pity that Lotheir doesn’t have an academy of that scale yet.
It was built by the Delaca imperial family, and they’re accepting foreign royals and nobles as students.
It’s causing quite a stir.”
“Foreigners are allowed to attend?”
“So I’ve heard.
A count who is close to my father mentioned his son is preparing to enter the academy.”
Judith’s eyes, which had been quietly following the conversation, glimmered subtly.
An academy outside the continent, and in the Delaca Empire no less.
It was a place where Queen Gilsis’ influence couldn’t reach.
While she could easily extend her hand to weaker kingdoms like Tien, her homeland, the Delaca Empire was a different story.
She didn’t know the length of the program, but considering it was established by the imperial family, it likely would take at least three to four years to graduate.
Judith’s goal was to free Franz from the queen’s clutches during that time.
The challenge, however, was how to get him there.
Judith masked her intentions and responded with subtle curiosity.
“What are the admission requirements?”
“I’m not sure of the specifics, but I heard there’s an entrance exam.
It’ll likely be just a formality for nobles, who’ll be the ones attending.
The real issue is the tuition—it’s said to be exorbitant.”
She tried to estimate the magnitude of the tuition, but she couldn’t grasp it.
Despite being a princess, she had never experienced a life of luxury, and had little sense of the scale of wealth that those chasing grandeur could wield.
Was there a way to gather such funds?
She immediately thought of Duke Berzi.
From her memory, his duchy had long been successful in running various businesses, including trade.
He could easily afford to send Franz to study abroad for a few years and still have plenty left over.
Even if he couldn’t manage it, if Judith could find a way to get Franz out, she was confident that Duke Berzi would do whatever it took to help her plan succeed.
However, meeting the duke privately to share her plan would be the first obstacle.
How could she approach him naturally without raising suspicion?
The question constantly weighed on her mind.
‘And…’
Even if she could secure the tuition and get the duke on board, getting Franz to agree to it naturally would be a hurdle.
It seemed ten times easier to convince Duke Berzi than Franz.
And what about the exam that Cheraan mentioned…?
Surely, as a foreign royal, Franz would be granted admission without too much difficulty, but Judith wasn’t sure about his academic abilities.
It was common for princes to have skilled scholars as tutors, but she wondered if Queen Gilsis had provided that for him.
“Cheraan, would you send a message to Astel Palace?”
“Astel Palace?”
“Yes.
Tell them I’ll visit His Highness around dinnertime.”
“I will.
What should I say is the purpose of your visit?”
Cheraan stood up and tilted her head.
After pondering for a moment, Judith snipped the thread from her needle and answered, “Tell His Highness that I have something I wish to learn from him.”
* * *
Franz was restless all evening after receiving Judith’s message from Cheraan.
If Duke Berzi had been beside him, he would undoubtedly have fussed over Franz’s discomfort.
Franz’s expression alone clearly betrayed his anxiety.
Except for the recent incident where Judith was injured, the young prince and princess had never properly sat down and faced each other.
Franz feared that associating with Judith would put her in the queen’s bad grace.
If that hadn’t been a concern, he might have smiled warmly at her once or twice when their eyes met while passing by the palace.
He reprimanded himself for treating her coldly, knowing that if he turned away, he’d be plagued by a faint regret.
Even if they couldn’t build a bond as husband and wife, he could at least have spoken a kind word.
But he hesitated, wavering until the opportunity passed.
He was furious with himself for falling into that vicious cycle.
Because of it, he had never even considered the possibility of Judith seeking him out herself.
“Your Highness.”
A young servant bowed at the door.
Franz, alone in his room as the sun began to set, raised his head as if awaiting judgment for unfinished homework.
“What is it?”
“Her Highness the Princess has arrived.
Shall I escort her in?”
The servant left, soon Judith entered.
She was alone, without Marianne or Cheraan.
Franz briefly wore an awkward expression before inviting her to sit.
“What could you possibly want to learn from me?”
His blunt and distant tone made Judith raise her eyebrows and chuckle softly.
“Did you have a decent meal, Your Highness?”
Only then did Franz realize his misstep.
He glanced away, his expression betraying mild embarrassment.
“It wasn’t my intention to neglect you.”
“I was only asking if the food was to your liking.”
“Well, I can’t say there wasn’t a hint of reproach in your tone.”
This time, her laughter grew a little louder.
What an awkward man.
Judith observed his face, half-bathed in the setting sun, with a cool gaze.
Both before her death and now, Franz’s demeanor towards her remained consistent.
He was too cautious, as if handling her like a fragile doll that might shatter at any moment.
It was a kind of care that conveyed more apprehension than affection.
In her previous life, even that once filled her with sorrow.
But not now.
Now, she prided herself on understanding Franz better than anyone.
Only she knew how easily his soul, shrouded in silence and shadows, could be wounded, how much blood he had shed, and how much he would continue to shed.
As long as those who constantly poked at his unhealed wounds remained by his side, Franz had no future.
Just as in her previous life, if he lost his mind again, she would have no future to look forward to either.
That’s why she had to separate him from the queen and Krolld this time.
Failure was not an option.
“Your Highness, as you know…”
Breaking the silence, Judith finally spoke.
Franz stared at her, waiting for her to continue.
“My image in Lotheir’s royal family and aristocratic society is still no more than a young princess from a foreign land.
I feel like I need to learn about Lotheir’s relations with other countries and its history as soon as possible to reassure others.”
“If that’s what you want, it would be better to seek guidance from the scholars.”
She had expected that answer, so she blinked in mock distress, her expression carefully composed.
“They’re strangers to me, and I’m a bit…”
Judith’s lowered head gave the impression that she could burst into tears at the slightest touch, seeming fragile and embarrassed.
Franz, unsure of what he had done wrong but feeling like he’d made a mistake, suddenly felt guilty.
Flustered and uncharacteristically awkward, he tried to correct his words.
“I understand.”
It wasn’t much, but it was enough.
She finally smiled cautiously.
“That’s why I want to learn from you, Your Highness.
At least just enough so I don’t make a fool of myself in front of others.”