Both ladies had a look of anger for different reasons: Evie was angry because the party would affect her escape plan, and Isabella was angry because she never expected it to happen so soon. "Why is the party too soon? My debut party was a month after I joined the royal family. Why is hers just a few days later?" Isabella asked, her voice higher.
"Your Highness, that is the Emperor's decision," Arthur said respectfully.
"Hmm, I need to see the emperor, let's go," Isabella said to her convoy, stomping on the ground as she walked past Arthur, flicking the hem of her dress and exited Moonlight Pavilion.
"Sir Arthur, I still have so much more to learn about etiquette and the royal family. Can this be postponed to a week later, please?" Evie asked, trying to reason with Arthur.
"You are right, Your Highness, there is a lot of preparation to make, but I can't do anything about that. Maybe you can talk to the Emperor," he said, gave her a bow, and turned to leave.
Evie paced up and down the gazebo, her face dark. She bit her nail as she racked her brains to come up with a solution for this. It hit her unexpectedly, and she had no way out in the slightest. She sighed as all her hope was crushed right in front of her, and her eyes stung as she felt tears pool in her eyes. She raised her hand, touching her cheek, and felt it was wet with a tear.
She didn't cry when she died, suddenly thrown to this side of an unfamiliar world with no one. She didn't cry when Lady Isabella slapped her and forced her to kneel in the hot sun. She stayed strong as the sun cooked her back and cheeks. Even as a maid forced to work with meagre food that she could barely swallow, all that didn't break her. But this did, completely. She sat on the floor of the gazebo, her shoulders slumped as she stared at the floor.
"Should I just stay and abandon Ashborne Kingdom?" she asked to no one in particular. "No," she said, shaking her head. She would feel guilty all her life if she did. She was so big on mutual obligation. She got a body, and in return, she had to finish the owner's goal, even if that meant it was the last thing she did. She also had a selfish motive: she had the slight hope that, as Princess Elara resembled her, maybe the princess's parents and brother would bear a likeness to her own family that she lost.
"It's as if the whole universe had conspired to stop me," she sighed, patting the back of her dress. "This is not the time to wallow in self-pity," she added and walked out of the gazebo to the guest hall.
"Lila, go get me a scroll and a pen," she said as she took a seat, her hand tapping the chair's arm. She needed to come up with a solution fast, and she thought of a way to try and coerce the Emperor into postponing the party. "Hopefully it works," she said, crossing her fingers.
This was very bad news. She didn't know why this came unexpectedly, but she knew it would be less hard to escape as a recently promoted maid, people knew less about her than as an imperial consort; everyone in the noble circle knew of her.
"Here you go, Your Highness," Lila said, handing Evie a scroll.
"Okay, please go call Helga for me," she said as she lifted her sleeve and started writing. After finishing, she stood, looking at her list. She felt a sense of renewed hope and looked out of the door, waiting for Helga.
"Good afternoon, Your Highness," Helga said, arriving with Lila. "You called for me?"
"Yes, Helga. The Emperor has decided to hold my debut party on Wednesday," she said.
"This Wednesday?" Helga asked, her eyes as wide as saucepans.
"Yes, Helga, this Wednesday," Evie confirmed, and a knowing glance passed between them, and they both went quiet.
"What do you want me to do?" Helga said, breaking the silence.
Evie smiled. Despite it being a question, she also knew it was a declaration of support. Evie nodded reassuringly. "Go and arrange the Moonlight Pavilion kitchen for me. I want to cook something for the Emperor." And she said, turning to Lila, "Go to the butler and ask for these ingredients," handing her the scroll.
Once the ingredients were ready and the fire was burning bright, Evie wore her apron, pulled up her sleeves, and took the cow bones she requested and got to work. She broke the bones to release the marrow, washed it thoroughly in cold water, then set the pot over a low fire.
Meanwhile, while the broth was heating, she added an onion, parsley stems, and one bay leaf. "Helga, watch over this," she said as she stood to leave. "Let it simmer gently for hours."
"Let's go, Lila. You need to help me to the shower and choose some clothes for me," she said as she exited the kitchen. She stood outside as the wind brushed her cheeks, then left for her bathing chambers.
In her bathing chambers, Lila helped her with a shower, and once they were done, she exited the bathing chamber and went into her bedchamber. "Lila, go get the clothes ready," she said as she sat at the dressing mirror, took a brush, and in half an hour she had light makeup. Her cheeks needed no blush as the kitchen heat gave her a natural blush, so she applied a pink lip tint to match it.
"Here you go, Your Majesty," Lila said excitedly as she brought the clothes and jewellery. Once they were done, Evie stared at the mirror and let out a small gasp. As always, Lila surprised her. She was wearing a long, tight-fitting maroon dress, her wig in a bun fastened with a small flower crown. She looked exquisite, but she had no time to admire as the sky was already darkening and she had a big fish to fry. So she held her dress up and exited her bedchamber. "Bring on the challenge," she whispered.