She sat slowly on the edge of the bed, her eyes fixed on the pale gray emptiness before her.
There was no sound...
Except for her heavy breathing and the lingering cold that remained in the room despite the blanket wrapped around her.
Then...
Soft knocks echoed from the door.
Without waiting for permission, the door opened, and three maids entered at once.
The first placed a jug of water on the table, while the second carried a simple dress folded neatly in her arms. The third walked directly to the windows and pulled the curtains open.
None of them said a word.
None of them looked at her directly.
Yet the silence between them spoke volumes.
Brief exchanged glances.
Accumulated contempt concealed beneath the duties of service.
Irene made no comment. Such behavior had become routine ever since she arrived at the palace.
She quietly rose and sat before the mirror.
The first maid began brushing her hair, while the second helped her into the simple gray dress, devoid of any royal colors or luxurious decorations.
Their movements were mechanical, as though they deliberately stripped every trace of care or kindness from their work.
When one of the maids pulled the ribbon at her back tighter than necessary, Irene said nothing.
And when another fastened the button near her neck with obvious roughness, she did not even flinch.
She could see everything reflected in the mirror.
Those maids despised her—or perhaps, more likely, they were acting under the orders of one of her siblings or their mothers, provoking her in this manner so they could vent their resentment upon her.
Once they had finished dressing her, Irene paused briefly before the mirror.
Her face remained calm despite their insulting behavior behind her back and the whispers she could clearly hear.
She knew that scolding them or responding would only create trouble and unnecessary commotion, something that might eventually reach her father.
And dealing with her father was the very last thing Irene wanted.
One of the maids said lazily,
"We're finished, Lady Irene."
Irene did not even bother looking at her. Instead, she simply walked toward the door, signaling that she intended to leave.
One of the maids stepped forward and opened it silently.
Irene walked out without looking back.
---
She left her room.
The long corridors seemed quieter than usual in the early morning.
No one approached her.
It was as if everyone was trying to ignore her existence after what had happened the previous day.
She descended the marble staircase in silence before crossing the palace's inner courtyard and reaching the royal garden.
A gentle breeze brushed the hem of her dress, while the familiar scent of blooming roses welcomed her.
She continued along the stone pathway until she arrived at the glasshouse—the secluded corner hidden among the plants.
She pushed the glass door open gently and stepped inside.
Everything was exactly as she had left it.
Quiet.
Elegant.
Bathed in scattered rays of sunlight filtering through the leaves.
The small table in the corner.
The white teacup resting on its saucer.
And the ceramic teapot that remained pleasantly warm after the maids had prepared it for her earlier, as they always did.
This was her usual place.
The only peaceful refuge within the noisy palace.
She sat down quietly and began sipping her usual morning tea.
Silence filled the room.
Until it was interrupted by the unexpected arrival of two people.
---
The Head Butler entered with orderly steps, followed by a stranger carrying a rolled leather folder and an open notebook.
The butler bowed respectfully and spoke in a low voice.
"Good morning, Princess Irene. We apologize for disturbing your peaceful morning, but Mr. Morale, the coordinator of the upcoming debut ceremony, has been sent by order of His Majesty from the Royal Office to review some details regarding your debut event."
Irene stood politely and returned the bow.
It seems this is beginning much earlier than I expected.
"Please, have a seat, sir."
The coordinator thanked her before sitting across from her. He opened his notebook and began speaking in a formal manner, explaining the ceremony and educating her on every detail—schedules, jewelry, etiquette, and the proper way to present herself before the guests.
Irene listened attentively, nodding from time to time.
He briefly discussed the necessary arrangements.
She responded without hesitation.
Without displaying any excessive interest.
Simply practical and straightforward answers.
Just as the meeting was nearing its conclusion, the sound of footsteps crunching across gravel echoed behind them.
---
The glass door opened quietly.
But the presence that entered was loud enough to dominate the entire room.
Selina entered first—the daughter of Queen Elvira and sister of the Crown Prince—walking with the confidence of someone who believed the world itself had been laid beneath her feet.
Behind her came Lauren, the pregnant wife of the Crown Prince. Her elegant steps were accompanied by a heavy, sharp perfume, while visible disgust appeared on her face the moment she laid eyes on Irene.
Selina was the first to speak.
"What a coincidence... We had no idea you were hosting meetings this early in the morning."
Irene looked at her coldly.
She knew perfectly well that this was no coincidence.
The two of them had undoubtedly been searching for her since morning, eager to release the remnants of their anger from the previous night.
Selina glanced at the papers in the coordinator's hands before rudely snatching one away without permission.
She read it aloud before laughing.
"Hmm... color selections... entrance order... How amusing. Have you suddenly become an expert in royal protocol? Or have you been preparing for this moment for years?"
Lauren laughed mockingly.
"Perhaps she simply needed an excuse for it to happen... and it seems she finally found one after ruining my happiness yesterday."
The coordinator visibly panicked and quickly began gathering his papers, while the Head Butler remained silent, unable to interfere.
Selina turned toward him as if she owned the place.
"Are you finished?"
"Yes, my lady."
She smiled.
"Wonderful. Then you may leave. And tell the maids to bring another pot of tea for the three of us. We have much to discuss with our dear sister."
The Head Butler bowed.
"As you command, Your Highness."
Then he turned toward Irene.
"Thank you for your time, Princess. I will notify you in advance regarding any future meetings so that you may choose a location more comfortably."
He briefly glanced toward Selina and Lauren.
Irene immediately understood what he was trying to say.
"Very well. I understand."
The coordinator and the Head Butler bowed once more before departing.
Selina confidently took a seat across from Irene, while Lauren sat beside her.
The two exchanged glances as though preparing for another war.
Irene rolled her eyes internally.
Here we go again.
Selina began her assault in a voice dripping with venom.
"So, little half-blood... tell me, did you enjoy being the center of attention yesterday? You look surprisingly radiant today after accomplishing your goal and ruining my brother's joy over his first child with your pathetic appearance. Is this your usual way of reminding us of your filthy existence? Or perhaps this was your plan from the very beginning—to catch Father's attention after he ignored you for so many years?"
She snatched the papers the coordinator had left behind and tossed them aside with contempt before continuing,
"Ah, I almost pity you. I can see you're indulging in these ridiculous fantasies. Listen to me carefully, you miserable girl. You clearly do not know my father very well. My father is the greatest king among all kingdoms. The only reason he revealed you to the public was a fleeting moment of anger caused by the Second Queen's mistake—a mistake that wounded his pride and vanity. So do not raise your expectations too high."
She leaned back in her chair and smirked.
"Don't think you'll suddenly become part of our family simply because you're appearing at a public event. Even the lowest-ranking noble families hold debut ceremonies when their daughters come of age. But you..."
Her smile widened cruelly.
"Your debut ceremony is taking place when you're already twenty years old. That alone is embarrassing enough to make people laugh. If I were in your place, I would rather kill myself than put myself through such humiliation."
Lauren laughed mockingly.
Selina continued,
"Garbage remains garbage, even if it is decorated with the rarest diamonds in the treasury. And don't imagine for a second that anyone of true status would ever consider marrying a girl like you. Even if you carry the name Eskard, you are still nothing more than trash."
Her eyes narrowed.
"And no great noble house would ever willingly pollute its bloodline by accepting the daughter of a traitorous maid. So even if someone happens to glance in your direction, the best you'll get out of all this attention is some cheap marriage unworthy of a princess."
Throughout the entire tirade, Irene continued drinking her tea as though neither woman existed.
That only irritated them further.
Lauren placed a hand on her swollen belly and spoke with obvious arrogance, glaring at Irene with undisguised hatred.
"Look at that expressionless face. Doesn't she feel ashamed of showing herself around the palace after the First Queen explicitly ordered her to disappear? Tell me, did you plan this from the beginning just to ruin my happiness because you're jealous of me?"
She scoffed.
"Yes, you're jealous. Because this child, even before being born, receives more attention than you've ever received in your entire life."
Irene remained silent.
She continued sipping her tea with unsettling calm, as though she couldn't hear the familiar noise coming from either of them.
At last, Lauren lost what little patience she had left.
"Answer when your betters are speaking to you!"
No response.
Nothing at all.
Lauren turned toward Selina in frustration.
"Has the cat got her tongue? Or is she mute?"
Selina stared at Irene with burning resentment and replied mockingly,
"Yes... something like that. Didn't I tell you before? When she first arrived at the palace, she couldn't speak at all. Perhaps she couldn't handle the magnitude of the disgrace her mother caused."
Then she added in a poisonous tone,
"But Father pitied her. He spared her life and even assigned her a private psychiatrist to treat her psychological trauma."
Lauren let out a short laugh and leaned forward.
"That's right, I'd completely forgotten. Though it seems that doctor didn't do a very good job, considering she still has communication issues."
She examined Irene from head to toe before sneering.
"After seeing her myself, I can honestly say she doesn't deserve the mercy of our great king. I don't understand why His Majesty didn't simply get rid of an insect like her when he already has so many beautiful daughters."
Selina delivered the final blow while pretending to inspect her teacup.
"Lauren, my father is an extremely intelligent man. He knows how to control every game he chooses to play. I'm sure he had his own reasons for giving her his name back then."
She paused.
"But despite all that..."
Her eyes lifted toward Irene.
"In the eyes of everyone in this kingdom, she will always remain exactly like her mother."
Then she said it clearly.
"The spy."
Silence fell.
Irene's hand remained raised, still holding her teacup.
For a single second.
Then she slammed it down onto the table.
The sharp sound of porcelain striking marble and glass echoed through the greenhouse like a gunshot.
The air froze.
Slowly, Irene raised her head.
A deadly stare.
Direct.
Cold.
Completely devoid of hesitation.
It was aimed at Selina alone.
And despite her composure, Selina could not conceal the brief flicker of unease that crossed her eyes.
For a moment, Irene looked like a venomous serpent preparing to strike.
Several seconds passed.
Then Irene rose to her feet.
She looked at both women in silence.
And finally said,
"Excuse me... I have more important matters to attend to."
Without waiting for a response, she turned and walked away.
No haste.
No anger.
Just steady footsteps and a perfectly straight back.
Selina and Lauren remained silent for several moments, as though Irene's words were still hanging in the air around them.
When her figure finally disappeared beyond the glass walls, Selina pressed her palm against the edge of the table and muttered furiously,
"That bitch... How dare she look at me like that? She still needs a psychiatrist. She's completely insane."
To be continued...