CHAPTER 062
"......."
"......Belle....."
A faint voice echoed distantly, barely audible.
Arabelle's closed eyes tightened, and her pink lips parted slightly as if to speak, but only shallow breaths escaped.
"......Arabelle......"
The voice, which had been distant in the thick dawn mist, grew closer.
"......Arabelle...!"
Someone urgently called Arabelle's name. It was a clear, youthful male voice on the verge of maturity.
The darkness around her began to brighten as the voice's owner approached. It was as if a gentle light followed him, illuminating the surroundings.
His long lavender hair, which fell to his waist, was damp with sweat, and his large, pale pink eyes quivered with anxiety. His snow-white skin, like the snow on mountaintops, shimmered subtly as if dusted with diamond powder.
Perhaps his bright skin was why he was visible even in the darkness. Between his fine strands of hair, his pointed ears were only partially concealed.
An elf.
Arabelle's head on the bed shook slightly, causing the shadows cast by her eyelashes to ripple.
Was it a dream or reality? In a foggy forest, Arabelle stood before a beautiful elf who could not be obscured by darkness. Her round, clear eyes grew larger than the full moon that would rise in three days, capturing the boy in front of her.
Her lips parted slowly as if she couldn't believe it.
"Ber... Beryl...?"
She called the elf's name softly.
"Is it really you, Beryl? How did you come here?"
Unable to hide her joy, Arabelle took a step forward and asked.
"Where is Master Esperel? Did Master come with you?"
As Arabelle eagerly looked around for her master, Beryl had already moved right in front of her.
"Master couldn't come. I can't stay long either, Arabelle."
"Did Master read the letter I left in the cave?"
Disappointed that Master hadn't come, Arabelle asked, and Beryl nodded.
"Master went to the cave to keep his promise to come for you eight years ago. He knows you followed Emperor Maxwell to the capital and that you're staying in the palace as a candidate for empress."
Arabelle, her cheeks flushed pink, lowered her gaze.
"I'm sorry, Beryl. I promised to help Master with time travel, but I couldn't. I wanted to tell him directly, but I didn't know how to reach him."
She lifted her gaze to Beryl and added.
"After the competition, I planned to return to the territory and leave a letter in the cave. But now that he knows everything... I really want to see him. Do you think he's disappointed in me? Will he come to see me?"
Beryl's eyebrows knitted together, and his glossy lips parted, speaking in a much lower voice.
"Arabelle, listen carefully to what I am about to say."
Arabelle's wide eyes looked at Beryl's deep pink eyes, puzzled.
"Master Esperel sent me into your dream. He is currently dealing with a dangerous situation in the underworld, so he sent me in his stead."
When Arabelle nodded, Beryl's voice grew more serious.
"You must flee the palace before the empress competition ends, no matter what."
Arabelle's voice trembled with shock.
"What do you mean?"
"There isn't much time. Leave the palace and go to the Shiloh antique shop in the city market. If you say your name, they'll help you escape the capital and join us."
"Why... do I have to do that?"
Arabelle asked, her heart pounding uncontrollably. Beryl replied.
"Arabelle, Master said you must escape before you face an irreversible danger."
"I'm doing very well right now. Despite some incidents, everything was resolved well thanks to His Majesty and the good people here. His Majesty always protects and looks after me, ensuring I don't get hurt. If you met His Majesty, you would feel reassured too. Tell Master I'm very safe."
Arabelle shook her head and spoke with a firm voice.
She believed that no matter what danger approached, she would be safe with His Majesty. If Master knew how kind and wonderful His Majesty was, he wouldn't worry about her.
Looking at Beryl with unwavering eyes, Arabelle spoke sincerely.
"And I want to stay here. I want to be where His Majesty is. I can't think of being anywhere else. Even if there's danger, His Majesty will be by my side, so don't worry, Beryl."
As the dawn sky brightened, Beryl looked up anxiously and quickly grabbed Arabelle's shoulders with both hands.
"Listen carefully, Arabelle. The greatest danger to you... the one you must flee from..."
Under the golden sunlight quickly spreading across the dark sky, Beryl's figure flickered and became faint.
His echoing voice, as if sinking underwater, vanished just as he finished his last words.
"......is Emperor Maxwell......!"
***
Startled, Arabelle's eyes flew open, and she looked around in confusion.
It was her bedroom, where the soft morning sunlight gently streamed through the curtains. Arabelle sat up, wrapping her arms around her shoulders where Beryl's cool hands had touched, and hugged her knees.
It was a dream. Just a dream.
When she first met her master, Arabelle became friends with the elf, Beryl. Beryl had crossed the barrier into the human world with their master but often transformed into a white rabbit due to lack of energy.
She used to follow her master around, holding the white rabbit that would fall asleep from breathing the air of the human world. While Arabelle knew that her master could enter people's dreams, Beryl, who was still in training, could not.
"No matter how much Master teaches you, you won't be able to travel through dreams," she had comforted the sulking Beryl while they shared a carrot together.
Arabelle wiped the sweat beading on her forehead with the back of her hand. The year her mother passed away, at her saddest and loneliest, the two elves, Esperell and Beryl, had become her refuge.
If she hadn't met the black panther, she would probably be traveling through time and space with her master and Beryl, rescuing mythological creatures in danger right now.
Though this moment with the Emperor felt like a dream and was incredibly happy, a part of Arabelle's heart always held a sense of regret and sorrow for not being able to bid farewell to her master and Beryl directly.
Yesterday, during the obstacle course race, she had carried a fluffy bundle that reminded her of Beryl when he transformed into a white rabbit, causing her to think a lot about her master and Beryl last night.
Maybe that's why Beryl appeared in her dream...
Arabelle began to recall Beryl's words one by one. He said she was in great danger… or rather, would be in great danger. He told her to escape the palace before the competition ended. He warned that the danger she had to flee from was… the Emperor.
It was an unbelievable statement. Was she sure of what she heard? Beryl's final words had been so faint they were barely discernible in her ears.
Why did she have such a dream? Were there other words between [The greatest danger to you is] and [the Emperor Maxwell]? Perhaps Beryl was trying to say, [The greatest danger to you is something something, but the person who will protect you is the Emperor Maxwell].
She shook her head from side to side, trying not to assign meaning to a simple dream. For some reason, her wildly beating heart would not calm down, so she placed her hands over it and gently pressed down.
Knock, knock.
"Miss, it's Vera. Are you awake?"
Hearing Arabelle's response, Vera and Dina opened the door and entered.
"You’re going boating with His Majesty today. We’re here to help you prepare."
Vera and Dina were carrying baskets filled with colorful bath products, perfumes, and bottles of oils.
"But the boating is in the afternoon... It’s still early morning..."
"Oh, even starting now, there’s not enough time. Today's boating is a special outing alone with His Majesty. Ho, ho, ho."
Arabelle, her face still sleepy, tilted her head and asked, to which Vera responded, covering her mouth with one hand to suppress her laughter.
As Arabelle, blushing, got up from the bed, Rosa and Milly came running in, carrying a long, large velvet box that seemed too heavy even for both of them together.
"His Majesty sent this for you! It’s to wear for today’s boating."
Rosa said excitedly, and Milly chimed in, her eyes sparkling.
"There are five more boxes of this size in the drawing room! His Majesty said to wear whichever you like best and keep the rest for other outings."
"Now, Rosa, prepare the bath with hyacinth oil and freesia petals, Dina, get the porridge made with milk and honey. It’s for applying to the Miss's face and body. Milly, bring breakfast. Leave out any vegetables that are too fibrous. We don’t want the Miss to have any gas. We don’t have time."
Vera, rolling up her sleeves to her elbows, gave each of them their tasks. The three maids followed her orders seamlessly.
Due to the morning-to-afternoon preparation by the trio of maids and Milly, Arabelle completely forgot the dream she had at dawn.
After bathing, applying the slick and sticky porridge to her face and body, bathing again, washing and conditioning her hair with three kinds of oils, and reapplying, it seemed like the entire morning had passed.
Each time Arabelle, her lips pursed, seemed about to object to the excessive preparations, Vera gently reminded her.
"Miss, this is very important for us as well. It’s a chance to prove our ability to serve you. The competence of the maids significantly affects the reputation of the lady they serve."
Once the long bath was over, the real preparation for the outing began.
With a heated iron rod, Vera created large curls in Arabelle’s soft, fine hair and let it cascade over one shoulder.
She twisted and styled the short baby hairs below the forehead and the side hair to make them appear more charming.
She then placed a thick headband studded with numerous pearls and crystals on top of her head, securing it by tying it behind her head.
Among the six outdoor dresses sent by the Emperor, they selected a satin dress in a dewy yellow canola flower color that matched Arabelle's light brown eyes well.
The simple empire dress, gathered under the chest and flowing down smoothly, highlighted Arabelle’s delicate, fairy-like figure.
Vera skillfully added ivory silk lace to the deep neckline that showed her collarbone and a hint of cleavage, leaving only the slender neck visible.
Using lace, young ladies would cover their cleavage during the day and reveal it at night, which was the trend in social circles.
Vera, mindful of this, ensured that the added lace could be easily removed by hand without thorough sewing, pursing her lips as she worked.
The trio also succeeded in persuading Arabelle not to wear the light green dress she initially chose.
Although the light green dress suited her well, unlike the yellow dress that could be easily taken off by untying a front ribbon and lowering the puffy sleeves, the green dress required untying two zigzagging laces from top to bottom, which was inconvenient.
They couldn't impose such inconvenience on "him." The trio referred to "him" as the one waiting on the boat for Arabelle, not her.
Arabelle’s skin was so clear and fair that no foundation was needed, only a dab of pink coral and peony petals crushed into rouge for her cheeks and lips.
Fully prepared, Arabelle donned ivory Mary Jane shoes and twirled in front of the mirror.
The trio smiled motherly, clasping their hands together as if watching a debutante daughter.
When they first saw her at Count Laurel’s castle, she still looked younger than her age, retaining a girlish look. They had been surprised then by how unexpectedly lovely and charming she appeared after her initial makeover.
But now… her face remained youthful and clear, yet she exuded a fresh and elegant woman's charm layered over her lovely girlishness, creating a captivating harmony.
A poet's saying that a girl blossoming into a woman in love is the most beautiful and enchanting seemed accurate.
"Oh, we almost forgot the jewelry. What would suit you best?"
As Rosa and Dina spread out the jewelry gifted by the Emperor from his recent excursion, Vera shook her head.
"The Emperor’s staff sent not only the dress but also matching gloves and shoes. Why wouldn’t they send jewelry?"
As Arabelle and the maids stared blankly at Vera, she grinned and explained.
"The Emperor intends to personally gift the jewelry to the Miss. It’s best to go without any jewelry for the boating."
Dina, Rosa, and Milly gazed at Vera with admiration, recognizing her future role as head maid to the Empress.
***
Under the tall Milly's parasol, Arabelle walked to the lake's dock.
The Emperor’s second guard unit escorted her in front and behind, and at the dock entrance, twelve guards stood with flag poles. The flag poles lifted one by one, creating a path as Arabelle approached.
The guards escorting her split to the sides, revealing a tall, slender man standing alone on a simple red gondola.
Dressed in a deep navy uniform with golden insignia symbolizing the Empire and the Emperor draped over his shoulders and chest, the man extended his hand toward Arabelle with a respectful smile.
Arabelle looked into his ruby-red eyes, which sparkled like precious gems, and his enchanting smile, realizing at that moment.
Even if the Emperor was the greatest danger to her, she could never escape him. No, she would not.
Arabelle placed her hand in the Emperor's large palm.
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