Chapter 1

There was no shortage of people eager to present gifts to the Princess Royal. She approved of none of them.

Reclining lazily on her couch, she raised a foot and kicked the bolts of fabric on a tray.

“You dare bring me these coarse things? The palace banquet is approaching. Are you deliberately trying to disgrace me?”

The maid holding the tray struck her head against a table. Blood immediately ran from her forehead and dripped onto the fabric. Only then did the princess smile.

She raised an eyebrow in disdain and murmured to herself, “That’s a lovely color. Why did I never think of dyeing cloth with blood?”

The maid dropped to her knees, trembling uncontrollably.

The Princess Royal was the emperor’s elder sister. She had been indulged since childhood.

Everyone knew she prized beauty above all else. The most fashionable, most beautiful things in the capital had to be brought to her first for inspection.

For that purpose, she kept a retinue of maids and embroiderers who gathered novel fabrics and made her clothes.

“You cannot even find fabric for a dress. Perhaps I should drain the blood from every one of you. Who knows? I might dye a truly unrivaled piece of cloth.” Her voice was airy.

Every maid in the hall fell to her knees.

Even the noblewomen presenting gifts looked terrified, their faces ashen.

They could hardly be blamed.

Though pregnant, the princess still insisted on wearing long gowns with narrow waists.

Most luxurious fabrics were elaborately worked and heavy. Few could fit so closely to the body.

My gaze settled on the slight swell of the princess’s belly. I smiled and stepped into the hall.

In truth, there was a way.

A fabric existed that could fit the body perfectly.

“Please do not be angry, Your Highness. Your servant has come with a gift to ease your worries.”

The princess looked up, plainly annoyed at the interruption. But my words stirred a little interest.

Rather than look at me, she waved for my gift to be brought forward.

It was a green garment as thin as a cicada’s wing, carrying the faintest trace of fragrance.

“Such close-fitting fabric actually exists?” she exclaimed.

I rose with lowered eyes and approached her. “As long as Your Highness is pleased. Please allow your servant to dress you in it.”

She glanced at me and allowed it.

“A sensible girl. Much more pleasing than the others.”

She slipped into the garment and stroked the fabric at her sleeve with satisfaction.

“The color is a little dark,” she remarked critically.

Of course… the color was dark.

After all, it was the skin I had taken from my dead mother’s body.