Chapter 146 Entering the Royal Castle
Cressida changed into her formal dress and calmly made her way to the front hall.
After hearing that a royal decree had arrived, Patrick dragged his ailing body there in person.
As soon as the decree-bearing attendant saw Cressida, he immediately bowed and presented the royal decree.
With a face full of smiles, he said: "Ms. Hamilton, His Majesty the King has specifically instructed that you need not kneel to receive the decree. The Harvest Festival is approaching, and according to ancient Novarian law, seven unmarried noble young ladies must be selected to enter the royal castle in the capital, where they will fast and purify themselves for seven days while copying the Holy Scripture together as a blessing. You are one of the seven young ladies personally chosen by His Majesty. Please prepare yourself - the day after tomorrow at dawn, the royal household will send a carriage to fetch you."
Before Cressida could speak, Patrick beside her was immediately overjoyed.
"Truly?" Patrick looked at Cressida. "This is wonderful news! According to past practice, after the scripture copying is completed each year, His Majesty also personally designates one young lady with the most devout heart to accompany the royal family members into the royal chapel for the sacrifice on Harvest Festival day. Cressida, my daughter, you are blessed!"
The decree-bearing attendant replied with a smile: "That is correct."
Cressida calmly accepted the decree: "Thank you for His Majesty's favor."
The decree-bearing attendant bowed to her: "Ms. Hamilton, you may bring one maid into the castle. Asides that, you need not prepare too many clothes or jewelry - the royal household will bestow everything."
Cressida nodded and had the maid Emma see the decree-bearing attendant out.
She turned around, her thoughts growing heavier.
Patrick followed behind her, chattering endlessly about the wonderful news
Cressida stopped, turned around and said coldly: "Father, what exactly do you think is good about this?"
"In the past, The young ladies who entered the castle to copy scriptures during the Harvest Festival were either candidates to become duchesses or marchionesses—or potential wives for Prince Marshall. Doesn't that tell you something?"
"But Father, the noble families chosen to copy scriptures each year have always been the same few households. Have you considered why our family was added this year?
Patrick froze, thought for a moment, and said, "Naturally, it's because our family is highly valued by His Majesty."
Cressida’s eyes darkened. “This is not good news. His Majesty is elevating us so high, yet you don’t stop to think about it? I've spent years in the border territories, and the complicated etiquette for copying scriptures in the castle is endless. Can I really handle it? If I make even the slightest mistake and offend the royal nobles, how many people will take the opportunity to kick us while we're down? Will we still have good days ahead?"
After she finished speaking, Patrick's face changed dramatically.
He also realized that Cressida had gone to the border territories at fourteen and hadn't studied royal etiquette since. Moreover, this time she was entering the royal castle in the capital!
Those noble young ladies went to the castle to copy scriptures every year, but this was Cressida's first time.
No one knew whether what awaited her was fortune or disaster.
Patrick immediately broke out in a cold sweat.
He hurriedly thought of a solution: "I've heard there are several etiquette ladies in the city who retired from the royal castle. I'll hire them at great expense to come teach you etiquette for two days. How about that?"
"It's too late. I have to enter the castle at dawn the day after tomorrow. After entering the palace, I'll be careful on my own. But during these days, Father must absolutely not go out bragging about this, to avoid bringing disaster."
"I understand, I definitely won't talk about it everywhere."
Actually, Cressida said those words half to warn Patrick.
He was too carried away with joy, even convinced that Cressida would marry into nobility. Cressida didn't want him to get too full of himself, and was even more afraid he'd say something careless after drinking and cause trouble.
After returning to her room, Cressida called several loyal servants to her side.
"I can only bring one person along to serve me. I've decided to bring Emma. Verity and Ingrid will stay behind to help me watch over the back courtyard of The Hamilton Mansion."
Especially to have them keep an eye on Clio and Rose, to prevent them from causing trouble in secret.
Everyone nodded in agreement.
Ingrid said thoughtfully: "His Majesty suddenly making such arrangements - could it be that he's taken a liking to Ms. Hamilton and wants to arrange a marriage between you and one of the four princes?"
Verity chimed in: "It must be so. Otherwise Prince Miguel wouldn't have specifically reminded Ms. Hamilton. From the looks of it now, Prince Joseph is the most likely."
Cressida had them withdraw for now, and also instructed Verity to make a trip to Miguel's palace to find out clearly who exactly the young ladies entering the castle to copy scriptures were this time.
Soon, Verity returned with the finalized list.
Besides Cressida, there was Emily from the Gomez family, Madeline Lopez, daughter of Gregory Lopez, Elysia from the Woods family who was acquainted with Cressida, and three other noble young ladies Cressida wasn't very familiar with.
Verity told Cressida that for the past three years, Emily had been chosen to accompany Doyle and the royal clan to the royal chapel for the sacrifice.
What Patrick said wasn't without reason - last year, two noble young ladies were betrothed on the spot to two marquises after the scripture copying ended.
However, the year before, a noble girl accidentally damaged a copy of the Holy Scripture. She was scolded and punished by Doyle, and not long after leaving the castle, she died of depression.
This showed that while this tradition was Doyle's means of winning over nobles through marriage alliances, not all outcomes were good.
Seeing Cressida deep in thought and silent, Verity said, "Prince Miguel instructed that Ms. Hamilton should enter the castle without worry, and need not fear being betrothed to someone else."
“I’m not thinking about the betrothal matter, but rather,” Cressida paused, her gaze falling on the list, “what benefits I can gain from this.”
She didn't want to become an accessory manipulated by others in the royal power struggle.
If she couldn't resist royal power, then she had to secure more benefits for herself.
With such a good opportunity, she had to do something to pave the way for revealing her true identity in the future.
First, she needed to plant a seed in everyone’s mind, so that when she finally revealed her true identity, people wouldn't find it absurd or sudden, but would simply think, “So that’s how it is.”
After thinking for a moment, a glimmer of light flashed in Cressida's eyes.
"Emma, go find Jessica for me."
On September 1st, Cressida rode in a royal carriage into the royal castle in the capital.
Cressida was led by a maid to the corridor beside the royal inner courtyard, where Emily and the others had already arrived.
The autumn breeze blew past, gently stirring the skirts of the noble young ladies.
Madeline and two other noble young ladies turned around. Seeing Cressida, they exchanged knowing glances.
Only Emily wore a gentle smile and said warmly: "Cressida, we meet again."
Cressida stepped forward and greeted them one by one.
Madeline looked her up and down rudely, then suddenly laughed.
"Cressida, when it comes to training horses and archery in the border territories, you may be first-rate, but have you ever copied the Holy Scripture?"
"I have not." Cressida answered honestly.
The contempt in Madeline's eyes grew stronger.
New noble families like the Hamilton family that rose through military achievements had never been valued by these old aristocratic families.
Madeline looked at Emily and said "Emily, do we really have to let her copy the Holy Scripture with us? You should know, the Holy Scripture has seven volumes total, one volume for each of us . If her volume isn't up to standard, it will drag all of us down!"
The other two noble young ladies nodded in agreement.
Emily smiled gently and said warmly, "Don't worry, Madeline. If His Majesty personally selected Cressida to enter the castle, then she must have exceptional qualities."
Then she looked at Cressida and said, "Cressida, don't be nervous. Everyone feels a little lost the first time they copy the Holy Scripture, but as long as you're careful and meticulous, you'll definitely complete it."
Cressida remained composed. Even in the face of Madeline’s provocation, her expression didn't change, her demeanor stayed refined and spirited.
She simply said calmly: "I will do my best."
Madeline snorted and turned away, no longer looking at her.
Before long, Elysia also arrived by carriage. After all seven noble young ladies had assembled, three female officials responsible for guiding their scripture copying led them to their residence in the castle.
Along the way, the lead female official, Jada, kept introducing the castle buildings they passed.
The royal castle was divided into the outer court and inner court. The outer court was primarily where the king held court, ministers deliberated, and various government offices were located.
The inner court was closer to where the royal family members lived.
The Imperial Garden, where Cressida and the others would temporarily reside, was located at the boundary between the outer and inner courts.
Here stood the royal medical hall, equestrian grounds, and gardens planted with countless rare flowers and plants.
As she arrived outside the Imperial Garden, Cressida looked up and saw beautiful mountains and clear waters before her eyes.
The Imperial Garden was built on an artificially constructed hill, with flowing streams and tranquil scenery where white doves and peacocks roamed freely.
Looking at the overwhelming wealth before her, Cressida suddenly understood why everyone, male or female, would desperately compete once they entered the castle and touched the edge of power - power and wealth were simply too tempting.
At this moment, the female officials specifically led them around the royal medical hall, pointing to a peculiar building in a damp garden not far away.
That building had only one door, no windows around it, and even the roof was covered with disguised tiles.
The lead female official, Jada, said, "This is the royal snake garden. Ladies, you must never approach it on ordinary days. Inside are many species of poisonous snakes.”
Two noble young ladies immediately cried out softly, their faces turning pale.
Elysia quietly moved closer to Cressida and whispered, "I heard that when His Majesty's old illness flares up, fresh snake gallbladders must be used in his medicine. That is why the snake garden was built near the Royal Medicine Hall. Attendants who look after the snake garden are often bitten to death by snakes - it's terrifying."
Cressida comforted her, "The Imperial Garden is still some distance from here. We should be safe."
Everyone returned to the Imperial Garden.
Jada said, "Rest for today. Tomorrow we begin copying the Holy Scripture, starting at dawn and ending in the afternoon. After nightfall, you may not leave your rooms. Violators will be treated as having broken royal rules and reported to Her Majesty the Queen."
The noble young ladies understood and responded in unison: "Yes."
Everyone went to their assigned rooms. Cressida happened to be next to Elysia, while Madeline lived across from Cressida.
Emma pushed open the door, looked around the room, and said in surprise, “This room is really big.”
Inside was a carved oak bed with thin gauze curtains hanging from it. Below three spacious windows were neat desks, and even the wardrobes consisted of two tall redwood cabinets.
The royal household treated these noble lady candidates quite generously.
Cressida was instructing Emma to organize their belongings when a young maid came to report.
"Ms. Hamilton, Prince Marshall has arrived. The female official wants all the ladies to wait in the front hall."
When Cressida arrived at the front hall, Emily, Madeline and the others had already arrived.
A noble young lady beside them said with a smile, "Prince Marshall and Emily have such a good relationship. We've only just arrived at the castle and Prince Marshall has already come to see her."
Emily put on a polite smile and said, “Don’t talk nonsense. Prince Marshall isn’t here for me, he’s here on His Majesty’s orders to check on our accommodations.”
Despite saying this, Emily's neck straightened a bit involuntarily.
All the noble young ladies tacitly stood one step behind her, with no one daring to stand ahead .
Seeing this, Cressida thought for a moment, then walked to the back and stood with Elysia.
Before long, Marshall’s tall figure, dressed in a moon-white royal ceremonial robe, appeared at the entrance of the front hall, followed by a grand procession of attendants.
"Greetings to Prince Marshall." Everyone bowed.
Marshall smiled warmly: "You may rise."
As he spoke, he reached out to help Emily up, then walked past her toward Cressida.
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