Gather Divine Coins and Gacha! - Chapter 220

 Summer in January.

It’s hard to believe it’s been over a month since I arrived in the capital.

Initially, the rainy season meant there were no outings or visitors, and I feared I might become one with the bed. I still can’t go out and wander alone, but I’ve found plenty to keep me entertained.

This kind of leisurely time isn’t so bad.

Well, I do feel like I’m lazing around a lot... Even at the mansion, if there’s something to do, they usually inform me the day before, except for sudden emergencies. It’s been pretty relaxing.

Or so I thought...

“Um... where are we going?”

After lunch, I had retreated to my bedroom and was dozing off when suddenly, a group including Oriana came into my room. Before I knew it, I was thrown into a carriage, not belonging to the Müller family but bearing a familiar crest. I had seen it somewhere before.

I still had my floating orb and other beneficial items with me, but where were they taking me? It seemed we were heading towards the castle.

“A summons from the royal palace.”

...The royal palace?

“The castle?”

“Not exactly. It’s the royal residence within the castle.”

“Oh...”

Wait, what?

“I’m going to the castle?!”

Oriana nodded affirmatively.

I was still in my loungewear... having been lying in bed, my clothes were wrinkled, and I had bedhead.

“You’ll be fine.”

She said, seeing me pat my hair and straighten my clothes.

It was only a few hundred meters, but the carriage sped through at a pace not much faster than walking, breezing through the castle gates without stopping.

Things were moving too quickly.

Inside the castle walls, there was another wall, and passing through its gate, we entered the actual castle. This was where officials worked, not where people lived. Beyond that was a palace where Seriana and the others stayed. In front of it was another similarly sized building, which turned out to be the royal palace.

It was close to the castle, and I had seen what looked like gardens, but I didn’t realize this was the royal palace.

◇

Inside the royal palace, I was immediately taken to a bath, scrubbed under Oriana’s supervision, and rubbed with something that smelled like perfume. They even put makeup on me—just enough to cover freckles and apply some lipstick, nothing too extravagant.

...I wish they’d at least let me look in a mirror.

And since I was wearing shoes, I wished they’d let me walk.

Afterward, Seriana and Minea, who had joined us at some point, took away my beneficial items, dressed me in clothes I’d never seen before, and Elena carried me further inside without a word.

Seriana held onto the floating orb, while the rest were placed in a small, ornate box Gina carried.

By now, with this group in the royal palace, it was obvious where we were headed.

The queen...

I knew the first queen, Renus, was the mother of Rezel, Elisha, and the crown prince, but that’s all I knew.

I was told to keep my head down and stay silent until told otherwise, but I wished I had more time to prepare myself mentally. I’d heard she wasn’t a terrifying person, quite the opposite, actually friendly. Judging by Elisha and Rezel, that reputation seemed true, but still...

We passed through a door guarded by female knights, went further inside to another door where the group finally stopped. The security was tight, but the place was modest, about the same size as the room I used at the mansion. It was tucked away, inconvenient for coming and going, but was this really the place?

“Hey... mmmph.”

I tried to ask for more explanation, but Elena covered my mouth with her free hand, signaling me to be quiet with a finger to her lips.

Soon, we were urged to enter, and I was finally set down, though my hand was still held.

Surrounded by everyone, I couldn’t see much of the room, but the air was filled with an expensive fragrance, either perfume or incense.

“Welcome.”

I was curious about the room, but I obediently kept my head down as instructed. From the back of the room came a voice, a bit like Elisha’s but slightly lower.

It was probably the queen.