Special Story 1

I am Sasha Eclipse.

I am the successor to the Eclipse Grand Ducal Family, the sole Grand Ducal Family of the Dragon Empire that guards the North.

“My Lady, have you woken up?”

“Yes.”

The time was eight in the morning.

Dressed in my training clothes and ready, I left the room, bringing my attendant, Old Man Van, with me. I was heading to give my morning greetings to my mother before beginning my morning sword training.

“Lady Chacha is in the office.”

“Understood.”

Following the old man’s words, I headed to my mother’s office.

Van was the oldest servant in the Grand Ducal Castle, and I was told he was once the head butler before I was born. He had apparently become my personal attendant because he was getting old…

‘Shouldn’t he be retiring instead of becoming my attendant?’

The thought crossed my mind, but since it must have been an agreement with my parents, I didn’t voice this thought.

Knock, knock.

“Come in, dear.”

As I entered the office, my ever-beautiful mother, amidst a mountain of documents, smiled at me. Even though I went through the same routine every day, my mother would always stand up quickly and hug me tightly whenever I came for my morning greetings.

“Recharge!”

She would say this strange word.

As I was inevitably pulled into a hug today, I felt my mother’s familiar scent. It was warm and sweet, exactly like her.

“Mmm, Mother. I am also happy that you appear safe and sound today.”

I remained quietly hugged for about ten seconds before breaking free and adjusting my ruffled clothes. When I calmly offered my greetings, my mother’s expression turned into a pout.

“My daughter, how old are you?”

“I will be seven after my birthday this year.”

I answered the sudden question dutifully but tilted my head in confusion. Whatever culture it was, my mother was the one who placed candles on the cake equal to my age every birthday. As I looked at my mother with my head tilted, I suddenly felt that this action was too childish and quickly straightened my head.

My mother sighed lightly at this, then said, “You look like a fluffy, pink cotton candy, just like me… but how can your personality be exactly like your father’s?”

“Thank you for the compliment, Mother.”

When I expressed my gratitude with delight, it was my mother’s head that tilted this time. I clearly stated what I felt upon hearing my mother’s compliment.

“I am happy to be complimented for resembling my proud father. I will strive even harder in the future.”

“Sasha…”

“Then, I shall take my leave now for sword training, Mother.”

I bowed to my mother, who had a somewhat blank expression, and left the office. I could hear Old Man Van chuckling softly beside me.

‘It seems everyone is proud that I resemble my father.’

Regaining my resolve, I immediately went down to the training grounds. My father, who oversees my sword training every day, was already there with the knights, waiting for me. Feeling late, I restrained my legs from running and approached calmly to offer my greeting.

“Good morning, Your Grace the Grand Duke. Did you rest well last night?”

Hmm, perfect.

I was always mindful of my conduct as a young Grand Duchess, but I tried even harder in front of my father, the Grand Duke. And the greeting just now was absolutely perfect, a worthwhile result of learning and practice.

It was just as I was inwardly praising myself.

“Papa.”

“Pardon?”

My father, his face stern, demanded in a firm voice. When I only asked back in confusion, my father repeated, “Papa.”

“…”

Wrong. He wasn’t going to let it go.

‘…I’m already seven years old, though.’

Unable to say such a frank thought, I finally blushed with embarrassment and mumbled faintly.

“P-Papa…”

Only then did my father smile gently and lift me up. The eyes of the Silver Wolf Knights, who were training, turned towards me. I became more embarrassed by their obvious stares and wriggled.

“F-Father, please put me down.”

“Papa.”

“…Papa, please put me down…”

“Haa.”

Sighs could be heard from various places.

I used the title “Papa” again to plead, but my father only deepened his smile and did not put me down until the training started.

‘Oh, my image as the successor…’

The path to becoming a perfect successor was still long and arduous.

After finishing the Eclipse Grand Ducal Family’s traditional sword training, I spent time in my personal study.

First, I reviewed the material for the lesson scheduled for this afternoon, and then I spent the remaining time checking the letters and gifts that had arrived for me.

Flap, I picked up the topmost letter, and a familiar handwriting was visible.

‘This is Aunt Roana’s letter.’

Aunt Roana was currently traveling across the country with Grandmother. She always sent a letter along with a local item whenever she visited a new area, and she seemed to be enjoying her trip greatly.

‘Will she have her wedding when she returns from this trip?’

I thought, recalling Commander Kroel of the Knights, whom I saw during training. When will the two of them have their wedding? They got engaged when I was five, but there had been no news of a wedding yet.

I briefly set aside the thought and picked up the next letter. The next one was from Count Blueberry, which is my maternal grandfather.

‘I heard his back hasn’t been well lately, but as expected, the letter doesn’t mention it.’

Although we couldn’t meet often because the distance between the territories was too great, my grandfather consistently sent letters and gifts. Thanks to this, I naturally heard news about his health when receiving the items, and it seemed he had sprained his back due to his age.

‘I need to send him some good medicinal herbs.’

I thought about the gift to send, wrote a reply, and naturally picked up the next letter. The next two were letters from Aunt Iris and Aunt Helena. Since they were a Countess and a Duchess, I shouldn’t really call them ‘Aunt,’ but they wouldn’t even look back if I didn’t use that title.

[To Sasha.]

[How are you doing? This is Aunt Iris.]

While reading the affectionately written letter, I suddenly remembered my father when he saw my aunt’s letter a while ago.

“Countess Laurel?”

He wasn’t usually one to show much change in expression, but his expression seemed awkward for some reason, so I had asked my mother about it.

“Mother. Does Father dislike Aunt Iris?”

”Hmm~ He doesn’t dislike her; he’s just sulking a little.”

“Sulking? Father?”

“Yes. His aide went to Iris.”

The word “sulking” was still confusing, so I understood it as he didn’t like her because his aide had been taken by my aunt. But my aunt didn’t have a separate aide, only Uncle Norman by her side. Could the “stolen” aide be Uncle Norman?

I recalled my uncle, who had a meticulous expression while bottle-feeding his newborn son.

‘I should ask him when he visits next time.’

And the letter from Aunt Helena that I took out next was always…

‘Splendid.’

Very much so.

Since we frequently talked on the video communication sphere, the content was only a few lines, but it was always accompanied by a lot of gifts, making it incredibly splendid. For me, as the young Grand Duchess, I usually received dresses, jewelry, and dolls as gifts. However, Aunt Helena mostly prepared gifts necessary for the successor of the family. Things like books on politics or news related to the social circle. She supported me not just as a cute niece, but as the successor of the Eclipse Ducal Family, which is why I like Aunt Helena the most among my aunts.

‘I should thank Aunt Helena using the video communication sphere.’

The only remaining letters were from the Emperor, the Sun of the Empire, or His Imperial Majesty.

‘Father told me to ignore them, so I’ve been putting it off…’

I stared intently at the glittering golden envelope and slightly peeled it open. I was a little curious about the content.

[To my grand-niece Sasha.]

[Would you like to try being Emperor?]

“…”

That’s enough.

I gathered all the golden letters and pushed them into a corner. For the record, I had no familial relationship with Emperor Grendal von Dragon.

The Eclipse Grand Ducal Family usually had both lunch and dinner together as a family, provided there were no special circumstances. Grandmother and Aunt Roana are traveling, and Uncle Adel was boarding at Dragonia Academy, so lately, it’s just my father, my mother, and me having a cozy meal together. I quite like this time.

‘They are still on good terms today.’

My parents, who had a love marriage instead of an arranged one despite being a Grand Ducal Family, still loved and respected each other affectionately.

‘When I grow up, I must also find a destined love like them. Marriage is definitely a love match.’

I was reaffirming the resolve I had made for seven years, watching my father, the Grand Duke and a hero of the Empire, personally debone fish for my mother. My mother, who was picking up the nicely prepared fish meat, spoke.

“Oh, Sasha. Your birthday is coming up soon, isn’t it?”

“Yes, Mother.”

“I’m planning to hold a big banquet this birthday. I’ve sent invitations to young ladies and gentlemen of your age.”

“I see.”

“Yes. I thought it would be nice for Sasha to make good friends this time.”

I froze, stopping the hand that was cutting the steak, and asked again.

“Friends?”

“Our daughter is still only seven years old and hasn’t met many peers, has she? It’s not good to only play with adults.”

“…”

My mood instantly soured. I struggled not to twist my face and tightly closed my mouth.

‘Friends.’

Those immature, loud children, with me?

The fatigue of having to socialize was already washing over me.