Chapter 6

“Wow.”

 

She stood tall, gazing blankly into the banquet hall for a moment. She felt overwhelmed by the sheer vastness of the space.

 

The ornate chandeliers densely packing the ceiling and the beautiful, elegant melodies of string instruments filled both her sight and hearing without a gap.

 

Momentarily captivated by the ecstasy, she slowly stepped inside.

 

Fortunately, few eyes were focused on her. Most gazes that would have fallen on her were already fixed on Michael’s beauty.

 

With a slightly lighter heart, she scanned the room to see who was there.

 

“El, do you see the Duke?”

 

“Yeah, over there.”

 

Where Michael pointed, countless nobles surrounded the Duke. It was a crowd she didn’t dare approach.

 

‘It’ll be hard to even get a word in.’

 

She gave up on going to the Duke and looked around the hall again.

 

Did Ena attend?

 

“Do you see her?”

 

“No, too many people.”

 

Michael shook his head, saying he couldn’t see Ena either. Alice gave up on finding Ena in the endlessly wide banquet hall.

 

Hungry from coming out on an empty stomach, she picked at some desserts.

 

“Gasp… what is this?”

 

Her eyes widened uncontrollably after taking one bite of a dessert. Michael asked, surprised.

 

“What? Why? Is it poisoned?”

 

“Seriously, this taste is insane. Do people living in the Imperial Palace eat this every day?”

 

Alice suddenly felt like dying of envy. Michael looked at her disbelievingly and took a bite of the dessert.

 

“This is absolutely insane.”

 

“Right?”

 

Michael also looked at the cake with admiration. As they were quietly eating dessert, a strange silence fell over the room.

 

Even Alice, who had been lost in the dessert, turned her head at the unusual atmosphere. Every noble was looking in one direction.

 

Edwin Esteban and Rachel Thaleia.

 

They had entered the banquet hall.

 

The arrival of the beautiful man and woman captured everyone’s attention at once.

 

Edwin was wearing a black tailcoat. The dark color contrasting with his white skin made his beauty stand out even more.

 

Well, he would have been handsome no matter what he wore, but…

 

The nobles in the hall began to whisper about the two attending together.

 

“Are engagement talks already happening between the two families…?”

 

“With the Thaleia family, it’s certainly possible.”

 

Most were speculating about their relationship. Michael also spotted him and muttered, “That crow,” looking displeased. But to Alice’s eyes, he didn’t look like a crow.

 

‘There’s no way a crow could be that beautiful.’

 

Unless it was a seductive devil who could trap anyone in his swamp, maybe. Though the gazes were burdensome, Alice gathered her courage, grabbed Michael’s arm, and approached Edwin.

 

“Alice.”

 

Edwin noticed her too. Even here, he wore a dreadfully expressionless face.

 

Rachel Thaleia looked on with a puzzled gaze, covering her mouth with a fan.

 

“Who might this be?”

 

Rachel’s eyes turned to Michael. Michael barely managed to hide his annoyance and introduced himself.

 

“Michael Elga.”

 

“Ah, the one with the reputation as a genius doctor?”

 

“Not a genius, but a doctor, yes.”

 

Michael said the same thing when Alice called him a genius. Of course, he didn’t say it out of humility.

 

Hidden behind those words was the sentiment: ‘Except for me, all other doctors are idiots.’

 

Alice realized this was her chance since she had met the two of them.

 

“Hello, Lady Thaleia.”

 

Rachel’s gaze finally turned to Alice at her greeting, as if only just realizing her existence.

 

“Ah, Miss Alice Garnet. I’ve heard a lot about you.”

 

Lady Thaleia’s gaze was merely looking at a piece of gossip—nothing more, nothing less. Her face showed only a moderate amount of interest.

 

Relieved that Rachel held no hostility toward her, Alice slid closer. This next part was important.

 

“I’ve always looked forward to meeting you, My Lady.”

 

“Why?”

 

Rachel looked annoyed, but she gave a polite enough response to Alice’s words.

 

“Because I have something to thank you deeply for.”

 

“Hmm, have we ever met privately?”

 

“Do you remember visiting a dessert shop when you visited the Esteban estate last time?”

 

Rachel remained silent for a moment, tracing back her memory, before letting out a small “Ah.”

 

“You mean Deli Melli.”

 

“Yes. Actually, it’s a secret, but…”

 

Alice beckoned the Lady to come closer. Lady Thaleia looked a bit disapproving, but leaned in with a face that asked what she had to say.

 

“I run that shop.”

 

“…You do, Miss Garnet?”

 

As if hearing a quite surprising fact, Lady Thaleia’s violet eyes widened.

 

“You have no idea how much our sales went up after the news that Lady Thaleia visited. You are my benefactor.”

 

Fortunately, she seemed interested. It was a natural reaction. The fact that she loved desserts was known to everyone who knew anything.

 

If Alice, who opened a dessert shop, didn’t know that, it was as good as saying she had no intention of doing business.

 

“Do you have time to talk about it briefly?”

 

“If it’s just for a moment…”

 

Rachel glanced at Edwin, then at Alice. Being with her would be better than being with a man who had absolutely zero interest in her despite his flashy exterior. Rachel’s decision was quick.

 

“Alright.”

 

Alice cheered internally. Michael realized the situation was flowing strangely and grabbed her.

 

“Hey, wait.”

 

“Then El, you chat with Edwin for a bit. Just the two of you, cozily.”

 

“What crazy nonsense…”

 

Michael looked at her dumbfounded, but Alice paid no mind.

 

“Oh my, that tart looks delicious!”

 

“Hey! Alice! Alice Garnet!”

 

Despite Michael’s shouts, Alice grabbed Rachel’s arm and led her toward the dessert bar.

 

She felt Edwin’s gaze following them, but she pretended not to notice.

 

“What is this about?”

 

Rachel, who had been dragged along bewildered, asked.

 

“It’s a customer satisfaction survey… I wanted to ask which dessert you enjoyed the most.”

 

Standing before the table laden with tarts, they began to talk about desserts.

 

While doing so, Alice kept a vigilant watch on where Edwin and Michael were.

 

‘I don’t know what they’re saying, but they’re talking.’

 

Gasp. Alice held her breath at the distance between the two. If they got any closer, they might kiss?

 

While she was watching them with a pounding heart, the music suddenly stopped.

 

Then, a servant’s voice announcing the Emperor’s entrance rang through the banquet hall.

 

“His Imperial Majesty is entering!”

 

The crowd went silent instantly, as if doused with cold water. Alice and Rachel bowed their heads slightly toward where the Emperor entered.

 

During her lessons, Richet had told her this was the etiquette for treating the Emperor in crowded places like banquets.

 

The Emperor’s face, seen briefly, had aged significantly in ten years.

 

His hair, which used to be half-blond, had turned completely white, and his wrinkles had deepened, revealing age spots.

 

‘Ah.’

 

Their eyes met again amidst the countless nobles. Just like back then.

 

She immediately lowered her gaze. Then, the Emperor, who had walked to the central hall, raised his champagne glass and spoke.

 

“Today is a meaningful day in many ways, one that will be newly recorded in the history of the Empire.”

 

The nobles listened quietly to the Emperor, holding their champagne glasses. In the middle of the Emperor’s congratulatory speech, Edwin was called. Edwin walked out to the central hall and knelt before the Emperor.

 

“Little Duke Esteban. I wish to grant you a new title in high regard of your merits.”

 

“I am honored, Your Majesty. However, I wish to remain in Esteban and fulfill my duties as a member of the family.”

 

“Hoho, what a desirable mindset. The Duke must be very virtuous. Is it common to have such a son?”

 

“It is the grace of the sun.”

 

Duke Esteban, who was standing next to him, replied. The Emperor asked Edwin again.

 

“Then is there anything else you desire?”

 

Something he desired.

 

There was something he wanted, but it wasn’t something a mere Emperor could give.

 

Edwin, skillfully hiding his arrogant gaze, answered.

 

“…There is not.”

 

The Emperor opened his mouth with a pleased expression. Then, a long speech commemorating the victory of the war followed.

 

“Everyone, enjoy your time before you leave.”

 

As his words ended, the music that had stopped began to resonate through the banquet hall again. It was a waltz.

 

Nobles came out to the central hall one by one and began to waltz with their partners.

 

Alice glanced toward where Edwin and Michael were. They were continuing their conversation again.

 

‘Stop talking and just dance.’

 

What kind of conversation were they having for so long? She felt a little frustrated.

 

 

***

 

 

“Michael Elga.”

 

Just as Michael, feeling uncomfortable being left alone with Edwin, tried to leave, Edwin called him to a stop.

 

“What is your relationship with Alice?”

 

“Do I have an obligation to answer that?”

 

Michael faced him with a look that said he had no intention of getting involved in a conversation with an obvious flow. Edwin spoke slowly.

 

“Patient and doctor. Nothing more, nothing less.”

 

At the decisive tone implying there was not a single error in that statement, Michael scoffed and replied.

 

“Do patients and doctors usually come to places like this together?”

 

Instead of answering that question, Edwin’s gaze slowly swept over his body.

 

“It seems you’ve recovered well.”

 

“…What is it all of a sudden?”

 

Michael looked at him with a face that said he was getting goosebumps. Surely that guy wasn’t saying that out of concern for him.

 

“The youngest qualified doctor. It seems your reputation has reached the capital; your name was mentioned quite a lot while I was on leave.”

 

That used to be quite annoying in the past, but not anymore. Seeing the smile hovering on Edwin’s lips, Michael frowned deeply.

 

“So what does that have to do with me?”

 

“A proposal has come from Lenox to take you. It is for the good of the Empire, so Esteban cannot refuse.”

 

Lenox.

 

That place, abundant with elm trees, was the largest medical facility and academy, hard to find even within the Empire.

 

Its reputation as a medical facility was widespread, making it a place many commoner medical students aspired to enter, but the problem was its location.

 

Existing at the very edge of the East, it was very far from the capital. Thus, it was also a place where high-ranking nobles occasionally sent their illegitimate children under the pretext of medical studies to get rid of them.

 

Furthermore, Lenox was in the East, while the Esteban Dukedom was in the West—opposite ends of the Empire.

 

“And there are no exceptions, even for a doctor working at the Ducal Castle.”

 

The corners of Edwin’s lips, which had been shut in a straight line, lifted slightly. Michael felt the hair on his head stand up as he grasped the situation.

 

He intended to send him to a faraway land right now. Michael bit his lip and retorted.

 

“Was this the reason you forced me to stay stuck at home? But what to do. I have no intention of going to Lenox.”

 

Michael continued speaking, looking toward where Alice was.

 

“Elga people have to take responsibility for their patients until the end, you see.”

 

Realizing who was at the end of that gaze, the smile completely vanished from Edwin’s lips.

 

“It seems you haven’t understood your position yet. What a pity.”

 

Michael flinched. Edwin had approached right under his nose without him even sensing his presence.

 

“This is an order, Michael Elga. You do not have the authority to refuse.”

 

“…Do you think Alice will just sit by and watch?”

 

Edwin did not speak any further. He simply stepped back and looked at Michael. It was an observational action, as if to see what he would do.

 

However, the look in his eyes viewing the other person was arrogant and haughty, as if looking at an insect.

 

‘Disgusting bastard.’

 

Clenching his fists, Michael went straight to Alice. She was absorbed in conversation next to Rachel Thaleia. Discovering his arrival belatedly, Alice was startled.

 

“El! Why are you here already?”

 

You could have stayed with Edwin a little longer… Hearing her mutter, Michael let out a hollow laugh in disbelief.

 

However, Alice’s gaze watching the dancing nobles was dripping with lingering regret.

 

“It’s just now time to dance…”

 

Alice, who had secretly wanted to see Michael and Edwin dance, sighed deeply.

 

Surely the atmosphere between the two wouldn’t have been great, but watching them dance awkwardly would have been fine in its own way.

 

“If you want to dance that much, dance with me.”

 

Michael extended his hand. Alice was surprised, and Rachel looked back and forth between the two before stepping away to avoid them.

 

“Me…?”

 

Alice looked around with a troubled expression. Edwin was nowhere to be seen. She hesitated and said, “But, I’m not good at dancing.”

 

Michael raised an eyebrow and said, “I can’t dance either, so we’re in the same boat.”

 

“If people who can’t dance dance together, won’t it just be more embarrassing?”

 

“If you don’t want to, just say you don’t want to honestly.”

 

“Oh my, when did I say I didn’t want to?”

 

Alice grabbed Michael’s hand abruptly. The way of the world is that one does not refuse a dance with a handsome man.

 

One waltz ended, and a new song began.

 

Alice and Michael began to dance to the music.

 

“This isn’t what I intended…”

 

At Alice’s muttering, Michael looked at her with an incomprehensible face.

 

“Why? Wasn’t this what you came for?”

 

“That is true. But…”

 

The problem is that the partner is very, very wrong. Alice looked around again.

 

‘Ah.’

 

This time Edwin was there. He looked their way briefly, drank some wine, and then left the spot. Alice squeezed her eyes shut.

 

‘I’m doomed to die.’

 

To think she was dancing with Michael in front of Edwin.

 

No matter how much she liked handsome men, shouldn’t she have had some discretion? Regret washed over her.

 

“Focus on your partner, will you?”

 

‘Why are you doing this to me?’

 

Alice asked.

 

“Did you fight with Edwin by any chance?”

 

Michael pressed his lips together tightly. Seeing that, Alice realized her words were correct.

 

“Haa…”

 

It was the worst. So, am I now becoming the ingredient that triggers the protagonist’s jealousy, often found in novels?

 

Those roles always had bad endings. Alice felt her energy drain away. Seeing her stumbling and continuously tangling her steps, Michael spoke.

 

“By the way, why are you so bad at dancing? Are you sick?”

 

“How can I dance well when my life is at stake…?”

 

“What? Are you really sick?”

 

His green eyes were dyed with worry and confusion. Alice shook her head and said she was fine. The thing hurting right now wasn’t her body, but her mind.

 

“When did you learn to dance, El?”

 

Michael was about to ask if that was important, but sighed and answered.

 

“Baron Illentz threw a banquet to celebrate my medical certification. I learned a little before going there.”

 

“Ah… Does Baron Illentz have a daughter? How old is she?”

 

“He does but… fifteen. Why?”

 

“Aha.”

 

Doctors were good husband material for lower aristocrats. Even though many doctors were commoners, a skilled doctor’s value was sky-high.

 

Especially if they were the youngest doctor and good-looking like Michael…

 

Reading Alice’s expression, Michael retorted.

 

“I definitely didn’t learn to dance with that intention, so don’t misunderstand.”

 

“Okay.”

 

Sure, that’s how it should be.

 

After all, Michael is meant to be with Edwin.

 

Alice didn’t say the rest and just laughed. When the dance ended, Alice poked Michael’s back.

 

“Let’s find where Edwin is.”

 

“I don’t want to. If you want to find him, find him yourself.”

 

“Tch.”

 

It’s all for your own good, so why be so uncooperative?

 

At Michael’s sullen reaction, Alice pouted and moved her feet.

 

Glancing at Michael, he really seemed to hate the idea of finding Edwin, as he stood motionless just drinking his beverage.

 

Alice sighed deeply and wandered around the banquet hall. However, after searching for a long time, Edwin was nowhere to be seen.

 

‘Did he leave the banquet hall already?’

 

He shouldn’t have…

 

Richet had told her to avoid entering terraces with closed curtains if possible, but she had no choice if she wanted to find Edwin.

 

Alice began to check the terraces. But this was quite an awkward task.

 

“Eek!”

 

“Oh my, I’m sorry.”

 

Alice, reduced to a nuisance interrupting the romantic whispers of lovers, laughed awkwardly and quickly exited the terrace.

 

Her face burned. So this was why she was told not to enter…

 

‘The banquet hall is so big, there isn’t just one or two terraces.’

 

After checking three or four terraces like that, Alice finally spotted Edwin and entered the terrace in a rush, glad to see him.

 

In her haste, her feet got tangled and she fell forward.

 

“Ah!”

 

She squeezed her eyes shut, expecting pain, but she felt none.

 

Instead, warmth and a familiar scent of lemongrass brushed past her.

 

“Alice, are you okay?”

 

Only then did she realize Edwin had caught her, and she was surprised.

 

“Edwin, why are you here alone?”

 

“Just to get some fresh air.”

 

Edwin lied without blinking an eye. He hadn’t come out for fresh air. He had been discussing prepared troops with a confidant.

 

She followed his gaze outside. Although it was spring, the night was dark and the air was cold.

 

“Aren’t you cold?”

 

“I don’t get cold easily. If you’re cold, let’s talk inside.”

 

“No. I am… as you can see.”

 

Alice smiled embarrassedly and looked down at her attire again.

 

She had worn a thick shawl because of Michael’s insistence that the night was cold, but it was actually hot, and she was sweating inside the shawl.

 

But if she took off the shawl in this state and caught a cold, it was obvious she would hear an earful from Michael.

 

“Edwin, and I’m done dancing now…”

 

Alice cast a glance toward the inside of the terrace. At this point, shouldn’t he take the hint and go to Michael on his own?

 

But Edwin extended his hand to her.

 

Alice stared at his hand blankly. Then she asked, “What is… this?”

 

“I’m also asking for a dance.”

 

He was smiling at her. Alice stood still for a moment, then raised her hand. And she placed her hand on Edwin’s outstretched hand.

 

The clasped hands felt somehow awkward and hot.

 

As soon as the two came out of the terrace and entered the banquet hall, music flowed in. Alice began to move her body following Edwin’s lead.

 

“Alice.”

 

Alice, dancing with even more awkward steps than before, flinched at Edwin’s call and looked at him. She had been focusing only on the dance because she somehow couldn’t meet his eyes since earlier.

 

“Alice, what do you want to do in the future?”

 

“Me?”

 

At Edwin’s sudden question, Alice fell into thought. What did she want to do?

 

It was the first time she had received such a fundamental question about life from someone else. Those around her only asked what she wanted to eat every day.

 

“I just want to eat lots of delicious food and make lots of money.”

 

To eat delicious things, she would need to earn a lot of money.

 

Alice answered simply and honestly. But after spitting it out, she regretted being too honest. It was better to package oneself to some extent for others.

 

Edwin looked at her with a face lost in thought for a moment.

 

“Anything else?”

 

“Nothing. This is enough for me.”

 

“What about a life where everyone reveres you?”

 

“Umm…”

 

At Edwin’s words, Alice pondered. A life where everyone bowed at her feet and worshipped her.

 

Recalling the events at the Ducal Castle briefly, she spoke.

 

Being worshipped would be better than being mistreated or neglected.

 

“I think that’s not bad.”

 

Of course, living ordinarily and being moderately lazy was the best, but Alice didn’t go so far as to say that.

 

But if it seemed like Edwin’s eyes shone for a moment, was it a delusion?

 

“I understood well.”

 

He said. Alice tilted her head. She couldn’t follow the flow of the conversation or what he had understood.

 

But at that moment, the waltz music that had been creating an elegant melody stopped abruptly.

 

“The music wouldn’t stop suddenly like this…”

 

Alice looked at the orchestra with a puzzled face. The musicians, who had been sitting and playing string instruments, were standing up and showing respect.

 

Curious about what was happening, she looked around. Only then did she realize that the boisterous atmosphere of the banquet hall had become excessively quiet.

 

“Do you know what’s going on?”

 

Alice whispered quietly to Edwin. He looked at her quietly, then cast his gaze over yonder. Then, holding her hand, he began to lead her slowly to the center.

 

“E-Edwin!”

 

Alice called him in a bewildered whisper.

 

‘Why on earth is he leading me to the central hall!’

 

It was driving her crazy.

 

Every noble’s gaze was converging on her. Alice, misunderstanding that the attention was due to her and Edwin’s actions, sweated even more inside her shawl.

 

“S-stop. Edwin.”

 

Alice whined, grabbing Edwin’s arm. He stopped at her words. Alice was appalled by his subsequent action.

 

“Edwin…?!”

 

Wasn’t he kneeling at her feet? Alice felt like the world was spinning, unable to understand how this situation was unfolding.

 

If Edwin was trying to prank her right now, she wanted to tell him it was a huge success and earnestly plead for him to stop this joke immediately.

 

“Alice Garnet.”

 

A voice she had heard before called her from behind. Recognizing immediately who it was, she froze like a statue.

 

She couldn’t ignore the voice. She soon turned her stiff body around.

 

Standing there was the figure who had raised a champagne glass during the speech earlier. The Emperor.

 

He handed her a different champagne glass than the one from before. Taking the glass in a daze, she stared at him blankly.

 

“T-thank you.”

 

“How old are you this year?”

 

“I have turned eighteen.”

 

Even as she answered, she looked at him with a bewildered and confused gaze.

 

“That habit of speech is still the same.”

 

He laughed, “Hoho,” and looked at her. Alice felt uncomfortable. The Emperor acting overly friendly was unsettling.

 

“As of today, I will give you a new name.”

 

“…?”

 

“Your name is, as of today, Elizabeth Lede Elgorth Van.”

 

The quiet crowd began to grow noisy. Confusion over the sudden appearance of a Princess was rampant.

 

But they probably weren’t as flustered as Alice.

 

Alice was going crazy.

 

‘What is this nonsense?’

 

It was a very disrespectful thought, but she suspected the Emperor had gone senile.

 

“I congratulate you on finding the Imperial Princess you have waited for so long, Your Majesty.”

 

Before she knew it, the Duke had approached and handed a crystal glass to the Emperor’s empty hand. Edwin, who was kneeling, spoke.

 

“I, in the name of Esteban, will serve the new Imperial Princess with my utmost best.”

 

“Hoho, if the Little Duke Esteban, the hero of the Empire, swears so, what could be more reassuring? I count on you.”

 

The Emperor looked at her and Edwin with a pleased smile. Alice turned to stone. Her gaze turned to the Duke.

 

‘Does adoption mean…’

 

Did it mean adoption as the Emperor’s daughter?

 

How could they not tell her this?

 

Alice glared at the Duke standing behind the Emperor with eyes implying that meaning, but he didn’t twitch a single eyebrow.

 

The murmuring nobles one by one placed their hands on their chests and paid respects to her and the Emperor. Then came the congratulations.

 

“Congratulations, Your Majesty.”

 

“Imperial Princess, it is a relief you have returned.”

 

Although the nobles seemed to offer words of welcome sincerely, their eyes were lined with deep suspicion, unable to understand the situation.

 

‘I don’t understand it either, so how must you feel.’

 

Her position was no different from theirs. She decided to give up on understanding this situation for a moment.

 

 

***

 

 

Using the excuse of feeling unwell, she hurriedly entered the break room before anyone could stop her.

 

A few who appeared to be Imperial Knights offered to follow for protection, but she wanted to be alone.

 

When Alice firmly declined, they waited outside the door as if they had no choice.

 

Alice stood by the window in the farthest corner of the break room and muttered.

 

“What is going on?”

 

Her ears felt muffled by the sudden situation she faced. She forgot to breathe properly due to the unexpected turn of events. She took a moment to breathe calmly and catch her breath.

 

After a little time passed and she found a tiny bit of composure, Alice carefully retraced the content of the original novel.

 

In the original work, Alice’s biological father was never mentioned.

 

Nor did such an event ever occur. After all, the point of her death was before her eighteenth birthday, in the winter.

 

If she had known in advance, it would have been less of a shock, but this situation still felt unbelievable. Everything felt like a dream or an illusion.

 

Even in the original novel, and here as well, rumors circulated that the Emperor was infertile due to poor health.

 

The fact that he had over ten concubines yet not a single child supported those rumors solidly.

 

‘Don’t tell me, am I not the Emperor’s biological daughter?’

 

Alice bit her lip. One assumption crossed her mind. The reason the Duke kept her in the family…

 

‘If he kept me to have me adopted as the Emperor’s daughter?’

 

She had momentarily forgotten the Duke’s setting. In the original novel too, he was a man who would push anyone, even his own flesh and blood, into a pit for the sake of the family.

 

Currently, with no children and his position weakened by the passage of time, the Emperor was unstable, pushed by his nephew, Grand Duke Wigmund.

 

Even such an Emperor would have needed a turnaround.

 

For example, a development like, “Tada, actually I had a biological child?”

 

And the sacrificial lamb to play the role of that Emperor’s child, floating with nowhere to go, was…

 

‘Me.’

 

“Damn it.”

 

Alice ruffled her hair, thinking something had gone wrong. Her elaborately styled hair became completely disheveled. But she had no leisure to care about that.

 

‘Don’t tell me the reason Edwin killed me was…’

 

What if he didn’t kill her simply to get the Esteban family in his hands before ascending to the throne, or as revenge for Michael’s matter?

 

What if the reason Edwin killed her was because of the Imperial Throne?

 

It was becoming one problem after another.

 

Suddenly recalling the conversation she had while dancing with Edwin earlier, she muttered.

 

‘He asked if I wanted a life everyone revered.’

 

Alice realized why he had suddenly asked such a question. By now, Edwin must be misunderstanding severely, but she had absolutely no desire for that.

 

“…Should I say I want to go back to being a commoner even now?”

 

 

***

 

 

After a wave had swept through, changing the atmosphere of the banquet hall in its aftermath.

 

The nobles were each continuing heated conversations about the appearance of the new Princess.

 

The Emperor and the Duke were also talking. Of course, the topic of conversation was the new Princess, Alice.

 

“Has the ability manifested?”

 

“It has not manifested yet. I have sent word to the temple, so they will reply soon.”

 

Since there were currently no Holy Power holders in the temple, the only means to check for abilities was the temple’s Holy Relic.

 

“Hmm…”

 

The Emperor drummed his fingers on the crystal glass and let out a groan.

 

Even the function of that Holy Relic had an expiration date.

 

To be precise, the spirit dwelling within the Holy Relic was the problem. Because that spirit judged the suitability for the throne, if the spirit’s life ended, the Holy Relic was nothing more than a bead.

 

Maintaining that life was something only a Holy Power holder could do.

 

However, with Holy Power lost 300 years ago, the spirit’s lifeline was nearly at its end.

 

“I must take her to the temple quickly before the spirit’s life runs out. That child surely must have been born with the luck of a ruler.”

 

The Emperor muttered his inner thoughts, mixed with hope and sincerity, and took a sip of champagne. Hearing those words from nearby, the Duke silently tilted his wine.

 

“So Duke, I ask you to take good care of that child in the future as well.”

 

“How could I refuse?”

 

The Duke bowed his head in answer. With a relieved face, the Emperor drained the remaining champagne in his glass. The Emperor’s eyes became cloudy and hazy again.

 

 

***

 

 

Should I tell them I’ll give up the throne?

 

Alice flopped down onto the sofa next to her.

 

It was the worst possible situation. History books were full of examples showing that those used as political tools rarely met a good end.

 

‘Especially since I’m not even the real deal.’

 

If she were truly the Emperor’s daughter, the ambitious Karina wouldn’t have stayed quiet. She would have gone straight to the Emperor, not the Duke.

 

In terms of honor, wouldn’t being the Emperor’s official wife be better than being a Duchess?

 

On the other hand, she couldn’t understand the Emperor. In this world, men usually became the heads of families and ascended to the throne.

 

‘If I were the Emperor in this situation and had to put up a fake heir…’

 

She would have chosen a man who would cause less noise, not a woman like herself.

 

Thinking about it that way, only one assumption remained about the current situation.

 

“So, does the Emperor not know either?”

 

What if the Duke had deceived even the Emperor, and the Emperor was being fooled? The Emperor might actually think she was his biological daughter.

 

What if the Duke was using her as a pawn?

 

Everything fit together perfectly. She had been in the eye of the storm and hadn’t seen the storm itself.

 

Having now stepped forward and been swept up by that storm, Alice felt hopeless. This life was surely ruined.

 

Lying alone in the lounge and staring blankly at the ceiling, Alice sat up at the noise outside the door.

 

‘That’s Michael’s voice.’

 

She could hear him saying something in a very displeased tone.

 

When she opened the door and stepped out, she saw Michael confronting the knights.

 

“I told you, I know Alice!”

 

Michael said to the knight in frustration.

 

“What are you doing?”

 

At Alice’s words, Michael, who noticed her belatedly, had a face flushed with anger.

 

“This guy won’t believe a word I say!”

 

“……”

 

The knights’ expressions hardened.

 

Alice sighed and motioned for Michael to come in. The knights immediately blocked the way between them.

 

“It is dangerous for you to be alone together.”

 

“He’s taken, so it’s fine. I apologize on my friend’s behalf for his rudeness. I’m sorry.”

 

Saying that, she pulled Michael by the arm and immediately closed the door.

 

She heard the knight’s flustered voice, but Alice pretended not to hear. The situation right in front of her was too dire to worry about such things.

 

“Can’t you curb that temper a little?”

 

“It’d be faster for me to just die.”

 

Michael retorted bluntly.

 

“What’s going on right now? Are you… okay?”

 

Noticing her disheveled hair, he asked with worried eyes.

 

“No, I’m not okay.”

 

Alice said firmly. She couldn’t bring herself to say she was okay in this situation.

 

One wrong move and she’d be swept up in political strife and lose her head; if she were calm about that, she wouldn’t just be a mere villainous extra in the original story, but the protagonist.

 

“You must not have known.”

 

Michael looked at her and sighed.

 

“Well, there’s no way you would have attended the banquet so calmly knowing that fact.”

 

“I… attended thinking I was just being adopted into the Duke’s family.”

 

“What?!”

 

Hearing this for the first time, Michael was startled. Alice explained the whole story to him.

 

Watching his expression change moment by moment as she explained was more amusing than she expected.

 

Seeing her smile, Michael looked at her as if he couldn’t understand.

 

“Can you laugh in this situation?”

 

“Then should I cry?”

 

“Cry instead. You look a little crazy right now.”

 

“The tears won’t come. It’s just too absurd.”

 

“That is true.”

 

It was rare for Michael to agree with her, and this was one of those rare moments. Alice didn’t even have the leeway to be happy about it.

 

“What are you going to do about this?”

 

At Michael’s question, Alice shrugged.

 

“There’s nothing I can do… Even if I run away from here, I can’t outrun the Imperial Knights.”

 

“You never know. Maybe you really are the Emperor’s daughter.”

 

Michael’s face was full of worry and frustration as he said that. He must have said it knowing the possibility was slim. So, the words weren’t much comfort.

 

“Do you know where Edwin is?”

 

“He seemed to be leaving the banquet hall earlier.”

 

Given the situation, Michael answered without complaint. Then he asked, “Want me to find him for you?”

 

Alice shook her head.

 

“It’s fine. But didn’t you say you didn’t want to earlier?”

 

Hadn’t he been annoyed and just drinking juice when she suggested finding Edwin earlier?

 

At her frustrating remark, Michael’s face tinged with annoyance.

 

“The situation is different now. Don’t you need help?”

 

“Should I be touched?”

 

“Seeing that you have room to joke, you must be okay.”

 

“It’s just because I feel like there’s nothing I can do here.”

 

At Alice’s words, Michael’s expression darkened. Seeing him look like he was attending a funeral, she ended up letting out a laugh. Michael spoke.

 

“You’re not on death row.”

 

“I know.”

 

“You’re not terminally ill either.”

 

“I know.”

 

“You’re the Emperor’s daughter, no less. Lacking nothing.”

 

“Right.”

 

Alice nodded faithfully at his words. But she pointed out the fact he was trying to avoid.

 

“Except it doesn’t look like this position will have a long shelf life.”

 

“…Let’s hope His Majesty the Emperor lives a long life.”

 

Michael responded to her words. It was as he said. The moment the Emperor died, her life would split into two paths.

 

Of course, that was assuming she wasn’t killed by Edwin before then.

 

In Alice’s estimation of what would happen after that, the probability of her dying was ninety-nine percent.

 

Because she had nothing behind her to go up against Grand Duke Wigmund.

 

‘There is the Duke.’

 

But she felt uneasy trusting the Duke. Given this incident, and the fact that he was someone who sent his own flesh and blood to the battlefield, she’d be lucky if he didn’t cast her aside the moment she became a liability.

 

‘The survival conditions are too extreme.’

 

Michael, who had been watching her, suddenly spoke up. He looked as if he had realized something.

 

“No, maybe the shelf life could become very long.”

 

Alice looked at him with a questioning gaze. Michael muttered as if lost in another thought.

 

“Because I don’t think that guy would just sit back and watch it get cut short.”

 

He thought of the man who had grown too large to be called a crow. That intense obsession toward Alice was definitely not an ordinary emotion.

 

 

***

 

 

A pristine white space without a single speck of dust.

 

In the center of that vast space, a statue of a holy angel was bowing its head in prayer.

 

‘Archangel Raphael.’

 

It was a prayer room serving the wise and benevolent Archangel.

 

The man standing before the statue had his white hood pulled down deep, his eyes closed as he offered a prayer.

 

Whether it was a prayer for someone else was unknown, but he was so engrossed in prayer that he didn’t notice the presence approaching from behind.

 

The act looked like a single, flawlessly pure and sacred ritual.

 

“Your Holiness.”

 

At that moment, someone called him. The man offering the prayer slowly opened his eyes. Clear emerald eyes were revealed between his eyelids.

 

“A message has arrived from the Imperial Palace. It was a telegram stating that the Holy Relic must be used.”

 

“Is it about Alice?”

 

“As of today, she has been given a new name.”

 

Having heard the news, the High Priest continued.

 

“Elizabeth Lede Elgorth Van.”

 

“The surname given to the official successor.”

 

He let out a long sigh. So it had come to this. Worry shadowed Evan’s face as he recalled Alice, who had been just a child 10 years ago.

 

Even after 10 years, she would only have just turned 18, yet she had to endure this storm.

 

He felt a little resentment toward God.

 

“I understand. There is no need to rush this matter. However, the Imperial Palace must be in a hurry, so let us observe.”

 

“Yes, Your Holiness.”

 

The High Priest bowed deeply and left the prayer room. Left alone, Evan looked at the statue again and began to offer a prayer.

 

 

***

 

 

As the banquet reached its peak, Alice, pleading exhaustion, headed to the palace guided by maids. In any case, she wanted to get away from the crowded space and be entirely alone.

 

But looking at the line of maids accompanying her on her side and behind her, even that small wish seemed far off.

 

‘This place is…’

 

It was a sight she had seen a lot somewhere. Alice tilted her head.

 

‘Where did I see this?’

 

It was dark, but she felt a sense of déjà vu, as if she had seen this palace before.

 

Alice stopped walking to speak to the maid beside her.

 

The maids, who had been matching her pace, all stopped in unison.

 

Alice smiled awkwardly at the sight. What was this?

 

“Is this by any chance the Crown Prince’s Palace?”

 

“That is correct, Your Highness.”

 

“Aha…”

 

Where had she seen it? In a brochure or a newspaper?

 

Anyway, knowing it was the Crown Prince’s Palace made her want to enter even less. How many corpses were buried here?

 

Recalling the history books she had read out of sheer boredom, Alice gave up thinking about it any further.

 

Too many, just too many. It wouldn’t seem strange at all if her own corpse were added to that count.

 

The maid who seemed to be the oldest approached her and spoke politely.

 

“It is cold outside, Your Highness. Please, let us go inside.”

 

The maid beside her spoke cautiously, worried she might catch a cold.

 

Alice, nodding with an awkward face at the extreme treatment she was receiving for the first time, entered the room the maid opened for her. Seeing the inside of the room, Alice’s eyes went wide and round.

 

“This is my room?”

 

It was an enormously spacious room. Without exaggeration, one could hold a banquet in here.

 

“Since the largest room is still being cleaned, we apologize for having to give you the second largest room. We will take measures so you can move into the large room as soon as possible.”

 

Realizing her words had been misinterpreted, Alice immediately denied it.

 

“No… take your time.”

 

Before she knew it, she was in front of a huge bed. Human instinct was scary indeed.

 

“I can lie down, right…?”

 

Alice asked. The maids looked at each other with strange expressions. Then the maid who had been walking beside her earlier, the one who appeared to be the oldest, spoke.

 

“Whatever you do here is up to your will, Your Highness.”

 

As soon as she heard those words, Alice, who had been tentatively resting her hand on the bed, scrambled up onto it.

 

Burdened by the gazes pouring onto her, she couldn’t fal— suddenly the world went dark. Just like that, she fell fast asleep.

 

 

***

 

Alice stared blankly out the window.

 

The view greeting her day was completely different from the scenery she had looked at for the last ten years. She pulled the bell cord hanging beside her. It was the rope the maids had told her to pull if she needed anything.

 

Not long after, one or two maids entered the room.

 

“Is there something you need?”

 

“Could you please call Ena for me? Ena Bolton.”

 

“Yes.”

 

The maids left the room. Shortly after, a commotion arose outside the door. It was a voice Alice was familiar with.

 

“If you could just tell me why I’m coming here… Miss!”

 

“Thank you for bringing her. The rest of you may leave now.”

 

At Alice’s command, the maids quickly vacated the room. Ena, standing there with a bewildered expression, hurriedly approached Alice.

 

“What on earth is going on!”

 

“I’d like to know what happened to me, too.”

 

“Then are you giving the shop to me?”

 

“Ahem, how dare you covet the owner’s shop?”

 

Alice immediately rejected Ena’s question. Ena’s face fell into a pout.

 

“I should have just swallowed it whole without asking.”

 

“Shouldn’t you distinguish between what you say inside your head and what you say out loud?”

 

“Your face looked dark, so I said it to make you laugh.”

 

“…….”

 

Alice felt a pang of remorse. She finally understood why Michael had said her jokes weren’t funny. Ena was acting exactly like that right now.

 

“Did you really not know you were a Princess, Miss? Ah, should I call you ‘Your Highness’ now…?”

 

“Just call me what you usually do. That’s more comfortable.”

 

“That goes for me, too.”

 

After chatting with Ena for a bit, Alice asked with a much more relaxed expression.

 

“By the way, where did you sleep last night?”

 

“I slept on the streets.”

 

“That terrible joke isn’t funny at all.”

 

“My younger brother and his wife live in the capital, you know.”

 

“So, you’re saying the oblivious sister-in-law went and crashed between a newlywed couple?”

 

Ena nodded. She looked incredibly confident about it.

 

“Sophia likes me. Maybe not Rodin, though.”

 

Rodin was her brother, and Sophia was his wife—Ena’s sister-in-law. Alice thought to herself, ‘That’s probably a case of dreaming different dreams.’

 

Alice asked about the news circulating outside the palace. Ena would have had easier access to news than Alice, who was stuck inside.

 

“Have you heard anything about Grand Duke Wigmund?”

 

“I haven’t heard anything specific. But when His Majesty made the announcement yesterday, Grand Duke Wigmund was nearby….”

 

Valerian Wigmund, the Grand Duke ruling the Wigmund Principality and the Emperor’s nephew.

 

Unless a major anomaly occurred, he was the strongest candidate for the next throne. But that major anomaly had just happened.

 

The Emperor had nailed it down in an official setting that she was his daughter. Alice swallowed dry saliva and focused on Ena’s words.

 

“He seemed a bit surprised, but it looked like he was genuinely congratulating you.”

 

“……Really?”

 

“And he’s incredibly handsome. His manners seemed excellent, too.”

 

“Hmm, really?”

 

Grand Duke Wigmund’s public reputation was generally not bad.

 

In fact, it was on the very good side. But Alice couldn’t take that reputation at face value.

 

She couldn’t forget.

 

This novel’s genre was an angst-filled BL, and aside from the Elga brothers, the main and supporting characters all had a screw loose in their heads.

 

However, Grand Duke Wigmund didn’t have a significant role in the original work. After Edwin seized the throne, he simply conceded and quietly returned to his duchy.

 

While no one knew Wigmund’s inner thoughts, objectively, he was the only supporting character who chose the best option to keep his lifeline intact.

 

“Do you know where Edwin and Michael are right now?”

 

“Seeing that the Esteban carriage is still in front of the palace, I don’t think they’ve returned. Michael is in a guest room in his capacity as your attending physician.”

 

“So everyone is at the palace.”

 

Alice felt strangely relieved. Being left alone in the palace without knowing anyone at this moment would have been truly bleak and difficult.

 

“It’s too stuffy in here. Let’s go for a walk.”

 

Everything was unfamiliar, but it seemed better than staying in the room.

 

‘I should learn the palace geography in advance, too.’

 

She intended to secure an escape route just in case. It was like a prisoner in jail scouting the path to a breakout.

 

“Okay. Should I ask them to prepare some food, too?”

 

“……Yeah. This place is a restaurant.”

 

At Ena’s words, Alice recalled the breakfast she had just eaten and swallowed.

 

Cream stew perfectly seasoned with meat and bread smelling rich with butter.

 

The walk was technically just a brief stroll, so asking for a food basket wasn’t strictly necessary, but if that excuse allowed her to eat delicious food, then so be it.

 

Seeing through her thoughts, Ena gave her a salty look.

 

“You must be the only person in the world who has an appetite in this situation, Miss.”

 

“Want to try calling me ‘Your Highness’? I think I’m starting to like this place.”

 

“Just like that, all of a sudden?”

 

At Ena’s incredulous face, Alice grinned. Being with Ena seemed to ease her tension a little.

 

The basket of food was quickly prepared, and they stepped out of the room.

 

Knights were guarding the door outside.

 

When asked where she was going, Alice said she was going for a walk.

 

Ena walked beside Alice holding the basket, and the palace knights quietly trailed behind them.

 

Ena, bothered by the knights, glanced back and whispered.

 

“Miss, no, Your Highness… don’t the knights bother you?”

 

“Do you know the way, Ena?”

 

Perhaps because it was the Crown Prince’s palace, the corridors seemed endless. Ena shook her head vigorously. Alice was the same. Ena quickly understood her meaning.

 

The knights behind them were their guides.

 

Ena quietly continued walking, her presence subdued. However, they stopped again upon encountering someone in the hallway. Alice’s blue eyes widened.

 

“Edwin!”

 

She was so glad to see a familiar face in a space where everything was strange that she almost ran to him. But her steps came to a sudden halt. That dream came to mind.

 

The dream where she had been beheaded by Edwin countless times.

 

‘Now that I look at it… the dream was here, too.’

 

Alice looked around. She had thought the sky-blue tinted ivory building looked familiar.

 

Knowing this was the setting of her nightmare was incredibly unsettling.

 

However, she hadn’t had that dream once since meeting Edwin again.

 

Noticing her strange behavior, Edwin approached her.

 

Stopping right in front of her, Edwin looked at her with worried eyes.

 

“Are you alright? Your Highness.”

 

Hearing Edwin use formal language with her felt unnatural; the speaker seemed at ease, but the listener felt awkward.

 

“W-wait… I just felt a bit dizzy. I’m fine.”

 

Ena made a fuss at her answer.

 

“Oh my, should I call Michael? I thought you were too calm despite hearing such news… so you were feeling unwell after all? Right?”

 

Edwin, who had been listening quietly, signaled to the knight behind him.

 

“Her Highness is unwell, bring the Imperial Physician immediately.”

 

At his command, one of the knights behind them ran off to summon the doctor. Edwin checked Alice’s condition again.

 

“Can you walk?”

 

“She’s been walking without any energy for a while now… why don’t you get some help from the Young Duke?”

 

As she said this, Ena stepped back slightly from between them. Alice’s eyes narrowed. Why was she acting like this all of a sudden?

 

“That would be best.”

 

Edwin looked at her and worriedly held out his hand. Alice stared at the hand Edwin offered.

 

“I’m really fine though….”

 

At Alice’s mumble, Ena, looking frustrated, came close again and whispered in her ear.

 

“Right now, it’s better for you to have the Young Duke’s help.”

 

Ena was telling her to accept Edwin’s assistance for her life in the palace. Given the situation, Ena was right, but….

 

“Miss.”

 

When she just stared at his hand without a word, Ena urged her from the side. Eventually, Alice took Edwin’s hand.

 

As she took his hand, a smile rose on Edwin’s lips. Seeing that face, Alice felt her hand in his heat up strangely.

 

 

***

 

 

They arrived at the room, and Ena went out saying she would get some cold water.

 

In the room where only the two remained, sitting across from each other at the table, Alice spoke first.

 

“Call me as you usually do. Edwin.”

 

“……If that makes you comfortable, I will.”

 

However, his stubborn insistence on using formal language outside was unexpectedly firm, so she had no choice but to nod.

 

“Edwin.”

 

At her call, he looked at her quietly. Alice felt this situation was a bit unfamiliar. She hadn’t expected Edwin to come find her at the Imperial Palace.

 

“I have one question.”

 

She recalled yesterday’s events and spoke.

 

“Did you already know about this?”

 

Edwin nodded. Alice stared intently at his face for a moment. It was still an expressionless face.

 

“Then why didn’t you tell me?”

 

Edwin remained silent. He needed to grasp the point of her question.

 

‘Did she not know?’

 

Edwin recalled Alice’s appearance, shocked when the Emperor announced she was his daughter.

 

It was hardly the reaction of someone who knew she was a princess beforehand.

 

“Does Alice know that fact too?”

 

“The person involved must know.”

 

The Duke had certainly said that.

 

That meant Alice was being manipulated by the Duke without even knowing what was happening to her.

 

His eyes cooled down colder than ever.

 

Meanwhile, Alice glanced at Edwin’s face in the chilling atmosphere.

 

Then she tilted her head.

 

‘Is he angry?’

 

If he was misunderstanding and blaming himself, she needed to clear that up quickly. She opened her mouth.

 

“It just means I would have been less surprised if I knew, so you don’t need to think too deeply about it.”

 

At her words, his black eyelashes drooped low. The red eyes hidden beneath them were dyed with guilt.

 

“I’m just a bit angry at my own shortsightedness.”

 

If he had killed the Duke earlier, this wouldn’t have happened. A flash of murderous intent flickered through Edwin’s eyes.

 

Not noticing this, Alice was flustered by his subsequent apology.

 

“N-no… I wasn’t asking for an apology.”

 

He was apologizing to her as if he was truly sorry. Alice was the one surprised by this. A realized fact made her head spin.

 

‘What on earth was I so scared of?’

 

Suddenly, everything felt like unfounded anxiety. Her past with him rushed in like a tide, shimmering before her eyes.

 

From long ago, he had consistently thought of her as a friend and been considerate.

 

He even regarded her as a benefactor, not forgetting the favor of her acting as a temporary nanny in the tower.

 

And now, seeing him look sullen and apologizing in front of her….

 

‘He’s like a puppy.’

 

It was a metaphor that didn’t fit Edwin’s impression at all, but surprisingly, Edwin in front of her looked exactly like that.

 

‘……Then has the original story changed?’

 

If he hadn’t become a cruel murderer like in the original, then all her fear so far had been in vain.

 

It might be hard to see his intense obsession with Michael, though….

 

Alice felt both a slight regret and relief at that point.

 

“Edwin, I’m really okay. You’re busy too, how could you be considerate of every little thing for me…. I understand.”

 

“No, it’s my fault.”

 

Edwin’s words were sincere. It was his fault for trusting the Duke’s word. However, Alice, unaware of the truth, was simply perplexed. She hurriedly changed the subject.

 

“Edwin, have you eaten?”

 

“……Not yet.”

 

“The food here is really delicious.”

 

Alice grinned and said.

 

Beef stew and freshly baked bread served in the morning. The menu was ordinary, but the taste was not.

 

True to the reputation of the Imperial Palace housing the Empire’s top chefs, the flavor drawn from ordinary food was incredible.

 

“Do you like it here, Alice?”

 

Edwin, watching her, smiled back. When such an unrealistic appearance smiled, it seemed as if light radiated from his face.

 

Alice, staring at him as if possessed, hesitated a moment before nodding.

 

“Yeah. I like it.”

 

For one, wherever she traveled, if the food was good, it remained a good memory.

 

Thinking in that context, this place was closer to being likable.

 

‘Of course, it feels like the Last Supper enjoyed on top of hot hellfire.’

 

At least while eating, she wanted to ignore that hellfire for a moment. Edwin, who had been gazing at her gently, spoke.

 

“Alice, if you have any difficulties, tell me. I’ll help you as much as I can.”

 

His warm words made her heart swell.

 

“Thank you. Edwin.”

 

 

***

 

 

The next day.

 

News arrived that one of the offices in the Emperor’s 2nd Palace in the east had completely collapsed.

 

“What happened all of a sudden….”

 

Hearing the news, Alice shuddered. She realized that just because it was the Imperial Palace didn’t mean it was safe.

 

“The world is so chaotic.”

 

“There’s talk that it was the office where the Duke was.”

 

Ena whispered as if sharing a secret. Alice’s eyes grew round and large.

 

“Really? What happened to him?”

 

In her heart, she hoped the Duke’s spirit would be crushed by this opportunity, but it didn’t seem likely.

 

“They say his left arm might have to be amputated. Considering the state of the interior, they say it’s heavenly luck he survived.”

 

Alice gasped, inhaling sharply. One of the Duke’s arms was blown off?

 

“How disastrous was it….”

 

“They say it just turned to dust. Dust.”

 

Alice’s jaw dropped. She tried punching the wall next to her.

 

Only her hand hurt against the wall made of solid marble.

 

‘He turned this into dust?’

 

Did they blow it up with gunpowder or something?

 

Then, terror?

 

“Who on earth did that?”

 

“I don’t know. They say it was an unidentified assailant…. The Duke must have bought a lot of grudges.”

 

Ena shook her head with a weary face. Alice nodded. Many people had been swept up in the things the Duke did for his own profit and honor.

 

Still, if someone caused such chaos in an Imperial Palace office, they couldn’t be an ordinary person.

 

“I don’t know who it is, but I’m curious. I want to see their face once.”

 

“It’ll be a big trouble if you do!”

 

Ena scolded Alice, aghast. Alice glanced at her and answered, pretending to be solemn.

 

“Ahem, what kind of language is that to the holy Her Highness the Princess?”

 

“I apologize for blocking you from jumping into a death trap.”

 

Ena answered half-heartedly, picked up a cookie from the plate, and shoved it into Alice’s mouth.

 

“As an apology, I will personally feed you a cookie.”

 

Not long after this trivial conversation continued, a maid entered the room.

 

“His Majesty the Emperor summons you.”

 

 

***

 

On the day the terror incident at the Emperor’s 2nd Palace office occurred.

 

The place Edwin headed to after finishing his conversation with Alice was the Knight Commander’s office.

 

It was a good place for a secret conversation as there were no people due to external training in the middle of the day. Chester Douglas was waiting there.

 

Chester, who had been under Edwin during the war, was recognized for his great achievements in the war, granted the title of Count, and then came to lead the 1st Imperial Knights.

 

In reality, Chester was Edwin’s spy planted in the palace. He had entrusted the training command to the vice-commander to meet him.

 

Edwin saw him, entered the commander’s office, and sat on the sofa. Chester sat across from him and picked one of the questions he had been wanting to ask.

 

“Commander, is the reason you delayed the schedule because of the new Princess?”

 

Edwin, sitting languidly on the sofa with his gaze on the door, slowly turned his eyes to Chester.

 

It was a gaze void of any emotion, but Chester knew well that countless people had lost their lives facing that look.

 

“We need to move the troops. From the capital to the Rogen region.”

 

Instead of an answer to the question, what returned was another order. Chester searched his memory for the familiar region name.

 

“Isn’t that where the Holy Temple… the Vatican is located?”

 

There was no answer, but Chester knew that meant yes.

 

Out of the blue, the Vatican…. But such an order wouldn’t be given in vain.

 

A hint of tension appeared in Chester’s relaxed eyes. Not long after, Edwin spoke again.

 

“There will soon be an Imperial Ability Test.”

 

Ability Test.

 

Those with Imperial blood could each possess a unique ability.

 

Since the Princess who appeared after 18 years was suspected by everyone of her legitimacy, she couldn’t avoid the ability test.

 

However, even among royalty, those with abilities were rare.

 

Despite such a blind spot, the reason for carrying out the test was that when verifying a person of unclear origin, it was the only means to confirm they were of royal lineage.

 

“When the signal comes down, what shall we do?”

 

At the commander’s words, Chester easily deduced that a signal would be given that day. Furthermore, he vaguely realized the order he would give.

 

Calling it troop movement was a nice way to put it; in reality, it was nothing more than the movement of killing machines wielded by the commander.

 

“By then, the Pope will be dead, so clear away the things outside.”

 

Even at the sight of him speaking of humans as if they were objects, Chester nodded as if used to it.

 

“Understood.”

 

He wanted to ask what he was thinking, but in the moment Chester hesitated, Edwin had already left the seat.

 

 

***

 

 

Leaving the Knight Commander’s office, Edwin headed straight for the Emperor’s 2nd Palace. Then, without knocking, he threw open the door to Duke Esteban’s office.

 

The first person to make eye contact with him was the aide, Kaden, who was closest to the door.

 

Discovering a fierce aura in the usually dry eyes of the Young Duke, he bowed silently and hurriedly vacated the spot.

 

“Is Alice truly the Emperor’s biological daughter?”

 

At Edwin’s question, the Duke slowly put down the documents he had been scanning without a flinch.

 

“Didn’t you come already knowing? If that child were the real daughter, I wouldn’t go through such troublesome tasks.”

 

The troublesome task was the Duke creating fake evidence that Alice was the Princess.

 

It also meant he had already tampered with the Vatican regarding the ability test.

 

“What is the probability of Alice being the biological daughter?”

 

“The Emperor is sterile, and that is a fact confirmed with certainty.”

 

“So you’re saying you knew Alice wasn’t the biological child, kept it a secret from her, and pushed her into this place.”

 

“It’s better for us if she believes she is the real Princess.”

 

A sharp sneer, capable of cutting just by grazing, rose on Edwin’s lips. Anger flickered in the red eyes looking at the Duke.

 

The Duke’s face looking back at him was arrogant.

 

“I do not engage in work where the calculations don’t add up. Isn’t this a good thing for Alice Garnet as well? It’s better to live as a Princess worshipped by everyone than as a freeloader in a Duke’s family. Ah, I suppose I must call her ‘Her Highness Elizabeth Lede Elgorth Van’ now.”

 

“I misjudged. I should have killed you 10 years ago before going to the battlefield.”

 

Feeling the air tighten coldly, the Duke smiled leisurely.

 

“If you kill me, the one who gets in trouble is Alice Garnet.”

 

“You don’t need to worry about her. I will handle everything.”

 

A black fog rose hazily from Edwin’s hand. The Duke’s eyes narrowed.

 

‘Is that the power?’

 

The mana, like black fog, gradually took a distinct shape, turning into a small sword-like form grasped in Edwin’s hand.

 

Knowing where that power originated, the Duke also knew he must not touch even a speck of that mana.

 

Edwin swung the mana-formed sword without hesitation.

 

The black mana surged ominously and approached the Duke at high speed. The Duke kicked off his seat and dodged to the right.

 

“Ugh!”

 

He barely managed to dodge, but he couldn’t avoid the mana completely. His left hand, which had touched the mana, hardened into a gray color. He shook that hand slightly. There was absolutely no sensation.

 

‘This hand will be useless.’

 

The interior of the office was even more disastrous.

 

Because he dodged the sword, the mana struck large parts of the office instead.

 

The paulownia desk and the marble walls were completely reduced to ashes, unrecognizable in form.

 

It was heavenly luck that the Duke only lost the use of one hand.

 

‘It is a power more cruel and magnificent than the stories passed down through the family.’

 

While the Duke looked at the places affected by the mana, Edwin looked toward the door.

 

And immediately, the Imperial Knights burst through the door. As if they knew this would happen.

 

Edwin’s gaze landed on the Duke’s right hand. A small bead was glowing in his hand.

 

It was a magic tool issued to high-ranking officials working in the Imperial Palace. When an intruder was seen in the palace, injecting mana into the bead summoned the Imperial Knights.

 

He had been infusing mana into that bead from the moment Edwin entered.

 

“What is going on here?”

 

Seeing the office in shambles like a battlefield, the knights entered. Chester was among them.

 

Seeing the scene that looked like the aftermath of a great fire that had been extinguished, Chester immediately looked at Edwin.

 

“It seems there was a force trying to frame Esteban. It was already in this state when I arrived.”

 

Edwin spoke as if stating facts, but Chester intuitively knew that this situation was caused by Edwin.

 

He immediately gave orders to his subordinates.

 

“There was an intruder in the Imperial Palace. Search for the intruder with all your might. And…”

 

Chester’s gaze landed on the Duke’s left arm.

 

“Call the Imperial Physician.”

 

“Yes, sir.”

 

Receiving Chester’s orders, the knights left the office to find the doctor and the intruder respectively. Chester said to Edwin and the Duke.

 

“While waiting for the physician, I will stand outside the door just in case.”

 

With those words, Chester left the office. Once again, only the two men, Edwin and the Duke, remained in the office.

 

Noticing the look in his eyes, the Duke caught his breath with some difficulty. Pain was rushing into the wound on his left side.

 

“You have a good henchman. Is Sir Douglas cleaning up after you this time as well?”

 

“…….”

 

Edwin neither affirmed nor denied it. He just looked at the Duke with an appraising gaze.

 

Since the knights had just seen the scene, killing the Duke now would complicate things. Of course, he could just kill all the witnesses, but at this moment, the image of Alice with a bright expression came to Edwin’s mind.

 

‘She was scared seeing me.’

 

Once in a while, in very fleeting moments, he recalled her gaze looking at him as if she were frightened.

 

She wasn’t avoiding him, but sometimes he got the impression she was. Every time that happened, a corner of his chest throbbed for some reason. It was a kind of pain he didn’t want to feel ever again.

 

The fact that he was in the office had already been revealed to the outside.

 

If he killed the Duke here, he had a strong intuition that Alice would suspect him.

 

“This is the last warning. If even a single strand of Alice’s hair falls, the next thing to fall will be your head, Father.”

 

Edwin murmured those words and left the office.

 

 

***

 

 

The next day, having received the Emperor’s summons, Alice followed the maids through the 1st Emperor’s Palace.

 

When she had first arrived at the Crown Prince’s Palace, she had thought it was incredibly spacious, but it couldn’t compare to the Emperor’s Palace.

 

Beautiful statues and lakes were situated throughout the vast interior of the palace, and all kinds of flowers were in bloom.

 

If this place were a tourist attraction, it would have been bustling with crowds. Ena, sticking to the back of the procession of maids, was looking around the palace with fascinated eyes.

 

Alice’s expression, however, was starkly different from Ena’s.

 

Wearing a face devoid of thought or emotion, she simply followed where the maid led her. Her insides were in turmoil. She felt like she was being dragged to a slaughterhouse.

 

‘What do I do?’

 

The walk to the reception room where the Emperor waited only made Alice’s heart burn with anxiety.

 

This was her first time having a private audience with the Emperor since the announcement. To be precise, it was her first personal meeting with him since she met him about 10 years ago.

 

‘Then why didn’t he call for me all this time, and only now?!’

 

She felt a bit of resentment; he could have just not called for her for the rest of her life.

 

Alice recalled that distant memory from 10 years ago. Since the meeting had been full of questions in many ways, her memory was relatively clear.

 

The first thing the Emperor said upon seeing her was, “You resemble her a lot.”

 

And at the end, he gave a meaningful farewell, saying, “See you in 10 years,” with affectionate eyes….

 

‘Was that a sign?’

 

If that affectionate look was a sign sent as her biological father, then she must have countless fathers in this world.

 

Alice touched her forehead and sighed.

 

‘I’m going crazy.’

 

The undeniable fact was that the Emperor had suspected she was his biological child since then. In other words, the Emperor had spent a long 10 years under the misconception that she was his daughter.

 

‘If I reveal the truth here…’

 

He was well past forty and had lived without children, so he was desperate for an heir.

 

Describe how he would feel if, not only did he suddenly find out about a child he didn’t know existed, but he also learned that the child he had believed to be his own for 10 years was actually a fake.

 

The answer to this question was clear.

 

‘He’d want to kill everyone in sight.’

 

Moreover, even if the Emperor looked kind on the outside, he wasn’t a particularly generous person.

 

So, there was only one conclusion.

 

‘Let’s pretend I don’t know.’

 

The best course of action was to play the innocent girl who had lived her life not knowing she was a princess.

 

And to live as quietly as possible until the truth was inevitably revealed.

 

 

***

 

 

“You have come.”

 

The white-haired old man sitting in the reception room welcomed her visit with a benevolent smile. Seeing him up close, she realized that the Emperor had aged since she last saw him.

 

Alice greeted him hesitantly.

 

“H-Hello, Your Majesty.”

 

“Sit comfortably and let us talk. Elizabeth.”

 

Elizabeth.

 

At the unfamiliar name calling to her, Alice only let out an awkward laugh. But at the Emperor’s urging, she reluctantly sat on the sofa.

 

It was the softest and coziest sofa she had ever sat on.

 

But knowing the reason for his warm welcome, she felt like she was sitting on a torture chair covered in thorns.

 

Unaware of her inner turmoil, the Emperor looked at her with a pleased gaze.

 

“Come to think of it, doesn’t the name Alice sound like a nickname for Elizabeth? If it is still awkward for you, it wouldn’t be bad to use that name as a nickname.”

 

The Emperor laughed, calling it a remarkable coincidence. Alice nodded along appropriately with dull eyes. For her, it was an unfortunate coincidence.

 

‘What do I do?’

 

She had intended to feign ignorance, but receiving such hospitality made it harder to face him. It would be easier if he showed open hostility; then she could at least grovel and beg for forgiveness.

 

Alice couldn’t see the answer to what attitude she should show in this situation.

 

“Feel free to call me Father.”

 

“H-How could I dare…”

 

Alice waved her hands, sweating profusely. Even if the Emperor in the original story was a villain, calling him “Father” while knowing everything felt like a terrible thing to do.

 

“Ho ho, living without knowing all this time and suddenly going through this must be very confusing. I was not considerate enough. Call me when you feel comfortable.”

 

“N-No, it’s not that…”

 

“……?”

 

The Emperor tilted his teacup with a wrinkled hand, waiting for her words. Her mouth went completely dry as she opened it.

 

“I still can’t believe I deserve to receive such grace…”

 

“The word ‘grace’ doesn’t seem to fit here. You simply received what was rightfully yours as the Emperor’s daughter.”

 

“I am overwhelmed with gratitude, Your Majesty.”

 

Alice bowed her head.

 

If she showed good manners even now, wouldn’t it count as a mitigating factor when the truth came out? It was a highly calculated move. At the same time, she lamented her fate internally.

 

‘Why does my life never improve beyond living off others, no matter where I go?’

 

She was confused about whether she should be satisfied with the fact that, even if she was living off others, it was in a grand palace rather than a straw hut.

 

“Alice.”

 

The Emperor, looking disapprovingly at her excessive politeness, spoke up.

 

“A banquet will be held for you soon.”

 

“You don’t have to…”

 

“Yes, it is far too small to be a proper welcome banquet for you. But once the matters with the Vatican are settled, I will hold a banquet so grand that everyone will look up to it. So do not be disappointed.”

 

Seeing the Emperor chuckle with pride, Alice bowed her head with a resigned face.

 

“I am overwhelmed, Your Majesty.”

 

It was as if the Emperor had called her to finalize everything and notify her.

 

Since it had come to this, she decided she might as well see what the capital’s social circle tasted like before she went. She tried to make up her mind like that, but tears of blood flowed inside her.

 

‘Alice, 18 years old. At least I’m going out after living glamorously.’

 

She had worked so hard behind the scenes with Edwin because she didn’t want to die, but it seemed everything had gone down the drain.

 

Recalling the culprit of all this, she clenched her fist.

 

‘The Duke. You bastard…’

 

If she was going to die, she would make sure to take the Duke with her.

 

A strange desire gleamed in Alice’s blue eyes.

 

Thinking she was happy, the Emperor stroked his beard with a satisfied smile.

 

“And would you like to have your Tarot read?”

 

He suggested. He added the explanation that it was a fortune-telling method newly introduced from a foreign country.

 

Alice wasn’t the type to be interested in Tarot even before coming to this world.

 

It wasn’t that she didn’t believe in Tarot at all, but she didn’t like situations where picking a bad card would just leave her feeling unsettled.

 

‘I never thought I’d confirm here that the Emperor likes superstitions.’

 

Seeing his incredibly delighted face, she couldn’t bring herself to refuse and nodded.

 

A moment later, a woman with her hood pulled deep over her head entered the reception room.

 

“This is not a superstition.”

 

The woman who entered spoke. Alice was startled by her words. It wasn’t because her mind was read.

 

Alice had heard this voice before. About 10 years ago.

 

‘Stella?’

 

The peddler who had shaken Karina’s rise and fall with a single ruby.

 

Alice’s memories of Stella weren’t good.

 

Back then, because Stella had gifted her a hairpin, Alice had fallen into great danger.

 

The lips visible beneath the hood curved into a smile.

 

“Nice to meet you. I am the fortune teller, Ophelia. As I heard, you resemble His Majesty a lot.”

 

“Ophelia…?”

 

Then was Stella an alias? But her current name didn’t sound like a real name either.

 

“Ophelia, it means help. My mother named me that, wishing for me to bestow help upon many people.”

 

“…That’s a good meaning.”

 

She wanted to ask if that “help” was help on the way to the afterlife, but she had to hold it in.

 

It was because the Emperor in front of her was looking at the woman with trust-filled eyes.

 

“I, too, have received great help from Ophelia in many ways.”

 

“I am only grateful that you say so.”

 

She curtsied.

 

She looked incredibly elegant, hard to believe she was the same person as the peddler selling accessories in the market alley.

 

Alice was confused whether she really was Stella.

 

“Then, who shall I read for first?”

 

“Ho ho, what use is there for an old man with not much time left to live to get a Tarot reading now?”

 

Receiving the Emperor’s gaze, Ophelia knelt next to Alice and began to shuffle the cards.

 

Alice flinched while watching the cards being shuffled dazzlingly.

 

‘Did I see that wrong?’

 

It looked as if a faint light hovered around the edges of the cards and then disappeared.

 

Having finished shuffling, Ophelia spread the cards out with her palm and looked at Alice.

 

“Please choose three cards that you are drawn to.”

 

There were cards that seemed to glow particularly faintly. Feeling uneasy, she deliberately avoided those cards and picked three random ones.

 

“Oh my.”

 

Ophelia, flipping over the three cards Alice picked, let out an exclamation.

 

Alice, who had tried not to care about the card results, reflexively looked at the cards at her reaction.

 

The first depicted a devil, the second was a priestess turned upside down, and the third was a large wheel.

 

“The Devil, the Reversed High Priestess, and the Wheel of Fortune came out.”

 

She placed the Devil card in front of Alice.

 

“Starting with the Devil explanation…”

 

Alice felt a sense of foreboding at the sight of the devil, who seemed to be laughing unpleasantly just by looking at it.

 

“It is also called the Obsession card.”

 

Obsession? Feeling prickly for no reason, Alice asked.

 

“Does gluttony also count as obsession?”

 

Ophelia nodded and answered.

 

“Gluttony does count as obsession. However, my interpretation is a little different. I can surmise that this card signifies not an obsession the Princess holds, but someone’s obsession directed towards Your Highness.”

 

“…So, like a stalker?”

 

Alice asked, unable to hide her discomfort.

 

“You could say that, but it feels closer to a helper than that.”

 

Alice briefly thought about the people around her. There were many who helped her, but no one who seemed particularly obsessed with her.

 

Also, she questioned how someone with an obsession for her could be a helper.

 

Noticing her doubt, Ophelia’s red lips curled up.

 

“Of course, all of this depends on the Princess’s actions.”

 

Wasn’t that a standard line that came out no matter what fortune telling you did? Alice asked with a half-disappointed face.

 

“What about the other cards?”

 

Ophelia held out the reversed High Priestess card with a smile.

 

“The Reversed High Priestess. A card shown to those who lack trust and faith. Are you currently in a situation where you cannot trust the people around you well?”

 

“…Ah.”

 

At that moment, Alice thought of one person and felt a pang of guilt.

 

Edwin. The protagonist of <The Tyrant’s Silver Flower>.

 

Unlike in the novel, he wasn’t a bloody tyrant who killed people, and he was kind to her.

 

But Alice herself hadn’t been able to fully open her heart to him.

 

Usually, his goodwill and kindness made her feel like she was floating on clouds, but sometimes the events from her dreams would come to mind, engulfing her in a creepy feeling.

 

Gaining an answer from her silence, Ophelia said, “Then it is okay to trust the person you just thought of a little more than you do now.”

 

Is she telling me to trust Edwin?

 

While Alice was thinking, Ophelia tapped the card she called the Wheel of Fortune.

 

“The third card is the most important.”

 

“Why?”

 

“Originally, when people choose cards, they choose the first one most consciously and carefully. Then the second, and the third. The further back you go, the less thought you put into picking. So the third card is most closely related to fate.”

 

Does that mean the less thought you put into picking, the more accurate it is?

 

It was the first time Alice had heard such a theory.

 

“So what does the card mean?”

 

“The Wheel of Fortune is…”

 

Ophelia’s smile deepened ominously.

 

“It carries the meaning of receiving everyone’s expectations and inheriting the family business.”

 

The Emperor burst into hearty laughter, seemingly satisfied. Alice also pulled the corners of her mouth up awkwardly. It was clearly a card with a good meaning, but she couldn’t be fully happy.

 

The implication in this situation was too clear. The Emperor was probably smiling like that knowing it too….

 

“And it is a card that speaks of sudden changes in life. Whether that be misfortune or fortune.”

 

Her lips curved gently.

 

“For Your Highness, it likely means a change of fortune. Of course, there could be other major changes in the future.”

 

 

***

 

A few days later, it was the day of the banquet the Emperor said he would hold for her.

 

Already dressed in a gown with the help of maids, Alice sat before the mirror with a sullen face.

 

In the mirror, a woman with a prim impression and bobbed hair touching her shoulders was looking back at her with blue eyes.

 

‘Is this the face of a future Princess?’

 

No matter how she looked at it, she didn’t exude a royal aura.

 

Yet the Emperor was convinced she was the Princess.

 

Alice was about to ask Ena, who was standing behind her, if she looked like a Princess, but realized it was futile and asked a different question.

 

“Ena, wouldn’t it be better for you to go back now?”

 

She was worried that Ena would be misunderstood as being in the same boat as her and they would disappear as dew on the execution ground together.

 

At Alice’s question, Ena made a blatantly disappointed face.

 

“I admit the maids here work well. But humans have affection; kicking me out like this is…”

 

“It’s not that… I’m just worried about the shop.”

 

“Denny and Lucia will be taking good care of the shop.”

 

“I can’t take responsibility if you regret it later.”

 

I wasn’t worried about the business.

 

Alice thought she should find an opportunity to send Ena back later. But she was worried that she’d already be in the afterlife with Ena before that.

 

“Hmm, is something wrong?”

 

Ena asked suspiciously, but Alice remained silent without answering.

 

Before telling Ena the whole truth, meeting the Duke to confirm the authenticity of it all came first.

 

‘Though it’s an obvious fact even without confirming.’

 

It was obvious that for the past 10 years, the Duke had been working hard to groom her, a fake, into a real Princess.

 

“Oh my, Miss. It is time to leave.”

 

Alice came out of the room with Ena and walked through the palace.

 

Having completely mastered the geography now, there was no chance of getting lost. Just in case she needed to run away, she had memorized the map all night to learn the escape routes, and whenever she had time, she used walks as an excuse to learn the layout.

 

Seeing Alice do that, Ena praised her, saying it was amazing and asking if she was a genius, but Alice couldn’t tell her the truth. She only sighed.

 

“By the way, Miss, what made you think to ask him to be your partner first?”

 

Reading the room, Ena asked. Alice, finding a slight question in that question, tilted her head.

 

“Does it look strange that I asked Edwin to be my partner?”

 

“A little. I thought you were avoiding the Young Duke.”

 

Ena didn’t deny it and nodded. Alice was momentarily speechless. It wasn’t wrong.

 

“No. I like Edwin.”

 

“Really?”

 

Ena’s eyes went round. Alice felt burdened by her excessively sparkling gaze.

 

“Yeah, otherwise why would I take an interest in Edwin’s affairs?”

 

“Since you were trying to set the Young Duke up with Michael, Miss, I thought you were doing it on purpose.”

 

“Me doing that to avoid Edwin?”

 

Alice was dumbfounded.

 

“It was all interest, and love!”

 

“If you call that interest and love to other people, you’ll get beaten up somewhere.”

 

“Anyway, people just don’t respect tastes.”

 

Ena grabbed Alice and asked.

 

“So you mean you have romantic feelings for him?”

 

Alice looked at Ena as if she were strange at her question.

 

“If you see Edwin and don’t catch feelings, are you even human?”

 

Ena’s jaw dropped. Alice didn’t understand her reaction.

 

When he returned from the war, seeing him for the first time in 10 years, she thought her heart was going to drop. In many ways.

 

“Think about it. seeing a creature looking like that, how can no feelings arise?”

 

Ah, but one person was capable of it.

 

Michael Elga.

 

By nature, he looked at a person’s heart rather than their face, so even in the original story, he wasn’t easily swayed even after seeing Edwin’s beauty.

 

Alice thought to herself. It was a reasonable suspicion that Michael had developed immunity to considerable beauty due to his own face.

 

Ena, with a somewhat meaningful smile, came close to her and whispered.

 

“Then what if the Young Duke seduces you?”

 

Alice was startled by Ena’s cheeky question. She was scared someone might hear. Especially Edwin.

 

Alice hurriedly looked around.

 

Except for the escort knights behind them, no one else was visible.

 

And she saw the fountain.

 

Presumably, once she passed that fountain, Edwin would be waiting for her.

 

Meaning, she had to walk for another 10 minutes to reach the spot where he was. The sound of talking here wouldn’t reach there.

 

Relieved, Alice answered as if telling a great secret.

 

“If he seduces me with that beauty, even if there were a hundred of me, I’d be bewitched.”

 

“I thought you were a total stone block…”

 

Ena muttered looking at her. With an incredulous face, Alice walked past her hurriedly.

 

Then, she saw the back of Edwin wearing a black tailcoat.

 

“Then Miss, Your Highness the Princess, have a safe trip!”

 

Ena waved her hand small to send her off. Seeing that, Alice trembled at her betrayal.

 

‘I thought we were attending the banquet together?!’

 

Inevitably, she had to approach Edwin alone.

 

As she came within a close distance, Edwin turned around as if realizing her presence only then.

 

Seeing that, Alice felt relieved inside. Fortunately, it seemed he hadn’t heard the conversation she had with Ena.

 

“Sorry. Did you wait long?”

 

“I just arrived as well.”

 

Edwin answered in polite, formal speech. Why the sudden formal language?

 

Before she could even question his tone, a strange voice cut into the conversation.

 

“Didn’t you wait for almost an hour?”

 

Alice realized belatedly that Edwin wasn’t the only one there.

 

A handsome man with blue hair and a hearty impression was laughing while looking at her, as if finding this situation amusing.

 

“Chester?”

 

Alice called his name with a blank face. He made a slightly surprised expression.

 

“Does Her Highness the Princess know me? I am honored.”

 

At his reaction, which was a bit burdensome, Alice spoke awkwardly.

 

“I’ve heard your name before…”

 

Heard his name? Hardly just that.

 

In the original story, he was a spy in charge of “weeding” the palace so that Edwin could easily seize the throne, so his role was quite significant.

 

Furthermore, as an avid reader, there was no way she wouldn’t know of his existence.

 

“Oh dear, the Commander is looking at me as if he wants to kill me.”

 

Chester said slyly. Then he winked and said, “If I disappear soon, the culprit is the Commander. Your Highness is my witness.”

 

“Surely not.”

 

Alice laughed as if dismissing his words as a funny joke. As described in the original, he was a cheerful person on the outside. But on the inside…

 

‘How many people has he killed with that smiling face?’

 

Since he was close with the Edwin of the original story, he couldn’t be an ordinary person either.

 

Edwin’s gaze watching them turned sharp.

 

“Count Douglas. Your attitude towards Her Highness is self-indulgent and disrespectful.”

 

The atmosphere between them began to freeze rapidly.

 

Chester made a troubled expression. And soon, he apologized to Alice.

 

“I apologize, Your Highness. Please forgive my impiety.”

 

“I’m fine…”

 

Alice glanced at Edwin.

 

He was still looking at Chester with a very displeased face.

 

Feeling like the atmosphere had become uncomfortable because of her, Alice spoke up.

 

“I’m fine, so let’s get going. We might be late for the banquet.”

 

“Then I will also do my utmost to escort you, Your Highness.”

 

Chester laughed and slunk away.

 

Alice, realizing from his words that Chester had stepped up as her escort, was swept up in an awkward and unfamiliar feeling.

 

It was because she knew in detail exactly what kind of work Chester did under Edwin.

 

‘To think the corpse disposal squad is handling my escort.’

 

If you live long enough, you see everything. Alice looked at Edwin, who was looking at her with his hand held out.

 

‘This side is even more surprising, actually.’

 

Placing her hand on his, she lightly climbed into the carriage. A moment later, with the sound of the horse snorting, the carriage moved.

 

Although it was the same Imperial Palace, the distance between buildings was far, so it was unreasonable to walk from here to another palace.

 

“Isn’t it strange?”

 

Alice, who had been thinking about it, suddenly spoke up. Edwin, who had been reading a book, shifted his gaze to her.

 

“Even if we are royalty, we are family, yet we have to take a carriage to see each other. I find it a bit odd that family, not strangers, have to meet in such a way.”

 

She had her own fantasies about family. Generally, wasn’t family an existence you could see comfortably at home?

 

After saying it, Alice regretted that she might have spoken too presumptuously. I’m not even a real Princess, what does it matter?

 

“…I hadn’t thought of that before.”

 

Edwin remained silent for a moment with a thoughtful face, then spoke.

 

“I think you’re right.”

 

“Right?”

 

Fortunately, Edwin nodded.

 

“Then Alice, you can just change it later.”

 

“M-Me?”

 

Edwin looked at her as if it were obvious.

 

Alice didn’t understand his words at first. Realizing the meaning belatedly, she was startled and waved her hands.

 

“No. How could I change it?”

 

“It is fully possible.”

 

Edwin answered in a low voice with a faint smile. Alice was flustered by the tone filled with certainty, without a shred of hesitation.

 

‘Edwin, if you say it like that…’

 

It sounds like it’s really possible.

 

However, for her, a fake princess, it was even more impossible. Alice used her specialty: grasping reality.

 

Even if she were a real princess, changing a long-standing tradition was impossible.

 

But there was one case where it would be possible.

 

That was if she became the Emperor.

 

There was no way Edwin said that without knowing that fact. Then his words implied that he threw them out there with the intention of her becoming Emperor later….

 

‘No way. Surely not.’

 

It was a terrifying assumption just to think about.

 

Alice concluded that she was interpreting it too broadly and laughed it off as if she had heard a joke to smooth over the conversation.

 

‘Edwin seems to not know yet.’

 

Alice’s head was complicated with the assumptions that could be derived from this conversation.

 

He definitely didn’t know that she was here as a fake princess.

 

‘Should I tell him, or not?’

 

Alice deliberated whether she should tell the truth. The case was different from Ena’s.

 

If she told Edwin, he might save her.

 

No matter if it was the Emperor, he wouldn’t be able to ignore a petition from a loyal subject who had made distinguished achievements in the war.

 

But the possibility of Edwin hearing the truth and helping her was slim.

 

Rather, since it involved the Esteban family, the possibility that he would quietly dispose of her couldn’t be ruled out either.

 

‘Should I beg for my life?’

 

It was pathetic, but right now, this was the only method she could think of.

 

While she was shifting the weights of her thoughts back and forth, they arrived at the 1st Palace.

 

 

***

 

 

Before entering the banquet hall, Alice sat on a sofa in the resting area reserved for royalty.

 

Her hands clutching the dress were slightly damp with sweat. This was her first banquet since the Emperor’s announcement.

 

Surely, the moment she entered, she would receive everyone’s attention.

 

She asked Edwin.

 

“Edwin, do I look okay?”

 

“What do you mean?”

 

He tilted his head and asked back. Alice envied his composure. She swallowed dryly and asked again.

 

“Is there anything strange about my face or my clothes?”

 

Although she had looked in the mirror before getting off the carriage, she was still anxious.

 

Edwin’s eyelashes blinked slowly as he looked at her. Even small actions were languid yet elegant.

 

She had asked him to look at her, yet conversely, she was appreciating him.

 

She scratched her cheek, realizing her contradictory behavior.

 

Meanwhile, Edwin couldn’t fully understand her question. That’s how strange the question was to him.

 

To him, she had never been strange from 10 years ago until now.

 

Could there be a human more perfect than the creature that was her?

 

He could answer that question immediately. With a ‘No.’

 

“No. You’re perfect.”

 

His answer contained many implications.

 

There was a fact that Alice would never know.

 

In reality, she was the person who showed him that there was another world outside the small well.

 

To him, her existence was not merely a creature, but it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say she was like a god.

 

She would never know.

 

Seeing his smile, Alice answered with a shy face.

 

“If you say it with a face like that, Edwin, I think I’d believe whatever you say.”

 

Inwardly, she praised his beautiful appearance. At her words, Edwin touched his face as if brushing it and thought.

 

‘Is my face one that gives her deep trust? That’s fortunate.’ He hoped she would trust him as much as he trusted her.

 

Infinitely, like the size of the sky.

 

 

***

 

 

“Her Imperial Highness Princess Elizabeth Lede Elgorth Van and Young Duke Edwin Esteban are entering!”

 

Upon entering the banquet hall, Alice was surprised to see more nobles in attendance than expected.

 

The last banquet was held at the 2nd Palace, and this one was at the 1st Palace.

 

Although the scale of the banquet hall was slightly larger in the 2nd Palace, this one was held at the 1st Palace to resolve the intrusion incident.

 

The palace size was smaller, but for some reason, it seemed to Alice’s eyes that more nobles were participating than the last banquet.

 

“…….”

 

The crowd, which had been noisy just a moment ago, fell silent as if cold water had been poured on them at the Princess’s appearance.

 

Most were looking at her, but some couldn’t take their eyes off Edwin.

 

Alice glanced at Edwin. The reason they were looking at him was entirely understandable.

 

In the silence, the first people to appear before her were the Evans couple.

 

“Greetings, Your Imperial Highness.”

 

Richet greeted with polite courtesy as before. On the other hand, Count Evans’s greeting had a slightly awkward air compared to back then. Although there weren’t major differences overall.

 

They then greeted Edwin as well. Once their simple greetings were over, Alice spoke up.

 

“Have you both been well?”

 

Seeing familiar faces in a place gathered only with strangers was incredibly welcoming. Countess Evans smiled and said, “I have been well. Have you recovered from the shock of last night, Your Highness?”

 

“I heard from my wife that your body is weak. I am worried if the Princess’s health is alright.”

 

“I’m fine. Thank you for your concern.”

 

The Evans couple looked at her with shared worry. When the Emperor announced the Princess’s existence to the audience, they were there too.

 

Since they were relatively close at that time, they could see Alice’s expression and knew.

 

That she was greatly flustered upon newly realizing the fact that she was a princess.

 

Touched by their sincere concern, Alice nodded, saying she was okay.

 

Perhaps because she had already anticipated it before coming, enduring the gazes focusing on her upon entering the banquet wasn’t as difficult as she thought.

 

Thinking of herself merely as a paper doll appearing in a novel seemed to make her heart slightly comfortable, or maybe not…….

 

She couldn’t pin down her own feelings either. It might be because there was no aspect of the situation surrounding her that she could understand.

 

The Evans couple soon excused themselves, saying they were called by other nobles.

 

Then, the surrounding nobles who had been gauging the situation started approaching one by one.

 

Alice tensed up. This was the start.

 

‘No matter what means I use, I have to leave a good impression.’

 

Thinking about the future, the best plan for her was to remain a kind and innocent fake princess who knew nothing.

 

Although it was a plan that gave a sense of déjà vu somewhere.

 

“It is an honor to meet Your Imperial Highness. I am Nelly Rybice, daughter of the Count Rybice family.”

 

A noble young lady with wheat-colored hair braided to one side approached and greeted her.

 

“Nice to meet you. Lady Rybice.”

 

Alice accepted the greeting with the most innocent expression possible. First impressions are always the most important for people.

 

At her friendly tone, Lady Rybice spoke with a welcoming complexion.

 

“I have heard stories about Your Highness often.”

 

She had a feeling they wouldn’t be particularly good stories.

 

She knew it was best to pretend ignorance about this for the sake of smooth relationships. However, unable to overcome her curiosity, Alice spoke up.

 

“Is that so? I’m curious what kind of stories they were.”

 

Not expecting her to ask that here, Lady Rybice was slightly flustered.

 

“I heard you are a very bright and clever person.”

 

“Really? That’s the best compliment.”

 

Alice smiled as if genuinely happy. It was actually her favorite compliment as well.

 

Seeing that smile, Lady Rybice smiled back. Alice thought calmly.

 

‘Seeing that the smile is a beat late, it seems the rumors weren’t very good.’

 

“Huhu, and the moment I saw this cocktail, I thought of Your Imperial Highness and brought it. It’s sweet and sour, so if you like fruit, it will suit your taste.”

 

‘Of course, it cannot compare to Your Highness’s beautiful eyes, though.’

 

At Lady Rybice’s honeyed compliment, Alice awkwardly accepted the sky-blue cocktail she handed over. It was fortunate as she was just thirsty.

 

And just as she was about to put the cocktail to her lips, Edwin reached out for the glass.

 

“Just in case, I will check if there is poison.”

 

Alice’s eyes went round.

 

Poison?

 

It was an idea she hadn’t even thought of. It felt like her heart dropped with a thud.

 

While Alice froze at his sudden remark, Edwin leisurely shook the cocktail and observed it carefully.

 

Then,

 

“Edwin!”

 

He took a large gulp. Startled, Alice unwittingly called his name loudly.

 

Who in the world drinks it directly to check for poison!

 

The Evans couple, who had returned after finishing a conversation with someone else, were also looking at him with stunned faces.

 

“Edwin, are you okay?”

 

Alice unwittingly spoke in her usual tone and checked his condition. He handed the cocktail back to her.

 

“There is no poison.”

 

“E-Edwin, who checks for poison in such a way…….”

 

Usually, wouldn’t one use a silver spoon to check? She had never heard of or seen anyone tasting it to check for poison.

 

“Certainly…… that is certain indeed.”

 

Richet nodded with a face that seemed to understand something. Poisons that don’t react to silver are rare but exist.

 

The only way to check for such poisons was animal testing, feeding the poison directly to an animal.

 

Then would this count as human experimentation? Richet made a rarely disgusted expression.

 

Even in the Academy’s poison lab, they didn’t ingest poison directly to observe symptoms.

 

To express the Young Duke politely, he was a person who deviated from common sense in many ways. Borrowing a raw expression, a crazy bastard one shouldn’t mess with.

 

Richet concluded as such about the Young Duke.

 

“……Then I will drink it well. Thank you.”

 

Alice drank the cocktail. Lady Rybice’s face turned red, perhaps offended by the fact she was suspected…….

 

‘No, she seems smitten.’

 

Glimpsing a strange heat in Lady Rybice’s gaze looking at Edwin, Alice realized his fatal charm once again.

 

She wasn’t the only one surprised by that sight. Nobles began to excitedly speculate about the relationship between the Princess and Young Duke Esteban.

 

Hearing parts of the story, Alice rubbed the back of her hand against her cheeks which were heating up on their own.

 

‘Me, Edwin’s lover!’

 

Most nobles were speculating about the relationship between the two of them like that. Alice felt a bit dizzy about how to explain to them.

 

“Your Imperial Highness, it is a pleasure to meet you. I am Aaron Padrick.”

 

In the meantime, a young lord mustered the courage to speak to her. Alice responded to his greeting.

 

“Ah, nice to meet you. Lord Padrick.”

 

With a chubby face full of freckles, he looked at her with a greasy smile.

 

“Haha, you are beautiful as I heard. If you like fruit, the grapes, a specialty of our estate, will suit your taste. I would really like you to visit the estate.”

 

Alice was at a loss for where to put her eyes as he thrust his face forward burdensomely and pleaded.

 

“That is…….”

 

Then, a long and graceful hand intervened between them. It was Edwin.

 

“Her Highness is busy, so she has no time to go there. Or perhaps show some sincerity by picking the crops yourself and offering them.”

 

His tone was polite without superfluity, but a chill overflowed from it.

 

As his tone grew colder towards the end, Aaron Padrick’s face crumpled in an instant as he stepped back.

 

“I-I apologize.”

 

Alice looked at Edwin with a worried face, feeling like karma was piling up for some reason. Her goal was to remain as a good-natured and innocent princess…….

 

At Edwin’s iron-wall-like words, other nobles didn’t even dare to approach.

 

Then, Rachel Thaleia approached.

 

“Oh my, we meet again here. Your Imperial Highness.”

 

“Lady Thaleia! Good to see you!”

 

Seeing a familiar face, Alice greeted her happily.

 

“How has life in the Imperial Palace been? Many things must be unfamiliar.”

 

Rachel asked after her well-being. Alice pondered for a moment. Imperial Palace life.

 

The only peculiarity she felt while living there was that the palace was big enough to get lost in. But she couldn’t say something like that…….

 

“The meals here are really delicious.”

 

“Even the desserts?”

 

“Yes, the desserts are excellent too.”

 

“Even more than the shop Your Highness runs?”

 

To offer such a difficult choice here. An awkward smile appeared on Alice’s face. The desserts from her shop were tasty too, but honestly, the Imperial Palace’s desserts were of supreme taste.

 

“T-That is. I think my shop tastes just a tiny bit better.”

 

“Your Highness is on the side of being unable to lie. It shows all over your face.”

 

While conversing with her, conversation sounds were heard from not far away. Initially ignored, Rachel’s gaze turned towards where the sound was coming from.

 

And Alice quickly realized the topic of that conversation.

 

“Is she really the real Princess?”

 

Nobles were chatting about her. It wasn’t anything new. Gazes doubting the authenticity of a suddenly appeared Princess were natural.

 

‘To what extent am I being suspected?’

 

Alice kept her mouth shut for a moment and thought calmly.

 

If words were coming out in such a public place, it meant the suspicion was even deeper behind the scenes. It wasn’t a very good flow.

 

Whether they didn’t know she was listening or were saying it deliberately knowing she was, the sound of the conversation grew louder.

 

“It will be revealed soon once the ability test is done.”

 

“I’m curious how things will roll if she’s proven fake.”

 

They were laughing as if giggling over an interesting conversation.

 

It seemed they thought Alice and Edwin couldn’t hear their words because they were busy dealing with other nobles.

 

At that moment, Edwin put down his glass.

 

“The world has become a good place. To think there are seeds wagging their tongues like that in front of Her Highness.”

 

The surroundings, which had been a bit noisy, completely died down. It was a chilly silence where not even the sound of breathing could be heard.

 

Alice was flustered, wondering if it was necessary to go this far.

 

‘I am fake anyway.’

 

Since it was an easily expected reaction, she didn’t mind much. However, Edwin seemed different; he looked at the nobles he was talking to earlier and then shifted his gaze to her.

 

“Your Highness, punish the rudeness of those who do not know their place severely. You may borrow my hand.”

 

“Mm…….”

 

Alice looked again at the group conversing in the distance. Seeing their faces already turning blue, she felt sorry to punish them for no reason. It wasn’t like what they said was wrong anyway.

 

‘Just receive a moderate apology and end it, I guess.’

 

It was extremely burdensome that everyone, including the Evans couple, had been looking only at her since earlier.

 

“Those who were just conversing, come here.”

 

At her call, the nobles who were gauging the situation made eye contact with Edwin, flinched, and walked out in front of her.

 

There were a total of three young men.

 

Among them was Aaron Padrick, who had asked her to visit his estate earlier.

 

Chuckling at the too-rapid change in attitude, she looked at them and marveled in a different sense.

 

‘Wow, how can they look like that.’

 

Seeing Edwin’s face every day, the faces of the men in front of her now felt incredibly rich in personality. Looking at them continuously made her feel bad.

 

‘Eye purification is urgent.’

 

She looked at Edwin, the best eye purifier. Meeting her gaze, he interpreted it in some way and reached out towards the men with a neat gesture, saying, “Do you wish for me to handle it here?”

 

She shook her head urgently. She knew that single hand could take a life as easily as tearing paper.

 

Edwin withdrew his hand with a somewhat regretful face. What on earth was he trying to do? Surely he wasn’t intending a public execution here.

 

Unaware that her thought was the correct answer, she opened her mouth again.

 

“Your names?”

 

“……That is,”

 

The questioned young lords avoided her gaze and hesitated to answer. However, unable to withstand the pressure, they soon opened their mouths.

 

Hearing the names, except for Lord Padrick from earlier, they were families she was hearing for the first time.

 

“It is right to punish them severely. If you let it pass here, Your Highness’s prestige will be damaged.”

 

At that time, someone intervened and spoke. It wasn’t a very loud voice, but strangely, it was a voice that drew people’s attention. Alice turned her head in that direction.

 

A man with blond hair and soft hazelnut eyes was looking this way with a serious face. He was a handsome man with a kind impression that gave a very favorable feeling at first glance.

 

So strangely, he reminded her of Evan too.

 

‘Who is he?’

 

She made a reasonable guess that a person with such beauty couldn’t be an extra, but before she could figure out his identity, another voice intruded.

 

“Apologizing on their knees would be appropriate.”

 

A slightly ringing, clear voice.

 

This was a voice Alice had heard before too. It was Lady Thaleia.

 

As she spoke, the faces of the young lords turned even paler. And following that,

 

“W-We were wrong.”

 

One by one, they flopped onto their knees and began to beg for forgiveness. At the unexpected situation, Alice trailed off.

 

“Uh…….”

 

Oh, dear.

 

Without a moment to stop them, a rare scene unfolded where three grown men were kneeling in a row and apologizing in front of her.

 

“We apologize for committing rudeness!”

 

The nobles looked on with intrigued gazes as if watching an interesting spectacle.

 

The man with hazelnut eyes who had spoken earlier was also observing the situation with a slightly surprised face.

 

The kneeling lords’ faces turned red and blue, perhaps humiliated to be doing so in front of so many people.

 

“I will forgive you, so stand up.”

 

Alice hurriedly spoke.

 

“……W-We thank Your Highness for your magnanimity.”

 

“Don’t mention it.”

 

Alice spoke with the most innocent face possible. Right now, she had to push forward as the naive princess who didn’t know this situation well.

 

After the situation was settled, Alice, feeling tired, entered the inner resting room with Edwin for a moment.

 

It was also because the atmosphere in the banquet hall had rapidly frozen due to the incident just now and hadn’t thawed.

 

“Edwin, do you happen to know what an ability test is?”

 

Alice recalled the conversation the young lords shared earlier and asked. Edwin answered.

 

“It is a test to distinguish the special ability possessed by royalty.”

 

“Such a thing exists……?”

 

Alice was dumbfounded by the unexpected news. And she recalled one important setting. The fact that royalty’s abilities could be tested with Holy Power.

 

“But by what means?”

 

Although the Elga brothers possessed Holy Power, their ability wasn’t officially known.

 

Then does that mean there is another method?

 

“Spirit Stone.”

 

Damn it. It seems there was.

 

It seemed this life was properly ruined. It was only a matter of time before her identity, not being a real princess, was exposed.

 

“Alice, you don’t need to worry about the result.”

 

“Edwin…….”

 

No. Edwin.

 

I mean I’m not real…….

 

Alice felt like crying.

 

She wanted to cling to Edwin’s trouser leg right now, tell him the truth, and ask him to save her.

 

Then, wouldn’t he pity her a little considering their past affection?

 

She looked at him with desperate eyes.

 

Still unaware that he had already finished all the work in advance.

 

 

***

 

After the Princess left for the resting room, the banquet hall became a bit noisy due to the earlier incident.

 

Some were gauging the two people who had intervened in the Princess’s affair. Why of all things did those two speak up in the Princess’s matter?

 

“Your Grace, the Grand Duke.”

 

One of them, the man with hazelnut eyes, turned around at the sound calling him.

 

“Princess Thaleia. You are beautiful as ever today.”

 

He smiled softly and said. Rachel showed her gratitude with an elegant gesture holding her dress.

 

“If it isn’t rude, I wanted to ask about the matter earlier.”

 

“Ah, you mean that matter.”

 

Grand Duke Wigmund nodded with a kind smile.

 

“I don’t consider it rude, so you may ask comfortably.”

 

“Is there a reason you cared about that matter?”

 

The Grand Duke’s unexpected action also took up a large share of the reason nobles paid attention earlier. He, who rarely stepped into others’ business, spoke up on none other than the Princess’s matter.

 

“She might become my cousin. I also thought it would be good to score points in advance. Was the explanation sufficient?”

 

Grand Duke Wigmund answered without withdrawing his smile. Rachel said it was sufficiently explained, offered thanks, and withdrew.

 

‘Was the Grand Duke considering the Princess to be real?’

 

The reason Rachel asked was also to sound him out. Grand Duke Wigmund, realizing her intention, replied vaguely, but at a glance, it sounded like he was certain.

 

Rachel wanted to know more certainly, but she didn’t ask further.

 

Knowing that man armed with kindness rarely revealed his inner thoughts directly.

 

 

***

 

 

The next day, a letter arrived for Alice.

 

A white envelope with only the recipient written, sender unknown.

 

And Alice realized without difficulty that the letter was from Evan.

 

 

***

 

 

Ena, who brought washing water in the morning when the sun rose, asked.

 

“Miss, is that rumor true?”

 

“What rumor? Ah, I heard the rumor that Ena is a traitor.”

 

“I wasn’t even invited, so I did that because I was afraid I’d just be a nuisance if I followed you, Miss. Please stop being angry, Miss.”

 

“I know you just didn’t come because it was bothersome.”

 

Excuses.

 

As Alice’s eyes narrowed, Ena attempted to change the subject.

 

“Rumors are widespread in the palace that you made three nobles kneel at the banquet, Miss.”

 

“…….”

 

Rumors tend to contain some fiction, but isn’t this degree too severe?

 

‘I made them kneel……?’

 

Alice felt like dying of injustice. Ena, interpreting her silence strangely, said, “Wow, you were more valiant than I thought, Miss.”

 

Why is the word valiant coming out here? Alice looked at her with an absurd gaze.

 

About a week passed in the Imperial Palace. Alice’s daily routine during that time was monotonous beyond measure.

 

In the morning Edwin, and in the afternoon the Evans couple came to meet her for tea time.

 

And a simple routine of replying to the letter Michael sent arriving every evening.

 

Except for steadily diverting the huge sums of money earned from the business into a slush fund for escape.

 

Such quiet and peaceful time passed.

 

But Alice couldn’t shake off the uneasiness. Even though the day to go to the temple approached before she knew it…….

 

‘The Duke is quiet.’

 

She didn’t know the reason, but anyway, the person who pushed her into the Imperial Palace was the Duke.

 

So she thought his side would call or contact her, but nothing happened.

 

Alice sat in front of the window and mumbled.

 

“I thought I was going to die of frustration because time wouldn’t pass…….”

 

“Did you want to go to the temple that much?”

 

Ena, who was embroidering Alice’s handkerchief next to her, asked. Alice nodded her head greatly and affirmed immediately.

 

“Yeah.”

 

“Is there something you want to see there?”

 

“Yeah.”

 

At her insincere answer, Ena stared at Alice. Alice hurriedly added an explanation. With eyes like that, she would surely sulk for a day.

 

“It’s because there’s someone I want to meet there.”

 

“Who is it?”

 

“The priests.”

 

“Were you a devout believer?”

 

“Not that…… just curious.”

 

She couldn’t bring herself to say she was going to meet Evan. Ena, making a face that said the answer was bland, retorted.

 

“For me, the Pope. I want to meet him once too.”

 

“Then wanna go together?”

 

Ena made a blank expression looking at the sky, imagining something.

 

“If it’s him, could he bring dead Patricia back to life?”

 

“Patricia?”

 

“Yes, a cat I raised a long time ago.”

 

“The name is cool, but he won’t be able to save it.”

 

Holy Power was lost about 300 years ago, and since then, not even a speck of Holy Power could be found in those who ascended to the papacy.

 

However, in the original story, Michael had revived a dead person just once with that precious Holy Power.

 

It was a boy from Heiden village who died in Edwin’s ruthless massacre.

 

Michael lay sick for a month due to using vast Holy Power while saving the boy.

 

Using that incident as an occasion, Edwin made it so Michael could absolutely never use Holy Power.

 

Of course, that method was very ruthless and cruel, befitting an angst obsessor top.

 

Not long after talking with Ena, a servant came to pick Alice up. She followed him to the carriage.

 

‘Why are there so many people.’

 

Edwin, Chester, and the knights under his command were standing around the carriage.

 

Spotting her, Edwin approached Alice and said.

 

“Your Highness, are you feeling alright?”

 

“Didn’t we already see each other earlier?”

 

Alice said with a laugh. Just like when she was at the Duke’s castle, he came to her room every morning to greet her.

 

Laughter flowed out at the gaze examining her as if seeing someone after a long time, despite having just checked.

 

“Ooh, has your relationship already developed to that extent?”

 

Chester cut into the conversation with a somewhat frivolous tone. Then Edwin kicked his shin.

 

Thud! At the sound and a short scream, she unwittingly squeezed her eyes shut and opened them.

 

“Edwin…….”

 

No, even if he’s a former subordinate, is it okay to hit the Knight Commander as if to break his shin?

 

“When legs hurt, this is a special remedy. Right, Chester?”

 

Edwin looked down at him with an indifferent gaze and said.

 

“Haha……. My painful leg is completely healed. Thank you.”

 

“I-Is that so.”

 

Alice hurriedly got on the carriage, not wanting to get involved in this situation.

 

Looking through the carriage window, the number of escort knights was much higher than she thought.

 

‘With this many knights…… it wouldn’t be shameful to go out to a small battle.’

 

“Don’t you think there are too many escort knights?”

 

Alice asked Edwin sitting opposite her. Although he accompanied her for the purpose of escort, he took on the closest escort and rode with her.

 

“Not really. This degree isn’t on the many side.”

 

Edwin denied it. Alice tilted her head thinking ‘is that so’, then soon nodded.

 

Since he knew better about this than her, if he said so, it must be so.

 

Edwin exchanged gazes quietly with Chester outside through the carriage window. Chester nodded.

 

It meant preparations were complete.

 

Today was the day to execute the order given last time.

 

If Alice, whose lineage was revealed in the ability test, fell into danger, Edwin intended to eliminate the Vatican without delay to silence them.

 

Actually, destroying just one Spirit Stone would suffice, but the mere fact that a mere priest would argue about her lineage was extremely annoying to Edwin.

 

So the knights gathered under the pretext of Princess escort were composed of the most elite soldiers.

 

They were those who had achieved overwhelming victories in numerous engagements under Edwin during the Southern War.

 

Everything would proceed according to their commander Edwin’s will, according to Alice’s will.

 

Unaware of this, Alice was lost in thought looking out the window.

 

‘Now if just a few hours pass……’

 

Her face hardened with tension.

 

While worried about the result of the ability test, her heart beat wildly at the fact that she could meet Evan.

 

She recalled the contents of the letter.

 

[To Alice whom I worry about.

 

I heard Alice’s news.

 

I worry on one hand how surprised Alice, the person involved, must have been.

 

(……~~~~)

 

Still, the most important thing is health, so you must take care of your meals and sleep.

 

Writing the letter in a hurry, I feel very sorry that I seem to have written only what I wanted to say and also…… sorry for causing worry.

 

Are you doing well and healthy? I hope you are in a healthy state when we meet.

 

Then I will be waiting in front of the Archangel’s statue.]

 

As befitting Evan, half of the letter was occupied by warm nagging.

 

The only fact known based on this letter was that he was at the temple.

 

Alice guessed there was a high possibility Evan was mixed in as one of the priests.

 

‘That’s a relief.’

 

Alice almost cried at first upon receiving that letter. Although the tears went right back in when Ena asked ‘Why such a desperate expression, is it a letter from a lover you broke up with long ago’.

 

Still, Alice was just happy at the news that Evan was alive. But if there was one thing weighing on her mind…….

 

[P.S. I ask you to keep this letter a secret from my younger brother.]

 

It was questionable why Evan wanted to hide this fact from Michael.

 

Even though Michael would be the one waiting for and wanting his news the most.

 

There was no way Evan didn’t know that.

 

‘Is Evan’s existence perhaps something that shouldn’t be known to the outside?’

 

Then why tell her of his existence.

 

For her, his letter was incredibly welcome, but it remained a question until the very end.

 

 

***

 

 

The carriage left the vast plains of the Giles region and entered the Rogen region.

 

As they climbed higher into the mountainous Rogen region, the temperature steadily dropped.

 

The Central Temple, where the Vatican was located, stood at the summit.

 

Feeling the rather chilly temperature, Alice began to hurriedly put on the outer coat Ena had packed for her.

 

‘They say it’s quite cold up there because it’s a mountain, so you must take this!’

 

She recalled Ena diligently packing the coat while saying those words.

 

She realized how foolish she had been to grumble, thinking, ‘It’s full-blown spring now, how cold could it possibly be?’ As expected, there was no harm in listening to Ena.

 

Once fully dressed in her coat, Alice looked at Edwin.

 

He was dressed in a three-piece suit consisting only of a white shirt, a black vest, and a jacket decorated with gold tassels.

 

The vampire-like attire suited him perfectly, but compared to Alice, who was bundled up in a padded coat, his outfit looked terribly cold.

 

However, not a speck of coldness could be seen on his face.

 

“So that’s the temple.”

 

Alice muttered as she looked at the temple faintly emerging in view.

 

Once she got there, she could meet Evan, and undergo the ability test…

 

“Edwin, if I…”

 

When she opened her mouth, Edwin, who had been reading a book, turned his gaze to Alice. However, Alice couldn’t speak easily. Only after a long while did she finally manage to continue.

 

“If the ability test results say I’m not the Princess… what will you do, Edwin?”

 

As soon as she asked, she thought it was a question without an answer. Alice immediately regretted it.

 

Why did I ask such a question? Seeing the temple, she had blurted it out half-impulsively.

 

‘What answer was I expecting?’

 

Alice wanted to turn back time to before she asked the question.

 

But she also wanted to hear his answer before turning back time.

 

She wanted to confirm what kind of existence she was to Edwin. Even if the results were bad, would he remain her good friend?

 

Looking into her anxiously trembling blue eyes, Edwin spoke.

 

“That will absolutely never happen, Alice.”

 

Why on earth was Edwin so certain?

 

Alice was curious.

 

While having doubts, she also thought it might be better to end the conversation here. However, contrary to her mind, her mouth was already moving.

 

“But there’s always a ‘what if’.”

 

“If it comes out like that, then the test is wrong. In that case, we just have to invalidate the test.”

 

Invalidate the ability test?

 

Alice was bewildered by Edwin’s words.

 

“How?”

 

“That is…”

 

But Alice couldn’t hear Edwin’s answer. Before he could finish his sentence, the coachman announced their arrival at the temple.

 

 

***

 

 

The Central Temple, where the Pope and the seven High Priests resided.

 

It boasted beautiful architecture, looking more like a well-preserved historic site than an ordinary castle.

 

Its walls were made entirely of white plaster, shining beautifully like an ice castle under the moonlight.

 

Holy Knights were standing guard in front of it.

 

“We have come from Elgorth.”

 

Edwin approached them and spoke.

 

The Holy Knights, who had already been informed of the Princess’s visit, looked at Alice and Edwin for a moment before lowering the spears they were holding.

 

However, they seemed slightly uncomfortable with the numerous escort knights behind Alice.

 

Alice understood their position.

 

‘Anyone seeing this would think we’re here to invade.’

 

Alice recalled the scale of the knights lined up behind her and moved her steps with Edwin.

 

There were hardly any people inside the temple.

 

It was vastly different from her expectation of a place bustling with priests.

 

As she looked around, a man wearing pure white priestly robes approached.

 

“I pray that God’s love and benevolence be with you, brother and sister.”

 

Greeting them, he introduced himself with a polite attitude.

 

“Brother, Sister. I am High Priest Julian.”

 

He wore a kind and gentle smile. His greying hair allowed a rough estimate of his age

 

‘Brother, Sister?’

 

Perhaps noticing her slight confusion at the title, Julian added a brief explanation.

 

“Everyone on this land is a child of God.”

 

So that means everyone is called brother and sister. It felt a bit awkward to Alice, but she greeted him in the same manner.

 

At that, she felt the corners of Julian’s mouth lift in satisfaction. Soon, he recognized the man beside her and was surprised.

 

“It has been a long time, Brother. You have grown much in the meantime.”

 

Edwin nodded. Alice’s eyes went round.

 

“Edwin, have you been here before?”

 

“Yes. I came briefly to receive treatment.”

 

She had expected him to answer that it was his first time like her, but that expectation was completely off. Surprised by his words, Alice asked.

 

“When did you get hurt?”

 

She was so flustered that her usual tone slipped out unconsciously.

 

Her trembling blue eyes looked like a sea meeting rough winds. Edwin gazed into those eyes as if possessed for a moment.

 

“I suffered burns 8 years ago.”

 

“Oh my god… I had no idea.”

 

Her mood sank in an instant.

 

8 years ago meant he was only a ten-year-old child. To think he was not only driven to the battlefield at that age but also suffered burns severe enough to come to the temple… Her heart ached.

 

Meanwhile, Edwin quietly observed her. She wore a face of self-reproach for realizing the fact so late.

 

He felt strangely good. That she was feeling guilt because of him.

 

“Where were you hurt?”

 

She asked, belatedly examining his body. Edwin skillfully hid his inner thoughts and explained the situation back then with an emotionless face.

 

“I suffered full-body burns because I couldn’t avoid a landmine in time.”

 

At that time, Evan Elga was being held hostage in a minefield along with the Empire’s medics.

 

Edwin didn’t want to see Alice shed tears because of someone other than himself, so he saved Evan Elga from the minefield.

 

However, someone targeting Evan Elga’s life triggered a mine, and Edwin was swept up in the explosion.

 

Edwin was only ten years old and didn’t know how to wield mana, so self-recovery was impossible.

 

The only way to treat such severe burns was to bathe in holy water for ten days.

 

Julian also remembered that incident clearly. Because there hadn’t been a moment when he realized the horror and cruelty of war more than then.

 

“Back then, I was greatly despaired, thinking the Brother would die. We hadn’t given up on treatment, but most priests were shaking their heads.”

 

Alice’s blue eyes trembled slightly.

 

“…Was it that bad?”

 

“God helped us.”

 

Julian looked at Edwin with a distant gaze, as if recalling the past.

 

Fortunately, Edwin recovered at a speed much faster than an ordinary person, and new flesh began to grow in just four days.

 

“I am extremely glad to see you again looking so healthy.”

 

“Thank you so much.”

 

Alice expressed her gratitude.

 

“I only did what I ought to do as a servant of God.”

 

It sounded like Evan’s words, “I only did what I ought to do as a doctor,” were overlapping.

 

Unconsciously, Alice thought. That there was no place more suitable for Evan than here.

 

To Alice, who was looking around the inside of the temple, High Priest Julian asked.

 

“The journey here must have been tiring, would you like to rest a bit in the guest room?”

 

“I’m fine.”

 

Thinking she could meet Evan, Alice hurriedly shook her head.

 

“Then would you like to undergo the ability test right away?”

 

“……Wait, there is one thing I’d like to ask.”

 

“What is it?”

 

“Could I know where the Archangel’s statue is?”

 

Evan’s letter said he would be waiting in front of the Archangel’s statue.

 

Alice felt a bit impatient at the thought that he might already be waiting.

 

Edwin noticed her unusual behavior and looked at her with a questioning gaze.

 

But High Priest Julian, having no way of knowing her inner circumstances, spoke with a bright smile.

 

“You speak of the statue of Archangel Raphael. It is an honor that you know of it, Sister. The place where the statue is located is also a prayer room visited by those with deep faith, so the footsteps never cease.”

 

The High Priest spoke as if he had a good idea.

 

“Would you like to go offer a prayer as well, Brother and Sister?”

 

“……Yes, I’d love to.”

 

When Alice nodded, the High Priest’s smile grew even wider with pride.

 

“The statue is right in front of the ability testing room anyway, so this works out well.”

 

At those words, Alice creaked momentarily like a robot in need of oil. The ability test was still a burdensome existence to her.

 

‘I can’t run away now anyway.’

 

If she could just see a living Evan before going, that would be enough. Alice tried to console herself like that… sob.

 

 

***

 

 

The path to the prayer room was also made entirely of pure white walls and floors.

 

It was somewhat fascinating to Alice that not only the exterior but also the interior was a completely white space.

 

They arrived at the prayer room after walking a short distance.

 

He said the prayer room was deliberately built close to the exit for the brothers and sisters who came a long way to pray.

 

However, seeing the prayer room, her face was tinged with some disappointment.

 

The statue of Archangel Raphael was praying with a bright smile that seemed benevolent to all people. It was a statue that reminded her of Evan.

 

‘But why are there so many people?’

 

They were all people wearing priestly robes. Most had their hoods pulled down, making it hard to distinguish who was who.

 

“This happens to be the time for reciting prayers, so many brothers gather at this time.”

 

Julian added an explanation.

 

Alice wandered around under the pretext of wanting to examine the statue closely, glancing at the hidden faces of the priests.

 

‘Evan isn’t here.’

 

Alice was greatly disheartened. She had come with the hope of at least confirming his life or death.

 

‘Evan is a liar.’

 

He clearly told her he would be waiting in front of the statue.

 

But he was nowhere to be seen.

 

She felt a sense of resentment toward Evan.

 

Eventually, praying in front of the statue for the ability test to pass safely, she slyly asked High Priest Julian.

 

“I heard Archangel Raphael grants mercy to all sinners and shares benevolence with the pitiful. Is it the same for the priests here?”

 

“Of course, Sister.”

 

“Then… do you also save people who might die?”

 

“Certainly. Do you happen to have some worry?”

 

“Yes, actually there’s something making me anxious…”

 

Just as she was about to ask if she could stay at the temple for a while if the ability test went wrong.

 

High Priest Julian turned his head with a welcoming face.

 

“Your Holiness the Pope! It is a beautiful night. Have you eaten?”

 

At that, the priests who were offering prayers in the prayer room raised their heads all at once and greeted one man.

 

Alice also naturally turned her gaze to the person called the Pope.

 

His face wasn’t very visible as he had his hood completely pulled over, but judging by his build, he seemed to be a man.

 

‘Can he even see in front of him like that?’

 

But soon discovering one peculiarity, Alice tilted her head.

 

Pope Gabriel had been in the position for nearly 30 years. Almost equal to the time the current Emperor had been on the throne.

 

‘I heard he was an old man…’

 

But the glimpse of his hand was clean without a single wrinkle. It was the hand of a young man.

 

‘Why is he staring at me like that?’

 

Clearly his face was hidden inside the hood, but Alice felt as if he was staring intently at her. Feeling weird for no reason, she wrinkled her nose.

 

The Pope approached Julian and whispered quietly.

 

“His Holiness says he will assist with the ability test. Would now be alright for you, Sister?”

 

Julian asked her. Alice hesitated, then nodded. Her expression was dark.

 

‘The Pope probably doesn’t know Evan’s whereabouts.’

 

The recipient of the letters Alice had sent so far was High Priest Ariel. She was the only one among the seven High Priests who didn’t get along with Pope Gabriel.

 

The Pope, who thought the existence of Holy Power threatened his position, and she, who thought they must find and protect the Holy Power.

 

Even in the original story, there was conflict between them over Michael, but because Edwin took Michael away, the fight ended in a default victory for Gabriel.

 

“This is the ability testing room. Since it’s a test being conducted for the first time in nearly a hundred years, the place was made informally and might be a bit cramped, so we ask for your understanding.”

 

Following that, at Julian’s words that non-royalty could not enter, Edwin looked at him for a moment and then cast a glance at the window.

 

A military hawk was flying there to receive a signal.

 

“Are you telling her to go in without an escort, knowing what might happen in there?”

 

Edwin said. At his words, Julian looked at the Pope with a troubled face. The Pope slowly opened his mouth.

 

“There is absolutely no need to worry about such things happening.”

 

Alice’s eyes widened. This voice is…

 

A soft, gentle, and warm tone. Her heart pounded violently.

 

‘It’s Evan.’

 

It was a familiar and missed voice.