Episode 3.
Though I tried to play it cool, I realized that I was actually being played by someone else.
Even if I hadn’t skipped the early part of the original!
“Th-that… uh…”
As the red light came back to his throat, he was looking at me, trying to figure out if his words were true.
“How do I look to some extent?”
“As if you were in a dark room.”
“But how did you know it was me?”
“Even in the dark, that hair color is uncommon. Besides, His Majesty doesn’t have very long hair.”
“Ah…”
Perhaps because of his words, the silver-white hair flowing down my shoulders felt incredibly resentful.
“Do you think I wouldn’t keep you if I knew who I am?”
“I tried, but you’d find out anyway. Besides, hiding it would only make it more suspicious.”
As I got used to his smiling face, being mesmerized by his good looks seemed a bit less. Yeah, if I keep looking at him like this, it might be okay.
“We are from the Duke family, Your Highness.”
“….”
“Her Highness, the Princess, whom His Majesty dearly loves, has only seen her from afar.”
Dearly loves my foot. I look like I’m going to die if I don’t awaken like this.
For a moment, my mind turned white, perhaps because of the sudden confusion. The plan to persuade him, release him, and never meet again flew away in an instant.
“So, you haven’t seen my face, right?”
“No. Your face is not visible. Only the hair is clear.”
I had to change the approach. What if I told my father to refill the imprisonment and arrest me again? Then he would be more interested.
Am I not tormented every day asking when I will awaken?
The simplest way to fulfill the prophecy my father heard is this.
Killing Yurián.
But can I handle the original protagonist? The extra that ends early in the beginning? Really? Will the rabbit catch the lion well?
So it’s rejected.
I’ve heard the prophecy a few times too. So, the reason Princess Yvonne can’t awaken is not because of the fake lineage, but because of Yurián.
If he had mentioned the fake lineage, there was a high chance that my father had already died at his hands.
Not all prophets see everything, and among them, they see a limited and changeable future.
The reason he was kidnapped was because those prophets, mentioning the prophecy about Yurián, said that it was because of Yurián that I couldn’t awaken.
“If you awaken, will I be released?”
“Probably.”
“All right. Then I’ll help you.”
“How?”
“I’m quite capable. I can give you advice to help you awaken.”
It was that moment. Knock, knock, Evony, who was at the door, signaled. Perhaps she had to go back, or maybe a guest had come to my palace.
“I should go back for now.”
“Too bad.”
“…”
Really, if I didn’t know the original, I would have probably released him from the restraint right away. It’s a skip, but I read it. So, that alone is fortunate. Let’s think positively.
“See you again, Your Highness.”
I deliberately didn’t answer and gave him a stern look, but he was smiling brightly. It seems the statement that he looks blurry wasn’t entirely false.
Later, when I come down, I might have to check for wounds. It seemed like he had minor injuries here and there.
The clattering sound of footsteps in high heels was noisy. As we exited through the door, Evony, with a surprised expression, quickly lowered her head. When she closed the door behind her, she opened her lips.
“His Majesty is looking for you.”
“Ah… Time has passed so quickly.”
“Yes.”
* * *
My father, or rather, Emperor Heldebrandt Ferrite Bricesys, would have to indulge the requests of the substitutes who demanded to marry the princess if I didn’t awaken. Then, his life goal and what he considered his identity, the power, would be divided.
The reason the Emperor treats me so kindly is also because of that.
A being that doesn’t need to share power.
A pitiful princess satisfied with just his favor.
That must be the reason.
“You came, Yvonne.”
“Dad.”
My room was clear, but it was familiar for the emperor to wander around like it was his room. However, what was unfamiliar now was that there was a woman with the same face as mine standing next to him.
Bright silver hair that shone like pulled silk, eyes that glittered like amethyst. In addition, large eyes and eyelashes that fluttered like fairies adorned her beautiful face.
He had the exact same face as me.
“Come here, Yvonne.”
He tapped his thigh on the sofa. Trying not to sigh, I approached him. Then, as usual, I sat on the floor and rested my head on his thigh. He started stroking me as usual. The woman standing opposite me didn’t say anything and just smiled.
Is this another warning?
Please be a warning!
I trembled a bit, whether it was out of fear or not. In the original, Princess Yvonnene dies a bit later. It shouldn’t happen now… Moreover, with someone who looks exactly like me!
“Our Yvonne. Why are you trembling?”
“Oh, Dad…”
The word ‘dad’ doesn’t get familiar. It was fortunate that I read the original, but the reason I wanted to erase the information about him was because of that.
Esper stops aging when awakened. I mention this because the current emperor is a fake. He killed the my father who resembled me and took his place on the throne. Taking advantage of the resemblance, when someone starts to doubt, he hypnotizes them to confuse them. The hypnosis he uses is very powerful, making it impossible to think.
In simple terms, it’s like having the key to open the door but making sure you don’t know what to do with it. Just that part. So, it makes you stupid by not allowing one part of the thought process to connect.
So, the side effects were enormous. The reason he has such a dirty personality is also due to the side effects.
* * *
The woman who was smiling while I was silent opened her mouth.
“Didn’t they say you’d be scared, Your Highness?”
Now I understood why she kept her mouth shut. The voice belonged to a man.
“Were you scared, our daughter?”
“Oh… No. I thought it was a gift.”
“It’s not a gift.”
I had to make an effort not to tighten my grip on his head when he stroked it again. It shouldn’t be held tightly out of fear.
Yvonnene is 22 years old. The actual age of the emperor is 25 years old.
It’s awkward to call the guy three years older than me ‘dad,’ but it seems like he doesn’t care at all.
“If our Yvonnene continues not to awaken like this, shouldn’t we come up with a plan as a father?”
“Oh…”
“So, I brought her. It may take some time for her to be able to copy voices like me.”
She seems to be a copy ability user. Fortunately, she doesn’t seem to be a top-tier ability user. Otherwise, there wouldn’t be a need for time.
“I-I’ll be a useful daughter.”
“All right. Dad believes in our daughter.”
It gave me goosebumps as he passed the hair behind my ear. Then, gesturing for her to sit next to me, I looked at the fake Yvonne and sat down.
“Should we try today too?”
“Yes.”
Whether it was due to his laughter or the feeling that he might vomit from tension, it was hard to tell, but my chest tightened.
If there was something different about Emperor Heldebrandt compared to me, it was the color of his eyes. He had azure eyes, not too dark, but clear, resembling the bright midday sky.
“Come here, Yvonne.”
Unable to relax when he told me to sit closer, I turned my back and sat down.
So, he repeatedly blew his power into me and then withdrew it, trying to induce my awakening as an esper.
Usually, it wasn’t common to induce awakening in this way. It was mostly done with lower-class nobles whose abilities manifested poorly.
That’s why the emperor was doing it directly. It was embarrassing enough not being able to awaken, and it shouldn’t be revealed that he was making constant efforts to promote awakening.
“Did you change our daughter’s perfume?”
“Oh, no?”
“Really? It seems like the scent has sweetened.”
“It must be the fragrance from you, Dad.”
He laughed as he reached behind, and the emperor also smiled. The fake one, who looked just like me, had returned to his original appearance. He was Francis, the head of the imperial knights.
“Really didn’t change it?”
“Well… No….”
Suddenly, as if I had drunk alcohol, my mind became hazy due to the abrupt surge of power.
