***
The road to the royal palace was completely unobstructed.
It was as if the automatons were deliberately making way for us, bowing their heads and clearing the path.
“Damn, this actually makes it even scarier…”
I grumbled as I sat in the steam carriage for the first time in a long while. From the driver’s seat, Aurora’s voice called out.
“It’s fine! They’re not doing anything to us anyway!”
“But Aurora, do you really have to be the one driving?”
Raffaelo, sitting across from me, muttered in dissatisfaction.
“It just feels like we’re a bunch of lazy freeloaders, letting a noble lady take the reins while we relax.”
“No way! Don’t you dare take my carriage away from me!”
That was how it was. Aurora had insisted on driving the carriage herself, and so she was the one sitting in the driver’s seat.
With the exception of Arkhangelo, the rest of us felt a bit uncomfortable, as if we had become useless baggage. But no matter what, Aurora refused to give up her spot. She was always such a peculiar girl…
Just then, the carriage came to a stop, and Aurora’s voice rang out again.
“We’re here!”
“Oh…”
Before us stood a massive, tightly shut golden gate.
Beyond it, the well-maintained royal garden was visible, standing in stark contrast to the ruined outside world. The palace itself was pristine, almost as if time had stopped within its walls.
“This feels ominous…”
It was like walking straight into the jaws of a demon king.
As we cautiously surveyed our surroundings, checking for any attendants, the gate slowly opened on its own.
Aurora took the reins once more, driving the carriage straight through the garden.
Finally, we arrived at the Princess’s Palace, where we carefully disembarked.
A single automaton maid was already waiting for us in front of the palace, bowing politely.
“Please, follow me.”
Exchanging glances, we hesitated for a moment before trailing behind the automaton.
At last, the doors to the reception room swung open, revealing the mastermind behind this entire situation.
‘So this is Princess Eva…’
Her long golden hair shimmered brilliantly under the chandelier’s light, as if she had been born wearing a crown.
She was a striking beauty with an air of elegance and composure. Her violet eyes, reminiscent of violets in bloom, blended naturally with her features. The white dress she wore, adorned with tiny gemstones, clung to her body, accentuating her curves.
Yes, by all accounts, she was undeniably captivating.
But did I feel any human affection toward her?
No, not at all.
She was so utterly flawless that she didn’t even feel human.
“Princess Eva….”
As I slowly opened my mouth to speak, Princess Eva beamed at me.
“Ah, Sera! I’ve been waiting for you! Hurry and sit down!”
I was still debating what to say when I was swept up in her pace.
With natural ease, she guided me to sit beside her. My companions, after exchanging glances, hesitantly perched on the nearby sofa.
“Aah, Sera. I’ve missed you so much. Here, have some tea. I prepared jasmine tea—your favorite.”
Before me sat a steaming cup of tea, just as she had said. But I didn’t touch it.
At my lack of response, Princess Eva’s eyebrows dipped slightly in disappointment.
“Sera, where have you been all this time without a word? And now you treat me so coldly—it really hurts, you know?”
“…….”
“But I suppose that’s how it is. Just as you once loved me more, this time, I’ll love you more. Love is something that’s given and received, isn’t it?”
A chill ran down my spine. My hand, already slick with sweat, grew even colder.
Every word she spoke, the way she treated this eerie situation as if it were completely natural—it was all deeply unsettling.
“Sera, I even showed you the secret I most wanted to hide, and yet you left me… Do you have any idea how much that hurt me?”
She was like an actress on stage now, playing a role.
It was as if something inhuman was imitating human emotions.
“But you’ll stay with me now, won’t you? If you want, you can live here in the palace. No—I’d prefer that. I’ll decorate it however you like.”
Then, her gaze shifted toward my companions—cold and detached, as if she were looking at lifeless objects.
“Of course… those worthless things will have to be discarded.”
“Princess Eva.”
At that moment, Simone, who had been silently listening to our exchange, finally spoke up.
“As a princess of a nation, your behavior is truly disgraceful. I don’t know how far your influence extends, but you will have to take full responsibility for the consequences of your own actions.”
“Hmph, the ones who will soon disappear sure do talk a lot….”
A crack appeared in Simone’s composed expression at those words. Then, with a calm yet provocative tone, he continued.
“It’s time you accepted reality, Princess. Sera has absolutely no interest in you.”
“Sera?”
At those words, Princess Eva’s expression grew even colder.
“Who dares to call my Sera by that name?”
“I was personally given permission by Sera herself.”
“You dare….”
Her eyes blazed with fury, but just as quickly, her face returned to its usual icy composure.
“Of course, I understand that my dear Sera is a little upset with me right now. That must be why she’s treating me so coldly. But as we spend time together, things will return to the way they were. In the end, Sera will love me again….”
“…….”
Ghieuspe openly looked dumbfounded.
“No, you’re wrong. Sera will never love you again. She will forever fear and resent you.”
“Marquess Monteverdi, you seem to misunderstand Sera. There was a time when she followed me more than anything else in this world. Making her feel that way again won’t be difficult.”
“Sera will never be bound by you again. She will leave you behind, not sparing you a single glance as she moves forward and meets new people.”
Wow… they’re fighting over me.
But this wasn’t some trivial lovers’ quarrel—whoever lost this battle would probably die.
“You dare interfere in my relationship with Sera? You….”
Princess Eva’s rage flared to its peak, and sensing the tension, I quickly interjected to divert her attention.
“I will never return to your side, Princess Eva!”
“What?”
“I—I finally understand just how terrifying and monstrous you truly are!”
I thought I would explode with rage over Seongryeong’s death the moment I saw her, but when I actually faced her, fear outweighed the anger. Still, I pushed it down and opened my mouth to speak.
“You’re the reason this continent has fallen into ruin! My father is gravely ill, and so many lives have been lost because of you!”
“For the greater good, a little sacrifice is inevitable. This isn’t destruction—it’s merely a transitional phase leading to a better society.”
Princess Eva’s words were unwavering, but I ignored them.
“No matter what you do, I will never love you!”
Summoning all my courage, I shouted the words at her.
At that, Princess Eva’s expression twisted into one of bitter sorrow.
To an outsider, she might have looked pitiful—someone deserving of sympathy.
But I refused to be fooled by that facade.
At that moment, Princess Eva lifted her head and clapped her hands briefly.
“Come in.”
At her command, the doors to the reception room swung open.
And the ones who entered were…
“You… You all?!”
Three noble ladies stepped inside.
They were none other than the noble ladies whom Seraphina Viviana had been closest with!
“Luna, Greta, Victoria….”
I called their names with a trembling voice, but they showed no reaction.
They seemed to be under Princess Eva’s control, their consciousness completely lost.
‘Could they have been… modified?’
Had Princess Eva turned them into automatons?
As I stared at them in shock, they finally began to speak, their eyes still vacant.
“Seraphina, return to Princess Eva’s side.”
“If you do, everyone will be happy.”
“Everyone except you will be able to live well.”
They were trying to convince me to stay with Princess Eva.
“What did you do to them?!”
I shouted at Princess Eva, glaring at her.
“Did you kill them?!”
“Hmm, no, I didn’t kill them. They’re still human.”
Princess Eva responded in a gentle tone.
“I simply implanted a small chip in them, allowing me to control them however I please.”
“A chip?! How could you do something like that to a human?!”
Arkhangelo interjected in outrage upon hearing Princess Eva’s words, and Raffaelo quickly agreed.
“There was no need to go this far with others!”
“Exactly, well said. There really was no need to do this to others.”
Princess Eva smirked and lightly flicked her hand.
At that moment, the noble ladies, who had been standing still as if frozen, suddenly began moving their lips again.
It was eerie—like something was forcibly making them move their mouths and tongues to produce sounds.
“Only you need to stay by Princess Eva’s side.”
“If you do, we’ll be free.”
“No, the entire continent will be safe.”
Ah, so this was Princess Eva’s true objective.
