‘Makes sense.’
Perhaps it was because they were meeting for the first time in a year, but there was something subtly different about her.
‘She did seem somewhat subdued.’
Unlike her time in the north, something felt… off about her.
Even as a child, Ivnoa had always worn a gentle smile, never losing her composure. But there were rare moments when her gaze turned chilling. During those moments, even Kayan couldn’t help but flinch at the overwhelming intensity she exuded.
Among the northern children, there was a saying: “Kayan may be the strongest, but no one can defeat Ivnoa.”
After she entered the imperial palace, her kind words, calm demeanor, and seemingly emotionless expressions remained unchanged.
But her intensity was gone.
To Kayan, it seemed like she was suppressing herself—though he never voiced this observation.
‘Or maybe that’s what nobles call refinement?’
It made sense, after all. As a precious princess of the imperial palace, it was only natural for her to have changed.
Earlier, Ivnoa had said, “I’d like to be good friends with you again,” but Kayan couldn’t quite believe it.
Her polite tone and subtle smile made it impossible to discern her true intentions.
After all, Ivnoa was the type of girl who could calmly whisper, “Now, stay still, be good, and I’ll finish this quickly,” with a gentle smile while cutting the throat of a monster.
It felt more like a whim brought on by suddenly seeing him again after so long.
Even if that were the case, their earlier conversation would likely come to nothing.
‘Maybe she just had a little spat with the young duke or something?’
He certainly didn’t believe her parting words about meeting him again to play for a long time.
‘Isn’t she practically confined to the palace without the young duke’s permission?’
With all the maids and guards surrounding Ivnoa, there was no way they’d let her leave the palace.
As Kayan maintained his composed demeanor, the emperor spoke leisurely.
“Well then, you may—”
It was at that moment.
A knock echoed, followed by an attendant’s voice.
“Your Majesty, Princess Ivnoa requests an audience.”
Kayan’s shoulders involuntarily twitched.
What? Why was Ivnoa here?
The emperor, however, didn’t look particularly surprised.
“She must be here for her punishment. But why now?”
“Punishment, Your Majesty?” Kayan asked, looking perplexed.
The emperor replied nonchalantly,
“She swung a sword at Prince Hugo yesterday.”
“A sword…?” Kayan’s eyes widened.
His heart began to race with unease.
‘Ivnoa used a sword on an unarmed person?’
Ivnoa wasn’t particularly gifted in swordsmanship.
But she was naturally agile, bold, and exceptionally skilled at delivering precise strikes to vital points.
“What a shame! If only she weren’t born a princess, she would’ve made a remarkable assassin, turning the Empire upside down!”
The northern knights who had trained her had lamented this with genuine regret.
Something didn’t add up, though. There was no news of a funeral.
‘If the prince had died, wouldn’t there be a state funeral?’
Kayan glanced at the emperor in disbelief, wondering if he was a tyrant who could disregard the death of his own grandson.
The emperor, noticing Kayan’s reaction, let out a hearty laugh, clearly amused by the young man’s bewilderment.
“Why are you so shocked? It’s within the palace walls; no member of the royal family would get hurt. She only played around with a child’s training sword.”
Still, she must have gone for a vital point in an instant, right?
No, even just facing Ivnoa wielding a sword, with her piercing gaze, would have been terrifying enough.
“There’s no way this is something to brush off so lightly…”
Kayan blinked in disbelief as Ivnoa entered the audience chamber with light steps.
For a moment, as he looked at her, a thought crossed his mind.
She did seem somewhat shrunken, almost pitiful.
‘That expression… it’s not entirely unfamiliar.’
Kayan frowned unconsciously.
‘It’s the same look she had whenever she came out after greeting the Dowager Empress in the mornings.’
A face full of endless sorrow and gloom, a somber atmosphere radiating from her small frame.
Of course, after leaving that room and meeting Kayan, she would brighten up and resume her usual playful self.
But if she had been wearing that expression all this time… it made sense why the emperor referred to her as a “little squirrel.”
“Ivnoa Alicia Tayen greets the Sun of the Empire, His Majesty the Emperor.”
Even her voice, as she paid her respects, trembled slightly, making her seem like a timid and frightened child.
At that moment, her blue eyes slowly turned toward Kayan.
“Lord Kayan Barklith … no, Viscount Barklith. Congratulations on your father’s promotion to viscount. It’s truly a pleasure to see you again.”
Her kind, curved eyes suddenly gleamed sharply.
“Huh?”
Kayan flinched.
‘…Those are definitely the eyes of a hunter watching its prey.’
One thing was clear.
The emperor must not have witnessed the scene where Ivnoa wielded her sword. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have dismissed it as merely “playing around with a child’s training sword.”
‘Forget squirrel.’
Kayan immediately corrected himself.
‘Completely canceled. Those are the eyes of at least a jackal.’
Ivnoa walked gracefully, her poised steps carrying her to stand beside Kayan. Then, in an elegant and polite tone, she spoke.
“I’ve come to receive my punishment, Your Majesty.”
The emperor gazed at her quietly before letting out a small chuckle.
“I see you’re right on time.”
The emperor wasn’t one to delve into the friendships of children.
He only knew that Kayan had been brought into the palace to help Ivnoa adjust and that he had returned to the North a few days later. He was entirely unaware that the two had severed ties a year ago.
“I did tell you to come with someone suitable when the time was right…”
The emperor glanced back and forth between Ivnoa and Kayan.
“I think I understand why you’re here now.”
There was an amused look on his face.
Kayan, on the other hand, had no idea what was going on.
“Very well. I’ll grant your wish.”
The emperor spoke calmly.
“Ivnoa, regardless of any misunderstandings, it was wrong to rashly stab Prince Hugo with a sword.”
While Kayan stared at the emperor and Ivnoa in confusion, the emperor continued.
“You will reflect and stay under house arrest at Viscount Barklith’s estate for the time being.”
It was a royal punishment—a form of exile.
Ivnoa glanced at Kayan’s dumbfounded expression and smiled slightly. Then, baring her white teeth, she whispered.
“From now on, I’ll keep every promise I make to you.”
Suddenly, Kayan recalled what Ivnoa had said earlier.
“I’ll come to you. No matter what it takes. I promise.”
That sweet yet ominous vow wasn’t a lie.
***
‘I knew it.’
I smiled inwardly.
‘I knew it would turn out like this.’
In truth, I had predicted that Anna would torment me last night and that Simon wouldn’t show up.
That’s why I went along with things so obediently—because I was waiting for this exact moment.
‘Originally, I was going to tell the emperor everything: how Anna bullied me, how much I hated Simon, and how I couldn’t possibly go to House Cerno. Then I’d beg to stay with Kayan instead.’
But this morning, the emperor had come to me himself, making things absurdly easy. He had essentially given me permission in advance: “Go and stay at a household of your choice for a while.”
‘The Barklith estate is a powerhouse in the North. They protected both my mother and me, and no one can match their strength. There’s no need to worry about my safety.’
Indeed, the estate was more than capable of fending off something like Anna’s black magic at this point.
“It’s unfortunate that Viscount Arthur Barklith isn’t present, but there’s no helping it. Even without him, the household staff should be more than sufficient for your stay.”
The emperor spoke kindly.
“Edwin mentioned that the viscount dotes on you greatly.”
“Ah…”
I blinked at the emperor in surprise. While it was true Arthur had been very fond of me as a child, I hadn’t expected my brother to share that detail with him.
‘So he wasn’t entirely indifferent to me, even back then.’
Had he been hearing about me through my brother during my 12 years in the North?
“That’s true.”
Kayan responded with a faint smile.
“My father adored the princess. When she left for the imperial palace a year ago, he cried for three days straight.”
The emperor let out a hearty laugh.
“Young Barklith, you don’t look the type, but you’ve got quite the sense of humor.”
It wasn’t a joke, though…
Arthur had genuinely clung to me, sobbing uncontrollably. It hadn’t been too embarrassing, given that every knight in the North had joined him in wailing.
“Then, Ivnoa,” the emperor said, looking at me.
“Take care and stay well.”
I replied energetically.
“Yes, Your Majesty. Thank you very much.”
Finally, I was free from the palace, which had confined my eyes, ears, hands, and feet.
My second life, my true life, was just beginning.
‘Mending my relationship with Kayan is important, but above all, I need to grow stronger… to protect the people I care about.’
The splendid, sunlit heart of the imperial palace shimmered behind me. Despite living here, I had never even set foot in this part of the palace in my previous life.
‘When I return to the palace next time…’
I glanced back over my shoulder and thought:
‘I won’t be a princess who’s nothing and no one.’
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