Before the emperor could truly take offense, I quickly bowed my head.
“I’m grateful for Your Majesty’s concern for my health, but how could I possibly dress warmly all by myself?”
“All by yourself?”
“My twin brother, Alessandro Roha, and many other noble sons are currently scattered across the front lines, defending our borders.”
The atmosphere in the hall turned solemn. Among those attending the ceremony, several had family serving at the border.
“Even here, the cold is relentless. When I think about how much worse it must be for my brother and the others stationed on the northern frontier, I simply cannot bring myself to wear warm clothing. Please forgive me, Your Majesty.”
“…Ha! Hahaha!”
The Emperor stared at me, his expression stiff—only to burst into laughter a moment later.
“I always knew you were no ordinary young lady, but your thoughtfulness runs deep indeed.”
“Your praise is far too generous, Your Majesty.”
“Yes, that’s right. Not only your brother, but many brave men are enduring the hardships of the barren northern border.”
Now the Emperor looked at me with warmth, as though he had never been displeased.
“You are a truly admirable young lady. And so, I shall give you a piece of good news.”
“…Your Majesty? Perhaps such talk is best saved for another time. Today is our dear Zeta’s appointment ceremony…”
The Empress was clearly flustered, trying to steer the conversation away—which only confirmed that whatever was coming next was something big.
The Emperor did not hide his displeasure at being interrupted by the Empress. These three were so ridiculously prideful and alike that it was almost funny to think there was ever a time people believed they weren’t family, just because of their different hair color.
“Empress, the cherished sons of noble houses have traveled as far as the northern borderlands—territories no one has ever visited before.”
“But that’s…”
The Empress tried to make some excuse, but the Emperor cut her off with a stern look.
“Strictly speaking, those young men will one day become Zeta’s vassals. Doesn’t it make sense, then, for the Crown Prince himself to oversee the defense of the border? If the Prince had been stationed there, you would have worried over the border’s condition too. So how can you not understand the heart of this young lady?”
Every word rang true, leaving the Empress speechless. To object would make her seem cold and indifferent to the noble families’ sacrifices. To remain silent might make her appear heartless.
Seeing the Empress fall quiet like a mute with honey in her mouth seemed to ease the Emperor’s temper slightly, and he turned to comfort her.
“I speak only in theory. We can’t actually send the Crown Prince to the front, can we? He’s my only heir.”
“Your Majesty…”
“But surely an Emperor can tell a young lady—who misses her family—some good news, can’t he?”
Family squabbles didn’t interest me, nor did I care to get involved. But the Emperor’s last words grabbed my full attention.
“Your Majesty… is that true?”
“This morning, a messenger from the front arrived. The soldiers of Caladea have retreated.”
The Emperor continued, unprompted, as if wanting to ease my worries.
“It seems Iluca invaded Caladea’s borders, so they didn’t have the resources to bother us any longer. Ha! What a day—joyous news, right on the Crown Prince’s appointment.”
The Emperor gave me a reassuring pat on the shoulder.
“They were due back a month or two ago, but their return was delayed. No matter. There’s no need to worry anymore. They’ll all be home soon.”
With those words, the Grey haze that had clouded my vision seemed to clear, and the world returned to full color.
But the happiness didn’t last long.
Because standing beside me, far too close for comfort, was none other than Crown Prince Zeta—who had approached while I was distracted.
“As I see it… you were having quite the pleasant conversation. May I ask what it was about?”
“Ah, I had just shared the news from the border with Lady Roha.”
“I see! I should have been the one to tell her. How thoughtless of me.”
As if he ever had any intention of telling me, or why would it be his place to do so. Truly, a shameless display.
The Emperor watched us standing side by side with a look of great satisfaction.
“Ho… I see. Now that the Crown Prince’s appointment is complete, I suppose the selection of the Crown Princess will begin soon.”
At the Emperor’s comment, the Crown Prince bowed his head and chuckled softly—playing the part of the bashful, well-mannered son reacting to his father’s words.
“Father, I’d like to speak with Lady Roha for a moment.”
“Oh, of course. I’ve taken up too much of the young folks’ time. You may go now, Lady Roha.”
Hiding my sour expression, I bowed politely to the Emperor and Empress. With that, they left my side.
“That dress… looks familiar.”
The Crown Prince smiled as he looked at me.
“I’m certain I’ve seen it before.”
He wasn’t asking, so I didn’t answer. His face wore a smile, but his eyes certainly did not.
“So I was fooled.”
“Whose fault is it—the one who deceives, the one who is deceived, or the one who created the situation in the first place?”
Smiling sweetly, I gave him my answer—spitting venom with a pleasant face was my specialty.
“If you hadn’t planted spies from the beginning, both Your Highness and I could’ve been much more at ease. But thanks to you, I was forced to act even in my own home. It was exhausting.”
“So, you knew all along.”
“Of course.”
I’ve spent my entire life pretending. I can spot a clumsy liar a mile away.
I shrugged. At that, Crown Prince Zeta fell silent for a long moment, then spoke abruptly.
“You’ve changed quite a bit. I suppose Father’s words brought you great comfort.”
“I think it would be more accurate to say I’ve returned to my original self, wouldn’t you agree?”
After all, it was your threats that made me act differently. This—this is who I really am.
“The news of Armin’s return seems to bring you so much joy, it’s almost enough to make me jealous.”
“Your Highness.”
I looked Zeta directly in the eye.
“Let me be clear. Honestly, I think you know just as well as I do that dragging this out any further is pointless.”
I spoke earnestly. My mental and emotional state was already worn thin from everything that had happened, and now, seeing his stubborn, brooding face after hearing about Armin’s return only added to my exhaustion.
“I’m not quite sure what you mean.”
“You know exactly what I mean.”
That I don’t like you in that way.
That there’s someone else I love.
That you’re nothing more than an uninvited guest between us.
I didn’t say those words out loud, but the Crown Prince knew exactly what I meant.
“Just because Armin is returning,” he said, wetting his lips with the glass in his hand before flashing me a bright smile, “nothing will change. Not a single thing.”
He reached a hand toward my shoulder, perhaps to fix the shawl that had slipped.
“It’ll take about a week for them to return from the border. Before then, you’ll become a candidate for the position of Crown Princess.”
“It hasn’t happened yet so no one can say for sure.”
I took a step back so his hand wouldn’t reach me and adjusted the shawl myself.
“I don’t understand why you insist on rushing down a lonely road clearly headed for ruin. Marriage should be founded on love.”
“Love?”
The Crown Prince’s eyes rounded as if he’d just heard something hopelessly naïve.
“It’s not impossible.”
“Forgive me, but humans only have one heart.”
And mine—both atrium and ventricle—is already stuffed full with Armin.
“People’s emotions are lighter than you think, my lady,” he said coldly.
“The power to make oneself the most honored woman in the land. The authority to raise one’s child as the most noble being of the realm.”
“What are you talking about…”
“No one can help but fall in love with things like that. You’re no different.”
“…Ha.”
There was no reasoning with someone who didn’t speak the same language.
“You might think only your feelings matter right now. I won’t blame you for that.”
“Your Highness.”
“In time, you’ll admit I was right.”
“And I’m telling you there’s no need for me to admit anything in the first place.”
“I’m not so narrow-minded that I can’t accept a passing attachment my future wife once had.”
The way he kept talking only about what he wanted reminded me so much of someone else. Once again, I was struck by the power of genetics. I gave up on trying to continue this conversation.
“It really is cold. I think I’m coming down with something—I’ll head home for now.”
“The candidate for Crown Princess will be decided before your brother returns. It’s been nice to see you lively again, but stay quiet and composed until then.”
Saying everything he wanted to the very end, he walked off in another direction.
‘I’m not even speaking a foreign language, and still, we can’t communicate at all.’
I tried to stay calm, but my legs started to give out after hearing what the Crown Prince had said. As frustrated as he made me feel, the mention of the Crown Princess selection stirred an unmistakable unease, rising like smoke from deep within my chest.
