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Chapter 02…
Her ears rang from crying so much, and her head spun.
She wished she could simply lie there, overwhelmed by grief and misery.
But she couldn’t.
She didn’t have a single coin to her name.
“Stop crying. That’s enough, Lirika Barnes. You’re not a baby anymore. An eight-year-old crying like this… aren’t you embarrassed?”
Comforting herself aloud, Lirika took a deep breath and forced herself to stand.
If you wanted to survive in the slums, you had to be stubborn.
Besides, work was built on trust.
Just because she was sad and hurting today didn’t mean she could skip work.
If she simply failed to show up without a word, the trust she had worked so hard to earn would be damaged.
Whatever else happened, that trust was Lirika’s greatest pride.
She slapped both cheeks several times before getting to her feet.
After washing her face with cold water, she left home.
Today she wasn’t working in the slums, but at a respectable tavern on the outskirts of the capital.
The tavern owned many expensive glass goblets, and the long, narrow ones couldn’t be cleaned properly by an adult’s large hands.
A child’s hand, however, fit perfectly inside, so Lirika’s job was to wash the glasses and polish them until not a single streak remained.
It wasn’t the sort of work they entrusted to careless slum children, but Lirika had earned a good reputation, allowing her to get the job.
On top of that, it paid two large copper coins.
There was no way she could give it up.
If she accidentally broke one of the glasses, she might not be able to repay its cost even if she worked there for the rest of her life.
So Lirika worked with extreme caution and concentration.
It was exhausting because it demanded so much attention, but thanks to that, she was able to push thoughts of her mother from her mind.
By the time she finished, she was completely drained.
The tension of working so carefully had sapped all her energy.
After accepting the two large copper coins the owner handed her, Lirika thanked him and headed home.
Or rather…
She should have gone home.
But today, she didn’t want to.
The two coins clinked together in her hand as she wandered the streets aimlessly.
The people on the streets avoided the dirty little girl.
Before long, embarrassment overtook her, and she returned to the alleys of the slums.
Only when the sun was setting did she finally head toward home.
Maybe…
Maybe Mother had come back.
Perhaps she’d apologize.
Maybe she’d even brought the money back.
Or perhaps…
Maybe Father—
Lirika let out a bitter smile.
It was a smile far too mature for an eight-year-old.
The moment she opened the door, she sensed something different.
It was the kind of feeling only the owner of a home could notice.
There was nothing worth stealing, but this was the sort of neighborhood where anything could happen.
Her entire body tensed.
Moving slowly like a kitten with its fur standing on end, she carefully looked around.
“Miss Lirika Barnes.”
The voice that emerged from the darkness made her jump.
She whirled around.
A man wearing a hood stood there.
The hood itself was shabby, but Lirika could tell.
He was someone important.
No…
At the very least, someone wealthy.
The clothes beneath the worn cloak were obviously expensive at a glance.
More than anything, his shoes gave him away.
He stood upright with confidence and dignity.
He was clearly someone who rarely had to bow his head to anyone.
“You’re quite late.”
“Who are you?”
Once she realized he didn’t seem intent on hurting her and wanted to talk instead, Lirika spoke first.
“I’ve come to escort you.”
“…What?”
Her eyes widened in surprise.
Then they quickly narrowed with suspicion.
“Is this about the rent? Or—”
“No. Your mother asked me to bring you to her.”
The unexpected words made Lirika stare.
“My mother? Me?”
“Yes.”
“Did something happen to her? Was she arrested after all? Or…”
“You’ll hear the details once you arrive. I’m only the messenger. We’d better leave through the back so no one notices.”
Lirika folded her arms firmly.
“I was told never to go with strangers.”
For a moment, the man looked flustered.
After thinking briefly, he introduced himself.
“My name is Raube Wolf.”
So what?
Lirika looked at him with exactly that expression.
In a grave voice, he continued.
“The truth is… your mother has been badly injured.”
“…What?”
“There was an accident. She asked me to bring you to her. She’s desperately asking for you.”
“No…”
Lirika panicked.
Her mother had been hurt?
What should she do?
Had she been injured trying to force her way into the Imperial Ball?
The image of her mother crying and screaming the night before flashed through her mind, making her heart pound violently.
“L-Let’s go. Hurry!”
“This way.”
Raube quickly pulled away one of the wooden boards in the back wall.
Although the board had once fit perfectly, Lirika didn’t even notice.
Leading her through the dark alleys, Raube moved swiftly.
Once they reached a wider street, he gave a whistle.
A carriage that had been hidden nearby rolled up and stopped before them.
“My goodness…”
It was the first time Lirika had ever seen such a large carriage from so close.
And it was also the first time she’d ever ridden one.
Raube opened the door and helped her climb inside.
The wheels were so large that she couldn’t have gotten in by herself.
Watching the nervous little girl fidget, he offered a piece of advice.
“Miss Barnes… you shouldn’t trust people this easily.”
“…?!”
Before the startled Lirika could respond, the carriage door shut.
❖ ❖ ❖
When the carriage finally stopped, Lirika had pressed herself tightly into a corner like an angry cat.
She realized she’d trusted her instincts too much.
Having spent her whole life surrounded by danger, she’d developed an excellent sense for trouble.
That instinct had saved her countless times.
Even the shoeshine man admitted she had good intuition.
This time…
She hadn’t sensed any danger.
That was why she’d let her guard down.
Gripping the carriage handle tightly, Lirika stared defiantly, silently declaring that she would never step outside.
Raube opened the door and paused.
He wasn’t sure what to do.
If he forced her out, she might scratch him.
But he couldn’t simply leave her there either.
“Miss Barnes.”
“G-Go away!”
Lirika shouted desperately, glaring at him.
He didn’t feel the least bit threatened.
He didn’t mind if she scratched him.
He was only worried that she might hurt herself during the struggle.
She looked so fragile that he felt she might break a bone simply by bumping into him.
“Is it true… that my mother was hurt?”
Even now, her question was filled with concern.
Raube answered honestly.
“No. Your mother is perfectly healthy.”
A string of surprisingly colorful slum curses—ones no noble young lady would ever hear—floated out from inside the carriage.
Finally, he folded his arms and decided to wait until she calmed down.
Lirika had been fully prepared to kick with all her strength if he tried to drag her out.
But when he remained still, she gradually relaxed.
The scenery beyond the wide-open carriage door slowly drew her attention.
A beautiful garden unlike anything she’d ever seen spread before her.
Beyond it stood an elegant palace.
There was even a magnificent fountain sending water joyfully into the air.
The surroundings weren’t noisy.
Nor did they resemble the scene of a kidnapping.
Little by little, Lirika scooted toward the door.
When she peeked outside, she noticed Raube had deliberately stepped back, keeping himself beyond her reach.
Leaning her head out of the carriage, she looked around.
Gardens stretched in every direction.
Perfectly trimmed lawns and carefully shaped trees looked almost magical.
“Where… is this?”
Lirika asked timidly.
Raube answered simply.
“A detached palace.”
“A detached palace?”
“One of the smaller palaces belonging to the Imperial Palace. Are you ready to come down now?”
Lirika immediately clutched the carriage door.
Raube silently stared at her.
Very slowly…
She began retreating back inside the carriage.
Watching the kitten that had nearly crawled out disappear back into its hole, Raube let out a quiet sigh.
Just then, someone came running from the palace.
“Lirika! Lirika, are you here?”
“M-Mother?”
The voice was unmistakably her mother’s.
But the woman’s appearance was dazzling beyond belief.
Lirika had to look several times before she could convince herself it really was her.
The moment she saw Rudia practically running toward her, holding up the skirts of an elegant dress with one hand, Lirika leaped from the carriage.
“Mother!”
“Lirika! Thank goodness! I’m so sorry. You were worried, weren’t you? I’m sorry. It was all my fault.”
Her mother’s clothes were soft, rustling pleasantly.
Her embrace was as warm as ever.
Her cheek felt wonderfully soft.
Without thinking, Lirika muttered,
“I was… really angry.”
Her complaint came out in a tiny voice.
Instead of getting angry or pushing her away, her mother hugged her even tighter.
“I know. I was wrong. I did something terrible. But I couldn’t think of anything else. I’m so, so sorry. Okay?”
Her mother’s tearful apologies quickly softened Lirika’s heart.
“Okay… But what happened? Where is this? What’s going on?”
“Come inside. I’ll explain everything.”
Smiling gently, her mother stood and took Lirika’s hand.
Then she turned toward Raube.
“Thank you.”
“It was nothing, Lady Rudia.”
Raube bowed respectfully.
After hesitating, Lirika gave him a small wave.
To her surprise, he bowed politely to her as well.
She immediately clung to her mother.
It was the first time in her life she’d ever seen an adult man bow to her.
“Come on. Let’s go inside.”
Her mother acted as though it were perfectly natural.
Calmly leading Lirika along, she started walking.
As they entered, Lirika glanced back one last time.
Raube was still standing perfectly straight.
A moment later, the trees hid him from view.
The splendor of the detached palace quickly captivated the little girl’s heart.
Among the many detached palaces belonging to the Imperial Palace, the Dawn Palace lived up to its name.
It was built from pink-tinted marble and adorned with golden decorations.
Compared to the others, it was considered rather modest.
To Lirika, however, it was overwhelmingly magnificent.
Holding her breath, she looked around in awe.
Rudia decided the first thing to do was wash her daughter.
Lirika’s brown hair was greasy.
Her fingernails and the skin behind her ears were black with dirt.
There were no maids present, but plenty of hot water had already been prepared.
That was all they needed.
“This… is a bathtub?”
Lirika gasped.
She was amazed that anyone could fill such an enormous tub with hot water.
She was amazed again when the water turned black from washing.
And she was equally astonished to discover that soap, despite smelling wonderful, tasted bitter and stung her eyes terribly.
Everything was astonishing.
As she scrubbed beneath her fingernails with a brush, Lirika honestly wondered if an entire layer of skin had come off.
Afterward, fragrant oil with a warm, sweet scent was rubbed onto her skin.
She put on clean clothes.
The underwear was unbelievably soft and thick.
Then came a dress covered in delicate lace.
She had never worn anything so beautiful.
It almost took her breath away.
When silk stockings and soft lambskin boots completed the outfit, Lirika became convinced she must be dreaming.
She stroked the smooth fabric over and over, savoring the unfamiliar sensation.
Just then, her mother entered carrying a small tray of snacks.
The fluffy bread looked as though it would melt in her mouth.
The sparkling jam looked like jewels.
She had never tasted anything like it.
“It’s so pretty.”
“It’s raspberry jam,” her mother explained with a smile.
When Lirika choked from swallowing too quickly, her mother handed her a yellow drink.
Its taste amazed her just as much.
It was called orange juice.
She had no idea what an orange even was.
The world was so vast…
And apparently full of delicious things.
She was busily stuffing bread into her mouth when her mother asked,
“Lirika, you were really frightened, weren’t you? Feeling a little better now?”
Lirika nodded.
She’d been so overwhelmed with surprise after surprise that she’d run out of energy.
Surely…
Nothing else could possibly shock her now.
“So… what happened?”
she whispered softly.
Her mother smiled.
“You remember how I said I was going to attend the Imperial Ball?”
“I do.”
“I attended it.”
“…Really?”
“I did. And while I was there… I met His Majesty the Emperor.”
“The Emperor?!”
Her voice rose in surprise before she hurriedly lowered it again.
“I heard His Majesty is a terrifying person.”
Seeing Lirika whisper so anxiously, Rudia chuckled.
“It’s alright. His Majesty is a reasonable man.”
Lirika frowned thoughtfully.
What did being reasonable have to do with being terrifying?
“So then?”
“So…”
Her mother smiled brightly.
“The day after tomorrow, I’m marrying His Majesty the Emperor.”
Lirika was so stunned that the piece of bread slipped from her hand.
Remarkably, the soft bread made no sound when it hit the floor.
She simply stared blankly at her mother.
Her beautiful mother had always been Lirika’s greatest pride.
Golden hair curled in graceful waves.
Blue eyes that seemed to shine even in darkness.
Today, she looked even more beautiful.
So beautiful that Lirika hadn’t recognized her at first.
Compared to her mother, Lirika’s own brown, slightly curly hair seemed utterly ordinary.
She wished she had hair that could be piled up into elegant cloud-like curls.
Still…
She took pride in her turquoise eyes, which shared a similar color with her mother’s.
No, no, Lirika. Don’t escape from reality.
She shook her head vigorously and picked up the bread from the floor.
Just as she was about to eat it, her mother snatched it away, saying it was dirty.
Even though this place looked much cleaner than home…
Staring mournfully at the wasted bread, Lirika asked,
“The Emperor?”
“Yes. Surprised?”
Rudia wore such a playful, childlike smile that Lirika couldn’t tell whether she was serious or joking.
“Really? You and His Majesty? You’re marrying him? The day after tomorrow?”
“That’s right. Though it won’t be an ordinary marriage.”
Her mother glanced around before leaning in.
“I’ll tell you a little secret—but only you.”
Lirika leaned closer too.
“In truth…”
“It’s a contract marriage.”
