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Chapter 03
03. Still No One Knows (1)
After her bath, Ariana enjoyed a breakfast more abundant than usual.
Of course, as a “carefully managed” princess, the menu was nothing more than soft bread, soup, a bit of salad, and fruit—but to Ariana, it was still a satisfying meal.
Compared to the times when she had to snatch moldy bread from a dog, only to have it stolen again by another dog or person and hurriedly shove it into her mouth before losing it entirely, wasn’t this a feast of luxury and leisure?
“Would you like some tea?”
“Later.”
While she ate, Maia, who had been standing by her side, glanced at Rosa as she cleared the empty dishes onto a tray, then stepped closer.
“It’s ready.”
As if helping with the dishes, Maia leaned in and whispered in a very low voice.
At her words, Ariana briefly glanced at Rosa and nodded.
A faint smile appeared on her lips—satisfaction at Maia’s flawless execution of what she had ordered before her bath.
“Ariana.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Tell them the youngest daughter wishes to see her ‘beloved father.’”
The flower of Molbian could meet the king whenever she wished.
It was the same logic as a pet dog running to its owner without asking permission.
However, at this point in time, Ariana did not know that, so she often boasted about being able to meet the king anytime.
That had once fueled the first princess’s jealousy—though she had been just as foolish in this timeline.
“I will inform the Chamberlain.”
Ariana noticed Rosa pretending not to listen while clearly straining her ears to catch the conversation.
Her green eyes turned cold.
The news that the youngest princess wished to meet the king would soon reach the second prince.
And Rosa would be rewarded for it.
She needed to find out what that reward was.
Only then could she take control of a useful piece.
Money would be best. It’s easy.
But if it wasn’t money… then she would think about it afterward.
Ariana caught Rosa’s gaze, then quickly hid the cold glint in her eyes and smiled gently.
At first, she had wanted to cut that pretty neck immediately and pay her back for the betrayal.
But she realized doing so would gain her nothing except the second prince’s vigilance.
So she changed her approach.
She would make Rosa her piece instead.
If she offered something greater than what the second prince gave her, it would be possible.
A fitting opportunist—that was Rosa of House Barns, a baron’s eldest daughter.
The second prince would not be paying her anything particularly significant anyway.
He did not see Ariana as a real threat, so the maid assigned to watch her was not an important asset.
Then I can use her too.
Even if she had no power, she was still a princess.
A favored one at that.
A mere baron’s daughter could be bent easily.
Ariana finished dressing before meeting the king.
The answer had not yet come back, but there was no way he would refuse her.
“Your request has been received. He says he can spare a little time before his morning duties.”
See?
Just as expected.
Ariana smiled at the mirror.
A face identical to her mother’s.
Even because of this face alone, the king could not refuse her request to meet.
After all, he had once abducted a commoner like a plunderer, taken her into the palace, made her bear a child, and even granted her the position of queen—all because he had fallen in love with that face.
“Good thing I take after Mother, right?”
Ariana smiled toward Maia, who stood silently with lowered eyes, pretending not to hear.
She stood from the mirror and walked toward the door.
Maid attendants waited outside.
Among them, she spotted Rosa, then turned away as if she hadn’t noticed, addressing Maia who had taken her place behind her.
“Where is he?”
“His Majesty is in the study.”
“Ah. Then my brothers are there too?”
“Yes.”
The crown prince and second prince met the king once a week in the study to report their achievements over the past seven days.
Some questioned what meaningful accomplishments could be made in such a short time—but everyone knew the truth.
It was not about reports.
It was about the king reaffirming that his grip on power was still intact.
He was a man obsessed with control.
For example, even in her past life, he had never named a crown prince until the very moment of his death.
Because of that, Molbian fell into chaos after his sudden passing.
Naturally so—when the one who held everything in his hands disappeared in an instant.
Not this time.
With the Empire constantly threatening Molbian, she could not be certain how long her reign would last.
But if she was going to become king, she had to minimize the chaos before ascending the throne.
Ariana began walking toward the king’s study.
It had been a long time since she walked this path.
I ran away when I was twenty… so it’s been eight years?
A long time.
But her steps were unhesitating.
No one gets lost in their own home.
She enjoyed the familiar scenery as she walked leisurely—and soon arrived.
Just as she reached the study, the doors opened and the two princes came out, having finished their report.
A man with short navy-blue hair and another with bluish-gray hair.
The only thing they shared was their father’s blue eyes.
The brothers, otherwise completely different, frowned at the unexpected sight of Ariana.
It’s been a while since I saw those contemptuous eyes.
Ariana bent her knees slightly and smiled beautifully enough to captivate anyone.
“Brother Terence, Brother Owen. It’s been a while.”
“Why are you here?”
The first prince, Terence, spoke first.
Hot-tempered and impulsive—his fists had once spoken faster than his words.
Though he had learned restraint over time, his impatience remained unchanged.
“Brother, if you speak so harshly, you’ll scare her.”
The second prince, Owen.
He had a gentle appearance—but a far more sinister nature.
In some ways, more dangerous than Terence.
He was also the man who had once threatened her life in her previous timeline, forcing her to flee.
“Shut up. I wasn’t talking to you.”
“Haha, Brother, now I’m getting scared.”
“Owen!”
“Shh. Raising your voice like that might be heard by His Majesty.”
“You—!”
The two brothers were always fighting.
Only a year apart in age, constantly competing for the crown prince position.
Different mothers, similar achievements—so even breathing felt like rivalry.
If left alone, they would keep snapping at each other forever.
It was time to interrupt them.
“You two still get along as always.”
“You have no right to speak here!”
“So you still act the same… it’s like I haven’t seen you in a long time.”
Terence reacted exactly as expected.
Owen, however, frowned immediately at something in her words.
Ariana quickly lowered her head, pretending to be intimidated.
“Sorry… I’ve been sick for a few days and stayed in my room, so I was just happy to see you…”
Owen nodded, half-convinced.
Not fully believing her—but unwilling to question it further.
Arrogant as always.
This was how she was treated.
It wasn’t new, so she had no reason to be hurt—but it was still irritating.
“Right, you asked why I was here.”
Ariana straightened her shoulders and smiled brightly.
“I came to see Father. I haven’t seen him in days, so I missed him terribly.”
“You—!”
“Oh my, did I say ‘Father’? How careless of me. I meant His Majesty… or should I call him ‘Your Majesty’ like you two? I’ll be an adult soon, after all.”
Father.
A simple word between child and parent—but in the Clayton royal family, it was a privilege granted to only one person.
Ariana.
And at the same time, it was the perfect word to wipe the proud expressions off her brothers’ faces.
