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CHAPTER 57..
“Your Highness! Your Highness!”
Late at night, I rubbed my sleepy eyes and sat up as Illia rushed in, utterly panicked. When I calmly looked at her, wondering what the commotion was about, she said with a pale face:
“Baron Riverdley…! No, the baron and his wife—they’ve escaped!”
At that, I just let out a calm, “Ah.”
‘So, they finally managed to escape completely.’
As if to confirm the fact, the emergency lights of the Tower of the Condemned flickered through the terrace window.
Up until now, they must have been hiding near Emin’s palace, waiting for a lapse in imperial security.
Now that their shackles had fully dissolved, the palace had realized the criminals had made it outside the palace grounds.
There was a stir outside, and faintly, I could hear the shouting of knights.
“They’ll be caught soon enou—”
But I couldn’t finish the sentence.
Illia hugged me tightly.
Despite trembling with every sound of soldiers’ boots and the shouting outside, she patted my back and tried to soothe me.
“Y-you’re right, Your Highness. It’ll be okay. They’ll be caught soon. Please don’t worry.”
“…Right.”
Who’s comforting who here?
The way she tried to console me, despite being the most terrified one here, was almost amusing—so I just nodded quietly.
‘Looks like palace security is going to be tightened for a while.’
In the meantime, Baron and Baroness Riverdley’s faces would be plastered across the empire, and the search parties would go wild trying to find them.
‘With Emin on their side, there’s no way they’ll be caught.’
Until we met again, I had to do what I could to help them. I gently pulled away from Illia and asked,
“What about His Majesty? Does the Emperor know about the Riverdleys’ escape?”
“It was Sir Reynald Bishop, the Emperor’s aide, who first noticed the escape.”
“Sir Reynald?”
“Yes, from what I heard, he went to question why someone ordered an assassin after you, Your Highness.”
“He could’ve just sent a high priest.”
“That part… I’m not sure.”
Illia shook her head, saying she didn’t know beyond that.
‘There’s probably not much else to learn from them in this situation.’
Just as I was about to ponder more, a knock came at the door.
“First Princess Lirien.”
It was Cécile.
Her low voice came through the door, and Illia and I exchanged glances.
“Are you awake?”
“I just woke up.”
Cécile entered, her face stiff, biting her lip as she stood in front of me.
“Judging by Illia’s presence, I suppose you’ve already heard. A moment ago, prisoners Cesare and Iolde Riverdley escaped from their cell. I came to check on you in case your safety was at risk.”
“I’m fine. No harm came to me. Since the Riverdleys escaped, there must’ve been someone aiding them. Has the accomplice been found?”
Cécile frowned and shook her head.
“We will find and punish the criminals swiftly so that Your Highness may be freed from unease.”
“I see.”
“And also—”
She glanced briefly behind her, so I followed her gaze.
And then—
“I will change your residence.”
The Emperor entered.
I blinked at his sudden statement, and Reynald followed behind him, smiling warmly.
He said,
“We’re going to fortify the First Princess’s palace. It’ll take at least one to two months.”
“If it’s just a matter of restoring the barrier, there’s no need to relocate…”
“Pardon? What do you mean?”
“?”
Reynald tilted his head and said,
“We’re planning to completely rebuild the First Princess’s palace from scratch.”
…What?
“The construction was originally planned for later this year, but due to the assassin and escape incidents, the schedule has been moved up.”
“I wasn’t informed of this…”
The Emperor suddenly cut in.
“It’s something that had to be done.”
“What? But—”
There was never any talk of repairs or reconstruction of the First Princess’s palace before the regression.
But of course, this cold man would never clear up my confusion. He turned sharply and began walking away with Reynald.
Just as he reached the doorway—
“W-wait!”
His gaze turned toward me as I hastily called out.
“Where is my new residence? If I recall, there’s an unused annex in the south of the palace—”
“You’ll find out tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow is too la—”
“I’m going. Try to rest again.”
…Even if you say that.
‘You’ve already completely ruined my sleep, Your Majesty…’
“…Lady Cécile.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Would you care to explain in detail what’s going on? Why would His Majesty come all the way to my palace?”
“Maybe… he was worried about you?”
“Jokes like that aren’t amusing. Please don’t put the listener in a tough spot, Lady Cécile.”
“I meant it sincerely. If that’s a joke, then perhaps truth is stranger than fiction?”
“That’s…”
As if the Emperor would ever worry about me.
“I’m not Yevgeni.”
Unless it’s out of necessity or convenience.
Then it hit me, and I clapped lightly.
“Oh. I see. He came because my safety affects the royal family’s image. Makes sense, since I found Orichalcum. That kind of treatment would be expected.”
“Pardon?”
“I mean, that’s not exactly what I meant—”
“Whew. I thought His Majesty had gone soft for a second.”
“….”
“…Yeah.”
Cécile and Illia both pursed their lips, wearing strange expressions. I didn’t notice and simply yawned before dismissing them.
As Illia reset my bedding, Cécile paused at the door and looked back at me.
“What if… His Majesty truly was worried about you?”
“Excuse me?”
“I mean, what if he genuinely came out of concern for Your Highness…”
“Wasn’t that conversation already over?”
“Still… what if.”
“There’s no such thing as ‘what if,’ Lady Cécile. That’s just a pretty excuse people tell themselves. It’s not something I need.”
“….”
“Even if he were… truly worried—”
He wouldn’t have abandoned me when the Empress tried to kill me multiple times.
‘How could someone like him possibly care for me, just because I’m his blood?’
More likely, he’s just worried about appearances.
I shrugged and pulled the blanket up with an awkward expression. Cécile left without another word.
After confirming she was gone, I gave Illia a gentle smile.
“…Sweet dreams, Your Highness.”
“You must be tired too, Illia. Go rest.”
“Yes.”
Illia gave me a vague smile and bowed. Just as she was about to leave, she turned back to me.
“Um, Your Highness.”
“Hmm?”
“Would you consider looking back at the people around you?”
I stared at her, not quite understanding what she meant. She smiled awkwardly and scratched her head.
“I respect you deeply, Your Highness… but sometimes, I can’t agree with you.”
“Like what?”
“Well… like when you never open up to anyone and make decisions alone. It makes me feel like there’s an invisible wall between you and the rest of us…”
“….”
“So I just wanted to say… I don’t think His Majesty came for that reason.”
“….”
“Maybe I’m overstepping. I’m sorry. My mouth ran before I could stop myself…”
“No, it’s okay. I suppose I must seem a bit distant to you.”
And I was, truthfully.
Like Illia said, I’d unknowingly built a wall around myself.
But it was a form of self-defense. Even those who seemed close now had once turned their eyes away from me.
I just didn’t realize how obvious it had become. I pulled my blanket over with a wry smile.
Illia gave me a sympathetic smile before bowing and leaving.
Left alone in the room, I quietly murmured,
“Looking back… huh.”
Who qualifies, and who doesn’t?
‘Is His Majesty… really one of them?’
What if, like Cécile and Illia said, he truly did worry about me?
If that were true…
‘Why didn’t you show it earlier…?’
Was it because I was useless back then? Because I had no value?
But now that I’m useful…
Because now I’m finally worth using?
“…Looking back might be harder than it sounds.”
Even as I tried to think positively, dark thoughts kept crashing down like waves. I pulled the blanket over my head and tightly shut my eyes.
‘No. I’m right. Cécile and Illia are wrong.’
The Emperor is just treating me well because I’m politically valuable.
Otherwise, he’d never care what I did or who I associated with.
I finished my thoughts and tried to go back to sleep.
That night, I couldn’t sleep easily, haunted by thoughts of the Riverdleys and the Emperor.
The next morning.
At the Emperor’s order, the imperial knights dispatched to my palace came looking for me at the crack of dawn.
They stood guard outside until I woke, and once I heard the news, I hurried to get dressed and left the lobby.
One of the senior knights approached and bowed.
“I greet First Princess Lirien Sha Kaliburg. I’m Ed Kalverdin, vice captain of the 2nd unit.”
“Nice to meet you. Are you here regarding my relocation?”
“Yes. As you can see, your belongings will be handled separately by maids sent by His Majesty. A maid named Helser Wilbin will come shortly. If you give her a list of necessities, she’ll take care of everything.”
“Understood. So, will I be moving to the annex in the south?”
Ed paused and looked back at me with a puzzled expression.
“No, that place has been abandoned for over twenty years and isn’t suitable for Your Highness.”
“Then… the guest palace to the east or west?”
“No, not there either. Haven’t you been informed?”
“Apparently not.”
Ed made a troubled face.
“Oh dear, it seems there was a communication error. Your temporary residence is not the southern annex nor the eastern/western guest palace.”
Then where is it?
I asked with my eyes. Ed smiled and answered.
“Your new residence is located west of your current palace—”
“…West…?”
Wait, isn’t that—
“It’s the Emperor’s palace.”
The central Emperor’s palace?!
My mouth fell open. Ed resumed walking, leading me away as I stood dumbfounded, flanked by the delighted Illia and Mulin.
‘Why the Emperor’s palace, of all places…?!’
Was he trying to stress me to death?
Our relationship wasn’t exactly good or bad, just… awkward. Cold. We were more strangers than anything else.
So why place me right in his palace?
“I’d rather camp outside…”
At that, Cécile and Illia responded,
“You mustn’t.”
“That’s out of the question, Your Highness.”
You’re both probably in cahoots with him too.
I sighed and furrowed my brow.
‘It’s already been decided. Might as well go all in.’
If I run into him, so be it. If I don’t, all the better. I’ll act like a ghost.
‘Just one month.’
If I grit my teeth and survive a month, time will pass eventually.
With that self-assurance, I arrived at the Emperor’s palace with Mulin, Illia, and Cécile.
And then I learned—
“You’ll stay in the Emperor’s palace until the First Princess’s palace is fully reconstructed. Would you care to dine with His Majesty?”
A thunderous announcement.
But that wasn’t even the worst of it.
“I heard you eat sweets every 3 hours—His Majesty wishes to join you for tea!”
“….”
“If you’re bored, he’s suggested hosting tea parties!”
“….”
“Your room is right across from His Majesty’s, so no assassin would dare!”
I guess…
All the top knights are either with the Empress or the Emperor. No idiot would try to kill me here.
I was slowly becoming numb to it all, nodding quietly at Reynald’s words.
I think Illia and Mulin squealed at each new revelation, but I didn’t care.
‘What matters now is how tired I am…’
I kicked Reynald and the maids out of the room before he could finish his explanation.
The room, now assigned to me, was luxurious and grand—befitting its place in the Emperor’s palace.
‘Just days ago, I was barely escaping from this place…’
Now I’ve returned.
Still, there was a silver lining.
‘At least the Empress and her cronies won’t touch me for now. Isabell, whose confinement will soon end, won’t try to kill me either.’
Aside from the Emperor himself, this outcome wasn’t bad at all.
‘This is a great chance to solidify my standing with the nobles.’
“Earlier, Reynald mentioned hosting a tea party at the Emperor’s palace, right?”
Not even Yevgeni had done that. For the once-neglected First Princess to host one in the Emperor’s palace?
‘The gossipmongers will go wild.’
No matter the excuse, the Emperor was the only one who could assign a royal’s residence.
Everyone would know it was his decision to place me here—not the guest palace or the annex.
I smiled slyly and murmured,
“Well, if it’s come to this… I might as well milk it for all it’s worth.”
