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Chapter 32
“That young lady just now… Heidi, was it? Investigate her. I want to know everything about her—as thoroughly as possible.”
Noah’s eyebrows rose ever so slightly.
“May I ask the reason, Your Majesty?”
The corners of the king’s lips twitched before a faint smile appeared.
“She resembles someone.”
“…Pardon?”
Noah asked in confusion.
“Her smile. It resembles that person’s far too much… Every time she smiles, she reminds me of someone.”
The king slowly lowered his head as he gazed at the closed door.
After letting out a quiet sigh, he continued,
“I’m probably mistaken. Even so… I need to make sure. Foolish though it may be…”
As his voice trailed off, Noah finally bowed deeply.
“As you command, Your Majesty.”
The king looked toward the door once more.
The girl he had met for the first time today…
Her smile refused to leave his mind.
* * *
Late that night, Anastasia sat alone in her room, nervously biting her fingernails.
Click.
Click.
The sound echoed repeatedly through the silent chamber.
“So he finally…”
Her crimson lips parted, and a chilling voice escaped them.
“He found her. I’m certain of it.”
The face she had seen earlier that day resurfaced vividly in her mind.
Skin as white and radiant as fresh snow.
Golden hair that seemed to capture sunlight itself.
Large, round eyes, innocent and crystal clear.
Those eyes…
The same brilliant violet eyes as the king’s.
Still gnawing at her nails, Anastasia frowned deeply.
“My father’s real daughter…
The daughter who truly carries the royal bloodline.”
Suddenly, a memory from the past returned to her.
* * *
The day Anastasia remembered had begun like any other.
After enduring another tedious morning of lessons, she wandered into the royal underground treasury, amusing herself by exploring the countless priceless treasures stored there.
I like this one.
Her hand reached toward an extravagant tiara that seemed perfectly suited to her.
“Anastasia!”
A voice called from behind.
Startled, she hurriedly put the tiara back.
Standing at the entrance to the treasury was Desion.
Like a child caught doing something wrong, Anastasia flinched before quickly putting on her usual playful smile.
“Teacher.”
“I’ve warned you several times already.”
His voice was cold and unwavering.
“The royal treasury may only be entered by His Majesty the King and the officially recognized heir to the throne. Since Your Highness has not yet been publicly declared the heir, you have no authority to enter this place.”
His stern words grated on her nerves.
Seriously, he’s always lecturing me. How can someone be this inflexible?
Suppressing an annoyed snort, she answered lightly,
“Oh, you’re so strict. It’s only the announcement that’s missing. Who else could possibly be the heir besides me? Father’s only child is me, isn’t it?”
“Rules are still rules.”
“You’re so mean, Teacher.”
Pouting, Anastasia boldly picked up the tiara resting on the marble pedestal.
“This is the crown Mother wore at her wedding, isn’t it? It’s unbelievably beautiful. Someday, when I get married, I’ll wear a gorgeous tiara like this too, won’t I?”
At that moment, Desion’s brow twitched.
“Please don’t touch it carelessly—”
But for some reason…
His reprimand stopped midway.
Instead, he stared fixedly at the tiara in Anastasia’s hands, his expression filled with unmistakable shock.
What’s wrong with him? Why is he reacting like that?
Unable to understand his behavior, Anastasia raised an eyebrow.
Yet a moment later, Desion returned to his usual composed self.
The strange feeling she had experienced quickly faded away…
Leaving behind only the faintest sense of unease.
* * *
A few days later.
Golden sunlight streamed through the palace windows as Anastasia spent time drinking tea with the king for the first time in quite a while.
Steam carrying the delicate aroma of tea curled gently into the air.
The king spoke with mock severity.
“Marquis Hyzen tells me you’ve been sneaking into the underground treasury again.”
Hah. He tattled already?
Suppressing her irritation, Anastasia smiled sweetly.
“I only looked around the room near the entrance. I didn’t go any farther inside.”
The king sighed deeply before speaking in a gentle, fatherly tone.
“I know you’re curious about those things. But don’t become too attached to them. They only nurture vanity.”
“Yes, Father. I understand.”
She nodded absentmindedly before her eyes sparkled.
“But, Father, I saw an absolutely beautiful tiara there.”
“A tiara?”
“The one Mother wore at her wedding. The one with the enormous ruby.”
A faint look of nostalgia crossed the king’s face.
“So… you saw it.”
He set down his teacup before continuing.
“It was a gift from the Grand Temple to bless our marriage. However, the jewel in its center isn’t a ruby.”
“It isn’t?”
He nodded.
“It is a sacred relic created by placing one drop of my blood and one drop of your mother’s blood within it.”
“A sacred relic?”
“That’s right.”
The king smiled warmly.
“When someone with royal blood touches that crown, it resonates with divine power and shines brilliantly.”
“…It… shines?”
Clink.
Anastasia’s hand slipped as she lifted her teacup.
Her heart dropped.
It shines?
But when I touched it that day… nothing happened…
The king, unaware of the subtle change in her expression, laughed cheerfully.
“I never imagined you’d like it so much.”
He smiled.
“I’ll give it to you as a gift.”
Anastasia’s eyes widened.
“…R-Really?”
She stammered, sounding unlike herself.
“I’m sure your mother would have wanted that.”
His expression softened.
“Take good care of it. It is one of my most precious possessions.”
Although Anastasia had finally obtained the treasure she had coveted…
There wasn’t the slightest hint of joy on her face.
* * *
After that day, Anastasia developed a habit.
Whenever she was alone in her room, she would take out the tiara and examine it over and over again.
“What light is it supposed to emit?”
She tried placing it on her head.
She polished the gemstone with her fingers.
She inspected every inch of it.
Yet she never once saw the “light” the king had described.
“Why doesn’t it react to me?”
She desperately searched for a reasonable explanation to reassure herself.
But the harder she tried…
The deeper her anxiety grew.
The whispers she had overheard throughout her childhood echoed inside her head.
“Don’t you think she doesn’t resemble Her Majesty the Queen very much?”
“She doesn’t look much like His Majesty the King either.”
“Well… it’s not as though children always have to look exactly like their parents…”
As a child, she had dismissed those words as nothing more than malicious gossip.
Now…
They felt entirely different.
Standing before a mirror, Anastasia carefully compared her own face with the faces of the king and queen.
Little by little…
The color drained from her face.
No…
That can’t be true…
Surely not…
She couldn’t endure the uncertainty any longer.
Immediately, she summoned her nanny, Sheila.
“We need someone to keep an eye on my teacher.”
Her expression turned cold.
“Find me someone we can trust, Sheila.”
