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~Chapter 33~
Viviana froze in shock at the sight.
“Monet…”
She tried to walk toward Monet with trembling legs, but Sylvia stepped in front of her.
“Take that child to the punishment room right now.”
A maid grabbed Monet’s arm and dragged her away.
“Nanny, you promised! If I threw my mother’s keepsake into the lake, you wouldn’t hurt Monet anymore!”
Viviana grabbed onto Sylvia’s skirt, begging.
“Hmph. That girl used to just take her beatings, but now, thanks to that promise, she dares to act out. It’s time she was taught a lesson.”
Viviana stared up at Sylvia with tears in her eyes.
“Nanny… why have you changed so much?”
“It’s not me who changed, Your Highness. It’s you, ever since you started spending time with that lowly maid. You used to listen to me so well. Where did my sweet princess go?”
Sylvia looked at Viviana with cold eyes.
“I… I won’t go outside. I promise I won’t leave, so please don’t hurt Monet anymore.”
“Of course you’ll listen to me, Your Highness. Look at this pitiful face. I told you, you look better when you cover it up with your glasses.”
Sylvia gently pushed Viviana’s glasses up higher on her nose.
“Mm…”
“Just do as I say, understood?”
“Then you’ll stop hurting Monet?”
“Go to your room now.”
Sylvia changed the subject and walked away, the other maids following behind her in silence.
Only one maid lingered, watching Viviana closely before leaving last.
Viviana stood alone, her tears falling silently.
It was late at night, when everyone else was asleep. A gentle candlelight filled Viviana’s room.
Viviana sat, staring at the flame, biting her nails.
‘Did Monet get hurt a lot? What do I do? How can I save her?’
Sylvia had always been a caring nanny. But somewhere along the way, she changed.
Or maybe, as Sylvia said, Viviana herself had changed?
Suddenly, she heard a tapping at her window.
Tap. Tap.
Viviana jumped and looked over, startled.
A figure dressed all in black slipped in through the window.
Viviana quickly stood up and bowed, as if she was used to this.
“You’re here, Your Majesty.”
The figure pulled down his mask. It was Grey.
“Viviana. Why so formal? Isn’t it sad if your big brother comes to visit and you just call him ‘Your Majesty’?”
Grey bent down to match her height, his voice gentle.
“I’m sorry. It’s just a habit now, big brother.”
Viviana lowered her head, avoiding his eyes.
“Viviana. How are you feeling?”
She tried to answer bravely, swallowing down the feelings she wanted to spill.
“I’m fine.”
“I heard you went swimming in the lake by yourself?”
“Yes.”
Viviana’s head dropped lower and lower.
“Why did you go alone, without your maids?”
“I just wanted to play by myself…”
Viviana forced herself to lie. If she met his eyes, she felt like she would confess everything.
“I see. But it’s dangerous. Next time, promise to go with your maids.”
“…Yes.”
Only after a while did Viviana lift her head. When she met Grey’s gaze, he smiled kindly.
“Finally, you’re really looking at your big brother.”
His warm words made Viviana want to cry, so she squeezed her hands together. Her big brother always smiled gently at her.
She wanted to tell him everything, but she pushed the feeling down deep inside.
I don’t want to disappoint him.
People often said the siblings didn’t get along. When she was younger, she believed it, too.
But for the past few years, he had secretly visited, teaching her the ways of the emperor. He was warm, like sunshine.
She never wanted to show her weak side to him. She wanted to be as dignified and respected as her brother.
So, in front of him, she always pretended to be okay.
“Viviana, is there something wrong?”
Grey gently took her hands and noticed the blood where she’d bitten her nails.
“No. Nothing’s wrong. Big brother, can we start studying now?”
Viviana acted cheerful, hiding everything.
Grey watched her for a long moment, then gave her a soft smile.
“…Alright.”
Grey sat with Viviana, teaching her lessons and quietly watching her.
He could tell something was wrong, but she wouldn’t say it. He would have to find out in another way.
Then, as Viviana read her book, she glanced up.
“Big brother, can I ask you something?”
“Is there something you don’t understand?”
Viviana shook her head, checking his mood.
Grey smiled gently, making it easier for her to speak. Finally, she spoke quietly.
“I still don’t understand why I have to study all this. Isn’t it the crown prince who learns these things? Shouldn’t you be the one to teach your son, after you marry a princess?”
Grey gave a bittersweet smile and patted her head.
“You’re very clever, Viviana.”
“Thank you…”
Viviana blushed shyly and looked back at her book, hiding from his gaze.
Maybe she was so gentle and shy because she took after their mother. Only Grey had inherited the cruel side from the old emperor.
For the sake of protecting Viviana, Grey pretended in public that their relationship was bad.
Their mother had died giving birth to Viviana, and the old emperor never cared about her. He only cared about keeping the Lucefon bloodline going.
The royal curse wasn’t just about dying young.
As a boy, Grey was forced to take off his shirt in front of the emperor every day. What he thought was a dark spot grew into a visible mark—he was even younger than Viviana at the time.
After that, his life turned into hell.
The fear of dying at any moment. The endless parade of women, the emperor’s pressure to father a child, threats and bribery.
The royal curse was horrible. The rule that only a man could be emperor was ridiculous to him.
But now, for the first time, Viviana would become the first empress and break the curse.
For that, he had no plans to ever marry.
Grey’s eyes grew sad as he looked at Viviana. When their eyes met, the little girl smiled at him with respect.
Does she really want to be emperor? he wondered.
When he died, Viviana would be the only heir to the throne.
If Viviana didn’t want it, the nobles would try to kill her—so there would be no true heir left.
Viviana had to become empress, just to survive.
“Viviana, do you like being a member of the royal family?”
“…Why do you ask? Do I not seem like one to you?”
Viviana’s eyes shook nervously as she pushed up her glasses.
“No, that’s not what I meant.”
“I’m sorry… I shouldn’t have asked.”
“No, Viviana. There’s nothing wrong with you learning these things. I think it’s good for you. Does that answer your question?”
“Yes, big brother. I’m a member of the royal family, too, so I’ll study hard, just like you.”
Viviana’s eyes were full of respect for him.
Grey hid his sad feelings with a gentle smile.
“…Good.”
“But, big brother, when will you get married? I bet your child would be so cute.”
Viviana smiled, cheeks turning pink as she imagined it.
“We’ll see. I don’t know yet.”
Grey answered gently, not wanting to crush her hopes, even though he knew he’d never marry.
“Big brother, you’re sleeping well lately, right? You look tired.”
“Of course. I’m sleeping fine.”
So she noticed, too.
Grey had only slept two or three hours a night, trying to get everything ready for Viviana before his time ran out. That’s why he hadn’t visited her for months.
He wondered what happened to her while he was away. He’d already used the truth-detecting artifact earlier at the government meeting, so he couldn’t use it now on Viviana.
“Viviana, if something ever happens, don’t hide it from me. Promise you’ll tell me.”
Viviana hesitated, lips trembling, then nodded.
“…Yes.”
Grey smiled and gently patted her head, but his mind was racing with worry.
