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CHAPTER 06
Ariella wandered through the garden with a heavy heart. Earlier that morning, she had asked a maid to relay her wish to meet the Crown Prince, but even past noon there had been no response. Most likely, her request had never even reached him.
It wasn’t that she had some urgent purpose in meeting Dmitri. She simply wanted to make it clear that she, too, actively supported annulling their marriage. Perhaps she was acting too hastily, but she couldn’t help being impatient.
Seeing the palace from outside, she finally understood the tears Reina had shed yesterday. Compared to the other palaces, this one was pitifully small—and not only that, it had barely been maintained. It hardly even deserved to be called a castle.
After walking for a while, she arrived at the rear garden she had seen from the balcony of her room.
Ariella abruptly stopped in place.
“Ah…”
It was spring.
The clusters of yellow flowers she had seen from afar were trilliums and poppies. The pink hellebores were rare, delicate flowers that hardly bloomed in Forenze. And there were even purple crocuses and grape hyacinths.
It was unbelievably beautiful.
For some reason, her chest tightened, and Ariella slowly drew in a deep breath.
The refreshing breeze brushing against her cheeks, the warm spring sunlight heating her hair, the fresh scent of flowers—
All the sensations she thought she had completely forgotten came vividly rushing back.
Then suddenly, longing overwhelmed her. She couldn’t tell whether it was for her family, her homeland, or simply the time that had passed.
Ah… I’m alive.
Even now, while she struggled desperately to survive, the season was still so dazzlingly radiant.
For a moment, Ariella decided to simply enjoy spring.
Just then, a white butterfly fluttered before her eyes.
She quietly reached out her hand into the air, and the butterfly gently landed on the tip of her finger.
There had been only one tiny window in the tower. Not enough sunlight or moonlight ever entered through it. Like someone gasping for air, Ariella had loved sitting beneath the faint rays of transparent sunlight pouring through that window.
And every time, a white butterfly would fly past outside it.
A butterfly could never fly that high.
That was why Ariella had believed the living creature to be the sole grace God had allowed her.
But yesterday, she had learned the truth.
Behind her tower stood a tall mountain. Every spring, the tiny white butterflies living there came to visit her.
At that moment, the butterfly perched on her finger suddenly fluttered away. Regretting its departure, she unconsciously chased after it.
How long had she walked?
Only after the butterfly disappeared did Ariella realize she was lost.
Looking around, Reina was nowhere to be seen. She had heard Reina giving instructions to the maids just moments ago, so she probably hadn’t wandered too far.
Still, I should head back quickly.
As she searched for her bearings, she spotted a vast garden in the distance. In the center stood a gigantic fountain. Though she still didn’t know the layout of the imperial palace, she could tell it was enormous.
It was beautiful.
Drawn in as though enchanted, she stepped closer, distracted by the white spray of water sparkling in the air.
Then suddenly, she heard voices murmuring in the distance.
Instinctively, Ariella hid beneath a bush.
Peeking her head out from the waist-high shrubbery, she saw the Emperor. He was accompanied by around ten people. Standing alone opposite them was Dmitri.
This isn’t the Emperor’s palace… Then is this the Crown Prince’s palace? But why would the Crown Prince’s palace be in such a remote place?
Unable to move recklessly, Ariella held her breath and carefully observed them. They were too far away for her to hear what they were saying clearly.
Then, suddenly, loud laughter erupted from the Emperor and those surrounding him.
And moments later, an unbelievable sight unfolded before her eyes.
One of the Emperor’s guards strode toward the Crown Prince, grabbed him, and slammed his head straight into the fountain.
Splash!
Water exploded everywhere, and Dmitri collapsed without putting up any resistance.
“Hhk!”
A scream escaped Ariella’s lips before she could stop herself, and she quickly clamped a hand over her mouth.
It felt as though she had witnessed a secret she absolutely should not have seen.
To better understand the situation, she looked at the Emperor’s entourage. They all appeared completely calm, as though they were perfectly accustomed to seeing the Crown Prince treated this way.
When Dmitri rose from the water, the Emperor burst into laughter again.
Once more, the guard shoved him into the fountain.
Again, loud laughter rang out.
Yet among them, only two people did not laugh.
Does this even make sense? What in the world is happening? Did the Crown Prince commit some terrible crime?
Then the Emperor turned around. He grabbed one of the men standing behind him by the collar—the same man who hadn’t laughed at the Crown Prince’s humiliation.
The Emperor said a few sharp words before throwing him aside and walking away the way he had come.
Dmitri remained there alone.
She was too far away to see his expression clearly. The spring sunlight shone transparently upon the man drenched from head to toe.
For some reason, Ariella found it difficult to look away from him.
Dmitri of Triphina.
A man born noble, someone who should have the entire world beneath his feet…
So why did he now look so pitiful standing there?
Then, suddenly, realization struck her.
It was also the answer to the fierce thoughts she had wrestled with last night.
The confrontation between the Crown Prince and the Emperor’s closest confidants.
The guard’s complete lack of hesitation despite laying hands on the Crown Prince.
And the reason a powerless princess from Forenze had been chosen as Crown Princess.
All of it pointed to a single conclusion.
The Crown Prince’s deposition.
Her vision spun.
If that were true, then everything made sense.
A powerless bride’s family could offer no support to the Crown Prince, and the Emperor would be free to install a foreign Empress as he pleased.
But perhaps they had never imagined the King of Forenze would react this way. Because of her father’s opposition, the Empress’s coronation ceremony had never taken place. So perhaps they had imprisoned Ariella in the tower in hopes of somehow persuading both Forenze and the temple.
If her suspicions were correct, even that made sense.
Even the reason why Dmitri, five years later, would kill his own father and seize the throne.
But why?
Why would they seek to depose the most perfect legitimate heir, the one praised by all?
At that moment, Dmitri suddenly turned precisely toward the direction where Ariella was hiding.
“Hhk!”
Startled out of her mind, Ariella ducked back beneath the bush.
Did he see me? No way. It’s too far… Or maybe not? Could he actually have seen me?
Pressing a trembling hand against her pounding chest, she tried to steady her breathing.
After some time passed, she cautiously peeked back toward the fountain.
Fortunately, Dmitri was no longer there.
Ariella’s steps naturally slowed.
Her mind was in chaos, aching from too many thoughts.
When she finally found her way back to the palace, the area outside was bustling. Even the trunk that hadn’t been unpacked yesterday had been brought outside.
Her body stiffened instantly.
Had Dmitri seen her earlier after all?
Was she about to be dragged back to the tower?
“Princess, where have you been? We’ve been looking everywhere for you.”
Reina hurried toward her the moment she spotted her.
“What… what’s going on?”
“The head chamberlain came. With a whole group of attendants.”
“…Why?”
“They said they’re moving you to a different palace. Apparently there was some mistake yesterday. Honestly, as if a place like this was acceptable. You’re soon to become Her Highness the Crown Princess.”
Now that she thought about it, Reina’s face looked unusually bright.
Still, Ariella narrowed her eyes suspiciously.
Just then, the chamberlain approached her.
She didn’t know about anything else, but she could clearly sense that his face was filled with goodwill toward her.
“My greetings are late.”
“Lord Chamberlain.”
“Please, call me Benjamin.”
“You mustn’t say such things. How could I possibly address His Majesty’s chamberlain so casually…?”
“I insist. I wished to visit you immediately yesterday and express my gratitude, but it was already late and there was too much confusion.”
“You really didn’t need to go that far.”
“No, I did. You saved my life.”
Benjamin smiled kindly.
Having nothing particular to add, Ariella merely nodded.
“But why move the palace?”
“I petitioned His Majesty personally, and His Majesty graciously granted permission.”
After what had happened yesterday, even a chamberlain should have been careful.
Yet he still did this?
Ariella bit her lip.
If all of this truly stemmed from his pure goodwill, then perhaps she had unexpectedly gained an ally within the imperial palace.
If so, that was an unforeseen blessing.
It felt as though a single ray of sunlight had pierced through a narrow, pitch-black corridor.
Like someone lighting a lone candle in the middle of a dark night.
The Emperor’s own chamberlain… on my side.
“The palace is directly beside the Crown Prince’s residence.”
Ah.
So not an ally after all, but an enemy?
The tiny spark of hope she had felt since arriving in the Triphina Empire flickered briefly before crumbling into ash.
By the time the move was completed, evening had already arrived.
As expected of a palace opened only for honored guests, the interior was both elegant and luxurious. Many attendants had also been assigned to serve there.
Compared to life in the tower, it was an overwhelming change.
Reina looked utterly delighted, but Ariella felt nothing but burdened.
She still had no idea what sort of standing the Crown Prince truly held within the imperial palace, making it impossible to tell whether the Emperor’s consideration was poison or medicine.
Thanks to Chamberlain Benjamin’s help, Ariella was finally able to formally request an audience with the Crown Prince.
Fortunately, Dmitri granted her audience that very evening.
