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Chapter : 13
“Then why did you come here?”
At my question, the fox perched on Robelius’s shoulder flicked its tail mischievously.
“…That’s none of your concern.”
Judging by the way he flinched after saying it, his mouth had clearly moved faster than his brain.
“….”
Robelius jutted out his lower lip petulantly and avoided my gaze.
He probably thought he was wearing a serious expression, but honestly, getting repeatedly smacked in the face by a fluffy fox tail didn’t make him look very dignified.
That little bastard—he’s enjoying this.
The tail swatted Robelius’s face with a rhythm that was just ambiguous enough to make it unclear whether it was intentional or not. I had a strong feeling that if the fox were in human form, he’d be grinning ear to ear.
Some kind of grudge… yeah, that tracks.
After all, he’d been “selected” as the Crown Prince’s playmate and dragged into the imperial palace at a young age—practically kidnapped in the name of honor. It wouldn’t be surprising if he harbored plenty of resentment toward Robelius.
In fact, in Sword of the Firmament, Aello’s relationship with him had been lukewarm at best. They felt less like childhood friends and more like classmates who’d gone to the same school but different classes.
“What the—ptoo, ptoo! …Hey, stop it, will you?”
No, maybe he’s just doing it for fun.
Watching the tail wag gleefully, I revised my opinion.
I’d forgotten that in Sword of the Firmament, he’d casually helped—and toyed with—the male and female leads purely for his own amusement.
He always wore a smile, sure, but he definitely wasn’t a good-natured guy.
They say all mages are crazy.
He was described as an unprecedented genius, carrying the pure bloodline of the magical noble Petrarca Ducal House. Judging from his actions in the novel, Aello didn’t seem to be an exception to that rule either.
“Why wouldn’t I need to know? You went out of your way to come all the way to the Mirror Palace. Don’t tell me—you came to see me?”
“…What a truly unpleasant misunderstanding.”
When I teased him while looking at his fur-covered face, his handsome features crumpled instantly, like a cookie box crushed under a wyvern’s foot.
Don’t tell me he’s about to—
Whether it was a reflex engraved into the princess’s body or not, his murderous expression made my eyes instinctively dart to his waist.
…No wooden sword.
Guess he didn’t come here to grind experience.
It was absurd how a sigh of relief escaped me without conscious thought. Just how badly had I been beaten before?
Then why did he really come?
If it wasn’t for sparring, there was no reason for him to come here. It couldn’t be because he missed his little sister. And there was no way he’d just gotten lost on a stroll.
No matter how much I thought about it, I couldn’t figure it out. So the best course of action seemed to be pestering him relentlessly until he finally opened his mouth while brushing the fur off his face in irritation.
“Then why did you really come?”
When I stared at him as if determined to get an answer this time, Robelius—who’d been clammed up like an oyster—finally spoke.
“…His Majesty summons you.”
* * *
The Sun Palace, where the Emperor resided, was enormous beyond comparison to the Mirror Palace.
The spires connecting the four outer corners rose so high they seemed to pierce the sky.
The intricately carved stone walls were inlaid with molten gold, casting layers of pale and deep light that shifted with the movement of the sun and clouds.
“Wow…”
I murmured softly, my eyes tracing the intersecting and scattering geometric shadows in awe.
A structure built by weaving magic circles together possessed a strange beauty unlike modern architecture.
“Follow me.”
Robelius strode ahead without an escort, passing me in a flash. His confident steps suggested he knew the Sun Palace like the back of his hand.
I hurried after him, glancing around at the interior.
Perhaps because assassinations were a constant threat, the inside—several times more lavish than the exterior—felt overwhelmingly complex in its layout.
It’d be hard to infiltrate without knowing the structure.
Even an ordinary person would likely get lost. And the decorations were all ceramics and artworks—nothing that could easily be used as a weapon in an emergency.
Ah—now’s not the time to get distracted.
Realizing I’d fallen into the habit of mentally sketching blueprints, I shook the thoughts away. It didn’t feel like we’d walked very far, but we were already in front of the audience chamber.
A servant announced our arrival, and soon the massive doors opened.
“Greetings to the Empire’s First Sun.”
Clutching the hem of the freshly changed skirt with both hands, I bowed deeply.
Whispers from the ministers reached my tense ears.
They say she’s changed. It seems it’s true.
She’s like a completely different person from the last time I saw her.
She’s become rather composed, hasn’t she?
Of course, not all comments were favorable.
Who knows how long it’ll last. It’s only been three months since the news came.
Indeed. It’s harder to turn black into white than white into black. People don’t change so easily—if anything, it’s suspicious.
I can hear you, you know.
I didn’t react to the murmurs.
Their opinions didn’t matter.
As I’d seen under a certain chairman before, a person’s reputation could be overturned with a single word from someone in power.
“Raise your head.”
I carefully met the Emperor’s gaze.
Aside from the day the infant princess had been sent to the Mirror Palace, Airencia had never once seen her father.
In other words, for both Airencia and me, this was essentially our first meeting with the Emperor.
He’s young.
That was my first impression.
He looked young enough to pass for someone in his thirties. It was as if he lived in a different flow of time—nearly unchanged from ten years ago.
I’d been worried Airencia’s memories might surge up, but her reaction was surprisingly muted.
This is manageable.
The Emperor wouldn’t recognize her anyway.
Just as I was thinking I could play the role of a slightly more mature child and get through this—
…Damn it.
“Hm?”
The Emperor raised one eyebrow curiously when our eyes met.
I secretly clenched my skirt.
Again.
Thump.
Thump.
The princess’s heart began pounding harder and faster than ever.
Ignoring the painful tightness in my chest, I looked straight at him.
His cold, inorganic eyes looked shockingly identical to Airencia’s.
Goethe had warned me never to speak first and only answer what was asked—
But slowly, I opened my mouth.
“…It’s my first time meeting you, Father.”
Sharp intakes of breath echoed throughout the hall.
Clenching my trembling hands, I watched the Emperor closely.
“Is that so?”
He smiled coldly.
* * *
My mouth moved on its own again!
Afraid of making another mistake, I quietly bit my lip.
This was a man who had abandoned his child to others for ten years.
A tyrant with a fearsome reputation, utterly incomparable to the small, feral filly that was the princess.
He won’t kill me just for calling him Father… right?
I cautiously observed him.
The Emperor didn’t seem displeased.
If anything, he looked at me the way one would assess prey—checking for damaged hide, whether it was breathing properly.
Hasn’t he really never seen her before?
According to Goethe, they’d never interacted even once—not even shared a meal.
His reaction puzzled me, but I didn’t have time to dwell on it.
The Emperor, having wiped the smile from his face, spoke again.
“It seems my daughter harbors much resentment toward me.”
“No. I understand how busy you are. It’s only natural you couldn’t spare attention for me.”
“There’s no need to hide it. I never once sought out my daughter—resentment would be only natural. Even I must admit I was a terribly indifferent father.”
The fragile mind of a child wavered violently.
Feeling my eyes grow hot, I struggled to separate young Airencia from myself.
Don’t fall for it, Airencia.
Anyone who knew the Emperor from Sword of the Firmament would recognize that these words were not born of genuine regret or kindness.
Even the expressions of the Crown Prince and ministers beside me made it clear something felt off.
Whether due to an illness he secretly suffered or his innate temperament—
In the novel, the Emperor would act tender one moment, then suddenly draw his sword like a madman.
“Still, I always keep my ears open when it comes to you. Don’t resent me too much. That said, I’ve been hearing good news lately. I hear you’ve been attending the lessons you once so adamantly refused?”
“Yes. I’m doing my best.”
“Commendable. The Head Chamberlain mentioned your birthday was last month. Is there something you desire?”
“I…”
“It’s all right. Speak.”
Imperial treasures? A high-blood slave? Perhaps even a private villa for future outings?
The hall was so silent I could hear an ant crawl, yet the ministers’ suspicious gazes felt filled with mocking voices.
After a brief pause, when every eye in the hall fixed on my mouth—
I spoke slowly.
“Please allow me to learn swordsmanship.”
“Swordsmanship?”
“Yes.”
When I’d first asked Goethe to assign me a sword instructor again, the old man had hesitated.
“Your Highness, forgive my boldness, but learning swordsmanship will be difficult.”
After the so-called “Scarecrow Incident,” the Emperor had forbidden her from wielding weapons.
I don’t remember that…
Perhaps because Airencia had skipped every lesson afterward, she hadn’t known either.
“You know it yourself. The princess learned swordsmanship and harmed innocent people. That is why I forbade her from taking up weapons.”
As expected, the Emperor frowned.
So much for turning over a new leaf.
He can’t change his nature.
What kind of trouble is she planning this time?
The ministers murmured again.
This reaction was expected.
I opened my mouth boldly, as if I’d been waiting for it.
“I’ll prove it.”
“Prove it? And how do you intend to do that?”
“I’ve studied diligently these past three months. I heard the Petrarca Academy is hosting the Creathan event. I’ll participate and show you that I’ve changed.”
“Petrarca?”
The Emperor’s brow twitched.
“I will restore the Empire’s honor.”
Before I’d even finished speaking, soft snickers echoed around the hall.
Such confidence, Your Highness. How could you possibly…
She doesn’t understand the world yet.
What can a ten-year-old possibly know?
The laughter grew sharper, brushing against my ears, but I stood firm and looked straight at the Emperor.
He looked intrigued.
“Petrarca, hmm… Isn’t the Crown Prince participating as well?”
Robelius nodded.
“Yes.”
“As I recall, one must first be selected for the delegation. Has the evaluation already concluded?”
“No. The academy selection ended yesterday. External applicants are still being accepted. Once registration closes, there will be an examination.”
“I see. Then both the Princess and the Crown Prince are confident they’ll pass.”
“I hear Count Veblen has been invited as a judge this time. It should be more impartial than ever.”
After pausing, Robelius glanced subtly at me.
“There will be no favoritism based on status. I will win fairly and engrave the Empire’s prestige into the eyes of the kingdom’s people.”
Robelius nodded solemnly, his eyes blazing with resolve.
The Emperor looked at the Crown Prince with satisfaction, then turned to me.
“But to request swordsmanship lessons as a birthday gift… that seems rather meager. Is there anything else you desire?”
I hesitated.
Should I say it… or not?
I’d never expected him to let me off with just swordsmanship. I did have something else in mind—
Is this really okay…?
As the silence dragged on, the Crown Prince discreetly stomped on my toes as if urging me to hurry up.
Blood rushed straight to my head.
Whatever happens, happens.
Let’s do this.
I squeezed my eyes shut and blurted out:
“Then I request the authority to empty out one of the imperial warehouses!”
“W-What…?!”
The audience chamber instantly erupted into chaos.
