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Chapter 08
I sighed loudly, making sure Friedrich could hear it, and shook my head.
“I don’t know. I guess I’ve suddenly come down with a bout of self-loathing or something.”
“Hm.”
Elza gave me a look that said you’re really strange, then smoothly changed the subject.
“In any case, Your Highness, if the assassins who attacked last night were outsiders, someone inside may have sent a messenger pigeon to report their failure. Shall we check?”
“No. They might’ve anticipated that and chosen not to send one.”
I shook my head and concluded, “Let’s just bury it as usual.”
I said it casually and closed the window, but my heart was uneasy.
It was the first assassination attempt since I possessed this body. How many more times would I nearly die in the future?
“…Are you going to keep doing that?”
Seriously, of all times! Already feeling on edge, I didn’t bother hiding my annoyance. Friedrich flinched at my tone.
“Do you have any orders for me?”
“I just wanted to see your handsome face.”
“It’s unsightly.”
“Oh, please. Over a single scar…?”
Frustrated, I suddenly stood up and yanked off the hood-like mask he was wearing.
Friedrich’s eyes widened as he looked up at me, startled by how quickly I’d moved.
“Unsightly, my foot. You’re beautiful.”
I muttered this as I brushed my fingers over the uninjured side of his face.
“Even if a diamond gets scratched, it’s still a diamond.”
“It’s stuffy just looking at you, so don’t even think about putting that thing back on.” I threw the mask right out the window.
I half expected him to protest and ask for it back—but surprisingly, Friedrich stayed quiet and still.
“You felt stifled too, didn’t you?”
I asked knowingly, but he didn’t reply.
He was probably embarrassed. He’d missed the right moment to take it off himself, that was all.
“Good thing I’m quick on the uptake. You’re the kind of guy who can’t even stand a blanket over his head.”
“……”
He remained silent, but he did look more at ease than before. I smiled, relieved, and picked up my knitting needles again.
“Your Highness, we’ll soon arrive in the capital.”
Just when I thought I couldn’t stand another minute in this carriage, our long journey was finally coming to an end.
“Guess I’ll have to prepare for the victory parade.”
That morning, Elza dressed me in a flowing white gown.
She said it was the same one René wore every time she returned triumphant.
René never wore armor, even in battle, because she was a mage.
Among warriors clad head to toe in steel, she alone wore a billowing gown — an arrogance only René could pull off.
‘But that’s not me now!’
Without magic, if an arrow flew into the crowd… the thought alone made me shudder.
‘Thankfully, there haven’t been any more assassination attempts since that night.’
Still, staking my life on sheer luck felt like madness.
When I opened my eyes again, the reflection in the mirror nearly blinded me — my eyelids shimmered as if dusted with glitter.
“Elza, how do you make this stuff?”
“It’s a mixture of honey, powdered lapis lazuli, and crushed seashells.”
“And you lug this around during wartime?”
“Of course. Her Highness always wins.”
She said it so plainly that I almost felt embarrassed.
Once my lips were painted red and a laurel tiara placed atop my half-braided hair, I was ready.
I walked over to the white stallion René always rode during the parades.
He was a magnificent creature — muscular and proud. When he saw me, he flicked his tail slowly, as if greeting me.
Smiling, I reached out to stroke his nose when I heard the familiar clinking of chains behind me.
“Fritz?”
I turned around to find Friedrich standing there, still wearing his shackles.
He froze when our eyes met. I smiled and led the horse toward him.
“Say hello. This is my horse, Walter.”
Friedrich seemed to regain his senses and gently stroked Walter’s mane. The horse rumbled approvingly.
“Looks like he likes you,” I whispered.
A small smile tugged at Friedrich’s lips.
I glanced at his chained wrists, then asked, “During the parade, you’ll have to ride in the prison carriage. Are you okay with that?”
“That’s where I belong.”
“…Just for today.”
His calm reply rubbed me the wrong way.
I frowned and corrected him, “Once we return to the palace, you’ll stay with me — as my husband. We’ll get rid of those damned chains.”
“Just hold on a little longer, alright?”
I said softly, like soothing a child, as I touched his cheek — now fully healed.
“I’m glad it didn’t scar.”
He seemed pleased by that too, because his lips curved up again.
“…Your Highness as well,” he said.
“Hmm?”
“You’re beautiful today.”
“I know.”
I replied shamelessly and patted his head before realizing what I’d done.
‘That’s something I only do when he’s in his child form!’
Thankfully, he didn’t seem offended. I quickly added, almost defensively, “You’re beautiful too. As always.”
That time, it was his turn to look flustered.
“Y-your Highness is always—”
“Enough. Let’s go.”
I chuckled and escorted the flustered Friedrich to the prison carriage.
It was the first time I’d seen him inside it.
‘…Strangely, it suits him.’
Behind those bars, with his delicate, saint-like features, he looked almost holy — like a persecuted martyr.
I suddenly grew serious.
“Will it be okay bringing him like this? It might hurt Stade’s image.”
“It would be stranger if he rode in the royal carriage beside you, Your Highness.”
“True.”
And so, the emperor’s victory procession entered the capital.
I didn’t know the streets at all, but I could tell by the sound of trumpets and drums, the cheers of the people, and the clouds of red and white petals drifting through the air.
“Glory to Stade!”
“Long live His Majesty the Emperor!”
“Long live Princess René!”
The people threw handfuls of petals into the air, shouting their cheers.
Armed soldiers lined both sides of the road, and at the center, the emperor waved to the crowd.
Wherever he passed, the cheers grew louder, and the petals fell thicker.
“Princess René! Hero of Stade!”
“Star blessed by the gods!”
I, riding behind him, received the same adoration.
It was my first time surrounded by so many people, and honestly, I was terrified.
But I kept my composure and smiled as I’d practiced, waving gracefully.
Everywhere my smile landed, the crowd erupted in louder cheers. It felt… like being a pop idol.
‘Ha, I could get drunk on my own popularity.’
…For about five minutes.
The parade didn’t end like a movie scene — it went on for hours.
By the two-hour mark, my arm felt like it might fall off from waving, and my forced smile was twitching uncontrollably.
I glanced ahead at the emperor. I couldn’t see his face, but his arm was trembling too.
‘How’s Friedrich holding up?’
Curious, I turned around. In the distance, Friedrich sat inside the prison carriage — calm, composed, not smiling, not waving.
We made eye contact across the crowd. His gaze wavered slightly.
‘Why does the prisoner look more relaxed than I do?’
I’d worried someone might throw eggs at him — a common tradition in Stade — but thankfully, my fears were unfounded.
At first, people glared at the prison carriage as if ready to hurl something. But when they saw the man inside, their faces froze.
“Is that the fallen prince? He’s… unbelievably handsome.”
“No wonder they spared him. That face could start a war.”
His beauty was unreal.
‘Well, at least that’s going smoothly.’
Relieved, I turned forward again and smiled brightly. Honestly, I wanted to drop the act and retreat inside the carriage, but even René never skipped her own parades.
So I endured.
After nearly three hours, the palace finally came into view.
A crowd of knights and nobles waited for us there.
But what caught my eye were the two figures at the center — a middle-aged woman in splendid attire, and a much younger man beside her.
As soon as the emperor came within sight, they broke into emotional smiles and hurried toward him.
“Your Imperial Majesty!”
They stopped, then bowed deeply before his horse.
Following their lead, the others around them also knelt.
The emperor dismounted and embraced them — his empress and the prince.
I watched the scene with dry eyes and turned away when—
“Your Highness, Princess.”
A towering man, easily over 180 centimeters, strode toward me and suddenly knelt on one knee.
