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Chapter 26.
Marie Stade — René’s half-sister, and the original heroine of the novel.
It was said in the story that she had a miserable childhood, neglected by her father the Emperor…
But still—how could he forget she even exists?
The novel said she had no trouble making a living, but maybe that wasn’t true after all.
If the Emperor himself forgot about her, that sounds entirely possible.
“…Ah.”
Emperor Otto finally seemed to realize something and muttered,
“Right, there was a girl like that.”
“How could you be so indifferent?”
“I’m more surprised that you remember her. I thought you couldn’t care less.”
Now he’s making me sound like the odd one?
I hid my exasperation and replied,
“My memory’s just better than yours, Your Majesty.”
“That’s true. When you get old, you start to forget things.”
“And yet you still haven’t named an heir?”
When I narrowed my eyes and pointed out the contradiction, Otto looked embarrassed.
“Fine. Whenever you decide to appoint one, that’s your choice.
Anyway, I’m starting to lose interest in the throne. I’d appreciate it if you’d keep that in mind.”
“Hmm…”
“I mean it. I am fickle, but I’m serious this time.”
With that, I bowed politely and left the Solar Palace.
And in the carriage on my way back to the René Palace, I asked Elza,
“Where is Princess Marie staying now?”
Elza blinked, surprised by the question.
“I believe she resides in the Nox Palace.”
“That’s the most remote place in the entire imperial complex.”
“Yes, well… His Majesty finds the princess unpleasant to be around.”
Emperor Otto had never acknowledged the child born from his one-night affair with a court dancer.
Still, in the original novel, she wasn’t exactly neglected—just unrecognized by her father. That had comforted me.
But now… I’d better check for myself.
I told the coachman to turn toward Nox Palace and muttered,
“Honestly. If he didn’t want to deal with an illegitimate child, maybe he should’ve kept his pants on.”
“…”
“What? Did I say something wrong?”
“…If I answer poorly, Your Highness will be fine, but I might end up on the guillotine.”
As expected, Elza was a master at self-preservation.
“So why the sudden interest in Princess Marie?”
“I’m in such a good mood about the wedding that I feel like looking after everyone.”
I replied in René’s usual haughty tone, and before long, the carriage arrived at Nox Palace.
As befitted the most isolated residence in the imperial grounds, the place felt bleak and eerie.
It looked elegant enough—but that only made it seem more like a haunted mansion.
“Let’s go in.”
I was a little nervous, but hey, Elza was with me!
If a ghost popped out, I was pretty sure she’d punch it right back into the afterlife.
“…Does anyone even live here?”
The palace seemed well-maintained, but it was too quiet, with no sign of daily life anywhere.
Just as I was thinking something felt off—
“Y-Your Highness!”
A startled voice came from behind me.
When I turned around, a middle-aged woman was staring at me, her eyes trembling.
As soon as our eyes met, she dropped to her knees and bowed low.
“T-To the shining star of the Empire, I offer my respects!”
“Where’s Princess Marie?” I asked coolly.
“I heard she lives here.”
“Ah, w-well…”
“I came to see her.”
At that, the woman bowed even lower and stammered,
“I—I’m terribly sorry, but that will be difficult at the moment.”
“Difficult?”
I didn’t bother to hide my irritation, and the woman flinched.
“Why?”
“S-She’s… currently sleeping.”
“Sleeping?”
I glanced out the window at the bright midday sun.
“At this hour?”
“Y-Yes, Her Highness tends to sleep a lot…”
Well, Marie was fifteen, wasn’t she? That’s the age when kids sleep and grow.
“Sh-Shall I wake her?”
“No need.”
If I suddenly showed up and woke her after a lifetime of no contact, she’d probably faint.
She was fragile even in the original story.
“I’ll come again another time.”
“Wh-what? Ah… yes!”
The woman bent so low her forehead nearly touched the floor.
“N-Next time, I’ll make sure she’s awake to receive you!”
“No, that’s fine. Don’t wake her by force.”
I glanced around the palace.
It was surprisingly well-kept—so she wasn’t completely abandoned, at least.
Maybe I’d overreacted because the Emperor forgot about her.
Still looking at the woman prostrated before me, I asked,
“Are you the only one looking after her?”
“M-Me? Ah, yes, that’s correct…”
“It must be hard, doing a job no one acknowledges.”
The woman looked touched, and I continued indifferently,
“Keep taking good care of Princess Marie. I’ve recently developed an interest in her.”
“P-Pardon? Ah, yes. Of course. That’s my duty, after all…”
Leaving the muttering woman behind, I exited the Nox Palace.
It was so far out of the way that getting back to my own quarters took ages.
And when I finally returned, I was greeted by—
“Y-Your Highness! I know you’re very busy, but…”
My wedding-dress designer, looking on the verge of tears.
“But we really must finalize your gown soon…”
“Oh, right.”
I’d completely forgotten—left it all to Friedrich and moved on.
“I wanted to get my fiancé’s opinion, but I ended up delaying too long.
I’ll make a final decision tonight.”
“Th-thank you so much!”
The trembling designer bowed several times, nearly crying with relief, before leaving.
…Okay, maybe I am that scary.
“How’s Prince Friedrich? He hasn’t gotten into another fight with Duke Rommel, has he?”
“Both gentlemen have remained confined to their rooms, not stepping out at all.”
I sighed. The sight of him holding me while he slept felt like something from another life.
I went to Friedrich’s room first.
When I opened the door without knocking, he hastily hid something again.
I raised an eyebrow. “Sewing again?”
“…Yes.” Friedrich nodded softly.
“But I’ve finally finished it.”
“That’s good. Actually, I need your input on something.”
“Me?”
“Remember those wedding dress sketches I gave you?
I asked you to tell me which one suited me best.”
“Ah.”
“So, have you thought about it? Or did you forget—”
Then I noticed a flicker of white fabric between his desk and bookshelf.
When I squinted for a better look, he awkwardly reached in and pulled something out.
It was…
“A doll?”
Not just one—five.
Each wore a white gown, with golden hair, orange eyes, a veil, and a tiara.
Wait a minute.
“These are supposed to be… me?”
I picked up the dolls, each dressed in a different wedding design.
Friedrich nodded slowly.
“I used the sketches you gave me as references.
I couldn’t decide which one suited you best, so I tried to visualize them… to the best of my poor imagination.”
“Wow. So you made dolls of me and dressed them up?
All five of them?”
From the details of the dresses and accessories, it must’ve taken forever.
He’d even crafted miniature veils and jewelry. The effort was incredible.
I stared at Friedrich in disbelief, then realization hit me.
“So that’s why you stayed up late sewing every night?
With those tiny little hands?”
I heard a couple of maids whisper, ‘Tiny? More like saucepan lids…’ before hastily covering their mouths.
Well, maybe they were right—his hands weren’t tiny anymore. But I knew what I meant.
“With those small hands…”
I set the dolls down and suddenly grabbed his hands, checking them carefully.
No needle marks—smooth and uninjured.
“I’m glad you didn’t prick yourself.”
“…”
But at my words, Friedrich suddenly made a faint oh no face, as if realizing something he shouldn’t have forgotten.
