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Chapter 03
I was tilting my head in confusion when it happened.
Bianca, who had been listening to the conversation between my brother and me, stepped right in between us. She rested her chin at a slant and narrowed her eyes sharply.
“But, Elphine—”
“Yes, sister?”
“Does the jeweler who sold you that bracelet have a title? He seems so polite, even using honorifics where he doesn’t need to.”
“Uh… maybe he does.”
“How much was it?”
“Huh?”
Bianca pressed further, and Elphine’s pupils started shaking frantically from side to side.
“I’m asking the price of this precious jewel you bought from that esteemed jeweler. Since you bought it, you must know how much it costs.”
“Uh? Uh…”
It was strange. Suddenly, Elphine seemed completely flustered, and kept glancing this way… Ah, I immediately understood the situation.
It seemed this bracelet was cheaper than expected.
Honestly, who cares? The gift is pretty and I like it—that’s all that matters.
I raised my hand to mediate between them.
“Sister, stop. Asking the price in front of the person who gave it is really rude. You’re making my brother uncomfortable too.”
See, I’ve grown up now.
As I tried to calm them down with a gentle voice, the dining room door opened, and someone walked in with long, purposeful strides.
It was Footman. He carried a tray and approached my father with a slightly anxious expression.
That silver tray probably held letters or visitor lists my father needed to see immediately.
As my father looked at the letter Footman brought, his expression tightened slightly, and he wiped his mouth with a napkin once more.
“I guess I’ll have to leave earlier than I thought.”
“Leave?”
I blinked, surprised.
My mother, equally startled, asked my father,
“I thought you were entering at 1 PM.”
“Something has come up that I need to attend to. I think it would be best if you all came as well. The Marquis Dime has probably already reached the palace.”
“Yes.”
At my father’s words, Bianca and Elphine both jumped to their feet without a word. Wait, where are we going?
“Uh… where are we going? Am I coming too?”
I asked, putting down the gift and standing up to follow.
Everyone in the room suddenly turned to look at me. What is this atmosphere? Their eyes were a mix of disbelief, shock, and exasperation, piercing me from all sides.
Among them, Elphine frowned and replied.
“…Where do you think we’re going?”
“Where are we going?”
“To the palace.”
“What?!”
My jaw dropped. The palace?
I jumped up on the spot.
“Why would I go there? No! I’m not going!”
“I understand how you feel, but you must go today.”
Bianca snickered and draped a sable shawl around herself with the help of a maid.
Come to think of it, I wasn’t the only one dressed up. Everyone had been in splendid attire since morning. I thought only I looked fancy because it was my birthday!
“Why? Why do we have to go?”
“Oh my, do you really not know what day it is today?”
“I don’t! What is it?”
“The coronation.”
“What?!”
I spun around and shouted. Elphine scratched her cheek and continued,
“Th-the coronation… Prince Rubellus, the crown prince, is being crowned the 14th Emperor of the Zahard Empire today.”
“What?!”
I jumped up again.
Emperor?!
Of course, he was the crown prince, so becoming emperor was only natural. Yes, there were difficulties when he became emperor, but… ugh! That’s not the point!
“No! I’m not going!”
“What are you talking about? It’s the coronation. Nobles from all over the country have gathered in the capital since a week ago!”
Ah! No wonder the city is so crowded!
“No! No! Go yourself, sister! I’m not going!”
I started rolling around on the floor in frustration.
“I’m not going! I’ll never go! Why should I go there?!”
“Oh my, she’s really… Father, did you not tell her? You didn’t say anything?”
Bianca skillfully lifted her dress and one foot to help me roll along and asked my father. He shook his head.
“No, I did. I told her three months ago.”
Three months?!
“Three months ago? When?!”
“On the morning we went fox hunting.”
“No way…”
I trailed off as I tried to deny it. Come to think of it, one early morning, half-asleep, I vaguely remembered my father saying something to me. Someone asked where I was going, and I probably answered that I would go…
“—So I’m not entirely wrong…”
Stopping my rolling, I mumbled in confusion. Elphine sighed softly and lifted me up.
“Aira, get up. No matter how stubborn you are today, you have to go.”
“But, brother—”
“You must go.”
Elphine firmly blocked my words. My father, standing by the door, nodded in agreement with her.
“Elphine is right, Aira. I understand how you feel, but today you must go. Before you are a boy or girl, you are a subject and a servant of His Majesty. Do not forget your duty of loyalty.”
My father’s eyes flashed with pride. Whenever he spoke of this country, I could always see that unmistakable pride in his eyes.
I knew it well. My father loved this country.
And I also knew that when he looked at me like that, there was no way I could argue with him.
“…Alright.”
I muttered weakly and dusted off my dress. Elphine patted the back of my head as if pleased with my decision.
I am Aira Willdenbiston.
The youngest of the prestigious Willdenbiston family of the Zahard Empire.
Once, I was a mischievous troublemaker who had no sense of shame.
And now…
“Ugh, I really don’t want to go…”
I was just a neighborhood girl kicking and screaming in the carriage.
“Wow, you’re really making a fuss. Do you know you’ve been like this for 30 minutes? I can’t stand listening to it. I should have taken Bianca’s carriage instead.”
In front of me was Leni. Her eyebrows were furrowed as she complained.
Rainibonne Delion, nicknamed Leni, the only child and heir of the Delion family, and my companion today.
Leni was incredibly smart. So smart that the capital buzzed with her reputation. When you talk about studying, it’s Leni. When you talk about Leni, it’s studying.
Her father, envious of her talent, drew up a contract with two conditions:
First, she must never change her surname or marry into another family.
Second, she may only marry a son-in-law, who will inherit nothing.
Leni agreed willingly. She never intended to share her wealth with a husband, and with the new laws, women could inherit titles and vote anyway.
“But seriously, isn’t this so embarrassing?”
“Right? It is a little embarrassing. You’ve been going to the palace every day since you were four. It must have left a strong impression. My father even asked me once, ‘Do you want to go to the palace too?’”
“Why should I go there!”
I started hitting the cushion next to me.
“Stop, you’re kicking up dust!”
Leni frowned sharply, opened the carriage window, and we saw the streets outside.
The entire city was bustling. Faces in the crowd were filled with joy. Some played flutes, some trumpets, and some were handing out balloons everywhere.
It had been a long time since I had seen a city so full of life. I was staring at the lively scene when someone passing our carriage suddenly raised both hands and shouted:
“Long live the Zahard Empire!”
“Long live!”
“Long live His Majesty the Emperor!”
“Long live!”
“Long live Emperor Rubellus…”
Bang!
As soon as I heard his name, I slammed the window shut.
For a moment, the carriage grew dark again. Leni and I just stared at each other silently. She looked at me calmly for a moment.
“….”
“…Why, why what?”
I asked nervously, feeling like she might scold me. She shrugged lightly.
“Well, the sound reaches you even if you close the window.”
“….”
Seeing my expression, Leni nodded as if she had expected it. Her expression was almost like she was doing me a favor.
“Still, I’ll try to understand.”
What is this inexplicable sense of defeat…? I collapsed back into my seat, struggling helplessly.
No matter how much I kicked and thrashed, the carriage kept moving forward. Soon, we reached the palace gates.
The guards and their troops stood in formation at the entrance, checking the identity and belongings of the nobles. Entry required passing inspection.
“You may enter.”
The guard nodded, and the carriage moved forward again. Once through the palace gates, our carriage slowly fell into line with the others.
Suddenly, I remembered something and sat up abruptly.
“Were we supposed to be sent home if we had prohibited items? I should have brought something!”
“So that just occurred to you? I thought you only said that but secretly wanted to see it.”
“….”
I stopped talking. I waved my hand at Leni and flopped back onto the seat. She tried to stifle a laugh.
Laugh, I said, laugh.
