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Chapter 69.
The deadline for applications for the position of Crown Princess had passed.
Our family, in the end, did not submit one.
The Emperor seemed to have expressed some regret to my father, but that was all.
After all, considering what the Crown Prince had done, he couldn’t exactly force us.
As expected, most of the nobles remained in the capital.
Not only the families who had put forth candidates for the position of Crown Princess but also those who simply wanted to watch the early rounds of the competition, which were open to the public.
I, too, could watch the proceedings with an easy heart—as nothing more than a spectator.
Apart from occasionally attending small gatherings, I had no official events to go to. That meant I had a great deal of time on my hands.
“Tea, what else do I need if I want to go to the end of the world?”
“My lady, are you truly planning to go there?”
“Have I ever asked a useless question?”
“Nor have I ever asked the same one twice.”
Ted looked uncharacteristically grave.
“No one who has gone to the end of the world has ever returned with their sanity intact.”
“Which means they can return. Then it’s fine.”
“My lady.”
“If you’re trying to stop me because you’re worried about losing your job should something happen to me, don’t be. I’ll clearly state your share in my will. My father isn’t the sort to intercept such things, so you don’t need to worry.”
“My lady!”
At Ted’s loud voice, Lys, who had been playing with a ball of wool, jumped to her feet in surprise.
“You know that’s not what I meant.”
The corners of Ted’s eyes crumpled.
“Because of you, we escaped starvation. We found a safe haven. The old and the injured were able to receive proper treatment.”
His clenched fist trembled.
“You’re my client, yes—but you’re also my benefactor. Of course I wish for your safety.”
Ted, who never revealed his emotions, was showing them now with painful clarity.
It was touching, this sincerity from someone who rarely let anyone close. But Ted—
I’ve waited my entire life, no, countless lives for this moment.
I don’t want to return again after meeting another dreadful end.
Nor do I want to witness the loss of those precious to me ever again.
“Thank you for worrying about me, Tea. But this is something I must do.”
“More important than living happily?”
“Yes.”
Ted gazed at me with eyes that said he couldn’t comprehend.
Then, in a quiet voice, he asked again:
“To you, it seems that going there matters more than living itself.”
“You see correctly.”
“Then at least, you’ll bring guards, won’t you? The Dark Forest may lack monsters, but it’s not a place to wander alone.”
“No, I’ll go by myself.”
“At least take four or five of your family’s knights with you.”
Bring knights from my family as escorts?
If I did that, my destination would immediately reach my parents’ ears.
And given how sensitive they were to my safety these days, would they ever let me go to the Dark Forest?
I could lie, say there’s a mine there or something—but I don’t want to drag my family’s people along on a journey to seek my own death.
If I don’t return, they’ll just wait outside forever.
“Then hire mercenaries.”
“Why not bring knights from your family—people whose identities and skills are beyond question?”
“Tea, you’re still my personal secretary.”
Ted fell silent, understanding my order—that this must remain a secret even from my family.
“Find mercenaries you deem trustworthy. We’ll depart as soon as everything necessary for the trip to the Dark Forest is ready.”
My tone was light as ever. Ted studied my face for a long moment, then bowed deeply.
“All will proceed according to my employer’s wishes.”
“Thank you. Let me know right away if you need additional support.”
“Yes.”
When he raised his head, his expression was twisted as though he might cry.
The document screening for the Crown Princess selection had concluded.
Next would come tests in etiquette, dance, Imperial history, musical performance, and personal talents.
The personal talent could be an instrument, flower arranging, embroidery, painting—anything really. But in truth, the pass or fail was decided by the first four.
The fifty women who passed the screening were divided into ten groups of five. Each group would take the tests together, except for the personal talent portion.
Each day, two teams—one in the morning and one in the afternoon—would take a test.
So, one subject took five days to finish.
There were four subjects in total, meaning about a month of testing.
Add in the personal talent performances, and the first round wouldn’t end for about a month and a half.
By then, the number of candidates would be cut in half.
The Crown Princess selection was a kind of performance, hosted by the Imperial family.
That meant it had to be entertaining for the audience—hence the group tests, which allowed for direct comparisons, rankings, and public embarrassment for those who slipped up.
To further this spectacle, the tests were held in a vast circular arena in the southern part of the capital.
A few rows of the back seats were even opened to commoners, to showcase the grandeur of the Imperial process.
I had planned to attend only on the days when Fony participated, but on the very first day, Stella came to the Levian estate looking for me.
“Roa, you’re really not going to see this? It’s going to be fun!”
“I’ll go when Fony’s up. Why go today? It’s not even mandatory.”
“Today’s the first day—they’ll announce all fifty candidates! And His Majesty is giving the opening address!”
“Since when have you cared about Imperial affairs, Stella?”
She laughed, amused.
“Aren’t you curious to see the Crown Prince’s face? His Majesty probably wanted you to participate, but you didn’t. I bet the Crown Prince caught an earful because of it.”
That made me less inclined to go.
When the Crown Prince was in one of his moods, I was often his target.
Still… maybe not this time. If the Emperor was watching, he wouldn’t dare lose his temper in public.
“Come on, Roa! Cassie, get your lady ready—make her look stunning! We’re going to see the Crown Prince’s twisted face!”
“Yes, ma’am!”
Cassie was never more enthusiastic than when she got to dress me up.
Before I knew it, I was being readied for an outing.
“If you want to look radiant, a light yellow dress would be perfect! Shall I pair it with the red diamond necklace?”
“The blue one. The one braided with pearls.”
“Yes!”
I was finished in no time. When I went downstairs, Stella’s fiancé was waiting.
“Lord Stein, you’re still in the Empire. You’re staying quite long this time.”
“Well, I have Lady Levian to thank for that. There’s so much business worth pursuing here that I simply can’t leave yet.”
He looked at Stella with a gaze full of affection.
“Not to mention, I get to see my fiancée more often.”
They were always like this—truly in love, in every life. Watching them was somehow comforting.
“Surely you’re not thanking me empty-handed, are you? You’re a duke’s son, after all.”
“Ahem. A ship from our duchy will be arriving soon. I’ll make sure you see the finest goods first.”
“I’ll take your word for it, Lord Stein.”
“You two are terrifying. Let’s go already!”
At Stella’s urging, we boarded the Maritni Marquisate’s carriage. Our family’s knights followed behind.
After the recent illegal gambling crackdown, Lexian had cleaned up the capital and its outskirts, so the streets were safer and cleaner than ever.
“They say all fifty women will introduce themselves today, and the tests begin right after. Fony hasn’t said much, so I assume she passed?”
“Of course. They’d never eliminate Fony in the document stage.”
Fony always got cut before the final round, so there was nothing to worry about yet.
After about twenty minutes by carriage, we reached the grand arena.
It was already packed, but we managed to find seats near the front.
While we exchanged greetings with those around us, the Emperor stood to announce the start of the Crown Princess selection.
“Waaaaah!”
“Uwooooh!”
The nobles clapped politely, but the commoners cheered loudly.
When the noise subsided, the ceremonial officers began reading out the names of the chosen women.
Among them was a name that should never have been there.
“Merina Ikel?”
“Oh my god, have they lost their minds?”
Stella’s shock was unfiltered.
“Stella, people can hear you.”
Lord Stein gently cautioned her, and she shut her mouth—but her face was still tightly drawn.
The reaction wasn’t hers alone.
All around us, nobles were murmuring in disbelief, some even staring directly at the Empress.
Her face had gone deathly pale.
Some whispered that her expression was feigned, but I knew it wasn’t.
She was truly, genuinely horrified.
The Empress had never been one to use Merina’s connection to the Crown Prince for political power.
The Emperor had openly opposed Merina, and she herself had little ambition.
Count Ikel looked like he’d been struck by lightning—just blinking dumbly.
That meant this was Merina’s own doing.
For Merina Ikel to enter the Crown Princess selection…
Such a thing had never happened before.
Usually, new developments stirred excitement in me—
but this time, only unease crept in.
