ATIRPBT 03

CHAPTER 03

After my brief encounter with Luca, I made my way to the far end of the hall.

There was still some time before the Emperor’s arrival, and I had no interest in making shallow conversation with the nobles milling about. Most of them only spoke to me to mock or curry favor with Yevgeny anyway.

Emyn followed behind me like a little duckling.

“Sis, you were so cool earlier.”

“Mm?”

“When you talked to that guy. The one who’s always acting so smug around here.”

“Luca?”

He nodded. “Yeah. I don’t like him. He talks like he’s better than everyone else.”

Smart kid.

I chuckled and ruffled his hair.

In my past life, I had clung to Luca like a lifeline. He’d shown me a sliver of kindness, and I mistook it for love. But that kindness had been nothing more than calculated pity.

Now that I knew better, I wouldn’t make the same mistake.

Emyn grinned under my touch, his cheeks rosy.

Suddenly—

Clang.

A trumpet sounded.

The entire room froze.

Everyone turned toward the grand doors at the front of the hall. They swung open with a weighty groan.

And through them, the Emperor entered.

Clad in regal red and gold, a heavy cloak trailing behind him, my father—the ruler of this empire—strode forward with a blank expression.

Emperor Cassian de Caliburg.

My biological father.

Yet in my past life, he had never once treated me as his daughter.

His eyes had always passed over me, never pausing. Not out of hatred, but out of sheer indifference.

That indifference had hurt more than hatred ever could.

Emyn leaned in and whispered,

“Sis… are you okay?”

“…Yes.”

I straightened my back, schooling my expression.

If I was going to stand here, I would do so with dignity. Not like before.

Once the Emperor reached the dais, he sat down on the throne without a word. The nobles bowed low, and we children followed suit.

“Long live the Emperor!”

The hall echoed with voices.

Emperor Cassian nodded slightly, then raised a hand. The room fell silent again.

His gaze swept across the crowd once.

When his eyes met mine—briefly—he paused.

…Did he just look at me?

Even that momentary glance was more attention than I had ever received from him in my past life.

My heart gave a small, involuntary flutter.

No. Don’t get ahead of yourself.

Even if I had come back in time, even if I had changed—he was still the same Emperor.

He wouldn’t suddenly see me as his daughter just because I wore prettier clothes.

Still, I didn’t lower my gaze.

I returned his gaze evenly, refusing to cower like before.

It was a strange feeling—standing tall under his eyes. Like I had finally stepped into my rightful place.

But just as suddenly as he had looked at me, the Emperor looked away.

“…This gathering is brief,” he said flatly. “There are matters to discuss.”

The nobles straightened, listening intently.

“I will be departing the capital soon. An inspection of the western territories is required.”

A murmur went through the hall.

An imperial inspection meant the Emperor would be gone for several weeks—sometimes months. It was no trivial matter.

Someone asked,

“Will His Majesty be accompanied by the Crown Princess?”

The Emperor didn’t answer immediately.

Then, with deliberate slowness, he turned to his left.

Where Yevgeny stood.

His eyes lingered for a moment… then shifted—to me.

“…Neither.”

The court fell silent again.

The Crown Princess not accompanying the Emperor? That was unprecedented.

Yevgeny’s face stiffened ever so slightly, though she quickly recovered.

She wasn’t expecting that.

In the past, she had followed him on every inspection tour, always by his side like a loyal shadow.

But now, she’d been excluded.

My lips curved slightly.

It seemed I wasn’t the only one changing in this timeline.

Perhaps the Emperor had begun to sense her true nature.

Or perhaps…

He had simply tired of her sycophancy.

After a few more announcements, the meeting was adjourned.

As the nobles dispersed, I turned to leave—but a familiar voice called out behind me.

“Princess Lirien.”

I stopped.

Slowly, I turned around.

The Emperor was still seated on the throne—but he was looking directly at me.

“…Yes, Your Majesty?”

He gazed at me with unreadable eyes.

“You will remain.”

The room fell still again.

Even Yevgeny’s head snapped toward me.

Her eyes narrowed.

The Emperor had never once asked me to stay after a court gathering before.

I bowed my head slightly.

“…As you wish.”

Emyn tugged at my sleeve. “Sis, should I wait?”

“No, go on. I’ll be fine.”

He looked reluctant but obeyed, shooting me a worried glance as he left.

Once the last of the nobles had exited, the Emperor finally rose from the throne.

He descended the steps, stopping just a few feet in front of me.

Now that we were face to face, I could see how little he had aged.

He looked the same as I remembered—stern, distant, almost statuesque.

“…Lirien.”

He rarely said my name. It sounded strange from his mouth.

“Yes, Father?”

“…You’ve changed.”

I met his gaze, calm.

“Yes. I have.”

He studied me in silence.

Then, in a low voice,

“…That dress suits you.”

It wasn’t exactly warm. It wasn’t affectionate.

But it was the first compliment I had ever received from him.

And that made it all the more startling.

“…Thank you, Your Majesty.”

He nodded once and turned away, cloak billowing behind him.

I stood there, motionless.

For a moment, I wasn’t sure what I felt.

Hope?

No… it was something colder. Sharper.

Not quite hope—but something like it.

The ember of a new beginning.

I let out a slow breath and turned on my heel.

If the Emperor was starting to notice me…

Then it was time for the world to do the same.