CHAPTER 08
“Your Majesty! Her Highness the Second Princess has awakened!”
At that very moment, I dropped my teacup.
The sound of porcelain shattering echoed loudly through the room.
The servants gasped in unison. Ilia and Myulin rushed toward me in a panic.
“Princess! Are you alright?”
“Your hand! Are you hurt anywhere?”
“…No. I’m okay.”
My eyes stayed fixed on the door of my palace.
Even without seeing her, I could picture her vividly.
Evgeni.
Finally, she’s up.
The fake coma had lasted five days.
It was longer than I expected, but her return was no less dramatic.
“She collapsed after a disagreement with the First Princess…”
““So young and yet subjected to such cruelty…”**
““If only the First Princess hadn’t spoken so harshly…”**
Rumors were spinning out of control. Nobles came one after another with gifts and letters.
The Crown Prince, Evgeni’s older brother, even canceled an important meeting to visit her bedside.
The Emperor didn’t reprimand me. Not yet.
But it was coming.
So I calmly waited for the storm.
And on the sixth day—
A servant from the Emperor’s palace appeared at my door.
“His Majesty the Emperor summons the First Princess.”
Ilia clutched my sleeve tightly.
“First Princess… please be careful.”
I smiled faintly and patted her hand.
“Don’t worry. I’ve prepared for this.”
Inside the Emperor’s Study.
Evgeni sat across from the Emperor, pale and fragile like a delicate porcelain doll.
The doctor stood to the side, giving his diagnosis.
“She is stable now. Her panic attack took a toll, but with rest, she’ll recover fully.”
“Very well. You may leave.”
After the physician left, the room fell into silence.
Evgeni slowly raised her eyes to look at her father, then lowered them again.
“…Father.”
Her voice trembled. She bit her lip, tears threatening to fall again.
“Why… why doesn’t Riri like me anymore…?”
She sniffled.
“I always tried to be a good little sister. I did everything she liked. I even followed her around when she didn’t want me to…”
Her voice cracked as she choked up.
“But she… she looked at me like I was a stranger. Like I disgusted her…”
Lius looked at his daughter with a heavy gaze.
“Evgeni.”
“Yes?”
“Are you lying to me?”
Her eyes widened.
“No! I would never lie to Father!”
“Then answer me truthfully.”
The Emperor turned his head.
The door opened—and I walked in.
Evgeni flinched.
I bowed with perfect etiquette, then stood tall.
“You summoned me, Your Majesty.”
He gestured for me to step forward.
“I want to hear your side of the story.”
“Of course.”
I glanced at Evgeni, who flinched and looked away.
“Her Highness the Second Princess suddenly ran to me while I was walking. She grabbed my wrist and accused me of things I didn’t understand. I tried to leave to avoid a scene, but she blocked my way.”
Evgeni’s face flushed.
“That’s not—!”
“Then she asked why I was the one invited to breakfast, not her. I answered truthfully—that it was His Majesty’s invitation. Then she collapsed.”
Silence.
Evgeni’s lips trembled.
“That’s… not what happened…!”
“Then what did happen, Princess?” I asked gently.
She turned to her father.
“Father… I was only trying to talk to her… but she looked at me like I was garbage. She was cold. She told me to get lost!”
Her voice trembled.
“She even glared at me!”
I tilted my head and calmly replied.
“I simply asked to postpone the conversation. I never used such language.”
“Liar!”
She suddenly screamed.
“She’s lying, Father!”
I turned to the Emperor.
“If you find it hard to believe either of us, there are witnesses. The Second Princess’s maids were present.”
“Enough.”
The Emperor raised his hand.
He studied both of us in silence, his sharp gaze unreadable.
“Evgeni.”
“Yes…?”
“Return to your palace. Rest.”
“B-But…!”
“I said go.”
Flinching at the coldness in his voice, she bowed her head and left with teary eyes.
Once we were alone, the Emperor spoke.
“You’ve changed.”
“…Is that so?”
“In the past, you would have apologized without explanation. You feared Evgeni too much.”
“I was afraid of being hated.”
“Hmph.”
He leaned back in his chair and steepled his fingers.
“But now you answer clearly, defend yourself, and don’t grovel. It suits you better.”
My eyes widened slightly.
He smirked.
“That doesn’t mean I trust you yet.”
“I don’t expect trust so easily.”
“Then prove it.”
I met his eyes.
“Tell me what you think of the nobles aligning behind Evgeni.”
Ah.
So this is what it’s really about.
This was the real test.
Later that evening.
As I returned to my palace, Ilia ran up to me, flustered.
“Princess! You’ve returned! What happened?”
“I passed.”
“…Passed?”
I smiled faintly.
“The Emperor wanted to know if I could remain calm, even when hated.”
Ilia blinked.
I looked up at the sky.
“It’s not over, though.”
Evgeni wouldn’t stop. Not yet.
And this was only the beginning.
But I wouldn’t lose.
