Chapter 6
The Rellina faction sharply criticized Shairin, saying, “Look at that—does that look like someone with the qualities to be the crown princess?” Meanwhile, the nobles of Shairin’s faction came to the palace day after day, trying to persuade her.
She covered her eyes and blocked her ears.
Of course, perhaps because her physical age had returned to her twenties, she felt embarrassed for acting more childish than before.
Still, it was better than forcing herself to do something she didn’t want to do…!
She even locked her door and, except for breakfast, stayed fused with her bed, spending her time there.
It was a highly effective protest.
Her father the king, seeing her state, was so concerned that he asked her to at least attend the noble council, promising not to assign her any work.
But her wariness did not disappear.
‘Who knows when he might stab me in the back again regarding the crown princess position!’
That thought dominated Shairin’s mind.
“Father, no matter what you do, I will win.”
Meanwhile, her personal maids, watching her seclusion, were filled with worry.
Not long ago, the princess had been studying like mad, insisting she would become crown princess—and now, suddenly, she had let go of everything as if in enlightenment.
They were afraid she had lost her will to live, and they grew restless when she ate nothing except breakfast.
No matter what the world said, she was a good master to her servants, so of course they wanted to remain loyal.
After all, who wouldn’t want to work for a superior who kept the workload light, treated them with noble respect without looking down on them, paid better than the maids of other palaces, and even gave frequent paid leave?
They were ready to do anything for Shairin!
But as if indifferent to her maids’ concerns, Shairin, after breakfast with her family, returned to her room and slept until the afternoon, rising late once again.
‘Hmm, maybe it’s better to make a move now.’
Since she was already serving as the king’s代理 (acting regent) and attracting criticism, it was burdensome, but as time passed, the chance of getting closer to Rellina would only become more distant.
If she waited too long and missed the right timing, she might end up living like strangers with Rellina—rendering her return pointless.
So it was better to try now.
“Now it’s time for us to become real sisters.”
She had exchanged a few glances and smiles at the dining table, scraping together a tiny drop of intimacy.
Now it was time to break down decades of awkwardness and plant the real goal: the desire for the throne.
“Alright, whether it’s soup or bread, let’s give it a shot.”
Of course, she didn’t want to force the throne on someone who didn’t want it.
But still.
Since she had already proven (?) that she couldn’t do it, wasn’t it only right that the opportunity go to someone more capable?
There were no other relatives, so one of the two of them had to shoulder this heavy burden.
‘No choice. It’s for the sake of our kingdom, Rellina!’
Shairin immediately tugged the bell pull and asked her maids to dress her up. When she said she would go out on her own, her maids excitedly fussed over her.
As a result, Shairin ended up with a more intense and lavish grooming than usual.
‘Isn’t this a bit much…’
In the mirror, a woman with braided sky-blue hair gazed back at her.
It wasn’t as if she was trying to intimidate Rellina, so this seemed a little excessive.
Still, she couldn’t disappoint her wide-eyed subordinates.
“Good work.”
“Yes, Princess!”
Leaving behind her maids’ sweet voices, Shairin lifted the corners of her mouth into a smile.
No matter how she looked at it, there was something strangely seductive about it.
…Damn. She had wanted to score some points, but instead, she might lose some.
Shairin muttered lowly to herself and adjusted her expression back to its usual state.
A stone-cold, impenetrable blank expression appeared on her face.
Unlike before, her impression had soured, but it couldn’t be helped.
It wasn’t as if she was trying to seduce and devour her younger sister.
Shairin inwardly sighed, then took only a few of her direct attendants and headed toward Rellina’s palace.
Since it wasn’t an official visit, she hadn’t given any notice.
Perhaps because of that, when she arrived, Rellina’s servants were more than flustered—they were bewildered.
They couldn’t understand why the princess, who had recently been at the center of so many topics, would suddenly visit her younger half-sister, who was second in the line of succession.
“Is Rellina inside?”
“Pardon?”
“Why are you so surprised?”
“W-well…”
“Is it strange for an older sister to visit her younger sister?”
Shairin clicked her tongue. To openly display such negative emotions in front of someone of higher status—and a royal at that.
Did they want their heads cut off?
She gave them a personal warning. Her voice was chilling.
“If you don’t want to disgrace Rellina, you’d better manage your expressions.”
“…!”
“I’ll let it slide this once. So speak quickly. Where is she?”
“The princess is inside, attending her lessons.”
Shairin’s personal maids growled at Rellina’s servants, who left a royal standing outside the door, fidgeting nervously.
Wasn’t this outright disrespect toward their princess?
“What are you doing? Hurry up and escort Princess Shairin to the reception room!”
“We’re so sorry!”
“Forgive us. That was never our intention.”
As the atmosphere grew tense, Rellina’s head maid bowed her head and apologized. Shairin waved her hand, saying it was fine.
“I will guide you.”
Arriving at the reception room, Shairin looked around with a sense of newfound emotion.
The south-facing palace, despite being on the lowest floor, was bathed in warm sunlight.
The scenery beyond was cozy and pastoral, as if she had stepped into a landscape painting.
It was a warm and gentle room overall.
‘Come to think of it, I’ve never been here before.’
At first, she hadn’t come because there was no reason to, and later, Rellina’s presence kept bothering her, so she hadn’t even gone near the area.
So this space felt very unfamiliar.
Shairin tried to recall her own reception room.
The plain, dreary room with dull wallpaper was cold and rigid.
Before her regression, she hadn’t been in a position to care, and now, thinking she would leave anyway, she hadn’t grown attached to her own palace—so it couldn’t be helped.
It wasn’t worth dwelling on.
Right now, getting closer to Rellina was more urgent than such useless thoughts.
Time passed, and the tea brought by Rellina’s maid was nearly finished.
‘Guess today isn’t my day.’
She had made a big fuss, even engaging in a battle of wills, but Rellina hadn’t come. She must have been too busy studying.
Shairin had forgotten that she herself had rejected all the court teachers and secluded herself.
Sighing inwardly, Shairin stood up abruptly. Her maids, standing behind her, stepped forward to open the door.
Just then, voices came from outside.
It was Rellina and her court teacher.
Rellina’s youthful, bouncy voice and the teacher’s responses reached Shairin’s ears.
“My sister came? What for?”
“I suspect she’s come to keep you in check.”
“What would she gain from that, coming so openly?”
“Isn’t it said that her acting regency is unstable due to her incompetence? She’s probably come to warn you not to covet her position… as if that’s even possible.”
“….”
“Her claim that she doesn’t want to be queen must be a lie! That ambitious princess wouldn’t just give up the throne, would she? No matter what she says, you must never believe her, Princess!”
“But…”
Rellina tilted her head, listening to her teacher.
Still, that day, her sister had seemed so sincere.
Her eyes, filled not just with longing but with an overflowing sense of having missed her for so long.
The regret and joy felt through her sobs.
That wasn’t something easily forgotten.
Moreover.
The tears that had fallen as if to soak her entire shirt, and the hand that had carefully stroked her face.
She had never been treated so gently by Shairin before.
That day, her sister had clearly been different from the past, when she had awkwardly avoided her.
‘It was like my parents’ eyes. As if I were so precious they didn’t know what to do.’
She didn’t know what her sister was thinking, but the emotion didn’t feel false.
If that had been a lie, her sister should have performed in a theater, not as a royal.
Shairin, listening to their conversation, folded her arms and sneered.
‘So I’m the village punching bag, am I?’
She flung the door open. Though she was glad to see Rellina right there, she deliberately ignored her and stared at the teacher instead.
