Chapter 57
Becoming the crown princess was flashy and all, but honestly, my daily life hadn’t changed that much.
Whether it was intentional or not, Dad was so completely devoted to the Empress alone that there was no Empress Consort, which meant palace intrigues were impossible from the start. I also had no siblings to vie with me for power, so instead of being burdened, it actually felt like I’d sprouted wings.
In other words, nothing could stand in my way.
Which, oddly enough, made life feel kind of boring….
Aside from officially starting to learn imperial studies and military strategy from Oz—now my proper crown princess aide with his own office—what else was different?
Ah! If there was one big change, it was that I now sat in on the biweekly meetings of the high nobles.
Of course, I had no speaking rights, just the status of an observer….
Dad said I didn’t need to bother since I was still young, but Oz recommended it as useful for imperial studies, and I also thought it would be good to keep an eye on Duke Märchen. So I diligently attended every session.
And then, one day, something happened.
I was sitting, fairly used to the routine by now, looking as composed as possible in the chamber when someone outside began pounding on the door in a rush.
Since hardly anyone dared disturb the meeting, Dad ordered the door opened without showing the slightest irritation.
That’s my dad—so cool at times like these.
I craned my neck curiously, and when I saw who rushed into the chamber, Noten leapt up in shock.
Apparently, it was someone he knew.
“Glory to the Sun of the Empire. Forgive me, Your Majesty. I know a meeting is underway, but the matter is too urgent to delay. I am a knight of House Märchen. My lord, a courier arrived at the Whistling Wall…”
At the knight’s report, Noten requested support from the imperial knights, and Dad immediately had Sir Ain summon their commander, Sir Briven.
It all unfolded in an instant.
The Whistling Wall was in danger. Beastly creatures controlled by other-race tribes were attacking. Many had already fled. They had to move quickly before the front collapsed….
The truth was, this wasn’t new. The “other-race problem” had always been part of imperial history—I even knew of it from the original story.
Beyond the Whistling Wall guarded by Märchen lived tribes that commanded monstrous beasts. They would often attack in search of food.
Imperial policy toward them changed depending on the emperor—sometimes driving them out by force, sometimes sending supplies through treaties. But right now, their attacking was premature.
In the original story, the war with them didn’t break out until Killian turned sixteen….
So what did this mean for Killian?
Could it be… Killian had to go to war now?
The thought of my dearest standing on a battlefield drained the blood from my hands, my legs shook, and chills spread from behind my knees until I shivered all over.
Could this too be my fault?
A crack caused by my twisting of the original story?
Just then, someone warmly clasped my hand. Looking up, I saw Dad gazing at me with a calm, reassuring smile.
“It’s all right, Tia.”
“D…Dad. K-Killian…?”
“Don’t worry.”
Tia, I will never let anyone—or anything—take something from you again. I’ll make sure of it.
I didn’t know what he thought I had lost before, but his steady, solemn resolve comforted me deeply.
Right. If anyone tried to throw Killian into war, I’d report it as child abuse!
I vowed silently and squeezed Dad’s hand tight.
I don’t really remember much of what happened after.
Perhaps because his household was in chaos, Killian didn’t send word for days, and with the palace under wartime lockdown, outside visitors like Adel couldn’t come either….
Frustration piled up.
From Liz, I learned that Duke Märchen had received 500 knights’ support from Dad and personally departed for his lands.
I asked Liz anxiously, unable to hide my impatience:
“What about Killian? Killian is the important one. Don’t tell me he took him to the duchy too?”
“No, Your Highness. The young master—ah, I should call him the young duke now. The young Duke Märchen was ordered by His Majesty to remain in the capital and oversee the family’s affairs.”
“Really? But can you entrust that to a seven-year-old? Isn’t that too much for him? My Killian should still be running around and playing….”
Liz stifled a laugh at my words and gently said:
“Your Highness became crown princess at seven as well. And besides… isn’t managing the household better than swinging a sword in battle?”
“Well… that’s true.”
Dad must’ve intervened. At least he wasn’t dragged off to the front lines—thank goodness for that.
And so, the seasons passed.
***
As time went on, meetings between Killian, Adel, and me became less frequent.
I grew busier with duties as crown princess and as master of Guild Achilles. Killian had to uphold House Märchen as the young duke. And Adel, having awakened his holy power, secretly began receiving intensive temple training.
But our bond wasn’t broken.
At least once a week we’d meet to cross swords, share a meal, and still trade pieces of our daily lives. And every early summer, we would slip away to Dearc for a ten-day vacation together.
We no longer played on swings, but the posts grew marked with taller notches each year, and the letters we buried in our time capsules were written smaller on thicker paper.
And—
Before the small seaside villa, where the emerald tiles had faded from sand and sea wind, stood seven little orange trees we planted together each year, lined up neatly in a row.
***
“What? Today? Are you sure?”
I tore my eyes away from the mirror to ask.
“Yes, Your Highness. After returning from the duchy, I didn’t expect his first outing to be a visit to Achilles. Not only that, but he even sent word ahead rather than dropping by unannounced.”
“I see. What did Thomas say?”
“He thought I should handle it, since as his retainer his face might be too well-known. He said it would be safer that way.”
“That makes sense. Then, for today, have Jeron meet him. Make sure his face is completely concealed since he’ll need to come into the palace soon.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
After bowing, Jeron slipped easily out the window.
In the past seven years, Jeron had completely transformed.
The awkward boy who could barely call out to me was gone. Now he was a skilled swordsman capable of defeating ten foes at once, a trusted core member of Achilles.
Thomas had even admitted he had nothing left to teach Jeron—that he himself might start learning from him instead.
Whatever his past circumstances, Jeron was brilliant, physically exceptional, and sharp to aura, almost monstrous. Having him on our side was a tremendous blessing.
I planned to officially appoint Jeron as my knight soon, to let him more easily move between the palace and Achilles on my behalf.
The news Jeron had just brought concerned Noten Märchen.
Because of the unexpectedly prolonged war with the other-races, Noten had been stuck in his duchy for seven years. But now, having finally wrapped it up, he sent word the moment he returned that he intended to visit Achilles.
“What could this be about…?”
In the meantime, Achilles had grown into a fully established information guild ruling the underworld.
With Thomas, who collected, analyzed, and synthesized information like a supercomputer, and Jeron, who seemed like Thomas’s mirror image, their synergy was unmatched.
Money flowed like a river as clients paid to buy and sell intel. And, of course, behind it all was Dearc rock salt—no longer just a golden seasoning but now gaining the reputation of a “panacea.”
“Well, we’ll see soon enough.”
I ruffled my hair and called Liz. Time to hurry with my dressing.
“Oh dear, Your Highness! You insisted you could manage on your own, and look at you. We’ve no time for this mess.”
“Sorry, Liz. I only made it worse trying to tie it up myself.”
“Sigh… never mind. I’ll fix it quickly. Today is an important day, after all. You’ve been counting down the days.”
“Exactly! I’m counting on you, Liz.”
“Yes, leave it to me!”
Because today, at long last, I would see Killian and Adel again.
Now that we were fifteen, it was nearly impossible to meet all together.
Killian had returned to the duchy right after my birthday party three months ago to help conclude the war, and Adel was busy with his debut preparations.
And me—well, I hardly need say I was busy.
So the moment I heard Killian was back with Noten, I called both him and Adel to the palace, insisting, We have to meet no matter what!
We also needed to plan this year’s long-delayed Dearc summer trip—buy new orange trees to plant, maybe even scout some nearby land while we were at it.
So right now, I’m just—
utterly thrilled!
