Chapter 3
The first thing Hernan did after returning to the imperial palace was to summon his aide, Gakt.
“Gakt.”
Gakt had served Hernan since he was young.
They had even spent twenty-four hours a day together on the battlefield.
Because of that, Gakt took pride in himself.
He believed he could tell what Hernan wanted just by looking into his eyes.
Rushing over to him, Gakt bowed his head.
“You called for me, Your Highness.”
As he lifted his head, Gakt examined Hernan’s condition.
A tall figure one had to look up to, a neat face, and a perfectly built body without a flaw.
Hernan, the perfect master who only lacked a love life, had a stiff expression on his face.
With an almost frighteningly serious look, Hernan spoke.
“This is an emergency.”
A flash of alarm ran through Gakt’s mind.
‘A civil war…?! Has the rebellion we thought we had completely crushed broken out again?!’
Gakt straightened his posture.
He wasn’t afraid at all of returning to the battlefield alongside his reliable lord.
“There is something I absolutely need.”
Gakt immediately replied.
“What is it? What kind of weapon must I procure this time?”
Since what Hernan usually needed was weaponry, Gakt assumed it would be the same this time.
Without changing his expression, Hernan answered:
“Secure the finest cloak in the empire. No—bring it to me. Immediately.”
“Yes! The finest weapon in the empire—… Huh? A clo… cloak, Your Highness?”
Hernan nodded without a trace of hesitation.
In his ears, Rinzel’s words echoed:
‘The cloak you wore while leading the army at the front was sooo cool, Prince Hernan!’
Meanwhile, Gakt felt as if he had been struck on the back of the head with a heavy blunt weapon.
Hernan, who had never shown the slightest interest in clothing, was suddenly talking about cloaks.
Gakt cautiously asked:
“Your Highness… could it be that you’ve been poisoned…?”
“Poison? You know well that no poison can harm me.”
“Then perhaps you had something wrong this morning…?”
“I didn’t eat breakfast.”
“Th-then… have you fallen under a hypnosis spell…?”
Hernan cut him off.
Then he recalled the cloak Ishar had worn a few days ago.
“Enough. Ishar’s cloak looked nice.”
I was lying in bed, letting out faint breaths.
Then I felt a sharp ache somewhere in my leg.
There was a maid in the room, but I didn’t care as I lifted my leg into the air.
The hem of my home dress, which had reached my Achilles tendon, slid up to my thighs, revealing smooth bare legs.
They were so pale that veins were visible, thin like branches—and covered in bluish bruises.
“Hah. When did I get this one?”
It wasn’t just my legs.
Bruises were scattered all over Rinzel’s body.
This frail body would bruise at the slightest bump or even a bit of stress.
Anyone seeing it might think I was being abused.
Abused? Not at all.
I was actually loved by quite a few people here.
“M-my lady! Are you unwell anywhere?”
The maid in the room rushed over, nearly in tears.
Her name was Mini.
She was my personal maid, a small and adorable girl just like her name.
“No, I’m fine. I just have a bruise on my leg.”
Only then did Mini notice the bruise and begin to fidget anxiously.
“I’ll bring medicine that’s good for bruises!”
“Alright, go ahead.”
The moment I gave permission, Mini rushed out of the room.
Such a kind maid—so cute.
When she came back, I should squish her chubby cheeks.
Not because I wanted to, of course.
Just then, the door burst open again.
It was Rike, who had only been apart from me for a short while that morning.
Like a tragic heroine, she ran toward me.
Sitting on the edge of my bed, Rike was on the verge of tears.
Everyone kept looking at me like they were about to cry… it felt strange.
“Rinzel, you lied to me!”
I knew why she was upset.
And I knew what lie she was talking about.
I slowly raised my upper body and leaned against the headboard.
A dry cough escaped my lips.
“Cough, cough.”
Each cough made my lungs ache.
“Rike, you figured it out quickly. I had hoped you’d find out later.”
She had probably realized that I would be the one marrying Hernan in her place.
Had she heard it from Father?
Well, the source didn’t matter.
What mattered was that she knew.
Rike’s small, pale hand hesitantly reached out and rested on mine.
I extended my other arm and pulled her into an embrace.
Her frail shoulders trembled.
“You know, Rike… you know you won’t live past twenty, right?”
“……”
“Did that sound cruel? If so, I’m sorry. But I didn’t want to beat around the bush.”
“…Okay.”
“You don’t have much time left… It’s too sad for you to have a political marriage when you already love someone.”
Rike said:
“But you’re sick too.”
“At least I’m healthier than you.”
Rike began to sob softly. The front of my dress grew damp with her tears.
She was crying.
What made her sad?
That I would marry in her place?
Or that she would soon die?
I didn’t ask.
I just gently stroked her back.
And I thought.
Rike’s death.
Too heavy a burden for such a small and fragile girl.
A force that kept her from loving someone freely.
A life that would end before anything monumental could happen.
Rike’s life.
The one thing she truly desired.
A life where she could love freely.
A life where she could leave something meaningful behind.
These opposing ideas governed everything about her.
I wanted her to live.
I wished for her life.
And for that, I needed to step into The Imperial Archive as soon as possible.
“Rike, listen.”
She didn’t respond, but I continued anyway.
“Do you remember that day? When we watched the victory parade from the highest point of the estate?”
“…Yes. I remember.”
“Actually, that day, I fell in love with Lord Hernan at first sight. It felt like only he was shining.”
“Really?”
“Of course. Enough to understand why you said Lord Ishar’s cloak was so impressive.”
But in truth, I had been focused on Rike that day.
Her long hair fluttering in the wind.
Her sweet scent carried by the breeze.
The frilly dress she wore.
Her lovely red lips as she said, ‘Rinzel, look! Isn’t it amazing?’
The faint smile that appeared when I smiled.
If I had been a man… if we weren’t sisters…
I might have fallen in love with her that day.
And suffered for a long time over that sudden love.
That memory was vividly clear—almost as if I had experienced it myself.
Strange.
Back then, I hadn’t even possessed Rinzel’s body yet…
“So don’t cry because of me. I’m not sacrificing myself. I’m more selfish than you think!”
“Rinzel…”
“I’m saying I also want to marry someone I like.”
“I like you much more than Lord Ishar.”
“Well, of course you do.”
Rike repeated those words several times.
I responded by gently patting her back.
Her fingers clutched tightly at my back.
It stung a little—
Maybe I’d have another bruise tomorrow.
But it was fine.
The marks she left felt warm.
There was no pain in them at all.
That night, I slept with Rike.
She said she wanted to sleep beside me.
Truthfully, we had been sharing a bed almost every night since I became Rinzel.
My bed was so wide it could fit ten Rikes comfortably.
We talked about trivial things—
What we’d do tomorrow, what the weather might be like, what dresses we’d wear…
And before we knew it, we had both fallen asleep.
Deep in the night, I woke up feeling thirsty.
The silence was so profound that even the smallest sound felt loud.
Then I heard soft sobbing.
It was Rike.
She was crying quietly.
I pretended to be asleep, hoping her tears would stop.
I didn’t know how to comfort her.
Fortunately, her sobbing soon subsided.
She held my hand and whispered:
“Rinzel… I really want to live.”
It was a wish she couldn’t bring herself to say to me openly.
My chest tightened, but I continued pretending to sleep.
Until she fell asleep again.
The next morning, a guest arrived early at the Valencia Ducal Estate.
“…What? Prince Hernan came here?”
Mini nodded vigorously.
“Yes! He’s waiting in the drawing room!”
“He came to see me?”
“Yes! My lady, there’s no time! You need to get ready!”
Mini grabbed my hand and pulled me up from bed.
I followed her without much resistance.
Soon, I was seated in front of the vanity as she skillfully began to dress me up.
“Where’s Rike?”
“She woke up early and returned to her room.”
“Is she feeling okay?”
“Yes, she seemed quite fine.”
After crying like that last night… was she really okay?
I decided to check on her after meeting Hernan.
A few minutes later, Mini announced that my makeup and hair were done.
I opened my half-closed eyes.
The reflection in the mirror was beautiful.
My pale face looked livelier with makeup.
I didn’t like Rinzel’s frail body, but her beauty—
That, I truly liked.
Being pretty is the best.
There was no time to rest.
Mini quickly dressed me in a mermaid-style gown that showed off my figure, though it was a bit uncomfortable.
“Wow! You look stunning! Prince Hernan might fall in love with you at first sight!”
“You really are good at flattering.”
I lightly pinched her cheeks.
“Mini, go to the kitchen and get a cheesecake using my name. That’s your reward.”
“My lady, I meant it sincerely…”
I leaned in and whispered in her ear:
“If it’s sincere, I should give you an even bigger reward. Can you handle it?”
“Yes! I can!”
How cheerful.
“But cheesecake will be enough for today.”
“Alright.”
I waved my hand once as I walked away.
A cool, single gesture.
“I’ll be back.”
But really—
Why had Hernan come to see me?
