Chapter 02
“Everyone, leave.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
At my short command, the maids surrounding me all withdrew at once.
I barely suppressed a hollow laugh.
Most of them had cheered in delight when I was sentenced to death.
And yet now they bowed to me so politely.
How ridiculous.
In the quiet room, I fell into thought for a moment before picking up the small eyebrow blade from the vanity.
After a brief hesitation, I lightly sliced one of my arms.
“Ugh.”
With a sharp sting, bright red blood beaded up, then flowed down with a strange, subtle glow.
My ability… is still intact.
Thirteen years old—back when I was deeply favored by the emperor.
A time when just a few drops of my blood could refine hundreds of purified stones.
Back then, I had been sweetly deluded, believing the imperial family—no, the entire empire—was beneath my feet.
I have to leave.
Perhaps my foolish past self would have stayed.
But now that I knew the truth, I could not remain here.
I had just risen hastily from my seat when—
Knock, knock.
“Your Highness, are you ready?”
At the voice from outside the door, my body froze.
It was Edgar, the steward of the Sun Palace.
“His Majesty is waiting.”
I stood stiffly for several seconds, then straightened myself naturally and adjusted my clothes.
When I opened the door, Edgar stood there with his head respectfully bowed.
“…I told you not to rush me.”
“My apologies.”
“Move.”
Was this proof that I had truly returned in time? Even though I had only tried to imitate my old manner of speaking, a cold tone flowed out effortlessly.
Yes. These were the days.
Leaving Edgar hurriedly bowing behind me, I headed toward the emperor’s lounge.
It felt strange.
Just moments ago I had been in the underground prison, yet now I had returned to the past as the imperial princess.
Standing before the door, I hesitated briefly.
The emperor’s cruel face—laughing madly beyond the iron bars—flashed through my mind.
…Calm down. I can’t let him notice that I’m different.
The emperor was sharp. Even the slightest change in me would not escape him.
I took a deep breath to steady myself and opened the door.
“Your Majesty, Princess Lorea has arrived.”
“Oh, you’re here. Princess.”
Inside the lounge sat the emperor—with an unbelievably benevolent expression.
He stretched out his arm and greeted me warmly.
“Come, sit. I’m glad I had the refreshments prepared in advance.”
The scent of tea drifted from the table.
Rosehip tea—the one I used to enjoy at this time.
I bit down hard to keep from laughing.
So this was all an act, too.
Looking back, whenever the emperor was especially kind during this period, there had always been a reason.
As soon as I sat on the sofa, he smiled.
“It seems we need to replenish the purified stones.”
Of course.
As always, it was about the purified stones.
“Already?”
“Grand Duke Carter had his son purchase yet another large quantity of purified stones.”
The emperor crossed his legs and clicked his tongue.
“The amount the ducal house buys increases by the day. Unfortunately, it seems the Grand Duke’s rampage grows worse.”
His tone of pity held not the slightest trace of sympathy.
“Uncontrollable magic is poison, after all….”
With the demonic energy across the continent unstable, strong magic slowly eroded a person’s mind.
There was only one way to temporarily free them from that suffering.
Purified stones—monopolized by the imperial family.
The very reason the emperor wielded such absolute authority.
I stared at him blankly, then regained my composure and smiled sweetly.
“Your Majesty, isn’t it a good thing? Thanks to that, the imperial family can control dangerous elements.”
“That’s right. My princess is truly clever. You play such an important role—how could I not be proud?”
The emperor smiled in satisfaction.
“It’s about time we adjust the number of purified stones again.”
“Of course, Your Majesty. I can handle it.”
In truth, I had never properly met the Grand Duke of Carter while living as the princess. I rarely attended social events or appeared in public.
I had only been taught that he carried royal blood, possessed power strong enough to threaten the imperial family, and therefore had to be suppressed.
To think that I am his daughter….
What a farce.
I lowered my head and let out a small laugh.
“In any case, you must work hard again this time. I’ll call my chief administrator, so prepare for the blood draw—”
“Your Majesty.”
“Is there a problem, Princess?”
“I don’t want to do it today.”
I deliberately smiled innocently.
The emperor’s face stiffened for a split second.
But soon he resumed his gentle smile and looked at me.
Had I not seen his true face before my regression, I would not have noticed that brief flicker.
“What do you mean, you don’t want to?”
“I’m not in a good mood today. If I meet the administrator too, it’ll ruin my whole day.”
I dangled my feet above the floor and let out a small sigh.
“You know how sensitive I am.”
“…Is that so? Why would my princess be in a bad mood? Are you unwell?”
“It’s not that.”
“Then what troubles you?”
“Oh, Your Majesty. Who in the imperial palace would dare trouble me?”
“Then shall I personally grant you jewels from the treasury? Should I summon the empire’s finest tailor? There are countless jewel craftsmen in the capital—shall I call them all?”
His tone was that of someone indulging a beloved child. I nearly sneered.
Yes. There had been a time when I firmly believed I was indispensable to this man.
But thinking about it now—no matter how important purified stones were, how could one repeatedly demand blood from a beloved thirteen-year-old child?
I calmly shook my head.
“No. I’d just like to rest for a few days.”
At my firm refusal, the emperor slowly closed his mouth.
A chilly silence settled over the lounge.
I looked at him with wide, innocent eyes as if unaware.
At last, he leaned back against the chair with a slack expression.
“…Very well. If that is what my princess wishes.”
He muttered with displeasure.
“Thank you, Your Majesty. I knew you would understand.”
“I can never keep up with your whims.”
“I’ll be fine after a few days of rest. You know me.”
“…But do not delay too long. My people need the purified stones.”
“Of course.”
A lie.
You don’t care about the people at all.
I smiled gently while sneering inwardly.
“I’ll call the chief administrator myself in a few days.”
“Very well.”
I rose from my seat and politely lifted the hem of my skirt in farewell.
“The tea was delicious. I shall take my leave.”
“Go on.”
Click.
The lounge door closed.
The smile I had held all this time vanished, and I let go of the hem of my skirt.
After staring at the door for a moment, I walked down the corridor expressionlessly.
There was nothing left for me to offer the imperial family.
Nothing at all.
That night, a suffocating downpour began.
While everyone slept, I quietly slipped out of the imperial palace.
First, to the House of Grand Duke Carter.
The moment I realized I had regressed, that was my decision.
To find my real father.
The Carter ducal territory lay beyond the capital’s walls. It required changing carriages twice over two days and walking four long hours along muddy roads.
I had occasionally sneaked out of the palace under the excuse of outings, but never for two full days of travel.
Perhaps because of that, my stamina visibly declined as I neared the estate.
My body trembled. Whether from the endless rain or the overwhelming darkness, I eventually struggled to even take another step.
Was thirteen-year-old body simply too weak?
At last, I stood before the ducal residence and straightened my staggering form.
“Is this the place…?”
The mansion was as grand as the imperial palace—yet an ominous aura surrounded it, incomparable to the palace’s splendor.
Worse, there wasn’t even a single guard at the entrance.
No visitors come, so it’s practically abandoned.
It would not have been an exaggeration to call it a ruin.
I carefully crossed the garden.
Finally reaching the main building, I pushed open the heavy doors and barely stepped inside—
Shing.
Something cold touched my neck, and a low voice fell from above.
“How strange. I don’t recall inviting a rat from the imperial family.”
