Chapter 16
Before I knew it, nearly half a month had passed since I entered the Grand Duke of Haelian’s estate.
Looking back briefly on what had happened during that time… there hadn’t been any overt bullying.
Aside from the servants sometimes ignoring me when I spoke, or occasionally giving me unfriendly looks.
Surprisingly, that was thanks to Roberik.
‘Edith, would you like to go to the garden with Father? It’s full of beautiful flowers you’ll like.’
‘Do you remember the horse you saw last time? Aren’t you curious about its name? Would you like to name it?’
‘…I heard you left Edith alone in her room all day. Why not just lock her up entirely? Might as well bolt the door, too.’
Whenever he had spare time, he would come to see me and bother me endlessly. And even when I hadn’t said anything first, he would suddenly turn sharp and sarcastic toward the servants.
‘We have committed a grave sin! We will accept any punishment!’
‘I’m sorry, but… it’s just that Lady Edith doesn’t seem like an ordinary child…!’
Anyway, thanks to Roberik’s unwelcome attentiveness, the servants stopped openly excluding me.
“Please have your snack.”
Clink.
Of course, they were still very stiff in their attitude.
Such impressive loyalty.
I smirked as I crushed a warm scone with my fork.
You have no allies here, so don’t even think about living happily.
Were they conspiring something like that?
Still, I had expected this much, so it didn’t affect me much.
[Ugh, that old, nasty human! Get out already!]
“……”
And it helped even more that I had spirits by my side who said everything I couldn’t.
“Nyx, stop it.”
[…But look at her eyes! She’s been staring at Edith in a nasty way this whole time.]
As the spirit’s hostile gaze poured onto her, the elderly maid turned pale and hurriedly fled the room.
[Nyx, I clearly told you to address Lady Edith respectfully.]
Nereid scolded Nyx in a cold voice.
Nyx lowered her head, looking dejected, and scampered away.
“It’s okay, Nereid. I actually like that she treats me like a friend my age.”
At my words, Nereid looked at me with pity, then turned her chilled gaze toward the door and muttered quietly.
[Lady Edith… shall I drown all those wretched humans in the sea?]
“…No… that’s a bit much.”
As expected of a high-ranking spirit, Nereid’s personality was far from ordinary.
Unlike Nyx and Undine, she had a very strong sense of self and clearly looked down on humans.
She treated me with utmost respect—almost burdensome—because I was blessed by their king.
Anyway, the servants of the grand ducal estate passively excluded me, and Alea hadn’t said a single word to me since the day I first arrived.
Back then, she had probably just acted politely because Roberik told her to greet me.
As for Shastya, every time we passed by, her face would turn deathly pale and she would immediately leave, so we had never properly spoken.
…It seemed like she saw Mariette in me.
[That Grand Duchess woman is such a coward. How can she tremble every time she sees someone as tiny as Edith?]
[Nyx! How dare you refer to Lady Edith like that! Apologize at once!]
[Sniff… I’m sorry…]
“It’s okay, Nyx. And the Grand Duchess isn’t acting like that because she’s a coward… Actually, never mind.”
In this world, spirit users were inherently rare.
Ordinary humans, who made up the majority, feared even low-level spirits like Nyx and couldn’t even meet their gaze.
Once, when I summoned a Naiad and walked in the garden, a maid fainted upon seeing us.
Since it was said that ordinary people without any talent for spirit magic felt instinctive fear toward powerful spirits like Spirit Kings, I didn’t want to cause unnecessary trouble, so I temporarily parted ways with Illypia and Naiad.
Instead, I summoned water spirits under Naiad’s command, so I didn’t feel too lonely.
Every night, I wrote letters to send to Grandfather. During the day, I read books, walked through the garden, or played with spirits.
It wasn’t such a bad life.
“Edith. The day you will officially receive your title from His Majesty the Emperor is not far off.”
That was, until that night when Roberik called me with an excited expression.
The title of Grand Princess of Haelian was personally bestowed by the Emperor.
So I wasn’t officially a Grand Princess yet.
I had heard that the ceremony would be held within a month.
“And?”
Seeing Roberik’s happy face, a strange sense of unease crept up on me.
Roberik unfolded a letter bearing the imperial seal and showed it to me.
“Before the official ceremony, His Majesty wishes to meet the hidden Grand Princess of Haelian.”
Ah.
“You’ll be going to the Imperial Palace. Aren’t you excited, Edith? Father is very excited.”
…Damn it.
“I was just thinking of having new clothes made. This works out perfectly—we’ll call a designer and make you a dress. And accessories too. Since it’s your first time, about a hundred pieces should suffice.”
Why not just hold the ceremony? Why does he need to see me beforehand…?
The Emperor, Osvalt Tristan Lueiri.
He was the 20th Emperor of the Roshan Empire, the setting of the original story.
Though there was deep enmity between him and the male lead Roberik due to their parents’ generation—
‘…Let’s not let our parents’ grudges interfere with our friendship.’
‘Thank you… truly, thank you… Roberik.’
The previous emperor had not only falsely accused Roberik’s father, the former Grand Duke of Haelian, of treason and executed him, but had also fiercely envied and abused his own son, Osvalt.
Because of that, the two managed to build a friendship despite being enemies.
Osvalt was Roberik’s closest friend and political partner.
He was also the greatest supporter who helped Shastya, despite her many flaws in status, marry Roberik.
“…Even at such a young age, your bearing is extraordinary. When you grow up, you will surely be as beautiful as the Grand Duchess.”
“Of course. Whose daughter do you think she is? Have the outfits made within a week.”
“Yes, Your Grace. Then I will take my leave, Lady Edith.”
In other words, to me, he was no different from Roberik, Shastya, or Perion—an enemy.
…Do I really have to dress up like this just to meet someone like him?
I looked skeptically at my reflection in the mirror.
My lavender hair was neatly curled and flowed down to my waist.
A small, pale face with large eyes, a straight nose, and lips like delicate pansy petals formed a harmonious whole.
At first glance, I looked gentle and innocent, but the slightly upturned corners of my eyes gave a sharp impression.
“Truly beautiful, my daughter.”
The eyes reflected in the mirror—identical to Roberik’s—glowed a brilliant red.
With the superior genes of Roberik, the most handsome man in the world, and Mariette, whose beauty no one could deny, it was inevitable.
…Before I learned the truth of my birth, I used to simply enjoy my looks.
Knock knock—
“Your Grace. It’s Riella.”
“Ah, come in.”
A quiet knock sounded at the door.
Riella—one of Shastya’s maids.
The maid entered silently, bowed politely, and spoke.
“Regarding the visit to the Imperial Palace… Her Ladyship is currently unwell and asked me to inform you that she will not be able to accompany you.”
Since I arrived at the estate, Shastya had been openly pretending to be ill.
She even stayed confined in her quarters just to avoid me.
Whenever we happened to meet, she would turn pale and stagger.
…I couldn’t say I didn’t understand, but honestly, it didn’t feel good.
I hadn’t done anything.
I was just standing there.
Yet she acted as if she had seen something she shouldn’t, showing all the pain and distress by herself.
Anyway, if she wasn’t coming, that was good for me.
Roberik was much easier to deal with than Shastya.
“Instead, Lady Alea will accompany you and… Lady Edith.”
What?
“Is that so? That’s a relief. Alea is truly considerate.”
Roberik said with a bright expression.
Why are you showing up here…? My head began to throb.
I pressed my forehead, suppressing the pain.
“Edith, if Alea comes along, it will help you a lot. She is acquainted with the Crown Prince and the Second Prince, so it will be easier for you to get along.”
I have to go to the Imperial Palace with someone who hasn’t even looked at me since the first day?
…This feels ominous.
Something is definitely going to happen at the palace.
The Roshan Empire.
Light, earth, water, wind, fire, forest, lightning, ice.
A nation loved by the Fire Spirit King, Phoenix, one of the eight Spirit Kings who govern the forces of nature.
[Beloved Aryanrod, you and your descendants shall live eternally under my unbroken blessing.]
Just as written in the founding scripture, the descendants of the first emperor Aryanrod Lueiri were all born with the blessing of the fire spirit.
An unbroken lineage of spirit users.
It was the promise of eternal prosperity for the Lueiri imperial family.
“Be careful.”
“…I can walk on my own.”
Whoosh—!
As we stepped onto the stairs of the Imperial Palace, phoenix statues on both sides burst into flames, offering a blazing welcome.
