TSHF 06

Chapter 06

Can someone really wrap things up so easily when the person they were obsessively attached to dies?

‘He never abandoned Mother, not even for a single moment.’

That was why I believed that even if my birth were revealed, Mother would survive.

Even if Moren and I died—at least Mother would live.

But what was the result?

Mother was buried in the cold ground without even receiving a proper investigation, and I was left alive alone, forced to watch the Emperor’s every mood.

‘Could it be that his interest in Mother has faded…?’

…No. That couldn’t be.

The Emperor’s obsession with Mother was entirely due to the madness of Lornode. No imperial in history had ever been cured of that fixation.

‘Then what on earth is he thinking?’

Uneasy questions scattered and vanished, circling through my head.

After brooding for a while, I took a sip of tea and set the tangled thoughts aside.

‘Let’s confirm what’s certain first.’

“Your Majesty.”

At my call, the Emperor—who had been drinking tea with me—looked at me.

Blinking innocently, I spoke.

“I stopped by Mother’s palace this morning and heard that Your Majesty had already gathered all her belongings.”

“…That’s right.”

“I was wondering if I might keep a few of her things—”

I didn’t even finish my sentence.

Clink—.

The Emperor slammed his teacup down roughly, the porcelain striking sharply against the saucer.

“What exactly are you trying to take?”

At his sensitive reaction, I quickly lowered my gaze and whispered softly.

“Ah… it’s nothing important. Mother used to write books for me from time to time.”

For my sake—since I loved books—Mother would write various stories.

Back then, I thought she had a true talent for writing.

‘Judging from her diary, though… they were probably stories that circulated on “Earth.”’

How fortunate that Mother had such a hobby.

It made it easy to come up with an excuse.

“There were a few of those books in her study. I wanted to keep them…”

Naturally, the original novel would be among them.

As I trailed off, the Emperor’s stiff expression soon softened into a pleasant smile.

“Ah, yes. I remember. Tilia had quite the imagination.”

“Then…”

“But, Neroli.”

Crossing his legs, the Emperor spoke as if troubled.

“I’ve placed all of Tilia’s belongings in the imperial secret vault. I’m busy with state affairs at the moment, so I plan to sort through them later.”

“The imperial secret vault?”

That was a place only the Emperor and his heir could open, and only at specific times.

Security was extremely tight. It was said to store classified imperial documents and rare treasures.

‘Why would he put Mother’s belongings in a place like that?’

And that earlier overly sharp reaction…

Though puzzled, I instead put on a visibly disappointed expression, pretending ignorance.

“Then I suppose it’ll be difficult to retrieve the books right now.”

“Hahaha, don’t be too disappointed. Once urgent matters are settled, I’ll look for them first and give them to you.”

So wait just a little.

At his final words, I smiled brightly and nodded.

Of course, I was thinking something entirely different inside.

‘The secret vault, is it…’

Through the spirits, I had learned a bit about it.

For example, even the Emperor and Crown Prince could only open it at certain times.

‘It seems yesterday was precisely that time.’

That meant there was some time until the next cycle.

Fortunately, the Emperor appeared to know nothing about the “original novel.”

‘Then I’ll move according to the next cycle.’

I’d have to act sooner than expected.

No matter what, I had to enter that vault before the Emperor and steal the original.

‘If the author finds out about it…’

That would be like giving wings to a tiger.

As I busily mapped out my next steps, the Emperor suddenly spoke in a low voice.

“Neroli, there’s something I want to tell you.”

I quickly organized my thoughts and tilted my head slightly.

“Something to tell me?”

“Yes. Do you remember the conversation the three of us had with Tilia before?”

“If you mean that…”

It had been about my marriage.

That it was about time I wed.

‘Why bring that up all of a sudden?’

A bad feeling crept over me.

“Has something changed?”

At my question, the Emperor leisurely lifted his teacup again.

After taking a slow sip, he spoke.

“With Tilia gone, your grief must be immense. So for the time being, I’ve decided to cancel your marriage.”

“What? But if it’s delayed further, my age—”

“Don’t worry.”

In that moment, I didn’t miss it.

The strange glint in the Emperor’s red eyes.

“If no one is willing to accept you, this father will keep you by his side for life.”

“……”

“Do you think the Emperor of this empire lacks even that much power? Hmm?”

He asked as he stared at me intently, as though he wouldn’t miss even the slightest reaction.

Suppressing the chill crawling up my spine, I forced a smile.

“I’m truly happy that Your Majesty thinks of me that way!”

The corners of my smiling lips trembled faintly.

To conceal it naturally, I let tears well up again.

“Oh dear… why do I keep crying? To be honest, I didn’t want to leave this palace so soon—it’s filled with memories of Mother.”

“You were such a close mother and daughter. I understand.”

The Emperor smiled with satisfaction.

“Neroli, my beautiful daughter. You need only trust me and remain by my side. Then all glory will be yours.”

Ah…

So the reason he didn’t eliminate me, despite the hatred he’d shown, was this?

‘Because I can serve as Mother’s replacement.’

Thanks to the emotionally sensitive spirits, I knew the tears he shed at Mother’s funeral were sincere.

The hostility toward me likely was as well.

But those were fleeting emotions. The Emperor had already found an alternative.

‘Whether I’m truly his daughter or not doesn’t matter. As long as I have a face that resembles Mother’s.’

Disgusting.

Nausea surged within me.

As the filthy hand that had strangled Mother now reached toward me, my vision flared red like a warning light.

“Yes, Your Majesty! I’m so fortunate that you’re my father!”

The more repulsed I felt, the more purely I smiled, burying my true emotions completely.

No one would dare doubt the joy in my voice.

‘In a way, this works in my favor.’

As long as there’s no other substitute, the Emperor won’t touch me.

I’ve bought some time.

And besides…

‘Is the Emperor directly involved in Mother’s death?’

Knowing how obsessively attached he was to her, I had assumed he wouldn’t kill her himself.

I only believed he had indirectly been involved by covering up her suspicious death.

‘But what if, from the very beginning, he planned to use me as her replacement…?’

What if he killed her with his own hands?

‘Cunning snake.’

A possibility I had once dismissed burst wide open, and new deductions flooded my mind.

Among all these possibilities, one fact remained unchanged.

‘In the end, I have to deal with the Emperor.’

Whether he’s the culprit or not… the fact that he’s trying to put a leash on me won’t change.

Even if I fled the imperial palace or escaped the empire, it would be nearly impossible to evade the continent’s most powerful ruler.

Didn’t I know someone who had tried every possible means to escape him—only to fail?

‘Mother…’

If I remained passive, I would end up like her—turned into a doll and preserved within this palace.

‘So don’t be impatient.’

For now, it’s enough to confirm the location of the original novel and that the Emperor won’t move against me immediately.

As I calculated the situation like this, I suddenly found myself disgusted with who I was.

Because even in the face of Mother’s death, I was instinctively weighing practical gain.

A question naturally surfaced.

‘If I hadn’t existed… would Mother still be alive?’

After a brief moment of contemplation, I quickly dismissed the negative thought.

Digging deeper would only harm me in the end.

As soon as my meeting with the Emperor ended, I headed to my younger brother Moren’s palace.

When I entered, the head attendant greeted me with a brightened face.

“Welcome, Princess Neroli.”

“Where is Moren?”

“He hasn’t stepped out of his bedroom since the funeral.”

“And his meals?”

“…I’m sorry. He’s been refusing those as well.”

“I’ll have to see him myself.”

I went straight to Moren’s chamber.

Since I had dismissed all the servants, his quarters were eerily quiet.

After steadying my breath before the door, I knocked lightly.

Knock, knock.

“Moren, it’s me.”

There was no reply.

After waiting a moment, I grasped the handle and pushed.

But it had been locked firmly from the inside.

“Moren.”

“…Go back.”

His voice came faintly from within.

“I don’t want to see anyone right now.”

His response made me anxious.

Moren is precious to me.

Under our capricious mother, we siblings had leaned on each other to survive.

‘Especially since Mother practically neglected Moren.’

To Mother, Moren had been almost like a stranger.