TSHF 07

Chapter 07

I had never once seen her hold Moren in her arms or whisper that she loved him.

The more she turned away from him, the more Moren leaned on me.

And I, burdened by both responsibility and guilt toward my younger brother, took even greater care of him.

‘Now that I think about it… perhaps to Mother, Moren was nothing more than a character from the “original story.”’

Mother, who usually suffered from lethargy and severe depression, expressed her emotions only to me.

Whether they were positive or negative.

‘Unlike Moren, I didn’t appear in the original story.’

I remembered the hurt look on Moren’s face as he watched Mother care only for me.

Because I remembered that pained expression, I couldn’t simply leave my brother shut up in his room.

“I’m worried about you. I heard you’ve been skipping meals.”

“……”

“Just come outside for a bit. Please?”

“…Sister.”

“Yes, Moren.”

In a voice so small it was almost inaudible, Moren asked,

“You know… Mother didn’t pass away by her own hand, right?”

I froze for a moment at his words.

Then instinctively lowered my voice.

“Do you… know something?”

“……”

“Moren Mivan Lornode. Do you know anything at all?”

Even after calling his name several more times, I received no answer.

In the end, I had to leave Moren’s palace without gaining anything.

Inside the carriage returning to my own residence, countless thoughts crossed my mind.

‘Moren isn’t a fragile child.’

He wasn’t the type to shut himself away like that, even after Mother’s death.

And those last words he spoke…

He definitely knew something.

‘And yet he’s sealed his lips and locked himself in his room.’

There had never been any secrets between us.

I let out a long, frustrated sigh.

‘First… I need to put out the urgent fire.’

The original novel stored in the imperial treasury was my top priority.

For now, I had to focus on that.

While I searched for it, I could only hope Moren would steady himself and tell me whatever he was hiding.

The Emperor has seven children in total.

The Crown Prince and eldest, Gobard Ruim Lornode.

Below him are Derian, Brindel, myself, Kinya, Ruhel, and the youngest, Moren.

‘Strictly speaking, Derian is the eldest.’

He was born three months before Gobard.

However, Gobard was the son of the late Empress.

Naturally, the son of an Empress ranks higher than the son of a consort.

Gobard rightfully ascended as Crown Prince, and Derian’s mother—the First Consort—did not openly express any dissatisfaction.

‘Though who knows what she truly felt.’

For reference, Gobard was also the “male lead” in the original story Mother used to mention.

According to her diary, the story could be summarized in a single line:

‘A noble Crown Prince and a beautiful commoner heroine overcome adversity and achieve love—a tale of rising in status.’

In that original story, Mother was apparently the final villain.

The infamous Fourth Consort who desperately tried to make her only son, Moren, Emperor.

‘According to her diary, she ran away because she didn’t want to become that villain… and that’s when she met my father.’

How ironic.

Although Mother was eventually captured by the Emperor and made a consort, she always told us:

—Listen carefully, children. The moment you step deep into power, peaceful days come to an end.

I had never been attached to the troublesome imperial palace in the first place.

So I intended to live quietly, just as Mother advised…

‘And yet now I’m about to do the very thing she warned against.’

In the end, I would be stepping straight into the heart of power.

Anyway, the first key to my plan was undoubtedly Gobard.

The Crown Prince could open the imperial secret treasury together with the Emperor.

And besides, Gobard was a significant risk to me.

‘Unfortunately, he rather hates our siblings.’

More precisely, he hates our maternal family—the House of Mivan.

‘After all, it was my maternal grandfather, Count Mivan, who caused the Empress’s carriage accident.’

No matter how much Mother wished to live quietly, she couldn’t prevent schemes carried out behind her back.

The Empress’s death was one such case.

Count Mivan, greedy for power, was deeply dissatisfied that Mother—who enjoyed the Emperor’s favor—remained merely a consort.

‘So he tampered with the Empress’s carriage and attempted an assassination.’

The Empress died.

When the Emperor learned the truth, he covered up the entire incident, fearing Mother might be deposed.

‘Instead, Mivan was punished unofficially.’

As a result, my grandfather died, and our family now stands on the brink of ruin.

In any case, the incident left Mother deeply traumatized; she struggled every time she saw Gobard.

Gobard, for his part, knew that House Mivan was involved in his mother’s death and repeatedly requested further investigation.

‘Of course, the Emperor destroyed all physical evidence, so those requests were never granted.’

In short, to Gobard, Moren and I are the blood of the enemy who killed his mother.

If someone like him inherited the throne, our lives would be as fragile as candles in the wind.

‘That’s why I planned to marry while the Emperor was still alive and leave the palace.’

Even Gobard wouldn’t dare touch us carelessly then.

But everything became completely twisted.

The Emperor, intending to use me as Mother’s replacement, would continue postponing my marriage.

And so I would remain bound to the imperial family—only to be eliminated by Gobard, the next wielder of power.

‘This is the worst.’

I had to approach Gobard before that happened.

Who knows?

Perhaps he might feel even the slightest sympathy for us—motherless, just like him.

With that thought, I scanned the banquet hall.

The hall was lavish enough to make one click their tongue in amazement, filled with finely dressed nobles.

Gobard was surely somewhere among them.

‘Honestly, I didn’t want to attend this banquet.’

Not long had passed since Mother’s death, yet the Empire’s important events continued.

Today, in particular, was a significant occasion: welcoming a delegation from the Magic Tower, which had long been on poor terms with the Emperor.

‘No matter how powerful Lornode is, daily life cannot function without magic.’

The Magic Tower is an independent institution, belonging to no nation, conducting research in neutral territory beyond the Empire.

Especially in the field of “practical magic,” specialized in convenience and used in countless aspects of life—

The undisputed leader is the Magic Tower.

For a more convenient life and more useful magic, exchange with them is essential.

‘Though rumors say the current Tower Master is an utter eccentric.’

The reason the Emperor detests the Magic Tower is simple.

At an official event, the Tower Master boldly got the Emperor’s name wrong.

—Oh, you must be His Majesty Lala? That’s the same name as a stray cat in my neighborhood.

For reference, the Emperor’s name is Laurum.

Having essentially been likened to a stray cat, the Emperor flew into a rage and severed all ties with the Magic Tower.

‘Still, the Tower suffered no great loss.’

Plenty of other nations sought them out.

In fact, nobles who understood the importance of magic worked tirelessly to calm the Emperor’s anger.

After several years, the Emperor’s fury finally subsided—leading to this very banquet.

‘It’s important enough that every royal must attend.’

Which means Gobard must be here.

I looked around the hall, searching for him.

‘If not now, I won’t have a natural chance to speak with him.’

Just as impatience began creeping up—

“Oh, it’s Princess Neroli.”

With a faint gust of wind, a pair of amethyst-like eyes suddenly appeared before me.

‘!’

Perhaps it was the lighting.

Or perhaps not.

But those eyes, fixed on me, seemed to sparkle unusually brightly.

For a moment, I found myself staring back, lost.

Then the surrounding commotion finally reached my ears.

“Where did that wind come from?”

“Look over there!”

“Someone just appeared out of thin air!”

Only then did I realize how close the owner of those eyes was.

I stepped back, blinking, and raised my voice in feigned surprise.

“Oh! Who are you?”

Inside, however, I swiftly assessed the man before me.

‘So this is the Tower Master.’

A strikingly handsome man with purple hair and matching violet eyes.

He even wore the earrings said to help him control his overwhelming mana.

I had only ever seen him from afar, but his distinctive appearance made him easy to recognize.

Others had clearly recognized him too.

“Wasn’t the Tower Master just on the terrace? When did he move next to Her Highness?”

“He must have teleported.”

“To execute such high-level magic so effortlessly…”

“By the way, are the two of them acquainted?”

Of course, we were not.

I quickly composed myself and offered a polite bow.

“Oh my, I didn’t recognize such an esteemed guest! It’s a pleasure to meet you. I am Neroli Mivan Lornode of the Lornode Empire!”

The Tower Master studied my bright greeting before smiling faintly.

“The pleasure is mine, Princess Neroli. I am Hist Neton, representative of the Magic Tower.”

With that, Hist handed me a small rectangular card.

Taking the paper between his long fingers, I saw the circular magic sigil symbolizing the Tower printed at the top.

Beneath it were the words:

Magic Tower Company
Representative ∥ Hist Neton

I tilted my head.

“Um… what is this?”

“It’s unfamiliar, isn’t it? It’s called a business card. A business card.”

“A business card?”

“One of my direct subordinates insisted on reforming the Tower’s operating system. Reorganizing it to function like a corporation, or so he says.”

He shrugged lightly.

“They’ve been nagging me to hand these out and promote it. In any case, I hope you’ll look kindly upon the Magic Tower Company, Princess.”

“Oh~ I see. That’s quite an impressive endeavor!”

“For reference, you’re only the second person to receive my card.”

…If I’m the second, that hardly sounds like effective promotion.

Though the thought crossed my mind, I let it go.

“I’m honored that you’ve given me one right after His Majesty.”

“Hmm? I didn’t give one to the Emperor.”

“…Excuse me?”

“The first was given to the Pope. So you’re the second.”

As he said that, Hist boldly held up two fingers.