Vellarenza’s exhibition…
Tia was curious about the theme, but she couldn’t bring it up while the Empress was reviewing proposals. She couldn’t just start chatting in the middle of such a serious moment.
“Hmph. Do you think you’ll understand anything I say?”
Vellarenza snapped, turning her head in a huff.
Osvaldo, on the other hand, kept his eyes glued to the Empress, not missing a single movement as she read through Tia’s proposal.
“Tia.”
After a moment, the Empress looked up and spoke.
“Tia, you have no desire to become an Empress.”
Her voice was calm, with no trace of sarcasm or disappointment. It was as if she was stating an objective fact.
The only person who laughed with emotion was Vellarenza.
The Empress continued, unbothered.
“Or maybe you’re just not fit to be one.”
Osvaldo gave Tia a look that seemed full of pity, his eyes softening as they met her cheek.
“Hmm…”
The Empress sighed deeply, as if in deep thought.
She didn’t show Tia the warm, loving smile that she had been hoping for.
“…Forget what I just said, Tia,” she added to the scribe.
The Empress sat up straight in her throne, her presence commanding the room.
“My rewards for the three of you are as follows.”
The room fell silent, and even the sound of the scribe writing was amplified in the stillness.
“First, I grant Osvaldo, the first prince, the rule of Granberta and make him a duke.”
Osvaldo kept his calm expression, but his chest swelled with pride.
Granberta wasn’t just any small territory. It covered almost a quarter of the empire’s southwestern land. That was more than enough to give Osvaldo dominion over several large lords.
“Second, I give Vellarenza the Serabia Palace and assign her to oversee all the festivals and events of the imperial family.”
Vellarenza covered her mouth, unable to suppress her excited scream.
She didn’t care about managing land, but getting the second-best palace in the empire and the responsibility of overseeing royal events was a great reward for her.
“Lastly, Tia.”
The Empress’s golden eyes locked onto Tia.
Looking into those eyes felt like the soft golden sunlight she had seen that morning. Tia felt a ripple of emotions in her chest.
“Tia, I grant you the rule of the Karios region and appoint you as a count.”
The announcement hung in the air like a heavy silence.
“…Ah…”
As soon as the Empress finished speaking, it felt like time stopped. Everyone in the room was frozen, eyes on her.
Tia felt dazed. The Empress’s words were something she wasn’t expecting.
Karios?
Why?
Karios was a far-off, northeastern coastal region. It wasn’t a place with a powerful military base or anything of importance. It was more like a place for exiles. Tia remembered someone once saying that it would be a perfect spot for punishment.
“Time flies, huh? I didn’t realize you were already twenty, Tia…”
The Empress’s face softened slightly, a rare change in her usually stern expression.
She spoke not as the Empress, but as Tia’s mother.
“Osvaldo and Vellarenza were betrothed when they turned eighteen, but I haven’t decided on a partner for you yet. You need to get to know your fiancé before the wedding, so I should have made a decision sooner…”
Tia was taken aback. Why was her mother suddenly bringing up her marriage?
“I’ve decided who your fiancé will be, Tia.”
The Empress went back to her official tone.
“The Lord of Karayan, Vicente Kalli, will be your husband. You’ll work with him to rule Karios. And in one year, whoever has nurtured and developed their lands well will be crowned the crown prince.”
“Karios…”
Vellarenza gasped, as if she had just received the engagement announcement herself, glancing at Osvaldo and Tia.
Osvaldo’s eyes widened too.
“Your Majesty, do you mean Lord Kalli of the Ninth Fleet? His status is too low to be the husband of a princess. His background as a barbaric islander doesn’t fit the royal family’s standards. He isn’t worthy to be Tia’s husband.”
Instead of talking about the crown prince issue, Osvaldo immediately objected to the choice of Tia’s husband.
“Please reconsider. If you want someone from the navy, there’s someone better, like Gael, the vice commander of the First Fleet…”
“Osvaldo.”
The Empress cut him off.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Am I wrong?”
She looked at him lazily, but Osvaldo stiffened under her gaze.
“No, no, I don’t think that. As a brother, I just don’t want my precious sister to be with someone with such low status. I fear they might bring disgrace to the royal family.”
“I am never wrong.”
“Of course, Your Majesty. I know.”
“Then, what reward do you think we should give to the princess who submitted such a cute proposal for the competition on ‘What project should the first royal decree be about’?”
The Empress lifted a page from Tia’s proposal.
It was a small chapel design. Even from a distance, the design in the center of the parchment was clear.
It was a small project compared to the massive temple city proposal Osvaldo had suggested.
“Tell me, Prince.”
“Ah…”
Osvaldo hesitated, not his usual self.
“Well, the old-style chapel is a place for the commoners to rest and share, so I think we should appreciate Tia’s noble heart for considering the less fortunate…”
Instead, Vellarenza cut in, finishing the sentence with a smooth voice.
“We deeply appreciate the wise and fair reward you’ve given, Your Majesty.”
She smiled brightly and bowed gracefully. After her, Osvaldo also bowed obediently.
Tia, still dazed, stared at her mother’s face and finally spoke.
“…I request a private audience, Your Majesty.”
Her mother, whom she respected and loved.
She wasn’t the warmest, but always fair and made decisions for their benefit.
She always made the decisions she had hoped for, or even better, as a mentor.
“Very well. Osvaldo and Vellarenza may leave.”
But at this moment, Tia couldn’t understand her mother’s thoughts at all.
A few months later, the scheduled year-end presentation and joint Christmas event were canceled.
All of Tia’s large and small duties were gradually passed on to Osvaldo and Vellarenza.
The Empress never granted Tia’s request.
“Anyone is fine. Please, let me marry someone from a territory close to the palace, Your Majesty.”
At least she wanted to stay close to her mother.
“You’ll live in Karayan, Tia. I’d like for you to marry before spring comes.”
“No, Mother.”
For the first time, Tia spoke against the Empress.
