EURL CH 02

Chapter 2

A large full moon shone behind my back.
It was a relief that I was standing with the window behind me. At least His Highness wouldn’t be able to see how horribly my face was twisted.

Sniff.

After loudly sucking in my nose, I spoke again in a clear, firm voice.

“I’m not doing this anymore.”

“……”

“I’m not going to have a one-sided love anymore. Just like you want, I won’t appear in front of you ever again. I won’t cause trouble in the Imperial Palace, and I won’t sneak into your office either. Elphine oppa even threatened to shave my head and throw me out if I ever did something like that again… Anyway.”

I squeezed my eyes shut, letting the rest of my tears fall, then wiped them away with the back of my hand. Fine. I won’t do it anymore.

“Goodbye, Your Highness. Please live a long and healthy life… and meet a good woman and be happy. Not me.”

After saying that, I bowed to him properly. It might have been the last courtesy I would ever offer.

Then I walked out of the Crown Prince’s office with determined steps.

To be honest, I don’t even remember if I really ended my words like that. Strangely, I can’t remember his final expression either.

Was it just the same blank face as always? Maybe that’s why I forgot. I think he said something, but maybe I imagined it. What would the Crown Prince possibly have to say to me?

Anyway.

That was the glorious end of my sixteen-year-old, dramatic, one-sided love.

Wait a second. I’m nineteen now.

Ah. This dream again.

Again!

“Aaaah

I woke up screaming at the top of my lungs.

My back was soaked in cold sweat. Even my hair was damp. But that wasn’t the problem.

That dream again!

Three years ago, when I barged into the Imperial Palace like a lunatic and poured my heart out in front of the Crown Prince, acting like the most tragic heroine in the world—

“Aaaah! So embarrassing! So embarrassing!”

I kicked off the blanket as I screamed. With a heavy thud, the thick goose-down duvet flew into the air.

At that moment, someone quickly snatched the blanket away from me. It was Marta, my nanny and head maid.

“Miss, no! The blanket’s going to burst again! It hasn’t even been that long since we replaced it! The Duke warned me that if you tear another one, he’ll make me pluck goose feathers myself!”

“Give it back! Ugh, this is so embarrassing! Why did I do that?! Why?!”

I kicked at the air a few more times before burying my face in my pillow and shouting into it.

I hadn’t dreamed about it in a while, so why now?

“Well… I say this every morning, but I do understand. If I were you, Miss, I would have gone through at least a hundred blankets. After all, it really did happen—”

“Be quiet!”

I threw a pillow at Marta. Of course, there was no way it would hit her from where I lay. She dodged easily and continued in a teasing tone.

“You were going through quite a stormy adolescence back then—”

“Stop teasing me!”

I let out another shriek and thrashed around with my face buried in the remaining pillow. My muffled groans sank into the fabric.

Marta was right. That dream wasn’t just a dream. It really happened.

Three years ago, when I was sixteen, I committed the worst mistake of my life.

I snuck into the Imperial Palace and demanded to know why the Crown Prince hadn’t attended my debutante ball. Then I declared that I was giving up on my one-sided love.

I squeezed my eyes shut.

“I was insane… even thinking about it now.”

Cold sweat prickled down my back again.

Only later did I realize that sneaking into the Imperial Palace like that could have been treated as treason.

I still don’t know why the Crown Prince, who had always been cold to me, didn’t have someone drag me out.

Maybe he decided to be generous one last time, since it was the end. Truly a benevolent ruler.

Not that I’ll ever see him again anyway.

I sat up abruptly and shut my eyes tight.

“Ugh, I wish my memories would just disappear. Forget everything and start over. I’d wake up and say, ‘Who are you? Who am I?’ Maybe faint in front of a mirror.”

“Come along, Miss. The bath is ready. You should wash up and eat.”

Marta ignored my heartfelt despair and spoke calmly.

“If you’re in a bad mood, shake it off quickly. Today is your nineteenth birthday, after all. You have to dress up nicely. And you have somewhere to go this afternoon.”

This afternoon? Where am I going? Are we eating out for my birthday?

“Still… I hate this.”

I muttered sulkily. Marta chuckled softly.

“Happy birthday, Miss.”

* * *

My name is Aira Wildenbiston.

I am the youngest daughter of Duke Wildenbiston, the brilliant prime minister who currently dominates the Jahard Empire. I have just turned nineteen.

My father, Prime Minister Wildenbiston, was one of the key figures who led the Jahard Empire into prosperity under Emperor Johann Jahard’s reign, governing with ruthless efficiency.

Because of that, his power was immense. Our mansion is the very first estate on the grand boulevard in front of the Imperial Palace. If you don’t understand the symbolism of that, you can’t call yourself a capital noble.

The door to our dining hall reflected that status. It was carved with a pattern inspired by ancient noble cross-knots, intertwined with our family’s symbol, a giant serpent, beautifully embossed.

I looked at the door for a moment, then slowly opened it and stepped inside.

My father was seated at the head of the table. The rest of my family sat around him.

I walked quickly to my seat. A servant standing by pulled out my chair.

“Happy birthday, my daughter.”

“Thank you, Father.”

As soon as I sat down, Duke Wildenbiston greeted me. I answered with a slightly aloof tone and glanced at the pile of gift boxes stacked in front of me.

There were quite a lot.

My eyes widened. I had planned to act cool and pass over my birthday casually, but this year there were far more gifts than usual.

“Are these for me?”

At my question, my mother, smiling gently, nodded.

“We wanted to celebrate you properly this year. Open the family gifts here, and enjoy the rest slowly in your room.”

“Wow, can I open them now?”

“Of course.”

I immediately began unwrapping the boxes.

Father’s gift was a fountain pen made of rare jade brought from across the continent. The gold nib had intricate, delicate engravings.

Mother’s gift was a pearl necklace she had worn in her youth. I cheered over the pen, then placed the pearl necklace around my neck.

Breakfast was completely forgotten.

Two boxes remained.

As I wiggled my fingers toward the next target, my older sister Bianca spoke with a relaxed smile.

“I sent my gift to your room in advance. … It’s a blanket.”

“……”

I couldn’t see my own expression, but I was sure it twisted instantly. My improving mood sank at once.

“Judging by your face, you must like it? It’s expensive. Three times as much goose down as your usual bedding, triple-layered fabric, reinforced stitching—”

I shut my eyes tightly. Ha…

“Thank you, Sister. I’ll use it well.”

“What are you saying? You’re my only little sister. Oh, and my husband’s gift is earrings. I had those sent to your room too. I asked Marta if you still kick off your blankets these days, and she said you did it again today.”

“What? Marta told you that?”

“The best gifts are the most practical ones.”

“Y-You—!”

Bianca calmly sipped her water, looking extremely satisfied as I trembled.

Three years ago, Bianca married the eldest son of Marquis Daim, a prestigious western noble she met at her debutante ball, and she was living very well.

How annoying. You married a provincial lord. Why do you come to the capital so often?

As I fumed, Elphine, who had been watching a servant pour tea beside me, grinned.

“I have two gifts too. One is sturdy Elmu boots for winter. And the other… open it.”

Elphine is my older brother and the heir of the Wildenbiston family.

He has swung a sword since childhood and now serves in the Imperial Knights’ Royal Guard. A successful life, I suppose.

Of course, I have completely cut off any interest in the Imperial Palace, so I don’t even know his exact rank.

I used to beg him to become the Crown Prince’s escort and tell me everything about His Highness’s daily life.

Even though that would have been leaking state secrets and completely unreasonable, Elphine never got angry with me. Unlike Bianca, he was always kind.

“What’s the other one?”

“Huh? Oh… You have to open it yourself to see.”

“Alright, I’ll open it.”

Smiling, I tore off the wrapping.

After the large, heavy black fur boots that looked too rough for my taste came—

“Wow.”

A bracelet that shone brilliantly.

As if enchanted, I fastened it around my wrist. Soft ivory pearls glowed warmly, decorated with small beads. In the center was a radiant red stone.

“What is this? A ruby?”

I asked excitedly.

Elphine suddenly frowned awkwardly.

“…Ah. The Jew—I mean, the merchant said something about it, but I forgot. I’ll ask again.”

“What? You always forget something.”

He scratched the back of his head sheepishly and said he would check again. I nodded and looked at my wrist once more.

I didn’t know what it was, but I loved it.

“You can tell me later. Thank you, oppa. I really like it.”

When I smiled, Elphine rubbed the back of his head again.

“I’m glad you like it.”

“And you don’t have to give me two gifts anymore. Since some point, you always give two. One that’s strange and probably useless, and one that’s really pretty. Next time, just give me the pretty one.”

Elphine’s face went pale again.

“…Strange and useless…?”

“If I ever go hunting elmu in the western Snow Forest, maybe I’d use them. But I live in the capital. What is that? Are you trying to be funny?”

“No, hey. They’re actually really good—”

At my words, Elphine’s shoulders slumped sadly.

Oh. I didn’t mean to make him sulk. It was a compliment.

The plain gift is just camouflage to make the pretty one shine more. Isn’t it?