Chapter 5

Late into the night, Prince Evan, the Second Imperial Prince, sat in the study of his palace as usual, reviewing state affairs.

Knock. Knock.

“It’s Diane, Your Highness.”

“Come in.”

At his curt permission, the study door opened, and Sir Diane, commander of Iris, the knight order directly under the Second Prince, stepped inside.

She had come carrying several documents Evan had requested. Even though she knew he was aware of her presence, the fifteen-year-old prince didn’t so much as lift his head, his eyes remaining fixed on the paperwork before him.

Now fifteen years old, Evan had completely lost the last traces of childhood baby fat, beginning to resemble a refined young man.

Diane had served at his side for nearly five years, yet she still couldn’t grow accustomed to the tense atmosphere that always surrounded him.

Well… he had never been one to smile warmly, even as a child.

But as the years passed, he seemed only to grow colder and more merciless.

After placing the documents on the desk, Diane lingered awkwardly instead of leaving.

Finally, Evan looked up.

“Is there something you wish to say?”

“Ah… yes… Just as Your Highness predicted, Princess Katrina came looking for you. She insisted on meeting you, but… as instructed, we sent her away…”

…Though did you really have to do that to your own eight-year-old sister?

She swallowed those words before they could leave her mouth.

Even so, Evan seemed to understand what she had been unable to say.

For the first time, he looked away from the documents and met her gaze.

His eyes alone were terrifying enough to make it seem as though he could order someone’s execution without hesitation.

Diane instinctively lowered her head.

Whenever he reprimanded his subordinates, Evan never wasted time with lectures or unnecessary words.

Instead, he simply picked up the report Diane had brought and continued questioning her.

“What time did this happen?”

“About thirty minutes ago. Judging by how poorly she was dressed, it seemed…”

“What about the search party sent to Cartelia Forest?”

“…”

That’s it?

The conversation about Princess Katrina is already over?

She had wanted to report that ever since it was revealed the princess possessed no divine power, she appeared to have been receiving almost no proper care in the Second Princess’s Palace…

But she could only swallow her concern and return to the matter she’d originally come to discuss.

Just then—

Tap. Tap.

Through the fierce early spring wind, while winter still stubbornly lingered…

Something like a small pebble struck the tightly shut window of Evan’s study.

Tap. Tap.

Could it simply be a tree branch?

No.

The tapping came again.

Regular.

Deliberate.

Diane quietly approached the window and pulled the curtain aside.

There—

A pale little child was clinging to the outside of the closed window, silently moving her lips.

Big Brother.

Please open the window.

“……”

Evan’s study was on the second floor.

*

After overcoming countless obstacles…

Kitty finally succeeded in entering her older brother Evan’s study.

When she’d climbed over the palace wall, scaled the side of the building, and finally reached the tightly locked window…

She’d genuinely thought she was going to freeze to death.

Fortunately, one of the kind knights accompanying Evan had let both her and Cindy inside.

After helping them climb through the window safely, the bewildered knight asked,

“How on earth did you get up here?”

“We climbed over the wall.”

“…That wall?”

“Mm.”

“Cindy helped me.”

Kitty even pointed directly at Cindy with one finger.

The young maid, who had faithfully stayed beside the princess the entire time she had been hanging outside the window, let out an embarrassed laugh.

“Hehe…”

She was only twelve years old.

With her soft, delicate appearance and youthful face still carrying traces of baby fat…

No one could believe she’d helped an eight-year-old climb the towering palace walls.

Diane’s eyes gradually narrowed as she looked at Cindy.

Fortunately, Evan himself seemed interested only in the fact that his valuable working hours had been interrupted by a childish prank.

“So.”

“What exactly did you go through all this trouble for?”

There wasn’t the slightest hint of happiness, affection, or excitement at finally meeting his younger sister face to face.

Even Kitty, who rarely paid much attention to other people’s emotions, could immediately tell from his cold voice.

Before Kitty could speak, Cindy suddenly dropped to her knees.

“Your Highness…”

“I beg you to show mercy to Princess Katrina!”

Everyone in the study turned toward the kneeling maid.

Only then did Kitty realize that kind-hearted Cindy had taken it upon herself to play the role that should have been hers.

That was right.

If necessary…

She was supposed to kneel and beg her merciless older brother herself.

Evan merely watched silently as Katrina’s maid clasped her hands together in desperate appeal.

“Princess Katrina has only been in the Imperial Palace for half a month.”

“Yet Head Maid Garnet and the other servants of the Second Princess’s Palace constantly neglect, insult, and humiliate her.”

“They often fail to provide her with even a proper meal.”

“…”

“Driven by hunger, Her Highness finally couldn’t bear it any longer and cooked food for herself in the kitchen.”

“But the incident was wrongly reported to His Majesty as though it were nothing more than the princess’s personal misconduct.”

“As a result, His Majesty became furious and ordered the complete cancellation of the Second Princess’s Palace’s budget.”

“…”

“If things continue like this, Princess Katrina could become gravely ill—or even suffer a terrible accident.”

“I beg you, please take pity on her.”

“She asks for nothing extravagant.”

“She only wishes to receive proper meals without constantly worrying about starving.”

At that point, Evan quietly raised one hand.

The gesture alone told Cindy to stop speaking.

She immediately fell silent and waited for judgment from one of the most powerful figures in the Imperial Palace.

For some reason…

Kitty had a bad feeling.

Unlike Diane, who reacted sympathetically to every word of Cindy’s heartfelt plea…

Evan’s expression hadn’t changed once.

He remained as emotionless as ever.

Meanwhile, Diane looked increasingly distressed as she gazed down at Cindy.

She clearly understood the danger the young maid had risked by coming here for the princess’s sake.

As expected…

The weary prince rubbed his temple before speaking.

“So…”

“All this commotion was over something so trivial?”

In an instant, Cindy’s face turned white as paper.

Evan stared coldly at the maid who had dared raise her voice before him.

Then, as though he had lost interest, he waved one hand dismissively.

“Whether His Majesty’s decision to revoke the budget was justified or not can be investigated in due time.”

“I understand the situation.”

“You may leave now.”

His tone made it abundantly clear…

He had no interest whatsoever in Katrina’s circumstances.

Fortunately, Cindy wasn’t punished.

Still…

It was difficult to believe this was how he treated the little sister he had just met for the first time.

Unlike Diane and Cindy, who couldn’t hide their disappointment…

Kitty understood him.

Technically, she and Evan shared the same mother and father.

But they’d never had a single opportunity to build any bond as siblings.

When Emperor Theodore’s second empress, Sophia, fled the palace while pregnant with Kitty…

Evan had only been six years old.

Six.

At that age…

He’d effectively been abandoned by both his mother and father.

Then…

Nine years later…

A strange eight-year-old girl suddenly appeared, claiming to be the younger sister born to the very mother who had abandoned him.

How could anyone expect him to feel affectionate toward her?

Others might wonder how siblings born to the same parents could be so cold to one another.

But Kitty and Evan were practically strangers.

In some ways…

They were even less than strangers.

Watching the awkward exchange of glances between Diane and Cindy, Kitty realized it was finally her turn to speak.

“Okay, Big Brother.”

“I’m sorry for taking up your time.”

She then reached out a hand toward Cindy, who was still kneeling on the floor.

“Let’s go, Cindy.”

“I don’t think this is going to work.”

“Your Highness…”

Cindy looked up at her sadly.

Yet Princess Katrina remained perfectly calm.

Behind her oversized glasses was the same blank, almost foolish-looking face as always.

She had just been despised by the father she had finally met after eight years.

Now even the older brother, seven years her senior, clearly regarded her as little more than an inconvenience.

And yet…

Not a single tear fell from her eyes.

That expression…

Was strangely familiar to Evan.