TOOCM | 005

Episode 5

Ignoring Ben’s muttering, still uneasy, Kaiden thought of Reina.

“Sorry for my earlier rudeness.”

“I was rude first, visiting unannounced. Thank you for not turning me away.”

“Still, letting my hostility slip was my fault. It’s a sensitive matter, and I got emotional.”

“It’s really fine. I heard Northerners are hot-tempered and fiery. Probably evolved that way from life-or-death battles. Sometimes, the heart’s call is truer than the mind’s.”

“I didn’t expect you to get one over me like that. Are you mocking me?”

“What? No way! Who could lay a hand on you? Someone like me would be flung away before even touching.”

“…Take care.”

“Pfft.”

Kaiden chuckled, finishing the recollection, heedless of Ben staring as if he were mad.

Princess Reina was like a rabbit boldly entering a tiger’s den.

He hadn’t outright rejected her seemingly feeble proposal because he admired her courage.

Recalling how she trembled yet said all she meant to, he laughed again.

Her audacity mixed with cautious glances was oddly fascinating.

His gut told him Reina spoke only truth.

As Ben debated fetching a physician, Kaiden spoke.

“We might have a new duchess soon.”

“What? You’re joking, right?”

“Have you ever seen me joke?”

Kaiden smirked, and Ben’s eyes widened.

His lord looked unusually amused.

Knowing how tenacious Kaiden became when intrigued, Ben groaned softly.

Reina’s proposal had clearly struck a chord.

Whatever it was, a vassal’s duty was to follow.

Ben, dropping his levity, said,

“At least wait for my report before deciding.”

“Get it by tomorrow.”

“…”

“What? Don’t want to?”

“If I say no, you’ll demand it tonight, won’t you?”

“You know me well.”

Kaiden grinned, affirming.

Ben, mentally cursing his boss, left the study.

* * *

‘I did it!’

On her way back to the palace, Reina cheered inwardly.

She’d worried about Kaiden’s uncooperative attitude, but it worked out.

In her past life, she’d studied him thoroughly under the Emperor’s orders.

No one knew what piqued Kaiden’s interest better than her.

Kaiden deeply loved the North and its people.

He’d risk his life to protect them without hesitation.

So, she targeted that.

In her previous life, she drove him to ruin; now, she’d do the opposite.

“I can see the future. And other things, like the hideouts of monsters in their spawning season. They emit a distinct aura.”

“Is that true?”

“Soon, Class-1 restricted monsters will swarm the North. Marry me, and I’ll tell you where their eggs are. Dealing with them before they hatch would benefit the North, right?”

“It’s tempting, but how can I trust you?”

“A messenger will arrive from the North tomorrow, reporting a Class-1 restricted monster, Goreth’s shed skin.”

“…You really see the future?”

“You’ll know tomorrow. Whether I’m deceiving you or truly see the future.”

“If all you say is true, I’d have no reason to refuse your proposal.”

“Then I’ll wait.”

Reina clasped her still-trembling hands to her chest.

Kaiden was more intimidating than she’d imagined.

Jet-black hair.

Sharp, violet eyes gleaming like a predator’s.

His dragon-descendant aura was fierce.

He was so tall her neck ached looking up.

Gazing at the receding ducal castle from the carriage, Reina sank into thought.

Thankfully, he hadn’t dismissed her proposal.

Despite his gruffness, she knew he’d listened seriously.

Relieved, Reina stared at the blue sky, murmuring to herself,

“What a tear-jerkingly beautiful sky…”

Vowing to soak it in while she could, she couldn’t tear her eyes away.

* * *

Three days since meeting Duke Crencia, yet no word from him.

The unexpectedly long wait made Reina anxious.

‘What’s wrong? Did the messenger not arrive? That can’t be.’

Around this time, Goreth’s shed skin was found, prompting Kaiden’s urgent return to the North.

He’d depart within five days.

She couldn’t decide if waiting was enough.

As Reina paced nervously, a voice called.

“Princess.”

The head maid approached quietly after knocking, presenting a silver tray with a card.

A golden card bearing the Mernie Empire’s symbols: the Scales of Wisdom and the Eternal Sundial.

Recognizing it instantly, Reina murmured,

“This is…”

“Congratulations, Princess. His Majesty has invited you to tonight’s banquet.”

Reina covered her mouth, stifling a scream.

The Emperor invited four promising royals to his banquets.

A stage to select his favored heirs.

Rights differed vastly between royals who dined with him and those who didn’t.

Most royals yearned for an invitation.

Reina once did too, but she’d never been invited.

She was imprisoned right after her power manifested.

The Emperor was greedy.

To achieve his grand dream of continental unification, he used even his daughters as tools.

If needed, he’d erase their names from history, such was his cruelty.

Naively, Reina once craved his glance, his interest.

She hadn’t known the cost would be ten years of exploitation.

‘The Duke must have gone to the Emperor.’

Otherwise, the Emperor wouldn’t suddenly invite her.

Back then, to him, Reina was a negligible daughter, neither here nor there.

In the past, she’d have been thrilled, but now her heart pounded for different reasons.

‘I can’t mess this up.’

Fortunately, her power hadn’t yet awakened.

Knowing the Emperor wouldn’t rashly imprison her, she still felt tense.

The head maid personally helped Reina prepare.

Even this was unfamiliar.

Reina was a princess in name only.

Her mother died giving birth to her, and her brother, three years older, vanished three years ago on a subjugation mission.

Her maternal family, the Eve County, fled to their estate after her trusted brother disappeared.

More accurately, they were driven out for lacking support.

Reina tried to follow her uncle but couldn’t.

Royals couldn’t leave without the Emperor’s permission.

She was isolated.

Could a royal without kin or siblings live regally?

As banquet time neared, Reina hurried to the hall.