TRETTHD 02

#2. A New Option

“Huff, huff… You ran off so suddenly, it startled me.”

Catching his breath as if he had rushed to follow her, the First Prince looked toward Belia, who wiped away the tears welling in her eyes. Then, she stood up from where she had slumped and spoke calmly.

“…I’m not feeling well. Please excuse me.”

She didn’t even want to exchange words with him.

“Prince Raul. I’m sorry, but I think it would be best if you returned for today.”

Herald conveyed the message politely.

Only then did the First Prince seem to notice Belia had been crying. Looking flustered, he nodded.

“…Understood. I’ll come again another time.”

With that, the First Prince left, and a brief silence followed.

It was clear something was wrong. Something was definitely going on, but Belia kept her mouth tightly shut and said nothing.

Unable to bear the concerned gazes of Herald and Klose, Belia forced a small smile.

“Are you really sure everything’s okay? If something’s worrying you, anything at all, talk to me. I’m always on your side.”

Herald gently patted her shoulder.

Hearing his kind reassurance brought tears welling up again.

“…By the way, brother. Are you very busy today?”

“Why do you ask?”

“How about afternoon tea with Klose and me?”

Rather than questioning why she had returned to the past, Belia simply wanted to spend time with the family she had missed so dearly.

She didn’t want to think about the Emperor at all.

Not revenge, not hatred. She just wanted to feel the warmth of her family again.

“Hmm… I do have a lot on my plate today…”

“Still, please make a little time, brother.”

“…Alright. How could I say no when you ask like that? I have to report something to Father, but I’ll be back soon.”

When Belia had learned that the royal castle of the Kingdom of Ronica had been burned and destroyed—by none other than her own husband, the Emperor—she thought nothing could be more tragic.

But after that, she was told her parents hadn’t made it out in time, and her beloved younger sibling had jumped from the castle tower.

Her heart shattered so completely, it was a wonder she hadn’t gone insane. She couldn’t hold herself together.

Foolishly, it was only after she had become Empress—after he had never once come to find her—that she realized the Emperor’s true intent.

It hadn’t been love. It was never love.

The sweet words whispered in her ear, the gaze that seemed to cherish her more than the whole world…

All of it had been a lie.

“Sis.”

Klose gently held Belia’s hand.

“You know I’ll always be on your side, right?”

“…What are you suddenly saying?”

“I mean you don’t have to marry the Imperial Prince just because he’s royalty. I want you to marry someone you truly love.”

Klose had always been such a kind and sweet child.

She didn’t deserve to be used and toyed with by someone like the Emperor.

Looking at Klose’s innocent face, Belia’s heart felt like it was being torn apart.

“You know, I actually don’t like the First Prince that much.”

Klose leaned in and whispered.

“Why?”

“I don’t know. He just rubs me the wrong way.”

Belia couldn’t help but laugh at her words.

The moment she learned of her brother’s death, she had thought—just once, she wished her family could gather and laugh together like this.

And now, that wish had come true. There was no need to hesitate.

“Let’s go to my room and talk.”

“Okay! I’ll even give you all my snacks today!”

“No thanks.”

“Hey! I’m saying this like I’m giving up my blood and flesh for you! How heartless!”

As she watched Klose puff up her cheeks and yell, Belia finally felt it sink in—she really had come back to the past.

The room was neatly arranged. The view outside the window was familiar. Even the ugly statue placed in the corner of the terrace.

It was her room, the one she had missed so dearly.

“Princess, the tea and sweets have been prepared over here.”

There were soft, sweet desserts that Klose liked, and baked treats that Belia loved.

A modest yet plentiful spread, prepared with care and sincerity.

“So? What’s the verdict?”

Belia asked as she sat down.

“What do you mean, ‘so what’? Look at that face of his. That alone is annoying,” Klose huffed, stabbing a piece of cake with her fork and putting it in her mouth.

“What? Haha. Where did you even hear something like that?”

‘That face’? Really…

Klose was only fifteen. Not something she should be saying.

But seeing her older sister look at her like she was adorable made Klose yell again.

“If you’re going to marry someone from the Empire, then at least go for the Second Prince!”

“The Second Prince? You mean Prince Khalid?”

“Yup, that’s him.”

Prince Khalid Ingot.

In the future Belia had experienced, he had become the Grand Duke ruling over the rugged eastern territories.

“But doesn’t he have a bad reputation? I’ve heard he’s cold and emotionless.”

After Belia became Empress, he had never once come to the capital. Of course, she’d never met him before that either.

Even while she was dating Raul, she’d never once encountered the Second Prince, which had made her curious about him.

When she had once asked Raul about Khalid, he’d reacted coldly and warned her not to get close to him.

‘…That was odd, too.’

He was so sensitive about it, almost like he was hiding something. Thinking back, Raul had been overly wary of Khalid.

Of course, rumors about Khalid weren’t great either.

An arrogant prince who didn’t bother hiding his contempt for others, completely lacking in manners.

A cruel, ruthless man with a sinister air about him.

He was often compared to Raul, the ever-polite and gentle First Prince.

“Ugh! Sis, you really don’t get it!”

Klose slapped her chest in frustration.

“Guys who act like Raul—doing everything for you and acting perfect—those are the ones who always change later! Cold and aloof guys like Khalid are the ones who are secretly warm to the woman they love!”

Klose ranted passionately, her cheeks puffed in frustration.

“Klose… I told you to stop reading those romance novels.”

“It’s not a novel! Ugh, whatever!”

Busted, Klose tried to change the subject by pretending to sip her tea.

But only briefly.

With a sigh, she began poking at her empty plate with a fork, muttering.

“Sometimes I don’t get you, Sis. If I were you, I’d have dated every cute guy I could.”

“Klose.”

“I mean, what’s the point of being pretty if all you do is read in the castle all day? Then some charming prince shows up and you just fall for him instantly.”

Seriously, when did her little sister get so blunt with her words?

Belia considered scolding her, but ended up chuckling instead.

She realized she had started nagging the sister she hadn’t seen in so long.

Even that felt like a luxury too precious to bear.

“I didn’t fall for him.”

“Then you will in a few days.”

“Klose. You really—”

Just as Belia was about to respond to her sister’s teasing, the terrace door opened and Herald entered.

“I’m not too late, am I?”

“Of course not, Brother.”

Belia smiled and offered him a seat.

How long had it been since the three of them had spent time together like this?

A warm feeling rose deep within her chest, and she almost teared up again.

But she swallowed the lump in her throat and smiled brightly.

“I really wanted us three to spend time together like this.”

“Is that so?”

“Thank you.”

For being alive.

Belia bit into one of her favorite baked treats, intentionally exaggerating her delight.

Sitting in front of a large desk, Belia stared blankly at a single letter.

“What will you do?”

The envelope was clearly marked with the word marriage proposal, written in clean, sharp handwriting. There was no doubt who it was from.

“Prince Raul seems very fond of you.”

“Father…”

“Didn’t you have feelings for him as well?”

Probably. Looking back, Belia had fallen for Raul almost instantly.

But—

“Please reject it.”

“…Didn’t you love him?”

“It’s true I was briefly swayed, but not enough to imagine spending my life with him.”

The kind-faced man listened to her carefully.

“I don’t want to marry Prince Raul.”

At her firm words, he responded seriously.

“The Kingdom of Ronica is a small country. No matter how peaceful we are, we’re still vulnerable to the consequences of what happens in stronger nations.”

“And that’s why you want me to marry him?”

Belia asked with a hint of bitterness.

“It’s not a bad match.”

Her father always avoided giving clear answers.

He always left the final decision to her—as if to say she alone must bear the consequences.

She loved her family deeply, but this part of him always left her feeling a little hurt.

“Then please find me a better match and decline this one. I won’t change my mind.”

“Prince Raul is the closest to becoming the next Emperor. If you want to refuse him, you’ll need a good reason.”

A reason? That he’s awful? That she hates him?

Wasn’t that enough?

Why did she need justification when she, the one marrying, didn’t want him?

“My dislike for him isn’t enough? My heart doesn’t want him, isn’t that reason enough?”

“Belia, don’t be childish. You need to give a reason that he will accept.”

Belia clenched her jaw.

…Ah.

Why was Prince Khalid suddenly coming to mind?

Was it her conversation with Klose earlier?

Come to think of it, to bring Raul down, she needed someone who could stand against him.

If she assumed Raul would become Emperor again, there was nothing she could do as the princess of a small kingdom.

She needed someone who could become her sword.

…Khalid Ingot.

What if she made him her ally?

She knew what the future held.

If she used all that information—

…She might be able to place the imperial crown not on Raul’s head, but on Khalid’s.

She had watched Raul rise, gaining everything.

Belia had been by his side, his greatest supporter, all the way until he took the imperial crown.

Even though, as Empress, she later discovered his hidden mistress, had everything stolen from her, and ultimately died by his hand…

Until then, she had been his closest ally.

“…Please give me some time, Father.”

Belia, returned to the past, wished with all her heart to see Raul fall—completely and utterly.

To make that happen, she needed someone who could take all the praise and glory that had once belonged to him.

If that person was the Second Prince—

Raul would rage like never before.

To be robbed of everything by the very brother he had always tried to suppress.

The thought sent shivers down Belia’s spine.

Maybe…

The one who could bring Raul to his knees in ruin.

The one who could drag him into a pit of despair.

The Empire’s Second Prince, Khalid.

He just might be the one.