TL/Editor: Butter Cat

    Status: 4/week mon-thurs

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    〈 Chapter 49 〉 Chapter 49. Prologue(??).

    * * * Sёar?h the N??eFire.ηet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

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    An unspoken rule that exists in all fairy tales.

    The first child is lazy.

    The second child is greedy.

    And the youngest, the third child, is the most diligent, hardworking, and intelligent of them all.

    What a boring rule.

    The end of a beautiful journey in those stories, a journey that could be long for some, short for others.

    It always ends with the eldest and second child, who had been ignoring and bullying their youngest sibling, receiving a fitting punishment, or with the kind youngest sibling offering forgiveness and salvation to those who repented for their ugly sins.

    Yes.

    As always, the story must end with a happy ending where everyone smiles brightly and embraces each other.

    "Really, such a cliche."

    But after that, were they truly happy?

    Hey, hey, don''t you think so too?

    **

    "—I was a little worried after hearing what Princess Remi said, but it seems like things are going better than I expected?"

    "So that''s what you think, Tessa. Well, I suppose it could seem that way."

    Clink, clink.

    With my small gesture, I could feel a beautiful sound, like a chime, resonating from the glass.

    The sound of ice clinking against the glass, crisp and refreshing.

    It was so refreshing that I wanted to capture it in a small glass bottle and carry it around with me in this hot weather, if only it were possible.

    Of course, it''s impossible.

    I know you can''t capture sound in a bottle, okay?

    It''s just wishful thinking, wishful thinking.

    "I wonder, Tessa, if there exists a device that can capture sound?"

    ".....Hahaha, capturing sound. There''s no way such a thing exists, Princess."

    "This is the empire, isn''t it? You never know."

    "Oh come on, really?"

    The Princess seemed a bit serious, though.

    With each shake, I could see the ice cubes swimming around, floating up and down in the transparent glass without even a hint of cloudiness.

    I wonder what kind of advanced technology was used to create this small, ordinary-looking glass.

    The more I looked at it, the more I felt not just jealousy, but admiration for the empire''s technological prowess.

    Tinkle.

    The bell, attached to a pillar, chimed in the wind.

    Feeling the breeze, Princess Remi and I relaxed in our chairs.

    "Mmm....."

    "Refreshing, isn''t it?"

    The eighth month.

    It was the peak of summer, so hot that just standing outside made sweat trickle down my body.

    In the old days, if this were back when I was the royal librarian, I would have been holed up in the library all day, like a vampire from legend, avoiding the scorching sun.

    Shimmer, heat haze rose from the road.

    To think that on a hot day like this, I would be sitting outside, under a shade, enjoying a cold drink with ice.

    Life, is full of surprises.

    Well.

    Of course, I never imagined I would be chatting so casually with the princess like this.

    And with the second princess, of all people, the one I had the least connection with.

    When she was younger, Princess Anna would often visit the library to find materials for her studies.

    And Princess Aris, would often tag along with her—

    "—It''s good to hear that you like it, Tessa."

    Tak.

    The woman sitting before me, Princess Remi, gently placed her glass, which she had been sipping from, on the table and looked at me with a playful smile.

    Thinking I had accidentally spoken my thoughts out loud. I felt my legs go numb at her gaze, and I jumped slightly in my chair, averting my eyes.

    The chair rattled.

    The people around us stared at me with a ‘… What is she doing?’ look, but I just whistled softly, trying to sink the thoughts I had been recalling deep into my heart.

    Yes.

    These are memories I shouldn''t dare to recall anymore.

    Deeper, even deeper.

    Like a heavy weight, sinking to the depths of the ocean, never to resurface.

    Sink, sink, disappear—

    "—Perhaps because the analogy, was just an analogy."

    I forced myself to calm down and continued the conversation with the princess.

    Casually, like always.

    Fortunately, the princess sitting before me seemed to be only momentarily surprised and didn''t seem to mind too much.

    I let out a small sigh of relief.

    "Hmm?"

    "You said it before, didn''t you? About it being a prison, a place of exile, and such miscellaneous things."

    "Ah, did I?"

    Smirk.

    Like a fox, the corners of the Princess''s eyes curved into a gentle arc.

    I saw her amber eyes, so bright like jewels, that I felt like I would be lost if I looked into them for too long.

    A mysterious smile graced her lips, which were resting on her slender hand as she leaned her chin against it.

    A smile that was impossible to decipher, whether it was mocking, or a genuine expression of joy.

    A seductive, almost lewd smile.

    Honestly, I shouldn''t be saying this...

    But she really looked like a temptress.

    A very, very dangerous one at that.

    An adult.

    Just the day before yesterday, Princess Remi had celebrated her sixteenth birthday, finally reaching the adulthood she had been so eagerly anticipating.

    Her beauty, which had been blossoming day by day, had now reached its peak, now exuding such a mature and alluring charm that it was hard to believe she was younger than me.

    If I were to quote a passage I recently read in a book... Yes, a beauty with a face like a flower and a figure like the moon.

    With a single gesture, a single smile.

    A beauty who could bring down an entire kingdom.

    For example, one look at the people passing by who’s mesmerized by the princess''s smile was collapsing as if they had lost their minds, would be enough to understand her level of beauty.

    Men and women alike, all stare this way mindlessly.

    Some men even clutched their hearts and collapsed right there on the street.

    By the way, among them were a married man with children.

    I''m going to beat that bastard up later.

    Well, even if I don''t, the woman next to him looks like she''s about to kill him.

    At such an unsightly scene, I snapped out of my daze and shooed away those infatuated men.

    Shoo, shoo.

    Get lost.

    Perhaps it was because I had seen the princess since she was a child, but I was somehow able to adjust to her bewitching beauty.

    However, she didn''t seem to care about my struggles, continuing our conversation without even glancing at the people around her.

    Really, she''s as self-centered as ever, this princess.

    But that''s why, I followed her all the way here.

    "At any rate, it''s a royal academic research institution located in the heart of the empire — Museion."

    "Mmm....."

    "Well, that''s the gist of it."

    Two.

    Index finger and thumb.

    Princess Remi picked up a small ice cube from her glass, using her fingers like tweezers.

    Tok, tok. Using that ice dripping with water, the Princess began drawing on the wooden table.

    Curves and straight lines.

    Big circles and small circles.

    Squiggly worms and diamonds.

    A distorted pentagon and a crescent moon with one side unusually long.

    She continued to complete her own drawing with a smile that seemed all too joyful.

    "Some people believe that loyalty earned through fear is only temporary."

    "The empire."

    "Yes, correct."

    Tok, tok.

    The drawing on the table grew larger and larger, and when the ice cube melted completely, she fished out another one from her glass.

    The light scattering from the ice cube, sparkled brilliantly.

    "To slowly devour everything, that''s what they chose."

    The Akard Empire.

    A kingdom at the peak of its power.

    A kingdom that had declared itself an empire, its ruler an emperor.

    And yet, their insatiable greed, was like watching a pack of starving wolves.

    How can one even attempt to perfectly define them with a single word, but I dare to, allow me to gather my courage and say, with all due respect:

    They are predators, devouring everything in their path.

    "They show off the empire''s advanced culture and knowledge, to those who come to study. Yes... Just like this glass."

    Clink.

    She flicked the glass lightly with her little finger.

    Territory, military, culture, art, academics, politics, philosophy, lifestyle, sanitation.

    The empire had already surpassed all the surrounding kingdoms in every aspect.

    All roads lead to the empire.

    And those roads, are now ready to extend outwards.

    That''s what she was saying.

    "The smaller it is, the more common it is, the better. Because those who are unworthy of recognizing its value, are useless to the empire. They''re the ones who gave it the nickname ''banquet hall''."

    "......"

    "And conversely, those who do recognize its value, will naturally become favorable towards the empire, consciously or unconsciously."

    Just like us.

    Princess Remi''s eyes, still sparkling with amusement, were saying that.

    I, who had been completely awed by the empire''s untouchable technology, couldn''t help but smile wryly, acknowledging her words.

    Truly, amazing.

    Both the empire.

    And, her.

    "There''s a saying, numbers are power."

    What would happen if a school of small sardines, all cried out in unison?

    They would say that there''s no way we, insignificant compared to the empire, could ever stand against them.

    That we should follow their example, embrace their culture and ideas, and open the doors to reform.

    Look at their benevolent conquest. Wouldn''t it be better to voluntarily become a vassal state?

    The more officials who made such claims, the more isolated those who opposed the empire in the royal court would become.

    I wanted to argue that it was a ridiculous notion, but it was already happening, everywhere.

    Clink.

    "—How is it?"

    "........"

    Sip. Princess Remi finished her drawing and took a small sip of her drink, the ice now completely melted, and asked me.

    A world map, drawn with water droplets, was completed on the table.

    She looked at it with sharp eyes, as if trying to see through the essence of the world.

    A brilliant mind, quickly analyzing the situation and offering the best possible solution.

    Really, where had the whiny, spoiled little princess gone?

    I couldn''t hide my surprise.

    "I see.…"

    But somehow her smug, confident look made me feel a little mischievous.

    I couldn''t help but tease her.

    "—You really can''t draw, can you?"

    "…Eh!?"

    For your information, It took two whole days, to appease the sulking princess.

    Hahaha.

    She''s still a child after all.

    **

    "By the way, Tessa. Didn''t you say a transfer student was coming today?"

    "Ah, you mean the one dispatched from the Wallenstein mercenary group owned by the Empire under an exchange program?"

    "Yes. I remember her name being quite unique. Her face was also unique… But I can''t quite remember. Si… Si, something like that."

    "Her name? I found it a bit unique too, so I memorized it."

    "If I''m not mistaken, her name was… Han Sia, wasn''t it?"

    **

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