***

For days, rain had been falling in the capital.

Until now, the capital had only experienced brief showers, just enough when needed.

As a result, the street defenses weren’t properly prepared. Naturally, roads flooded and buildings leaked.

Though there hadn’t been any casualties yet, it was only a matter of time before they might occur.

The longer the rain continued, the more people’s anxiety grew.

If more rain came, it wouldn’t just be a matter of comfort but a threat to survival.

Already, people from the impoverished outskirts had rushed out of the capital in droves.

It was inevitable as the rain made it difficult to earn enough for daily sustenance.

With those who did difficult or dirty work leaving the capital, inconveniences steadily accumulated.

It was when the entire capital was groaning under the downpour, and people’s discontent had reached dangerous levels.

The rain stopped in one particular street.

More precisely, only in the sky above a certain boy standing on that street.

It was a truly strange sight.

In a sky filled with dark clouds pouring rain, only the area above the boy’s head was bright and clear.

As the boy moved, the dark clouds dispersed in the direction of his steps, and the rain ceased.

The boy walked throughout the capital all day. To stop the rain.

At first, he walked, and later, he rode a horse.

All the people of the capital witnessed this sight.

As well as the golden eyes that shone brilliantly on the boy’s beautiful face.

In a capital where the myths of the first Emperor still lingered, there was no more perfect way to prove imperial lineage.

Eventually, through people’s rumors, the boy’s identity was revealed.

He was Prince Sion, the Emperor’s sixth son, still too young to have made public appearances.

***

“Leti. My beloved disciple. When you go to the imperial palace to see the Emperor, don’t ever tremble. What’s there to be nervous about? No matter how the Emperor reacts, don’t mind it, just think about what thoughts would make you feel good while looking at the Emperor. Understand?”

The head chamberlain guided Leticia deeper into the imperial palace.

Surely this chamberlain would definitely know the real Prince Sion’s face, yet he treated Leticia as Prince Sion as if it were natural.

“His Majesty has recently contracted an eye disease, so he is not appearing in public places.”

“I know.”

Despite Leticia’s casual tone of superiority, the head chamberlain didn’t bat an eye.

“I’m glad you’re aware. Please follow me. His Majesty has specially made time for Prince Sion.”

The head chamberlain knocked on a door guarded by two knights on either side.

A servant opened the door from inside, and only after passing through about two more such doors could Leticia finally reach the Emperor’s private drawing room, where the Emperor was said to be.

“Your Majesty. Prince Sion is here.”

In the darkly curtained drawing room, the Emperor was looking down at documents.

Leticia realized that the Emperor, who had seemed so enormous ten years ago, was not as large as she had thought.

The Emperor raised his eyes to look at Leticia.

As her master had said, the Emperor’s eyes were not golden. Red pupils scanned Leticia up and down with calculating scrutiny.

Under that gaze, she held her head even more stiffly.

While thinking about what her master had told her.

“You claimed to be a prince, so I made you a real prince. Even if they know you’re not, what can they do about it?”

And even what Luka had quietly whispered to her while hearing those words.

“Leti. I don’t think you need to take after your master’s personality. She seems like a good person to you, but someone you shouldn’t make an enemy of, though fortunately she’s on our side…”

Recalling up to that point, Leticia smiled.

Whatever meaning that smile conveyed to Emperor Yurik, he frowned.

“Prince Sion.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

At Leticia’s brazen response, Yurik sneered.

“I told you to die as a prince, not to live as one.”

It was natural for the Emperor to know Leticia’s identity since she hadn’t hidden her appearance or abilities.

Moreover, they had deliberately told Luka and Nathan, who were working as imperial spies, not to hide Leticia’s existence and to report it as is.

The only thing concealed in that report the Emperor was holding was Leticia’s bond with Basilinte. Of course, that was essentially the most important thing for Leticia.

“You dare to covet the position of the real prince?”

The Emperor’s anger no longer felt frightening to Leticia. She shrugged her shoulders.

“I don’t understand what you’re saying, Your Majesty. How can I not be the real prince? If you think so, shouldn’t you immediately summon soldiers and put me on the execution block?”

Knowing he couldn’t do that, she could only smile.

“Proclaim before the imperial citizens of the capital that this golden-eyed impostor must be executed.”

There was no way the Emperor, who had lost his golden eyes, could do such a thing.

Even though the Emperor knew Leticia wasn’t a prince now, he had to join hands with her to maintain legitimacy.

With all imperial family members having lost their golden eyes, Leticia might be the only one on this continent who possessed them.

She demanded from the Emperor, who was too hurt in his pride to speak and was suppressing his anger.

“Please acknowledge me as a prince. Give me a debut as a prince, and, hmm, I would also like you to arrange an engagement for me. As soon as possible. With a lady from at least a Marquis family.”

In response to her continued words, the Emperor finally asked.

“What do you want?”

“Power.”

Leticia glanced at Luka’s cleverly manipulated report and said something she didn’t mean.

“I lived as a hostage of Basilinte and have now escaped. I don’t want to go back there ever again, and for that, I need power.”

Well, she did need power. To return happily to Basilinte after all her revenge was complete.

***

Leticia quickly returned to Prince Sion’s palace after finishing her negotiation with the Emperor.

Her heart beat pleasantly at the reunion that was completely different from ten years ago.

Leticia entered the room with steps that felt almost like flying.

She thought it would be nice if her master were there. Or  Tan, or Lady Kalia…

“How was today?”

In that moment, Leticia tightly embraced Chamuka.

“It was amazing!”

“….”

“….”

Seeing Chamuka’s stiffened body and reddened earlobes, Leticia finally came to her senses and awkwardly pulled away.

This happened because suddenly, at this time today, it happened to be Chamuka who was here.

Surely it was Tan who had said he would be free today, not Chamuka.

“…But I thought Tan was supposed to come today, wasn’t he?”

“Were you waiting for Tan?”

“Since he said he would come, I waited.”

Chamuka thought of Tan, whom he had roughed up and buried in a corner of the garden with only his head sticking out. Being tough, he would probably survive.

In fact, when he saw that guy lying face down on Leticia’s bed, he had intended to bury his head too, but he restrained himself. If he did that, Leticia would worry about him.

“But I wanted to see you, too, Lord Chamuka. We haven’t met at all lately. Lord Tan looked like he was dying, but are you okay?”

Chamuka nodded.

“I’m fine. I… missed you too.”

In the awkward atmosphere that returned, Leticia laughed nervously.

Chamuka never knew how to hide his feelings. And that was the biggest cause of the awkwardness between them.

“Um…”

Just as Leticia was about to speak to dispel the awkwardness.

Chamuka, who had been staring blankly at Leticia, dropped another bomb with his words.

“You said you didn’t want to date because I’m family. Then how about marriage?”

“….”

“Spouses are family too.”