Chapter 1 – The Tribute from Aden (Part 4)

Seia looked dazzlingly beautiful in her white dress.

The long-sleeved white dress was adorned with small jewels that sparkled like scattered stars on the long skirt.

“You look stunning.”

The maids, who had been stealing glances at Seia’s face while helping her with her makeup, now openly stared at her.

“I’d like some time alone to prepare.”

Seia said gently, and the maids finally stepped back.

Seia kept her back straight and stared at the mirror until the door closed.

“Goddess of the Earth.”

Seia sighed deeply.

She had ridden nonstop from the forest’s edge and arrived at the palace in the middle of the night.

Then, without proper rest, she had to wake up at dawn to prepare for the entrance ceremony.

‘I thought they’d at least give me a few days to adjust, but these merciless Hellis people.’

Seia relaxed and sank into the plush chair.

The entrance ceremony.

It was the event where she would dress in Hellis attire, greet the Emperor, and meet Crown Prince Tristan for the first time.

In other words, it was Seia’s debutante.

‘There’s no turning back now.’

After the series of events, Seia realized that her brother Percy had put a death-faking drug in her motion sickness medicine.

Knowing that Seia would never relent, Percy must have planned to fake her death with a drug that could fool even a physician and then take her away.

He might have even planned to switch her body with a real corpse using a sorcerer. The thought gave her chills.

‘It was too risky a gamble, Percy.’

She understood his desire to protect her, but if caught, not only the attendants but Percy himself could be executed.

However, if it worked out, Seia’s death could be blamed on the royal knights, allowing Aden to withdraw from the situation.

It was clear that Percy had taken the risk for that possibility.

“Tribute, it’s time to go.”

Seia snapped her head up at the words.

‘Get a grip. Everything depends on me now.’

Seia straightened her back and returned to the fearless face of the future Crown Princess.

‘Smile, Seia Aden.’

After confirming her fake smile one last time, Seia left the room.

***

“The Tribute Seia Aden, the fiancée of Crown Prince Tristan, is entering.”

The chamberlain announced, and the musicians began to play in unison.

As the large doors opened, the main hall illuminated by sparkling chandeliers came into view.

‘Yes, I am the daughter of Aden. I have nothing to fear.’

Despite her thoughts, Seia felt her legs tremble beneath the long dress.

‘This is the moment of a lifetime. It might be the most splendid entrance of my life.’

But she felt neither joy nor anticipation.

“Do not look upon His Majesty until he gives you permission.”

A maid whispered beside her. Her name was Natalie.

Seia was supposed to be introduced to the maids after the entrance ceremony, but for some reason, a lady who had already entered the palace volunteered to serve her.

‘It must be humiliating for a true noble lady to serve the Tribute of a defeated nation.’

If Seia had been the daughter of a prestigious family, many would have vied to enter the palace early and win her favor, but the situation was different now.

‘She must have an ulterior motive.’

But now was not the time to think about that.

Seia gracefully bent her knees and bowed.

“I greet His Majesty Emperor Catheon of the great Hellis Empire, who is favored by the almighty Sun God.”

Seia kept her shoulders and back proudly straight but lowered her gaze to her toes. She was the perfect image of a Tribute.

“Welcome, Tribute Seia. Now, raise your head.”

Seia finally lifted her head to face the enemy of her family.

‘While my father and mother died on the battlefield, and my brother was dragged to the torture chamber, this man hid in his splendid palace, laughing.’

Seia barely maintained her smile.

“Tristan.”

The Emperor called, and Tristan, who was standing on the right, stepped forward. Seia bowed once more.

‘He’s just the same as back then.’

Seia remembered Tristan’s face when he had broken into the top room of the tower.

Of course, she was forced to see his portrait every year, so she couldn’t forget even if she wanted to.

“Tribute!”

Tristan beamed.

“I greet Crown Prince Tristan of the great Hellis Empire, the heir of the almighty Sun.”

Tristan approached and took Seia’s hand, immediately kissing the back of it.

“I couldn’t sleep a wink last night, waiting for you, my Tribute.”

A shallow shiver ran up her arm from the spot where Tristan’s lips touched. If not for the long sleeves, it might have been noticeable.

“I am honored, Your Highness.”

“Lovers should converse while dancing.”

Emperor Catheon interjected with a joking tone, causing the hall full of nobles to laugh. It was a restrained laughter that never lost its dignity.

‘Do they really believe I will love this man?’

Of course, they did. Because the oracle said so.

No one dared to challenge the Crown Prince’s authority. If the Crown Prince became Emperor, the woman in the oracle had no choice but to love him.

Thinking otherwise was an act of treason.

“Then, let us begin.”

Catheon said, leaning back leisurely on his throne.

He looked like a lion lazily contemplating which prey to hunt.

Soon, the music started.

The nobles who filled the hall also found their partners.

“My Seia.”

Tristan extended his hand.

Seia lightly placed her fingertips on his hand.

Tristan immediately grasped her hand tightly. Seia flinched.

“Finally, I get to meet you.”

Seia smiled awkwardly and focused on the dance.

Even though she had practiced dancing since childhood, her steps were getting tangled due to nervousness.

“I can’t wait to get married.”

Tristan moved his feet quite gracefully.

‘The perfect Crown Prince, so they say.’

Seia thought.

With golden hair that shone brighter than anyone’s, inherited from Emperor Catheon. Green eyes that looked like they held jewels. A noble face sculpted as if favored by the Gods.

Moreover, he was rumored to be a prodigy skilled in everything. Dancing was among his talents.

“…I am also pleased to meet you, Your Highness.”

Seia managed to reply.

“Was your journey peaceful?”

“Thanks to the Knights Your Highness sent.”

Tristan smiled contentedly.

Despite the dazzling smile of the beautiful Sun Crown Prince, Seia felt an inexplicable chill.

“I heard there was an accident on the way.”

‘…Already?’

Seia hid her surprise.

Tristan was still smiling.

“It happened because I have never ridden in a carriage for so long.”

She tried to gauge how much he knew.

“Yes, I heard you fainted.”

Seia lowered her eyelashes as if embarrassed.

Tristan spun her around once. Seia made a clean circle and returned to his arms.

When she lifted her gaze, she saw Emperor Catheon watching her and the Crown Prince.

And next to him, there was that man.

‘The dark-haired knight, it’s him.’

“But I heard Kyle woke you up?”

Tristan said.

Seia looked at Tristan in shock.

“What did he do again?”

Tristan still wore a relaxed smile, but his eyes were as sharp as a well-honed blade.

“He found some herbs for me, Your Highness.”

Seia replied.

She could simply say she didn’t remember what happened while she was unconscious. No one would blame her for that.

‘He wouldn’t do anything to that knight, would he?’

“Yes, it was fortunate you met Kyle.”

Tristan said, his tone full of sarcasm.

Seia forced a brighter smile.

“Now that I have met you, Your Highness, it’s all in the past.”

Seia said calmly, and Tristan stared intently at her.

“Tribute, you truly are beautiful.”

Seia was taken aback.

“I can’t wait to hold you.”

Tristan spun her around again, and Seia barely managed to hide her expression.

‘Can I really pretend to love this man?’

She couldn’t kill him right away.

She would have to secure her position in the Imperial Family as the Crown Princess and then look for an opportunity.

The music was gradually slowing down.

Tristan kissed the back of Seia’s hand again.

“Tribute, will you dance the next dance with me as well?”

“Of course, Your Highness.”

Seia answered helplessly like a marionette.

At that moment.

“Crown Prince.”

Seia’s eyes widened. The dark-haired knight, Kyle, was walking towards them.

‘A knight dares to call the Crown Prince first?’

“Kyle.”

Tristan turned around, pronouncing the name with a bite.

Unlike the elaborately dressed Tristan, Kyle was simply wearing the knight’s cloak and a brooch. But Seia thought the outfit suited his large frame better.

“This is my half-brother, Kyle.”

Tristan introduced him to Seia.

‘Half-brother?’

Seia, who had grown up confined in the tower, didn’t know that Emperor Catheon had an illegitimate son.

Seia quickly corrected her expression and smiled.

“An honor to meet you, Prince.”

Seia said cautiously.

“The honor is mine, Tribute.”

Kyle replied, making eye contact with Seia.

Seia felt her face heat up.

‘Moreover, this man knows about my brother’s scheme.’

The fact that he was the Emperor’s son was shocking, but knowing the truth about the incident was a greater danger.

“Are you here to greet us?”

Tristan asked provocatively.

“Actually…”

Kyle looked at Seia, then suddenly extended his hand.

“I came to ask the Tribute for a dance.”

People murmured loudly.

He was a prince who had lived in the North, swinging his sword without ever provoking Tristan.

Now, he was boldly requesting the hand of the future Crown Princess, as if issuing a challenge.

“I still have much to discuss with the Tribute.”

“But the Tribute will belong to the Crown Prince for a lifetime, isn’t it greedy to keep her to yourself?”

Emperor Catheon interjected.

From Catheon’s perspective, he didn’t want unnecessary commotion on the important day of welcoming the woman from the oracle into the palace.

‘Am I an object?’

Seia scoffed inwardly.

She felt like a toy being passed between the Crown Prince and the Prince.

“Of course, the Tribute’s opinion is most important.”

Kyle added, as if reading Seia’s mind.

But how dare he suggest that the opinion of a bride sold off was more important than the Crown Prince’s?

People murmured again.