Chapter 2 – Contract with the Prince (Part 5)

Caritas was an elderly lady with her hair elegantly styled.

“I am Caritas, and I will be responsible for your education, Your Highness.”

“What do you intend to teach?”

Seia asked as she made herself comfortable.

Caritas gave a short bow and sat across from Seia.

The library was vast and quiet, like being inside a whale’s mouth.

“I will teach you the Empire’s etiquette and manners, as well as knowledge about various imperial events, Your Highness.”

“Is that all?”

“I will help you start with small things like hosting parties for noblewomen and charity work, eventually enabling you to oversee events encompassing the entire imperial family, Your Highness.”

Seia slowly nodded.

“The role of the palace’s mistress is indeed very important.”

“I will do my best to assist you, Your Highness.”

“But I want to learn other things as well.”

Seia said.

At her words, Caritas looked up.

“To care for the Empire as an Empress in the future, one must be knowledgeable in diplomacy, industry, finance, and all fields, don’t you think?”

“But Your Highness, matters outside the palace are the domain of the Crown Prince, who will become Emperor.”

“Tell me, Caritas.”

Seia leaned forward, resting her chin on her hand, and looked at Caritas.

“Have you ever taught etiquette to the Crown Prince as an imperial tutor?”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Caritas answered obediently.

“Then, in your opinion, what kind of student was the Crown Prince?”

Seia smiled, indicating curiosity about her husband, though her question was more specific.

“The Crown Prince perfectly executes etiquette. He has the innate bloodline of the imperial family…”

“No.”

Seia interrupted her.

“I mean, is he intelligent?”

Seia tapped her head with her fingers.

A butterfly-shaped ornament sparkled among her elegantly braided hair.

“There must be other teachers who have taught the Crown Prince, right?”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“I would like to meet those teachers as well.”

“But…”

“Don’t you think you use the word ‘but’ too often with the Crown Princess?”

Seia said.

“Apologies, Your Highness. I have overstepped. Please forgive me.”

“Then arrange for me to meet those teachers. I will diligently attend etiquette lessons.”

“…Understood, Your Highness.”

“Oh, and inform them that I have already learned the basics of statecraft and rulership.”

Caritas cautiously looked at Seia.

Her gaze seemed humble but had a sharpness, like a well-honed blade hidden beneath.

‘She is evaluating me.’

Seia thought.

Caritas was assessing the caliber of the Crown Princess she was to serve.

Depending on that assessment, this woman would completely alter her attitude.

“Your Highness… you wish to be a general, not an Empress.”

Caritas finally spoke.

Her words carried weight, but Seia laughed dismissively.

“It’s all to assist the Crown Prince as the Crown Princess, isn’t it?”

Their gazes clashed in the air.

Caritas did not easily yield.

“There cannot be two suns in Hellis.”

But it was too abstract to accuse her of crossing a line.

“There can only be one sky.”

Seia replied.

“Though I am lacking, I believe I can share my modest knowledge of the Empire’s history with you, Your Highness.”

Caritas said.

Seia nodded, intrigued.

“Very well. Explain the birth of the Empire to me.”

To know your enemy and yourself is the way to victory.

***

“Your Highness, I have prepared a dress for lunch.”

Natalie greeted Seia, moving busily.

The conversation with Caritas had gone on longer than expected, and Seia had returned to the Crown Princess’s palace later than planned.

“Lunch?”

Seia asked.

“Wasn’t that on the schedule?”

Agnes stepped forward and bowed deeply.

“While you were attending the lesson, the Crown Prince sent a message, Your Highness.”

“What message?”

“He invited you to lunch at the Crown Prince’s palace, Your Highness.”

Seia sighed inwardly but did not show any reaction that could be perceived as weakness by her subordinates.

“Who are the invited guests?”

“He wishes to spend time alone with you, Your Highness.”

Seia suppressed another sigh.

Facing Tristan did not frighten her.

The Tristan she had seen so far was like a stubborn, willful child.

However, he was different in that he was cruel and cunning like an adult.

Being the Crown Princess who could control him.

She had meticulously prepared for it, but it was still an exhausting task for Seia.

She couldn’t shake the feeling of acting as someone else and felt like she was walking a tightrope, fearing she might be exposed as unworthy of being the noble Crown Princess.

She found the tension with Kyle more bearable.

‘At least in front of him, I can be myself.’

Seia chose the most modest design among the lunch dresses Agnes presented without further words.

“The Crown Princess is here.”

Elena announced at the door.

The guards all bowed to her, and the attendants opened the firmly closed door.

‘Even the door is ridiculously lavish.’

Seia noted the gold-trimmed door, once again astonished by the extravagance of the Crown Prince’s palace.

“My lovely Crown Princess has arrived.”

Tristan greeted her with exaggerated gestures.

“Did you sleep well last night, Crown Prince?”

Seia spoke as if nothing had happened.

“There’s nothing more peaceful than being with my wife.”

Tristan said, signaling the attendants with his eyes.

The heavy door closed before Seia.

Tristan led her to a reception room where only one maid remained to serve them during the meal.

“I thought you might be angry, Your Highness.”

“Why?”

Tristan asked leisurely.

Seia felt an urge to break his relaxed demeanor.

“Because I humiliated your manhood last night, you should be angry.”

The maid standing in the corner blushed deeply at Seia’s words.

Tristan’s eyes also flickered for a moment.

But he quickly regained his composure.

“You still don’t know me well.”

Tristan said, pulling out a chair for Seia with elegant manners.

“Excuses are just for once. Do you think you can avoid me forever?”

Tristan whispered.

Seia sat down, her head held high.

“Do you remember? When we first met?”

Tristan said, bringing a glass of wine to his lips.

“I prefer taming like a beast rather than just quiet obedience.”

He stabbed the meat on his plate with a fork.

“…Yesterday I was a savage, today I am a beast.”

Seia replied calmly.

“A woman who isn’t ashamed of her blood shouldn’t say that.”

Tristan sneered.

“It seems you don’t understand, so let me explain.”

Seia elegantly cut the meat in front of her.

“I am also a person who knows how to make deals, Your Highness.”

Seia brought the meat to her mouth.

“Taming like a beast isn’t always the best solution.”

“Do you want to make a deal with me, my love?”

Tristan smiled his characteristic noble smile.

“I can give you what you want, Your Highness.”

Seia ate with perfect manners, like someone raised in the imperial family.

“You think you know what I want better than I do?”

Tristan scoffed, but Seia remained unfazed.

“What you want is my loyalty and proof of the oracle, isn’t it?”

“And you won’t give it for free?”

Tristan put down his glass and stared at Seia.

“Even beasts follow humans when given food.”

“What does the Crown Princess want?”

Seia picked up the glass, savoring the aroma of the wine.

“Of course, power, Your Highness. Why would a shameless savage woman hide her desire for power?”

Seia did not avoid Tristan’s gaze.

“There are many who are ready to do anything to get even a crumb of the power you hold, Your Highness.”

“I think I understand why the Sun God chose you.”

Tristan said sarcastically.

“But there’s something I don’t get.”

He tapped the table with his knife.

“You could live comfortably as the Empress. Your role is already fulfilled by the oracle.”

‘You, who were born with everything, would never understand.’

Seia thought.

‘A person like you, who has lived comfortably, could never understand the tragedy of war.’

“I want to become the ‘real’ Empress, Your Highness.”

Seia said, looking Tristan straight in the eyes.

Tristan felt a shallow thrill that was difficult to explain.

“So, prove to me that you are a man who can truly become Emperor.”

Though her words were outrageously rude, Seia didn’t care.

“If you can do that, you can have all my loyalty and love, can’t you?”

Tristan stood up abruptly.

The glass filled with liquor fell to the floor and shattered with a loud noise.

“I, I…”

The startled maid quickly picked up the broken pieces with her apron and hurriedly left the reception room.

Tristan strode towards Seia and grabbed her wrist, pulling her up from her seat.

Seia staggered but her gaze remained steady.

“I can give you the world. Don’t you understand that yet?”

Tristan whispered like a devil, gripping Seia’s chin.

“If only you would love me.”

“If you have my love, you will have the world in your hands.”

Seia did not look at Tristan.

The sunlight, excessively warm for a spring day, brightly lit up the reception room.

Seia took a deep breath and spoke lightly.

“Then you must make me love you.”