The castle was so peaceful, it was hard to recall when it had last been this way. A languid atmosphere enveloped the entire castle, like a boat leisurely floating on a calm river under the sunshine. Perhaps it was because the thirteen-year-old third prince, Papel, who had recently been causing trouble, was unusually quiet today. The eleven-year-old youngest princess, Galimede, was actually quite mature in comparison to her mischievous third brother.

‘Crusis is probably in the library as usual.’

With the clear weather and his confidence that Snow was doing well, Elios, now feeling at ease, thought about the whereabouts of the second prince, Crusis Riman Akelan. Recently, both Count Callisto, who had been instructing Elios in swordsmanship, and his uncle Grand Duke Grant, who had been teaching him academics, had received invitations to the temple and were absent. It was a rare moment of leisure. Elios thought about going to see Crusis.

As Elios left his room, a maid tried to follow him. As usual, he declined her service and walked alone down the corridor. He felt uncomfortable when a maid followed him around, as if he were being monitored or constrained. He felt this way even though it was the life of an emperor and would be his future life.

Standing guard in front of the library was not a lady-in-waiting but a maidservant. Ladies-in-waiting were daughters of noble families who entered the palace when they reached marriageable age, partly for bridal training, and served the imperial family exclusively for a short period of a few months or up to 2-3 years.

Those who handled miscellaneous tasks in the palace or worked in places not directly related to the imperial family, like this, were maidservants. Maidservants were usually selected from daughters of severely fallen noble families or commoners skilled in etiquette.

The maidservant deeply bowed to the first prince, showing respect. It was a much more intense greeting than what the ladies-in-waiting would give him.

“Is anyone inside?”

“Yes, Your Highness. Prince Crusis is reading a book.”

‘As expected. I knew he would be here.’

The sixteen-year-old second prince, Crusis, was an eccentric who was absolutely crazy about books. Among his many books, he particularly cherished those related to diplomacy. In fact, only his brother Elios knew the secret that he was actually more interested in theories of monarchy and governance than diplomacy.

Elios gestured to the maidservant to open the door. The maidservant tried to announce Elios’s visit to the second prince inside. Elios put his finger to his lips with a “Shh!” and stopped her. The door opened quietly, and Elios entered the library slowly, like a thief, muffling his footsteps.

The scent of old paper filled the air. There was a rustling sound of pages turning.

Elios walked past several large bookshelves toward the source of the sound. Sure enough, a boy with the same orange-tinged golden hair as Elios was deeply immersed in reading a thick book almost as big as his head. Though his overall appearance closely resembled Elios, his eyes were different. While Elios’s eyes were slightly downturned, Crusis’s eyes were moderately upturned, giving him a sharp impression.

Elios quietly approached his brother’s side and pulled up a chair to sit down. By now, he should have noticed his brother’s presence, but there was no reaction.

“Crusis. What book are you reading so intently?”

Elios spoke in a quiet, low voice so as not to startle his brother. Crusis turned another page with no change in expression, making Elios think his brother was too absorbed in the book to hear him speaking right beside him.

As Elios was about to speak again, Crusis opened his mouth indifferently, still keeping his eyes fixed on the book.

“Why are you here? I thought Father told you to stay in your room.”

At Crusis’s words, Elios casually rested his chin on his hand and chuckled.

“So, are you planning to report your brother’s misconduct to Father?”

Laughter is Elios’s weapon. It was separate from his attractive appearance or his status as a prince with power. His smile had the power to draw people in, regardless of age or gender.

There must be quite a few poor young ladies who have fallen for that smile. Crusis thought, slightly raising the corners of his mouth at his brother’s laughter coming from right beside him.

“No, I detest troublesome things.”

At Crusis’s answer, Elios ruffled his brother’s hair. Crusis frowned and removed his brother’s hand from his head.

“What is it?”

Crusis said in an annoyed voice.

“You’re only sixteen years old, but you act like such an old man that you’re not cute at all.”

“At least I’m better than someone who spends the night outside the castle when his coming-of-age ceremony is just months away. You need to properly recognize your position.”

“Well. At least I’m not like someone who still picks out all the peas from his stew.”

“Ugh…”

Crusis gritted his teeth. His extreme pickiness with food was Crusis’s only weakness. Crusis couldn’t eat fish or peas. He himself found it ridiculous that at his age he still had such childish tastes, and he had tried to force himself to chew and swallow them, but he felt nauseous and ended up vomiting everything.

Leaving Crusis, who was finally showing behavior appropriate for his age, Elios examined the book he had been reading. Just by reading the open section, he could tell what book it was. It was something he had read until his head hurt, on the orders of his uncle and teacher, Grand Duke Grant. What his brother was reading was one of the most fundamental books on theories of monarchy.

“You were studying theories of monarchy.”

“…”

“If Father catches you reading such a book, you’ll be in big trouble. The confinement I received would seem like just tickling your instep with a feather compared to the tremendous scolding you would get.”

“What does it matter?”

Crusis instantly regained his cold demeanor. He pulled the book he was reading closer to himself. Elios spoke as if concerned:

“Crusis. How could it not matter? When Father caught you studying theories of monarchy before, you were almost expelled from the castle. How could I not be concerned?”

“I don’t understand. Uncle is also extremely knowledgeable about theories of monarchy, second to none. What’s different between him and me? If it’s allowed for him, why not for me?”

A few years ago, Crusis had caused a scene by reading a book related to theories of monarchy in front of his father. The Emperor had immediately tried to expel Crusis from the castle. Their mother, the Empress, had knelt before their father and begged, and Crusis was only forgiven after swearing never to take interest in theories of monarchy again.

In truth, both Elios and Crusis knew why the Emperor opposed the second prince, not the first, taking an interest in theories of monarchy. It was because their father was putting great effort into strengthening imperial authority. Their father was someone who had directly experienced how the now-fallen Nigritia Ducal House had tried to overthrow the imperial family. Watching with his own eyes the destruction of what had been the empire’s largest family, their father must have thought about what tragedy occurs when power goes to someone other than the Emperor.

“Crusis. Father is—”

Elios tried to defend their father. But Crusis cut off his brother’s words.

“I know! As long as I don’t dream of becoming Emperor, it’s fine, right? I’m only interested in theories of monarchy as an academic subject. I have no interest in applying it this way or that.”

Crusis Riman Akelan. Sometimes Crusis felt that name was like a shackle. He saw his future in the current state of his uncle, Grand Duke Grant. Grand Duke Grant had been stripped of the surname “Riman Akelan.” He couldn’t enter politics. He had changed his surname to “Grant” and became a duke in name and honor only. He didn’t have any influential territory. Though his title was duke, his actual influence was less than that of any count. Only after losing countless things was he barely able to become his brother’s teacher.

And that was Crusis’s future.

“…Do you also wish I would stop studying theories of monarchy?”

After a moment of silence, Crusis asked weakly, his voice drained of hostility.

Indeed, what kind of scholarship is it if it can’t be put to use? Despite what he said, there is nothing more enjoyable for a scholar than watching the knowledge they’ve studied diligently being practically applied and utilized.

The throne belonged to his brother. Crusis truly didn’t have even a speck of dust’s worth of desire to block his brother’s path. He could help his brother when he became Emperor with the knowledge he had learned.

But it seemed no one but Crusis himself thought that was possible.

“Well. As you said, I’m a fool who goes out overnight despite having my coming-of-age ceremony just months away, so I’m not sure whether Father is right or you are.”

“Hey, I never called you a fool!”

Crusis exclaimed urgently.

“I know. That’s just a manner of speaking. Crusis, listen carefully. I have no idea that you’re interested in theories of monarchy. I didn’t know until now, and I won’t in the future either, as long as you don’t get caught by others. Understand?”

“…”

“How could I like or dislike something I know absolutely nothing about?”

Crusis looked at Elios with wide eyes. He was saying he would pretend not to know until the end, so try it without getting caught. No one believed in Crusis, not even his father, but his brother, who should be the most wary of him, trusted him. Unaccustomed to expressing gratitude, Crusis silently turned his eyes back to the book.

“Brother. You shouldn’t do that.”

“Do what?”

“A monarch should not trust anyone. Even with the closest aides, one must maintain a measure of doubt. One must be able to become a villain when necessary and have the coldness to cut down even one’s right arm. In that respect, you’re all wrong. How can anyone look up to you when you go around smiling like that all the time?”

Watching Crusis recite the contents of the book verbatim, Elios wore an astonished expression.

“This kid. I need to change my mind. I absolutely oppose you studying theories of monarchy. You’re quite a dangerous fellow.”

Elios rested his chin on his hand with a deep smile on his face. Crusis, who had raised his head to express dissatisfaction with his brother suddenly changing his words after saying he would pretend not to know, buried his head back in the book. Indeed, it was impossible to be angry in front of that smile.

“Brother, you’re handsome.”

Crusis blurted out. Did this kid eat something wrong? Elios looked strangely at Crusis, who was suddenly spouting nonsense.

“Are you saying this knowing that you and I look exactly alike?”

“I know. That’s why I’m handsome too.”

“You’re out of your mind.”