Chapter 6: The Beginning of the Competition

‘Why did I do something so pointless!’

Annoyance surged up to the top of Seirin’s head as regret hit her belatedly. She was currently at a large table, having dinner with the Imperial couple, the Crown Prince, and her brother Sein, who sat beside her, busily tending to her.

In trying to open the Crown Prince’s eyes to reality, she had ended up leaving a scar on his instep. Now, she had no choice but to comply with his wishes. Out of guilt, she had agreed to do whatever the Crown Prince asked, and as a result, she couldn’t return to her home even after her coming-of-age ceremony ended, but had to remain seated at this table.

‘I’m so tired. My head is spinning. If I collapse like last time…’

She wasn’t weak, but her body was sensitive to stress, so Seirin often fainted.

She remembered the time she fainted in front of her overbearing father and brother, and was then treated like a seriously ill patient, unable to leave the house. The memory made her even more irritable, so she tried to calm herself.

‘I’ll be able to go home soon. So, don’t stress. Come to think of it, I didn’t even get to say goodbye to the others.’

Forced to sit by the Crown Prince, Seirin felt guilty toward her friends, especially since she had told Noah she would be right back when leaving the banquet hall.

“Ah.”

Seirin accidentally spilled her water, and quickly stood up. Her brother Sein fussed over her, asking if she was alright. She whispered quietly for him to calm down, then bowed her head to the Imperial couple.

“I apologize for showing such an embarrassing side.”

“It’s alright. But your dress is quite wet.”

“Do you have a change of clothes? If not, I’ll have a new dress brought for you. I had one prepared as a gift for you anyway, Lady Seirin.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty the Empress.”

Nodding at the Empress’s gesture, Seirin left with a woman and entered a room.

“Please wait here for a moment, My Lady.”

Seirin only nodded in response and took out a portable video stone.

“I wonder if Noah brought his video stone.”

She caressed the video stone in her right hand, and Noah’s face appeared.

“Noah!”

“Rin. Where are you now?”

“Sorry, I was out of it. I’m having dinner with Their Majesties and the Crown Prince. What about you?”

“I’m still in the palace. Can you come out for a bit? I’m in front of the fountain.”

“Ah, could you wait a little? I’ll be right there.”

“Okay.”

Spot-!

As Noah’s image disappeared, Seirin let out a long sigh, looking down at her beloved dress, now damp, and shook out her hands.

“Really… On what should be a happy day, what a mess. I really need to learn some self-control.”

Seirin shook her head, but was relieved that Princess Tipetoria had not shown up, even as the day grew late.

“If only I could just go home like this, but somehow…”

She tried to calm her uneasy heart, but then froze as the woman returned with an incredibly extravagant dress.

‘It’s overwhelming! That’s just too much! Anyone would think it’s the Empress’s dress!’

The red dress was so ornate it was overwhelming just to look at. It was awkward to wear something so burdensome, but refusing the Empress’s gift was even more unthinkable, so Seirin had no choice but to let the woman dress her as she wished.

“As expected! It suits you so well, My Lady!”

“Th-thank you.”

With the woman gazing at her in awe, Seirin felt even more burdened at the thought of returning in this dress. Sighing, she remembered Noah waiting outside, and returned to the dining hall, where she was met with overwhelming attention and praise. She smiled and sat down.

It would be impolite to leave during the meal, so Seirin ignored the Crown Prince’s blatant gaze and finished her dinner, hoping it would end soon.

‘Now I just need to find the right moment to slip away!’

“Eric, how about spending the night at the palace for once? I’d like to share a drink with you.”

‘Oh, come on!’

Seirin gripped her dress tightly with both hands, signaling her father to refuse, but her father, a lover of alcohol, was easily swayed by the promise of Eastern liquor.

“Then, Duchess, would you like to join me for a chat?”

“It would be an honor, Your Majesty the Empress.”

‘No one is on my side!’

Feeling on the verge of tears, Seirin heard the Crown Prince Kasel’s gentle voice in her ear.

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“I’d like to have a serious conversation with you.”

‘I don’t want to.’

Hiding her true feelings, Seirin asked what it was, and when he said he wanted to be more familiar and have a conversation, she smiled and nodded. She looked at Sein, who asked if he could stay with her.

“Well, I don’t mind if you stay, but I’d prefer you not interrupt.”

“Haha. I won’t interrupt, as long as you don’t force anything on my sister, Your Highness.”

“Ha. Of course.”

Looking back and forth between Kasel and Sein, Seirin snorted softly.

‘Still, it’s reassuring to have my silly brother here. Ah, but this isn’t the time. Noah must be waiting.’

Seirin carefully stood up, bowed slightly to the Imperial couple,

“I apologize, but may I excuse myself?”

“Is something wrong?”

“Well, I heard the Heir of Cherbel is still in the palace, and I’d like to greet him, Your Majesty.”

“Haha. Of course. Oh, tell the Heir to stay at the palace tonight as well.”

“R-really? Is that alright, Your Majesty?”

“Of course. The Heir of Cherbel is someone I’ve been watching closely. As the youngest Grand Mage, his future is bright. Tell him to join us for breakfast tomorrow.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. Thank you very much.”

Sincerely thanking the Emperor, Seirin quickly left the dining hall to meet Noah, lifting her skirt slightly to run faster. She nearly sprinted out of the palace and, seeing Noah standing under the fountain, called out to him with all her might.

“You’re still like a child, Rin.”

Noah smiled as he watched Seirin running toward him, but his expression hardened as he saw the Crown Prince behind her, and then her brother Sein. Seirin was unaware, but Sein and Noah had never gotten along, both being overprotective of her.

Sein was her real brother, but for Noah, the Crown Prince was a thorn in his side.

Of course, Noah knew the Crown Prince disliked him as well, so he would sometimes deliberately show how close he was to Seirin in front of him, like now, gently placing his hands on both her shoulders and smiling.

“Why did you run? What if you fell?”

“I’m not a child! Ah! Noah! His Majesty said you should spend the night at the palace too.”

“Huh?”

“He said to join them for breakfast tomorrow. Let’s go!”

“Ah.”

Noah’s face flushed as Seirin grabbed his hand.

“Huh? Noah, why is your face so red? Are you feverish?”

“N-no, it’s not…”

Before he could finish, Seirin told him to stay still and placed her hand on his forehead. As their eyes met up close, Noah felt his heart race so fast it might burst.

‘I really like you. Rin, no… I honestly love you now…’

Noah wanted to confess his true feelings, but couldn’t.

Sadly, Seirin only saw him as a childhood friend.

He wanted to confess, but he couldn’t, for only one reason. If he confessed, their friendship might become awkward, and nothing could be sadder for Noah than that.

On the other hand, he worried every day. What if his beloved Seirin was taken by someone else?

The only relief was that Seirin showed little interest in the opposite s*x.

Perhaps it was thanks to her doting father and brother, or perhaps because of the Crown Prince who had pestered her for twelve years, but she only cared for her books and thought little of men.

Still, Noah couldn’t let his guard down. The reason was none other than Kasel Redéan Theodore, who had the greatest power to make Seirin his woman at any time. The Crown Prince was glaring at him fiercely from behind Seirin.

‘I can never let Seirin become the Crown Prince’s consort. Never…’

Noah knew what he had to do, but the time was not yet right.

He needed a better atmosphere to confess the feelings he had cherished for so long, so he smiled gently at Seirin, who looked up at him with worried eyes.

“I was just standing in the cold for a bit. I’m fine, Rin.”

“Ah, sorry, Noah. I couldn’t get away sooner.”

“It’s alright. I’d like to greet His Majesty, at least to thank him.”

“Okay, let’s g—”

“Seirin!”

“Ah?!”

Before Seirin could bow to greet Princess Pesopotemia, who was running toward her for the first time in a while, the princess’s voluptuous chest enveloped Seirin’s small face.

“It’s really~ been so long! My adorable Seirin! I missed you so much~”

“Mmmpf! Prin—mmph!”

Seirin, now unable to breathe, wished someone would save her.

“Let go of her.”

“Ah~ What, why are you here?”

“As the Crown Prince of the Theodor Empire, isn’t it obvious I’d be here? You pervy princess.”

“Ohohoho. You cheeky brat?”

With a dangerous grin, Princess Eizel drew her sword. Her knight, Gerard, with his gray hair fluttering, hurried to her side.

“Your Highness the Princess. Her Majesty the Queen told you to behave yourself.”

“Ugh, seriously. He started it. You heard what he said to me, didn’t you?”

“Please. At least let go of the lady first.”

“Oh my! Seirin, are you alright?”

Finally freed from the princess’s chest, Seirin nodded. But now, as the princess pinched both her cheeks hard, Seirin could only smile through the pain.

“Enough, Eizel Pesopotemia.”

“What did I do?”

Eizel’s face turned cold as she looked at Kasel, who had approached. Kasel glared even more fiercely at her, gently pulling Seirin into his arms.

“I’d appreciate it if you didn’t treat Lady Damarania so carelessly.”

“Huh? By what right?”

“By what right?”

“Yes.”

Seirin shivered as she saw the Crown Prince smiling at her, praying inwardly that he wouldn’t say anything more.

“She’ll be my only consort. And before long, she’ll be the woman who becomes the Empress of this Empire.”

“Who gave you—”

“Who gave you permission!!!”

Before Eizel could finish her sentence, a fierce voice rang out from behind, causing everyone to turn around. Seirin, seeing Mariana, Princess Tipetoria, approaching with even more intensity than usual, desperately wished to go home.