Chapter 1 (Part 2)

The carriage her parents were riding in was swept away by a landslide and fell into a deep ravine.

At first, they were reported missing. Bodies began to be found one by one at the site of the landslide, but her parents’ bodies could not be found.

Everyone said her parents were as good as dead.

<They were pushed off from such a height… there’s no way they could be alive…>

Meia did not accept the death of her father and mother.

She held onto the hope that they were still alive because the bodies had not been found yet.

Days, weeks, months passed, but her parents never returned.

The deep ravine and the strong current made it difficult to even find the bodies.

As time flowed on uncontrollably, the emptiness deepened, and the frustration in her chest only grew.

<Mei, just because something sparkles doesn’t mean it’s a gem. You need to develop an eye to see the gems buried in the mud.>

They taught her virtues for the day she would become Empress, raising her without any shortcomings as their daughter. Thanks to this, Meia was treated as a wonderful flower of the social circles and a future Empress.

But her parents disappeared from this world without even seeing Meia become Empress.

From the day her parents disappeared, Meia stopped everything.

No, she did nothing.

No, she didn’t want to do anything.

Meia recalled her last conversation with her parents.

<Is there nothing you want?>

<No, there isn’t.>

<I’ll be back.>

I should have told them to be careful. Or I should have asked them not to go anywhere.

I should have hugged them once.

I should have told them I respected them.

I should have told them I loved them.

I should have. I wish I had.

I didn’t.

Numerous thoughts and unsaid words flooded her mind.

She tormented herself by repeatedly thinking about how she should have done better when they were there.

Meia sat in the large window frame of her room, staring blankly outside.

Her empty gaze gradually started looking into the void.

She tilted her head back and blinked, trying not to cry.

But….

<Mei, showing tears carelessly is showing weakness to others.>

<Yes, Father.>

<But Mei.>

<Yes?>

<It’s okay to cry quietly when you want to shed tears.>

“Sniff.”

Tears soaked her eyes for a long time.

The emptiness and sorrow piling up in her heart, and the distress of being left alone mixed together, causing the emotions she had held back to surge up with her tears.

Even as she clutched her left chest and covered her mouth, she couldn’t stop the tears from flowing.

Even as she kept hitting her chest until it hurt, the sadness she tried to ignore kept bursting out.

<Hold onto hope.>

<We’ll find the bodies soon.>

<They might still be alive.>

People comforted her with words that sounded good.

Her fiancé, Patzraelli, said the same thing.

Even with comfort, she knew the reality. That her mother and father would not return.

Her mind was filled with thoughts of her deceased parents.

Her mind was empty.

Her heart was also empty.

To momentarily fill the empty sense of loss, she constantly recalled the words her mother and father had said.

<Our Mei, you did so well. Proud of you.>

<As expected of our daughter.>

<You will be the best Empress.>

However, the more she recalled to fill the empty sense of loss, the more the greater sense of loss weighed down her entire body.

Time flowed on without stopping.

They still hadn’t found the bodies. She gradually felt the absence of her parents.

The vassals, worried about the absence of the Duke, said that her uncle Luman should inherit the dukedom.

If Meia had been an adult who had held her coming-of-age ceremony, she would have inherited the dukedom, but she was still a minor who hadn’t held the ceremony.

According to imperial law, the vacant Hatzbellua dukedom was to be inherited by her uncle, a direct family member.

He, who had been in the countryside, became the Duke of Hatzbellua of the Carpen Empire in a day.

Her cousin also naturally became a noble lady.

Luman said it was difficult to find her parents’ bodies because the carriage had fallen into a deep ravine, and he would hold a funeral without the bodies.

“How can you hold a funeral without the bodies!”

“There’s no other choice.”

“You can’t do this! Uncle, please just let us find the bodies….”

All she heard was Luman repeatedly saying there was no other choice.

“If they fell into that deep ravine, there’s no chance they’re alive.”

In the end, a funeral without the bodies was held.

Meia sat in the window frame of her room again.

“Miss, please have some soup.”

“Yudy….”

Her nanny, Yudy, who had been by her side since childhood, felt heartache seeing Meia wasting away day by day.

The death of the Duke and Duchess was shocking, but Yudy couldn’t just be sad. She had to protect Meia.

Yudy stayed by Meia’s side, worried that she might do something wrong.

“You need to hold your coming-of-age ceremony and your wedding. You need to take the place David and Violet left for you.”

“You’re right, Yudy.”

The place my parents made for me.

“So please have a spoonful of soup.”

“…Okay.”

With trembling hands, she held the spoon and took a bite of the soup, tears falling onto the soup.

She should cry quietly alone. But she couldn’t control her tears.

Yudy took out a handkerchief and pressed the tears running down Meia’s cheeks.

“I’ll get another soup.”

“No, it’s delicious, Yudy.”

Pretending to overcome the sadness day by day, Meia waited for her coming-of-age ceremony.

She only thought about getting married and entering the palace.

She resumed her studies that she had paused.

But even this was not easy for Meia.

*   *   *

Luman spoke softly as he looked at the documents in his study.

“I heard Meryl has feelings for Crown Prince Patzraelli.”

Meia gripped the hem of her dress tightly.

“Are you seriously saying that?”

She was on the verge of letting out a derisive laugh. She tried to swallow her sigh to calm her rising anger, but it only made her fury grow.

“But Meryl said she fell in love at first sight….”

Thud.

Meia lifted one foot with all her strength and stomped on the floor. Her ankle twisted slightly and hurt, but that didn’t matter.

“This is the position my parents left for me.”

She had worked tirelessly since birth to become the Crown Princess.

She just needed to hold the coming-of-age ceremony and prepare for the wedding. But suddenly, Meryl fell in love with Patzraelli at first sight and asked for the engagement to be broken off, which made her furious.

Why do I have to listen to this?

There is no reason to break off the engagement just because of “love at first sight.”

Meia’s hand clenched involuntarily.

“It’s an arranged marriage directly made by my late father with the royal family. It’s not something that can be easily broken off just because you say so. The royal family won’t accept the breakup.”

“What if they do?”

Luman’s single phrase, “What if they do?” made her doubt the elders of the royal family who adored her.

She felt a moment of disappointment in herself for doubting.

She knew well that once such doubts arose, the trust built over the years would slowly crumble.

She did her best during the 10-year engagement period.

As the flower of the social circles, and handling the royal events, she didn’t neglect her responsibilities and studies as a noble lady. 

I trust them.

Luman put down the documents he was reading and spoke.

“The royal family doesn’t seem to care who they marry from the ducal family.”

“It’s just a prediction, not a certainty.”

“Isn’t it an arranged marriage to keep Crown Prince Patzraelli’s position anyway?”

“Just say you want to give the position of Empress to Meryl.”

For the sake of her deceased parents, her uncle shouldn’t bring up the breakup.

It was then.

Someone knocked roughly on the study door.

Knock. Knock.

“Dad.”

The person who entered the study was her cousin Meryl. Contrary to Luman’s words, she didn’t look lovesick at all.

“Patzraelli is totally my type!”

As soon as she entered, Meryl gave Meia a sweet smile and spoke with a face full of love.

“Meia, can you break off the engagement?”

Meryl spoke shyly with flushed cheeks.

“You don’t love the Crown Prince. I fell in love with him.”

“Even if it’s not love, there’s 10 years of trust.”

Yes, even if it’s not love, there’s trust built over the years.

I believe he’s not someone who would coldly betray me.

No, I have to believe that.

“I also spent years preparing to be the Crown Princess.”

“What preparation?”

“Social etiquette, politics. I learned many things besides basic subjects like military theory and mathematics.”

“Do you have to learn those things? Isn’t it enough to just have heirs?”

“I can’t break off the engagement.”

Meia looked at the sniffling Meryl and spoke in a cold voice.

“And the royal family won’t agree to the breakup.”

I believe.

“If the royal family agrees to the breakup? Will you breakup?”

I believe in the trust we built together.

“They won’t mention the breakup.”

“If you don’t love him, let him go.”

“If someone saw this, they’d think I’m a villain tormenting a couple in love.”

Meryl’s eyes began to redden. Her eyes were moist with tears.

“Don’t cry.”

“Do you know how mean you’re being? Why are you so heartless…? I love the Crown Prince.”

Meia turned her gaze away from the tearful Meryl and looked straight at Luman.

“Uncle.”

“Speak.”

Meia looked at Meryl and spoke.

“I don’t want to talk to someone who’s crying. I’ll go back to my room.”

As Meia turned to leave, Luman urgently shouted.

“The royal family might prefer Meryl!”

I trust them. I have faith.

But, currently, the Duke of Hatzbellua is Luman. Naturally, from his perspective, he wants his own daughter Meryl to become the Empress rather than his niece.