Chapter 2

The old head attendant, who had served the King since the previous reign, was anxiously waiting outside the King’s office.

“Princess Adela.”

The attendant’s face brightened at Adela’s arrival.

The two royal guards standing at the door bowed respectfully to Adela.

Just then, loud crashes and the sounds of objects breaking came sporadically from inside the office.

“When did he start drinking?”

“He had some wine with lunch….”

The attendant trailed off.

Adela didn’t scold him for failing to stop the King from drinking so much.

If the King wants to drink, who can stop him?

“Open the door.”

Adela commanded the attendant.

“His Majesty ordered that no one be let in.”

The attendant hesitated.

“I’ll take full responsibility. Open the door.”

Adela repeated her command, her voice filled with authority that could not be defied.

The attendant hurriedly opened the door, revealing the office in complete disarray.

“I said not to let anyone in, and you disobey me?”

Holden, seeing Adela, shouted furiously. Staggering to his feet, Holden drew his sword and charged at the door.

Adela closed the door behind her and stood firm before Holden.

“Move aside, Sister. I’ll cut off their heads myself.”

Holden couldn’t bring himself to strike his elder sister with his sword, instead only shouting furiously. His black eyes, clouded with drunkenness, burned with anger.

“Your Majesty, what has upset you?”

Her voice was as clear as pouring cold water over his face.

“Do you really not know? You saw them ignore the  my orders. No one in the Kingdom recognizes me as King.”

Holden’s arm, clutching the sword, trembled violently.

“That can’t be true.”

“No. Everyone wants you to be the Monarch, Sister. Soon, the nobles will force me to abdicate.”

Whether from exhaustion after venting his rage, or from the alcohol, Holden wavered and collapsed into a seat.

After just three months, the once-bright Holden’s mind was deeply worn out.

If only his heart were a bit stronger. His kind and gentle nature was now holding him back.

But Adela believed in him. Given a little time, Holden would become a great King.

What Holden needed was time and support.

Adela sat beside him and gently stroked his arm.

“Do you remember what I said the day you returned to the Edel Kingdom?”

“…….”

“I said I had no intention of becoming the Monarch.”

Her voice was as gentle as her touch.

“What’s the use if only you say so? Why did you govern so well until now?”

To think her efforts for her brother would be turned into blame.

It stung a bit, but Adela hid her feelings and spoke calmly.

“I only worked hard so you would have an easier time ruling, Your Majesty. Was I too much?”

Adela forced a smile.

Someday, her brother would understand.

“Do you know what the nobles say? Whatever I do, they whisper behind my back that I’m inferior to you. No matter how hard I try, I can never catch up to you.”

Holden’s voice, choked with tears, was filled with deep pain. That pain was transmitted directly, making Adela’s heart shrink.

“Who dares speak such wicked words? I’ll see them severely punished.”

Anger tinged Adela’s voice.

“Punished? Hahahaha.”

Holden laughed madly.

“If you did that, there wouldn’t be a single subject left in the country.”

Suddenly stopping his laughter, Holden spoke again, biting out his words with a fierce expression.

“Everyone says so, everyone. The people sing songs calling you ‘God’s representative’ and ‘the perfect ruler sent from heaven.’ Do you really not know?”

No, she knew. And that was the problem.

It was a problem that could be seen as big or small, but it seemed it would be resolved as a big one.

She had hoped time would solve it, but that wasn’t happening. At this rate, Holden’s anxiety would only grow.

“Soon, Your Majesty, your royal marriage will take place. Once you marry, your position will be even more secure.”

After the royal marriage, when the Queen took over her duties, Adela’s influence would decrease significantly.

“So don’t let needless worries harm your mind and body.”

“The royal marriage? That won’t be enough.”

Holden shouted.

He was so enraged that his neck was red. His fury was unmistakable.

“Then do you wish for my death?”

“…….”

Holden did not answer, ‘Of course not.’

Even Adela, with her strong heart, was quite shocked by his reaction. It felt like her heart was being stabbed.

At the same time, she pitied her brother.

How tattered must a brother’s heart be to wish harm upon his sister?

And she felt sorry. Sorry for passing on a burden he couldn’t bear without alcohol.

“I can’t grant that wish. My life is precious too.”

Adela steadied herself and spoke firmly.

“There has never been a bloody precedent over succession in the Edel Kingdom. And there never will be.”

“…….”

“I am your only blood relative, Your Majesty, and the person who cares most for you. Please remember that.”

Edel was a small Kingdom. The ancestors knew well that internal strife would only make them prey for the great powers.

She knew just how heavy the the Monarch’s burden was in protecting the Kingdom among the great powers. That’s why succession had always been peaceful, and siblings became loyal subjects, gladly aiding the the Monarch.

That was how the Kingdom had survived without being swallowed by foreign powers, maintaining its legacy for so long.

“I’m sorry. I never meant to wish for your removal, Sister.”

Holden’s head drooped.

His eyes were wet with tears. He looked less like a King, and more like a young brother.

Adela’s affection for her brother surged, but at the same time, she wished Holden would quickly realize his position as King and gain dignity.

“If you’re so worried about my reputation, I’ll find a way.”

Adela took Holden’s hand and gently patted the back of it.

“A way?”

“A way for you to earn the trust of the nobles and the people, Your Majesty.”

“Really?”

Hope glimmered in Holden’s eyes, and Adela nodded resolutely.

She would surely find a way. She would restore her brother’s trust.

She would make his throne secure.

***

“Is His Majesty settled?”

Logan, who was waiting in the office, greeted Adela and asked.

Adela nodded lightly and sat at her desk.

“Tell them not to serve any drinks before His Majesty asks for them.”

“Yes, Your Highness. But….”

Logan trailed off.

“What is it?”

“The finance minister brought some documents.”

“Aren’t those His Majesty’s responsibility?”

“His Majesty said to ask you, Your Highness. They need to be processed tonight, as they must be executed tomorrow morning.”

A rare sigh escaped Adela’s lips.

Time had flown by as she dealt with Adamante’s visit and Holden’s drunken outburst, and she hadn’t even finished the documents she should have completed by now.

“Let’s have dinner first.”

“Prepare something simple and bring it here.”

“Are you going to work while you eat again?”

“I want to sleep before midnight.”

Adela spoke in an indifferent voice.

***

The next day, in the morning.

Adela gathered her close aides. Logan, the bodyguard knight Alexa, and the chief maid Joy.

Logan and Alexa had been by her side for eight years. They were long-time comrades who had faced every hardship together. Adela trusted them deeply.

Joy, a commoner, had started as a maid at a young age and became chief maid two years ago. With her uniquely commoner way of thinking, Joy often came up with unexpected brilliant ideas.

Adela valued clever Joy and included her as a member of the meeting.

“There’s something I want to discuss.”

Adela calmly told them that Holden felt threatened by her presence.

“What? Why would he think that?”

Alexa, who was blunt and straightforward, clicked her tongue.

Logan nodded quietly in agreement.

“What’s the fastest way to raise His Majesty’s reputation above mine?”

“It’s the reputation you have built up over eight years of tireless effort, Your Highness.”

Logan replied in a gentle voice.

“How could anyone catch up to that in such a short time? It takes just as much time.”

Logan said it would take that much time, but he thought it might take even longer.

Setting aside that Adela’s talent was greater than Holden’s, as the phrase ‘tireless effort’ suggested, she had spent every waking moment for the Kingdom, from the moment she opened her eyes in the morning until she closed them at night.

It was not a reputation she had sought. It was given to her thanks to her soul-crushing dedication.

Holden, who had done nothing in comparison, could not possibly gain such a reputation overnight.

To be honest, since Holden hadn’t worked as hard as Adela, Logan did feel some resentment.

“No matter how benevolently His Majesty rules, it would take ten years to be recognized. It would be faster to bring down your reputation, Your Highness.”

At Alexa’s words, Adela sighed inwardly.

They were right. Reputation is like a snowball—it takes time to form at first, but once it’s solid, it grows quickly.

But there was no time to wait for Holden’s reputation to grow now.

There was already a solid, large snowball. The nobles had no intention of abandoning it and putting in the effort to roll a new one.

That left only one option. She would have to break her own snowball into pieces.