Chapter 2

“Edenbarker?”

“Yes.”

The attractive curve of Robert’s eyes softened into a smile.

That smiling gaze which had once made her heart flutter now filled her with nothing but hatred.

“I’ve never heard of that family before.”

“Is that so?”

“How did someone like you manage to enter the Imperial Palace Tower?”

The Palace Tower was a prison reserved for high-ranking nobles and members of the imperial family.

Even if it housed criminals, it was not a place just anyone could enter freely.

‘And yet someone unheard of like you managed to come here?’

That meaning was hidden within her openly insulting words.

Even so, Robert’s tone remained gentle.

“Your Highness may not know. The Count Edenbarker family left the capital for a long time due to certain circumstances. We only recently returned to the Imperial City after receiving Her Majesty’s summons.”

“……”

“When I heard that Your Highness was here, I requested permission from Her Majesty to see you personally.”

“And why would you do that?”

“I saw your portrait.”

“……”

“I happen to like green eyes.”

The arrogance of daring to evaluate a princess’s appearance.

Robert Edenbarker was exactly as Evelyn remembered him.

‘Green eyes.’

Not just for me, but for Mary as well.

Words that had once sounded unbearably sweet in her previous life now felt utterly laughable.

After all, what he truly desired was not her, but Mary’s favor.

When Evelyn showed no particular reaction, Robert assumed she was simply embarrassed.

“You’re even more beautiful in person.”

“In this miserable state?”

“No matter how worn the wrapping may be, a jewel’s value remains unchanged, does it not? So there’s no need to worry.”

“……”

“To me, Your Highness is quite the captivating jewel.”

“…I see.”

“Yes.”

Unlike his beautiful smile, a cold sneer spread across Evelyn’s face.

Robert paid no mind to it and calmly continued.

“Her Majesty personally sent maids to prepare you. If you permit it, I’ll have them enter immediately.”

“I understand, so you may leave now.”

“…Your Highness.”

His arrogant gaze slowly swept over her rigid figure seated upon the bed.

Evelyn’s eyes, which had briefly drifted toward the window, returned to him once more.

“You’ll have to change your attitude from now on.”

“Change my attitude?”

“Yes. Her Majesty is generous, but she despises those who lack proper decorum.”

“……”

“It would benefit your future if you behaved a little more gently. Wouldn’t the Imperial Palace become much more peaceful if the two royal sisters got along warmly?”

“…I’ll keep that in mind.”

Just as Robert turned with a satisfied smile, Evelyn’s calm voice stopped him.

“Come to think of it, as a member of the imperial family, there’s no reason for me to behave that way toward anyone besides Her Majesty.”

“……”

“After all, doing otherwise would only diminish the dignity of Her Majesty, who is also of imperial blood. Or am I mistaken?”

“Of course not.”

A charming smile spread across Robert’s face.

“If Your Highness treats them kindly, what gentleman would refuse? You may even show your bare feet if you wish.”

“…Just leave.”

Suppressing her disgust as much as possible, Evelyn answered calmly.

Robert watched her with amused eyes before smiling softly and leaning forward.

“I’ll be waiting downstairs.”

Evelyn’s gaze drifted back toward the window once more.

A shriveled leaf that hadn’t been there moments ago was now stuck flat against the glass.

***

Even inside the carriage heading toward the banquet hall, Evelyn’s indifferent attitude remained unchanged.

Whenever Robert occasionally tried to speak to her, she responded with brief answers like “I see” or “I’ll keep that in mind,” never showing the slightest interest.

Still, Robert maintained his smile the entire time.

The real Evelyn was rather different from the personality described in the reports he had received beforehand.

But regardless of what kind of person she was, it made little difference to him.

“Your Majesty, do you truly intend to kill Princess Evelyn just like that?”

“And are you suggesting I let her live?”

Just recalling Mary’s cold gaze sent a chilling thrill through Robert.

The master of his blind devotion was Mary Ares Strovana.

The woman he had made Emperor.

At some point, something inside Mary had broken.

After that, not only did she no longer hesitate to kill others, but she had also become indifferent to her own injuries.

She was a woman who rarely felt joy or sorrow, and the only time she ever displayed intense emotion was when venting her hatred toward the imperial family.

“Compared to what Your Majesty endured, isn’t her punishment far too lenient? Allow me to handle it.”

“……”

“Grant her the agony of betrayal by the one she loves, the terror of never knowing when death will come, and the emptiness of finally dying the moment she lowers her guard.”

At last, emotion flickered within those dry green eyes.

And when her tightly closed lips finally parted, Robert felt utterly intoxicated.

“You’re quite useful, Edenbarker.”

The faint smile that appeared upon her otherwise expressionless face made him feel as though he had been chosen by a god of h*ll itself.

If he could see that smile again, winning over a mere woman’s heart would hardly be difficult.

Even Evelyn’s sharper-than-expected attitude only amused Robert.

After all, the harsher the road, the sweeter the reward once the destination was reached.

And in the end, she was merely a powerless woman on her own.

It would only be a matter of time before he lured her in completely.

“Your Highness, are you uncomfortable?”

“Not at all.”

“That’s unfortunate.”

As Evelyn looked at him with a slight frown, he flashed her a bright smile.

“I only meant that it’s unfortunate you have no need to borrow my hand.”

***

A short while later, when the carriage arrived, Robert stepped down first and extended his arm toward Evelyn.

“Allow me.”

Her gaze lowered to his hand.

A palm not particularly large for a man, and long slender fingers.

The hand of her former fiancé, which she had held countless times before, was painfully familiar.

There had once been a time when she believed those hands would save her.

Now she knew better.

To suppress the bitter laugh threatening to escape her lips, Evelyn bit down hard on the tender flesh inside her mouth.

“…..Thank you.”

“There’s no need for you to be so nervous. Her Majesty has been concerned the entire time about sending Your Highness to the tower. I’m certain she’ll say something kind today.”

“……Is that so.”

Something kind.

Evelyn nearly let out a mocking laugh.

Just as the sneer she could no longer suppress was about to slip free, a servant who had spotted the two hurried over and bowed his head deeply.

Fortunately, because of that, Robert failed to notice the change in Evelyn’s expression.

“Princess.”

“Announce us.”

“Yes!”

The servant rushed toward the entrance of the banquet hall and flung the doors open, shouting loudly,

“Princess Evelyn Bournemouth Strovana and Count Robert Edenbarker are entering!”

Every gaze in the hall turned toward Evelyn.

Curiosity, hostility, pity.

Among the countless eyes fixed upon her, there was not a trace of reverence toward royalty.

As Evelyn slowly walked forward, she quietly observed the atmosphere of the banquet hall, unchanged from before her regression.

At the end of the crimson carpet stood the gilded imperial throne, displaying the Emperor’s authority without restraint.

And seated upon it was the Empire’s new Emperor.

Her half-sister.

Mary, the woman who had killed her twice.

“May endless light shine upon the Empire. I greet Your Majesty the Emperor.”

“I heard your health was poor.”

“Thanks to Your Majesty’s concern, I’ve recovered considerably.”

The moment Evelyn finished speaking, the atmosphere in the banquet hall sank heavily.

Edward, Evelyn’s full-blooded brother and Mary’s half-brother, had died of illness not long after ascending the throne.

As he had still been very young, he naturally left behind no heir, plunging the imperial court into chaos.

One faction insisted that Mary, the eldest child of the late Emperor, should inherit the throne according to lawful succession.

The opposing faction argued that Evelyn, daughter of Empress Blair rather than the deposed Empress, should become ruler instead.

The fierce conflict between the two sides came to an abrupt end after Mary proved her qualifications.

“T-That is….!”

“The Blessing of Strovana!”

Long ago, during the age when civil wars never ceased,

there existed the symbol borne by the Empire’s first Emperor, the one who united every faction and crowned himself ruler.

Though it resembled nothing more than a common daisy, the flower-shaped mark emitted a mysterious radiance and was known as the “Blessing.”

It was said to manifest only among imperial bloodlines—and only in those born with the innate qualities of an Emperor.

However, after the founding Emperor, not a single person had ever manifested the Blessing again.

So when Mary’s power appeared, it shook the Empire to its core.

And when it was further revealed that she could wield aura, her status instantly rose to that of the founding Emperor himself.

“Surely there’s no one left who objects to my succession now.”

No one could refute her words.

And the very first thing Mary did after ascending the throne was imprison her half-sister within the Imperial Palace Tower.

All in the name of stabilizing imperial authority.

Twitch.

Mary’s brow furrowed unpleasantly.

Evelyn quickly lowered herself into a bow.

“Thanks to Your Majesty sending Count Edenbarker, I was able to come here comfortably.”

“Ah.”

A short sound escaped the Emperor’s crimson lips.

“I am deeply grateful for Your Majesty’s immense generosity.”

“…Very well.”

Resting her chin against one hand, Mary lightly tapped her temple with her index finger.

The throne, lavishly covered in gold, reflected the light pouring down from dozens of chandeliers overhead.

Because of that, Mary’s blood-red hair stood out even more vividly.