Arc 1: The Butterflies’ Dance

Chapter 1: The Queen’s Conditions

“...a grave situation.”

It was early afternoon. Outside, winter’s harsh grasp was tightening around the kingdom. I, however, was currently seated in Prince Christopher’s office where the usual crowd had gathered together.

A man with boyish features and honey-colored hair, Lord Alan, was performing maintenance on one of his instruments. The Holy Night’s Banquet was fast approaching and he spoke of performing his own musical program for the occasion.

Lord Alexei, a black-haired man with a chilly exterior, shuffled through documents as he responded to the conversation.

The owner of the office, Prince Christopher, was a man with dazzling blond hair and cloudless, sky-blue eyes. His gaze fell to his desk, where he was grappling with mountains of documents awaiting his approval.

Meanwhile I, Elianna Bernstein, occupied my usual seat.

I was immersed in my reading when another voice cut into the conversation, one belonging to the commander of the imperial guard’s second division. He was a knight with red hair, named Lord Glen Eisenach. There was a sober tone to his voice as he pronounced, “...a grave situation,” causing all those present in the room to blink in surprise.

“Alex,” the prince interjected, “dismiss the Dorud company’s statement. It’s a waste of time.”

“Earl Dauner is involved in that mess,” said Lord Alexei. “If we don’t lay some groundwork first, it won’t be easy.”

“Our first priority is getting that bridge up over the Tessen River in the Azul Region. Give the company a seat at the bidding table. Sauslind’s reputation is on the line for this project. We won’t let them refuse. That will end their appeals,” His Highness said.

“The earl oversees our military. He’s more interested in putting a budget request in for iron mining than bridge construction.”

“He’s just an old man with outdated and detrimental opinions. He thinks it will ignite people’s spirits to go to war. I say he was born in the wrong era. The only people who agree with him are the ones who didn’t put in any effort to help us gain the affluence we now enjoy,” the prince declared hotly, sorting through his paperwork.

As the end of the year drew to a close, each section of the government grew busy. Even the prince, who was always diligent about keeping up with his duties, was drowning in this year’s workload. Once the calendar year changed and spring came, our wedding ceremony would be upon us. That required preparations and adjustments at various levels, making this year an especially hectic one.

Forgotten amidst the chatter between Lord Alexei and the prince, Lord Glen spoke up once more. “Please, you have to listen...”

According to Glen, a certain guest from abroad—namely, someone from the maritime Miseral Dukedom—would be visiting the Eisenach family in anticipation of the Holy Night’s Banquet. This family was a rather prominent general’s family, much like Lord Glen’s father, Earl Eisenach. The earl and this general had been family friends since their parents’ generation, meaning Lord Glen couldn’t weasel his way out of mingling with them.

“And which part of this is supposed to be ‘grave’?” Lord Alan asked playfully, causing Lord Glen to pale.

I wondered if this was information His Highness and Lord Alexei were already privy to. Neither one of them stopped working to listen, nor did they make any comments.

“...The person who came isn’t the one who normally comes to visit,” Lord Glen finally managed to say.

“Haha!” Lord Alan cackled triumphantly, a teasing look in his eyes. “Let me guess, you’re getting married?”

Lord Glen’s face soured as he nodded.

Instantly, Lord Alan burst into laughter. “Well, congratulations, Glen! I guess you’ll be the next one to tie a knot after the prince has his wedding. You really are a loyal servant, following in his footsteps like that!”

“Moron! Why do I have to be tied down just because Chris is getting himself hitched?! I have absolutely no interest in saying my vows this young!”

“It almost sounds like you’re saying you haven’t slept around enough and you want to play around some more first. Is that what you mean?” Lord Alan mocked.

“Say whatever you want.” Lord Glen huffed. “Randy, that bastard. He must have known this was going to happen, because he said he was going to remain with his naval unit and left. Originally, this engagement was supposed to be with him. Why am I getting dragged into this?!”

Randy—or rather, Lord Randolph—was the youngest of the four Eisenach brothers. I’d heard that at thirteen years old he was assigned to a naval unit in the south. The two of us had never met face-to-face before.

“Hm, still...” Lord Alan seemed to be amused, particularly because the matter didn’t involve him personally. “The only single men remaining in the Eisenach family are you and Randy. If both of your houses agree, there’s no way out of this. Isn’t it about time you pay your dues and settle down?”

Lord Glen’s face lit up with anger, as fiery red as the hair on his head. “This is no laughing matter! Why do I have to agree to an arrangement with a ten-year-old kid?!”

His reaction elicited another round of cackling from Lord Alan, who must have already expected that response. I just blinked in surprise.

Apparently, General Eisenach had been close to the former general of the Miseral Dukedom, but now that title had passed on to the man’s son. Thus, it was the former general’s granddaughter whose hand was being offered to Lord Glen.

“Anyway,” continued Lord Glen, “my mother is the one who is really pushing this. She keeps saying how she always wanted an adorable daughter. She said the same thing when my older brothers married, though. How many daughters-in-law does she need before she’ll be satisfied?! If she wants a daughter that badly, she and my father should just have at it and make one.”

“Hey now, Glen, don’t start your family planning right here in the prince’s office,” Lord Alan teased.

“This is the defining moment that will determine the rest of my life! Besides, what the heck am I supposed to do with a ten-year-old girl as my partner?!”

“Well, if you did do anything, it would be a crime.”

“That’s not what I meant,” he hissed back at our court’s master musician. “I’m saying I prefer mature women. You know, one who is slender with curves in the right places, a fairly normal preference to have. Just think what will happen if I take a kid as my betrothed. Everyone in Luna, the red light district, would give me the cold shoulder. All the married women I’ve been intimate with as well! I can already imagine what they will say. ‘You lavished us with praise, calling us goddesses of beauty, but that’s not where your true preferences lie. You like them young and immature—angelic cherubs!’” He lamented as if his own destruction was drawing near.

I blinked some more, stunned at the depth of his attachment toward women.

Lord Alan opened his mouth to continue ridiculing Lord Glen when a sharp, albeit quiet sound echoed through the room. All eyes turned to the prince. He had slapped his feather pen down on his desk and turned a silencing smile toward his two bickering retainers. “Glen, Alan. The exit’s over there.”

Was I the only one who felt like he was indirectly telling them to “get out”?

For the first time, Lord Alan turned his eyes toward me with a start. “Oh, Lady Elianna...isn’t reading anymore.”

Indeed. I lost my concentration after being consumed with thought.

As I contemplated, I eyed the two pale men and then turned my attention to Lord Glen.

“A riddle for you. What do a greedy nobleman and an elderly man with outdated and detrimental opinions have in common?” I asked.

Lord Glen stuttered, “I-I don’t know, what?”

“Both long for something fleeting.”

He slumped in disappointment, bracing his hands on the table in front of him. His eyes fell to the ground and his body trembled.

Lord Alexei, accustomed to such exchanges, merely sighed and interjected, “If this is a guest from the Miseral Dukedom, then they must be close to the queen as well. I do believe the prince also plans to meet with her, yes?”

“I do,” said His Highness. “Last time, I went straight home after the ceremony. If she’s related to the former general, then that means she’s connected to the archduke’s family as well. Glen, there’s no running from this one.”

“You can’t be serious,” Lord Glen growled, tears in his eyes. “This is precisely why I planned to privately reject their proposal before things could come to a head. But you’re the one who suddenly insisted we return straight back to Sauslind before I could make preparations to nip this in the bud. It wouldn’t kill you to feel guilty for your own actions, would it?”

He must have been referring to the Hunting Festival incident. Back then, the prince had left the country to attend a ceremony held in one of our allied countries, the Miseral Dukedom. I was partially responsible for his haste to return home.

Prince Christopher shrugged, his hands never stopping as he sorted through documents. “Not too long ago, Countess Eisenach was lamenting to my mother about all of your trysts. You reap what you sow. Just give up.”

After His Highness said that, Lord Alexei and Lord Alan expressed their sympathies. “In anticipation of the prince’s wedding, more and more people are tying the knot all across the country. It’s perfect timing.”

“So this is where fooling around indiscriminately leads one. I will keep that in mind for future reference.”

Lord Glen’s voice turned somber. “Friendship is one of the founding pillars of youth. Do you guys even know the meaning of the word?”

His Highness smiled. “I’m too busy.”

Lord Alexei narrowed his glacial eyes. “If ‘friendship’ entails you seeking assistance in sorting through documents, I will readily lend my wisdom to the cause.”

“I’ll do whatever, as long as it’s interesting,” Lord Alan added, strumming his instrument.

I actually felt a little sorry for Lord Glen, who was now left feeling even more dejected than before. Perhaps my femininity was the reason I found myself unable to grasp the intricacies of camaraderie between men.

Before I could add my own opinion, Lord Alexei cut me off. “All joking aside, the timing of all of this does strike me as a bit too convenient. Alan, how is the investigation proceeding?”

Lord Alan hummed, his demeanor still relaxed. Then his eyes turned toward me, as if he’d suddenly remembered something. “Oh, Lady Elianna, isn’t it about time?”

As if on cue, the chamberlain announced that some people had come to visit me. It seemed Lord Alan was right; I was out of time.

I announced my departure and stood to leave, prompting Prince Christopher to pause and turn his worried gaze to me. “Eli, is there anything bothering you?”

“Pardon?” I stared back at him blankly.

His Highness started to say something, hesitated, and then ultimately played it off. “No, never mind. You have your sworn duties. I can’t intervene any longer. As long as there’s nothing bothering you, it’s fine.”

I tilted my head at him, but there was no time to waste. After a curtsey, I slipped out through the door.

The prince had asked if I was “bothered” by anything. It was true that lately I found myself beset by a problem I’d been unprepared to deal with. My feet felt heavy as I trudged toward the source of my apprehension.

~.~.~.~

A court lady came to fetch me and then guided me to the inner palace. I swallowed a tiny breath as I stepped inside the adjoining room we always passed through each time we did this.

A group of people were waiting to accost me, eyes gleaming like predators that had found their next meal. They held their most proficient weapons in their hands, waiting for the signal that it was okay to move in.

Meanwhile, I would be forced to face them alone. I was at an overwhelming disadvantage. As the Bibliophile Princess, I had to do this. Where there is a will, there is a way, as they say.

I had no idea how the court lady who had retrieved me earlier perceived our tense standoff, but she was as curt as ever when she said, “You may begin.”

The palace maids and royal merchants gleefully charged toward me. The only weapon I ever had was my books, but even they had been taken from me. I was truly powerless.

“Lady Elianna! I have a precious yellow pearl taken from a Palmyran Nemu snail. It would offset your skin tone beautifully.”

“I have also prepared some brand new designs myself. I even sought input from one of your favorite sketch artists from the far east. What do you think?”

“Have a look at my textiles. I have dyed fabrics from the Tor Region and newly developed ones made with more advanced materials. If you use these for your dress, you’re certain to look even more captivating than you already do, my lady!”

I knew a bit about the textiles from the Tor Region. They had tailored a new lightweight fabric that made dresses more breathable in the summer months. Some were even considering using those materials to craft curtains as well.

...Were they trying to stoke my reputation as a ghost even further? Lightweight fabric would only make me look more transparent and spectral.

Contrary to my suspicions, the people surrounding me continued to thrust colorful words, fabrics, designs, and adornments my way. It was a proverbial ocean wave crashing over me. My eyes were soon spinning.

One after the other, maids approached with gorgeous dresses for me to inspect. I was flustered from the very beginning, having this forced upon me. When I looked up and saw my reflection in the mirror and realized just how out of place I looked, I felt utterly ashamed of myself. My current challenge was to pick one dress among those presented, as well as some adornments to go along with them. This was all for the purpose of narrowing down my list of candidates for who would be appointed to the important post of supplying me when I became crown princess. To be frank, this was not something I was well-equipped to handle.

There was no lady to run the Bernstein household anymore. When it came to fashion, I’d had no woman to use as a reference since I was a child. This might sound like a flimsy excuse as well, but by nature, the Bernsteins weren’t concerned with dressing to impress.

Fathers were completely useless when it came to a lady’s clothing and wedding attire. My aunt was the one responsible for orchestrating everything related to my societal debut.

I had used a fair measure of caution in selecting my apparel up until this point, conscious of my position as the crown prince’s betrothed. Imperfect as my attempts might have been, I was proud of the four years I had spent cultivating an eye for fashion befitting my stature. Those who knew me well—such as house maids, my aunt, and my cousins—gave me advice and played a huge part in my growth.

Now, however, things were a bit different. I was far removed from all of them and left to face my circumstances on my own, and that bitter reminder caused my entire body to tense up. Being unproficient didn’t give me the right to waive my responsibilities, I knew. I was the one who decided I wanted to stay with His Highness.

With renewed determination, I pointed at one of the dresses. “This dress from the Mers company has a plunging neckline. I don’t think it would suit me. Similarly, the sketches show fresh flowers being used in the design, but they seem to be based on the Yule flower from the far eastern country of Norn. According to Gaelga mythology, Yule represents the goddess’s beloved maidens, a symbol for purity. However, it has a strong scent, and it would be impossible to remove its pollen from the dress, making it an inappropriate choice for social gatherings.”

After a moment of contemplation, I proposed, “It would take quite a bit of effort, but... According to the theologian Porta Tugga’s thesis entitled False Image of the Gods, while the goddess safeguards pure maidens, she also adores florid palettes and designs. Thus, by lowering this collar further, you could add a panel under it with decorative lace using a Yule flower motif. I imagine the resulting contrast of maturity and the symbolism of innocence would appeal to younger women. Though, it would require some careful consideration to ensure it isn’t sold too widely. Also, for that design you mentioned, embroidery of the flower rather than actual flowers could make it popular with young ladies making their societal debuts.”

For a moment, the crowd’s demanding onslaught seemed to ease. However, just as quickly, their eyes turned feverish as they scrambled for my attention, burying me in a mountain of adornments.

“Lady Elianna, please, I would like your feedback on my design as well—”

“Good grief, the Nash company just received her input yesterday. Have some restraint.”

“What are you talking about? The Sinus company keeps asking her about the origins of certain jewels every single time. Are you sure you aren’t merely failing to win Lady Elianna’s favor?”

“What did you just say?!” The two proceeded to bark at each other viciously.

Meanwhile, one of the palace maids cheerfully chirped, “Lady Elianna, I really do think this milky white dress with its soft tones would suit you perfectly. It would complement your hair and eye color.”

“What a bizarre thing to say. Then the dress would be the same color as her hair. Personally, I think this dark-as-midnight shade of navy blue complements you better. It will amplify the air of mystery you already exude.”

“Nonsense. If mystery is the only appeal you give her, she’ll be just another story in One Hundred Tales of Mystery in the Capital. If they come out with yet another sequel entitled A Hundred Tales of Mystery in the Inner Palace, what will we do then, hm?!”

“Oh, please. There’s already conjecture about seven new mysteries in the royal archives, so it’s a bit late for that. Besides, if you ask my opinion, I think this pink dress suits you far better. It brings out your girlish side.”

“Pink is a graduation color. Lady Elianna is becoming crown princess. A softer palette would suit her more.”

“I disagree,” another voice chimed in, triggering bickering among the maids as they drowned me in a sea of dresses.

There were some rude remarks thrown in there that were difficult to ignore, but there was also a chance that one among them might be serving me soon. Part of my assignment was to remember their names, faces, and temperaments. Though I understood that, I was unaccustomed to having objects thrust at me one after the other. I wasn’t one to give up easily, but after all this, I was almost ready to raise my flag in surrender.

As I swam out of the sea of dresses in hopes of taking a breath after nearly drowning in them, an authoritative voice suddenly rang out, stilling the commotion.

“Elianna. Have you still not selected your outfit?” Her tone was curt and dignified, washing over us. Immediately, everyone in the room tensed. At her appearance from the adjoining room, all of the other people present simultaneously froze in place and straightened their postures before bowing. I was no exception, even as I looked utterly disheveled with all manner of fabrics and dresses draped over me.

Standing before us was the most noble woman in our kingdom—Prince Christopher’s mother, Queen Henrietta. Absolutely everyone paid her respect.

Her gaze flitted across the room, passing over me with my head bowed. She let out a quiet sigh behind the safety of her open folding fan. “I realize this is a daily occurrence, but it is still unacceptable. Elianna, your duties as crown princess don’t include giving merchants beneficial advice to earn their favor. Nor does it include heeding the whims of maids. Do you understand your position?”

“...Yes.” Plagued with a sense of shame and embarrassment, I kept my head low.

Queen Henrietta breathed a small sigh before immediately doling out instructions. “I want that bright golden dress with the low neckline. For the jewelry, hm... Using the same shade of pearl would be too uninspiring. Do any of you have a fresh and original silverwork design?”

At Her Majesty’s prompting, the jewelers quickly crowded around her. The chaos from a few moments ago was nowhere to be seen; everyone was suddenly very orderly. They all knew their place and kept needless chatter to a minimum. It was a night-and-day difference to how they had interacted with me.

I let out an imperceptible sigh, wondering if I would ever be like her. Unease and anxiety gripped me, and I found myself exhaling another shaky breath. I was glad at least the queen’s entourage wasn’t present today.

~.~.~.~

I was forced to parade around in three different outfits until we settled on the very first one—the golden yellow dress with its early-spring tones, a modest yet elegant silverpiece adornment, and a hairpiece with a floral design. That alone was enough to leave me feeling a bit drained. Nonetheless, it was better this time than it had been before.

Normally, the queen’s entourage of married noblewomen would begin inserting all of their opinions and it would take twice or thrice the time to simply select an outfit. Not to mention how many dozens of times they made me swap between outfits for them. I understood they were all fussing over me because I no longer had a mother of my own. Still, I sometimes found myself feeling more like a dress up doll than a person. Perhaps that was too rude of me...

The merchant companies paid their respects politely before leaving, but as cleanup in the wake of their departure commenced, I secretly wandered over to one of the maids to deliver my gratitude. “Sarah, thank you for your help with the Milulu clam business the other day. Could you convey my gratitude to the other members of your household as well?”

The maid had a calm and quiet demeanor and was most likely being conscious of her surroundings as she softly replied, “It was really nothing, Lady Elianna. The village in the Azul Region may get more lively now thanks to you. They should really be the ones extending gratitude.”

“Pardon?” I tilted my head at her.

Sarah’s smile only grew, but before our conversation could carry on, a terse voice cut in. “Elianna.”

I snapped to attention, and Sarah gave a bow, as was expected for a maid serving in the inner palace, and took her leave.

Once the room had cleared out, only the queen, her lady-in-waiting, and a number of her senior maids remained. A table sat between the two of us. Across from me, the queen gracefully slid her fan closed. I straightened my posture.

She was forty-three years old. Her slim frame seemed to belie the unyielding and commanding aura she exuded, which always pressured those in her presence to naturally straighten themselves. There was a grace about her; even her fingers looked elegant as they manipulated the folding fan in her hands. She had glossy auburn hair and eyes of the same shade—eyes that always seemed to regard me critically.

“Elianna, I realize we have this talk each and every time, but you are the future crown princess of the Sauslind Kingdom. Eventually, you will bear the weight of my crown and the responsibilities that come with it. If you continue to allow Chris to protect you while you immerse yourself in books, you’ll eventually find yourself in trouble when a situation arises where you must be self-reliant.”

She absolutely had a point. So I solemnly replied, “Yes, you are right.”

Every time the queen entertained special guests from abroad, either at meetings or events, I accompanied her as the prince’s betrothed. We had spent a lot of time together as a result. Queen Henrietta was tough on people. The general consensus was that she couldn’t stand anyone who couldn’t think on their own two feet. However, it seemed to me that she had even higher standards for herself.

No matter how tense or grave the situation, she maintained her dignity and composure. I couldn’t even count how many times I found myself admiring her. So when she exhaled in exasperation at me, I couldn’t help feeling utterly pathetic.

“The reason we had etiquette training for noble ladies in the spring was to select some among them to serve you in the future. As always, my son tried to drive you away from us, and everything took a ridiculous turn from there. He needs to work on that faint-heartedness of his, admittedly, but more pressing is his troublesome overprotectiveness.” Her rebuke spilled over to Prince Christopher as well.

I wasn’t sure to the extent of which the queen was privy to the details of our engagement agreement, but I was fully aware by now that the prince had limited my presence in high society as much as he could. Since the day our wedding date was selected, I had been spending more time outfitting myself and participating in high society than I had reading books. This was especially true now that the year was ending and a new one was set to begin, with the Holy Night’s Banquet fast approaching. My capabilities were a reflection on the prince and his reputation.

Equipped with a completely different thought process and frame of mind than I’d possessed the year before, I asked the queen to elaborate on what she meant by the prince’s protection of me.

Her Majesty’s eyes narrowed into slits as she snapped her fan closed again after opening it just moments prior. “Up until this point, you’ve been exempt from receiving any substantial princess training. This was, of course, largely due to your capabilities and accomplishments, which silenced any potential protest. That said, now that your official wedding date has been selected, you cannot continue to depend on the prince’s kindness. You will be part of the royal family, so you must learn to read between the lines. You need to equip yourself with the skills required to contend with seasoned vultures in the government and outside of it. In that regard, you are socially far behind your peers. You realize this, I assume?” There was a gravity in her words, as if she was questioning my resolve.

I kept a tight grip on my emotions and nodded. “Yes, Your Majesty.”

Her brows drew slightly. “Elianna,” she murmured my name, sounding as if I had offended her somehow.

I swallowed hard, worried I’d made some kind of mistake in my response.

Queen Henrietta’s eyes narrowed as she watched me. “We spoke of this not long ago. What is it you should call me when it’s just the two of us?”

“Huh...?” I grew flustered. Those words sounded more like something I would expect to hear from His Highness, granted the atmosphere here was the complete opposite. The prince was always sweet with me, while his mother was harsh.

Queen Henrietta’s words implied she was giving me permission to be more relaxed and familiar around her, but just a moment ago she had also told me I needed to read between the lines. I wasn’t sure if I was safe to take this at face value or if she was testing me. My mind spun in circles.

Regardless, what really had my heart hammering in my chest was thinking of how long it had been since I’d used the word she wanted to hear. It was precious and nostalgic. The mere thought of it evoked a sense of warmth that I couldn’t get anywhere else, blanketing around me. Even if her words belied a different meaning, I couldn’t help the surge of emotion I felt.

My eyes automatically shifted to the floor, my cheeks warming. I clutched nervously at my knees—something I knew wasn’t very ladylike. Then I spoke the word, voice infused with joy and longing, “...Mother.”

Instantly, I heard an ominous crack. When I lifted my head in surprise, I noticed the queen’s eyes were wide. Her lips were trembling, pulled taut over her teeth as if she were about to bare them at me. I recoiled in surprise. That sinister sound had been her folding fan, which she gripped tightly in her hand. I’d seen her make this same face just days before. That was how I knew I had flubbed things. My face grew pale.

Before I could offer my apologies, the queen’s lady-in-waiting stepped up behind her and whispered in her ear, “Your Majesty, your expression...”

Queen Henrietta returned to her senses and smoothed her features, clearing her throat before she snapped her fan open again. Its frame was a bit warped now. “Elianna, I told you this before, but there’s no need for you to feel embarrassed about calling me ‘mother.’ You make it sound as if I’m forcing you to use the word.”

“Yes... I am sorry.” I had absolutely no earthly clue what I was being scolded for, but I withered under her gaze and apologized anyway.

The other day as she was teaching me the ways of the royal family, as she always did, she had suddenly said to me, “When spring comes, you will be my daughter-in-law. So please, call me ‘mother.’” I was genuinely happy to comply, but perhaps it was too presumptuous of me given that she was a queen.

Her Majesty cleared her throat again. The air around her seemed to shift as she breathed another sigh into the shadow of her fan. “At any rate, there is something very important I wish to speak to you about today.”

“Very well.”

This conversation she wanted to have was likely the cause for her usual entourage’s absence. I straightened my posture.

“There is a guest from the Miseral Dukedom presently staying with the Eisenach family,” she began. “I am sure you’re already well aware of my connection to the Dukedom.”

“...Yes.”

Queen Henrietta was a noble of Sauslind, but her own mother—Prince Christopher’s grandmother—was originally a princess from the Dukedom. She later married into a Sauslind duke’s family, and their union resulted in the birth of Queen Henrietta. Thus, when she later married His Majesty, both countries joined together to celebrate. This resulted in an even stronger bond between our nations. That was also the reason for Prince Christopher attending that ceremony not long ago. This was common knowledge though, not just among the nobles but most of the citizens as well.

Still, I got the impression that the queen was hinting at more. There was something that immediately came to mind. Prince Christopher had told me once before that Queen Henrietta wasn’t good at dealing with diplomatic matters. However, Her Majesty struck me as impenetrable, someone who didn’t show any such weakness. To me, it didn’t seem as if she were unskilled with diplomacy so much as she was drawing a line. As long as she wasn’t proactive, she didn’t risk getting too close to her blood relations in the Miseral Dukedom. The queen understood her position and was acting cautiously so as not to become overly familiar with any one nation.

Her Majesty nodded quietly, eyes hooded and heavy. “It’s about time I talked to you about this properly. Since we have a guest from the Dukedom, it’s the perfect occasion. Elianna, do you remember the Ashen Nightmare from fifteen years ago?”

My heart hammered in my chest. For a second, I forgot to breathe.

The Ashen Nightmare was the name of a deadly disease that had begun spreading in the northeast fifteen years ago. It was highly contagious, its origins unknown. Even now we had yet to find an effective treatment for it. It was characterized by the ashen-colored flecks that appeared on the skin of those who contracted it, giving it the popular name Ashen Nightmare.

This plague had spread its hold over Sauslind for a period, claiming even Queen Henrietta among its victims. It stole my mother’s life and ran rampant across the kingdom for three years, resulting in an explosive number of casualties. It was only with the changing of the seasons during the final year that it relinquished its hold. Although a whole decade had passed since then, those of a certain age could still vividly remember the nightmare it had been.

It was during the second year of its reign of chaos that Queen Henrietta contracted the disease. She was twenty-nine at the time. Prince Christopher was a mere seven-year-old boy. Her Majesty was sent away from the capital to ensure the plague couldn’t spread to those in the palace. She spent a prolonged period fighting the illness at a quiet place in the countryside, or so I’d heard. There wasn’t a trace of the sickness left within her now that she had conquered it. Left unmentioned, most people would forget she’d ever had it.

Queen Henrietta spoke matter-of-factly, her voice devoid of all emotion. “After I came down with the disease, the nobles’ demands only grew stronger. It had taken some time for me to conceive Chris after we wed, so there were many around us with strong opinions on what course of action should be taken.”

My body stiffened. This was all common knowledge among the nobles of Sauslind. When I first became engaged to the prince, one of the ladies-in-waiting kindly filled me in. Said lady-in-waiting was the one currently standing behind Queen Henrietta right now. Her name was Agnes, and she was the queen’s confidante.

She was the one who had informed me of the present issue with the royal family. Namely, that there was only one direct descendent of the crown at present: Prince Christopher. Normally, when a king ascended the throne, his younger brother would relinquish any claim he had in order to avoid an unnecessary power struggle, thereby losing his royal title. However, Prince Theodore still maintained his status.

When I first became engaged to Prince Christopher, the palace had been split into three warring factions: one that supported Prince Theodore, one that supported Prince Christopher, and one that maintained neutrality. However, Prince Theodore had no desire to be king, and he had abstained from marrying a lady from any noble family, instead choosing to remain single. Thus, the faction supporting him had no ground on which to stand and collapsed.

This was just my own conjecture, but I suspected that Prince Theodore was conscious of the situation and that was why he elected to act as curator to the royal archive, rendering himself as politically impotent as possible. Part of that, of course, was because he loved books, but I wasn’t convinced that was all. He was a brilliant young man who never displayed any skill of note and refused to engage himself to a house with any measure of power. Bluntly put, one might even say it was as though he were neglecting his duties as a prince. I surmised that, on the contrary, he was merely doing so to avoid any conflict about the line of succession.

Back then, Prince Christopher had been just a boy at the tender age of seven. Prince Theodore, in contrast, had just become an adult man, still fresh in his youth. It wouldn’t have been strange for those backing Prince Christopher to come up with some kind of scheme to obtain more heirs so they could maintain the influence necessary to oppose Prince Theodore. Given the position that Queen Henrietta was in at the time, I found myself gulping as the realization hit me.

“...You mean they wanted a harem?”

Her Majesty was only ever blessed with one child. Before she could even hope for another, she’d fallen ill. Those around them probably realized there was no hope that she could produce a second heir.

Behind her folding fan, Queen Henrietta narrowed her eyes and quietly nodded.

“But,” I found myself blurting out before I could think to stop myself, “you had the backing of the Miseral Dukedom—” The moment the words left my mouth, I realized my folly.

Queen Henrietta eyed me with the same frigid expression she wore during diplomatic meetings. When she spoke, she confirmed exactly what I suspected. “At the time, although the dukedom was nothing more than a tiny country, it was still the biggest maritime nation, with a capable archduke revered as the Sea King. He couldn’t ignore the opportunity to sink his teeth into Sauslind when the chance presented itself. In fact, they offered their own princess up readily, claiming it was in exchange for me failing in my duties as queen.”

“They couldn’t possibly,” I murmured, stunned. Her Majesty had been on the brink of death with the plague, and they had sunk the knife in deeper. A sharp pang ran through my chest.

The queen watched me quietly. Her voice was hushed as she asked, “Do you think them cruel? Insensitive in their treatment of me while I was battling for my life? But you should know, that is the fate of any woman who marries into the royal family.”

She snapped her fan shut. Her eyes regarded me as sharply as ever, as if she were silently staring right through me. “What’s important isn’t your lack of social finesse. It’s your lack of resolve when it comes to marrying into the royal family. What happened to me wasn’t mere happenstance or ill fortune. Someday, you may be faced with the very same issue.”

I swallowed hard, my body tensing.

Those auburn eyes of hers fixed on me. “Are you truly prepared to stand beside the crown prince of this country?”

Her quiet words punctured my heart like little daggers. Undulating waves of anxiety seemed to surge up around me, swallowing me whole.