Chapter 9

"It seems you've been having fun lately."

When Gruek, who had been looking over documents, spoke to him, Alek furrowed his brow slightly.

"It's not so much fun, but talking to someone whose reactions are unpredictable is quite interesting."

"What do you mean by unpredictable reactions?"

Luitas, who seemed to have been tired from reading detailed statements, interjected with a smile.

"For example, if you tell Via to enjoy a drink."

"What would happen if I said that?"

"Then she would ask, 'Are you going to dance, then?'"

"What is that supposed to mean?"

Luitas burst out laughing.

That princess seems to be a more interesting person than I thought.

"By the way, Ebeck asked if there really are people who start drinking and dancing," Amon interjected, as if recalling a conversation.

Ebeck, who was originally adaptable, seemed to have gotten used to the pace of the princess. He reported that she was always optimistic, bright, and lived a lively and enjoyable life. However, the image of the princess in his mind had been completely shattered, according to a somewhat tired Ebeck.

"Sir Reil, whom I met earlier, is called 'Sir Reasonable.' Sir Neckel is called 'Sir Sly Fox.'"

Gruek, who had always been dead serious, couldn't help but burst out laughing.

"Is that a name given by Princess Via?"

"No, the terrifying thing is that it was given by Empress Tsity."

"...She really takes after her lineage."

Being with Via, every day was interesting.

Since that day, unless there were official engagements, Alek would have breakfast and dinner with Via every morning and evening. They would chat about trivial matters and laugh over silly things.

This morning, Via said she had a dream right after waking up, so Alek asked if something significant was going to happen. Via shrugged and said, "Well, it's significant for the person involved." She then explained that bird droppings had fallen on the head of a knight from Reiatow.

Alek felt deflated at the start of the day, but for the person who got hit, it was indeed a big problem. "But there's nothing you can do about it, even if you tell them to be careful," Via laughed, skillfully dodging Alek's arms as he tried to pull her close, and picked up the nightgown that had fallen on the floor.

Via's skin, caressed every night, had gained a lustrous glow day by day. Her skin was soft and smooth, and Alek's reason was easily taken away by her white arms that seemed to invite him. He kissed and sucked on the parts hidden by her dress, leaving several rosy marks. The women who attended to Via probably knew all about Alek's attachment and indulgence.

"Tomorrow is the big debut, isn't it?"

When Gruek mentioned this, Alek nodded.

At the spring banquet, which would invite the nobles, Alek would take Via as his concubine for the first time. Via, who had never appeared in public during her time as a princess, would be scrutinized with every move, and it would surely be tiring for her.

"Are the preparations all set?" Gruek asked, and Alek replied that everything was fine.

By now, the Crystal Palace should be preparing everything for Via.

The dress Via would wear was a deep red one that highlighted her fair skin, with delicate white lace at the neckline and cuffs. The design was decided immediately after she became a concubine, and after several fittings, it was finally completed. The tiara, earrings, and necklace were all made of the same gemstones, and beneath the tiara, her dazzling golden hair flowed down her back.

At sixteen, despite her youthful appearance, Via, who shone with the luster of nightly affection, was a breathtaking beauty, surpassing even the former Empress Tsity. When the emperor saw Via, he must have felt the size of the fish he had let get away. The empress, who watched with a cold eye, only nodded slightly in response to Via's greeting and did not say a word.

Noticing Seltis, who entered the hall escorted by the knights of Antore, Via smiled. Seltis also returned a happy smile, having not seen her sister in a long time.

Those who wanted to curry favor with the first prince all knelt before Via. However, there was no genuine respect in their actions.

Via smiled politely and responded with a few ritualistic words.

It was the beginning of a long night.

Via went to greet Lady Elk, the emperor's aunt.

"Be careful not to offend her; she is particular about formalities," her mother's words echoed in her mind.

"Seeing your face in the court is a first. I hear you have been weak and confined to the Purple Jade Palace."

Via was momentarily puzzled by the implicit suggestion that she was not fit to be a concubine.

"I am not weak. I was just told by my mother to stay in the Purple Jade Palace."

"Why would she say that?"

"I am only an adopted daughter of the emperor, with a lesser lineage. My mother said it would be presumptuous to appear before the noble bloodline of the Anshese."

By subtly praising Lady Elk, Via's response seemed to please her, and the lady smiled in satisfaction.

"You look very much like Empress Tsity. Tsity always knew her place.

She always conducted herself modestly and never showed any disrespect to the empress."

Lady Elk's eyes were directed at Empress Myaarl with evident displeasure.

The empress, who protected her pregnant belly and refused to leave the emperor's side, must have made Lady Elk feel that the royal bloodline had been tainted.

"Originally, you were the emperor's adopted daughter. You could have been Alek's official wife."

Via was surprised to hear such words.

Lady Elk must really dislike Empress Myaarl.

Her dislike and resentment of Empress Myaarl had turned into favor for Via.

"It is a great honor to be noticed by the prince. I intend to serve him with all my heart."

"What did you say to Lady Elk?"

When it was time to dance, Alek, following the protocol, asked Via for the first dance. As he led her to the center of the hall, he asked her the first thing that came to mind.

"That noisy lady was praising you."

Alek's steps were flawless, as befitting a prince accustomed to being the center of attention.

"Nothing special."

Via followed his elegant lead with light steps.

"I simply said I would serve you with all my heart."

"Would you really be swayed by that?"

Alek, who seemed half-disbelieving, only received a soft smile from Via in response.

Alek's lead was so smooth that it was a pleasure to dance with him. Her dress swayed like a feather.

"Still, aren't you nervous with so many people watching you?"

"I don't mind being watched. I must have inherited the blood of a dancer from my mother."

Her mother often said she loved being watched in her beautiful costumes.

"But being watched this much makes me feel like a monkey in a show."

Via whispered this in Alek's ear and then added, "But I am beautiful, so the monkey must be on the other side."

Alek nearly stumbled, losing his balance for a moment.

"You... "

The unexpected stumble caused a ripple of surprise among the onlookers. It was unprecedented for the first prince to stumble in public.

In the gentle warmth of the morning light, Via slowly awoke.

She could hear the regular breathing of the person next to her and smiled softly.

His long, amber eyes were now closed, and his long lashes cast shadows on his cheeks. The way his soft golden hair fell over his forehead was so alluring that she suddenly felt embarrassed to be so close.

It was time to get up.

When she shifted in his arms, Alek's arm tightened around her waist, as if trying to hold her back.

"Your Highness...?"

Still half-asleep, Alek pulled Via closer, burying his face in her hair, as if reluctant to let go of the warmth.

He always acted this way when he woke up.

Via smiled at his sleeping face. She wanted to linger in this drowsy state, but it was time for the maids to arrive.

"Your Highness, wake up."

When she tried to pull away, placing her hand on his chest, Alek, who had been blinking sleepily, wrapped his arms around her. This was deliberate.

"It's still early."

"It's not early. Listen, you can hear the morning cough of the maid."

To avoid embarrassing Via, the maid would give a small cough before entering, a signal for her to get up.

Even though the maids were used to this scene, it still made Via uncomfortable.

Although she had come to the Crystal Palace as a nominal concubine, she had been called to Alek's bed every night since their first night together.

As a concubine, not an official wife, Via had her own room. When she stayed in Alek's room, the maids would form a line to bring her dress, shoes, and accessories across the corridor every morning.

The thought of this scene made Via feel so embarrassed that she tried not to think about it.

"Always so unsentimental."

Alek, who seemed to have finally woken up, stretched and got out of bed gracefully.

As he quickly put on the clothes scattered on the floor, Via also prepared herself in the shadows of the curtains.

Soon, there was a knock, and a maid called out hesitantly.

When Alek answered, the head maid, Ameri, and a few other maids entered.

Via was led to a waiting room by one of the maids to prepare for the day.

She washed her face, rinsed her mouth, and sat in front of a mirror while her lustrous golden hair was combed. She just sat there, facing forward.

Being cleaned with scented water and dressed in new clothes was a familiar scene for her.

On days when she had breakfast with the prince, she was immediately taken to him.

Alek's mornings were busy, so he couldn't wait for her to finish her preparations.

Via wondered how her mother used to handle it.

She remembered her mother having breakfast with the emperor two or three times a week.

They would sit at opposite ends of a long table, and her mother would smile wryly, saying it was a formal affair.

The emperor and empress always had breakfast together, so her mother tried to decline the emperor's invitations as much as possible.

She didn't want to draw more attention to herself, even though she was already disliked.

Her mother said she always thought about her dancing days when she was with the emperor.

"My body is his to do with as he pleases. The emperor believes I am infatuated with him, and I let him believe it. I will keep deceiving him until one of us dies."

Her mother said the body and the heart were separate. But Via couldn't understand.

Her heart was moved by the prince's gaze and breath.

Via had offered her body to protect her brother, and the prince was simply exercising his right to use her body.

Via knew there had been many other women before her.

She was on the same level as them and would likely be discarded when he grew tired of her.

Via thought it was just a matter of growing attached through daily conversations. She had never said she loved him, nor had he ever said it to her.

It was just about living in the same palace, having meals together, and serving in his bed when called.

But sometimes, Via felt the prince was very lonely. It made her heart ache.

He carried an incredibly heavy burden, and he wasn't even allowed to show any weakness.

Unlike Via, who had been freed from her burden by seeking protection, the prince could never escape the royal bloodline.

He knew he would die if he didn't take the throne.

There was no salvation, nowhere.

Even her mother had not loved the prince at all.

Via suddenly thought she didn't want to leave.

She realized it now.

She had easily talked about leaving the palace, but it meant severing ties.

The royal family and the common people had no connection.

The day would surely come when she could never see Prince Alek or Seltis again.