Chapter 2

【Chapter 1】

In the forest just after crossing the border, Alicia hurriedly ran.

(A little more. If I can get out of this forest, I should be able to escape even if the pursuers come—)

Despite having built up her stamina, she was out of breath from running for so long. The sword she had taken from the attacker was heavy, designed for a man, and behaved differently from her usual training sword.

“!”

Something fell from above, and Alicia instantly deflected it with her sword. It was just a branch, but she narrowed her eyes at the sharpness of the clean cut.

(Only the official knights of the country would have such a well-made sword. Despite their plan to attack by pretending to be bandits, they are quite sloppy.)

Her current worry was the wedding dress she was wearing.

The once-white wedding dress was stained with blood, especially the left chest area, which was completely red.

If she appeared in public like this, there would surely be a commotion. However, to survive, she continued to run through the dim forest.

(It's still a mystery to me that I'm still alive...)

***

“Mother, don't cry...!”

Alicia's father, the king, was killed when Alicia was five years old.

Her father, who was too kind as a ruler, was overthrown and killed by his younger brother, Alicia's uncle. Despite the king's long-term vigilance and the alliances he had formed with various countries, all the reinforcements failed to arrive in time.

Most of the king's subjects and knights were killed, and only Alicia and her mother were spared. They were confined to a room in the castle as soon as the announcement of the change in the throne was made.

Alicia was trembling with fear, but she was more worried about her frail mother. Even at such a young age, she tried her best to reassure her mother.

“I'll protect you, Mother...! I've done a lot of sword training, so I'm not afraid, it's okay...!”

Despite this, her mother gently hugged her, who was on the verge of tears.

“Listen carefully, Alicia. The blood that flows through your body holds a secret.”

“A secret...?”

Blinking her tear-filled eyes, her mother nodded gently.

“Occasionally, a member of this country's royal family is born with the ability to see the future. And it is said that those who have this power have hair the color of a dawn, a light purple.”

As her mother stroked Alicia's hair, it was indeed a light purple.

“Can you see the future, Alicia?”

“Yes. Most people think it's a superstition, but I'm sure it's true.”

“I want to try using that power!”

However, her mother shook her head sadly.

“No, you mustn't. You must promise not to use this power until it is truly necessary.”

“But why? If I could see the future, I might know how to save you...”

“No, because the condition for seeing the future is—...”

“...!”

As her mother continued, her voice was filled with tears.

“Remember, Alicia.”

After being taught everything, her mother gently stroked Alicia's hair.

“The blood that flows through your body. The fact that you are a princess of this country will not change even if your father is gone.”

“...Princess...”

“Mother can't see the future, but I believe your future will be happy. Our dear princess...”

Her mother's frail body, already weakened by the coup and her husband's death, had reached its limit. She collapsed in front of Alicia, spitting blood. Despite Alicia's cries, the guards who entered the room could not revive her.

“Mother! Mother, don't die...!”

“Hey, the former queen isn't breathing! Someone, get a doctor—...”

Her mother passed away, and Alicia was left in a dire situation. However, she was saved by the voice of the people.

“Show mercy to the five-year-old Princess Alicia!”

The people, who were caught up in the conflict between the royal family, still raised their voices for Alicia.

“The young princess is innocent. The late king and queen listened to our voices carefully!”

“Please, the new king, hear our plea...!”

“What do you think, Your Majesty? While it's true that not killing her could leave a seed of trouble, ignoring the people's plea immediately after the new king's ascension could also be a source of unrest.”

To the new king, Alicia's existence was of no real concern.

“Raising a riot over such a matter is foolish. As the new king, I cannot be bothered with trivial matters within the country.”

“In that case, it would be more practical to keep her as a princess rather than exiling her from the royal family. This would make her more useful for political marriages.”

“I see. I will strip her of her right to the throne and manage her to ensure she never gains power. I will take her as my adopted daughter.”

Thus, Alicia remained in the royal family, under the rule of her uncle, who had killed her father. However, it was not easy for her to be accepted.

“—Why must I, Tiana's sister, accept that woman's daughter!”

Her aunt, the new queen, had always resented Alicia's mother.

“I have a much nobler bloodline, yet that woman managed to become queen...!! Now that my husband is king, everything is finally in its proper place! And yet, I can't bear it!!”

If Alicia, the daughter of the former king, gained more supporters, she might one day become a threat to the king. Therefore, from the nobles to the servants, no one was allowed to be kind to Alicia.

(…I'm all alone now)

The small room given to her in the corner of the castle was a dim, almost storage-like space.

(But the people are trying to help me, so I'm still okay...)

To confirm this, she touched her cheeks with her small hands.

She understood, even at a young age, that she should have been killed. She was alive because her parents had protected the people.

(—I've decided!)

In her lonely room, she clenched her hands tightly and raised them above her head, encouraging herself.

“To thank everyone, I must fulfill my duty as a princess. I'll work really hard, yeah! Hooray!!”

Her energetic voice echoed through the room, and thus began Alicia's days of effort.

***

“First, I need to eat and grow big and strong!”

She was given little food and had to sleep in a room without a fireplace or bedding on cold nights. To become a proper princess, she first needed to learn how to survive.

(I'm so hungry, let's study what I can eat!)

Fortunately, in the corner of the castle where Alicia was confined, there was a library that her uncle and aunt had ignored.

The books here seemed to have been collected by her parents for her.

The shelves were organized by subject, containing various knowledge from around the world. The books ranged from those that a five-year-old could read to more advanced texts, gradually increasing in difficulty.

Her parents, who had collected these books out of love, probably never imagined that they would save their daughter's life. In these books, Alicia learned how to obtain food.

(Hmm, grass and tree bark... Wow, amazing! So this is how you can eat them?)

Once she could manage her hunger, she learned from the books how to withstand the cold and sleep.

(How can I stay warm at night? I see... If I layer different types of fabric, even thin ones can be a bit warm.)

After eating and sleeping, and maintaining her health, she gained the strength to learn new things.

(How do you start a fire? I want to read about the history of fabric and different weaving techniques! And where do the fabrics that can't be made in this country come from? What is 'trade'?)

Starting with weaving, Alicia learned about fibers, the conditions of other countries, and the trade that connected them. She also understood the importance of the relationships between countries in conducting trade with other nations.