Chapter 1

It begins after that night's party (´・(エ)・｀)

■ Second Princess's Perspective

"…This is a troublesome situation."

In a corner of the small detached palace, the Second Princess Bianca was at a loss. The interior and furnishings were far from luxurious, and a few plain dresses hung on the wall, with no closet to speak of.

In the room illuminated by the moonlight, her unadorned silver hair shimmered.

Bianca, who had just turned sixteen, had heard an outrageous scandal.

"The First Princess Adelle brought her lover and ordered the Prime Minister's son to break their engagement."

"She claimed that the king had approved it and stripped him of his position on false charges."

"She made derogatory remarks about the Count of Schoenheit and declared that he would be forced into a marriage."

All of this happened while Bianca was asleep.

As the daughter of a low-ranking concubine and the Second Princess, Bianca was clearly inferior to her sister, the First Princess Adelle. She did not live in the royal palace but was confined to the detached palace, living a life that was far from what one would expect of a royal.

On the other hand, the king lavished love on the First Princess, fulfilling all her whims.

(My head hurts. For my sister to let go of Sir Gilvester...)

Bianca thought that the country would gradually decline if things continued as they were. The central nobles were only interested in their own luxury and personal gain.

They failed to understand that the people of the border regions, like Schoenheit in the north and Sauerland in the south, were essential for national defense. Unable to tolerate her sister's outrageous remarks, Bianca had been forbidden from attending all social gatherings.

—But if Sir Gilvester were to become the royal consort, things would change.

She had believed that all her patience would pay off.

"...Of all things, an engagement break and false charges of embezzlement... Surely, such fabricated accusations will be exposed soon."

To make matters worse, the Schoenheit family had been insulted. She was at a loss.

"What should I do now~?"

In front of Bianca, who was pressing her temples, a cheerful voice sounded. Looking up at the voice, she saw a person with brown skin smiling like a boy outside the window.

This person had woken her up and informed her of the recent events.

Bianca's bedroom was on the second floor. The window next to her bed was at a height that was not visible from the outside.

"Alban, even so, there's almost nothing I can do."

This person, whom she had known since childhood, often visited Bianca in the detached palace and told her about the outside world. For Bianca, who was practically under house arrest, the information Alban provided was both useful and enjoyable.

"Look, Bianca, these are fruits sold in the market."

"Bianca, there was a festival in the town today. Here, I brought you a souvenir."

"Bianca, the country's situation is not good. The Prime Minister is trying his best, but it's tough."

As she grew older, the content of their conversations became increasingly complex.

—Alban must be from a noble family somewhere.

Even Bianca, who knew only the royal palace, could sense that Alban's knowledge and insight were remarkable. That's why, despite not having a proper tutor, Bianca had grown up reading books and newspapers given to her by this person.

Although they were about the same age, Alban was very intelligent.

"That's not true. You are the Second Princess. The country will be in turmoil. You've made enemies of the Prime Minister's faction and the Schoenheit family."

"But... I really have nothing."

With tears in her eyes, Bianca stared intently at her friend's eyes, which seemed to draw her in.

(Oh... red eyes...?)

"Hey, Alban, you..."

Just as Bianca was about to speak, there was a loud knocking at the detached palace's door.

"W-What...!?"

"Damn. The conservatives must have come to corner you. Bianca, come here!"

"E, eh!?"

Even if she was told to come, it was a second-floor window. Although Alban, who was on a tree, had his arms outstretched, Bianca was just an ordinary girl. She was not like the daughter of a noble family.

"Hurry up!"

"U, uh~n"

Half in a fit of desperation, Bianca jumped out of the window as she was called.

Thank you for reading!

I wanted to look at the capital from various perspectives in a series of short stories (´・(エ)・｀)