Chapter 210 - 3−14 Margaret's Perspective
Ever since I was old enough to understand the world, my life has been shadowed by the constant threat of death.
The Imperial Castle was vast, yet it remained a lonely place devoid of any warmth. The servants were tight-lipped and expressionless, performing their duties with the mechanical precision of dolls. They seemed to move as if trying to erase their very presence. Looking back, they were likely desperate to avoid being caught in the crossfire of imperial power struggles or drawing the ire of their masters. But to me, I was simply a young girl starved for affection.
My mother passed away shortly after my birth, and my father was murdered by my brother. My numerous half-siblings were consumed by the ambition to seize the throne, obsessed with taking the life of the new, young Emperor. Perhaps they simply forgot the existence of their youngest sister, a girl with neither power nor backing. It certainly helped that my residence was a small, detached palace on the outskirts of the Imperial Castle, and that I conveniently fell ill whenever major ceremonies were held.
Fortune also favored me in the form of my nanny, the only person I could call an ally. she reported every occurrence within the castle and did everything in her power to shield me from danger. By holding my breath and staying hidden within that blood-stained castle, I somehow managed to reach the age of ten without incident.
By ten, I understood the abnormality of the castle, the terror of my brothers, and the fact that the Dragonewt blood flowing through my veins predisposed us toward conflict. At some point, I learned to feign indifference as long as no harm came to me directly.
"His Highness the Second Prince has passed away," my nanny would say.
"...I see."
"Her Imperial Highness the Fourth Princess has passed away."
"Yes, I understand."
She delivered news of my siblings' deaths with the same tone she used to describe the evening's menu. I no longer had the emotional capacity to feel sympathy.
"The pace seems to have quickened lately," I murmured.
My nanny, who had been about to leave, stopped at the door. "It is likely because His Majesty has begun his conquest of the continent in earnest. As he spends more time away from the castle, the other princes move to seize the throne for themselves."
"...Only to be slaughtered by Brother Alec when he returns and discovers their treachery."
"And..."
"What is it? Does this involve me?"
When my nanny, who was always honest with me, hesitated like this, it was invariably about me. And it was invariably bad news. She had been personally entrusted with my care by my father, the Former Emperor. Carrying that responsibility with more weight than anyone, she was the only person who gave me something resembling love. Without her, I doubt I would have developed any normal human emotions. She was the one who allowed me to be honest and free within the confines of my own garden.
That same nanny now frowned with a rare, sorrowful look in her eyes before bowing her head as if the weight of the news was too much to bear.
"...His Majesty has begun a 'cleanup.'"
"A cleanup?"
"Yes. Rumor has it that anyone with a claim to the throne whom His Majesty deems useless is being eliminated to prevent future conflict. That is what happened to the Fourth Princess..."
Eliminated? What does that even mean?
"Eliminated... does that mean they're being killed?"
Brother Alec had never shown mercy to those who bared their fangs at him. I had heard he would draw his sword simply because someone's presence annoyed him.
"...Everything depends on His Majesty's whim."
A chill ran down my spine at her response. In the great nation of the Tratia Empire, everything moved according to that man's—my brother's—will. If he desired it, he could obtain anything. Such was the immense power of this country's Emperor.
Why did such a madman gain that power? Why did my life have to be held in the grip of such a monster? What had I done? If I were a mere commoner, would I have felt reassured by having such a terrifying figure as my Emperor? Instead, simply because we shared the same blood, my heart was perpetually clutched in my brother's hand.
"No... no, I don't want that!"
The whispers leaking from my trembling lips soon escalated into screams. As I collapsed to the floor, my nanny rushed to my side and held me tight. I couldn't tell if it was my body shaking or her hands. The tremors wouldn't stop, and I sobbed in sheer terror.
♢
One month, two months... half a year passed. Every night before sleep, I felt a wave of relief that I had survived another day. But that peace only lasted until morning. When dawn broke, I would pray again to survive the day while hiding in the shadows.
I might be next.
The fear of death was a constant companion. The rumors of my sickly nature and the quiet days I spent in obscurity were not in vain. Brother Alec likely didn't even remember I existed. That was why I had to keep holding my breath, making sure I wasn't found. I could never stand out. If I did, it would be my turn to be sent to the executioner's block.
Despite my caution, trouble always strikes when one's guard is lowered. I heard my brother had gone to war, and I let myself relax. I only ever stepped outside my palace when he was away on campaign. These periods lasted from a few days to several weeks. War was nothing to celebrate; it meant countless people elsewhere were shivering in the same fear of death I felt. Yet, someone else's hellish time became my fleeting moment of peace.
Wishing for someone else's misfortune just for my own tranquility... I make myself sick.
"I wish I had been born into a different world," I whispered, picking white clovers and weaving them into a crown.
The hill near the Detached Palace, a place I rarely visited but quite liked, was covered in a sea of white clovers this time of year. Surrounded by white and green at my feet, I looked up to see white clouds drifting slowly across a pale blue sky. Ignoring all sense of decorum, I lay down on the clovers. As a princess who lived in the shadows, I had no need for manners. My nanny never forbade me from running across the hills or stepping into the river. She still didn't.
She was likely letting me enjoy what little freedom I could find in my restricted life. If I threw a tantrum, she would stay with me even in the middle of the night. If I complained about the food, she would immediately bring me something else. That was her way of showing kindness.
"Maybe I'll give this crown to her as a gift."
Her face was lined with wrinkles now, but I knew her eyes would well with tears of joy if I offered her this. The thought made my cheeks relax into a smile. I stood up, crown in hand, and brushed the dirt and leaves from my skirt before running toward the palace.
I wish these peaceful days could last forever.
I cut through the cool breeze, my feet treading on the grass. A cabbage white butterfly appeared before me as if to lead the way. Chasing the light, fluttering insect, I felt as though I could run forever. But just as I neared the palace, I noticed a crowd gathered at the gate.
Is that... the Imperial Guard? Why are they here? They should be on the battlefield...
Unsure of what was happening, I stopped and watched them warily. Suddenly, from within the black-clad group, a pair of sharp, reddish-purple eyes locked onto mine. My shoulders jerked, and the blood drained from my face.
I have to run. Now.
Though I knew I should flee, my legs felt as if they were weighted with lead. The clover crown slipped from my trembling fingers and hit the ground.
"What is this? A pathetic little mouse?"
Despite the distance, his low, dignified voice resonated with chilling clarity. A man of immense stature and striking beauty stepped forward from the group. Clad in black knight's armor with a crimson mantle fluttering behind him, his straight, orange hair—the same shade as mine—swayed as he stared at me with the eyes of a predator that had found its prey. He never looked away.
The man shrouded in a heavy, malevolent aura was none other than Emperor Alec Tratia himself.
"...U-um..."
"Your Majesty. This is the mistress of this palace, Her Imperial Highness the Seventh Princess."
The exceptionally beautiful man standing beside my brother looked like he had just transitioned from a boy to a young man, still retaining a hint of innocence. Yet, anyone who could stand beside a madman with such a gentle smile could not possibly be normal.
"...One of these was still left?"
My brother's gaze was as cold as if he were looking at a common insect. My legs gave out, and I collapsed to my knees. As my line of sight dropped, I saw bright red blood dripping from the tip of the sword in his hand.
"Eek! Ah..."
Looking around properly, I saw corpses scattered everywhere. They were all people I recognized—the servants of my palace. Among them, I saw a woman lying in a pool of red, her apron still showing its original cream color. A scream escaped my throat.
No... that's...
Only one person in this palace wore an apron of that color, even if the shape was similar to the other maids. My nanny. Which meant... the person lying there was...
My eyes widened to their limit, and the only sound that escaped my hands, which were clamped over my mouth, was a muffled, broken sob.
My brother didn't change his expression. He approached with his dull, gleaming sword, sparing a disinterested glance at my nanny. "Was this woman your servant? I told her to bring out her master, but she refused, claiming you weren't here. This is the result."
"Ah... ah..."
I had lost my nanny, the only person I could call family despite our lack of blood relation, yet I couldn't even bring myself to glare at the relative who had killed her. I was certainly next. Terrified, my mind raced for a way to survive, but my teeth only chattered uncontrollably.
"I-I thought you went... to war..."
"I did. They were spineless cowards; the whole lot was wiped out in an instant. I still had energy to burn, so I came here for a bit of a distraction. I didn't know such a small building existed on the edge of the castle grounds... much less the existence of a Seventh Princess."
"I-I have no power..."
"You are of the imperial blood, are you not? Have you not yet 'awakened'?"
Awakening referred to the special abilities possessed only by the imperial family, the descendants of the Progenitor Dragon. However, in this age where the blood had thinned, an awakening was considered a miracle; most lived their entire lives without one.
So that's what Nanny meant by 'eliminating those without ability.' He's disposing of those with no prospect of awakening. Which means... I'm...
"I thought I might let you live if you were of some use, but if not, you're better off dead."
His lightless, reddish-purple eyes remained fixed on me as he leveled his sword at my throat. In this defenseless state, a mere millimeter of movement would tear my throat open.
I'm scared... I'm so scared. Someone, help me. No... I don't want to die!
"...In the western frontier... the... the Dragon's Heart Your Majesty seeks... it should be sleeping there."
What? What did I just say?
Even though the words had undoubtedly come from my own mouth, I couldn't comprehend them. I had no way of knowing the location of a legendary treasure like the Dragon's Heart, something out of a fairy tale. But I had succeeded in catching my brother's attention. His expressionless face twitched as he slightly knit his brows.
"Oh? Begging for your life?"
As if searching for my true intentions, he used his sword to tilt my chin up. If he realized my bluff was a lie, I would never see tomorrow's sunrise. Having made such a claim, I couldn't afford to show even a hint of cowardice.
"If it is truly found, it would be unwise to kill me."
"...You claim to have that much value?"
I swallowed hard, but I didn't let my gaze waver. My brother flicked his sword through the air to clear the blood before sheathing it.
"I will give you six months. If it is not found, you will suffer the most gruesome death of all the relatives I have killed."
Glaring at me one last time, he turned his mantle and walked away.
I... I'm saved?
As the sound of his horse's hooves faded into the distance, I felt my consciousness slip away.