He looked dejected, like a puppy with drooping ears, hanging his head low and puffing out his lower lip.
"Dorothy... I get the feeling you hate me."
You only realized that now? You're really oblivious.
Still, I had been trying very hard not to make it obvious that I disliked him, so I supposed I could forgive him for not noticing, Ray.
I couldn't bring myself to say it aloud, but I hoped that now that he'd figured it out himself, he'd stop looking for me.
"Prince Ray, it's time for you to go."
Just then, the official in charge of the investiture ceremony came to escort Ray.
"...Dorothy, you'll come watch my investiture ceremony, won't you?"
If I could skip it, I would.
But I couldn't.
When I reluctantly nodded, he smiled brightly.
"If you're watching me, I think I'll do well."
"..."
If only Ray weren't Ray...
Maybe I could have liked him.
Maybe I could have simply thought of him as a kind-hearted fool and found him endearing.
Ray looked at me expectantly, clearly hoping I'd wish him luck.
In the end, I ignored him.
It was Ray's investiture ceremony.
I was thankful that my assigned seat was in front of Theon.
If Theon had been standing where I could see him directly, I would have spent the entire ceremony staring at him—only to notice Julia standing beside him and sink into misery.
The only thing I disliked was that Karnon stood squarely within my field of vision.
Officially, I was his daughter by blood, so I had to stand near him in the front row.
Since the ceremony appointing the Crown Prince was one of the empire's most important state events, Karnon wore a golden cloak that spread across the floor and held the imperial scepter symbolizing the Milanere royal family.
At the tip of the scepter was a carving of a spirit with its arms outstretched, as if embracing empty air.
Originally, the Spirit Stone of Light should have rested in its arms.
However, generations ago, the stone had fallen into the sea and been lost, leaving the space empty.
They could have replaced it with another gem, but placing an ordinary jewel where the Spirit Stone belonged would have been considered an insult to the spirits, so it had remained empty ever since.
...Did they ever find the broken fragment of that Spirit Stone?
I vaguely remembered hearing, just before my execution, that they had finally found it.
But by then, I had already given up on everything.
My memories of that time were hazy and fragmented.
"May the glorious light of Milanere shine upon the entire empire..."
As the ceremony began, I realized something new.
Karnon really lacked ambition.
Now that I was a child again, the entire ceremony seemed remarkably modest.
It wasn't because they'd intentionally made it simple.
This was the formal announcement of the empire's next heir to the throne.
The imperial palace had been bustling for days preparing for it, and nobles from all over the empire had gathered, including Fried, who had traveled a great distance.
When I was little, Ray's investiture had seemed so magnificent...
There had been a time when Karnon, sitting proudly upon the throne, had seemed terrifyingly distant.
He had felt like an untouchable existence.
Sometimes I believed I could only truly exist if I earned his attention.
But now...
Karnon meant nothing to me.
His accessories looked tasteless.
The chandelier hanging from the ceiling seemed small and shabby.
The hall itself felt cramped.
The flowers were ordinary.
It was because my standards had become far too high.
When I held banquets, the lights shone so brightly it was as if the sun never set.
The finest wine and food filled every table.
Flowers and trees were crafted from jewels and precious stones.
Dancers from distant kingdoms entertained guests through the night.
If I had held this ceremony...
It would have been far grander.
Far louder.
Far more extravagant.
...Like a true tyrant.
Only a ruler who squeezed every last coin from her people could have afforded such excess.
So perhaps...
Karnon had been ruling properly after all.
At that moment, everyone rose as Ray entered along the red carpet.
The majestic pipe organ echoed throughout the hall.
Countless candles illuminated the chamber.
Every person present bowed their heads.
Around Ray, Spirits of Light buzzed through the air like glowing insects.
Proof of the Crown Prince.
Proof of Milanere's chosen heir.
Proof of one qualified to become emperor.
...I don't need that kind of power.
Even without it...
I'd defeated Ray before.
Pushing those memories aside with effort, I watched him approach.
His tense expression and stiff shoulders were almost laughable.
Holding the sacred casket with trembling hands, he looked as though he might trip over his long ceremonial robes at any second.
Then, instead of looking straight ahead...
His blue eyes wandered.
Our gazes met.
The corners of his lips curled upward.
A second later, he was grinning so broadly that his teeth showed.
What are you doing?! Watch where you're walking!
This was supposed to be a solemn ceremony!
What was with that idiotic smile?
Unfortunately...
It didn't stop there.
As he smiled, the Spirits of Light circling him suddenly began fluttering wildly out of control.
You idiot! You can't even control your spirits properly?
Look ahead! Straight ahead!
I mouthed the words to him.
Apparently he understood immediately.
He nodded enthusiastically.
The sacred casket bobbed with his movements.
The spirits danced even more erratically.
No! Why are you nodding during the ceremony?!
You idiot, Ray!
Fortunately, he finally faced forward.
Without tripping, he safely climbed onto the platform.
Watching him felt like watching a toddler wander too close to deep water.
I couldn't take my eyes off him.
That fool is supposed to become emperor...
If it were me...
No.
I don't have the right to think like that anymore, Dorothy.
I shook my head.
Still...
Whoever became emperor in my place...
I only wished they would become a wise ruler remembered throughout history.
There was another reason I disliked being a Milanere.
The imperial family always had to present the image of a perfect royal household.
After the ceremony, during the banquet, I was forced to stand beside Ray and Karnon simply because I was a Milanere.
"Your Highness the Princess is the very image of the late Empress."
"She looks exactly like Empress Alice did as a child."
"Enough with the pointless chatter."
Karnon cut them off and steered the conversation elsewhere.
After that, every discussion revolved around Karnon and Ray.
I stood there like a decorative candlestick attached to the wall.
The adults' bodies blocked me from view.
Little by little, I was pushed farther back until I felt completely separated from the group.
This is exactly why I hate this.
Bringing someone along...
Only to treat them like part of the scenery.
Yet because I was a Milanere, I wasn't allowed to leave.
Before my regression, I would have desperately forced myself into the conversation.
I would have tried to prove how intelligent I was.
How valuable I was.
At the same time, I would have criticized Ray's shortcomings and mocked him.
Now...
I simply stayed silent.
I only wanted the evening to end.
"Dorothy. Come over here."
Surrounded by adults, Ray occasionally looked back and called to me.
But as the guest of honor, he was quickly swept away by everyone else's attention.
Then someone quietly stepped beside me and offered me a glass of juice.
"Bored?"
It was Theon.
He held a glass of ruby-red pomegranate juice.
Its clear crimson color matched his own beautiful eyes perfectly.
I froze, staring at him.
Theon...
Was talking to me?
And offering me juice?
I couldn't hide my surprise.
He was always courteous...
But he kept everyone at arm's length.
It was as though an invisible fence surrounded him.
No one could approach him easily.
Except Julia Delevine.
So why...
Why was he the one approaching me first?
Could it be...
Did he actually bring this juice for me?
Really?
The thought of him thinking of me while picking it out made my heart race all over again.
"Please drink. I noticed you haven't eaten anything."
He noticed?
Since when had he been watching me?
Whenever it involved Theon...
I became like a child again, excited over the smallest things.
Trying to steady my trembling hands, I accepted the juice.
But I couldn't bring myself to drink it.
With Theon standing beside me, I couldn't think about eating or drinking anything.
And because this was the first time he'd ever done something like this for me...
The juice suddenly felt too precious to consume.
I can't drink it.
I'd rather take it back to my room and display it forever.
I wished this crimson drink would never evaporate...
Never spoil...
Remain exactly as it was forever.
"His Highness Raymond talks about you a lot."
"He says you're incredibly smart. A genius."
"Ray?"
"Yes. He said you've already memorized all of the imperial studies curriculum."
Hearing praise from Theon left me completely flustered.
Compared to Ray...
It was true that I was smarter.
Not only because I'd regressed.
Even before that, I'd learned everything faster than he had.
Despite being two years younger, I'd surpassed him in geometry, philosophy, history, and countless other subjects.
Because I craved attention.
Because I wanted everything.
I believed there couldn't be a single thing I was worse at than Ray.
I thought that if I learned to read the stars before he did...
Someone would love me more.
If I answered every question before him...
Someone would finally acknowledge me.
But what returned wasn't recognition.
It was shackles.
"I suppose we'll meet at Episteme."
Theon's words forced me to control my expression once again.
Episteme was the empire's greatest academy.
It trained the finest minds while allowing talented nobles to build powerful connections.
Not only nobles from Ubera, but royalty and aristocrats from foreign kingdoms also graduated from Episteme.
Many noble factions were formed among its alumni.
Ray had been allowed to attend because he was Crown Prince.
I, however...
Was forbidden.
The reason?
I wasn't allowed to outshine the Crown Prince.
Was I born only to make Raymond look good?
At Episteme, I could have shown everyone just how extraordinary I was.
Why wasn't I allowed?
Back then, I simply couldn't understand.
Even nobles who couldn't see spirits attended.
So why couldn't I?
Why was the imperial princess excluded?
The injustice drove me mad.
Eventually...
Unable to accept it...
I rebelled.
I snuck out of the palace and threw a stone at Episteme.
The stone shattered a window...
Then struck the eldest son of Duke Bronte in the head.
His head split open badly.
The Duke of Bronte demanded punishment.
Karnon imprisoned me once more inside the palace.
For an entire week...
I was given nothing but water.
My already terrible relationship with Karnon became completely irreparable after that.
So...
"...I'm not going to Episteme."
