Roxiana knew about Esther Evanstone, who was the leader of the Sapphire Knights, and Hemeres Fiten, who was the vice-leader. The Sapphire Knights, who spent more time supporting the frontier than being in the palace. They were knights that her father, Victian IV, was very proud of for their outstanding skills and high loyalty.

Now they were looking at Roxiana with the same eyes they had directed at Victian IV.

“Princess.”

As Roxiana entered, they knelt on one knee and bowed their heads. Their voices trembled finely.

“Seeing you safe, we are filled with such boundless emotion…”

“Everyone.”

I didn’t say, I’m not a princess anymore.

Because on the way to the reception room, I heard from Hexten, “They were leading the rebels.” Knowing with what feelings the survivors had led the rebels, Roxiana couldn’t say that she was no longer a princess.

“I’m so glad you’re alive.”

Seeing the familiar faces, she felt like she might burst into tears, but Roxiana smiled. As straight as when she was in the Ider Palace.

Those present knew better than anyone how Roxiana must be feeling, so seeing her smile was painfully heartbreaking, but they didn’t show it.

“We will certainly prepare a place for the princess to return to.”

Esther said.

“We will lay the foundation to rebuild the Franche royal family, dedicating our lives.”

Her voice was filled with sincerity and determination. Roxiana knew her loyalty to the Franche royal family, so she hesitated for a moment, but soon steeled herself and said.

“Don’t do that, Lord Evanstone.”

“Please allow us to erase the shame of surviving without protecting anything, Princess.”

“If surviving is shameful…”

Roxiana sat down in front of Esther, who was still kneeling, and placed her hand on her shoulder.

“Then my life now must also be shameful.”

“No! How could you say such a thing…!”

Esther, who raised her head abruptly, read the flames of hatred in Roxiana’s eyes, which had only been cheerful and clear before. She realized with what feelings her princess, who had grown up loved and not knowing how to hate others, was here.

“Lord Evanstone. Lord Fiten. And Robert. Thank you all for being alive. Really, really thank you. But I’m sorry. I have no intention of sitting on the throne of Canta.”

Roxiana raised the knights and led them to the sofa. She seated them one by one on the sofa and sat down opposite them herself. Hemeres Fiten spoke hastily.

“It’s not just us who survived, Princess. Some of the local nobles have agreed to join our cause, and there are several knights safe besides our Sapphire Knights. They’re scattered in various places now, but since you’re alive, Princess, they’ll all gather in one place.”

“I know. I know you can do anything for the Franche family. But reclaiming the royal authority of Canta is impossible for now.”

“Of course, Joseph V has the crown and the king’s certificate, but if a survivor of the Franche royal family kills the regent and takes even the king’s seal, who would dare call Canta a colony of Gania?”

“Hemeres is right, Princess. When your survival and what Lucas Pelur did to the Franche royal family spreads, public sentiment will turn to us. No one will blame you for sitting on the throne.”

Esther added strength to Hemeres’s words. Their desperate gazes poured out painfully, and Roxiana clutched her skirt.

“And if I sit on the throne of Canta that way? What will you do after that? Will you wage war to drive out the Ganian nobles who have taken the local territories? Will Joseph V just stand by?”

“We will protect and reclaim it with our lives.”

“I don’t want you to sacrifice your lives. I don’t want the people to be caught up in endless war.”

Roxiana said firmly.

“Joseph V will never give up the crown and certificate. He will claim Canta as Gania’s possession until the very end. Then we’ll have to wage endless war. But we don’t have the strength to face Gania now.”

Neither Esther nor Hemeres could refute that.

After the fall of the Franche royal family, Gania focused first on destroying Canta’s military power. Those with strong loyalty died, and those without loyalty surrendered to Gania.

Now Canta was in a tattered state.

Even if Roxiana sat on the throne, she wouldn’t be able to keep that position for long. Only then did Esther and Hemeres realize that they had been too greedy and tried to place a heavy burden on Roxiana.

“I can’t take responsibility for Canta. I’m sorry.”

“No, Princess. We asked too much of you.”

“But I don’t intend to abandon the people of Canta.”

“Pardon?”

“As a survivor of the Franche royal family, I will take responsibility for the people of Canta.”

To the request to secretly gather those who want to escape and send them to Torkan, Esther said worriedly.

“It will be thousands, tens of thousands, Princess. Even if Duke Ratean helped you, will he take responsibility for all the incoming refugees? Moreover, will Gania quietly let it pass that Torkan accepted refugees from Canta?”

“First, in the near future, Gania won’t be able to point out Canta’s movements. What they did to my family will spread like wildfire, and as long as that rumor stirs up the continent, Gania won’t be able to move easily either. And it’s not the Duke who’s responsible for the refugees, it’s me.”

Seeing the bewildered expressions of the knights, Roxiana smiled.

“I’ve earned some money. I can take responsibility until the people of Canta settle down.”

Earning money? Does the Princess know how much funding is needed to feed so many people?

To Esther and Hemeres, who had watched her since childhood, Roxiana still looked like a child who knew nothing, so it seemed she was just expressing naive hope.

“The people of Canta will be incorporated into Torkan and have to adapt to Torkan life. Torkan and Canta are so different in culture and climate that it will be difficult, but since they came of their own will, they’ll try to adapt somehow. As jobs are increasing in Torkan now, it won’t be difficult for Canta people to find work.”

“Since Canta is now a colony of Gania, I’m not sure if Torkan citizens will welcome those from a colony well.”

At Hemeres’s words, Roxiana pointed to her shoulder.

“A slave’s brand was marked here. Very deeply.”

Hemeres and Esther, who had heard but didn’t know it was true, drew in their breath. They scrutinized Roxiana’s shoulder to find traces of the brand that would remain, but Roxiana’s skin was very clean.

“I was a slave, but everyone in the Grand Duke’s palace calls me Princess.”

“…”

“Torkan has banned the slave system. Even slaves live as commoners in Torkan. There will be conflicts. But that exists everywhere people live, so if we overcome the conflicts, surely a life that may not be very beautiful, but quite decent, will be waiting.”

Watching Roxiana speak calmly, Esther and Hemeres realized that they had not spoken with this young princess for too long.

You’ve grown. You’ve grown up without us knowing. You’re no longer that little child running around the garden with your siblings.

Esther and Hemeres didn’t know how Roxiana had earned money or how much funds she had. They didn’t know what she was going to do in the future.

But in her unwavering gaze, in her smile that didn’t fade throughout the conversation, they read her resolve.

The two knights were convinced that it wouldn’t be a waste to dedicate their lives to that resolve, so they brought their right fist to their left chest.

“We will serve the Princess’s orders with all our loyalty.”

+++

After Esther and Hemeres left, only Robert remained in the reception room. Towards Robert, who hadn’t said a word until now, Roxiana cast a longing gaze.

“I thought you were dead.”

Unlike when Esther and Hemeres were there, a trembling voice that sounded like whining flowed out.

“I thought you died there.”

“Shamefully. I survived.”

The hoarse, cracked voice was painful.

“Shameful? How much… how much I…”

Feeling like she might burst into tears again, Roxiana stopped speaking and took a deep breath. Robert, who had been watching Roxiana with eyes filled with various emotions, asked.

“Have you been breathing, living?”

Roxiana’s lips quivered as if trying to hold back tears, then formed a faint smile.

“At first I couldn’t, but now I breathe and sometimes I even really laugh. Yeah.”

A smile finally spread across Robert’s face, which had been covered with concern.

“That is truly fortunate, Princess.”

“Me too. I also think it’s really fortunate that you’re alive.”

“If I had known you were alive, I would have searched for you wherever you were…”

“Haven’t you heard the rumors about the woman staying at the Torkan Grand Duke’s palace?”

Robert seemed to have no idea. The story about Duke Ratean’s woman was only noisy among those who were interested, so it was natural that Robert, who was leading the rebels, didn’t know.

Roxiana calmly explained what had happened after Floyd rescued her in Torkan. Robert, who had been Victian IV’s knight before becoming Roxiana’s knight after she was born, watched Roxiana speaking as if both joyful and sorrowful with affection.

And so, until deep into the night, until dawn broke, time flowed for the two people reunited after a long time.

Roxiana realized she had stayed up all night as she rubbed her stinging eyes.

“I guess I kept you too long.”

“It’s not the first time I’ve lost sleep because of you, Princess.”

Robert’s voice had changed, but his playful grumbling remained the same, so Roxiana felt relieved.

“Robert, I’m thinking of taking revenge.”

“I see.”

“You’re not going to stop me?”

“I won’t stop you. You’re not the kind of princess who would listen if I did. I’ll just have to clean up after you as always.”

“Will you… come with me to Torkan?”

Robert smiled gently.

“Wherever you go, Princess.”

Robert said he would return to the rebel group to discuss and sort out opinions on future actions before coming back, and left the mansion. Even after he left, Roxiana sat in the reception room for a while, reminiscing about the time with the beloved people she thought she would never meet again.

Thank goodness. That there are still people who remember the Franche royal family. That there are people who will help the people of Canta.

Thanks to them, there’s a little more I can do now.

As she pondered how to move forward, Lanian suddenly came to mind.

My sibling with clear eyes and a bright smile.

‘Lanian…’

My only sibling I couldn’t find.

‘Where are you?’

My sibling who might be wandering somewhere, unable to die or live.

‘Please come back here.’