“Those bastards!”

The Duke of Windsor, who had been listening quietly, stood up abruptly and spat out a curse.

Leticia’s well-being was directly linked to the House of Windsor.

“How dare they arrogantly demand someone! It’s unacceptable! Even if it means war with the Empire, we cannot send Princess Leticia to them!”

“Do you have any other thoughts?”

“Hmm.”

At Duke Balman’s question, the King stroked his chin without opening his mouth.

The King sometimes waited for the desired answer to come from others’ mouths, even when he had already decided.

The King, with his heavy responsibilities, must not have any flaws.

There was a big difference between ‘the King decided’ and ‘we had no choice but to follow the opinion’.

Duke Haiman knew the answer the King wanted, but he led the conversation.

“The Empire has never been this forceful before. It seems they are determined to invite her this time.”

“It would be dangerous if Leticia’s origins spread among the people.”

“Yes, that won’t do.”

“Your Majesty, we must consider alternatives.”

“What alternatives are there? We can send Ormia instead.”

Finally, the second prince Alian spoke with a snort. The King’s and some others’ eyes sparkled.

Knowing Alian’s personality, Duke Balman mildly objected while encouraging him.

“No royal has ever left the country.”

The third prince Noyer, who had been listening quietly, added coldly.

Duke Bersi spoke as lightly as if discussing tonight’s menu.

“Let’s say Princess Ormia volunteered.”

The King’s expression brightened.

“We can announce that Princess Ormia stepped forward to go in place of Princess Leticia, who is under pressure from the Empire, out of pity. The public opinion will likely shift to sympathize with the Princess’s sacrifice.”

Satisfied with the statement that scratched his itch, the King stroked his beard. Duke Balman added a word.

“Hmm, since it’s the first time a Glishian royal is going abroad, we should receive a suitable fee from the Empire.”

“That’s not the only issue.”

Everyone’s gaze focused on Duke Haiman’s serious tone.

“She’s female. Even if it’s an invitation, it would be a big problem if the Empire doesn’t send the Princess back and marries her off to have children. Although Princess Ormia is called God’s denial, we don’t know if that extends to her children.”

“Ah.”

The brothers’ eyes met, realizing they hadn’t considered this problem.

“It means the divine blood would be exported to the Empire.”

God only gave the joy of offspring to those who became king. Children were rare for other royals.

If by chance a child of Ormia was born in the Empire, it would shake the legitimacy that Glishia had monopolized.

There was only one answer. But even the tactless Alian didn’t speak it out loud.

Just then, Count Levler entered.

“Your Majesty, Princess Leticia has awakened.”

“Oh, yes. Go to Leticia right away.”

“Yes, I’ll take my leave first then.”

The King ended the meeting, saying it was well-timed given the uncomfortable moment.

As they left, they exchanged glances with each other.

There was only one conclusion anyway. Time would just pass until someone spoke it out loud.

Caland stopped as he exited the reception room. Duke Haiman was waiting.

“Do you think Princess Ormia intervened?”

Duke Haiman, the oldest among the dukes and a middle-aged man, had been close to the King since his youth and was like a relative to the prince.

He had seen Caland interrogating Ormia.

“Ormia Beltoa, what have you done?”

“You’re not surprised. Did you know?”

Caland kept his mouth shut, but that action was an answer.

“I thought it strange that Princess Ormia was doing something she wouldn’t normally do. Is she trying to leave Glishia in collusion with the Empire? She’s using her head.”

“Ormia can’t go.”

“You step back. You’ve always been like this. Sometimes you have to make cold choices. Ormia is this country’s poison, a germ in the flawless royal family.

She’s already fallen out of the King’s favor due to divorce, so she’ll soon be sent out of the capital or confined to a temple anyway.”

“Duke Haiman, that can’t happen.”

Duke Haiman clicked his tongue.

He had met Caland more often than his own children and watched him grow up. He was like a much younger brother.

“Are you planning to endanger the country and ruin your life over some meager childhood memories? Everyone thinks you’ll inherit the throne, but His Majesty hasn’t appointed a crown prince yet. You know what that means, don’t you?”

Everyone thought Caland would succeed to the throne and called him crown prince, but he hadn’t been officially appointed.

It was a warning that positions could change at any time by the King’s order.

And the person saying this was Duke Haiman, who had a great influence on the King. The weight of his words was different.

His darkened eyes looked directly into Caland’s.

“Caland, be rational. Think of Glishia first.”

It felt like a cold blade piercing his heart.

Ormia was born when Caland was 11 years old.

Born as the eldest, and having experienced two fierce younger brothers, a baby wasn’t particularly exciting, but a sister was special.

It was also influenced by Chris Haiman, one of his playmates, who adored and boasted about his little sister terribly.

Even while busy with lessons, training, and giving blessings, he would sneak into Ormia’s nursery.

Sleeping Ormia was an angel.

If their eyes met, she would smile as if recognizing him, and she wouldn’t let go of Caland’s finger, sometimes causing him to be caught by the nanny during his secret visits.

He sometimes thought that falling in love might feel like this.

Every day was enjoyable, and he only waited for the time to go see Ormia.

Ormia grew quickly, toddling around and then one day starting to speak.

“Caal, Caaal.”

When Ormia shook her head, her soft pink hair, which seemed like it would melt in the sunlight, fluttered up.

Her hands reaching out to him were so tiny that he was always careful, fearing he might hurt her if he grabbed them.

Caland always pushed aside his two rough younger brothers to hug Ormia first.

“Ormia, my sister. Your brother will protect you. You’re the most precious princess in Glishia.”

“Cal, I like Cal the most.”

“Me too, Ormia.”

When he hugged Ormia, passing courtiers would stop to watch. Laughter never ceased in the royal family.

If he found a pretty flower, he gave it to Ormia first, and if he received a beautiful jewel, he took it to Ormia.

“Our pretty Ormia. Stay by your brother’s side always.”

“Brother, Cal, like.”

Ormia’s laughter was heavenly music.

She was so lovable that he worried God might covet her, and he would even go to her room to check on Ormia while sleeping.

That happiness ended when Ormia turned 5 years old.

When royals turned 5, they underwent a ceremony to check if their blessing had manifested. As the King’s child, the manifestation of a blessing was expected.

Beautiful flower petals fell over young Ormia. The sight was as holy and beautiful as a saint.

But as the blessing came out of Ormia’s hands, the situation changed drastically.

“Aaagh!”

“No, stay away!”

The people who received Ormia’s blessing all suffered pain, fled in terror, and some even fainted.

Everyone there – the King and Queen, the priests, the dukes – all froze.

Someone muttered.

“God denies Princess Ormia.”

Those words spread quickly.

The Queen hugged Ormia, who was blinking her eyes, not knowing what was happening.

“Ormia isn’t feeling well today. Next time, we’ll do it next time.”

Another date was set, but in the meantime, the dukes and their bloodlines tested Ormia’s blessing.

They all writhed in pain and rolled on the floor.

“She must be cursed.”

“It’s not a blessing.”

“How could such a power come from the House of Beltoa… This is evil.”

And soon, people concluded.

“God has denied Princess Ormia.”

God’s denial (否定).

The cursed princess.

An ominous existence.

The whispered words soon spread among the nobles.

The people who always embraced Ormia distanced themselves, calling her ominous, and even maids refused to serve her.

“Mother? Father?”

Ormia reached out to grab the King and Queen,

“Brother, Cal. Rian, Noyer.”

She called out to her brothers who were avoiding her with tears.

And she apologized with tears.

“I’m sorry, Ormia did wrong. I’ll be a good child. So…”

When pushed away as she approached and people avoided her, Ormia started calling from afar.

“Mother… Cal… Please tell me what I did wrong. I’ll fix everything. I’ll be good.”

She begged, but,

“Please stay by my side…”

Her voice grew quieter.

“I’ll be quiet, so please stay with me.”

Her tears dried up. She learned it was useless.

“I did wrong. I’m sorry.”

He placed a doll on Ormia’s bed as she slept alone sobbing, and secretly left candy.

Somehow knowing who had left them, Ormia smiled brightly when her eyes met Caland’s.

Standing far away, unable to approach.

Caland turned his back, avoiding the young gaze watching him.

He couldn’t rashly hold her hand.

And gradually, the smile disappeared from Ormia’s face.

The child who used to look up with her head held high, her eyes fixed on faces, now only looked at the floor, and her round eyes that once sparkled with light were tinged with darkness.

Caland had to watch the flower wither.

* * *

“What’s the matter?”

The grown-up Ormia was looking at Caland.

It was in the garden near the room where Ormia stayed. It was the least visited place among the palace gardens.

Ormia stood among waist-high grass and small unnamed flowers that had grown haphazardly, as if not properly managed.

“Stop it.”

Caland swallowed dryly.

Looking into Ormia’s eyes, whose thoughts he couldn’t fathom, he wanted to avert his gaze.

“You might think you can leave Glishia. You might believe the situation will change if you go to the Empire, but it won’t. No, the Empire’s nobles will also turn cruel when they learn about you.”

His breath quickened though he hadn’t run. His heart pounded, and thoughts were consumed by his words.

“It’s only because you’re in Glishia, because you’re royalty, that you enjoy even this much. There’s no family to protect you in the Empire.”

“Family?”

“Yes, family!”

“Where is this family?”

“Ormia!”

Caland became angry seeing Ormia ask so casually.

He was so worried, but Ormia didn’t appreciate it. She was safe only because she was in Glishia.

“Do you really think of us as family?”

“I’m saying this for your own good, and you…”

“After neglecting and ignoring me all this time, should I cry with gratitude because you spoke a word to me?”

Ormia, blinking at Caland, showed neither anger nor resentment.

“I’m no longer the child who waited late into the night because you said you’d pick oranges for me.”

The indifference made him feel choked up. Caland clenched his molars.

“You want me to disappear, don’t you?”

She was just as calm as if informing him of a fact, like someone reading a sentence from a book.

“So I’ll disappear as you wish.”