“Elder sister Elizabeth. You’re leaving the imperial palace?”

It was Susan.

Her small body trembled finely like a fallen butterfly.

“Susan, how did you get here?”

“The attendant let me in when I said I brought medicine for His Highness the Crown Prince.”

“The tonic you made with Boritz must be finally complete!”

Susan nodded.

She was holding a box made of the finest wood in both hands.

The day we became sworn sisters.

I took Susan to visit Boritz’s farm.

Boritz couldn’t hide his surprise at seeing the genius girl who was proficient in various herbs.

He seemed impressed by both her passion as a noble young lady and the fact that she was recognized for her skills as an imperial pharmacist.

From their first meeting, the two of them hit it off.

‘Boritz is such an introverted and timid character. But he and Susan looked like best friends.’

Is it because of their common interest in plants and research?

Or was it Susan’s desperate desire to be helpful to me that got through?

Boritz accepted Susan’s proposal to make the tonic together.

“Whenever I had time, I brainstormed with Boritz. Without him, I couldn’t have completed it.”

“We should greet His Highness the Crown Prince first. It’s your first time meeting him, right?”

I looked back and forth between Susan and Franz.

Having forgotten this was the Crown Prince’s palace, Susan bowed with a blushing face.

“I greet Your Highness the Crown Prince, the small sky of the empire!”

“Raise your head.”

Franz said in a gruff tone.

Even though the command was given, Susan couldn’t move.

I couldn’t tell if it was due to embarrassment or if she was intimidated by the Crown Prince’s supreme status.

As if trying to ease Susan’s tension, Franz added.

“I’ve heard a lot about you from Lady Elizabeth and Marquis Nettleton. There’s no need to be uncomfortable.”

“I’m sorry, Your Highness.”

“Marquis Nettleton can’t stop bragging about his younger sister. I was curious who it was, and now I finally get to see you.”

“My elder brother did?”

When Douglas was mentioned, Susan hesitantly lowered the hem of her skirt.

Susan slightly raised her eyes towards Franz.

With gentle eyes and clear brown irises.

Her neat pink hair added to her pure beauty, like a single peony blossom.

‘It’s not just because she’s my sister, she’s really cute. Cold beauties like Claudia are nice, but pure and innocent beauties like Susan are so charming too. Our Susan is smart and kind on top of that.’

“He often spoke to me about Your Highness the Crown Prince as well. That you are intelligent and wise, and will become a great emperor in the future…”

Susan barely managed to answer, her face reddening.

It was almost a shame that I was the only one to see such cuteness.

“Ahem! Please sit over here. How long are you going to stand like that?”

Franz cleared his throat and offered a chair.

The flustered figure from behind was unfamiliar.

“Thank you, Your Highness. You’re really kind.”

Susan smiled brightly, narrowing her eyes.

Franz’s face flushed like a ripe apple.

“You are also very, very elegant. Marquis Nettleton has reason to boast.”

Why is he stuttering?

Why is he being so kind to Susan whom he’s meeting for the first time?

He wasn’t like this with me.

“Franz. Are you feeling unwell?”

I reached out and touched Franz’s forehead.

There was no fever.

Franz pushed my hand away and acted composed.

“Lady Elizabeth. Please refrain from treating me like a child in front of guests.”

“Huh?”

“Please enjoy some refreshments with Lady Nettleton. I’m very curious about the tonic she brought.”

Franz, with his back straight, looked like a little gentleman.

His expression was relaxed, as if he had never blushed.

His tone was full of dignity as he asked about Susan’s preferences and ordered tea from the attendant.

‘Is this really Franz? Our child has changed?’

While Susan was looking around curiously, Franz elbowed me in the side.

“Act natural. Lady Nettleton will find it strange.”

Franz muttered quickly, glancing at Susan.

My eyebrows raised involuntarily.

“Don’t tell me you’re interested in Susan?”

“No one knows what might happen between a man and a woman.”

“Between a man and a woman? What would a 10-year-old know about that?”

Wasn’t today supposed to be the heartbreaking farewell scene between Franz and me?

What happened to all that talk about his one and only disciple earlier?

I even felt a bit betrayed.

‘He likes pretty girls just like Nikolai. Like father, like son indeed.’

To me, who was dumbfounded, Franz whispered shyly.

“His Majesty is 28 years old, right? Elizabeth is 22.”

“So?”

“Lady Nettleton is 16 years old. I’m 10. Six years is just the right age difference, isn’t it?”

“You even calculated it? What are you thinking, Franz?”

Franz was no longer a lonely troublemaker.

He was a cunning wolf with honey-colored hair and an angelic face.

Eyeing my sister Susan!

[This is the timeline separator]

Claudia turned her gaze to the window.

The moon in the imperial palace was a pale silver.

She clenched and unclenched her hand, thick with calluses.

It had been a week since she last held a sword.

She hadn’t taken a single step outside the room.

Perhaps under special orders, even the soldiers who brought food and water maintained a heavy silence.

‘If the Emperor hadn’t killed Simon, I would have had to unleash my true power too.’

Even now, when she closed her eyes, she could see the bastard sword raised high, glinting.

She had never been afraid of death.

But it was an intense scent she had never experienced before.

A strange smell that was both like sweet flowers and the stench of rotten fruit.

Was that the smell of death?

Why did Simon suddenly show such superhuman strength?

Deep wrinkles formed between Claudia’s brows as she sat perched on the chair.

− Creak.

The door that only moved at mealtimes opened slightly.

Claudia’s blue eyes didn’t waver in the slightest.

It was the same when Marquis Brenden appeared.

“I wanted to meet you. Lord Roseroyce.”

“Visits were supposed to be prohibited.”

“There’s no place where my influence doesn’t reach.”

Despite losing his eldest son and having his daughter locked up in the Ice Tower, Marquis Brenden hadn’t lost his arrogance.

Even though his skin was rough like tree bark, his eyes were sunken, and his lips were shriveled.

“You’re not surprised.”

“I heard the footsteps of a man who hasn’t trained his body.”

“As expected of a knight who fought on par with my son.”

Marquis Brenden smiled bitterly.

But only for a moment, then he glared at Claudia as if to kill her.

“If that tyrant hadn’t interfered, you would have lost your life!”

“Is that what you came to say?”

“I want to discuss the future of the empire.”

“I don’t know what you mean.”

“I’m saying we should join forces.”

“For what purpose?”

“Revolution.”

Claudia stared at Marquis Brenden with a calm face.

Only her blue eyes were as sharp as a well-honed blade.

“Didn’t you witness it too? The tyrant brutally murdering my innocent son.”

“Do you wish to follow your son? Calling revenge a revolution.”

“The tyrant’s atrocities are just beginning. If left unchecked, the future of the empire is uncertain. We might even become a colony of an enemy nation.”

“That could happen, or it might not.”

“What’s with that lukewarm attitude? Weren’t you the first to raise the flag of revolution?”

Marquis Brenden gnashed his teeth.

Claudia crossed her slender legs the other way.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Are you trying to save yourself alone?”

“Even if I had dreamed of revolution, I wouldn’t want to be involved with you, Your Excellency.”

“How arrogant. There’s no revolution that can succeed without gold.”

“Revolution comes with blood. Personal emotions shouldn’t interfere.”

“That witch Elizabeth turned the Emperor into a murderer.”

“Was it really because of her that the Emperor threw the dagger?”

Claudia asked coldly.

Marquis Brenden let out a hollow laugh.

“Of course! When Simon tried to kill you, she incited the Emperor. To protect her wealth by killing my son!”

“That doesn’t add up.”

“What?”

“It’s true that Lord Simon targeted my life. But with his skills, he couldn’t kill me.”

“What are you saying?!”

“Even if luck was on his side and he killed me, it would have been a disqualifying defeat. So why would Elizabeth want to kill Simon? If she had left it alone, she would have won anyway?”

“T-That’s…!”

Marquis Brenden stuttered.

A cold sneer appeared on Claudia’s lips.

“Everyone is tearing Elizabeth apart without even basic confirmation.”

“Are you siding with that witch?”

“I’m not on anyone’s side.”

“While ignoring the tyrant’s atrocities?”

“I intend to examine what the truth is.”

“What can you do while locked up?”

“I’ll do what I can.”

“I was a fool to try to plan big things with you! I was going to tell you the truth that no one knows!”

Spittle flew from Marquis Brenden’s mouth.

Claudia frowned, pulling her head back.

Letting an opponent she could easily eliminate ramble on was more tiring than expected.

“How can I trust Your Excellency who comes to me, your duel opponent, talking about revolution?”

“Are you saying I would stab you in the back?”

“That won’t happen. Because I don’t entrust my back to just anyone.”

“You insolent!”

Marquis Brenden clenched his fist, unable to contain his anger.

Looking at the fist that seemed more frail than a child’s wrist, Claudia murmured.

“If you’re going to clench your fist, build up your muscle first. And relax your shoulders.”

“Damn it. I won’t forget what happened today!”

Marquis Brenden backed away, fuming.

Claudia spoke to his retreating back.

“If His Majesty takes the path of tyranny. If Elizabeth is truly a witch. Revolution will happen even if Marquis Brenden tries to stop it.”

“Don’t act so smart, woman. You know nothing about the Emperor.”

“What do you mean?”

“If this secret gets out, the Emperor will become a laughingstock. But he’ll be executed by my hand before that!”

[This is the timeline separator]

My head was throbbing.

It was all because of Franz.

“Susan and I are going to the farm, why are you butting in?”

I asked with my hands on my hips.

Franz shrugged as if asking why I was asking the obvious.

“Didn’t you say this farmer Boritz made a tonic for me? I should thank him in person.”

“It’s too dangerous outside the palace.”

“You’re trying to leave the dangerous palace for good, aren’t you?”

“Are you and I the same?”

“I’ll be much safer than Elizabeth, you know?”

Franz smirked with a strange expression.

He was clearly hiding something.

“What nonsense are you talking about?”

“I’ll tell you a secret. But there’s a condition.”