+++

In the spacious and luxurious reception room, Ariana sat alone.

The interior, an elegant mix of white and gold, was beautiful, but she was too tense to notice.

“Emperor Russel White.”

How would he react to meeting his daughter for the first time?

“He will frown.”

This much was certain, given her own experience.

“Will he question my motives for coming?”

That was likely. The Western and Eastern domains didn’t get along, so he might suspect her of having ulterior motives like Rachel.

“All I can offer right now is the location of the letters exchanged between me and the Western Emperor, and his weakness. That should keep me from being kicked out.”

The process of being treated as the true princess of the East would begin once she secured a room at the Castle Chase.

Don’t be too ambitious from the start. Being acknowledged as his daughter is the goal.

Knock, knock.

The sound of a knock was accompanied by a low voice.

“Chamberlain Foshard Roman, Earl. May I come in?”

The door opened and an elderly man with white hair entered.

“That’s right, the Emperor won’t appear himself at the start.”

Calmly, Ariana looked at Chamberlain Foshard while remaining seated. The chamberlain introduced himself after slightly bowing his head.

“I have heard that you claim to be Ariana, His Imperial Majesty’s daughter.”

“…”

“Can you provide evidence?”

Without answering, Ariana stood up. And she faced the chamberlain as she took off her hood.

The sky-blue hair that she had been hiding flowed down, radiant. The chamberlain stared, his eyes visibly shaking.

“Is this evidence enough?”

The chamberlain faintly smiled in response.

“Please wait a moment.”

After the chamberlain left, Ariana sat back down, looking at her hair. She did inherit the White family’s blood, but somehow the color had faded to sky blue.

“Emperor Russel should remember what his daughter’s hair color was.”

+++
Stepping out of the reception room and closing the door behind him, the steward took a deep breath. Waiting outside, his wife Efreen quietly asked,

“Is it really…?”

As the steward nodded, Efreen covered her mouth with both hands. Her eyes became moist.

Without giving attention to his sniffing wife, the steward rushed towards Emperor Russell White’s office.

In the office of Emperor Russell White were the late Emperor Theodore White and the late Empress Catherdin White.

They had been residing in one of the many buildings in Chaise Castle and had hastily come here upon hearing the news that ‘Emperor’s daughter Ariana’ had arrived.

Tense eyes turned to the steward.

Clearing his throat, the steward spoke solemnly,

“Her hair is sky blue. She has the same eyes as Your Majesty. There’s no doubt, it’s Ariana.”

At that moment, Catherdin sank into the sofa. Theodore widened his eyes and in a trembling voice asked,

“Count Roman, are you sure? It’s not dyed?”

“The color can’t be artificially created. Besides, her face…”

The steward looked at the Emperor.

“Is exactly like yours, Your Majesty.”

Russell, who had been listening with a cold and indifferent face, buried his face in his hands.

His dark blue hair tangled in his long and sturdy fingers. His broad shoulders trembled slightly. A slightly heavy breath escaped the inside of his palms.

After what felt like an elongated time, Russell raised his head.

With slightly furrowed brows, tight lips, and cold eyes—the expression Ariana had first seen—he looked at his parents and asked,

“What should I do?”

Theodore approached and lightly slapped the back of Russell’s head.

“Snap out of it, you! What do you mean, what should you do? Go and hug her right now.”

“Is it really okay to hug her?”

“Of course. She’s your daughter.”

“But… she’s all grown up now… it’s the first time I’m seeing her since she left the Eastern Territory… Won’t she be afraid of me?”

Exhaling, Theodore looked at his son’s fretting eyes.

“Ease up on that gaze.”

“I have eased it, Father.”

“Ease up more! If you look at her like that, she’ll cry!”

“I suppose you’re right.”

Russell quickly stood and began pacing nervously around his office, stopping to examine his face in the mirror.

His naturally cold demeanor frightened young children so much that they’d burst into tears at eye contact. Even his nieces and nephews avoided him when they were young.

Moreover, Russell had a no-nonsense, humorless personality, unable to soothe a child with kind words.

“It won’t do.”

In the mirror, Russell looked angry no matter how one saw it.

“Mother, Father, please come with me.”

Catherdin spoke,

“If we all rush at her, Ariana might get scared.”

“No, him going alone might be better. He’s not eloquent, so even if she gets scared, he won’t be able to comfort her.”