Kingdom of Zen Royal Castle.
Duke Valenz, with his six-year-old daughter, Yume, was summoned by King Herod Zenonidas.
Standing in King Herod's presence, Yume felt cold shivers she had never experienced.
A demeanor that was scarier than her father's.
But even in front of an overwhelming presence, she gracefully bent her knees and bowed.
"Yume Valenz addresses His Majesty, the King."
Behind her calm performance, anxious thoughts came into her mind.
'Did I greet the King correctly?'
Yume feared since her family's honor was at stake. But her current thoughts vanished when King Herod laughed.
"Hahaha!"
Herod applauded.
Yume couldn't see his expression, but she assumed everything went fine, reducing her nervousness.
"Duke Valenz, you've raised your daughter properly."
She felt happy with the compliment while her father responded.
"Thank you, Your Majesty. She is the treasure of our family."
"Of course. Both of you may raise your heads."
As Yume raised her head, she saw King Herod sitting on a golden throne, looking magnificent and mysterious.
Next to King Herod was a kid. Bewildered, Yume unintentionally blurted.
"A kid—?"
"Yume!"
Duke Valenz tried to rebuke her in a loud and angry voice, making her tremble.
Not addressing a prince with a royal title is punishable by the kingdom's law.
"Your Majesty, as your loyal servant, I deeply apologize on behalf of my daughter."
A moment of silence while the people swallowed their breaths. Then King Herod stated.
"Pardoned, Duke Valenz. Yume is still a young lady. They will have more time to know each other in the future."
Duke Valenz was surprised by King Herod's words.
"May, may I know what you mean, Your Majesty?"
"I heard that your daughter is intelligent."
"Yes, Your Majesty, her ability exceeds those the same age as her."
"Indeed. The young lady also took her mother's stern yet beautiful face, so I believe she would grow into an elegant lady."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
"So I'll allow for Lady Yume to marry Prince Shin."
"...Pardon, Your Majesty?"
Duke Valenz, who wanted to say more, caught his breath and waited for confirmation.
King Herod placed his hand on the Prince's shoulder, standing beside him.
"Prince Shin will become the crown prince, and your daughter Yume will be engaged to him. They will be married when both come of age."
"...Your, your Majesty."
Duke Valenz spoke in a shivering voice.
"Is there a problem?"
King Herod Zenonidas narrowed his eyes at Duke Valenz, slightly raising his voice.
"Are you saying my son is not worthy?"
"That, that's not the case, Your Majesty, but my daughter is the heir of the family—"
"We can fix that by adoption."
King Herod implied that he had already planned everything from the start and would take no for an answer.
"...Thank you for the honor, Your Majesty."
With Duke Valenz's consent, King Herod smiled victoriously.
"Seems everything is settled."
Yume observed and noticed her father's change in expression. Sweats formed on his face as he looked down on the floor with trembling eyes.
"Father."
Yume silently asked. Duke Valenz looked at her with concerning eyes. People might not see, but as his only daughter, she can't help but notice his worries.
"Is everything alright, father?"
"Yes... dear."
His voice trembled as opposed to his smiling expression. A young lady like her would know something was wrong with the agreement.
Yume wanted to say more, but she knew that angering royalty would only lead to punishment. So she decided to stay silent.
"A wise lady."
King Herod praised with his eyes smiling. He was ecstatic with the result that he immediately commanded a royal decree for their future marriage.
Yume's father, who felt like collapsing, took consecutive deep breaths.
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
As a young lady, Yume didn't understand engagement or marriage.
***
"Welcome back, Your Grace."
"Welcome back, Milady."
Some week passed when the Valenz household traveled back from the royal palace. The servants who were waiting outside their castle welcomed them.
Hop!
Yume excitedly took off from the carriage and ran towards her room.
"I'm back...! Hello Cindy, Cynthia, Martha, and Annabelle. Did you all miss me?"
These were her dolls' names, given each year on her birthday. Yume treated them dearly, not just as toys but also as precious mementos left by her mother.
Clack!
Yume was grooming her doll when the door of her room abruptly opened.
"Father?"
"I'm sorry, my daughter."
Duke Valenz painted a face full of guilt.
"From now on, I will confiscate your toys. Tomorrow, you'll get different things to study and more teachers starting next week."
"Ah?!"
She was stunned by her father's decision. Not understanding anything but only surmised that the maid was taking her toys.
"Father, father, no, please!"
She begged and grabbed her father's leg, crying until her eyes were swollen.
"It's from mother! It's from mother!"
"From now on, your playtime will be reduced—no, you wouldn't be allowed to play anymore. Understand that this is for your sake."
"No! Father! Please no!"
"Listen to your father!"
Duke Valenz roared and immediately left without remorse. He ordered the maids to remove her toys and remodel the room fit for studying.
Yume tried to plead afterward, but her father responded by locking her in her room.
She wept on her bed day to night, hoping her father would see and change his mind. She even tried to skip meals. Yet, there was no sign of changing minds.
Now, hugging her pillow was the only thing that comforted her.
"Mother... Where are you?"
***
Time went by, and Yume's educators grew in numbers. She continued studying and forgot about the toys; there was no time for her to recall.
They taught her various things that she was never interested in, but she was still forced to learn.
"You are the future Queen, Milady."
"Milady must study hard so she will not be an embarrassment."
"You must learn everything so people will not laugh at you."
Her teachers would hit her hand with a sturdy stick whenever she answered wrong. And her feet would bleed when she tried to dodge responsibility.
Like one time when she tried to run into a hallway, her etiquette tutor punished her.
"A proper lady shouldn't display such a disgracing act!"
People prevented her from eating what she wanted.
Every move with her teacup should be according to the "Book in Etiquette" written. Her tutors rectified all unnecessary and ungraceful acts she made.
Yume wished everything would end soon but realized this was just the beginning.
The punishments grew as Yume grew older. She was even locked in her own room and starved because she retaliated against one of her educators.
Whenever she liked something, people used it against her. People would threaten her to destroy her things if she made a mistake. Because of this, she learned not to hold on to something since it would just become her weakness.
"Father, I don't want this anymore."
After years of suffering, Yume again tried to talk with her father. But the Duke, who was doing paperwork in his office, didn't even glance.
"This is the king's order."
"But at least change my tutor—"
"No! They are the best in this kingdom. They know what they are doing."
'He didn't even glimpse the fresh blisters on my hand.'
Yume didn't know when, but at one point, she stopped caring. The reflection on her eyes faded as she went with the flow and did what people told her.
It made to the point where she would even eat rotten food without question.
Now, the only thing she dreamed of was to leave the dukedom and marry the Crown Prince.
'The Crown Prince will treat me better.'