The atmosphere became strange.
The two continued their conversation without paying attention to the meal in front of them.
"Yes. I also made an animal sculpture to Siervian as a gift and she loved it very much."
"Sculpture?"
"When a fork is made exclusively for the snow cake, it's no fun for her because the fork will be gone after the cake is eaten."
"Hm."
[ Alderuan Erveldote ]
Thoughts: I can't believe I didn't think of that. How could I make such a mistake.
In fact, Siervian knew that the fork was just for eating that cake, and that it was a luxury to be able to eat the cake with a fork made with magic.
But she didn't have much experience with eating desserts, so he might be right.
"She cherishes it so much that she asked me to put a conservation spell on it. And they said that she's decorated her room with it."
"Ha. It's not time for you to learn conservation magic yet. It's going to melt soon."
"It'll be alright because I studied it in advance."
Siervian grew nervous because the topic suddenly went to the Crown Prince's magic skills. An Imperial Family member's magical ability was the same thing as their pride.
"Is that true, Siervy?"
Suddenly, their eyes were on her at once. Siervian, who was holding back as she looked at the steaming soup, gulped dryly.
"Yees. It's pweety."
The animal sculptures were neatly placed on the vanity table in her room. Everyday when Ellie combed her hair, she would look at them.
Of course, they didn't melt or break.
When the Crown Prince would grow older, he would even be a match for the Emperor, who was the strongest mage in the Empire. If Karmen, the next lord of the magic tower, was also considered, there would be three archmages in the Northern Empire alone.
"Did you bring them to your room, Siervian?"
As he heard this compliment, the Crown Prince's lips were curled up in a smile that almost dripped honey. On the contrary, the Emperor's expression became darker as he looked at his son in disapproval.
"Yees. I like the bunny and the horsey a lot."
Siervian felt much better as she recalled the cute ice sculptures that she saw everyday when her hair was being combed.
It was very cute to see the bunny being right next to the horse.
"Hm."
And when he heard her honest remarks, this was all that the Emperor said.
Then, their silent meal began.
All three people around the table weren't talkative in the first place while eating, so Siervian soon picked up her spoon, forgetting the strange atmosphere from earlier.
'I'm hungry already, so it's a relief.'
In the meantime, the soup wasn't as hot as it was earlier, so she ate a lot today. However, the status windows of the two people at her sides sometimes made her wary. They were very odd.
[ Damian Erveldote ]
Thoughts: You'll just have breakfast without me. I need to find a way to come here every day.
[ Alderuan Erveldote ]
Thoughts: Animal sculptures… Hmm, animals…
Why were they both being like this?
Even as she contemplated deeply, she really couldn't understand them. So, she just focused on eating.
Two days later in the afternoon, Siervian went on a stroll, her mind complicated.
After she reached adulthood, it would be best if she could live even with a small livelihood. Maybe she could live well while caring for flowers all her life.
Of course, she would still try to change many things before that, but it was still a problem she had to think about.
'What if I get framed again?'
The day that Siervian was framed for treason was a common day.
After it was pointed out that she seemed to have gained a little weight the other day, Siervian abstained from black tea that day.
Sarah, who had been working as her chief lady-in-waiting until Siervian was fifteen years old, disappeared one day without a word. It was only after her replacement arrived—sent by the Empress—that Siervian realized that Sarah had quit.
'Was it a cover-up?'
Around evening time, knights rushed to her bedroom. The captain of the knights calmly showed her the Emperor's decree and apologized for the rudeness.
However, inside the Princess' Palace, several black magic tools were found. And there was an altar that looked like a sacrifice table.
'They were things that I had never seen before.'
She didn't even know what those things were for. In that ridiculous situation, Siervian was dragged away helplessly.
In the Empire where pure magic was the standard, using black magic was considered a felony. The new chief lady-in-waiting of the Princess' Palace was also surprised as she saw them.
'Was she acting?'
As long as the Empress' favorability stayed low, Siervian had no other choice but to be suspicious of her.
It was probably a lie that the Empress claimed Siervian's innocence while tears streamed down her face.
But could she do that just because Siervian bothered her?
'I have no idea.'
She didn't know anything about it. It was too difficult to understand other people.
It's a relief that she could find some small happiness as she waited for mealtime these days. But otherwise, she wished even more that she could get out of here as soon as possible.
'Where should I look next just to be safe?'
She suddenly thought that she was too naïve.
All she learned in her past life was etiquette and some history. Siervian, who learned nothing about magic or Imperial history, only knew how to drink tea and to act elegantly.
'What do people usually do?'
There was so much she had to do to prepare for the future. She also wanted to find any clues pointing to the reason why she had to be executed.
But she wouldn't be able to learn anything if she continued like this either.
Everyone said she didn't need anything else. Siervian Erveldote was an incompetent princess anyway.
'…But was I incompetent because I really was incompetent, or because I couldn't learn anything?'
As she left the Princess' Palace, she heard the Emperor's voice in front of her.
"Where are you going?"
Siervian looked up in surprise at her father. And when he saw how surprised his daughter was, the Emperor glared at Hex, who was behind him.
[ Alderuan Erveldote ]
Thoughts: My daughter was startled because of this guy.
Actually, she was startled because of her father, but she decided not to show this.
Her gaze met her father's as he looked down, waiting for her answer. But she wasn't going to say that she was out to find something she could do.
"Jwust to play outside."
Or would it be better if she could ask her father?
Considering her father, perhaps it would be better for her to disappear. Especially since she knew in advance that she was an Imperial Family member who couldn't live up to his legacy of magical ability.