The order to return to the palace came on her fourteenth birthday. It had been about two years since Ludiger left Lamartine Abbey.
"To suddenly tell the Princess to come back now—what are they thinking? And Grandmother too. She should have refused such an order."
"That's not possible—at least, I can't change the fact that I'm 'that person's' daughter."
She gently touched her forehead where Ludiger had kissed her that day.
There hadn't been a single message from him since he left the abbey. She hadn't even heard his name mentioned.
It was widely believed that all members of the Sevran royal family were dead.
"Besides, maybe I can do something if I return to the castle. Though I don't know what I can do."
"Your mindset is admirable, but... I hate this. Sending you to such a place."
"You really understand too, don't you? We can't defy royal orders. If we refuse, they might send soldiers to take me by force."
She hadn't understood two years ago, but now she understood a little.
Among the merchants staying at the abbey, there were rumors about how she looked exactly like her mother. Though she had never seen her mother, she didn't know how much they really resembled each other.
"You don't have to force yourself. You could stay here—"
"Don't be ridiculous! What do you take me for? I'm the Princess's lady-in-waiting and guard. I'll accompany you wherever you go."
They couldn't refuse the order to return immediately. Besides, life here was modest, never having more than necessary.
Within hours of hearing from the messenger who delivered the order, preparations for departure were complete.
"Thank you for everything. Mother... would be grateful too, I think."
"Princess. Please take care of yourself. You carry Lady Blanche's blood, after all."
Though she returned to her mercenary self only when facing enemies, the Mother Superior usually had the air of a gentle old woman. That hadn't changed in the two years since then.
"I've always wanted to ask something. Why such loyalty to my mother? I've heard that mercenaries work for money."
"She saved my daughter's life. Also, Lady Blanche was trying to guide Maxim to be a proper king. She thought at least then the people's lives could be protected. We simply agreed with that."
"I see... Then I should go to the castle after all. Though I won't know what I can do until I get there."
After bidding farewell to the Mother Superior, she boarded the carriage sent from the castle. Of course, Giselle came too, but the Mother Superior seemed to be giving her various detailed instructions.
She remembered the words Ludiger had spoken the day the abbey was attacked.
"For a king to be king, he should sacrifice himself for the people's happiness." Surely her mother had thought the same way.
Thinking that way made her feel a little closer to the mother she couldn't remember.
Since being sent to the abbey over ten years ago, she had rarely left the grounds. She leaned against the carriage window, watching the scenery gradually change.
(What can I do?)
Giselle, who boarded the same carriage, understood her feelings and kept quiet. So she could fully immerse herself in her thoughts.
However, meeting her father and half-brothers didn't go as expected.
"...I'm Diane. Father... Half-brothers... you look well."
Her father, whom she was seeing for the first time, was completely different from anyone she had known before. Though most men she had spoken to were villagers living nearby or merchants traveling past the abbey.
Her father, seated on the throne, looked at her with disinterested eyes. He would probably be quite tall when standing. His broad shoulders and muscular build made him look much younger than his age of nearly fifty.
His black eyes held an arrogant light, and his mouth was set in a tight line.
"...So it's you. You look just like your mother. Good that you've returned—I had actually planned to call you back earlier. But Blanche's will said to let you stay at the abbey until fifteen. It's a bit early, but forgive that."
"I see..."
Her half-brothers sitting beside her father turned their eyes toward her. She lowered her gaze to the floor as if escaping their stares.
Crown Prince Jules and Prince Valerian. They both seemed to resemble their father in appearance.
"Then, if you'll excuse me."
Led by Giselle who waited outside the room, she headed to her assigned quarters. Along the way, Giselle whispered:
"...They say these were Lady Blanche's rooms—look."
Opening the door revealed a long hallway beyond. Giselle directed her attention to the door itself.
"Is this a lock? It can be locked from the outside?"
"The garden accessible from the room is surrounded by high walls. There's no escape from here."
She couldn't help feeling confronted anew with her mother's situation.
Forced to marry the man who killed her husband, living half-imprisoned—it was amazing her mother's spirit hadn't been worn down.
"Hey, you."
She nearly jumped at the sudden call, turning to find Crown Prince Jules standing there.
"Y-yes...?"
"Make yourself useful to us. That's why we called you back earlier than the will specified."
She couldn't respond to Jules's words. Rather than being told to make herself useful, she might have been more bewildered.
Though they parted without another word, she couldn't suppress the unpleasant feelings that welled up—partly because she could half imagine what use they intended to make of her.
About to enter her room, she reconsidered and turned around.
"Let's look around the castle first. I'm anxious."
"Indeed, the atmosphere is heavy..."
She directed her feet toward where Jules had returned.
High ceilings. Brown carpet covering the floor. Pillars with magnificent carvings—at first glance, she might have sighed at how luxurious it all was.
But what was this oppressive air hanging over the castle? Even the servants would flee somewhere when they saw the two of them.
The only exception was a maid huddled in a corner of the hallway.
"You there... what's wrong?"
"No, I apologize for the unsightly..."
When she turned to face them, her cheek was red and swollen. Her lip was split, with blood seeping from the cut.
"How terrible—who hit you?"
At that question, she shook her head with a frightened expression. Probably her father or brothers—she would have spoken if it hadn't been a member of the royal family.
"...To inflict such wounds. Giselle, give her medicine... I'm sorry. This is all I can do for you."
"This medicine was compounded by the Princess herself. Please use it carefully."
"Th-thank you very much."
Though she bowed with thanks, the fear never left her expression. Unable to bear it, Diane quickly left.
"...I can understand why Mother remained Queen of Toredrio until the end."
Though they had just entered the castle, she had already noticed the strange atmosphere that covered the entire place.
"Giselle, I... I want to find out what I can do. Will you help me?"
"Of course."
Though the hope was faint, someday—someday, if she met Ludiger again.
She wanted to be able to proudly say she had acted as the kind of royal he wished for.