It had been nearly half a year since Dianne returned to this castle. During that time, she couldn't help but notice its abnormal atmosphere.
Life here was completely different from what she had imagined while living with the nuns at the abbey.
Her father and half-brothers seemed to have no hesitation in using violence against those who didn't obey them. Though she had heard rumors at the abbey, she never imagined it would be this bad.
"...What can I do?"
For Dianne, Giselle was the only one she could trust. She only felt safe when she was with Giselle in her assigned room.
Her first plan was to assassinate her father and half-brothers. She thought the situation might improve if the three at the top were eliminated.
But she quickly understood she wouldn't stand a chance facing them with a blade. That meant poison was the only option.
Her father Maxim always had food tasters for his meals. She thought there might be a chance to slip in poison during feasts when the tasters weren't watching, but—
She actually tried once, with Giselle's help. They hid a small bottle of herb syrup inside Giselle's dress, but when they tried to take it out secretly, they were immediately caught and severely reprimanded.
She managed to excuse it by explaining "I felt unwell, so I had my lady-in-waiting bring me herb syrup."
Her father's eyes, and those of her half-brothers, watched the movements of anyone who approached them. Ready to seize anyone who made suspicious moves.
Soldiers will be soldiers, it seemed. She would have to find another way.
"Shall we walk around the castle a bit?come with me."
I went out with Giselle. As we walked the corridors, we saw servants hiding when they spotted us.
They were probably afraid we would report their mistakes to my father. I wanted to shout that I was different from my father and half-brothers, but I couldn't.
Walking around the castle, observing its condition, we came to the walls. The town spread below looked peaceful from this vantage point.
"What are you thinking about?"
"About Ludiger... perhaps. You've heard the rumors too, haven't you? That he's risen up to rebuild the Kingdom of Sevran?"
"Yes. Though?I don't know if he can restore the country."
Two and a half years since he left the abbey. He apparently escaped from former Sevran territory at first. He sought help from the king whose wife was his aunt, and then?in just two and a half years, he managed to rise up.
I want to see him. I want to see?him.
We haven't had any contact since then. I don't even know if this "Prince Ludiger" who has risen to restore his country is really him.
But under this sky, thinking that Ludiger is living somewhere far away makes something well up from deep in my chest.
Giving a name to these feelings would surely be forbidden. Carrying that man's blood?it would be wrong to seek ordinary happiness.
"Pardon me, but are you Princess Diane?"
"Who are you?"
I turned at the voice. There stood a man I'd never seen before. His brown hair streaked with gray was neatly groomed, and his manner overflowed with refinement.
Giselle, showing her wariness, moved to stand between the man and me.
"Please forgive my rudeness. I am Marquis Hugel."
Marquis Hugel. I had heard his name. He originally served the Toredrio royal family.
But I heard he was among the first to switch sides to my father when he destroyed the Toredrio royal family. He had been assigned to border patrol since then, which explained why I hadn't seen him before.
Giselle returned to her position as the marquis bowed politely, though she remained wary.
"Do you know about me?"
"Though we've never met, I knew of your birth. I sent silk fabrics as a celebration gift."
"...I see. Will you be working at the castle from now on?"
"No, I've just returned temporarily to report to His Majesty. I'll return to my post soon. Ah?you truly look so much like Lady Blanche."
I noticed his eyes narrowing as if reminiscing about the past. What was this man thinking?
It was as if he wanted to say the current state of the castle displeased him.
Perhaps it was natural to be displeased?this castle was called Toredrio Castle when he was a Toredrio noble. I wondered if he still thought back to those days, even now serving the Surliton royal family.
No, thinking about it, my father was also a Toredrio noble like him. Until he became the new king by killing his lord, blinded by the queen's beauty. Perhaps he found it unpleasant to serve under a former peer, but I couldn't know the inner thoughts of someone I'd just met.
"...Is that so. Well, no one... tells me about my mother. Even Father... I rarely have the chance to talk with him."
"You look very much like her. Lady Blanche?she accepted a forced marriage, and many were saved because of that."
A forced marriage?yes, marriage to my father must have been nothing but a curse for my mother. But the marquis's words now seemed to give me a flash of insight.
"What are you two doing here?"
Crown Prince Jules had come up to the castle wall. His gaze ran up and down my body. Finding something eerie in his gaze, I stepped back.
"Your Highness. I was paying my respects to the Princess."
"Come to think of it, it's been a while since you returned. If you have business with Father, you should go soon."
Those words were an order for the marquis to leave. Recognizing this, the marquis bowed and turned to walk away.
"So, what about you? There's nothing interesting to see here."
"...I wanted to see the town."
The town could only be seen from the south wall. Unable to meet my half-brother's eyes directly, I mumbled my response.
"Nothing interesting about looking at the town."
"The Princess cannot leave the castle. She at least wanted to feel the outside air."
Giselle threw me a lifeline. Jules waved his hand dismissively at this.
"Don't let your lady-in-waiting speak unnecessarily?if you want to go to town, shall I take you?"
"No, I couldn't trouble you, Brother. Please excuse me."
Features so similar to Father's. Though an imposing figure?there was something unsettling about his smile.
"Diane, don't wander around too much?many people don't think well of you. Father will be arranging marriage proposals for you soon."
Pretending not to hear Jules's words, I hurried away. I couldn't be confident whether I had successfully avoided my brother's scrutiny.
"...Princess, are you alright?"
"Yes. More importantly... I think I see what I can do."
That day when the abbey was attacked, how he risked his life to save us is still burned into my heart. And how I first struck someone with a blade.
If?if he were to come here to avenge his family. If, at that time, I could lend him aid from within.
I too?might have something I could do. That dubious hope welled up from deep in my chest. So I wished strongly that Ludiger would come here soon.