Lines Not to Be Crossed
The night the banquet ended.
Luen Nathaniel sat at her desk as usual, a book open before her. Yet the words refused to sink in.
Her mind kept circling back to the memories of the banquet. The moment she had stepped onto the dais. The weight of countless eyes. General Berhardt standing at her side.
“Haa……”
She closed the book. Reading was impossible tonight.
Just then, a servant’s voice drifted through the library door.
“Your Highness the Princess. His Highness the Crown Prince and Lady Perlin Claire have come to see you.”
‘Already?’
They had arrived far sooner than expected. Still, Luen did not falter.
“Tell them to come in.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
The library door opened.
Crown Prince Leon Nathaniel. And Perlin Claire.
Neither wore their usual formal attire. The Crown Prince was dressed simply for a private visit, while Perlin had changed out of her glittering banquet gown into something calmer and more subdued.
“Luen.”
The Crown Prince spoke first.
“Sorry for the late hour.”
“It’s all right, Brother.”
“Could we speak for a moment? As your older brother.”
As your older brother.
Luen repeated the words silently, then gestured to the seats.
“……Please, sit.”
The three of them took their places around the small library table. A servant soon brought tea.
“Brother. What is this about?”
The Crown Prince hesitated before answering.
“Luen, I heard what you said at the banquet today.”
“……Yes.”
“As your brother, I’m a little concerned.”
Perlin spoke gently from beside him.
“It must have been sudden, standing in that position. Your Highness has never shown interest in such matters before.”
Luen answered briefly.
“I chose to stand there.”
“I know. Still……”
The Crown Prince met her eyes.
“I can’t help wondering if someone persuaded you. That’s what worries me.”
Perlin continued.
“Your Highness, everyone saw General Berhardt standing beside you today.”
“Yes……”
“The pinnacle of the military is a heavy seat. If he asked something of Your Highness, it may have been difficult to refuse.”
Luen’s fingers tightened slightly around the handle of her teacup.
“Luen. I’m asking as your brother.”
“……”
“If Arsens forced anything on you, tell me honestly. If you’re under any pressure, I won’t stand by and watch.”
Perlin added one more line.
“We want to stand by Your Highness and help. No matter what you’re going through.”
Luen closed her eyes for a moment, then spoke calmly.
“……Brother. Lady Perlin. Thank you for your concern.”
“Of course, Luen. It’s only natural.”
“However, General Berhardt has forced nothing upon me. I decided to take that position myself, and I will decide what comes next as well.”
She maintained her composure and stated her position clearly. The Crown Prince seemed momentarily at a loss for words. Perlin, however, pressed on.
“Your Highness, I say this for your own sake.”
“Pardon?”
“Standing beside General Berhardt may put Your Highness in danger. The position of a member of the imperial family carries that much weight.”
The Crown Prince added,
“Luen, Perlin is right. We’re trying to protect you. We don’t want any misunderstandings to lead to something worse.”
Luen gripped the handle of her teacup. Her fingertips trembled faintly.
She could feel it—they were applying indirect pressure. A warning that reaching for the throne would bring her harm.
“Luen.”
“Yes, Brother.”
“I am the Crown Prince. You know that, don’t you?”
His gaze darkened slightly.
“If anyone threatens the stability of the imperial family, I must act as Crown Prince. That decision would mean removing them.”
“……”
“I don’t want to make that choice.”
Luen’s hand shook harder around the cup.
This is……
Even a fool could understand the threat. A clear warning not to aim for the throne. A declaration that she would be eliminated if she tried.
She was afraid. This was the first time she had faced such open hostility—from family, no less. The realization filled her with dread.
But she could not stop here. She had made a promise.
Luen steadied her breathing and opened her mouth to speak.
Creak—
The library door opened. Someone entered.
Thud—
Thud—
The sound of shoes striking the floor echoed through the library in a steady rhythm.
Before long, a man came into view.
“……!”
Rough black hair, black eyes, a sharp expression, and a perfectly pressed military uniform.
“General Berhardt……”
Luen’s eyes widened. She moved to rise, but Berhardt raised a hand to stop her.
“Stay seated.”
He walked slowly to stand beside her chair.
“……”
His gaze swept the room, taking in the atmosphere. It lingered briefly on the teacups, then on the Crown Prince, then on Perlin, before returning to Luen.
Only then did he offer his greeting.
“Your Highness the Princess. I apologize for the late intrusion.”
He gave a short nod to the Crown Prince and Perlin as well.
“Your Highness the Crown Prince. Lady Perlin Claire.”
“Arsens.”
The Crown Prince managed to speak. Perlin only inclined her head. The air in the room seemed to settle.
“It appears you were having a private meeting with Her Highness the Princess at this late hour.”
Perlin answered smoothly.
“It was merely a brief family greeting.”
“I see. My apologies for interrupting.”
The Crown Prince straightened his posture.
“General Berhardt.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“We were simply concerned about our sister’s sudden change and wished to discuss it among family.”
Berhardt stared at the Crown Prince.
Luen felt the weight of that gaze even from the side. Though it wasn’t directed at her, it pressed down heavily.
The Crown Prince’s expression hardened in an instant.
“……Is that so.”
Berhardt’s brief reply came, followed immediately by more.
“Worrying about one’s sibling is only natural for family. However, Her Highness the Princess is a member of the imperial family.”
“……”
“Therefore, there is no need for such concern.”
Perlin tried to interject.
“General Berha—”
“Lady Perlin Claire.”
He cut her off cleanly.
“I do not doubt that you joined us with good intentions.”
Both pairs of eyes turned to him.
“Since Her Highness the Princess consented to this meeting as well, I will say no more on the matter.”
It was a formal concession. Immediately after, Berhardt continued.
“However, Her Highness the Princess’s decision to attend today’s banquet was hers alone.”
He looked at the Crown Prince and Perlin.
“There was no coercion, no persuasion. You need not doubt that.”
“But……”
Perlin began, but he ignored her and went on.
“If you continue to doubt regardless, you are doubting Her Highness’s own judgment.”
“……”
“And questioning the judgment of an imperial family member from within the imperial family does nothing to uphold its dignity.”
Silence fell over everyone.
After a moment, Berhardt spoke again.
“One last thing. I say this just in case.”
His tone remained calm, but Luen, sensitive to atmosphere, could feel the anger beginning to seep into his words.
“The desire to hold power. The ambition for position. I will not condemn those feelings themselves. They are natural for any human being.”
His words were direct.
“However, I would ask that you not let those feelings lead to chaos and harm for the Empire. For example—”
His gaze moved from the Crown Prince to Perlin.
“—attacking a member of the imperial family.”
The Crown Prince flinched.
He heard. Luen was certain Berhardt had overheard the earlier threat.
“I mention this because I fear you might take my words as a simple request.”
Berhardt ran a hand through his hair. His eyes darkened, and the atmosphere shifted.
“As I said before, I could kill you both right now.”
His voice was matter-of-fact, yet the air in the library trembled under the weight of his emotion.
“The reason I do not is not because I am a fool.”
“……”
“Doing so would throw the Empire into chaos and weaken it. Internal strife would surely follow.”
He continued, each word deliberate.
“The Empire I chose to protect. The world I chose to protect. I will not allow it to be shaken by my own hand. That is why I hold back. Even when I want nothing more than to strike you down.”
Therefore—
“Do not cross the line.”