The Imperial Palace
The Imperial Palace
Lately, the word betrayal had carved itself especially deep into Iolin's awareness.
There were two main reasons for that.
The first was the attack by Aiton, her head attendant, who had always stood at her side and carried out her orders as if they were his very life—though calling it betrayal was a bit ambiguous.
Aiton, who had led the cruel disposal that confiscated every last one of her treasured picture books and manga volumes.
Of course, she had brought some of it on herself, so she could bear that part while swallowing her tears.
But the one she could never forgive was the Third Imperial Prince, Edric, who had sold out his own older sister, blinded by a limited-edition illustration.
How could someone who loved the same manga volumes commit such a brutal, inhuman act?
She could still vividly remember Edric's expression as he smiled, receiving the limited-edition illustration from Aiton after selling her out.
That incident, all the more shocking because she had never dreamed she would suffer such betrayal from a cherished younger brother, became the impetus for Iolin to act more cautiously and covertly.
Her attendants were already under Aiton's watch, of course. Entrusting them with such a task was too great a burden.
Escort knights? Her escorts could certainly manage it without much difficulty, but they were too well-known, and another betrayal like Edric's could happen again.
In truth, this whole problem would be solved if she gave up on limited editions.
With hardcovers and ordinary tankobon volumes, only the first printing was difficult to obtain. If she waited long enough, regular stock would eventually become available.
'But if I can't buy the limited edition, what's the point!'
To Iolin, ordinary tankobon volumes were for everyday reading.
Hardcovers were for display.
Limited editions, meanwhile, were treasures to be stored safely and taken out now and then just to admire.
She wanted to send a letter to Rupert, saying she would pay any price if he would make a limited edition separately for her.
'Your Highness, making such a request of the nobles under you could place a great burden on them.'
After Aiton’s advice, though, that option was no longer available to her.
Because that was when she first realized that her actions could become a burden to someone.
The realization that merely voicing a desire could pressure people even when she intended no coercion had shaken Iolin.
Born into the imperial family and having left the palace only a handful of times, she had been forced to confront how little ordinary common sense she possessed.
She had not thought of it as an imperial princess's command, but to others, her words could only appear to represent the will of the imperial family.
It was bitter, but it was a duty and fate she had to accept.
So she had been agonizing over how to obtain books without ordering anyone to get them when Jorge, her shadow guard, finally gave her another way.
Jorge had noticed her problem and offered to help on his own initiative, making their covert late-night manga exchanges possible.
After telling her maids and Aiton that she could not sleep and wanted to take a walk alone, she secretly received the manga volumes at the designated meeting spot.
For the first time in her life, the imperial princess felt as if she were getting away with a naughty prank. The excitement was intoxicating.
It was like that peculiar pleasure she had felt when reading Rupert's picture books or manga volumes.
Embarrassed, she tucked the precious limited-edition volume she had received into her dress and hid it so she would not be caught.
And then, as if nothing had happened, Iolin returned to the palace with a calm expression and went back to her chambers.
But there was one thing she had failed to notice:
her walk had become painfully awkward because she was afraid the book hidden against her stomach might slip out.
And it was immediately afterward that a scream burst from Iolin's lips as she read the new manga volume, her heart fluttering, with the blanket pulled over her head.
It was only natural that at Iolin's scream, everyone from the maids waiting outside to the guards rushed into her chambers in an instant.
"Your Highness!!! Are you all right? What in the world—"
The escort knights scattered through Iolin's chambers in a single breath and took up defensive positions.
But the windows were firmly shut, and there was no sign that anyone had broken in.
All the maids gathered around Iolin, who was lying in bed, and checked her condition.
"...No, it's nothing. I merely had a bit of a nightmare."
At Iolin's words, everyone let out a collective sigh of relief.
If any harm had come to the imperial princess, everyone present could have been executed without a word of complaint.
However, they all sensed that the imperial princess's condition was a little strange.
Even though it was midwinter, beads of sweat had strangely formed on Iolin's forehead.
Not only that, but her expression was slightly flushed.
And her clothes were disheveled.
The escort knights simply thought she had had a nightmare while sleeping, but the maids thought a little differently.
'She wouldn't have gone straight to sleep after returning from her walk, would she?'
'Could Her Highness have reached the age when a young lady starts... amusing herself in private?'
'Oh my. Come to think of it, she even summoned the Somerset second son privately the other day. She really has been acting differently lately.'
Iolin had no idea how far the maids’ misunderstanding was spiraling.
All she could think about was protecting the hard-won limited edition of <Iron-Blooded Alchemist> Volume 3 she was concealing with her entire body.
Unaware of that, the maids looked at Iolin, who was holding an awkward posture, and thought as one.
'Of course, she is at an age brimming with curiosity, but still, to do it to the point of screaming.'
It was a misunderstanding growing entirely on its own.
***
Meanwhile, the palace where the Third Imperial Prince stayed was, unlike the imperial princess's palace, in a very quiet state.
Since it was already late at night, this was, in a sense, the more natural situation.
When a member of the imperial family retired to their chambers to sleep, it would be impossible for the waiting attendants and guards to make a commotion unless they were out of their minds.
At this hour, the imperial palace naturally had to be quiet.
But the Third Imperial Prince Edric, who should have been asleep, was awake.
No, he had not even tried to sleep.
In the Third Imperial Prince's chambers, which had recently undergone secret renovation, there was a hidden room.
A concealed space that opened when one of the books on the bookshelf decorating one side of the chambers was twisted to exactly a 45-degree angle.
Edric was there.
In that place lit by a small magic lamp, Edric sat in a chair, staring at one spot.
"Elza..."
The wall in front of him was covered with beautifully drawn illustrations.
Edric had carefully attached each one by hand, worried that the illustrations might be damaged or harmed.
They were collectibles valuable enough to justify betraying his older sister Iolin—at least to him.
It was not that Edric had felt no guilt at first.
But after seeing this, he had resolved not to regret it.
Because regretting would be an insult to Elza.
He would bear all the disgrace of betraying his sister. Even if he went back to the past a hundred times, he would make the same choice.
'Let the world call me a madman. Elza, just stay by my side.'
Then I will rise again and again, and the courage to fight the world for you will spring forth.
He had obtained all the related items—the dress and magic staff released as noble-exclusive merchandise for <Kingdom of Ice>—and he was supposed to give up the special illustration just because he could not get the limited edition?
Betraying his sister was the better choice.
There were already plenty of good people by his sister's side to heal the wounds he had given her.
From the attendants who followed the imperial princess, to Aiton, needless to say, and there were plenty of loyal knights who would leap into hellfire at his sister's word.
On the other hand, who was there to protect Elza?
There was no one but himself.
He had to do it.
Veins bulged in Edric's fist as he watched the illustrations on the wall.
A fist clenched with all his strength.
"Yes... I know. The fact that you and I can never meet."
Bam!
The fist of the Third Imperial Prince, who had trained alongside knights since childhood, had the power to break a wall even without channeling mana.
A caved-in wall.
He had struck the wall with his bare hand, so it should have hurt, but Edric felt no pain.
'I'll be waiting, Edric.'
Others might not understand, but he could feel her presence.
That she definitely existed within this thin paper.
Others might call it absurd, but because he believed in it, it was real. In that moment, Edric felt that truth with absolute conviction.
The very existence of this world felt like fate disguised as an immense coincidence arranged by a god, all so that he and Elza could meet.
Meeting Elza had finally given meaning to the life I had lived until now.
Every moment had been a step toward you, a will, a heart.
If snow falls in midsummer, will I be able to see you?
If flowers bloom in midwinter, will I be able to meet you?
Even if I must bring about the impossible things the world speaks of, Elza, if only I can meet you.
Edric felt that every dawn, when everyone was asleep, he became unusually sentimental whenever thoughts of Elza surfaced without his realizing it.
"Haa... I should soothe my heart by reading a new manga volume."
He had already purchased it through an attendant, but because he had been deep into <Kingdom of Ice>, he had not yet read the new manga volume, <Iron-Blooded Alchemist>.
It was the first work to introduce the concept of a series, and unlike before, it did not end in a single volume, so he had planned to set it aside.
But since things had come to this, he decided to check what it was about.
"It obviously won't surpass Kingdom of Ice or Elza."
In truth, he had no great expectations.
No matter how outstanding the artist, he could not even imagine that a work more charming than <Kingdom of Ice> and Elza could exist.
And then Edric read <Iron-Blooded Alchemist> Volumes 1, 2, and 3 in one sitting, right where he was.
Before he knew it, morning had dawned.
"Windy Rox!!! How can such a bold woman exist..."
Another winter had come to the Third Imperial Prince.