Arrival at the Imperial Palace
The carriage had only been moving for a short while.
*Clatter-clatter-clatter...*
The carriage ahead of us, carrying Serina, suddenly slowed down and pulled up right beside ours.
"...?"
*What's going on?*
Soon enough, Serina opened the window and poked her head out.
Her gorgeous hair whipped wildly in the wind.
"Leon."
"...Yes, Sister."
"My carriage is a four-seater. There's no need for the two of you to squeeze into that cramped thing. Come over here."
I was caught off guard.
*...Oh no. If I do that, I'll have nowhere to escape.*
Even inside the carriage, I needed time to coordinate with Era—figure out what to say, how to say it, and come up with a plan.
But if we rode with my sister, that would become completely impossible...
It meant we'd lose any chance to talk privately before reaching the imperial palace.
I tried to refuse as politely as I could.
"Ah, no thank you, Sister. We're quite comfortable here."
"Comfortable? How could you possibly be comfortable squeezed together like that?"
"Really, it's fine. The tight space actually has a certain charm—"
"...Leon."
Serina narrowed her eyes.
In that single word, she managed to convey both the dignity of an imperial princess and the pressure of an older sister.
It was that familiar look she'd used to keep me in line since I was a child.
"...When I tell you to come. You come."
And just like that, I folded.
"...Yes. We'll be right over."
A prince who'd spent days starving and getting beaten into a frail mess had no chance against his sister's terrifying glare.
Besides, refusing would only end with me being dragged over anyway.
===========
Serina's carriage was, as expected of a four-seater, spacious and luxurious.
The seats were plush, the curtains embroidered with golden thread, and a small table even held silver cups. It was nothing like the rundown room in the borderlands or the rattling two-seater we'd been riding in.
*Well, of course. This one was brought from the imperial family.*
Era and I sat on one side while Serina took the seat across from us.
The moment Era sat on the soft cushion, her eyes widened in surprise.
"Wow... it's so squishy..."
She bounced her hips up and down a little. She seemed genuinely amazed that a chair could be this soft.
"..."
But when Serina stared at her intently, Era froze mid-motion.
"...Hic."
She quickly folded her hands neatly on her lap, sat up straight, and went completely rigid—like a child about to be scolded.
An awkward silence filled the carriage.
The vehicle continued to rattle along without pause.
"Hmm..."
Serina crossed her arms and looked back and forth between me and Era.
Her gaze slowly swept over each of us in turn.
The atmosphere had turned into a full-blown interrogation.
*Gulp...*
I swallowed hard, my throat dry.
"Alright then..."
It was Serina who broke the silence first.
"So. Tell me."
"...?"
"When did it start?"
"...What do you mean?"
"You and this girl. When did you two meet?"
I answered according to the story we'd prepared in advance.
Thankfully, this part we'd already coordinated.
"...It's been a while. I would sneak out of the palace to go see her."
"Sneak out?"
"...Yes."
"Without me knowing? Without any escorts?"
"...If you knew, Sister, you would've stopped me."
Serina frowned.
"...True. If you'd told me you were seeing a commoner, I would've dragged you back immediately."
Even so, she didn't drop her suspicion. Instead, she raised one eyebrow even higher.
"So. When did this engagement talk come up?"
"...A few days ago. It was verbal."
"Verbal? A member of the imperial family getting engaged verbally?"
"...We planned to follow the formal procedures once we reached the palace."
"Hah."
Serina let out a short, incredulous snort.
"You think an imperial engagement is something you just casually decide on like buying rice cakes at the market?"
I kept my mouth shut. I didn't have a good comeback.
Serina then turned her gaze to Era.
"You. What's your name?"
"E-Era!"
"And your family name?"
"...I don't have one."
"...You don't?"
"Yes... um... I don't."
Serina's expression subtly hardened.
In this empire, having no family name clearly meant she was from the lowest class of commoners.
There was no way that would sit well with an imperial princess.
"...Leon. You really—"
"Sister."
I tried to intervene, but right then—
Era suddenly clenched both fists with a face full of determination and spoke up.
"B-But! Leon is truly an amazing person!"
"...?"
"Leon is the coolest in the whole world! He's smart! Strong! And, and..."
Era started listing things off, counting on her fingers one by one.
It sounded exactly like she was reciting something she'd memorized.
"...He's good at sewing! He wakes up early! And, and... he eats porridge really well!"
Cold sweat ran down my back.
*...You idiot. Why did you memorize all that?*
She'd scraped together every scrap of information from the few days we'd spent together and was throwing it all out there. The compliments quickly went off the rails.
Cool, smart, and strong were one thing, but "eats porridge really well" as a selling point?
Serina raised an eyebrow.
"...He eats porridge well?"
"Yes! He even finishes tree-bark porridge without complaint!"
"Tree-bark porridge?"
"...Ah."
Only then did Era realize her mistake and slap both hands over her mouth.
There was no way her older sister would take kindly to hearing that a prince had been eating tree-bark porridge.
"...Leon. You ate tree-bark porridge?"
Serina's voice dropped a full octave.
"No, that's not—there were circumstances—"
While I was fumbling for words, Era tried to salvage the situation by shouting even louder.
"A-Anyway! I really, really like Leon! I mean, His Highness the Prince—no, Lord Leon!"
"...Ha."
...The titles had gotten completely tangled.
"...His Highness? Leon? Lord Leon?"
Serina slowly raised one eyebrow.
"...You don't even know what to call your own fiancé?"
"T-That's because! I usually just call him Leon! I got too nervous and—"
Era's face turned bright red as she waved her hands around frantically.
The fact that this was all fake was practically radiating off her.
I buried my face in my hands.
*...It would've been better if she'd just kept quiet.*
Serina watched the two of us with her arms crossed, then spoke as if she'd come to a decision.
"...Fine. Let's run a little test then."
"...A test?"
"If you're truly close, you should know each other well. Right?"
Serina looked straight at Era with a probing gaze.
"What does Leon hate the most?"
"......!"
Era froze.
There was no way she could know something like that after only a few days together.
Cold sweat poured down her face as her eyes darted around. You could practically see her brain desperately trying to come up with something.
"...U-Um... well..."
Then, in a completely uncertain voice, she answered.
"...Bugs?"
"......"
Serina slowly turned to look at me.
"..."
I just stared at the ceiling, trying to avoid eye contact...
"...Leon. Do you hate bugs?"
"Not really."
"......"
Era hung her head in utter defeat.
"...I got it wrong..."
Her voice was barely a whisper.
But after a brief silence, Serina spoke again.
"...Well. Even so."
"...?"
"At least it wasn't some perfectly rehearsed answer."
If they'd really coordinated everything in advance, the response would've come out smoothly.
But Era had admitted she didn't know and gave a ridiculous answer instead.
Paradoxically, that made it seem more believable—like it wasn't all fabricated.
Serina let out a small sigh.
She still had her doubts, but she seemed to have decided for now that the two of us weren't putting on some coordinated act.
Serina looked at Era again, this time with a more serious expression.
"...You. Do you even understand what it means to be an imperial princess consort?"
"...?"
"Once you enter the palace, countless people will be watching you.
They'll look down on you for being a commoner. They'll nitpick everything. They'll do whatever they can to drag you down."
"......"
"The young ladies from prestigious families won't leave you alone.
Even the servants will whisper behind your back.
They'll find fault with every word you speak, every step you take."
Serina paused for a moment before continuing.
"Do you have any idea what that will be like?"
Era looked a little downcast for a second, then answered quietly.
"...I know."
"I know that someone like me shouldn't be standing next to Leon."
"...?"
"I have no family name. I'm poor. I'm uneducated. I'm not even pretty."
Era clenched her hands tightly in her lap.
"I know there are people who would be a better match for Leon. I... I know that very well."
I flinched.
There it was again—her self-deprecation.
But what she said next was slightly different from usual.
"...But, Your Highness."
Era slowly lifted her head. Her eyes were glistening with tears.
"...I have nothing."
"......"
"No parents. No money. No talents. Really, nothing at all."
Era's voice trembled faintly.
"So... the only thing I can give to His Highness is myself."
"......"
"Please... just let me stay by his side like air. I won't stand out. I won't be a bother..."
Era lowered her head. A single teardrop fell onto the back of her hand.
"...And if one day you no longer need me, you can throw me away. I mean it."
"......"
"Until then... even if it's from far away... please just let me watch Leon."
Her voice finally broke.
She made herself smaller and smaller, as if trying to become invisible, like she didn't exist at all.
It was a heartbreaking plea—just begging to be allowed to remain by his side.
"..."
Serina simply stared at her in silence.
===============
Meanwhile, Serina was thinking—
*This is... completely different from what I expected.*
*I thought she'd act all high and mighty, having managed to snag a prince despite being a commoner.*
*I figured she'd be strutting around, pulling every trick in the book to secure the position of princess consort.*
But this girl...
She was begging to be treated like air. Saying it was fine to throw her away when she was no longer needed. Just asking to be allowed to watch from afar.
Serina's eyes wavered subtly.
==============
*...What is with her?*
I could faintly read those words in Serina's expression.
"..."
Serina remained silent for a long time.
"..."
"..."
Once again, silence filled the carriage.
This time, though, it was a slightly softer, more awkward kind of silence.
Serina turned her gaze out the window and abruptly changed the subject in a curt tone.
"...It's cold out."
"...?"
Then she took the silk lap blanket that had been covering her knees and—
*Whoosh.*
Tossed it toward Era.
"...Your lips are blue. Cover up."
"...Huh?"
Era accepted the blanket with a dazed expression.
"...F-For me?"
"Is there anyone else in this carriage with blue lips?"
Serina spoke gruffly and turned back to the window.
Her words were cold, but her actions were the complete opposite.
Era carefully draped the blanket over her lap and murmured softly.
"...It's warm."
"...Shut up! Don't talk to me..."
Serina continued staring fixedly out the window.
But in the reflection on the glass, the tips of her ears were ever so slightly flushed red.
"...Oh."
Watching the scene, I thought to myself.
*...Sister. You're a total tsundere.*
She acted prickly and snapped coldly at people, but in the end, she'd give up her own blanket to someone who looked cold. That was the kind of person she was.
In the original story, Serina had always been portrayed as someone with a lot of affection, but experiencing it firsthand made it even clearer.
*Maybe... I've gained a reliable ally.*
=================
The carriage continued on like that for quite some time.
"...!!!"
Then suddenly, something enormous appeared outside the window.
It was the gate of the imperial capital, Lumen.
Towering walls stretched endlessly toward the sky.
In the center, a massive gate stood wide open. Imperial banners fluttered above it.
Era stuck her head out the window.
"Woaaaaah..."
Her eyes grew wide as saucers.
"W-What is that?! It's huge! The walls reach all the way to the sky!"
"...It's the imperial capital. The empire's capital city."
"Capital...?"
The carriage passed through the gate.
The moment they entered, the sight that unfolded left Era's mouth hanging open.
Buildings soaring toward the heavens. Wide streets paved smoothly with stone.
Crowds of people filling every inch of space. People dressed in all sorts of colorful clothing. And scattered throughout, sculptures that emitted a soft, glowing light.
"It's shining! That! That thing is shining!"
Era clung to the window, chattering excitedly.
"...Those are Star Fragments. Pieces of the shattered moon."
"The moon...? The moon broke?"
"...A long time ago. Six hundred years ago. The Holy God shattered the moon, and its fragments fell to the ground. Those are the pieces. Star Fragments."
When I gave her the short explanation, Era looked even more fascinated and began scanning the city in every direction.
"Six hundred years ago? That's incredibly old!"
"...It is. That light is the source of all mana in this world."
The girl who, just days ago, had been living in a remote border village, wearing rags and boiling tree-bark porridge, was now completely overwhelmed by the splendor of the imperial capital. Her eyes sparkled like stars.
The sight was somehow childlike, and before I knew it, the corners of my mouth had softened into a small smile.
============
As the carriage continued down the main road after passing through the gate, people on the streets began to murmur.
"Isn't that Her Highness the Princess's carriage?"
"There's a Maryeokche carriage next to it too!"
"I heard the Prince had returned—it's true!"
"Wait, did you hear? They say the Prince brought back a fiancée!"
"Supposedly a commoner?"
"No way. A prince with a commoner? That's ridiculous."
"But it's true. The Maryeokche people were saying so."
"......"
The rumors had already spread like wildfire.
It seemed the news had reached the capital even faster than we had.
It must have leaked from either the Maryeokche or the palace.
Era caught the whispering.
"...Leon. I think those people are talking about us."
"Don't pay them any attention."
...Honestly, my head was already starting to throb.
*...The rumors have already spread this far. It'll be even worse once we reach the palace.*
If the capital was already like this, I could only imagine what the palace would be like.
The young noble ladies, the aristocrats, the servants.
They would all be gossiping endlessly about this commoner fiancée.
Serina watched the scene with a calm expression and said quietly,
"See? This is just the beginning."
"...?"
"A commoner fiancée. The entire capital will be talking about you.
The palace will be a hundred times worse."
Era's face stiffened slightly, as if tense.
But then she gently pulled Serina's blanket a little closer around her knees and said in a small voice,
"...It's okay. I can endure it."
The girl who had been desperately pleading in such a heartbreaking way just moments ago was now making a quiet little vow.
*...She's got more resolve than I thought.*
Serina glanced at her, then turned her gaze back out the window without a word.
=============
The carriage finally reached the end of the main road.
There, at the very heart of the city, stood the massive imperial palace.
A pure white palace surrounded by the glow of Star Fragments.
Its spires pierced the sky, and an imposing main gate blocked the way forward.
Silver-armored imperial guards stood in neat rows before the gate.
The carriage came to a stop in front of it.
Serina opened the door and stepped out first.
The knights all bowed their heads at once.
"Get out. We've arrived."
"Yes, Sister."
I followed Serina out.
Era carefully returned the blanket to Serina, then stepped down after me.
"...Wow."
Then Era looked up at the imperial palace and
"......"
She seemed utterly overwhelmed, mouth agape, unable to speak.
Even to me, who'd lived in a modern city, it was overwhelmingly huge, dazzling, and imposing.
To a girl who'd been living in a crumbling old house on the border just days ago, this sight must have looked like an entirely different world.
I noticed her hand trembling slightly at her side.
The determination she'd shown in the carriage seemed to have shrunk again now that she was facing the real thing.
Looking at that trembling hand, I leaned slightly toward her.
Then, making sure the lined-up guards couldn't hear, I whispered softly into her ear.
"Hey."
"...?"
"Weren't you the one who beat up a prince with a club and kidnapped him just a few days ago?"
"...!"
Era's eyes widened.
"And now you're getting scared and shaking over a single building?"
"...W-Well..."
"You should be acting like you're ready to kidnap the entire palace. That's more like you, don't you think?"
When I whispered with a small chuckle, Era stared at me blankly for a moment, then let out a tiny giggle.
"...What is that supposed to mean? Why would I kidnap a palace?"
"You would. If you could kidnap an entire village, why not a palace?"
"...Hehe. Yeah. I guess I could manage that."
The tension melted from her face.
Her trembling hand had stopped shaking.
It seemed my silly little joke had worked better than any grand words of comfort.
*Creak—*
The main gate began to open slowly.
*Grrrrrind—*
The massive doors parted to either side, revealing the palace courtyard beyond.
Imperial guards stood in formation. Servants lined up in rows.
People from the palace were gradually gathering, one by one, to catch a glimpse of the newly returned prince and the mysterious fiancée he'd brought with him.
"..."
*Whispers, murmurs—*
Dozens, hundreds of gazes all turned toward us at once.
Curiosity. Wariness. Contempt. And suspicion.
All those emotions mixed together as the stares poured down on Era.
"..."
*Step. Step.*
Serina took the lead and began walking forward.
"Her Highness the Princess is passing!"
As soon as the princess began to move, the servants parted to make way.
"..."
I glanced at Era standing beside me.
"Mm... mm!"
The girl who'd been trembling just moments ago now had her lips pressed tightly together, shoulders squared, facing all those countless stares head-on.
It seemed my silly little joke had helped her shake off the nerves.
*...Well. If she's at this level, she'll get through the first hurdle.*
I took a small breath and stepped forward.
Into that sea of gazes.
Into the imperial palace, where everything was waiting.
Era walked half a step behind me, keeping pace.
Her small hands were clenched tightly as she tried not to tremble.
*...Alright. Now the real thing begins.*
The two of us stepped together through the massive gate.