Bet -4-
"Haa..."
Shyartia let out a deep sigh as she sat in the players' waiting room. Her next opponent was a troublesome one. She had been lucky to reach the quarterfinals. It must have been good bracket luck. The students in Group B weren't weak, but compared to the monsters in Group A, they were relatively manageable opponents. Except for one person. Her upcoming duel opponent.
The First Prince. Leogard Taeo, Shyartia's half-brother and the crown prince of the Leogard Empire, was the obstacle she had to overcome to reach the semifinals. He had a powerful empress mother, was the emperor's first child, and possessed the finest qualifications as a son. His magical talent was outstanding, and so was his swordsmanship, but his greatest gift was the Eye of Truth—an ability only those who inherited the imperial blood most purely could awaken.
Yes, Taeo was the perfect candidate for crown prince—the very wall Shyartia needed to climb.
"..."
Shyartia disliked Taeo. Not because of the discrimination she faced due to her commoner mother. She could somewhat understand the prejudice against bastards. Her reasons were far more constructive.
Leogard Taeo—
"Shyartia. I'm going outside the palace for a bit."
"What...? If Father finds out, it'll be a disaster..."
"It's fine. As long as I don't get caught."
Because he lacked the qualities of a king.
Having clashed with the crown prince since childhood, Shyartia knew Taeo's character well. She had watched how he viewed the empire and what ambitions he held toward the throne.
"Taeo...! You skipped class again today."
"I'm trying to broaden my horizons by seeing more of the world."
"If that's what you say, then so be it... but you must attend the management classes. Especially political science..."
"Father... Once I become emperor, this kind of freedom will disappear. I want to see many things and broaden my perspective."
He would become a tyrant.
Taeo's desire for the throne was unbearably light. Despite countless imperial citizens' lives resting in his future hands, he wandered like a vagrant and used the crown prince's name to cover up incidents. He spoke of craving freedom under the guise of doing it for the empire's future.
"Why are you oppressing me! I'm a person too. Before becoming a ruler, observing the people's lives is also a virtue a wise king should possess."
"Taeo."
"I'll create my own politics. Politics that serve the people...!"
Just as if mocking Shyartia's efforts to protect her mother while enduring the label of bastard, Taeo's pursuit of freedom coiled like a snake around her heart.
I study to survive. I work hard so I won't be ignored. Yet seeing Taeo, who made no effort at all, filled her with anger.
One day, the emperor had come to her and said:
"Shyartia. It's good to see you working so hard. When the time comes, help Taeo become a wise ruler."
"...Yes, Father."
"Keep striving."
I work even harder. I think I could do better if I were king. I believe I could stabilize the wavering axis of power and build an empire that doesn't bend to the nobles' words. Yet Father only thinks of a brother who makes no effort at all. It was hateful.
If only the prince became king... If only I...
She knew. She knew how excessive such greed was. She knew how fortunate it was to be born with imperial blood and hold power and support others could never enjoy. But—
"Bastard. No need to try so hard."
"You'll be sold off in a political marriage anyway. Focus on the other royals."
"The Third Princess's parents are commoners, after all. You might as well suck up to the Fourth Princess."
Could the reason she escaped the contempt she'd faced since childhood truly be called luck, when it stemmed solely from her own efforts?
A brother chasing freedom. A sister struggling to survive. Standing before the endless afterimage reflected like a mirror, Shyartia could only sigh at the gap that refused to close.
She knew that no matter how hard she tried, she could never reach that position. She wanted to hear people say she was worthy of the throne. That would be the result of all her efforts until now.
"..."
Currently, power favored Taeo. Father held Taeo's hand. Shyartia believed Taeo had more than enough qualifications to become a wise ruler, but lacked the qualities to make the empire a successful nation. He was always full of mischief, and his personality made decisions too easily.
Long ago—yes, when conflict arose between the empire and another nation, Taeo had said to their father:
'Why not just start a war?'
It could be dismissed as a child's shallow thinking, but the sincerity Shyartia saw in Taeo's eyes that day had remained in her heart.
Shyartia steadied her resolve and held her breath to shake off the tension.
- Next match participants, please prepare.
That was when it happened.
"Shyartia."
Someone had come to her waiting room.
- Tap. Tap. Tap.
Taeo walked in holding snacks, his expression bright. The crown prince, brimming with arrogance and leisure as if he had already predicted the outcome of this duel, approached Shyartia and greeted her.
Seeing Taeo's face, Shyartia hardened her expression and snapped, "Isn't it against the rules for another player to enter the waiting room?"
"I just wanted to talk with my sister after so long. I'll leave right away, so don't take it so sharply."
"..."
Taeo sat one seat away from Shyartia, ran a hand through his hair, and carefully spoke. "How's your duel preparation going?"
"It's going alright."
"Hmm... I see."
Nodding, the crown prince smiled faintly and said to Shyartia, "You'll be graduating soon, won't you?"
"..."
"You're a fourth-year. How does it feel to have graduation right around the corner?"
"Since when have you cared about me like this?"
"Haha...! Fair point."
Taeo looked at Shyartia and smiled with his eyes. "Have you thought about what you'll do after graduation?"
"Why are you asking?"
"Why? As your older brother, I'm worried about my sister's future."
"I..."
Taeo cut her off, his previously relaxed expression hardening. "You know, Shyartia."
"..."
"Once I become emperor, I plan to exile all the imperial family."
"What...?!"
"Yes, there will be many dissenting siblings. Some might even raise swords in rebellion. But..."
Taeo wore a cruel smile as he looked straight into Shyartia's eyes. "There are far too many people who want to oppose me. Even if I wander around like a vagrant, I can tell who would put a knife to my throat and who wouldn't. That's why I'm telling you this."
Taeo's golden eyes gleamed.
"..."
"You should make plans for your future, shouldn't you?"
"..."
"You have to think about your mother living alone too."
Taeo smiled and lowered his head. "Then I'll see you in the arena. Think carefully about what this means."
Shyartia shouted after the departing Taeo, "...Brother."
It was unfair. It was true she coveted the throne, but she had only struggled to survive. Seeing someone who had only ever enjoyed himself suddenly reveal his greed for the throne made her blood boil.
"Brother... you weren't interested in the throne before."
"...Hmm?"
"You said so when we were young. You didn't want to be king, so if you became emperor, you'd just become a rich man."
"Ah..."
Taeo opened cold eyes and whispered to Shyartia, "I started wanting the throne."
"What...?"
"I found something I wanted."
Taeo's gaze was directed toward Yuria, visible outside the arena.
"A competitor appeared."
Taeo said to Shyartia, "And you know, Shyartia."
"..."
"It's not proper for a bastard to call a royal 'brother.'"
"...!!!"
"You'd better watch that mouth of yours."
Taeo smiled faintly and slowly exited the waiting room, leaving Shyartia in extreme tension.
- Tap.
Her mood sank.
- Tap.
The painful past Elysia had shown her felt like it was burning again, as if looking into a mirror. The feeling of breaking. The pain of cracks forming in the solid walls she had built made Shyartia bow her head, and the thought that she was alone began to weigh on her.
She told herself inwardly, 'It's fine.' She had always been like this. She had always been treated this way. There was no need to struggle. Shyartia said so. But—
Seeing Taeo's face, which had worn the mask of a smile toward her for so long, Shyartia's heart refused to settle easily. And then, the moment Taeo spoke words she didn't want to hear as he left—
"I'll arrange a decent man for you soon. Pick one."
"..."
"A political marriage is fine, right?"
"..."
"If you want to stay in the palace, you'd better choose quickly."
Shyartia's heart began to be consumed by fear.
That was when it happened.
- Creeeak.
"What nonsense."
Someone who insulted the royal family with a familiar voice appeared. The light leaking through the open door dyed the man's red hair crimson. Seeing the man's face, Taeo also furrowed his brows and showed displeasure.
"What did you just say to a member of the imperial family?"
The man standing at the door smiled brightly, as if he rather liked Taeo's expression.
"Your Highness the Crown Prince."
"..."
"You're not the emperor yet, are you?"
"..."
"Planning to run the empire all by yourself?"
It was Ricardo.
"Your arrogance reaches the heavens. Ah, is it because you have such a reliable father?"
"Shut your mouth."
"My apologies. My mouth has a hole in it, so I can't."
The strangest man she knew. Ricardo looked down at the crown prince with a chilling smile on his lips.
"You seem to have a wide network of connections."
"..."
"Mine's pretty wide too."
He began to mock a man no one could treat carelessly.