“Oh, I'm so tired...”
Is this exactly what it feels like when your body completely breaks down?
My rapidly aging body kept betraying my will, trying to collapse to the ground.
But under no circumstances can I dare to ride a carriage inside the Imperial Palace.
After the exhausting tea party was over, I patted my numb legs and walked all the way to where the carriage was waiting.
The only thing that mitigated this misfortune was that the surrounding area was completely empty, so I no longer had to worry about anyone noticing me.
Because I didn't want to bump into anyone on my way out, I hid in a corner near the end of the tea party and waited for everyone to leave.
I heard Countess Kettler calling as she looked for me as soon as she noticed I was gone, but I pretended not to hear her and ignored it.
I was so exhausted!
“I really hate people...”
Then I remembered a fact I had forgotten.
For someone like me who prefers to stay at home, being forced to interact with a large crowd of strangers was extremely painful and stressful.
“Ah, my legs.”
But this was not the only problem.
I looked narrowly at my hard shoes, which began to put pressure on my feet little by little.
My feet, which were used to wearing comfortable house slippers or low-heeled sandals, were now swollen.
I can't believe I lasted this long - well done Anna...
Bang!
"Yes!"
As I was reeling from the pain in my feet, the heel of my shoe suddenly broke with a clicking sound.
“These are the shoes the Duke gave me...”
With a frown, I picked up the rolling heel and sighed deeply.
Well, I wasn't used to wearing high heels after all this time, so I was dragging them with me like slippers.
Since they were hidden under my dress anyway, maybe I should have worn furry slippers instead?
I felt sorry for my ruined shoes today, but I couldn't put any more pressure on my already sore feet, so I decided to walk barefoot.
As soon as I took off my shoes and held one in each hand—
“What kind of new code of conduct is this?”
A voice came from behind.
I didn't even have to look back to know who it was.
A young man with a proud tone that seemed to be used to looking down upon even strangers… Yes, it was clear.
“…I express my respect to the Little Sun of the Empire.”
Unlike my previous clumsy attempts, I bowed properly according to noble etiquette and looked at him slowly.
That is, the Crown Prince of the Empire and the hero of the original story, Raiden Kletan.
'Hmm?'
But seeing it again made me feel something different.
His height was straight, his golden hair gleamed in the sunset, his delicate and sharp features were still intact, but somehow…
“He looks a little tired, more than just tired.”
Before, he seemed worried because he was afraid I would take advantage of him, but now I felt like a mouse standing with its fur in front of a cat.
I felt strangely uncomfortable, so I instinctively took a step back.
"long time no see."
“…Yes, are you okay?”
On the surface, it was a perfectly normal conversation, but I sensed a strange twist underneath.
I couldn't pinpoint the exact reason, but the feeling was very annoying.
Is it possible that the madness that appeared in the original story is beginning to appear?
I should explain the original story here.
In the original version of , Raiden obtains Limia from the Salt King but realizes that he cannot accept her love and gradually goes crazy.
He even imprisons Lemia and commits all kinds of tyranny, but gains only sympathy or pity, not true affection.
In the end, Raiden succumbs to the madness that torments him.
Of course, his previous tyranny was just a prelude, and he committed even more cruel acts without hesitation.
But isn't everything different now compared to the original? Moreover, Limia had not arrived yet…
After everything I'd been through, I was half-believing and half-skeptical of the original novel.
Because the world I live in now partly follows the original world but is also completely different.
A good example of this is Limia herself.
Originally, she was known for her beauty and wisdom, but the version I know is completely empty-headed.
So I assumed that the Raiden in the original version is different from the Raiden I see in reality. But…
I'm confused. What is real and what is fake?
While I was immersed in this confusion, the Crown Prince's voice came back again.
“Are you thinking about something else in front of me?”
“Oh, sorry...”
“I already told you, stop this silly behavior.”
Hearing those words, I stared at the shoe in my hands in amazement.
He can't seriously think this is an act either, can he?
I felt wronged, so I muttered in dissatisfaction.
“This… the heel accidentally broke. Wearing these shoes for a longer time will hurt my ankles, so…”
“You don't care about dignity at all.”
Of course, that didn't work!
His criticism, whether it was a rebuke or something else, left me speechless.
“I didn't want people to drain my energy.”
But if I said that outright, I would look bad.
He might say I'm rude for not being polite in front of the Crown Prince.
I sighed inwardly for I don't know how many times, then answered as politely as possible.
“I just thought the practicality was more important.”
“Pfft.”
Did he just laugh?
Just as an impure look was about to flash from my eyes, he spoke again.
“Practicality is more important than appearance, right?”
Did he gain some understanding from this seemingly meaningless conversation?
He stood silently beside me, while I was still barefoot, looking at the sun setting behind the western mountains.
“…Maybe this is what I need right now.”
I didn't understand what he meant at all, so I decided to end the conversation here.
There was no point in staying long with the Crown Prince anyway; It was just not useful to me.
“Oh, I see. Then I hope your Highness’s day will be practical as well.”
As I was bending down and about to leave—
“Your Highness, I have urgent news regarding Salt...”
A young gentleman who looked like an aide came running out of breath from somewhere.
salt?
I noticed the familiar name. I turned around, and he motioned vaguely for me to leave quickly.
It was curious, but I could not openly spy on the Crown Prince's conversation.
I suppressed my disappointment, took a step - and heard a dry voice.
“Speak freely. Anyway, this is something all citizens of the empire will know.”
“…Yes, understood.”
The assistant glanced at me and then began writing his report.
“The Salt Princess will arrive in the capital in three days.”
"Is that true? This is good news."
What does this mean?
Limia... coming to the capital?
I tried not to stiffen upon hearing the sudden news, so I turned my body lightly so as not to show it.
Meanwhile, the Crown Prince's voice continued without stopping.
“Once the princess arrives at the capital, ask them to get ‘that document’ from the king.”
“I will obey your command, Your Highness.”
My feet were hurting from the hard stone path, but that didn't matter now.
The assistant used a vague term “that document,” but I immediately understood what he meant.
“Really? Has it really come to this?”
This “document” was the document of surrender that had to be obtained from King Verga, King of Salt.