Ioleen had recently become acutely aware of the word “betrayal.”
There were two major reasons for this.
The first was somewhat nuanced, but it stemmed from the attack by her head attendant, Aiden, who had always served her loyally.
Aiden was the one who orchestrated the brutal confiscation of all her beloved fairy tale books and comic books.
Of course, she had a hand in this, too, which made it somewhat bearable, tears and all.
However, she could never forgive her younger brother, the Third Prince Edric, for selling her out for a limited edition illustration.
How could someone who cherishes the same comic books commit such a ruthless act against her?
The memory of Edric grinning while accepting a limited edition illustration from Aiden after betraying her still haunted her.
It shocked Ioleen, as she had never expected betrayal from her beloved younger brother, and it prompted her to act more cautiously and discreetly from that point on.
Her attendants were, of course, already under Aiden’s watchful eye. It would be too much of a burden to assign them any tasks.
As for the escort knights? They could probably handle it, but they were too well-known, and another betrayal like Edric’s could easily happen again.
In truth, if she gave up her quest for limited editions, this problem would resolve itself completely.
She could find the first editions of hardcovers or standard volumes eventually—it just would take some time until they were always available.
“But what does it mean if I can’t get the limited edition?!”
To Ioleen, standard editions were for regular reading, hardcovers were for display, and limited editions were precious possessions she would occasionally take out just to admire their beauty.
If she could, she wanted to send a letter to Rupert, offering to pay any amount for a special limited edition just for her.
– “Your Highness, making such demands of your noble subordinates could be a heavy burden for them.”
After Aiden’s advice, she knew that was off the table.
For the first time, she realized her actions could burden someone else.
Just saying pthings could unintentionally force them into submission was a shocking revelation for Ioleen.
Having barely stepped outside the Imperial Palace her entire life, this incident truly opened her eyes to her lack of common knowledge.
While she never thought of herself as acting on behalf of the Princess, to others, her words could only be seen as reflecting the Royal Family’s will.
It was bittersweet, but she had to accept the solemn responsibilities and fates that came with her title.
So now, instead of ordering others to fetch her books, she began to consider different, more discreet methods. Thanks to the secret escort knight, Jorge, she was finally able to procure a book.
Jorge, knowing her dilemma, stepped forward to offer his help, enabling a covert comic book deal to take place under the cover of darkness.
After telling her maids and Aiden that she wanted to take a solitary night stroll, she discreetly received the comic book at the designated rendezvous point.
It was the first time in her life she felt the thrill of pulling a mischievous prank.
It felt similar to the exhilarating rush she got from reading Rupert’s fairy tale books or comic books!
With bashfulness, she tucked the precious limited edition book of ‘Iron-Blooded Alchemist’ into her dress, hiding it so it wouldn’t be discovered.
And with a calm expression that said, “Nothing to see here,” she returned to the palace and her chambers.
But little did she know, the way she walked was unusually awkward, worried that the book tucked under her dress might slip out.
Then, her excitement reached a crescendo when she flipped open the blanket and started reading the new comic book, leading to an involuntary scream.
Naturally, the maids and knights waiting outside immediately rushed into her chambers.
“Your Highness!!! Are you alright? What happened…?”
The knights quickly spread out, becoming vigilant around her quarters.
But the windows were tightly shut, and there were no signs of an intruder.
All the maids gathered around Ioleen, lying in bed, to check on her condition.
“…No, it’s nothing. Just had a bit of a nightmare.”
At her words, everyone let out a collective sigh of relief.
If there had been a threat to the princess, they wouldn’t have been able to escape with their necks intact.
However, they all sensed that something about her condition was a bit off.
Even in the dead of winter, beads of sweat glistened on Ioleen’s forehead.
Not only that, but she also wore a slightly flushed expression.
And her clothes were all disheveled.
While the knights assumed she just had a bad dream, the maids thought a little differently.
‘She couldn’t have gone straight to bed after her stroll, could she?’
‘Could it be the princess is of an age where she’s enjoying a little lady’s mischief?’
‘Thinking back, she did call for the second son of Somerset the other day. She has been acting a bit differently.’
Unaware of the growing misunderstanding, Ioleen only thought about how she needed to protect the hard-won limited edition volume of ‘Iron-Blooded Alchemist’ she had hidden so well.
Wobbling uncomfortably in her posture, the maids collectively thought,
‘Of course, she’s at an age full of curiosity, but for it to lead to her screaming like that…’
Such misunderstandings only grew larger and larger.
*
In contrast, the palace where the Third Prince Edric resided was very quiet compared to the princess’s palace.
It was already late at night, so it was a natural situation.
For a member of the Royal Family to enter their chambers to rest while the attendants and guards made a ruckus would be downright madness.
Therefore, the palace was naturally supposed to be quiet.
However, Edric, who should have been asleep, was wide awake.
In fact, he wasn’t even trying to sleep.
Recently, he had conducted some secret renovations in his quarters, which included a hidden room.
Twisting a certain book on the bookshelf at a precisely 45-degree angle opens that secret space.
Edric sat there now.
With small magic lights illuminating the area, he was sitting in a chair, staring at one specific spot on the wall.
“Elza…”
The wall he was gazing at was adorned with a beautiful illustration.
Afraid the illustration might get damaged, he carefully attached each page one by one.
It was a collection worth betraying his sister for.
At first, Edric hadn’t felt guilty about it.
But after seeing it, he decided he wouldn’t regret it anymore.
Because it was an insult to Elza.
He would bear all the disgrace of betraying his sister. Even if he could go back a hundred times, he would still make the same choice.
‘Let the world call me a madman. Just stay by my side, Elza.’
Then he would gather the courage to rise again and fight against the world for her.
To give up a special illustration simply because he couldn’t secure the limited edition items related to ‘The Kingdom of Ice’?
It would have been better to betray his sister instead.
The good people who could heal the wounds he received were already plentiful by his sister’s side.
From the attendants devoted to the princess to Aiden and even loyal knights ready to jump into hellfire for her sake, there were many.
But who exactly would stand by Elza?
Only he could.
He had to.
Veins bulged from Edric’s fist as he gazed at the illustration on the wall.
That fist was filled with an imposing strength.
“Yes… I know. That you and I cannot meet.”
‘Thud!’
The prince’s fist, trained alongside knights since childhood, had enough power to smash the wall even without magic.
The wall caved in.
Edric struck it barehanded, and though it should have hurt, he felt no pain.
– “I’m waiting for you, Edric.” (Elza)
Unlike others, he could feel her.
He was certain she existed within this thin sheet of paper.
Some might scoff at the idea, but he felt it with earnest conviction in this very moment.
The existence of this world was a vast, extraordinary coincidence prepared by the divine to bring him and Elza together.
Meeting Elza would give purpose to all the life he had lived up until now.
Every moment became a step, a will, and a heart directed towards her.
If snow fell in midsummer, could he see her?
If flowers bloomed in the dead of winter, would he be able to meet her?
If he could cause the impossible to happen and meet Elza, then so be it.
In the quiet of dawn when everyone else was asleep, Edric found himself uncharacteristically sentimental, lost in thoughts of Elza.
“Hah… I suppose I’ll need to calm my heart by looking at the new comic book.”
Though he had already requested it, he hadn’t had the chance to see the new release of ‘Iron-Blooded Alchemist’ yet, given his obsession with ‘The Kingdom of Ice’.
It was the first series to introduce the concept of serialization, and unlike before, it was supposed to continue beyond one volume, so he planned to keep it on standby.
But in this case, perhaps he should check out what the plot was like.
“It’s obvious it can’t surpass ‘The Kingdom of Ice’ or Elza…”
In truth, he had low expectations.
No matter how great the author was, he believed no work could be more captivating than ‘The Kingdom of Ice’ and Elza.
Before he knew it, Edric devoured volumes 1, 2, and 3 of ‘Iron-Blooded Alchemist’ in one sitting.
As dawn broke, a voice reverberated.
“Windy Rockbell!!! How can there be such a bold woman….”
Another winter had descended upon the Crown Prince.
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