Thud!
Alice’s first thought upon seeing Sylvia was that she was a strange one.
On the surface, there was nothing particularly strange about her. Sitting quietly with her mouth closed, Sylvia was just a pretty girl who liked reading.
Even if a short conversation were to happen, one might not feel anything strange. Her tone might be a bit stiff, but she used polite expressions and always lowered her head to those above her.
However, the longer the conversation went on and the more Alice observed her actions, the more oddities began to surface.
Sylvia had grown up with Alice since they were very young. Alice couldn’t quite remember the specifics of their first meeting, but Sylvia had somehow slipped into childhood memories and was soon engaging in conversation with her.
Actually, it was more accurate to say that Alice would initiate the conversation while Sylvia would respond.
According to Lucas, Alice was afraid of Sylvia, who never changed her expression no matter how much you talked to her. Whenever she encountered Sylvia, she would hide behind the adults, and when Sylvia was nearby, it seemed she was too scared to even talk.
Afraid of Sylvia? Me?
When she first heard that, she honestly didn’t believe it.
But when she took some time to think about it, she realized there might not be any lies in those words.
In fact, even now, Alice was a little afraid of Sylvia.
The emperor’s bloodline was represented solely by Alice. It was right for her to inherit the blood of the Fanggriffon dynasty since Alice had no other siblings or even half-siblings. If Arthur III, the current emperor, didn’t have a hobby of adopting orphans as his closest confidants, Alice might have been truly lost.
Even without blood ties, the Fanggriffon was still the Fanggriffon.
Long ago, when everything in the world had collapsed and order was being reestablished, a child cast away for being deformed survived among twisted beasts. That child, having dominated a tribe of gryphons, later became the first emperor of the empire, and people honored him as the “Leader of Gryphons.”
Thus came the name Fanggriffon, rich with meaning.
Of course, she knew that it was a myth. Even though gryphons still existed today, she had never seen anyone successfully tame one. Perhaps they could be caught or hunted; maybe one could ride on their back, but the gryphon would resist to the end. Hence, tales of taming gryphons were accepted as myths.
To begin with, gryphons do not even live in herds.
Yet it was because the empire held onto such myths that the name “Fanggriffon” bore special meaning.
How the imperial council or citizens felt was unclear.
However, from the perspective of the Fanggriffons, that name also represented the capabilities of an emperor.
No matter how tenuous the bloodline was, if one has the ability to inherit the name Fanggriffon, the emperor would gladly hand over his position to that person.
That was why Sylvia felt intimidating. It wasn’t an atmosphere reminiscent of that fearsome first emperor from the myths, but she handled matters casually and promptly, as if she already knew what was about to happen.
Still, it was hard to imagine Sylvia sitting on a gryphon.
And that’s why, Sylvia was a strange one.
Despite having such remarkable abilities and holding the name Fanggriffon, she behaved as if she would never claim the emperor’s seat. She often said that the true princess was Alice and that she was merely there to assist Alice.
At first, Alice thought she might be hiding her true feelings, but… well, who knows? At least the current Sylvia never revealed a heart that contradicted her words.
Judging someone in politics solely by appearances is one of the worst mistakes.
However, at least from Alice’s perspective, Sylvia seemed to relax when near her. While her expression remained unchanged, Sylvia, who usually ignored or gave short answers to the other half-siblings, actively engaged Alice in conversation.
Whenever Alice felt anxious, Sylvia would support her, and when she was sad, Sylvia would console her. Though the tone held little emotion, Alice always felt eased when hearing those words.
Was it all just an act?
Was it merely because Alice was a princess that Sylvia mechanically acted that way in front of her?
Was Alice putting herself through such trivial acting?
If that were the case—
—Yes, if even that was an act, then it would mean Sylvia was fit to be an emperor from the start.
*
Somehow having followed her to the kingdom, Alice Fanggriffon deeply regretted the situation she was in.
She was aware that her father favored Sylvia. That did not mean he didn’t love Alice, but there was a difference between appreciating someone as a talent and loving them as a child. Unlike Alice, who hadn’t even been designated as crown princess yet, Sylvia was already performing key tasks in the nation.
Though Sylvia always treated Alice like the next empress… it didn’t ease Alice’s worries. After all, the one deciding the next emperor was not Sylvia but her father, the current emperor.
“I’ll be scolded again…”
Her father often summoned Sylvia to ask her about upcoming events. Each time, Alice would try to sneak in to listen or mimic her in a pitiful manner.
And each time, she received her father’s stern reprimand.
While he didn’t raise his voice or hit her, the weight behind his words was heavy, fitting for an emperor. Alice felt small whenever she heard those words.
And ironically, it was always Sylvia who consoled her during those moments.
Alice knew that Sylvia’s words were not always sincere. If Alice was disappointed over a test she had seen Sylvia ace, Sylvia would tell her that she just happened to get a few more answers right… but Alice also knew that wasn’t how it really was.
If needed, Sylvia could likely score full marks.
Knowing that, Alice nonetheless felt her spirits lift every time she heard Sylvia’s words.
It made her happy to be called the “next empress” by someone so capable. To Alice, who had no one at court she could truly call a friend, Sylvia was both a rival and her only friend.
After all the scolding, Sylvia would come to comfort Alice again.
That fact was bittersweet.
Lying on the luxurious bed in the hotel provided by the kingdom, Alice blankly stared at the ceiling. With Lucas and Jayden as the main guards, truthfully, Alice found them much more abrasive than Sylvia.
What if she asked Sylvia to stroll through the capital together if she had some free time?
Just as she was pondering this—
Knock knock!
She heard someone gently knock on the door, startling her upright.
[Your Highness, may I have a moment of your time?]
“Uh, um!?”
At those words, Alice jumped to her feet.
“What, what’s the matter!?”
She shouted in fluster. She had never welcomed anyone in a situation where there was no one else around aside from Sylvia. There were imperial guards outside, but— no, the one knocking was precisely one of the imperial guards, as they directly protected the princess.
However, she had never received a visitor when alone like this. Since they had boarded the train at the last minute, the dedicated maid couldn’t even get on.
[Princess Charlotte de Velbur of the Kingdom of Velbur wishes to see you.]
“Whoa, a princess— Gasp!”
Alice instinctively gasped and almost screamed, covering her mouth to stop herself just in time.
In terms of rank, the princess of Velbur isn’t at the same level as the Fanggriffon princess. Perhaps that’s why she had come personally after hearing that the “real” princess of the Fanggriffon was here. Though neither the princess nor the crown princess could directly engage in political affairs, they could still cultivate friendships.
Connections between nobles could lead to practical benefits later on. The royal family and the imperial family had even more reason to do so. It was easier to speak with someone familiar than a complete stranger.
Though Alice had no practical experience, she had taken politics classes and could recall information on the princess of Velbur.
Like Alice, she was the only child, and there was a likelihood of inheriting the throne in the future. She was also the same age as Alice and Sylvia.
“…Phew.”
She didn’t know the reason for the visit. However, she couldn’t possibly dismiss a princess who had come all the way here.
She felt extremely nervous, but at that moment, she had to face it directly.
Alice recalled the conversation she just had with Sylvia.
Confidently, like the rightful heir to the throne.
Quickly checking her appearance, she made sure her clothes were tidy and free of stains. Fortunately, there were a few wrinkled spots, but nothing too obvious.
She straightened her waist and relaxed her chest. Raising her chin just a bit, she mimicked the posture of a lady she had seen in the Duke’s family.
And wore a face like Sylvia’s.
After taking a few calming breaths, Alice opened her mouth.
“Yes, please let her in.”
Of course, her heart wasn’t nearly as calm as Sylvia’s.
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