“Huh?”

　　Luana’s eyes widened, and she couldn’t say a word.

　　The boy didn’t seem to know, but this gift had been prepared for her from the very beginning.

　　Her heart started pounding. Luana tried hard to calm herself down.

　　When Luana could only stare, the boy took her hand and fastened the bracelet around her wrist himself.

　　“Th-That…!”

　　“My mom always feels better when my dad does this. What about you? Do you feel better too?”

　　“No… Well… Yeah.”

　　Luana nodded, glad that it was dark out. Her cheeks burned so hot she didn’t even need to look to know she was blushing.

　　“I think I really have to go now. What about you?”

　　Luana shook her head. Having fled from Liliana, she couldn’t possibly go back to her.

　　But…

　　She didn’t know how to explain her situation to the boy.

　　“Ah. Hmm…”

　　While Luana remained silent, the boy raised his head and looked off into the distance. She hadn’t heard anything, but he frowned into the darkness as if he had caught a sound.

　　“Looks like they’re looking for me… so I should go. Happy birthday again.”

　　Luana stared blankly as the boy turned away. In that instant, light reflected off a button on his cuff, making it glint.

　　A small flower was engraved above a shield. Luana couldn’t erase that emblem from her mind for a long time.

　　A shield and a flower, a flower and a shield.

　　A soft, warm feeling bubbled up inside her.

　　“How strange…”

　　Luana shook her head, still staring at where the boy had disappeared. For some reason, she felt a little sorry to see him go.

　　I should have asked for his name.

　　It had been so dark she couldn’t even see his face properly. Would she recognize him if they met again?

　　Luana took one last look before turning back.

　　That direction led to the banquet hall where Liliana was, so she couldn’t go that way. She still had no idea where to head, but one thing was certain: she had to get as far away from Liliana as possible.

　　After a moment’s hesitation, Luana began pushing her way through the thick foliage instead of staying on the path. Her entire body grew filthy with soil and leaves, but she was so eager to leave that she didn’t even care.

　　As soon as the boy was gone, the rose scent she’d stopped noticing seemed to close in around her again.

　　I need to hurry.

　　It felt like she’d already been gone a long time, so Luana quickened her pace. The bracelet glinted on her wrist.

* * *

　　“So you’re really not going?”

　　“Why should I? Give me one convincing reason, with the who, what, when, where, why, and how.”

　　Adan looked helplessly at Ludeon, who replied with a sullen face. Stating a reason once wasn’t hard, but Ludeon was sure to refute it immediately and demand another.

　　Adan understood how Ludeon felt. Still, the Empress had ordered him to attend, and she wasn’t wrong. However frustrating it was, the Second Prince and Princess were still Ludeon’s younger siblings.

　　“If you at least show up, the nobles…”

　　“That’s none of my concern.”

　　Ludeon clicked his tongue softly. The very fact that that woman’s children were referred to as a prince and a princess disgusted him.

　　His father had imperial blood, but he came from a distant branch of the family. The man had become Emperor through marriage alone, then taken a concubine and had children with her. That had been wrong from the start.

　　After that woman appeared, his father had changed completely. When Ludeon was very young, his father had been diligent and kind, a man who knew right from wrong. Ludeon could barely remember those days now.

　　How could he shield her after everything she did?

　　Whatever trust Ludeon still had in his father had shattered then. His eyes narrowed sharply.

　　Mother is being far too soft, too.

　　Even for Adan’s sake, she shouldn’t be looking out for Liliana’s children. Moreover, Adan’s mother, the wet nurse, was right by the Empress’s side.

　　Ludeon looked at Adan. Seeing him stand there as if nothing were wrong only made Ludeon feel more apologetic.

　　Noticing Ludeon’s gaze, Adan let out a quiet sigh.

　　“Still, letting a prince and princess be ignored by the nobles…”

　　“Why call them a prince and princess in the first place? I am the only legitimate heir. Their titles mean nothing.”

　　“But rumors say the princess was born with golden hair and blue eyes, don’t they? I heard everyone was astonished when she was born.”

　　“Nonsense.”

　　Ludeon dismissed Adan’s words. The Emperor had ordinary brown hair and eyes too dark to be called blue. Yet that man’s daughter had suddenly been born with the symbol of the imperial family? Impossible.

　　Besides…

　　“They’re just rumors. If she truly had golden hair and blue eyes like my mother and me, that woman would never have just left her alone.”

　　Considering how the nobles looked down on her, she would have paraded the princess everywhere to boast of her imperial blood. That woman was precisely that kind of person.

　　“I suppose so.” Adan nodded.

It really did sound absurd. The imperial family’s colors were unmistakable. Ludeon himself was proof of that, with brilliant golden hair that seemed to hold the light and clear blue eyes like rippling water.

　　And the rumors claimed the princess shared those exact colors with the Empress and Crown Prince? They had to be wildly exaggerated.

　　“It might even be a rumor spread on purpose,” Ludeon sneered. “Not that they could ever dare covet my position anyway.”

　　Ludeon was the Empire’s unquestioned heir to the throne. Unlike his father, who was Emperor in name only, he was the Crown Prince, gradually receiving authority from the Empress, who actually governed the Empire.

　　“We should have changed the law long ago.”

　　All this damned trouble because of one ridiculous law the First Emperor had made, declaring that a princess couldn’t inherit the throne.

　　The Empress handled all the Emperor’s duties and held all legitimacy, yet she couldn’t become Emperor. It was laughable.

　　I will change it, no matter what.

　　No matter how much Ludeon complained to his maternal grandfather, the former Emperor always gave him the same answer. It couldn’t be helped. Ludeon would understand once he became Emperor himself.

Understand what? Ludeon scowled in annoyance.

　　His father, the Emperor, clinging to the throne just to keep his title infuriated Ludeon. So did Liliana. And he couldn’t understand why the Empress kept protecting either of them.

　　Right then, a small object popped out in front of Ludeon.

　　“What’s this?”

　　“Stand back.”

　　Adan blocked Ludeon’s path with a sharp expression, as if he had never been smiling moments ago.

　　“Move. I’m not so weak that I need your protection.”

　　Whatever it was, it didn’t even reach his waist, so it hardly seemed dangerous.

　　Yet Adan didn’t respond to his words, merely staring blankly at the round bundle.

　　“I said, move.”

　　“Well, you see…” Adan stammered, looking thoroughly perplexed.

　　“Out of the way, Adan.”

　　Ludeon shoved Adan aside himself when he didn’t move.

　　“A child?”

　　It was the last thing he expected. The round object turned out to be a young child covered in dust, leaves, and grass.

　　“Why is a child here?”

　　Ludeon turned his head toward the spot where the child had popped out. A thick patch of bushes caught his eye.

　　And beyond that…

　　Lay the Rose Palace.

　　Ludeon’s eyes turned sharp.

　　Though still within the Imperial Palace, this was a secluded corner. Hardly anyone came here except for Liliana’s people. Even Ludeon rarely set foot in this area.

　　“Ludeon…”

　　While Ludeon was gathering his thoughts, Adan called his name. Sensing an unusual gravity in his voice, Ludeon turned his head.

　　“What’s wrong?”

　　“You and Her Majesty are the only members of the direct imperial line left, right?”

　　“Yes. If there’d been anyone else, there would’ve been no reason for my father to marry into the imperial family.”

　　“Then it seems those rumors weren’t lies or wild exaggeration after all.”

　　“What?”

　　Adan gestured toward Luana with his chin. He hadn’t recognized her at first because of her filthy state, but now he was certain.

　　Adan saw those colors every day. There was no mistaking them, especially with Ludeon standing right beside her.

　　“Her hair and eyes are exactly the same as yours.”

　　“Damn it…”

　　The fury in his voice made Luana tremble.

　　She had no idea how things had ended up like this.

　　Luana clenched her fists as she recalled what had happened just a moment ago.

* * *

　　“Where am I?”

　　Luana had lost count of how many times she’d said that today. Yet nothing else could describe her current situation.

　　After parting from the boy, she had walked aimlessly until she truly got lost.

　　At least she’d had a path to follow before. Now she couldn’t see one anywhere.

　　“I’m hungry…”

　　She was so hungry that tears pricked her eyes.

　　No matter how much she walked, everything around her looked the same.

　　Luana let out a weary sigh and quickened her pace. She wanted to get out of here while she still had a bit of strength left. Her steps grew faster and faster until she broke into a run.

　　“Aah!”

　　Unable to control her speed, Luana tripped over a protruding stone and tumbled forward, rolling head over heels.

　　Fortunately, the grass and leaves covering the ground cushioned her fall.

　　A patch of green bushes suddenly appeared ahead of her, and Luana crashed straight through them. They finally brought her to a stop, though not very gently.

　　After lying there dizzy for a good while, Luana barely managed to regain her senses.