A sort of rule that implicitly exists in all the fairy tales of the world.

First child: a lazy bum.
Second child: a greedy little brat.
And the youngest, the third child? More diligent, hardworking, and smarter than anyone else.

What a boring rule.

An end to the beautiful journeys that can feel long to some and short to others in stories.
It concludes with the eldest and middle sisters receiving appropriate punishment for ignoring and tormenting the youngest, or the good third sibling offering forgiveness and salvation to those who repent for their ugly sins.

Yup.

As always, the story should end with everyone smiling brightly and embracing each other in a happy ending.

“Really, a cliché story.”

But after that, did they really feel happy?

Hey, do you think so too?

“I was a bit worried after hearing about Princess Remi, but surprisingly, it seems fine?”
“Tessa thinks so, huh? Well, I suppose it could look that way.”

Jingling, jingling.
To the rhythm of my small hand gestures, a beautiful sound like ringing bells rises from the cup.
The sound that resonates as ice meets glass is refreshingly crisp.
Just hearing it makes you feel cool all over, so much so that if it were possible, I would want to carry it around in a small glass bottle during this hot weather.
Of course, that’s impossible.
I know that much, okay?
It’s just a hopeful thought, a hopeful thought.
“Do you think there’s a device that can capture sound, Tessa?”
“…..Hahaha, capturing sound? There’s no such thing, Your Highness.”
“But it’s the Empire, right? Who knows?”
“Not a chance!”

Princess seems a bit serious, though.
Every time it shakes, I can see ice swimming around in the crystal-clear glass without a hint of murkiness.
What kind of advanced technology is applied to this seemingly ordinary cup?
The more I look, the more I’m left with admiration for the Empire’s technological prowess, surpassing envy.

Ding.
The bell hung on the post jingles, creating a sound as the wind brushes by.
Feeling that breeze, Princess Remi and I lounged back in our chairs.

“Mm…..”
“Refreshing, isn’t it?”
The eighth moon.
Just standing outside makes sweat drip down in this sweltering summer heat.
Back when I was a librarian in the royal palace library, an oppressive heat that would keep you sealed indoors like a legendary vampire.

Swish, swish, mirages dance above the road.
On such a hot day, I never imagined I’d be sitting outdoors, enjoying a cold drink with ice under the shade.
Life really does surprise you sometimes.

Well.
Of course, I could never have dreamed I would chat so casually with a princess like this.
Let alone with the second princess, whom I’d have no connection with.

When we were young, Princess Anna would often visit the library in search of study material.
Following her, Princess Aris would frequently come by as well—

“—I’m glad it pleased Tessa.”
Thud.
The girl sitting across from me, Princess Remi, lightly set down her glass and playfully smiled at me.
Did my inner thoughts slip out? Her gaze made my feet go numb as I bounced slightly in my chair and averted my eyes.
The chair rattled with a small tremor.
The gazes of people nearby, filled with ‘….what is this guy doing?’, pressed into my cheeks, but I simply whistled quietly, trying hard to suppress the thoughts swirling in my mind.

Right.
This is now a memory I shouldn’t dare to recall.
Deep, deeper—
With a weight attached, sinking back into the depths where they won’t resurface again.

Sinking deeply, like a distortion—

“—It’s just a metaphor, after all.”
I calmed my heart and continued the conversation with the princess.
Casually, like usual.
Fortunately, the princess sitting across from me seemed only briefly startled and didn’t appear to dwell on it much.
I sighed in relief.

“Huh?”
“You mentioned it before, right? About prisons, exiles, and random nonsense.”
“Ah, did I?”

Smirk.
Like a fox, the princess’s eyes curved into a gentle arc.
Her gemstone-like amber eyes sparkle, resembling an enticing jewel that seems ready to trap anyone who enters.
Beside her delicate chin, a mysterious smile graced her lips.
Is she mocking those who gaze at her, or is she genuinely joyful? It’s hard to tell.
A smile that seems almost seductive, shamelessly alluring.

Honestly, I shouldn’t say this, but….
It really is a bewitching sight.
Dangerously enchanting.
An adult.
That’s right; just the other day, Princess Remi celebrated her sixteenth birthday, finally reaching the long-awaited age of maturity.
Her beauty, like a rising tide, has reached its peak, making it hard to believe she’s younger than my age.
If I had to quote a line from a book I read recently… Yes. A beauty with a flower-like face and moon-like figure.

With just a gesture, a smile—
She could ruin an entire nation.
For instance, looking at people passing by, dazed and fainting at her smile, one could easily get a sense of her allure.
Men and women alike, everyone ogles in disbelief.
Some men even clutch their hearts and collapse to the ground.

Interestingly, one of them was a married man with kids.
That guy’s toast later.
If not by my hands, I’m pretty sure that lady next to him will kill him.

Seeing such ridiculous displays, I squinted, pushing the dazed men away.
Shoo, shoo.
Get lost.
Maybe because I’ve seen the princess since childhood, I’ve slowly adjusted to this outrageous beauty.
However, whether she knows my struggles or not, she continues to ignore those around her and carries on chatting with me.
Truly, she is an endlessly unpredictable princess.

That’s why I’ve followed her this far.
“Anyway, it’s the royal academical research institute located at the heart of the Empire—the Museion.”
“Hmm…..”
“Simply put, that’s what it is.”

Two.
Index and thumb.
Princess Remi lifts a small ice cube from her glass with her fingers, like a pincers.
Clink, clink. The droplets dripping from that ice cube create drawings on the wooden table.
Curves and straight lines.
Big circles and small circles.
Wiggly worms and diamonds.
A misshapen pentagon and unusually long crescent moon.
She smiles joyfully, continuing to complete her unique drawing.

“Loyalty gained through fear is temporary—some believe that.”
“The Empire.”
“Right, correct.”

Tap, tap.
As time passes, the drawing on the table grows larger, and when the last ice melts, she retrieves another small cube from her cup.
Light refracts from the ice, sparkling brilliantly.

“To slowly consume everything, they made their choice.”
The Akard Empire.
A country at the pinnacle of its glory.
A place where they declared themselves as the emperor and the land as an empire.
Yet, their insatiable greed resembles a pack of hungry wolves.
Though it’s audacious to attempt to perfectly define them in one word, I dare to risk rudeness and muster the courage to say—
They are all-consuming predators.

“They showcase the Empire’s advanced culture and knowledge to those who’ve come to study. Just like this glass.”
Ping.
Her small finger lightly flicks the glass.

Land, army, culture, art, knowledge, politics, philosophy, life, hygiene.
The Empire has already surpassed the levels of all surrounding nations in every domain.
A place where every path converges—the Empire.
And that path is now preparing to stretch towards the periphery.
She was speaking with certainty.

“The smaller it is, the more common it is, the better. After all, those who can’t recognize its value are of no use to the Empire. That’s why it earned the nickname ‘banquet hall’.”
“……”
“And conversely, those who can appreciate its value will inevitably be favorable toward the Empire. Be it consciously or unconsciously.”

Just like us.
With laughter still in her eyes, Princess Remi spoke as if revealing her thoughts.
Having marvelled deeply at the Empire’s unparalleled capabilities, I could only offer a wry smile in acknowledgment.

Truly, amazing.
The Empire, yes.
And her.

“There’s a saying that numbers equate to strength.”
What if a small school of sardines cried out in unison?
Compared to the Empire, we are so trivial that there’s no way we could dare to oppose them.
We must learn from their culture, their thoughts, and their societal structures to open our own doors to reform.
Look at their humanitarian conquests. Wouldn’t it be better to voluntarily become a vassal?

The more the number of ministers advocating this increases, the tighter the grip on those opposing the Empire within the palace will become.
I’d like to declare it as nonsense, but it has already been happening in many places.

Thud.
“—What do you think?”
“……..”
Sip. Princess Remi, having finished her drawing, took a sip of her now-melted drink and asked.
A world map made of droplets lay on the table.
Looking at it, her eyes seemed keen, as if wanting to pierce through the essence of the world.
Presenting the best answer possible within the given circumstances, her mind rotated astonishingly.
I couldn’t help but marvel at how the whiny, bratty little princess had transformed.

“Indeed….”
But for the sake of her buoyant self-confidence, I felt a urge to tease.
So, I couldn’t resist.

“—You really can’t draw, can you?”
“….Huh!?”

To mention, it took two long, yet short days to soothe the sulking princess after that incident.
Hahaha.
She truly is still a child at heart.

“By the way, Tessa. Wasn’t there a transfer student coming in today?”
“Oh, the person recruited under the pretext of exchange from the Wallenstein mercenary group owned by the Empire?”
“Yeah. I remember the name was peculiar. The face was odd too… but I can’t recall. It was… um, Si… Si, what was it again?”
“The name? I also thought it was a bit distinct, so I memorized it…”

“Wasn’t the name… Hahn Sia?”