The sky stretched out clear and blue, a serene canvas above. I let out a peaceful sigh as I enjoyed tea on the terrace of the manor. The gentle aroma of hibiscus tea tickled my senses, soothing my mind. With such tranquility, even without desserts, a brief tea time felt delightful.

Since my coming-of-age ceremony, a rare peace had settled over the palace. In fact, one could even say the palace was brimming with vitality, largely due to the resounding success of my ceremony. The ball held for my coming-of-age not only celebrated the occasion but also served as a declaration to the nobility: I had a formidable patron. And that message was not lost, especially on the Third Prince, who was rumored to be consolidating power from afar.

Compared to the influence of the First and Second Princes, the forces gathered by the Third Prince at the Academy were said to be unparalleled. The nobility, who had visited the Academy, were well aware of the caliber of talent cultivated there. Rumors swirled ominously—talk of a rebellion upon the Third Prince’s return. Even if not a rebellion, it was clear that his reappearance would mark a pivotal moment in the succession of the throne.

Currently, the First Prince, the Crown Prince, was frequently summoned to the King’s chambers, where he reportedly endured sharp reprimands. Whispers suggested the King’s words carried an accusatory tone: “What were you doing while he grew so strong at the Academy?”

As a result, nobles began turning their attention toward my palace, seemingly aligning themselves with the Third Prince’s faction. This, of course, was unwelcome for anyone within the palace walls.

“Oh, what if a rebellion really does happen?”
Though I believed I had changed the course of the future, an unsettling feeling crept over me, as though I were still on the path to my predicted demise. After finishing my tea, I retreated to the dressing room to count diamonds—my peculiar way of calming myself.
“Should I cut ties with the one who gave me these?”
Nine years had passed, and yet I couldn’t fathom his true intentions. In the original novel, he was said to have lost his mind after speaking with the King. Whether it was madness or rage, he eventually became the male protagonist’s adversary—here, the enemy of Allenan.

The stronger my influence grew, the more it seemed to hinder Allenan’s ability to visit Crothasone. After the success of my coming-of-age ceremony, he had sent word that his visit would be delayed. It was clear without explanation—his maternal relatives were wary of me.

“No one isn’t wary of me. Being too exceptional is such a burden. Ugh, woe is me.”
I sighed dramatically and continued counting diamonds until the door to the dressing room swung open.

“Princess! You’re in here again?”
“L-Leje…”
“Honestly, I’ll give it to you—your love for jewelry is impressive. But we have visitors!”
My eyes widened, and I shook my head vigorously.
“If it’s nobles, just send them away! Tell them I’m not here!”
“But it’s Duke Gelbart and Marquis Capile, Your Highness.”
“…What?”
I blinked in confusion, a sinking feeling already telling me what was coming next.
“And Sir Mihail is here as well! Oh, Princess, he looked so dazzling…”

At that, I sprang to my feet.
“That’s it! Someone trying to save my life!”
Given the current state of affairs, a conversation with him felt necessary.
Feigning surprise, I exclaimed, “Oh my!” Leje gasped dramatically, and I cleared my throat, instructing her to bring them to the terrace tea room. It was one of the most beautiful places in the palace, with a view of lush hydrangeas in full bloom.

As I waited, tea and refreshments were set out, the gentle sounds of conversation drifting closer.

“Why do you always insist on tagging along?”
“Why shouldn’t I, when I’m visiting my pupil?”
“Because she’s my granddaughter! And you, trying to swear a knightly vow to a girl who already has a fiancé, are out of line!”
“Goodness. Listen to you. At least I’m lending her some strength during these trying times.”

I chuckled quietly to myself, recognizing the voices outside. It was unmistakably the bickering of Gelbart and Capile, eternal rivals and begrudging companions. Their exchanges were familiar to me, as I had overheard similar quarrels countless times before. Despite their ages, their childish squabbles often brought a smile to my face. Today was no exception—they were even dragging Mihail into their argument.

When they entered the terrace, I greeted them with a bright smile, ready to diffuse the tension.
“Welcome, all three of you!”
Gelbart cleared his throat awkwardly, caught off guard.
“Cough… Did you hear everything? I didn’t realize we were so close to the terrace.”
“Even if you had known, you’d still be yammering away,” Capile shot back.
“Ugh! I told you not to say such things in front of the Princess!”
Amid their clamor, Mihail was the only one to bow formally and offer a proper greeting.
“Greetings, Your Highness. I am Mihail.”

His calm and collected demeanor amidst the chaos amused me, especially as Gelbart looked visibly displeased while Capile, realizing his lapse, hastily followed suit.