Ch.168Chapter 168: The Princess’s Observation Diary (2)

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The Imperial Princess, Lucius Bright Solarium.

The unconscious mind of Cal Lanos, which she had observed by unleashing the power of her eyes despite the strain it placed on her body.

It had a different texture from the preconceptions she had built up while hearing stories about this man.

The preconceptions she had formed about Cal Lanos were largely built from information gathered while listening to the complaints of her close friend, Iriana Lanos, who was now sleeping quietly beside her.

Most of what she knew came from hearing her friend’s worried mutterings about her younger brother.

And since the Imperial Princess deeply trusted her friend’s character.

She had accumulated bits of information one by one from the stories her friend told about her brother.

Indeed.

Without even needing to unleash powers like those of her eyes.

The unmistakable sincerity that showed on her friend’s face whenever she occasionally brought up stories about her brother.

That was why the Imperial Princess had determined there was no need to probe her friend’s inner thoughts.

Her friend’s worried voice, stored in the Imperial Princess’s memory, surfaced one by one.

Her friend had described her younger brother as having a rough temperament.

Despite being a direct descendant of House Lanos, considered the oldest noble family in the Empire alongside the Imperial Family.

He did not possess the silver hair that direct descendants should naturally have, regardless of any blood mixing.

He had endured a difficult childhood, growing up under the suspicious gazes of those around him.

Nevertheless, befitting a descendant of the Lanos bloodline, known as the foremost sword family.

Despite possessing a sharp talent for swordsmanship.

He was diagnosed with a body that could never realize that talent.

Falling into despair, he withdrew from family affairs.

And like a one-eyed man, developed a stubborn streak of walking only the path of the sword he wished to pursue.

Her friend had lamented that it seemed to be her fault for not being able to properly care for her brother as his older sister, and that memory still replayed in the Imperial Princess’s mind.

After that, her friend had rarely spoken about her brother.

And knowing that considerable time had passed since then.

She had expected that something might have changed in the brother her friend worried about so much, that he might have become somewhat different.

In fact, he had been proudly selected for the Subjugation Festival, an event where even taking the entrance examination required one to be a student recognized as a rising star of talent from the cradle.

Though she hadn’t yet heard from her friend what role he had played, so she couldn’t confirm detailed information.

But the mere fact that he had participated in the Subjugation Festival showed that her friend’s brother had moved far beyond the state her friend had been constantly worrying about.

It was the same when she first encountered him on the train.

While everyone except her friend was practically dumbstruck at the sight of her.

The way he paid his respects confidently without a trace of servility was the most impressive among all the imperial nobles of his age group who had greeted her.

Unlike his peers who paid their respects after him, though he had some shortcomings.

He didn’t create an awkward scene by being embarrassed about it.

Contrary to what she had thought, like this train smoothly sailing on its normal course.

Her friend’s brother seemed perfectly fine.

But even so, there was always the possibility.

There are plenty of people whose inner selves are rotten despite their outward appearances.

This was a notion that had become almost a fixed concept in the mind of the Imperial Princess who, though she hadn’t lived that long by her own admission.

Had been helping her older brother, the Crown Prince, who was serving as regent.

In place of their bedridden Imperial Father.

Assisting with state affairs.

And observing the many people who came and went from the imperial court where state affairs were conducted.

Especially the nobles.

This notion had become firmly established because almost none of the people she had seen coming and going from the imperial court deviated from it, so the Imperial Princess’s thoughts had naturally solidified. Let’s recall once…

“Hmm…”

Let’s remember.

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Lucius could never forget.

When her eyes, which were said to be the most beautiful among the Imperial Father’s children.

Were not merely accessories enhancing her beauty.

But when she saw what colors shone in the inner selves of the nobles who swore absolute loyalty to the eternally burning sun as they came and went from the imperial court.

As they were reflected through her golden eyes.

It began when she looked at Chancellor Winslet, who helped her and her brother run state affairs.

Befitting someone who had served as chancellor since the Imperial Father ascended to the throne at a young age.

His skin was quite wrinkled from directly facing the storms of time.

And his sharp features, which gave an impression of cunning, were so distinct that they could be discerned even through his skin dulled by aging.

But the chancellor’s appearance reflected in the golden ripples of Lucius’s innate magical power circulating through her eyes.

“My, it seems I’ve startled Your Highness with this old man’s appearance. Heh heh, with not many days left, my body has reached the point where it barely obeys me, so I haven’t had time to care for my face.”

Despite his sharp appearance, he had a personality capable of speaking quite warmly.

And from within him rippled a white light reminiscent of the holiness of an adult who silently carries his given burden without complaint.

Unlike the image suggested by his outward appearance.

It was also the moment when Lucius realized that everything about a person originates from within.

From that day on, whenever Lucius met new people, she would use a fleeting moment they wouldn’t notice.

To check the color of their unconscious mind.

Those who respected the authority of the Empire, which had continued for over a thousand years, and offered sincere loyalty, emitted a golden light like her eyes.

While those who inwardly thought of the Empire as a means to protect their own interests rather than true loyalty emitted a color too murky to be called golden.

Well, this much was acceptable.

At least as long as the Empire firmly ruled this continent.

They wouldn’t turn their backs on the Empire.

But among them, there was a color that surprised her enough to put her on edge.

The ominously rippling black color in the inner self of someone with sinister thoughts of turning against the Empire after gaining some power.

That sticky, pitch-black color like malice rippling in the inner self of someone who outwardly seemed incapable of such thoughts was also a moment that made the young Imperial Princess contemplate what life truly was.

Ah, but in that case, after capturing irrefutable evidence.

The matter could be resolved quite peacefully.

Anyway, despite seeing her friend’s brother who appeared perfectly normal on the outside, contrary to what she had heard.

Lucius couldn’t feel at ease without checking his inner self.

“I know it’s a nasty habit…”

She was aware of this habit of hers, which is why she expressed such embarrassment.

“But the higher the position someone might reach, the more thoroughly such things must be screened.”

Her expression, as she continued this self-talk trying to justify this embarrassing habit, showed a calmness that contradicted her words.

That was because, separate from feeling embarrassed about this act.

She simultaneously believed it was necessary for the Empire.

The more normal people appeared, the more desperate they were to hide the flaws in their inner selves.

And depending on the circumstances, those flaws could become the spark that brings misfortune to people belonging to groups far larger than just one individual.

Perhaps this ability given to her was meant to prevent such great misfortunes?

As she was absorbed in justifying her use of this ability.

It was natural that her thoughts continued to the colors she had observed in Cal Lanos’s unconscious mind just earlier.

Even after sensing his unremarkable first impression.

The Imperial Princess had deliberately tried to check the color residing in his unconscious mind as he slept.

Perhaps this man too, if not pitch-black.

Might have darkness lurking within him no less significant.

Enough to taint even the Holy Sword Practitioner who had fallen into happiness seeing him beside her.

With such thoughts, the Imperial Princess focused her golden rippling eyes on Cal Lanos, despite knowing the strain it would place on her body.

She was even thinking about what excuse to make to the Holy Sword Practitioner to separate her from this man if he turned out to be the kind of person she suspected.

But as the Imperial Princess faced the colors and memories rising from his sleeping unconscious.

She quickly withdrew her earlier thoughts.

And couldn’t help but regret it immediately, even saying she shouldn’t have looked.

Now, with some time having passed, she carefully recalled what kind of color she had seen.

“…It was the prettiest color I’ve seen through my eyes.”

For such words to come from her lips.

The color residing in Cal Lanos’s unconscious mind reflected in her eyes was truly impressive.

“How can something shine so red that it gives such a beautiful feeling?”

It was red.

Cal Lanos’s unconscious mind, as observed through Lucius’s golden eyes, was filled with red.

For the Imperial Princess, who was skilled at reading various forms of information imbued in colors while viewing them through her golden eyes.

It wasn’t the first time she had seen red in someone’s inner self.

But it was the first time she had seen a red so beautiful that she found it pretty.

Considering the nature of the color red, it made sense.

The things most commonly associated with red are fire and blood.

If too pale, it feels faint and bland, lacking presence.

If too deep, like fire that burns everything around it.

Or like blood flowing when someone is hurt.

Red is a color that can give an uncomfortable impression due to its excessive self-assertion.

Though it might take time to explain it clearly.

She intuitively knew that the red rising from that man’s inner self was far from such things.

It was hot, but not with a fierceness that burned everything around it indiscriminately.

It was a red that conveyed gentleness, warming those around it by using itself as fuel.

And a firmness that would protect others even if it meant shedding its own blood, not someone else’s.

Yes, unlike the typical red whose excessive self-assertion makes one frown.

The red rising from the man’s inner self had a strongly altruistic character.

“…Really, I shouldn’t have looked.”

These words didn’t come from the Imperial Princess’s lips for nothing.

The reaction of the Imperial Princess, who had properly realized she had done something unnecessary, was clear.

Her face showed a distinct flush from embarrassment mixed with other emotions.

Her two hands, which were always elegantly placed on her knees when seated, were now spread wide.

“…It’s hot.”

They were busy cooling her face, which was burning with embarrassment.

“…You could have at least told me.”

The Imperial Princess, not stopping her hand-fanning, pursed her lips as she looked at her sleeping friend beside her.

Despite already knowing the important fact that there had been no time to discuss various things due to her own sudden appearance causing confusion.

Because there was no other way to extinguish the flames of embarrassment burning on her face.

The Imperial Princess resolved to be a petty person, just for this moment.

Screeeech-!!

The sound of metal wheels grinding as the train’s brakes activated upon entering a curved section faintly penetrated the soundproofing of the compartment.

What entered the Imperial Princess’s view as she briefly looked out the window was.

“…The moon.”

A full moon so beautiful it was almost chilling.

As if to say that even a train crossing the entire continent at an unbelievable speed.

Could not escape the influence of the moonlight that enriched one’s heart from above.

The full moon was seeping in through the window.