episode_0018

I finished my calculations and made my way to the bedroom. As the princess, everyone I met lowered their heads in respect. It was burdensome to see the red blood of my past life still flowing through the commoners.

With a sense of luxurious discontent, I passed through the maids and servants.

“Ugh.”

A boy I met on the other side gave me a small nod and let out a soft sigh. His asymmetrical features and guarded gaze conveyed his emotions earnestly. I approached him gently and greeted him first.

“Long time no see, my brother.”

“… It’s been a while, sister.”

His restrained reply. I raised an eyebrow slightly, amused.

“You must have enjoyed yourself during this time, Teser.”

“I don’t understand what you mean, sister.”

“Really?”

“What should I say to satisfy you?”

“Well, if you truly don’t know anything, then staying silent would be satisfying.”

I raised a common smile and added, “I hope so. Sincerely. Since you know what I’ve been through, will you overlook a little tantrum from me?”

“If that’s what you wish, sister.”

“Good.”

I sincerely hoped Teser wasn’t involved in this commotion. If my only younger brother continued to challenge my position through illicit means… I would have no choice but to bury my family with all my might.

“Where are you going, Teser?”

“Father called for me.”

“He must prefer to be called father.”

“And I’m sure he prefers dad over father.”

“Definitely.”

I nodded silently. This time, it was Teser’s turn to ask a question.

“Where are you going, sister?”

“I’m going to see father. Even though he didn’t call for me.”

“I see.”

“Your expression is souring, Teser.”

“It’s a misunderstanding.”

I didn’t want to treat Teser coldly. After all, he was my family in this life. But as the designated heir aiming for the throne, maintaining an appropriate distance was crucial.

I was desperate to marry Rahilt in my own way, an inevitable fate.

How much easier would it be if we could settle this with a physical duel? If I could defeat him in a day, I would be the emperor.

“May I ask what business you have with the emperor?”

“Of course.”

“Excuse me?”

Teser seemed surprised that I would actually answer him and hesitated before closing his mouth.

I expressed my sincerity with a slightly mocking smile. “It’s time for my extramarital affair to move to the next level.”

“…”

Thud.

Teser, who had been walking beside me, suddenly stopped. I turned around to see my younger brother staring at me with a bewildered expression.

A tense silence enveloped us for a few seconds.

Before Teser could realize his mistake, a loud gasp erupted from his throat.

“What, what did you say?! No, ugh…”

Teser desperately looked at me for a reaction. My brother stumbled over his words in a flustered attempt to explain.

“I-I mean, you mentioned an extramarital affair. I had no idea… um…”

“It’s okay. No one else knows yet. Now one more person does.”

As Teser, still in shock, began to walk again, I resumed walking with a smile.

The emperor’s office was in sight. With the golden couple inside, the empress would also be there. Like the main characters in a novel, they were always passionate.

I lightly knocked on the door of the office.

Tap, tap.

“Seriniel, and Teser. Father, mother.”

Permission was granted immediately.

I opened the door to the study with Tesser following behind me.

“It’s rare to have visitors at this hour. Coming together late at night.”

“It’s nice to see you both. Seriniel, Tesser.”

In order, it was the modern Emperor and the Empress who greeted us with formal etiquette. Tesser and I responded to their greetings with polite formalities.

“I have something to tell my parents. Tesser seems to have received a direct order… Should I come back later?”

“It’s fine. Seriniel, you came here first before Tesser received the order.”

“The Emperor asked you both to come to the study.”

“Is that so?”

It was a surprising coincidence. If they gathered us together, it must be for an important matter. The issue regarding Rahelth and the Windmill Mercenaries had to be put aside for now.

As Tesser and I took our seats, the royal couple also sat down on the sofa.

We couldn’t help but notice the somber expressions on their faces and remained silent, waiting for them to speak. After a moment of tense silence, my father finally spoke, his lips heavy with weight.

“First… Seriniel. Thank you for returning safely. I wanted to talk on the day of the coronation, but unfortunately, it couldn’t happen.”

“It’s my fault. I caused trouble for many people. I’m sorry. Father, Mother.”

“I wasn’t here to scold you.”

Cough.

He cleared his throat elegantly.

I adjusted my posture and patiently waited for the couple’s next words.

However, the concept that followed from my father’s upbringing was quite shocking.

“The Child of the Fallen Emperor. You must have heard that title at least once.”

‘Rahelth? Why is Father suddenly…?’

Before I could respond, Tesser answered.

“I heard that he escaped the siege of the capital 14 years ago.”

“You know well. That’s probably the only story known externally. The deposed Emperor and the government’s child. Nothing more, nothing less.”

“Is there something we should know?”

“There shouldn’t have been, but… it seems necessary to tell you. Even if it sounds absurd.”

‘What are you trying to say?’

I knew well about Rahelth from reading the original work. Even though I had reincarnated into this world after an accident before the story was completed… I was familiar with the general setting.

…

……

‘Oh, is that so?’

Upon reviewing what I knew, I realized how limited my knowledge was.

The face with the highest aesthetic value in the world.

The heroine’s stepping stone.

A smart and strong chicken.

Low self-esteem and dependent personality.

A flawed mental world.

‘… Is this correct?’

Looking back, my experience with Rahelth seemed quite different.

While the low self-esteem matched, the dependent personality seemed far off. And the mental world wasn’t as broken as in the original work…

It was then that I felt a sense of discomfort and listened to my father’s explanation.

“To explain the Child of the Fallen Emperor, we need to mention the creation myth of the Velonin Empire.”

“Is it the legend where the founding Emperor made a pact with the Black Dragon and laid the foundation of the empire?”

“Correct, Tesser. And he married the transformed Black Dragon and bore a son. That son became the second Emperor. This is why the royal bloodline is called the Dragon’s Bloodline.”

The creation myth was just that, a myth, so it was hard to understand why it was being mentioned.

However, in the next moment, my father solemnly overturned our common knowledge and spoke.

“To put it bluntly, that legend is true. The traces of the dragon have completely disappeared through the generations, but still.”

“What?”

“What do you mean…?”

Me and Tesser. Both expressed astonishment without a single word. Following that, Father let out a light sigh.

“Actually… I thought you had disappeared. Up until the moment when the abandoned child of the abandoned lineage was left alone 14 years ago.”

Immediately after Father’s words ended, Mother picked up where he left off.

“Do you know the concept of ancestral regression? It’s when a distant descendant awakens genetic traits that are unusually close to those of their ancestors. And 14 years ago, several members of the royal family sought the dragon’s abilities that the abandoned child had awakened.”

“It must be the result of ancestral regression. From the extraordinary dragon power that transcends norms, to the dark clouds said to have been controlled by the black dragon… It’s all clear evidence that couldn’t be more perfect. Even the knight commander of the royal family missed a big wound on a mere five-year-old child. By this point, do you understand what I want to talk about?”

Gulp.

The sound of someone swallowing nervously passed by my ear. Tesser, who was listening intently, was finally let in on the conversation by the couple.

“Logically, we should consider that the abandoned child harbors a great grudge against the current royal family.”

“While we age, that child will likely reach their prime.”

“Your father’s reign may be secure for now, but… the future is indeed worrisome.”

‘Being able to cover for Rahel until the Aging Curve comes is already a monstrous feat…’

It’s a relief that the previous male lead wasn’t him. It’s truly fortunate to realize that such a person is my father.

‘But Rahel doesn’t seem to care about anything and drinks a lot of kimchi stew. I understand, but…’

I wondered what they were talking about, and then it hit me. My husband is so gentle, why are you being so harsh on him? You should watch what you say to your future son-in-law.

“The only glimmer of hope is… the one with dragon’s blood is said to have very sparse emotions. Records indicate that they are an empty existence that can’t even feel joy, let alone resentment.”

What did you say?

He seemed extremely flustered and bewildered. He’s so emotionally rich that he can’t even look at his own embarrassment while doing squats. He may be a bit blunt at times, but…

‘Well… he’s not exactly like an ordinary person…’

It was almost too subtle to describe it as ‘sparse.’

“Oh… could it be…?”

“Sereniel?”

“Sister?”

In a moment, as memories of the past and the training emerged, the family’s gaze turned to me.

“Oh, it’s nothing…”

I hurriedly tried to cover up, recalling the everyday conversation I had with Rahel.

It was the evening when Rahel needlessly lowered my self-esteem. It was when I confessed my struggle to keep up with the normalcy of others.

[Actually, I’m doing much better now compared to the past. Whenever I think back to that time, I still feel a bit inadequate.]

“Mr. Loderick?”

“Yes, if my father were here, he would probably feel that way. He always taught me various things so that I could fit in with people.”

“He must have been a good person to have by your side.”

“If Serene felt that I was ordinary, then it must be thanks to Loderick.”

“Mm.”

At that time, I simply thought that the master had taught me well in terms of character education. I only had that level of understanding.

But could it be that he was such a mysterious educator that he could correct even the innate legends, such as the dragon’s blood recorded in the founding myth?

I didn’t even know that there was such a backstory to the original Rahel, and Loderick seems to have completely erased that backstory.

“Miss Roeunyoung…?”

My master was a remarkable person, even more so than what was rumored.