Side Story. The Crown Princess of Mercy and Character.

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Seorae had changed.

Whatever the reason or method, she realized that she would be left behind if she didn’t change, so she decided to do as the Emperor wanted.

 

She ended her free-spirited life and began to study diligently.

There were many subjects that could only be learned in the Imperial Palace, which she couldn’t master, but she learned everything from basic etiquette to various common sense and the psychology of dealing with people.

 

Her speed was so fast that it surprised Mayo.

 

 

I guess people can do anything if they set their minds to it.

She became a completely different person in just one year.

 

 

 

.

.

 

 

 

“Are you sure it’s okay?”

“Don’t worry, Your Majesty. Reports have come in that she has become a completely different person.”

“That’s a relief then…”

 

Sora, who had been carrying all sorts of worries for the past year, was restless thinking about her daughter, whom she would see after a long time.

 

A year isn’t a short time, but it’s not long enough for a person to change, is it? Moreover, Seorae was considered the worst troublemaker in the Imperial family. It was hard to expect that she would have changed now.

 

“Have faith, Your Majesty.”

“Hoo… but look. The envoys from Sparta are here today too. If we’re not careful, things could unnecessarily escalate.”

 

The envoys from Sparta had probably come to observe Seorae’s situation.

When Seorae was in the palace as the Crown Princess, she had publicly declared that she would conquer Sparta, which had brought relations between the two countries to their worst.

 

The Emperor had barely managed to appease them and the situation had improved a little, but if Seorae hadn’t changed her mind, things could become serious.

 

“Seorae has been constantly insisting that not only the Eastern Continent but also the Western Continent should be conquered. It’s horrifying to think about how much sacrifice that idea would entail. Even if she has changed and become dignified, if her thoughts haven’t changed, then…”

 

Then she would be stripped of everything as Crown Princess.

For the sake of the future and peace….

 

 

 

“Crown Princess Seorae Yujeong-jeonha is arriving~!”

 

 

Just then, Seorae arrived.

 

“…!”

 

A tense moment.

The people in the hall fixed their eyes on the doors that were opening to the left and right.

 

A figure appeared, parting the light that streamed in like a halo.

 

Her hair was neatly cut into a bob, and the way she swept her left hair behind her ear created a subtle charm.

And her face was made up, something she had never done in her life, and she was wearing a formal dress that she had never worn before.

 

Seorae appeared in a way that was unfamiliar even to her mother, Sora.

 

 

She greeted in a soft tone, not her usual loud tone.

 

“This girl has returned.”

 

Sora’s eyes welled up with tears at that moment.

She had never received such a greeting from Seorae, and she was unnecessarily happy to receive it.

Is this the heart of a mother?

She felt like she had raised her well, but also felt like she had suddenly grown distant, and she had all sorts of strange and complicated feelings.

 

“To celebrate my mother’s birthday, this girl has prepared a small gift, so please accept it with joy.”

“Y-yes… thank you.”

 

It was truly hard to adapt to.

 

Murmur, murmur.

 

It seemed that she wasn’t the only one feeling that way, as murmurs could be heard from the nobles and the envoys from other countries.

 

‘But it’s too early to rest assured. She might just be pretending…’

 

 

 

After greeting, Seorae looked around and found a group, then moved her feet.

Then the women there were startled.

Even the maids carrying wine and food were so surprised that they dropped their trays and glasses.

 

“Hic!! I-I’m sorry..!!”

 

Fortunately, it didn’t get on anyone’s clothes, but to make such a mistake in front of Seorae of all people.

The faces of the maids who had died countless times flashed through her mind.

 

‘I’m dead…!’

 

Just when everyone was thinking that, Seorae, who had just arrived in front, bent down.

 

‘Is she going to kill me here…? Kyaa!’

 

She imagined her head being cut off and froze for a few seconds.

When she didn’t feel anything, the maid slightly opened one eye.

 

Then what’s this?

 

Seorae was picking up the shards of the broken glass that had fallen on the floor.

 

“!! Your Highness!”

 

When she was horrified, Seorae smiled brightly.

 

“Are you okay?”

“Yes? I-I’m… I’m… okay…”

 

The maid was frozen by the completely unexpected reaction.

Seorae suddenly grabbed her hand.

 

“Fortunately, you don’t seem to be hurt. You should be more careful. You’re a precious child of a family, what if you got scratched?”

“Ah… thank… you.”

 

Seorae smiled once more and helped her up.

The hall was silent.

 

No one had imagined that the Mad Princess Seorae would show such a side.

Most people firmly believed that the maid’s head would be chopped off.

 

But the result was the opposite.

 

Breaking everyone’s expectations, Seorae showed a merciful side and worried about the maid.

 

 

 

“She’s changed… she’s completely changed!”

“I heard that His Majesty is paying special attention to Her Highness’s education… it seems to be true. In just one year…”

“It’s too early to jump to conclusions. She might just be pretending.”

“But she didn’t even ‘pretend’ before, did she? This alone is a big improvement.”

 

Everyone was quite surprised and murmured again.

 

Was she enjoying those reactions?

While other maids hurriedly came to clean up, Seorae approached the dazed group.

The people who were the original target, the envoys from Sparta.

 

“Nice to meet you. I am Seorae Yujeong, the princess of the Mei Empire.”

 

She bowed first, humbling herself.

Only then did the envoys, realizing the situation, hurriedly greet her.

 

 

After some everyday conversation, Seorae suddenly brought up a sensitive issue.

 

“In the past… not so long ago. Just a year ago, I said that I would conquer Sparta.”

“Y-yes, you did.”

 

Why would she bring this up?

Is she threatening us? Telling us to surrender now?

 

The envoys were worried, branching out into various thoughts, but fortunately, that wasn’t her intention.

 

“I was immature back then and said things I shouldn’t have. Not only Sparta but all other countries… and continents. War is truly terrible and should never happen. I’m sorry. I hope you’ll forgive me for what an immature girl said.”

 

She apologized and asked for forgiveness.

It was something that was unimaginable coming from the mouths of the Imperial family, who thought they were above everyone else and that it was natural, especially Seorae.

 

The tone of her voice and the expressions she made seemed to be saying that she was sincere, and the envoys shook their heads without realizing it.

 

“N-no. Your Highness. Forgiveness?”

“Since I have committed such a wrong, I promise to treat you with the utmost respect in the future. Please, forgive my anger.”

“Anger, Your Highness? Please don’t say that.”

 

When she was treated with dignity, she held her head high and argued, but when she humbled herself, she bowed even lower.

 

Is this the psychology of people?

Seorae was slightly impressed and continued.

 

“It’s hard to say this myself, but I will be the Emperor of this country in the future. I will guarantee the independence of Sparta.”

“Y-Your Highness…!”

 

Seorae laughed and chatted with the moved envoys.

She even danced with the young master who had accompanied the envoy.

 

 

 

“…She’s changed.”

“Haha. Didn’t I tell you? Your Majesty, Crown Princess-jeonha now knows her dignity.”

“Y-yes, that’s right. That’s a relief… it’s really a relief…”

 

Seorae, who had always been loud, had changed so much.

She felt like she had everything in the world.

 

“Today is a truly wonderful day. I hope she has truly changed into that form.”

“She will. Her face, the tone of her voice, and her actions all seem sincere.”

“That’s right. If that was acting, it would all be obvious.”

 

At first, she thought it might be acting.

But it was too skillful to be acting.

 

Acting is something that is achieved after long practice. It was hard to believe that Seorae, who had lived her life without such things, could perform such skillful acting in just one year.

 

Then it’s sincerity.

If it’s sincerity, then she has realized and changed.

 

“If Seorae has truly changed, then there’s nothing to worry about. Now that she knows that peace is the most important thing, I can rest assured.”

“Congratulations, Your Majesty.”

“Hehe. Thank you.”

 

 

Thus, the banquet for Emperor Sora ended amidst the buzz of the ‘Mad Princess who had been reborn’, and Seorae rose as a new sun in the Eastern Continent’s social circles.