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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
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Click, clack.
It was an open secret within the Imperial Palace that the Empress was on her deathbed.
And the most likely successor was, of course, the Crown Princess. Everyone who passed by the woman who would soon ascend to the throne stopped what they were doing, bowed their heads, and paid their respects.
The Crown Princess acknowledged their greetings perfunctorily as she walked down the hallway, her mind still preoccupied.
‘…What are you thinking, Elena?’
Elena wasn’t her half-sister, but her full-blooded sibling. Yet, as in their childhood, she couldn’t decipher her sister’s true intentions. What scheme was she brewing?
Despite knowing her for nearly thirty years, even she, her own sister, couldn’t fathom Elena’s heart.
Elena had always been her opposite.
Mature from a young age, she openly expressed her desire for the throne.
Unlike the Crown Princess, who inherited the title simply because she was born first, Elena possessed the ability and charisma to lead the vast Empire.
In a nutshell, Elena was a superior version of herself in every aspect, except for the fact that she was born later, hindering her claim to the throne due to the principle of primogeniture.
The Crown Princess was well aware of this fact.
“…”
That’s why she walked briskly, her lips sealed, her heart heavy.
She knew the throne would soon be hers, and she didn’t want to let it slip away.
But if this confrontation continued, it would only lead to their mutual destruction.
The thought of civil war flashed through her mind, and she quickly shook her head.
“No, that’s unacceptable…”
Civil war was a disastrous path that would only leave scars, regardless of who won. It was imperative to find a compromise through dialogue before Elena resorted to such drastic measures.
She arrived at Elena’s office.
She placed her hand on the doorknob and took a deep breath.
Opening this door was like stepping onto a battlefield. It might not be a battle of swords and magic, but a battle of words, where they would relentlessly attack each other’s weaknesses.
Having prepared herself mentally, she took another deep breath and knocked lightly.
Knock, knock.
Without waiting for a response, she threw the door open.
Elena was sitting at her desk, her face pale and drawn, surrounded by a mess of papers, struggling with her workload.
“…Hm?”
“Oh, it’s you.”
Elena glanced at her briefly, then returned her attention to the documents.
She looked exhausted, having clearly been overworked. It was a far cry from the image of her plotting sinister schemes while holed up in her quarters.
The Crown Princess was taken aback by the unexpected sight and asked cautiously,
“…What are you doing? I don’t recall any urgent matters that require you to work yourself to the bone like this.”
Her question carried multiple implications.
As the Second Princess, Elena’s authority was limited. While there were countless issues to address in governing the Empire, the Crown Princess didn’t recall anything that required the decision-makers to work themselves to exhaustion.
That’s why she had come here to confirm her suspicions about Elena’s schemes, but she was greeted by the sight of her sister looking like an overworked bureaucrat.
“Oh, perfect timing.”
“…?”
Elena muttered, then gestured for her to sit down. The Crown Princess sat down, her face filled with confusion.
Elena picked up a few pieces of paper and handed them to her.
“I’m wondering where we should hold the ceremony. What do you think?”
“Elena Esgelant. This is an official visit, so I’ll address you for-… Wait, ceremony?”
“Yes, the ceremony.”
Even though they were sisters, officially, they were the Crown Princess and the Second Princess.
She was about to correct Elena’s informal address, as she usually did, but she paused and asked again.
Elena simply nodded.
Confused by her sister’s sudden remark, the Crown Princess quickly took the papers and scanned them.
She had assumed they were work documents, but the contents revealed their true nature.
“…Wedding plans?”
“Usually, it would be held in the Hall of the Sun, but there might be a better venue.”
“Wait, what? A wedding? You’re getting married? Are you crazy?!”
The Crown Princess’s startled tone reverted to the informal way they used to speak when they were close.
Her eyes wide with disbelief, she grabbed Elena’s shoulders and shook her.
“Who’s the… Who’s the groom? And you crazy woman! Why are you deciding this on your own?!”
“It’s my wedding. Why do I need anyone’s permission? I don’t get it.”
“You crazy woman!”
The Crown Princess exclaimed, then stared at Elena in disbelief.
She had expected a fierce power struggle behind the scenes.
But to think that her sister, who had been vying for the throne just a while ago, was now casually talking about getting married… She couldn’t help but be shocked.
After staring at Elena, who was smiling nonchalantly, for a long moment, the Crown Princess asked in a serious tone,
“Who’s the groom? Who did you meet that made you decide to get married after all this time? You’ve rejected every arranged marriage proposal and acted like a wild child for years. And now, at the age of twenty-five, you’re suddenly getting married?”
“Rudrick.”
“Rudrick…? You mean… the Court Mage?”
“Correct.”
The Crown Princess gasped and asked again, her face filled with shock.
Elena simply smiled.
The Crown Princess was speechless.
She had heard the rumors circulating in the palace, but she never thought Elena would actually marry him. This was more complicated than she had anticipated.
Elena’s unexpected marriage announcement. And her fiancé was the current Court Mage, Rudrick Weiss.
“…No, wait.”
She shook her head, composing herself, and began to assess the situation from a political standpoint.
Rudrick might have come from a humble family, but he was a self-made man who had achieved the prestigious position of Court Mage through his exceptional magical abilities. And if they ended up fighting for the throne, Rudrick’s existence would be a major obstacle.
But his humble origins meant he had no powerful family to back him up, which could be considered an advantage.
Should she approve of this marriage, or oppose it with all her might?
She calculated the possibilities, but she couldn’t reach a conclusion. Her expression grew increasingly complex, and Elena chuckled, as if she could read her mind.
“Oh, and by the way…”
“Hm…?”
“I’m not interested in the throne anymore, so you can have it. Do whatever you want with it.”
“What…?”
Elena’s sudden declaration, her decision to abandon her claim to the throne, caught the Crown Princess off guard.
Was she being sincere? Was this a bluff? Or was she simply trying to tease her?
She couldn’t decipher her sister’s true intentions, and her expression became unreadable.
Elena, sensing her confusion, clarified,
“I’m not bluffing or teasing. I’m serious. Even if you begged me to become the Empress, I wouldn’t do it.”
“…“
“Besides, I’m going to be busy.”
“…Busy? Why?”
“Because I need to keep a close eye on my future husband.”
The Crown Princess stared at her, her face blank. She didn’t understand what Elena meant.
Their conversation felt like a riddle, each answer leading to more questions.
Elena sighed, noticing her sister’s confusion.
She said in an exasperated tone,
“This is actually the most important part…”
“The most important part…?”
“There’s only one groom, Rudrick. But there will be five brides at this wedding.”
“…What?!”
It was a statement that was difficult to comprehend at first glance.
Elena, who was about to share Rudrick with four other women, was not happy about it. But she was more concerned with marrying Rudrick than with her own discomfort.
“Sigh…”
Elena sighed and added,
“I’m not the only bride.”
The true nature of the wedding of the century was finally revealed.
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