“Ugh…cou- cough.”

“Are you alright?”

Sezh nodded and gulped down her water.

“If it’s alright with you, how about you start studying with Raytan at the library tomorrow? He often visits the West Library too.”

“I’m… alright with that, cough.”

Well, she needed an excuse to get closer to him after all, and luckily Lise’s suggestion was helping her along. Meanwhile, Raytan seemed like he had no intention of listening to Lise this time around.

“No.”

“Raytan.”

“Why should I become that kid’s tutor?”

I am not a kid. At least mentally she wasn’t, though technically, yes, right now she was physically in her twelve-year old body. Sezh parted her lips to respond, but Lise spoke first.

“Raytan, don’t say that…”

Lise wasn’t able to finish her sentence since Orson suddenly burst into the room.

“Excuse me, Lady Lise.”

“What happened?”

“The Emperor has asked me to bring you to him.”

A strange silence fell over the small table. Sezh saw Lise’s beautiful face turn cold.

“Alright. Please tell him that I’ll be there soon.”

I understand. Orson disappeared with a brief nod.

A strange aura loomed over the room’s remaining occupants. Of course, the atmosphere around them hadn’t been very comfortable until now, but Sezh wasn’t sure what to do with herself except look away awkwardly.

“I’m sorry, Your Highness, but I think we will have to end our conversation here.”

“Oh, I understand. Please don’t mind me.”

“Could you wait here for a moment? I have something to talk to Raytan about. He will take you back to your palace once our talk is over.”

You want me to go back with him? Sezh’s eyes widened in surprise, but Lise just smiled back at her.

Lise rose from her seat and bade her farewell with an extravagant bow, so much so that Sezh briefly wondered if it was purposefully exaggerated. Raytan followed his mother out, leaving Sezh alone again. She was seriously starting to worry that she was going to lose her head today instead of in five years.

***

Lise was expressionless as she sat combing her dishevelled hair in front of her vanity table. She looked at her son’s reflection in the mirror.

“It seems like Princess Sezh is interested in you.”

“I’ve never even thought about her.” Raytan answered curtly, “Not even once.”

He meant it. He didn’t care about that kid and whatever she did was none of his business.

“You shall teach Kazaki to the princess tomorrow.”

“Mother!”

“Your answer?”

“No. Why should I take my time…”

Lise looked back at her son without a word. Her emerald eyes locked with his blood-red irises.

“She’s Yerena’s daughter.”

“Why does that matter?”

“I believe she will be useful someday.”

“Useful? That woman is the one who wants to kill mother the most in the Imperial Palace, and her daughter is useless!”

“That would be the case if the princess and Yerena were the same as the others, but she is not and you know it, right? They don’t have a good relationship.”

Raytan did know. Like him, Sezh was also infamous in the Imperial Palace but for a different reason. Yerena didn’t love her daughter at all. Rather than embrace her, she would be angry with her all the time and would even go so far as to humiliate her in front of other people. Even Raytan was aware of how coldly Sezh was treated.

“Although Yerena’s family situation is like that, she holds the Imperial Palace in the palm of her hand. So, what if one day she dies?”

“…”

“If Princess Sezh also has the ability to hold influence over the Imperial Palace… then it won’t be hard to turn those who were in Yerena’s group to me. I’m sure there will be value in keeping the princess around.”

Raytan nibbled his lips.

“Wouldn’t it be better to prepare thoroughly?”

Lise smiled lightly. Then, she took something out from under the bed and handed it to her son.

“It’s your eighteenth birthday present. Do take care of it.”

Raytan carefully unravelled the wrapping paper from the parcel. It was a sword. A sword of the finest craftsmanship that even the other princes didn’t have.

“Someday, things are bound to happen.”

Raytan nodded.

“Are you… still going to visit the emperor?”

“I can’t help it.”

The voice that came from her lips was cold. With an equally frigid indifference, Lise opened a drawer and pulled out a small bottle.

The light purple medicine within the small, transparent bottle was gleaming.

Lise opened the lid and drank it all in one gulp without any hesitation. Raytan’s expression darkened as he looked at his mother. After she placed the bottle back down, Lise turned her gaze back towards Raytan.

“You are my only son, Raytan.”

“…”

“Now and forever. You must always remember that.”

“I understand…” Raytan answered her quietly.

Pleased with his response, Lise grinned.

“Now, go and take the princess back. Remember to teach her Kazaki.”

I understand. The small voice drifted from his lips. Raytan bowed politely before making his way back to the place where Sezh was waiting.