If she went to his palace right now, it would only trigger her anger.

Sezh didn’t know how many times she had thought about it. Although Raytan was acting cold and unaware of her concern for him, he would usually come to show his face. Then, the rage inside her would automatically calm down. However, Raytan did not show up the next day and even after two days had passed.

It was strange. Sezh felt disappointed and sad, but it’s not something to be so annoyed or angry with. Sezh thought so, but her heart disagreed.

‘I’ll escort the Lady, so you go back to your palace.’

‘Honestly, Prince Raytan has piqued my interest a lot.’

“…Huh,” Sezh grunted a little.

Only Carolyn declared she is interested in Raytan, but even so, Sezh didn’t know if Raytan developed the same feelings or not.

Well, so what… Carolyn sure is beautiful. Sezh looked into the mirror and compared her reflection with Carolyn’s appearance. Anyone can see that the victor is Carolyn.

“No, no. Why do I have to think like this?” The question she couldn’t answer herself came out of her mouth.

Is this jealousy? Maybe it is. Anyway, Sezh adores him a lot too, so she felt kind of sad when she saw Raytan show interest in another person.

“But do I… do I have to get upset because of that?”

Whether it’s Bern or the other princes, Sezh had no other brothers who gave her affection aside from Raytan, so she couldn’t compare him with anyone else.

The more Sezh thought about it, the more confused and frustrated she got.

Today… Will he not come too?

Suddenly, Sezh moved her gaze to the window. After that day, Sezh didn’t go to Raytan’s palace. That’s why she was at her palace alone. But she was worried because there is nothing she can do about it. Sezh felt something uncomfortable in her chest.

Shall she go to him tonight? However, what if he tells her to go back with such a cold voice again?

Sezh sighed as she lay on the bed. She was exhausted, and her head was pounding. Would it be better if she went outside and caught some air? Sezh then reluctantly got up from her bed.

***

She ended up walking around her palace for a while.

Unfortunately, it was still frustrating. After walking the same road exactly five times, Sezh made an unusual decision. She was going to walk a little farther out. At any other time, she would have only walked around her own palace, but seeing the same scenery over and over again made her head hurt even more.

That doesn’t mean she will be strolling around far away. She will just be walking a little farther in the direction of Lize’s palace. Since she was lying about having quit tutoring, Sezh didn’t want anyone to catch her walking around Lize’s palace.

“…”

Sezh’s face suddenly became gloomy. She had always walked this path together with Raytan. As she walked alone on that road, Sezh felt empty.

Her heart was feeling empty, but it was a complete mess in her head. The bloodstains on Raytan’s neck and the bloody smell thing came to her mind.

But still… Nothing has happened. His Majesty and Lady Lize are still alive. Everything…

It was the moment Sezh pondered her thoughts…

“….”

Unanticipatedly, a shadow fell over her face. Sezh froze. It was Bern who stood in her way.

“B-Brother Bern.”

Bern was looking down at Sezh with a slight frown. Unlike in the past, he didn’t pick a fight. Even so, there was no good reason for the two of them to face each other like this.

After the Emperor’s health continued deteriorating, Bern also seemed to receive pressure on his mental state. The Emperor was never a good father figure to Raytan and Sezh, but that was not the same case for Bern and Lillian.

“You always hang around with that cursed guy, but it seems you’re alone today.”

A look of disgust grew on Bern’s face. She didn’t even say anything but Bern acted otherwise. Did he not change at all even after getting older?

“Didn’t Lillian already tell you before? She told you to stay quietly in your palace without being noticed.”

Lillian did say that… But how can you stay locked up in your palace when your life is still intact? She’s not a corpse.

“You won’t even answer me now.”

“It’s not that, Brother, I-”

Sezh was unable to finish her words because Bern suddenly pushed her hard. Still, should she say she was glad that Bern didn’t hit her?

“That Raytan guy has messed up your attitude. Right, Sezh?”

“What do you mean…”

“Now you dare to answer me.”

Bern tapped Sezh’s cheek with the back of his hand. However, Bern’s palm was as ugly as a pot lid, so it didn’t feel much different from being struck.

“I’ve known it since the first time this so-called Princess played with that garbage-like guy. Is it because of your pathetic blood? You have no dignity as a member of the Imperial family even though you have those eyes.”

“…But half of my blood belongs to His Majesty.”

“What?”

“If this kind of me is pathetic, isn’t Brother a pathetic being too? We are both children of the same His Majesty.”

How Bern harassed Sezh remained the same, but she wasn’t the same Sezh now.

Even though Sezh was helpless when she was young, she didn’t want to put up his insults any longer. There is nothing to be afraid of now. She’ll leave the Imperial Palace soon anyway. So what?

“You.”

Bern’s eyes glaring at Sezh narrowed. He then slowly approached her. Sezh swallowed her dry saliva and unknowingly took a step backward.

Even though she talked back, this was Bern, not Lillian. Sezh wasn’t confident that she would win a hand-to-hand battle with him.

“I pretended I didn’t see you all this time, but you must have forgotten who I am.”

“I’ll absolutely remind you today. I’m the one who can do anything to you.”

Reflected in her blue eyes, the scary view of Bern’s hand slowly descended above her. Sezh didn’t even know if he’s trying to grab her collar or her hair. Despite that, Sezh did not avoid it. Sezh would be lying if she said she wasn’t scared, but anyway, she didn’t want to play obedient anymore.

Then, suddenly, someone slapped Bern’s hand away.

It was Raytan.

“… Brother.”

Raytan, who reached out his hand, pulled Sezh behind his back. It’s like he was trying to hide her.

“Ha…”

Bern laughed as if he saw something entertaining. He waved Raytan’s hand away with all his might and made a face that she wasn’t clear whether it was hostility, anger, or disgust. However, Bern wouldn’t carelessly throw a punch like he used to, and Sezh knew the reason.

It was because there was a huge difference in physique between Bern and Raytan. Raytan just stared at him without saying anything, but there was an indescribable feeling of intimidation.

Sezh, who had been with Raytan for a long time, is sometimes frightened by the aura. Still, Bern might be less or more affected by it.

“So you have your own taste, Raytan,” Bern flapped his mouth like a savage bastard. “It’s likely that because you have a miserable mother, you’re going around with a miserable girl too.”

Raytan didn’t answer.

“Whether dirty things stick together or not is not for me to know, but shouldn’t you try to hide it? You two are disgusting.”

It was blatant harassment. Sezh’s face flushed with embarrassment, but the insult didn’t have the same effect on Raytan. He didn’t even twitch his eyebrows but instead parted his lips.

“… Well. It’s the same here because I see something disgusting too,” Raytan said while staring at Bern.

“I think it would be better for us not face each other, but seeing you always come to us and pick a fight like this, you seem to have your own taste too. Aren’t you the same? Just like the Emperor favors a lowly concubine, are you attracted by the low born too?”

“How dare you?!”

Bern grabbed Raytan by the neck. No, to be precise, he tried to grab Raytan, but Raytan was a little faster. He gripped Bern’s hand before it even touched his collar.

Veins emerged on Bern’s forehead, and it was the same for the back of Raytan’s hand. The popping blue blood vessels told how tightly Raytan held Bern’s hand.

Bern bit his lips, then shook off Raytan’s hand. Following that, Bern smacked Raytan’s cheek with all his might.

Raytan’s head turned with the loud sound of the smack. Sezh didn’t even have time to scream, and then she supported Raytan, who staggered slightly.

“Know that there are only a few days left for you to stray out like this,” Bern said coldly.

“When I sit on the throne, I will be the first to slit your necks.”

Sezh reflexively gripped the fabric on Raytan’s back. She was afraid he’d run and hit Bern like in the past. If a fight breaks out, it won’t go as smoothly as it did back then.

But Raytan didn’t attack Bern. He just stared at him with an expressionless face.

“Dirty things.”

Bern stared alternately at Raytan and Sezh and then began to walk away.

As soon as Bern disappeared from view, Sezh hurriedly approached Raytan and stood in front of him. Red blood was dripping down his chin.

“A-Are you okay?”

“…”

“Brother Raytan …”

She called his name, but there was no reply. The sad and disappointed feelings disappeared like snow that finally melted after a long time. It was disturbed only by the flowing blood from his lips.

Sezh carefully stretched out her hand to wipe off the blood, but Raytan slapped Sezh’s hand coldly.

“You must have heard what Bern said. Don’t go out of your palace for a while.”

“…”

“Leave.”

“… Brother.”

“You didn’t hear me?”

Raytan was like… a different person. It felt like the Raytan she met on the hill a few days ago was gone.

“Then, you’re saying… I shouldn’t even go to your palace too?”

“…”

“Brother Raytan!”

“That’s right,” Raytan’s lips twitched. “Don’t come. Ever again.”

“Why…”

“Because you’re annoying.”

Sezh had heard a lot of words that were worse since she was a little. ‘Stupid kid’, ‘Annoying’, ‘Get out’, ‘Shut up’. But now, why did those words pierce through her chest like this?

Raytan looked at Sezh for a moment, then started walking alone. Sezh stood there with a blank expression on her face but ultimately ran after him.

“Why are you like this all of a sudden?”

Now Raytan didn’t even respond to her. He just quietly walked away.

Sezh then hurriedly spoke, “I know. I’ve been annoying you. But… still…”

Still…

Sezh paused for a moment.

“Brother, you…” Sezh then asked in a hoarse voice, “… Are you avoiding me? Are you intentionally avoiding me?”

In an instant, Raytan stopped. But that was all. He quickly walked again without even looking back at her or answering her question.

“….”

Being left alone, Sezh was still and silent in her position looking at Raytan’s back as he walked away.