Elius’s morning is swift.
He wakes up at 5 AM, spends an hour washing up and getting dressed, and then another hour having a simple breakfast while receiving his schedule from the attendant.
After spending a leisurely two hours, he heads to his office where his personal attendant, Fiona, is waiting.
“Good morning, Your Highness!”
“Yeah. Your hair looks particularly lively today.”
Fiona quickly covers her head with her hands in surprise.
She had overslept today and only had time for a quick wash, so she hadn’t tidied her hair.
“Does it show a lot?”
“It looks just right for a bird to build a nest in.”
“Ugh….”
Fiona lowered her head, overwhelmed by embarrassment.
Even though she often showed a silly and foolish side, she always did her best to maintain her appearance perfectly. It was a determination and resolve to do at least this right, given that she didn’t know how to do much else.
“Sit on the sofa. I’ll brush your hair.”
“No! I’ll do it myself!”
“Oh?”
Fiona was half-forced to sit on the sofa.
Elius took out a comb from his pocket and gently held her hair.
“You carry a comb with you, Your Highness?”
“My hair tends to get messy easily.”
“Really? I didn’t know that.”
“What kind of personal attendant doesn’t know such things?”
“Well, Your Highness’s hair is usually taken care of by the head attendant. I usually just help pick out clothes.”
“I know. What I mean is that as my personal attendant, you shouldn’t have things about me that you don’t know.”
“I just need to know my role well.”
Elius silently began to comb Fiona’s red hair.
For someone who had only ever brushed hair as a commoner, her hair was remarkably beautiful.
There was a faint floral scent coming from the nape of her neck.
Did she spray the special caramel perfume she bought with her salary last time?
The hairpin in her bangs was a cheap flower hairpin she purchased at the market.
Elius remembered everything about what Fiona had bought, what she had done, and the efforts she made for various reasons.
Whether it was simply because of his good memory or for some other reason, he wasn’t sure.
But unlike her, who showed no interest in him, he felt a bit disappointed.
“Your Highness, thinking about it, your birthday is coming soon, right?”
“…Ah, that’s right.”
“What do you want for your birthday? This is my first time celebrating your birthday, so I’m not sure what to gift you.”
“I don’t know. I’ve never really cared about birthdays.”
Birthdays of royalty are like that.
There are countless subjects and loyalists who come to celebrate with flattering words.
However, the political implications hidden within those words can be overwhelming.
Thus, to him, birthdays felt more like an extension of his duties than a day to receive congratulations for his birth.
When was the last time he had a birthday that he received genuine congratulations, regardless of the number of guests?
He couldn’t even remember.
“It doesn’t matter what you give me. If it’s filled with a sincere desire to celebrate me, I’ll gladly accept any item.”
“…That sounds touching, but ultimately, it means anything, right?”
Elius silently chuckled.
*****
“Head attendant, does it show a lot that I didn’t wash my hair?”
“You didn’t wash your hair?”
“Yes. I actually got caught by Your Highness….”
“Are you out of your mind? Did you oversleep?”
“Yes….”
“Ugh… It’s not that noticeable. Your hair doesn’t usually get messy anyway.”
As a mere employee, she hardly had the luxury of washing her hair every day.
Fortunately, since Fiona was a personal attendant, she could wash her hair daily.
Just a day ago, Fiona’s slightly greasy hair was barely noticeable to the eye.
“Did His Highness notice?”
“Yes. He even brushed my hair because it was so messy.”
“That’s strange.”
The Elius she knew wasn’t someone who would care about a mere attendant’s hair.
It might sound harsh, but that was the reality. Even she, as the head attendant, had to endure many hardships and time to become someone trustworthy in Elius’s eyes.
The Grandeum royal family has inherited cat-like traits for generations.
They don’t even spare a glance for someone they don’t have in mind.
Conversely, once they take a liking to someone, they show endless favor.
Sometimes, it can be perceived as obsession.
‘…Surely not?’
The head attendant watched Fiona, who was deep in thought.
A commoner who somehow ended up indebted to an imperial count and became a personal attendant of the Second Prince’s palace.
Besides her lively personality, she had one remarkable characteristic: she was incredibly lucky.
She had gotten herself into debt with the head of a count’s family.
It couldn’t have been achieved solely by her own ability, so it must have been due to luck. That alone was surprising, but becoming a personal attendant of the Second Prince?
For a commoner, such a stroke of luck was unparalleled. It was as if she achieved a complete turnaround in her life with just one chance.
‘If she manages to charm His Highness…’
If she were to become a princess.
it would be an understatement to describe her life as a turnaround.
It was terrifying! Really terrifying!
Though she still had no certainty…
“Fiona, are you here?”
“Your Highness…? Yes! I’m here! What’s the matter?”
“Lunch will be served on the terrace, so prepare it. And I have something to say to you, so prepare your lunch as well.”
“Understood!”
Elius immediately turned his back, as if that was all he had to say.
At that moment, the attendant noticed it.
Just a little, but the Prince’s cheeks were slightly flushed.
He quickly turned his head to look at Fiona.
Indifferent. She was just blank, without a single thought!
Is she naturally this way?
Is this what they call a natural nine-tailed fox?
The attendant realized this late.
It wasn’t just luck.
Could charming a royal be explained merely by luck?
‘A woman of bewitching charm!’
There was no other way to explain it.
Because that child with her dazed eyes couldn’t possibly be thinking; it felt like a conviction that surpassed instinct.
‘Should I start showing my worth from now on?’
The head attendant had been serving the Emperor for decades, honing her perception during that time. While she might lack the natural charm to attract men like Fiona, her other abilities overwhelmingly surpassed that.
And so…
“Miss Fiona.”
“…Me? You mean Fiona?”
“I will be increasing your regular training hours, so keep that in mind.”
“…!! Wait a moment!! That means my free time will be reduced!”
“Can a personal attendant of the Prince be so full of mistakes? As the strictest teacher in this palace, I will take charge of your education, so you’d better prepare yourself.”
Given the high possibility of becoming the next princess, she initially thought it would be wise to treat her kindly, but the head attendant immediately withdrew that judgment.
She was certain of it.
The impulse that arose in the moment would eventually become a misstep in the future.
Currently, being strict and reprimanding Fiona would make her a respected princess.
And she would thank her for it.
Thanks to the head attendant’s strictness, she would be able to become a good princess.
Imagining a future that had yet to come, the head attendant smiled pleasantly.
Being able to have such happy thoughts was.
This winter would be the last.
*****
After the winter demon king’s subjugation, the First Prince Gerard’s status had become even more solidified.
He earned the title of the Sixth Hero.
Protector of the North, Simon Lemea.
The Disaster of the Sky, Bergamot Katia.
Commander of the Imperial Knights, Darion.
Elder of the Clearie Shamans, Solendril.
The Empire’s greatest alchemist, Belladriel.
He was listed alongside those great heroes who had achieved historic feats.
And, the name of a hero holds value.
With just a name, one can solidify their political stance and inspire tremendous trust; it has the power to persuade.
“What brings you here today?”
Elius asked, his mood clearly displeased.
He had something important to tell Fiona at lunch, but he was interrupted by the sudden visit of the First Prince.
“What reason would an older brother have for visiting his younger brother? I simply came to see your face.”
“Your repertoire is too predictable. Among the nobles these days, such words can only mean, ‘I will kill you.’”
“Haha—!! Your older brother is quite busy these days! How could I not keep up with current trends?”
…If only that were true.
Elius asked with a bitter smile.
“By the way, what made you want to see my face today? Although we are brothers, we haven’t seen each other since our mother passed away, except for your birthday.”
“…Tsk. You remain suspicious to the end.”
“You blame me for the neglect in our relationship?”
“I understand! If you can’t trust me, I must earn that trust.”
“…?”
“Younger brother, do you know what I gained from defeating the Demon King in the North?”
“The Winter Blizzard, right? It’s rumored that you, as the representative of the royal family, claimed it as your prize.”
“Then you must know that this essence grants me great power?”
“…I haven’t really thought about it.”
The First Prince abruptly loosened his sleeve and revealed his chest.
Something presumed to be the Winter Blizzard was pulsating near his heart.
“Whether you know it or not, the Demon King, the source of the monsters, is intertwined with a great evil as well as a great power.”
The First Prince continued calmly.
“Therefore, I intended to slowly make this mine, but it has proven quite difficult.”
“…Excuse me?”
“I came to apologize in advance.”
At that moment.
A chilling smile crept onto the First Prince’s lips.
His face seemed to split, and one eye widened unnaturally.
“I must be the damn b*stard who will destroy the Empire.”
