Chapter 3
“Melly, come to your aunt.”
Something told me I had to go to her, so I quickly reached out my arms. Besides, my bottom was starting to ache from sitting on the hard desk.
Aunt Eonel lifted me and settled onto a sofa. I sat obediently on her lap.
“That thing earlier—it looked pretty big, even at a glance. It’ll rot her teeth,” she said, slipping a macaron from the table into my mouth.
Her actions seemed a bit contradictory, but who cares? It’s delicious, and that’s what matters. Macarons are the best.
Aunt Eonel moved her hands diligently, like a mother bird, bringing more macarons to my mouth. Unlike Grandfather, she didn’t pat me or coo. Honestly, if she had made baby-talk noises like Grandfather, I think the shock would’ve been even greater.
As I munched on the macarons, I listened to the conversation between Grandfather and Aunt Eonel. It wasn’t particularly interesting, but I was glad to hear it. Historians had called them the Stubborn Emperor and the Ice Witch Empress, so I was deeply curious about their exchange.
“So, what did the empress say at the hot spring palace this year?” Aunt Eonel asked.
“Oh, the same as every year. That it’s not good to leave the crown prince’s position vacant for too long.”
“And what will you do, Father? Volterr isn’t suited for crown prince. This might sound self-serving, but I’ve thought about it objectively.”
Aunt Eonel shrugged.
“I think the same. Even if Volterr is the legitimate heir… Well, never mind. In my view, Melly is the true heir.”
“What? Who’s the legitimate heir? And I don’t quite understand your reasoning, Father. If Melly’s the heir, what about me? Why skip your own daughter and go straight to her?”
Aunt Eonel’s eyes narrowed into a frown.
“Melly! Our Melly. This old grandpapa will make her empress.”
“Oh, really? You’d put her on the throne? I’m sure the late empress and my brother would be thrilled. And you think the current empress would agree to such nonsense?”
“No… Of course not, but calling it nonsense…”
Grandfather’s eyes trembled with uncertainty, while Aunt Eonel’s gaze sharpened fiercely.
“I’d bet anything that if her son doesn’t become emperor, the empress would kill Melly to make Volterr emperor. She’s more than capable of that.”
Grandfather clamped his mouth shut like a clam, blinking as if he hadn’t said a word.
“Well, no, even so, that’s a bit harsh to say about your stepmother…”
“Why? Did I say something wrong? No one’s watching, so what does it matter?”
“I’m watching. I’m watching.”
“And who’s my mother? My mother’s dead.”
Even if no attendants were watching, this was a remarkably unrestrained conversation for an emperor and a princess.
“So, what’s your conclusion? Hand the throne to Volterr? That’s not right, is it?”
“And what’s your conclusion, Father? Give it to her and let the nobles tear each other apart? Perfect recipe for a puppet emperor!”
They seemed completely oblivious to my presence.
Then again, how much could a child understand, and how much would they remember?
“Still, Volterr won’t do. Empress Kiyen is vain, cunning, and selfish. Prince Volterr is reckless, excessive in everything, and lacks patience. Neither is suited to be regent or emperor.”
Grandfather’s voice was resolute.
“But if you name this little thing crown prince, the empress will have Melly assassinated before she even grows up.”
Aunt Eonel pulled me tightly into her arms. My face buried into her chest, enveloped by the fragrant scent of roses. It was warm and comforting.
“Kyaha!”
A squeal escaped me, and Aunt Eonel’s arms trembled faintly. Grandfather’s eyes turned to me, brimming with affection.
“Then I’ll make sure that doesn’t happen. I’ll see to it.”
His gaze was warm yet somehow sharp.
“How?”
“Thoroughly. I’ll handle it. And I know the empress is cunning and vicious. I admit, back then, circumstances forced me to hastily place her in the empty empress’s seat… But I can’t let a woman like that become the regent of this nation. My decision is Melly. That won’t change.”
He drove the point home with absolute conviction, his words filled with unwavering resolve.
After a long, thoughtful silence, Aunt Eonel finally parted her dry lips.
“But, Father…”
Grandfather glanced at her cautiously as she began to speak, then hurriedly cut her off, avoiding her gaze.
“Wait, wait. If you’re going to oppose me, don’t even start.”
“I’ll oppose you later. For now, let me ask this: you knew what kind of person the empress was?”
Aunt Eonel flashed a radiant smile, locking eyes with Grandfather.
There was a hint of menace in that smile, but Grandfather grinned back broadly and nodded.
“Yes, yes. Your old man has a knack for reading people.”
The moment I heard that, my instincts screamed in my head.
Grandfather, no! That’s not it! I don’t know what it is, but that’s not it!
I shook my head desperately at him.
Shake-shake-shake-shake-shake!
Cold sweat trickled down my back.
From Aunt Eonel’s chest, where my ear rested, I could hear her heart pounding even more fiercely.
It’s going to explode!
Three, two, one…
Boom!
“Father? Then why in the world did you make Volterr with that empress?”
Her words struck like a blow to the bone.
The crown above Grandfather’s head went thunk! and rolled across the floor with a clatter.
In the vast, silent study, the sound of the crown rolling echoed loudly.
Thunk! Clatter-clatter.
Grandfather’s eyes widened, darting between the fallen crown and Aunt Eonel, utterly speechless.
Yes, even with ten mouths, he’d have no words. I’d probably be the same.
Aunt Eonel, looking thoroughly satisfied, leaned back against the desk and stood tall. Her head was held high, but her gaze was fixed downward—on the crown lying on the floor.
“Now that I understand your intentions, Father…”
She took a deep breath, and Grandfather narrowed his eyes, watching her closely.
“Hmm?”
“Pass that crown to me.”
Boom!
And so, I learned the reason why Aunt Eonel became empress in my previous life—the story hidden behind history.
And today, I realized, astonishingly, that at the center of it all was none other than me.
Oh, my life—what is it?
The sun shone brightly today, as it had for some time since Grandfather returned from the hot spring palace. As usual, I was sitting across from him, playing. Even knowing I’d die in the future if I did nothing, there wasn’t much a mere three-year-old could do in this situation.
Perhaps, having returned to the past, it would be better to spend my days until I’m six or seven fawning over Grandfather, being the dutiful granddaughter.
With that thought, I played with him enthusiastically. Though it seemed Grandfather thought I was the one being indulged.
I set down the game card in my hand. It was a strategic board game favored by nobles, supposedly used to train heirs because of its subtle political undertones.
Not that it mattered much—Grandfather was going easy on me.
“Grandpapa, this one, this one!”
“This? You need this one?”
“Uh-huh!”
I played up the act of being a child, openly revealing my hand, and Grandfather humored me, helping with my card-matching game.
“Wow! I won!”
I tossed the cards into the air, giggling wildly. In my head, I kept chanting:
I’m happy. I’m so happy to beat Grandpapa! Wow, how could I not be thrilled? No, I’m super, super, SUPER happy!
My efforts paid off, and Grandfather laughed even louder than me, setting down his cards.
“Hahaha! My Melly beats her old grandpapa and proves she’s so clever!”
Being a dutiful granddaughter is harder than it looks.
As soon as the game ended, Count Maron, the chief attendant, pushed the scattered cards toward me across the desk.
“That’s three rounds done, Your Majesty. As promised, it’s time to start work.”
Count Maron plopped a hefty stack of documents onto the desk.
“These are from the Ministry of Finance. They need Your Majesty’s approval by today.”
Thud!
The pile of papers landed with a sound like a slab of iron dropping. Grandfather grabbed the top document and flipped through it briskly.
“Why are there so many?”
“There have always been this many, Your Majesty.”
I watched Grandfather work, clutching my palace-shaped candy masterpiece in both hands, sucking on it noisily.
“Who’s this fool? Is his head just for decoration? Did he listen to a word I said at the council meeting? How could he claim to understand me and still produce this kind of result?”
Even as he ranted, he didn’t forget to check the name on the document. He even memorized it.
“What’s this guy’s name… This one? He did the same thing last month. Always like this, always. What a waste of a salary.”
He shouted as he went.
So, Grandfather really was as petty, stubborn, and grudge-holding as the history books claimed.
At that moment, an attendant’s voice came from outside.
“Your Majesty, His Highness the Prince requests an audience.”
“Let him in.”
The door opened behind me. Instantly, my head cooled, and my shoulders stiffened. Sweat beaded on my hands.
I didn’t want to see him. I knew, logically, that I couldn’t live forever in this blissful happiness. But in my heart, I wished I’d never have to face that face again.
My future enemy, my past nemesis. The spark of vengeance, briefly forgotten in this moment of joy, flared up again.
Prince Volterr, entering through the door at eighteen, was far younger than the thirty-three-year-old I remembered. No, not just younger—boyish.
His cheeks were plump, dotted here and there with the red pimples of adolescence, though well-maintained enough to avoid standing out. His fiery red hair, inherited from his mother, the empress, was striking.
“Father!”
The moment Grandfather gave permission, Volterr flung open the door with both hands and rushed in.
Then his eyes met mine as I sat on the desk, playing cards, and he froze.
“Why is she here?”
Uncle? Does it sound like you’re displeased to see me? My grip tightened on the candy, making it crunch.
Well, I’m not exactly thrilled to see you either, Uncle.
If I become empress, I’ll make sure to expose your crimes and avenge my father. But for now, I have no evidence. I don’t even know if evidence exists. All I have is what you told me in my past life: “I was the one who killed him.”
That chilling voice echoed in my ears again, and tears welled up unbidden. My teeth ground together, and my throat tightened.
Grandfather quickly lifted me from the desk and cradled me in his arms.
“Oh dear, my little one’s shy with strangers.”
Bouncy-bouncy.
Haven’t I passed the age for shyness? Still, Grandfather kept rocking me, as if determined to soothe me.
Unfazed by this, Volterr spoke with an expression that didn’t bother hiding his discomfort.
“Father! Is it true you’re holding the crown prince’s investiture before summer?”
His face was sour, but his voice carried a strange, ecstatic excitement.
“It’s not good to leave the position vacant too long. Probably so. Why do you ask?”
“Why? I need to prepare to move!”
“Move?”
Grandfather and I both stared at Volterr.
* * *
