The person turning the corner was Sebastia.

Spotting me behind Alexis, she immediately approached.

"So, you're here."

Alexis glanced at me, seemingly checking if I was safe.

I nodded and stepped forward.

"What brings you here?"

"Prince Salvatore has assigned a royal guard to escort your cousin. Are you aware?"

Sebastia’s voice was sharp.

My face instantly stiffened.

"An escort?"

"Yes. Not Astra’s own guard, but the Imperial Guard!"

‘Salvatore...’

I gripped my skirt tightly.

"Thank you for letting me know."

"Do you also know your cousin is going to the Colosseum? At five o’clock."

"Yes."

"You should hurry."

Sebastia looked very displeased.

I bowed slightly and hurried to find Liantin.

Asking Liantin’s nanny, she said Liantin was in the garden with foreign nobles.

When I reached the garden, as Sebastia said, a man in the Imperial Guard’s uniform was assigned to Liantin.

Thanks to that, nobles who hadn’t even acknowledged Liantin yesterday were now talking to her kindly.

"I heard Prince Salvatore assigned the Imperial Guard as your escort?"

Liantin forced her mouth into a frown.

"They didn’t send Astra’s regular knights but brought soldiers from the jurisdiction, so it seems to bother you."

"My, my... Next time I see you, should I call you Your Highness, not Lady?"

"That’s too soon to say."

"Ladies, be humble."

Laughter broke out around us.

Liantin tried to keep calm, but there was clearly excitement beneath.

"Come here."

When I called, Liantin said “Ah!” and waved happily.

"Come on, Erilot. I’ve reserved a seat for you."

Then, arrogantly to the lady sitting nearby:

"Would you mind moving?"

"Ah... yes, of course."

Though uncomfortable, the lady got up, and Liantin smiled brightly at me.

I looked at her with a stern expression.

"I want to talk separately."

"Huh? Uh, okay..."

Liantin came closer with a puzzled look.

We walked somewhere out of earshot of others, and she said:

"What’s going on? What’s happening with Astra?"

"The issue is with you, actually."

"What?"

Liantin frowned as if not understanding, then laughed softly.

"Prince Salvatore assigned the Imperial Guard to escort you, right? Isn’t that amazing?"

"..."

"The ones who ignored me before suddenly act all friendly because the Imperial Guard is around!"

"..."

"Where’s Sebastia? I’ve been looking but can’t find her. Tch, I should show her what the Imperial Guard looks like and knock her pride down."

Liantin crossed her arms, grumbling, then grabbed me.

"I heard you’re staying longer here too. Then let’s go to the Colosseum together. It’ll be fun!"

"Liantin."

"Slaves don’t just fight there, nobles do too. How exciting! I’ll ask them to prepare a seat for you—"

"Liantin!"

I frowned, and she finally widened her eyes.

"What? What’s wrong?"

"Go to the prince and ask him to withdraw the Imperial Guard immediately."

"...Why?"

"Why else? Don’t you get Prince Salvatore’s real intentions?"

"What intentions... The prince just assigned the guard for me."

"That’s not it—"

"Other nobles look down on me. If I have the Imperial Guard, I share the prince’s prestige."

Liantin stuck out her lips with her arms crossed, then continued:

"The prince likes people who work hard. That’s me exactly. He’s fond of me, so it’s not right to call it a scheme."

Wrong. She’s totally enchanted and not listening.

I stared at her.

Liantin grinned and ruffled my hair.

"Get ready to benefit from me. This time, I’ll help you. I’ll tell ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) the prince to send a carriage to take us to the Colosseum!"

"Liantin."

"Hm?"

"Everything comes at a cost."

"What...?"

"To possess something greater, you have to pay a higher price."

"..."

"We learn every day in Astra how dangerous it is to take what’s beyond your place."

I said coldly, and Liantin’s expression crumpled.

"So? What’s your point?"

"..."

"You mean Prince Salvatore’s attention to me is too much? So I have to pay a price?"

"Liantin."

"Why? I’m Astra’s blood too!"

Liantin shouted sharply.

Her fists clenched tightly, breathing hard.

I understood the emotions in her eyes.

Sadness, resentment.

Clinging feelings about things she can’t have no matter how hard she tries.

"Yeah. I was born with an insignificant blessing. But I worked hard! Desperately!"

"..."

"After desperate effort, I barely got a chance! I deserve at least this much!"

"..."

"You know? People call you blessed. A great blessing, special parents, the most loved granddaughter of Duke Astra!"

"..."

"But you don’t know. What they say behind your back."

Liantin curled her lips and muttered.

"They say you’re a parasite living off Erilot. That even if I work my butt off, you get credit for helping with my tests."

"..."

"How could you understand my feelings—"

"..."

"Stop nagging. I’m tired of it! You’re not my parents. I can choose on my own. Without your help!"

I stared coldly at Liantin’s passionate words.

"Right. I’m not your parent."

"Then..."

"I came to you out of concern only."

"...!"

"I’m not blaming your choice. I’m just worried."

Liantin’s gaze trembled faintly.

I looked her straight in the eye.

"You’re not just a rival cousin to me. You’re also a friend."

"..."

"But you’re right. No matter how much I worry, the choice is yours, so I overstepped."

I lowered my gaze; Liantin stayed silent.

"I’m going now."

She hesitated, then nodded softly.

Time passed.

Four o’clock.

Less than an hour before going to the Colosseum.

Liantin kept glancing at the second castle where Erilot’s room was.

Distracted, she failed to focus on the conversation.

A nearby noble child cocked their head.

“Lady Astra?”

"..."

“Lady!”

"Ah, yes."

“What are you thinking about?”

“Nothing much...”

“Ah, I get it. It’s because of Lady Astra’s younger cousin.”

Liantin couldn’t answer.

The nobles chuckled and exchanged looks.

"The younger sister’s looking ridiculous. Boasting she’s the center of the prince’s attention, but in the end, losing to her sister."

“Excuse me?”

“Isn’t that right? Lady Astra’s own prince looks after her so attentively.”

“That’s not it...”

“Of course it is. Be humble.”

The noble waved their hand and laughed.

“They say Lady Erilot Astra has been holed up in her room all morning. Not protesting, but uncomfortable about the prince showing more interest in her cousin.”

The nobles giggled, saying, “Jealousy, huh?”

They smiled kindly at Liantin.

“Must be tiring having such a cousin in your family. Always thinking you’re the best at everything, right?”

“No.”

“...What?”

“Erilot isn’t like that.”

Liantin said coldly, freezing the mood.

Bang! She slammed the table and stared at the nobles.

“I’m leaving.”

“Ah... yes.”

The nobles watched her with displeased faces.

But Liantin ignored them and left the garden.

Those busybodies are such a problem.

‘When I become the Crown Princess, I’ll tear all their mouths apart.’

While arrogantly raising her chin, a familiar servant appeared.

A handsome man with pink hair.

He was Erilot’s personal attendant.

“Hey, you.”

“Yes?”

Han Ji-hyuk turned his head as Liantin walked over.

“Tell Erilot to prepare for the Colosseum.”

“For our lady?”

“Yes. Tell her not to worry about the carriage. She’ll ride with the imperial carriage. And about today’s matter, I’ll handle it a bit...”

He cleared his throat.

“Just bring her along. She’ll get bored alone.”

“Understood.”

Liantin went upstairs first to prepare for the Colosseum.

Her nanny and maids gleefully adorned her.

“A real fairy, isn’t she?”

Just as the nanny said this with a pleased face, the communication stone rang.

It was a call from the Daymond jurisdiction.

Answering, I heard an excited voice.

[Are you leaving now?]

“Yes, Father! I’m riding in a carriage with Prince Salvatore!”

[Hahaha! Amazing. If Daymond finds out, his face will be priceless!]

“Excuse me?”

[Isn’t that right? My daughter is invited by the empire’s prince, but mine’s going alone.]

“...”

[Liantin?]

“Please don’t be so harsh.”

Her mother’s voice came from the stone, sternly.

[Yes, dear. Erilot has helped our Liantin so much.]

[Hmm... that’s true... but sometimes you just want to show off!]

[Really... Liantin, take good care of Erilot.]

“I will. Taking care of a younger sister is an older sister’s job!”

[You look happy.]

Liantin’s mother chuckled softly.

Her daughter often felt overshadowed by Erilot’s help.

Now, proud to stand on equal footing.

“I’ll tell you about the Colosseum when I return.”

[Yes. Be careful.]

“Yes!”

After hanging up, there was a knock.

A maid opened the door; Han Ji-hyuk bowed to Liantin.

“Our lady said she will depart separately.”

Liantin’s face crumpled in frustration.

‘What? I called her for a reason...’

She still seemed angry.

Pouting, Liantin said:

“Then tell her to do as she pleases.”

“Good night.”

Ignoring Han Ji-hyuk, Liantin headed to the carriage waiting area.

Though in a low mood while walking, seeing the imperial carriage waiting immediately lifted her spirits.

‘Wow.’

A luxurious carriage adorned with the imperial sun emblem.

Though not less splendid than Astra’s, this carriage looked even more impressive with the imperial crest.

‘I’m riding in the imperial carriage with Prince Salvatore...!’

Liantin’s face flushed brightly.

At that moment, footsteps sounded behind.

Expecting a prince, she quickly turned her head.

But it was the unpleasant face of Sebastia Biferi.

Sebastia looked at Liantin standing before the imperial carriage, then at the Imperial Guard assigned by Salvatore.

She snickered.

“So you’re really going to the Colosseum with Prince Salvatore?”

“That’s none of your concern.”

“Didn’t Lady Erilot Astra stop you?”

“How do you know that? Did you stir trouble with Erilot?”

I answered sharply; Sebastia shook her head, looking stunned.

“What was your name? Liantin Astra... right?”

Then Sebastia approached softly, lowering her voice.

“You need to snap out of it.”

“W-what?!”

Liantin yelled.

“So you’ve decided to ditch manners too?”

“Don’t you really know who Prince Salvatore is after?”

“...What?”

“Other nobles aren’t admiring you; they’re waiting for you to make a mistake.”

Sebastia pressed Liantin’s shoulder sharply.

“If you slip up... it’ll be Erilot Astra’s responsibility. You’ll be humiliated, and it’ll be blamed on her.”

“...”

“That’s what they’re aiming for, idiot.”

“I-I won’t make mistakes.”

Sebastia snickered.

“You, raised under the care of Astra’s gardens, think you can outgrow those who were raised in political turmoil?”

“How much do you intend to belittle me?”

“They’ll make you slip. Humiliate you. That’s Prince Salvatore’s specialty.”

“...”

Sebastia stepped away from Liantin, clicking her tongue.

“Thanks to a foolish cousin, Erilot Astra will have quite a hard time.”

She sighed, just as Prince Salvatore arrived.

Seeing Liantin tense and Sebastia’s cold expression, he curled his lips.

“Don’t trouble my partner, Lady Biferi.”

“It was advice, not trouble.”

“Your advice will sting quite a bit for the fragile Lady Astra.”

Sebastia scoffed, turned back to Liantin, and bowed to the prince.

“We’ll see at the Colosseum then.”

“Indeed. Shall we depart, Lady Astra?”

“Y-yes...”

Salvatore personally escorted Liantin onto the carriage.

As he took his seat, the carriage began to move.

‘Scheming? No way.’

There’s no way.

The prince was so kind.

Our conversation was enjoyable. He was truly a delicate boy who understood Liantin’s feelings well.

“Did Lady Biferi upset you?”

“Her conversation was difficult, Your Highness.”

“Understandable. You’ll see her again at every Sun Society meeting.”

“W-will I be invited again next time?!”

“Of course.”

See, Prince Salvatore harbored no ill intent. He only liked her.

‘There’s no harm that will come to Erilot...’

As I thought this, the prince asked:

“That Western Preliminary Duel.”

“Yes! Erilot was amazing, right? She’s good at everything.”

“Indeed. Especially that ‘dragon’.”

“Oh, right. Its name is Lagon.”

“You must know a lot about dragons, then?”

“I’ve seen it often before it became a dragon.”

The prince smiled kindly, murmuring “Ah...”

Then quietly asked:

“Then you must also know where its rare nest is.”

“...Yes?”

“Where is it? The dragon’s nest.”

Liantin stiffened, and the prince smirked more.

“I’m asking.”

“...”

“My lady.”

At that moment, Erilot’s words came to mind.

“Everything comes at a cost.”

I know where Lagon’s nest is.

And I also know that if that leaks to the royal family, Erilot could be in danger.

Liantin gripped her skirt.

“I-I don’t know.”

“You’d better reconsider.”

“I don’t know!”

“Really?”

“If that’s your purpose, I won’t go to the Colosseum—”

Just then, the carriage jolted to a stop.

“Too bad, but we’ve already arrived at the Colosseum.”

“Y-Your Highness.”

“Such a shame.”

“...”

“I thought we could be friends.”

The door opened, and knights from the Colosseum approached.

The smiling prince said:

“Escort my lady to the Colosseum waiting room.”

“Your Highness!”

“Lady Astra’s first appearance. I look forward to it.”