If You Take the Enemy Prince as Your Knight

The restored honor tidied up the situation neatly. It felt as if golden waves had washed over the sandy shore, only to vanish just as quickly. He had swept me up completely, yet he remained as calm as if nothing had happened.

What a pity.

A strange feeling lingered in me, a yearning to reach out and touch him once more.

“Princess.”

His voice cut through my idle thoughts.

“Once you cross this plain, you will be in the Empire’s territory.”

“I see. Thank you.”

I lightly grasped my skirt and offered a polite bow. At the very least, in this final moment, I wanted to be remembered as graceful, like a true princess.

“Are you going back?”

“…Isn’t it obvious?”

Hadn’t he brought me all the way here just to send me back? I questioned his intent with my gaze, and he spoke as if forcing the words out.

“For you, isn’t the Imperial Palace dangerous?”

I knew that already. Returning to the Imperial Palace was no different from stepping back onto a battlefield where my life would constantly be at risk.

My father was the most powerful emperor in history, a conqueror on the brink of unifying the continent. And yet, the world regarded him with hatred rather than respect. Yet people despised him instead of respecting him, calling him ‘madman’ or ‘tyrant.’

The Mad Emperor Axellion. A man who ruled the world as if he were a god, treating humans as mere playthings. Even his own children were no exception. At any moment, I could die at the whim of his ever-changing moods. And yet, I didn’t hesitate to walk back into the Imperial Palace. The reason was simple.

“I have an oath to uphold.” Suppressing all traces of playfulness within me, I spoke solemnly.

This oath demanded nothing less than my entire body and soul. I renewed my resolve in my heart. I would— remove my father. And take his place.

“…”

“…”

I blinked as my eyes stung from staring into the empty air for too long. When I came to my senses, I found myself meeting his gaze. He had been watching me for quite some time, his expression like that of a man possessed.

“Sir Knight?”

“…”

There was no response. For a moment, I wondered if some unknown power of the Imperial family had unintentionally activated. Startled, I averted my gaze, and only then did he react.

“Ah, my apologies.”

Fortunately, he was fine.

“No need to apologize.”

Thinking back, my concern had been unfounded. Who in the world would fall victim to the mind control of a princess who hadn’t even come of age yet? Especially when he was a legendary hero, blessed with the greatest power since the age of myths. And yet, he continued to confuse me.

“For some reason…”

“Yes?”

“I feel like I will never forget you, Princess.”

“…”

In the darkness, his faint smile scattered like mist.

What impression had I left on him? I did not know.

As our farewell approached, silence fell between us. Even a conventional parting was difficult for a princess and a prince from warring nations.

The clouds had cleared, revealing a sky overflowing with stars. Standing alone with him beneath the brilliant night, a single thought consumed my mind. Would we both survive? Would we endure our respective battlefields?

“Stay strong, Princess.”

“Stay strong, Sir Knight.”

I turned and walked away. Each step took us farther from one another.

* * *

1. Never Want to Meet Again

Even in solid black, the velvet dress could not conceal its excessive embellishments and lace. The veil covering my face was supposed to appear modest and solemn, but instead, it gave off an alluring impression, like something from a masquerade ball. Even mourning attire was extravagant in the Imperial Palace, a reflection of the Mad Emperor’s taste—he only kept what was beautiful.

Today was the funeral of my eighteenth older brother. In the Imperial family, funerals were monthly events, and relationships between siblings were distant and indifferent. The brother who had died today was no different—I barely knew his name or face, let alone exchanged words with him. And yet, for the first time in a long while, I felt genuine sorrow.

“I heard he tried to poison His Majesty?”

“To avoid suspicion, he drank the poisoned cup first.”

“Shh, they’re covering it up as suicide.”

I paid silent respect to his noble resolve. The eighteenth prince was also the last imperial prince.

The mad emperor—my father—regarded his children’s lives as worthless, like insects. But he was especially cruel to his sons, far more than to his daughters. The reason stemmed from an oracle that had passed from the Grand Cathedral.

-The mad emperor’s son will kill his father and seize the throne.

The emperor was merciless. Instead of killing them all at once, he manipulated circumstances to eliminate them under false pretenses. He sowed discord among the princes, making them slaughter one another. He also sent them to unwinnable wars and deadly monster hunts, ensuring their bodies would never be recovered. And when all else failed, he fabricated treasonous accusations and executed them.

Those who miraculously survived were subjected to further humiliation. Under the guise of a succession contest, he threw them into a colosseum and made them fight like gladiators for the amusement of the Empire’s citizens.

Driven mad by such cruelty, some princes lost their minds. Others chose death. And so, all sixty-seven princes were gone. Now, none remained.

“Rest in peace.”

I placed a white flower atop the coffin, offering a silent prayer. When I lifted my head, I saw the grayish-blue sky beyond the lattice-like veil. As if mourning along with us, soft white snowflakes began to fall.

“If you’re going to cry, do it inside. It’s disgraceful.”

“…”

A sharp, cold voice shattered the moment like a slap on the face.

I turned to the person standing to my right. Short, lavender hair. A proud tilt of the chin, eyes filled with disdain. This cold, arrogant woman was my nineteenth sister—Orlette.

I could feel the nobles around us tense. They assumed she was provoking me again, as we often exchanged insults rather than pleasantries. But I had no intention of correcting their misunderstanding.

Leaning in, I whispered so only she could hear. “Sister, your eyes are red. Try harder to hold it in.”

“I’ll just say a blood vessel burst from glaring at you.”

“So you had a plan. I’ll gladly play along.”

As we created the illusion of a hostile standoff, another disturbance arose on my left.

“Hic, sob.”

A lovely young woman with golden curls clung to my side, weeping dramatically.

“Sisters, you’re so heartless!”

Upon meeting my gaze, she theatrically collapsed, resembling a flower battered by the rain. Even after seeing it countless times, I still marveled at her acting skills.

That was Nanaen, the fortieth princess. With her pretty and lovable appearance, she was one of the few daughters favored by the emperor.

The nobles grew even more anxious. Nanaen had a knack for using a tone that somehow always irritated me whenever she stood before me.

“How can you not shed a single tear for our dear brother? Are your hearts made of ice? Steel? No worries, I’ll cry on your behalf, dear brother!”

I sighed silently. But one thing had to be addressed.

“Do you even know his name?”

“…Hic, sniff, sob!”

I knew this would happen. I let out a silent sigh, my lips parting and closing without a sound. Then, I exchanged a brief whisper with Nanaen. “Do you really have to do this, even at a funeral?”

“I was helping you not to cry.”

“Right. Thanks.”

“Don’t mention it.”

Neither of us was being insincere.

The mad emperor didn’t attend the funeral, but his eyes and ears were everywhere. How much would he loathe the sight of his daughters shedding tears at the funeral of a son who had tried to poison him? Only Nanaen, who was doted on like a pet, might be spared his wrath.

Sister Orlette, Nanaen, and I stood in a row, maintaining our silence. This was the one good thing about funerals—you could lower your gaze gloomily, lost in thought about your miserable fate, and it would simply be taken as a silent prayer for the deceased.

Sister Orlette finally broke the silence. “The princes are all dead.”

The mad emperor had eliminated the threat foretold by the oracle. But none of us believed that was the end of it.

“Even so, His Majesty Father will not be at ease.”

At Nanaen’s words, we exchanged glances, silently agreeing.

-The mad emperor’s son will kill his father and seize the throne.

There were rumors that the oracle’s words had been altered. Some whispered the original prophecy hadn’t said ‘son,’ but ‘child’—meaning that his daughter could be the one to kill the emperor. Since all his sons were dead, it would be his daughters’ turn now.

“Everyone, prepare yourselves.”

Just then, the chamberlain, a middle-aged man, appeared before us.

“I bring word to all Imperial Princesses. His Majesty the Emperor calls for you.”