In Alviberto's palace lived a young maiden, with blond hair and blue eyes. She remained in her room, without even looking outside her room.
"Knock–! Knock–!"
"Miss Elise, I brought your breakfast."
A housekeeper had gone to her quarters, and with her permission, entered, only leaving a buffet cart in her room and then leaving.
"..."
Elisemiere Cardia Aleonia, the second princess of Aleonia, and Grace's younger half-sister. Her life has been very boring and frustrating, because of her past.
"..." – Elise looks disgustedly at her breakfast, filled with food that not even she would be able to fully digest.
" Tett Belleff. (What an exaggeration.)"
Because I was the second princess in the line of succession, I remained in the background in the king's eyes, without even having a single participation in the throne, and in the activities of my father's monarchy.
…My mother had died, the cause of her death being "Rùpertis disease", a disease that slowly eats away at the inside of the host, causing organ failure little by little, or so they told me. I didn't even have the opportunity to see her…
After finishing her coffee, Elise gets up to comb her long hair.
…So, my life has been like this, locked in my room, without even looking outside, because of the risk of me having contracted this disease from my mother…
Day 23, Month Arlopes, Year 854 of the Miglorian Era. Today is my birthday, and the monarch Voros plans to throw a party in honor of the Èrasus Squadron, for having decimated the resistant forces of Galèsia, at least that's what I heard from some servants of the castle...
"..."
"He probably doesn't even remember us–… does he, Mom?" Elise looks at a portrait of her mother, the first queen, drawn by a talented local artist and painter.
…Grace… a viper with hidden fangs, always ready to strike when given the chance. She looks away from my father to me, putting herself first, always receiving merit, praise and comfort from his majesty…
Knock–! Knock–! – someone knocks on the door.
"...It must be Celina who came back to get the cart…"
"Come in."
The door opens, and the person reveals herself to be Grace, who enters her room.
"Good morning, my dear sister–!"
"Get the hell out of here, now–!"
Elise stares at Grace in a hostile manner, showing that her presence in her room does not please her at all.
"Now… is that a way of speaking to me? Your big sister, who loves you so much~?"
"Have you been paying attention in the etiquette and royal behavior classes?"
"I even had a very special coffee prepared for you to prove it."
Elise remains disgusted by the amount of sarcasm towards Grace's words.
"You know… isn't today a pretty special day?"
"A day entirely dedicated to someone who is in this room–"
" Auffin N'vincheen. (Your birthday.)"
Elise became increasingly enraged by Grace's nagging. The second princess paced around the room while talking.
"What a shame~... why must daddy be sooo busy that he doesn't remember this."
"However, don't worry. Instead… there will be a beautiful feast in honor of my Faulhy, and his men for their wonderful deeds~!"
"And there will be lots of delicious food, dancing and a very special declaration from our father!"
"...!" – Elise is stunned by Grace's statements.
"But I don't think your presence there will be much missed… after all, who would want a rebellious, worm-ridden princess–"
"Arhh—!" Elise throws a knife at Grace, which she dodges.
"*Huff…* *Huff…*" Elise puffs.
" Eveaulfr! G'rat! (GET THE F*CK OUT OF HERE! NOW!)"
Grace looks coldly and ignorantly at the situation, gives a slight smile, and leaves Elisemiere's room.
"If that's how you want it…"
"Have a happy… and lonely birthday, my dear little sister~", Grace comes out of the room.
Elise soon begins to cry in frustration on her bed because of her stepsister's ill-intentioned words.
…
From another perspective, Voros, the monarch, received the news directly from his chambers, sent by his eldest daughter.
" Lieffen Hernsch'been. (Your Majesty.)" – Grace kneels in the presence of the king.
"Grace… my daughter."
"I bring news from my younger sister."
"I said that you congratulated her once again on completing another cycle of life, and I delivered your letter."
"And he also said that we are very sad not to have her with us."
"...That's great. Thank you, my daughter."
"I am very sad, father. But I am more worried about the risks she might run by being outside her room."
"I understand your feelings, my daughter. I also miss my little Elise very much."
"Since her mother passed away, and the suspicions that she might have the same disease that caused her to succumb, she has not been the same."
"Let us pray that our heavenly mother will have mercy on her, my father."
"Yes. By the way, there's something I'd like to share with you, Grace."
"Hmm… and what would that be, your majesty?"
"My congratulations on your successful achievements at the maiden academy in Lisithea."
"I recognize your merits acquired there."
"I am honored by your words, Your Majesty."
Grace's lies penetrated the monarch so deeply that they could never be considered slander. After Grace's statements, she left the throne room.
The monarch remains thoughtful and worried about all his responsibilities, in addition to the thoughts of the betrayal he was destined to receive.
Grace headed for the large storeroom in the library. Walking through the corridors, she sang Aleonia's devotional hymn in a nasal tone.
A large library, with three floors of pure knowledge acquired throughout the Ages, passed down from father to son in the royal family. The shelves formed an arch around the room, with a large window at the end of the room, a spiral staircase in the middle of the room allowing access to the next floors, a considerably elegant place to study.
Entering the storeroom, Grace picks up an old box on top of a shelf, and in it finds a dusty book called " The Royal Lineage of Aleonia ".
"This book will soon become outdated."
A mysterious voice draws Grace's attention. This is Boris Narovshor, a Baron of the court, and a very close companion of the commander-in-chief and consequently, of the monarch.
"Indeed, Narov."
"There were once more competent nobles within the Lustrian lineage. Today we have weak men as our monarch."
" *Huff* It doesn't seem like something that can be changed immediately. After all, there have never been matriarchs in the crown."
"I would rather be embarrassed in public a thousand times than submit to those wretched nobles without character."
"Either way, that will change sooner or later. I will conquer that throne."
"How can there be someone with such a dirty soul as yours? Deceiving your own father."
"That was just a whim, nothing more."
" ...Ef Kraun'kt… ( ...That monster…) " – The Baron asked in his thoughts.
"So, what did you think of my plans? Decent, huh?"
"If creating a holocaust of all the children and teenagers in the country in order to incriminate and tarnish the credibility of His Majesty is a decent plan, they would call you a reckless lunatic," Baron Narov replied.
"Now, you make me feel embarrassed with so many compliments, Narov~."
"Indeed, that was a bit bold of me, hehe. Our empire expands in a colossal way, like dogs."
"This will help to drastically reduce inequality between cities. A small treat for all our ministers."
The conversation continued between the Baron and Grace in that storeroom, mainly concerning the celebration at dusk. The Baron expressed his thoughts, about the monarch wanting to throw a party in honor of the soldiers in the midst of a great calamity.
"I don't understand your majesty's thoughts. Deciding to host a celebration in the midst of such great chaos."
"I agree with the fact that we achieved an unparalleled victory, even so, that does not justify this decision."
"Many soldiers of the Èrasus squadron guard are tired from the last expedition"
"Now, obviously this was part of the plan."
"It was to be expected." – Narov expressed no surprise at the second princess's statements.
Grace seemed unconcerned about this, as there were plans for that great banquet. Her evil intentions were clear, at least to those who knew her true nature.
"Don't worry so much about it, Narov. This will be an unforgettable celebration."
"W-what are you planning?"
"Secret!"
Grace's unpredictable behavior frightened the Baron of the House of Narovshor. The fear of enmity with the second princess became something that the nobles of the palace strove to avoid at all costs.
"You see, there is nothing better than a celebration to fatten the bones and flesh of the people, bringing carelessness and misfortune to the events of this chaotic war."
"I say this may be one of my best whims."
"Think of it as a benefit to you too, dear Narov."
"*gulp*" – The Baron felt uncomfortable with Grace's statements.
"Avoid thinking too much about it. Your doubts can bother me a lot, you know."
Grace returns the dusty book to the shelf, and resumes speaking:
"Well, enough idle talk. Get on your way, Narov."
"We will have many obligations to fulfill before the events that are to come."
"R-Right."
They both left the storeroom. Grace walked carefree through the structurally decorated corridors.
"What should I choose for lunch today~?"
"Should I repeat yesterday 's Bongriphff dish?"
Grace turns her face to one of the hallway windows, looking out over the entire Upper City of Aleonia.
"All this will be mine one day. There is no doubt about that."
"After having eradicated that tiny "stone" from my path."
"No one will be able to take that away from me, no one."
" Naulnwheen. (Nobody.)"
The First Princess resumed her journey to her chambers, recovering her thoughts to herself, under the cloudy view that Aleonia's sky presented.
…