“Cyril, here are the results from the other day.”
“Ah… prioritize this. Place it at the top.”
Before reporting to the king, Cyril’s room was in utter disarray. Piles of documents were stacked high, making it impossible for him to grasp everything on his own. His aide, Orimar, and two servants were helping him, allowing him to make some progress on his tasks.
Everything began when Wendy Lee Dawsett arrived in this kingdom.
Currently, the alliance to which Aurila belongs was established under a king who wielded his military might to unify the fragmented small nations. The era of rampant small states had long passed, and as time went on, the smaller territories were increasingly struggling. Domestic resources were limited, tariffs were imposed on imports and exports, and tolls were charged for passing through other nations. Both goods and wealth were visibly dwindling. However, surrendering unconditionally to neighboring countries was not an option. If that happened, it would be the citizens who would suffer.
It was the Kingdom of Theadry that forcibly brought these small nations under its control. In a time when the small states were merely exhausted, their military power was overwhelming.
At the same time, they were strategically cunning. While provoking conflict, they secretly sent envoys promising policies to alleviate the dire circumstances. The royal families must have desired this in some way. With a degree of resistance, they fell one after another under Theadry’s rule.
Ultimately, while recognizing the independence of each small nation, the alliance abolished tariffs and tolls, allowing for the free exchange of resources. A portion of this would be paid to Theadry, but the tax rates were not burdensome for the local nations. Before long, most of the surrounding small states had been absorbed into the alliance.
Aurila, on the other hand, was more of a cooperative side with Theadry. The kings were distantly related and had frequently visited each other during their childhood. It seemed that before everything began, the two had meticulously devised strategies together.
Thus, Aurila had the mission of being the boundary nation between the alliance and the neighboring countries that were not under its control. The neighboring countries and their surroundings were not small enough to be called mere small states, yet they were not large enough to be self-sufficient.
And soon, a natural disaster was expected to occur.
It was said that a massive outbreak of locusts occurred every thirty years or so. If this happened, the surrounding granaries would be emptied in an instant. Countries that had prepared by stockpiling would fare well, but there were also nations that had made no preparations at all. Wendy’s homeland, Levaze, was one of them. It was a country with a rich history, but the current king was deemed incompetent. That was the general assessment.
It would be fine if only Levaze sank under this burden. The problem was that starving citizens would flood into Aurila as refugees. If that happened, they would have to share the already scarce food meant for their own people. Ignoring them would lead to riots as they demanded their share. It was an unbearable nuisance.
The conflicts, the inevitable deaths, the hassle of disposing of bodies, and the ensuing diseases and other complications would create unnecessary burdens. Therefore, the first step was to form ties with the royal family. Particularly, Levaze had a princess known for her diplomatic skills, and the plan was to incorporate her into their policies.
However…
“Nice to meet you!”
What arrived was a dazed princess, greeting them with a drawn-out introduction and awkward bow. Cyril had been informed in advance of her arrival and had repeatedly stated that it was a breach of contract, yet she was forcefully sent anyway. Was this meant to fulfill some promise?
He was aware of her existence. The spies sent to Levaze had long since caught wind of the story of the forgotten princess. Yet, to think they would present this girl in response to a request for a capable princess was astonishing. The king was exasperated, the queen looked down on her, and the dignitaries were furious.
“Well, it’s fine. Let’s use this as a reason to incorporate that country into the alliance.”
With the king’s decision, which seemed to suggest that it had actually simplified matters, the atmosphere remained stable.
The first sense of discomfort arose during a conversation with Wendy. When he mentioned informing the neighboring countries of Levaze’s actions, she replied:
“It will take about two years, I suppose.”
For what? He couldn’t grasp her intent, but it was indeed precisely the same duration as the expected timeline from negotiations with Levaze to the outbreak of war and eventual victory. The rumors of the Cursed Princess, while still rumors, could almost be considered fact. She could hardly articulate her words and responded like a child. Surely, it meant nothing, he thought at that moment.
What bothered him slightly was that she seemed to be aware of herself as the “Cursed Princess.” He felt pity for Cyril, who would marry such a girl. Who had spoken those words of disdain to her? Had they been said to her face? Considering how she was treated in her homeland, it was not surprising.
The one truly pitiable was not Cyril, who would welcome her, but rather Wendy, who had lived her life in such a manner.
Yet Cyril was a prince, and he found himself lacking words to offer to the dazedly smiling Wendy. He wanted to provide her with a semblance of a normal life through education, but his father had deemed it premature and rejected the idea. Thus, he could only provide her with storybooks and encourage her to practice reading. Though she often grimaced and claimed she couldn’t read, she was still reading for horseback riding, which only deepened his suspicions that she might not truly be cursed.
There was nothing more he could do. Negotiations with Levaze were proceeding on the premise that she was cursed, and Cyril was a member of that royal family.
He found himself tormented by the thought that perhaps he was also sacrificing her as an offering. Was fulfilling her modest requests merely a way to alleviate his own guilt? Delving into his own feelings seemed unwise given the ongoing tensions with other nations. Being kind to her felt like it would lead to a future where he would lose in negotiations at a critical moment.
More clearly than Cyril, it was the chancellor, Walker, who felt pity for her. He had opposed keeping her in a shabby room until the very end and seemed to frequently check on her well-being. It was he who had suggested horseback riding when Wendy requested a pastime. He seemed to care for her like a small child. It was fair to say that he gradually instilled a sense of guilt in Cyril. That was why both the king and queen maintained at least a minimum level of courtesy towards Wendy.
In the end, after several warnings and a declaration of war, the time until they invaded Levaze was shortened to just over a year and a half. The enemy turned out to be more incompetent than they had anticipated.
The demand to exchange Wendy and Princess Dahlia was never expected to be accepted. The goal was simply to create a situation where Levaze could be seen as rejecting the alliance’s demands. Yet, in a sense, it was their last act of mercy. They rebuffed it.
The alliance stood united. All nations raised the prices of exports to Levaze and reduced imports from them, and the effects were immediate. Countries not part of the alliance began to distance themselves from Levaze. Eventually, realizing they were isolated from the world, Levaze finally panicked and proposed sending Princess Dahlia. However, it was not the king’s signature but a joint statement from the chancellor and the dignitaries. Naturally, they did not accept it. Instead, they demanded 30% of Levaze’s territory as compensation. This was also a demand anticipated to be rejected, bordering on extortion, but it served as a decisive blow for the breach of contract.
And at last, the massive outbreak of locusts occurred, and Levaze was left helpless and exhausted without any countermeasures.
While the upper echelons of Levaze were in disarray, embroiled in internal strife, they launched an offensive. The resolution came swiftly. The King and Queen of Levaze were captured, along with the chancellor, the first prince, the crown prince, and the aforementioned Princess Dahlia, all of whom were transported to Aurila. They were to be interrogated about the internal situation, the policies currently in place, and the pressing issues, serving as sources of information for future national strategies. After that, it would be up to the king’s judgment. However, it was likely to end in execution.
What to do with Wendy? Honestly, he had no predictions. She was the so-called Cursed Princess, and she bore little to no responsibility for her situation. Even in terms of royal duties, Wendy had virtually none. She lacked judgment, social skills, and anything that could be expected of a princess.
However…
The next unexpected event was the visit from Viscount Hall. The news of the successful assault on Levaze had circulated among the nobility, and he sought an audience shortly after.
His territory’s mines had greatly contributed to the preparations for this war. Thus, despite being busy, the king made an effort to carve out time for the meeting.
“What will become of Her Highness, Princess Wendy?”
After the words celebrating the victory of the war, he said, “I know you’re busy, so let’s get to the main topic,” which raised a question that took the King by surprise.
It was an unexpected topic. The King had assumed that the man intended to demand a reward commensurate with his contributions, and he was momentarily at a loss for words.
“What do you mean?” the King asked.
“I am aware that the lady is not the princess consort you seek. I also understand that this was the catalyst for this war. Therefore, it is only natural that her position as a candidate for engagement has vanished.”
“What are you trying to say?”
“I have come to request the princess’s life be spared.”
That was a statement that disregarded his position as a lord and as a viscount. The man seemed to realize this himself, as the confident demeanor he had during the mining contract was nowhere to be seen; he was now sweating profusely.
“I acknowledge your dedication to your country. For that, I will hear your reasons.”
“Thank you… um, is it true that Her Highness, Princess Wendy, is indeed the Cursed Princess?”
With those words, he recounted an incident from when Wendy had visited the territory. At the same time, it was a confession that his wife and daughter had attempted to harm Wendy, who at that time was at least trying to become a member of the royal family. It was a crime that could still warrant punishment even now. Thus, it was clear that this was not a lie but a genuine occurrence.
“That girl discerned the state of her guards’ boots and saw through their treatment, successfully avoiding a crisis…”
“The guard himself remembered every word. It must have been a shock to him. He recognized that our treatment of the soldiers was unjust through Her Highness’s words and came directly to me to report it. That led to the revelation that my wife and daughter had been misappropriating defense funds.”
Now that he thought about it, he recalled hearing such a story. He had believed it was a fabrication to isolate his wife and daughter, but it seemed it was true.
It was hard to believe that the rumored Cursed Princess Wendy had admonished her guards with such dignity and words. However, there was also no reason for this viscount to lie.
“No, rather, it is better for her to remain the Cursed Princess. She bears no political responsibility. Let it be known that the King has taken pity on her and arranged for her to live her remaining days in peace. I have come to request that this be so.”
“So, you mean you will take care of her?”
“Indeed. I intend to ensure that she can live happily and peacefully in our household.”
The King, of course, neither accepted nor rejected the proposal on the spot. It was one of the pending issues, and a comprehensive decision was necessary, including the treatment of other princes and princesses. He merely conveyed that he would keep the viscount’s request in mind and sent him back to his territory.
Thinking back, Cyril recalled that the guard who had accompanied him at that time was the same one from that incident.
At that moment, a maid had entered the cigar room, unafraid of the men, and whispered to him that Wendy was about to be ensnared by the lord’s wife and daughter. He hadn’t understood the meaning at the time, but seeing the maid’s serious expression, Cyril rushed to her aid. He was concerned that problems with his wife and daughter could jeopardize the contract, but he also felt a strong sense of duty to protect Wendy.
He had said that all she needed to do was smile. That was a declaration that he would bear everything else.
When he arrived, Wendy was smiling, and her guard stood there, looking dazed. The atmosphere was strange, but the details were obscured. However, it was clear that his wife and daughter harbored hostility toward Wendy, so he had issued a warning.
What was that guard planning to do? Even now, recalling his wife and daughter’s intentions filled him with rage.
The King did not dismiss the viscount’s story as mere nonsense. In the midst of dealing with the aftermath of the war, he called the guards assigned to Wendy and listened to their accounts.
“Excuse my impertinence, but I too am half in doubt about the claim that Her Highness is cursed.”
“Why is that? You only accompany her to the Back Garden for thirty minutes a day, right?”
Cyril, who had been present during the discussion, couldn’t help but interject. If she were not cursed, it would only deepen Cyril’s internal conflict.
If she were not cursed, but rather understood everything and acted with full awareness of her position, then Aurila could not blame Levaze for anything.
“…It is not normal for a princess to remain silent in that poorly lit, simple room with such clearly inadequate treatment.”
The knight sighed in response.
“If you ask whether it is normal or not, then it is certainly not. However, most who are not normal tend to voice various demands, do they not? The fact that she accepted her situation in silence made the knights believe she clearly understood her position.”
Wasn’t that reading too positively into her dazed demeanor? He wanted to argue, but it seemed to only serve as evidence of her high favorability, so he held his tongue.
“Moreover, the exercises the princess engages in are all remarkably functional. The precise stretching and flexibility exercises indicate a clear understanding of muscle function. While they do not compare to our training, they are at least efficient for physical conditioning. Many of the guards have taken to imitating her.”
That was indeed true. When she first expressed a desire to exercise, he had acknowledged that a little outlet was necessary rather than keeping her cooped up. When she later requested a mat and began performing stretches in a rather revealing manner, he had thought to stop her but ultimately let it be, reasoning that she was the Cursed Princess. It was akin to a child tumbling about in play, and neither he nor the guards had viewed her as a woman.
“Additionally, from time to time, foreign songs can be heard coming from her room. I cannot discern the language, but the melodies are strange. They certainly do not seem like the work of an uneducated person.”
He also conveyed to the King the matter of the well-worn children’s book. However, with work piling up, the treatment of Wendy remained undecided until the very last moment. It was only on the day that her family, led by the former King Levaze, was set to arrive that he finally summoned her.
“I must inform you that your country has lost the war.”
Both the King and Queen, along with the other dignitaries, felt an uncomfortable tension. It felt as though they were committing some heinous act against a child.
Nothing had been decided regarding her, and he had simply ordered her to remain in seclusion to avoid any awkward encounters with her family. It was then that she would learn of her homeland’s demise.
She would surely grieve. Or perhaps she wouldn’t even understand that. Regardless, Cyril wanted to reach out to her as she turned around. He felt that he was now the only one who could support this peculiar princess.
And then, she transformed her previously dazed expression into one of vibrant beauty, her voice ringing out with clarity and her words commanding the room. Her dignified curtsy was far more impressive than that of the Queen, who knew nothing of such movements. Her gestures and tone of command were no longer believable as those of a cursed being.
Even after she left, the dignitaries were abuzz, despite being in the presence of the King.
“Tomorrow, a large shipment of ledgers and documents will arrive with Levaze’s people. While we compile national policies, also investigate Princess Wendy.”
After a moment of silence, the King spoke.
Upon exiting the audience chamber, he spotted a maid who should not have been there. It was Wendy’s maid. He recognized her face and asked what was the matter. She presented him with a cloth bag and said,
“Princess Wendy possesses poison.”
The people around them began to stir, speculating whether she intended to target the prince or even the King. It was a grave crime; she should be captured and executed! they exclaimed. Yet the maid remained completely unperturbed.
“This was given to her by King Levaze, instructing her to take her own life.”
The surroundings fell silent in an instant. Had they sent Wendy in place of their beloved, intelligent daughter, and on top of that, provided her with poison for suicide? What madness was this?
An emotion that was neither anger nor outrage silenced everyone.
And Cyril took off running. The familiar corridor of the northern wing felt long and distant. Too distant. He sprinted with all his might. His knights, who were his close aides, kept pace, but the bureaucrat Orimar could not keep up.
As he burst through the door, he found Wendy just about to swallow something.
How fortunate he was to arrive in time.
If that maid had been even a moment late…
From what I gathered later, it seems she had been instructed to tell Wendy to flee. Had she followed those orders, Wendy would surely have met her demise.
On Cyril’s desk lay a cloth pouch entrusted to him by that very maid. Inside were sixteen gemstones. According to the documents delivered by the transport wagon from Levaze, these were the birthday jewels arranged annually by the officials. They were neither small nor cheap. Yet, they were green stones, not reflecting the color of Wendy’s hair or eyes. It felt like evidence that no one had cared for her.
Furthermore, the analysis confirmed that what Cyril had knocked away from Wendy, which she had been about to swallow, was indeed poison. The search had revealed multiple other poisons hidden within her room.
The books displayed in her chamber, lined up like mere decorations, were children’s books, worn to the point of fraying from overuse. While I had known this, there was a record indicating that these books had been prepared by her biological mother. Relying solely on these stories, she had lived her life. The sight of it was overwhelmingly lonely and sorrowful.
The investigation into the royal family of Levaze was progressing slowly, yet it had taken shape to some extent, especially with the cooperation of the chancellor from their side, bringing it close to completion. As a matter of record, we intended to thoroughly sift through everything.
Ultimately, all records indicated that Wendy had grown up neglected and without any education. Whether she was cursed or not was no longer the issue; what mattered was that she was not the “capable and diplomatic princess” everyone had hoped for.
And so, the king decided to arrange a meeting between Princess Wendy and her family.
In the depths of her mind, Yukino hummed a tune.