As Cyril entered the room, he turned to Yukino and said, “I will introduce you to your family now.” This meant that King Levaze and Queen were likely present, along with either a prince or princess. It had been ten days since they were told they would arrive the following day. The timing suggested that the proceedings resembling a trial from Yukino’s previous life had either concluded or were about to conclude.
“Understood,” she replied with a serious expression, no longer needing to put on a charming facade. At Cyril’s signal, a multitude of maids entered the room. He stepped out, leaving Yukino in a room that was overly adorned for the occasion. A simple yet undeniably expensive necklace adorned her neck, matching the earrings she wore. Her dress, while elegant, was somewhat extravagant for a trial. What was their aim?
They likely wanted to solidify the charges against her through Yukino’s testimony. She would not hold back her cooperation. After all, the future would not change.
This was not a throne room. Instead, it was a vast, undecorated chamber located in the castle’s underground. The door was sturdy and thick, and the only furniture inside was a long bench. No, there was a throne at the front, where the King and Queen sat.
“I have come at your summons,” Yukino said, bowing respectfully. As the King opened his mouth to respond, a loud voice interrupted.
“Wendy! Wendy, you have betrayed us!”
She had noticed them upon entering but had chosen to ignore them. Now, she reluctantly turned her gaze. Seated on the bench, shackled, were members of Levaze. Dressed in simple clothing and with disheveled hair, they hardly resembled former royalty.
In stark contrast was Yukino, resplendently dressed. It was clear; they intended to provoke their emotions to extract the final bits of information.
Very well, she would respond. With the intent to scatter bombs in every direction, Yukino opened her mouth.
“Your disrespectful behavior before the King is quite unbecoming,” she said.
“What did you say, you…?! I am the King! I am…!”
“Ah, yes, the former king, the king who brought ruin to his country, the king who panicked at the invasion of another nation and surrendered first, was it not?”
King Levaze trembled with rage, his eyes burning with hatred. The Queen and the prince and princess seated beside him shared his fury.
“What do you mean speaking to my father like that?!”
“That’s right, it’s all your fault!”
“Indeed, it is your fault! You failed to demonstrate any worth in this country; you are the root cause of our nation’s destruction!”
“Fufu, how true that is!” Yukino exclaimed loudly.
“This situation is indeed a result of my incompetence and worthlessness. And it was you who chose to send me here, was it not? Therefore, the ultimate source of this calamity is, after all, you, is it not?”
“That is correct,” came a weary voice, this time from King Aurila.
Yukino bowed again.
“Very well, relax. Princess Wendy, the reason I called you here is simple. Do you wish for their sentences to be reduced? That is what I wanted to ask.”
Yukino hesitated slightly at the King’s question. This was unexpected. Surely, they did not think she would plead for their lives.
She met the King’s gaze. His rugged features softened just a bit, as if to convey pity.
Ah, this must be a form of compensation for Wendy. He intended to atone for the year and a half during which Yukino was not treated properly as a “candidate for the princess.” It was a mercy, asking her to deliver the final judgment to a father who had trampled on the life of one born equally.
There was no need for that, she thought calmly. It must have been quite challenging to decide how to handle someone who was in violation of their contract. She likely would not become a princess, yet they could not treat her poorly either.
Still, there was a part of her that felt joy at the thought of Wendy being embraced. The tedium of being confined in that simple room would finally bear fruit here.
King Aurila already knew that Yukino was not cursed, and he had discerned that she was not the type to quietly weep in despair. She felt the difference in stature between him and her real father. He cast aside emotions to protect the nation, yet when the time came, he offered kindness. The carrot and stick approach was something Cyril must have inherited from this wise king.
On the other hand, King Levaze, who had opened with insults toward Yukino, was now stammering, “W-Wendy, do you remember me? I am your mother.”
Beside him, Queen Levaze stood up and addressed her.
“I may not be your birth mother, but I have cared for you all as a mother to all children. When you were to be wed, I provided you with many fans, did I not? Do you remember? I passed on to you the refinements necessary for a lady; what else could that be but love?”
Yukino replied, “Former Queen… It is a pleasure to meet you.”
A murmur rippled through the gathered nobles.
“Is that the… Fourth Prince? How is everyone doing? No, it was the Crown Prince, wasn’t it? The Queen had no interest in anyone but you, so it is an honor to receive your greeting. You did not attend my wedding or see me off, but I certainly received the fan!”
“Indeed, indeed!”
“—Poisoned.”
The Queen’s gaze shifted away, as if struck by a sudden realization. Could she have forgotten that she had concealed poison in the fan until just now?
“Th-That was the King’s doing! I had nothing to do with it!”
“What? Damn it! If that were the case, why didn’t you drink the poison? If you had, perhaps the situation would have been different!”
This was a good development. With each outburst of frustration directed at Yukino—or rather, Wendy—more unnecessary information began to spill forth. To admit that they had intended to dispose of the gift they had sent was something they could never say aloud. This would only strengthen the justification for execution.
“You continue to say such amusing things, Father.”
“I find it revolting to be called ‘father’ by you!”
“What does your sentiment matter? With that name you detest, I have been linked to the royal family. That is a fact and a part of history. Thus, you were able to send me here in place of Princess Dahlia. Your current outburst is being recorded. In this crucial moment between nations, you simply shout your emotions; you will be remembered as a king of such low caliber for generations to come. How amusing, is it not?”
If he became too emotional, he would either become incoherent or the conversation would devolve into chaos. When Yukino attempted to douse the flames of his fury with her words, King Levaze clenched his jaw tightly, glancing around nervously. Perhaps he was finally beginning to grasp his position.
Suddenly, he seemed to realize something.
“…You are quite eloquent, Wendy.”
He fell silent for a moment, then began to smirk gradually. It was the expression of someone who had just thought of something clever.
“King Aurila, what was the crime we committed? Ah, yes, we sent a ‘cursed princess’ when you requested a ‘wise princess skilled in diplomacy.’ But what if this Wendy is not cursed at all? She speaks properly, behaves properly, and while it is infuriating, she makes valid points. So, what do you think? Did we truly commit a crime?”
King Aurila and the others stiffened at his words. They had unconsciously acknowledged that there was some truth to his statement. King Levaze grew emboldened, raising his voice.
“I request another hearing! We have not violated our oath! We sent a beloved and capable daughter to this country; this girl before you is proof of that!”
A calm official interjected, “However, all records related to your royal family have been seized. You claim the princess is frail, yet there are no records of a personal physician being arranged, nor any records of medicine purchases.”
“If the princess were frail, it would cause unrest among the citizens, so I arranged for it secretly. The expenses were covered by the Queen’s personal assets. The money she brought from her family would not be recorded.”
Another official chimed in with a plausible response, “But you only hired a tutor six months before her marriage.”
“This one is willful and strong-willed. No tutor could teach her well, so her siblings taught her instead.”
“There have been hardly any expenses for Princess Wendy over the past sixteen years; what about that?”
“That is the same; the prince and princess who dote on their youngest sister have given her many gifts.”
He was sharper than expected. The mere ten days of preparation seemed to be a mere formality, with evidence already leaning toward a predetermined outcome. It appeared they did not possess enough documentation to refute King Levaze’s claims.
A hint of anxiety flickered across the Chancellor’s face.
If this situation were to be brushed aside, it would turn the tables on everything that had transpired thus far, painting the picture of a nation that had unjustly accused and seized another.
The nobles murmured amongst themselves, and sensing the shift in atmosphere, Levaze’s entourage began to echo the king’s sentiments.
“Indeed, it was out of a mother’s love that I allowed my precious daughter to carry the fan I had used privately. I feared that in a country that would demand the princess so oppressively, my dear daughter might be treated poorly. Thus, out of pity for the princess, who could not escape her burdensome position, I thought it best to provide her with poison, should her heart become too heavy to bear!”
“I, too, often visited my sister’s room, showering her with affection and gifts. The reduction in her budget was simply because it was unnecessary. As her brothers, we have given her plenty of presents!”
“Yes, I realized that you were truly seeking me to handle diplomatic matters. However, at that time, I was already burdened with responsibilities, and it was Wendy who volunteered! She raised her voice, offering to take my place!”
The brothers and sisters, who had thrown nothing but scornful words at her, now wore exaggerated smiles as they spoke. Daria, in particular, surely hadn’t forgotten how many times she had tormented Yukino.
Of course, no one believed their claims to be true. Yet, there was no evidence to declare them false.
Proving the absence of something is a difficult task. The tide was slowly turning against them. King Aurila frowned, clearly taken aback by Yukino’s unexpected display of being “not cursed” to this extent.
This situation had been instigated by Yukino. She had ceased to play the role of the Cursed Princess and had instead revealed her true self. However, she had no intention of cornering Aurila, who had provided her with decent treatment.
Because…
“Hehe.”
Yukino’s voice echoed in the silent room, drawing everyone’s attention.
“Hehehe!”
“…Are you pleased that your family is saved, Wendy? Father forgives you. Now, let us together expose Aurila’s tyranny to the other nations. Come, let us return to our homeland.”
“Hehehe, what is this?”
From the valley of her bosom, she produced a single card—Yukino’s trump card. Even after having her fan knocked from her grasp, her dress stripped away, and all her possessions taken, this was the one thing she had fiercely protected. The maids here had shown enough modesty not to strip her of her undergarments, which she was grateful for.
It was a letter, sealed with wax, bearing the official seal of King Levaze.
“What is that…?”
It seemed they had forgotten even the first and last letter meant for a daughter about to be wed. Yukino rustled the contents and decided to read aloud.
“Do not meddle in unnecessary matters; simply smile sweetly. Remain silent, follow the instructions of your maids, and consider that once you are wed, your ties to this country are severed. Bury your bones in Aurila. Take pride in the fact that even as the cursed daughter, you have a purpose.”
“Ah… You, Wendy, stop! Hand that over, give it to me!”
Ignoring the frantic cries of King Levaze, Yukino approached a knight who had come closer and handed it to him. The knight then presented it to the chancellor.
“Without a doubt.”
At his confirmation, Yukino chuckled softly.
“That is proof that Levaze intentionally married off the Cursed Princess and commanded me not to bring any value to Aurila, regardless of my incompetence. And the reason I am able to speak so eloquently here is thanks to the kindness of Prince Cyril. He provided me with books, a garden, and opportunities to interact with animals. It is through His Highness’s compassion that I have been freed from my curse. With this, I believe I have laid bare the extent of their earlier lies, would you not agree?”
The chancellor and the king whispered among themselves for a moment before both turned to Yukino and nodded deeply. Yukino responded with a lady’s smile.
“Your Majesty, the benevolent King, you asked me if I wished for their sentences to be reduced. I shall answer no. I wish for this father, who lost his judgment in the name of love for the queen and prioritized his own feelings, thus endangering innocent citizens with the threat of war, to atone with his life.”
King Aurila nodded.
“I understand. With the evidence you have preserved, we should be able to gain the approval of the allied nations. The king’s handwriting is abundant, and we can quickly verify the authenticity of this seal. We will gather everything and send it back to our homeland along with the method of punishment for them.”
He took a slight breath before delivering his final verdict.
“The king and queen, along with the fourth prince, who suppressed the people’s petitions and instructed that the treasury be closed during disasters, will all face the death penalty, excluding Princess Wendy!”
At the conclusion of this decree, those in shackles began to scream in unison.
“Stop! Please, stop touching me! Ah, I was wrong; I should have sent Daria instead! If only I had Lawrence!”
“How could you, Father! This is terrible!”
Soldiers restrained them. Chancellor Walker approached the soldiers and began issuing commands.
“Ah, you there, advise the king! I am of use; I am the excellent princess you sought! I will marry the prince this time, surely he desires me…!”
“Yes, bring me to this country! My reign was not flawed; it was thanks to me! Damn it, if only that massive locust infestation hadn’t happened… A mere import restriction from one nation should have been nothing!”
Walker wore a look of disbelief. This was the first time he had shown such a face, which was usually adorned with a smile.
“You were an excellent diplomat as long as your nation held the upper hand… but that was merely the logic of the strong, was it not? In reality, after you sealed off imports and exports, no allied nation offered assistance. Diplomacy is the last bastion to find a way out when one becomes weak, and a princess who could not understand that is of no use to our country. Similarly, a prince who cannot learn from history will also be of no value. Until all procedures are complete, you should reflect on yourself in a quiet cell.”
The princess and prince stood frozen, their faces flushed with anger.
Now, the important letter was being carried away by several ministers. This was the end. Yukino’s revenge had been fulfilled.
“Why, Wendy? Why do you kill Father, Mother, and your siblings?”
A man, no longer a king, shouted with a face stained by despair. Yukino responded with a radiant smile.
“Oh, the reason is quite clear. I… I absolutely despise you all. Whether it was when I was forgotten and lived in a corner of the castle, or when I was suddenly summoned and told to marry, or when I was forced to endure the education and manners you had never bothered to provide. When I was struck with the fan to become ‘proper,’ and when I was scorned as the pitiful sister destined to marry a barbarian.”
Only the fourth prince averted his gaze. The others, however, shouted back, “So what?” and continued to glare at Yukino.
“Yes, I must have hated you from the moment I was born. So please, feel free.”
Now was the time to seize the opportunity granted by King Aurila.
“—You should all die.”
Perhaps because it was said so matter-of-factly, they all fell silent, paling in fear. They realized that Yukino, Wendy, had been waiting for this moment from the very beginning.
Ah, it feels like a dream. Surely, this will save the small Wendy as well. Had Yukino not appeared, she would have succumbed to the poison, cursed as they wished, and died. Instead, she had avoided that fate.
“You… you are guilty as well! Yes, you are, even if no one desires it, you are still the princess of Levaze! And no one loves or wants the cursed you. Regardless, you can no longer hope for a happy life!”
To the man who sought to hurt Yukino until the very end, she offered a quiet smile. Everyone looked puzzled, wondering why she wouldn’t take the bait.
“This will likely be the last time I see your faces… in this world. But I am not lonely. I will soon… follow after you.”
There was no value left in her life, let alone happiness. Yet Yukino was not afraid. After all, she had experienced reincarnation once; it was not certain that it could not happen again.
Wendy would be born again. And this time, she would find happiness. Otherwise—wouldn’t that be a terribly sad life?
“Where are you going?”
Blocking Yukino’s path as she attempted to leave was Cyril.
“Oh? Is there still something I must do?”
“No, your part is over.”
“Then,”
“Next, I would like you to accept my gift.”
“…Now? Here?”
Before the bewildered Yukino, Cyril suddenly knelt down.
“I have obtained the permission of the royal family and the dignitaries. I am here to formally propose marriage to you.”
“…What role do you wish to assign me? There are no roles left for me.”
“To everyone else, I argued that by making you my princess rather than a hostage, the trust of the allied nations would increase, and negotiations with other countries would proceed smoothly.
Well, that’s just a facade. But it’s a convincing facade.”
“And the truth?”
“For a year and a half, I have watched you. It may sound strange coming from me, who has overlooked your intelligence and pride, but I want to spend my life with you, who is a little unconventional.”
I pondered the meaning of his words carefully.
“Are you trying to pick a fight?”
“You said it yourself, love. Love is a wonderful thing, isn’t it, for you?”
“You don’t love me, and I don’t love you.”
Cyril smiled happily.
“Ah, you would say this isn’t love. Perhaps it’s nothing more than arrogant pity.
Even so, I cannot bear the thought of you living your life without me knowing.
You, who are both pitiful and strong.
I want to be the one to make you happy from now on, to make up for everything until now.
If that isn’t love, then so be it. As long as I know.”
“How arrogant. I have no reason to accept you.”
“True.”
For some reason, Cyril smiled again, looking pleased.
“I’ve been searching for a reason for you to accept me, but I couldn’t find one until now.
However, just a moment ago, I found it.”
“…In this court of judgment? You must be out of your mind.”
“Remember the letter from earlier? The passage you read aloud.
‘Once married, the ties to this country shall be severed, and you shall bury your bones in Aurila.’”
“…And?”
“Become my princess. The moment you do… your connection to your homeland will be cut.
It’s an absolute decree from the time when the former king ruled.
In other words, you, who escaped the death penalty, will become free from the Kingdom of Levaze and can soar as you wish.”
The temptation crept into Yukino’s stubborn heart.
“If you die now, you will leave your name as a princess of Levaze.
However, you should not die as a pawn of your despicable father; you should live and witness the moment when the future of the Kingdom of Levaze is severed with your own eyes.
Look there.”
I followed Cyril’s gaze.
There stood her former family, their faces a mixture of despair, regret, and a hint of envy, staring at Yukino.
For Yukino, death was sweet and gentle.
An endless future lay beyond the end of this life.
Even so, Cyril’s invitation was hard to resist.
“…I see. Then… if that’s the case… I accept your proposal.”
The moment she answered, their expressions washed away and erased the sad life of Wendy.