The Monster Princess

Chapter 10

It seemed that my father had only invited his children to the luncheon, as the empress consorts weren’t at the restaurant. Once most of the food was gone from the table, he spoke. “How are you progressing in magic dynamics, Fifth Princess?”

“I-I’m working hard, Your Majesty,” one of my half-sisters answered.

“A hard-working student should not be receiving a failing grade for the third month in a row, should she?” As he has done many times before, he began his critique of each of his children’s academic progress and lifestyle. He went from youngest to oldest.

“Second Prince, I heard you have been neglecting your training recently. Devote more time and effort to your fitness. A strong mind requires a strong body.”

I blinked, already weary of the usual one-way conversation.

“First Prince, how long must I listen to Count Tarlo’s complaints? Be more diligent. You are blessed with decent talent, but it seems all you think about is playing tricks.”

An outsider might think the emperor was being a caring father, but he actually had no interest in his children’s lives. All he was doing was pretending to be attentive by vaguely listening to his children’s updates on their activities and academics. These gatherings were the only times I ever saw Emperor Cedric act remotely fatherly.

“Good. And First Princess...”

At last, it was my turn. His blue eyes, which much resembled my own, came to rest on my face.

“Keep it up,” he said curtly and indifferently before continuing his meal.

I unwittingly pursed my lips, making the same expression as I did when facing Ramiel earlier. As the other princes and princesses stared at me with admiration and envy, I could tell what was going through their minds.

She’s Father’s favorite...

I’m jealous.

He never has a single thing to criticize about Arbella.

No fair!

I had once had similar thoughts. “I knew it. I really am flawless! I’m the most incredible!” His lack of criticism would fuel my ego. But now, I felt ashamed that such a thing had made my past self so proud.

“Yes, Father,” I answered with a faint smile as I stabbed a slab of meat I had cut into bite-sized pieces.

Perhaps I’m misinterpreting things. It’s not that he avoids criticizing me because I have no future, unlike the others. Right...?

I raised my head to take in the view in front of me. The room we were in was heavily decorated with lace and floral arrangements. The chandelier hanging from the milky-white ceiling was dyed a deep saffron by the sunlight. The people around me also had glowing smiles on their faces, regardless of the thoughts they might be hiding behind those masks. Everything in the world was gleaming brightly, and I couldn’t have any of it.

I could not stand to eat any more. I had lost my appetite.

* * *

After the luncheon, Ramiel followed me sluggishly and repeated the same nonsense question he had asked earlier. “Did you really get your heart broken, Arbella?”

He was still fixated on my short hair. Because I had been wearing extensions when he saw me in the Magic Garden, he had been unaware of my new hairstyle until now.

“If you’re going to spew rubbish, would you mind getting lost?” I spat in an annoyed tone, refusing to spare him a glance.

He did not get lost and instead drew closer to observe my expression intently. “It’s just... You actually looked unwell back there. Anyway, if Chloe saw you, she might have lost it. I think she overslept, so she couldn’t make it.”

His worrying seemed at least a bit sincere, so I was compelled to mellow out a little. But it didn’t last for long.

“In any case, if there really is nothing wrong with you, you should lighten up and film a video with your big brother here. The stones with you in them are really pop— Mmph!”

Figures. He only ever thinks about how best to get under people’s skin.

“Mmph! Mmph!”

I cast a stronger muffling spell so that he wouldn’t be able to free himself at will as he did before.

“Get a move on!” I said. But as I walked past him, I witnessed a curious sight.

A boy was walking on the slave path, a road that hadn’t been used since slavery was abolished ten years prior. I couldn’t see his face behind his scruffy hair, but his hair’s red shade made him noticeable even from a distance. Based on his overall appearance and height, I could tell he was around my age.

Hold on a minute. Red hair... And that side profile... He looks familiar.

“Who is that?” exclaimed Ramiel as he glanced at the boy. “Oh, right! I heard you rescued a boy from Blovis Forest. Isn’t that him?”

Ah, that’s where I’ve seen him. “I thought the children with families went back to their homes and the rest were sent to an orphanage. What is he doing here?” I wondered aloud.

“Um... Well, I know you meant well,” responded my half-brother hesitantly. “But I heard that his father used forbidden magic and was convicted a month ago.”

My heart sank.

He continued. “So it was decided the Hall of White Night would take the kid in. You know how the children of forbidden magic users have to be reformed, right? He must’ve been trying to run away and ended up getting caught.”

“That’s correct, Your Highness,” Marina, walking alongside us, added in agreement. “He has not been purified, so please pay him no mind.”

People born to magicians who explored forbidden magic were referred to as heretics. They were the closest thing to slaves in our society. The imperial palace kept a very close eye on them, particularly those who were underage. They were required to learn the evils and dangers of forbidden magic at the Hall of White Night, an organization run by imperial magicians.

Seeing that the boy was being made to walk on the slave path, it was nearly impossible that he could be receiving decent treatment. He would have to prove that he was reformed for a minimum of five years before that could happen.

This reformation process was imposed only upon the families of those who used forbidden magic. For the criminals themselves, it was either life imprisonment or the death penalty.

“And do you know what the most shocking part is?” Ramiel remarked. “They say he’s the son of Count Lassner.”

“Count Lassner?” I exclaimed.

“Yeah. Remember the uproar last month?”

This time, I was genuinely startled. As he said, there had been an outrageous incident a month before. It was so significant that it had shaken Camulita to its core. Someone from the distinguished House of Lassner had used forbidden magic.

Like my mother’s family, the Duchy of Delphinium, the Lassners were one of the founding houses of Camulita. Their peerage was demoted over time, but everyone still respected their rich history. However, after the incident last month, they were completely erased from Camulita’s noble family tree. On paper, they ceased to exist.

Count Lassner, the one who had used forbidden magic, was reportedly very popular in his younger years for his dashing looks and spectacular magic abilities. He was even chosen as one of the magicians to be in charge of the Hall of White Night. But when his wife passed away soon after their marriage, he disappeared from the public eye and became merely a topic of gossip and speculation.

For more than ten years, nobody knew whether he was alive or dead. Naturally, his conviction came as shocking news.

“He never left his estate, so most people weren’t aware that he even had a child,” Ramiel said. “It seems he sent his son away before he performed the forbidden magic, in case it failed. The kid must have just been really unlucky to be caught by those human traffickers. I’m just guessing, though.” He shrugged. “Anyhow, he’s unfortunate to have a criminal for a father. The House of Lassner is no more, so even if he’s reformed, he won’t have a home to return to.”

My half-brother tutted as he watched the boy slouch away down the path. He continued to mutter something, but I was already spacing out.

I felt a sort of burning in my chest, though it was different from what I felt during my fevers. It was oddly unpleasant seeing someone directly connected to forbidden magic. In the book, I was driven toward doom by using it myself. And to think, that boy was one of the children I had rescued.

Before I turned away, it seemed like I briefly met his eyes. But I didn’t have time to confirm, because Ramiel already had a mana stone floating around our heads. He had taken it out and began filming us while I was completely unaware.

My eyes flashed in anger. “What do you think you’re doing, shoving a mana stone in my face?”

“Oh, come on! Just this once. It’s not like it hurts you or anything!”

“Quit dreaming. I am never filming a video with you.” I reduced the mana stone to dust and stomped off, leaving Ramiel standing with his mouth agape.