The former emperor of the Tristan Empire had only one wife.
And after Princess Allison was born, the Imperial Officials claimed to require a formal successor, not a woman, and they found that the empress could no longer bear children.
The empress's body had grown weak. Even the members of the physician society cautiously reported that even if the baby was born, Her Majesty would only be able to conceive the baby if she remained in good health for the duration of her pregnancy of ten months.
It was an unprecedented time when the ministers argued about the need to raise the princess as the next emperor.
"Can I become emperor?"
In response to Allison's curiously hopeful question, the ministers agreed to wait and watch to find out if the five-year-old child was capable of anything so that Allison could become worthy of becoming the next great emperor.
But what followed was hell for Allison.
The lessons she received to become the future emperor were different from the basic etiquette and general knowledge she had received before.
Although it was burdensome, the little child followed the class well, but as hard as she tried, it was a difficult class and schedule for a five-year-old to handle.
However, the praise that came at the end of the class---the admiration for the qualities of an emperor she possessed---made Allison endure.
She had no doubt that she would later inherit the throne from her father.
But all her hard work didn't prepare her for what was to come later.
Two years after her emperor classes began, the true prince was born in the Imperial Family.
A little brother was born, a whole seven years younger than her.
Everyone's attention quickly turned to Russell, naturally.
And as Russell grew and showed his cleverness and inborn talent, disputes began to emerge among the nobles over the heir to the throne.
It was because both Allison and Russell had the qualities of emperors that no one wanted to give up on such gifted, growing individuals.
Allison, for her part, loved her little brother but wanted to be emperor just as much.
But she couldn't show that desire outwardly.
Female.
A title she could never change or escape. It was a shackle forever tied to her ankle.
Even if I hadn't known, I would have still tried.
Allison was a smart kid who knew that it was difficult for women to hold power in their society.
The Imperial authority was an exception, but there was no way that those who supported Russell would leave her alone.
So, in the year she came of age, Allison refused to take the emperor's seat in front of the Empire.
She spat out words that directly shocked those who followed her, leaving them with no way to change public opinion.
"I have no intention of becoming emperor. But if I just leave, the knowledge I've learned so far will go to waste, so, for now, I'll help Russell until he becomes emperor."
Allison promised to keep her word.
Some of the nobles seemed incredulous, but she meant it.
She truly was a sister who cared for and loved her little brother, Russell.
However, the aristocrats, who were eager to make him emperor, couldn't look at her kindly.
Allison was a person who could take hold of the Imperial power, undermining all of their hard work.
They whispered among themselves.
"You never know when you will change your mind and claim to be the successor."
No matter how sincerely or how many times she insisted, it seemed to people that it was just an attempt to bide her time until she could usurp the successor's position.
That realization left Allison feeling bitter.
So she had no choice but to accept the requests that nobles made every day.
Leave.
It was the request made by the nobles wanting to marry Allison and have her leave the Imperial Palace.
The decided marriage partner was a man she knew well.
The Marquis of Rosenberg, a man five years her senior.
Whether it was due to the fact that he was shy or hated people, he was a man who rarely left his territory and silently obeyed the orders of the Imperial Palace.
Allison had never spoken to him but had seen him from afar at the occasional banquet held in the Imperial Palace.
He doesn't talk. He seems like a very quiet guy... If I go with the Marquis of Rosenberg, I'll live like I'm dead, just like the atmosphere this possesses.
As if she were being chased, Allison was married to the Marquis of Rosenberg with haste and left for the marquisate with a little excitement blooming in her bout of resignation.
Allison opened her eyes slowly.
She turned and looked at the clock on the bedside table.
The hour was just past the end of dawn.
"Haa... I have to beg you to meet me, even in my dreams. Even then, you only appear once."
Allison sighed deeply and lifted her upper body from under her covers.
She cast her gaze toward the window, watching the dark dawn landscape through the cracks in the curtains that were not completely closed.
It was a time when even the butlers, who oversaw the management of the Marquis Rosenberg's mansion, hadn't opened their eyes.
Not wanting to lay in bed, Allison pulled back the covers and got out.
Instead of calling the ladies-in-waiting to attend to her needs, she prepared her own hand-washing water and simply washed her face and changed her clothes.
Her act of changing clothes by herself without any help was performed naturally.
"Spring is coming in and the mornings are getting colder. Hmm, it's better to bring a scarf, yes?"
Allison scanned through the long, colorful scarves hanging and finally picked up a dark gray scarf and wrapped it comfortably around her neck.
After changing her shoes, she spoke softly to the picture frame next to the clock on the bedside table.
"I'll be back in a while, honey."
After the brief promise, Alison made her way out of her bedroom.
Taking a walk around the mansion by herself in the dark and early morning, when not even the butlers awoke, was one of the important habits she'd developed to start the day.
And that was also a routine that came about after her first night at the Marquis of Rosenberg after her marriage.
Until a year ago, there were two people out for a morning walk.
Even after well over a year, Allison never got used to the atmosphere of walking alone.
To leave for the promenade, she walked down the hallway with her face submerged in her scarf.
Go down the stairs and walk down the hallway.
Walking down her familiar path, her steps stop abruptly.
"Who are you?"
With half of her face buried in the scarf, Allison stared straight ahead with sharp eyes, her glare centered on the corner of the hallway in front.
Step. Step
A tall figure came out from the shadows of the wall with heavy footsteps.
Allison caught a good look at his face, and her eyes widened dramatically.
"Duke Proud. Were you not asleep?"
Elliot Proud emerged from the early morning shadows.
He was decked out in full uniform, and whether he hadn't slept yet or had woken up early like Allison was yet to be confirmed.
"Since I woke up early this morning, I was patrolling the mansion to see if there would be any accidents."
"Hmm? That seems to be a lot of trouble."
Allison kept her eyes firmly locked on Elliot, then pointed out the window with a wink.
"I was going out for a walk."
"I know."
"Would the Duke care to accompany me?"
Allison asked, not sure if he would follow along with her wishes.
It was perfectly alright no matter what Elliot chose, but she thought that it was most likely that he'd refuse.
"My pleasure."
Contrary to her expectations, however, Elliot nodded.
"Good... Great! Alright. Do you know the walking route I usually take?"
"I know of it. A few days ago, when I woke up early like today, I often saw Lady Allison taking a walk."
"Alright, let's be on our way."
Elliot followed behind as if escorting her. Allison, who was leading the way, was conscious of him as he was outside her visual perimeters.
She knew he did so, as when the Emperor attended a big event, Elliot was the closest guard to him.
Is it because of that?
Even though Alison was once jealous of Elliot, his presence was hard to feel or distract her.
I guess this knight is not just like any other knight. He has a good set of skills, as expected.
He's a talent I really miss having around.
...Too bad he might be plotting a rebellion.
If Elliot was really plotting a rebellion, he shouldn't be spared just because of his skills and talents. It wasn't worth it.
Allison was also in the position of a servant who devoted allegiance to the Imperial Family rather than royalty.
[TL/N: After she married and gave up her heir status, she is first a citizen of the empire, who aims to protect her nation.]
She could not show mercy to those who harmed the Imperial Family and the empire.
The two left the mansion and entered the promenade.
"Duke, how far has the pursuit of the culprit in the murder progressed?"
"We are still investigating. After receiving the report from Lady Allison, there were too few deaths to find enough clues, so there was a limit to pursuing the culprit's whereabouts."
A bizarre serial murder case that suddenly popped up in the Marquis of Rosenberg.
It was obvious why it was difficult to track down the culprit.
It was all a lie to tie him up here.
It was unfortunate that people's lives depended on how long he stayed for the investigation, but after Elliot came to the Marquis of Rosenberg for the case, there were a few residents who had actually mysteriously suffered from wild beasts.
As unfortunate and strange as it was, they were able to make up a random clue that linked their deaths to the case.
Allison hurriedly spoke out lest Elliot catch a hint of the truth and leave for the capital right away.
"Since the knights came from the Imperial Palace, it seems that the culprit is laying low and waiting you out. I'm sorry, but can you stay here a little longer for the residents who are trembling with anxiety?"
It was a lie that the people of the Marquis of Rosenberg were trembling with anxiety, but Allison planned to use this lie to tie Elliot to the case for longer.
It's not like they haven't seen animals run rampant in the winter when they don't have enough to eat.
Suddenly, the knights of the Imperial Palace came and investigated something in secrecy. Allison guessed that rather than anxiety, the residents would be filled with doubts.
"Of course, I will catch the culprit before I return to the Imperial Palace for the sake of Lady Allison's safety."
Elliot declared that he would surely catch the culprit, as if catching a mass murderer would be that simple.
Somehow, it seems like he has no real urgency to return to the Imperial Palace.
...Wait, I'm confused, Elliot? I thought you wanted to finish this investigation right away and return to the Imperial Palace to carry on planning your rebellion.
Allison wanted to turn around and meet Elliot's eyes. Even now, she wanted to understand the meaning behind his betrayal.
However, she walked steadfastly, looking straight ahead.
She couldn't turn back now.
Just as thoughts of Elliot's plans were getting complicated, a shelter appeared in the area where Allison would usually stop during her walk with her husband.
Located halfway down the trail, it was also where Allison would pause, sit on a bench, and have a long talk with her husband.
"Would you like to sit down?"
"Yes."
Allison sat on the bench with Elliot a short distance away.
I never imagined that I would be sitting in this seat with someone else.
A bitter taste permeated her mouth.
Is it because I dreamed about the day I first got married? I keep thinking of him.
Allison played with her fingers as she lost herself in her thoughts.
While staring at the ground blankly, she suddenly came to her senses at the sound of a voice coming from the side.
"Hasn't Lady Allison ever felt unfairly treated?"
"Unfair? Me?"
"Yes."
"Do I have anything to be ashamed of? Hmm..."
Allison narrowed her brows and tilted her head.
There was no resentment that was memorable enough to keep in her heart for long.
I wonder what Elliot means all of a sudden.
Elliot elaborated, as if recognizing the question Allison held back.
"Originally, I knew that the position of emperor belonged to Lady Allison."
"Haa... You want to talk about the successor."
Allison realized, belatedly, what Elliot meant to bring up.
But I don't know what he means by bringing up this subject.
Allison put her hands in her coat pockets and leaned back against the back of the bench to get comfortable.
"So why do you ask, Duke Elliot? Does it look like I'm unhappy that I was deprived of the position of successor by His Majesty?"
"It doesn't look like it. However, it was just a question I was curious about as you spent the majority of your childhood preparing for a position that would originally belong to you."
Allison exhaled, and her white breath fogged out.
Winter was coming to an end, but spring was not in full swing. Sometimes, in the early morning when the temperature dropped, the air came out like it did now.
She saw her past in the scattering breath.
At a young age, she worked harder than anyone else.
Because I desperately coveted the emperor's seat.
I was confident that I would become a better emperor than my father.
She still remembered the atmosphere of those days clearly.
The warm sunlight that came in through the large windows. The smell of paper and ink seeped into her nose. Classes of teachers who bled her ears with knowledge of everything an emperor should know.
...The shaking of my legs that didn't touch the floor.
Allison let out a small laugh.
"Yes. Originally... I was. It would have been my seat to bear. If only the child hadn't been born---no, at least if he wasn't a boy, the seat of the emperor would have been mine."