“What?! How could you not know who I am?” The little girl looked at me with surprise and suspicion. A hilarious expression, which seemed like a small animal on edge, took it’s place on her face. I had to stifle a laugh.

“I haven’t learned much about anything you see. I’m quite uneducated.”

“Hah…”

When it came to nobles who held their pride above all else, there was no way this young lady full of such teachings could miss this opportunity.

“Ahem. Since it truly seems you could use some knowledge I shall tell you who I am.” She stood with a smug smile and gestured to herself. “I am Olivia Andromeda, 2nd princess of the empire and first child of His Majesty and his second empress, Her Majesty Murium.”

‘His…second empress?’

I was so shocked I almost forgot to introduce myself. I stood from the bed and curtsy.

“I greet Her Highness, Olivia. I am Kalisto Andromeda, first daughter of the emperor. "

Olivia's smug smile changed to surprise immediately.

"His first daughter!? You're-you're the cursed one!" She quickly looked between my hair and eyes. Shooting daggers at me, she took a defensive stance, as much as a kid could, anyways.

"Indeed, I am. How old are you, Olivia?"

I was curious to know how long it took my father to take a new wife.

"I'm-" she seemed hesitant to speak.

"Olivia! This isn't funny!" Came a voice from the hall.

Olivia and I locked eyes. I smiled as calmly and sweetly as I could to not startle her.

"Would you like to stay here with me for a moment, until he stops looking for you?"

She seemed like she wanted to give any excuse to not stick around, but once our brother shouted from the hall again, she sighed in defeat.

"Yes, please."

After a bit of conversation with her, I was mostly up to speed.

My father married Murium 8 years after my mother had me. The new empress also has two sons, a 6-year-old and a newborn. While things appeared fine between the empress and the eldest princes, Olivia said that it was far from the truth.

"She's tried to kill them in every way possible."

Carriage accidents, assassins, poison, war–she had tried everything to be rid of my eldest brother and the crown prince. If it were not for my second eldest brother, Frederick, Olivia said, her mother would have gotten what she wanted. Truly, my brother was blessed with unbelievable holy abilities, but was also an incredible mage. Such things made it a fruitless effort to go after him as the current crown prince.

"My mother wanted me to do my best to solidify my position, but now that you're here… "

"Don't worry, Olivia. I'm not going to take anything from you."

I could tell that she herself seemed worried about something else. I thought to myself for a moment.

'I'd love nothing more than to tell her to run to me if the queen is bothering her but…I have no true strength in the imperial palace.' I mulled over the thought and it felt like something seized my heart.

'I could at least try.'

"Olivia, while I'm here, if the queen tries to call on you with impure motives, you can just run to me, okay?"

Looking up at me it seemed like she was moments away from bursting into tears. Lowering her head and facing away from me she spoke in a small voice.

"Okay. B-but, I don't need you to take care of me. I'm not a little kid anymore!"

"Alright, Olivia. I trust in your abilities"

The excited and shocked expression she made as she looked up at me was too adorable to ignore. 

"Ahem, of course! There's no one more capable than me after all." She said, hopping off the edge of the bed.

"I've got to get back to my room before Frederick tears down the entire South Palace looking for me. And since you're a princess too, I'm sure they'll move your lodging over there soon."

"Okay, Olivia." I said smiling. “I'll see you soon."

She seemed pleased with my answer, and making sure it was clear, sped off out the door.

She said she hid in this room frequently, since no one was allowed to enter. I looked over at the ledge by the window. It was the perfect spot for a young lady to relax at.

Getting up, I slowly walked over to the spot. How it would have been, I wondered, growing up in this room and getting to stare out this window whenever I wanted. Looking out I noticed it showed the imperial garden.

‘I would have loved this.’

Sitting down on the ledge I lost myself in the scenery outside. Sometime after a knock came from the door.

“Your Highness.”