Part One

In the year Giselle turned twenty-one, the Leopold Kingdom was rife with turmoil. One event was the resolution of the conflict with the Armande Empire, with the Leopold Kingdom’s defeat. The other event was the death of the Emperor of the Armande Empire, occurring just a few weeks after his declaration of victory. The King of Leopold was agitated—rather than a clear victory, it had been a narrow margin of advantage in favour of a disadvantageous ceasefire for the Leopold Kingdom. Seizing the opportunity, the King planned to recommence an invasion. Still young, Giselle’s father believed that the new Emperor of the Armande Empire wouldn’t be able to handle the situation. However, the result was a devastating defeat. The battle concluded in just a few days, and many of the already disheartened knights of the Leopold Kingdom surrendered and became captives of the Armande Empire. The country’s imminent collapse was being whispered about.

“Giselle, do you understand why you were summoned here?” Giselle held her breath in readiness in the vast audience hall reminiscent of a cathedral. Before her, stood her father, the King of Leopold, his first queen, and her two half-sisters. On either side of Giselle were countless nobles and politicians, all watching the King intently. One could even say they were fearful, given that the King was known for his explosive temper.

“I heard from the envoy that Father has an important matter to discuss with me. Apart from that, I know nothing...”

 Giselle’s trembling voice echoed in the audience hall. While she wasn’t exactly a coward, she was always nervous in the presence of her father. Moreover, just a few days ago, a messenger had appeared at the tower in the woods, bringing her here without any explanation other than that the King wanted to speak to her. Adding to Giselle’s anxiety, her two sisters, who stood diagonally behind the throne, exchanged sly smiles and whispered conversations loud enough for Giselle to hear.

“You really don’t know anything. You’re such an ignorant child. Oh, and look at Emilia! She’s wearing such an unsophisticated dress.”

“Don’t say such things, Amalia. Giselle loves her life in the countryside. Besides, no one would even bother with her at a ball anyway...”

The intentionally hushed and spiteful conversation reached Giselle’s ears, and she bit her lower lip tightly, recalling something her late mother had once said about these two half-sisters.

“They are pitiable daughters, Giselle. You are much smarter, more beautiful, and stronger than they are. That’s why they’re just jealous. Don’t let anything they say bother you. Surely, a greater destiny awaits you...”

“You two keep quiet. Emilia, Amalia,” the King of Leopold reprimanded his daughters sharply. The first queen frowned beside the King but didn’t say anything. While the King had been inherently autocratic, his temper had become formidable since the situation on the battlefield deteriorated. Some even said that the King’s insanity had been detrimental to Leopold’s power. Of course, no one dared to speak such things out loud. Even the usually arrogant and haughty queen seemed to restrain herself from interrupting in front of the King. Giselle’s unease deepened.

“Giselle, you are aware of the dire situation our Leopold Kingdom is facing, correct?” His tone was assertive, suggesting there was no way she could be unaware.

“Yes, Father. I understand the gravity of the situation,” Giselle replied, her voice quivering. The King grumbled under his breath,

“It’s truly lamentable. A mere upstart from Armande believes he can strut around victorious, all because of this defeat. This loss was merely due to unfortunate luck...”

The King’s muttered words were clouded. Giselle had once respected her father for being a strong figure, but now he had lost his lustre. He seemed like a ghost possessed by war, power struggles, and intrigues. Even though several Armande Empire watchmen were present, their gaze fixed on him, he didn’t seem to care about maintaining decorum. He had become a puppet, and he seemed unaware of it, as did perhaps only Emilia and Amalia.

“Well then, Father... Is there anything I can do to help?” Giselle asked, and the King of Leopold nodded in agreement. Having been called suddenly, Giselle had a certain anticipation. Her motherland, with her father as the King, had lost the war. Being a princess herself, she was likely to bear some form of responsibility. She was in a position where she could be executed without surprise.

“The new Emperor of Armande has, with some arrogance, expressed a desire for peace. He wishes to propose a union by marrying one of my daughters...”

Giselle almost slipped up, blurting out,

“That’s fantastic!” But she managed to restrain herself.

“I see...”

“And as a sign of good faith, he’s requested one of my daughters to be wed...”

 As the King explained, Emilia and Amalia widened their eyes in surprise, just as Giselle did.

“Father, is that why you summoned Giselle here?” Amalia’s lips twisted in discontent, followed by Emilia’s.

“Such matters are the duty of the first princess, myself, or the second princess, Amalia. Giselle is merely a child of a concubine. If you had consulted with us, there wouldn’t even have been a need to call her ‘Giselle’,” Emilia said. Despite being the same age, these sisters were so alike that one could mistake them for twins; everything they did was similar. Their rivalry with Giselle was just the same. As Frieda had mentioned once, Giselle’s mother was the second queen, not a concubine. Only the first queen and these two sisters taunted her as a child of concubine. In reality, Giselle was a legitimate princess. However, she couldn’t bring herself to argue about it now. Furthermore, Amalia was only half a year older than Giselle, which meant that the King had almost simultaneously fathered children with both the first and second queen. Given that context, it was natural for Giselle to be seen as a rival, and she found herself in a state of resignation.

“I share the same sentiment. Either elder sister Emilia or elder sister Amalia would be suitable...”

 Giselle could imagine the reasons behind her sisters’ anxiety. She had overheard a few whispers; the new Emperor of Armande was rumoured to be young and remarkably handsome. Naturally, any young woman would want to marry him. Moving to the triumphant Armande from the ailing Leopold was, of course, an understandable desire.

“Of course, I considered that too. I intended to offer Emilia. However, they specifically asked for Giselle,” Amalia said.

“Wha...?”

“What did you say!” The exclamation wasn’t limited to the sisters; the first queen, also Giselle’s stepmother after her birth mother’s passing, stood up from her chair, lips trembling with agitation.

“This child is of humble birth! It’s unthinkable to marry her off to another country’s Emperor! My own daughter is far more suitable!” Starting with the mother’s cry, both daughters began to raise their voices too.