Chapter 5

***

Sez saw everything like it was in slow motion. Rayton stormed toward her with his distorted expression, veiny forehead, chilling red eyes, and his large hand reaching for her neck.

'He's gonna hit me.'

That was the first thought that crossed Sez's mind. All of a sudden, Lisette opened her lips.

"Rayton."

It bore no resemblance to the gentle voice Sez heard just a moment ago. The low yet strong voice carried a sense of authority. Even her face looked cold too. What surprised Sez most, however, was that Rayton really stopped before grabbing Sez's collar.

"Have a seat."

“...”

"The food is getting cold."

Lisette was now making a sweet face as if Sez had seen everything wrong. Her words sounded warm and gentle once again.

Sez glanced at Rayton. He glared at Sez with almost murderous intent before sitting next to her.

'Maybe he's a good boy to his mother.'

Sez couldn't help but stare at Lisette, wondering what kind of magic she must use. Lisette simply smiled as if nothing had happened.

"Now that Rayton is here, we'd better start eating. Aren't you hungry, Your Royal Highness?"

"Oh, yes..."

"Let's eat, then. I hope the dishes will suit your taste. It's a shame I couldn't tell my chef to take extra care."

But she seemed as if she couldn't care less. The food looked nice and hearty, contrary to the narrow table under it.

The problem was... she couldn't swallow any of it.

Sez looked at Rayton in secret. His eyes were fixed on the plate as he ignored her completely. The air around him was so fierce that Sez wanted to punch her mouth for dragging herself into this.

Sez cut the steak with her shaking hands. She put a piece in her mouth and thankfully managed to swallow it.

It was she who came here voluntarily, so she couldn't just excuse herself.

"I-it's really good, Lady Lisette."

"That's a relief," Lisette grinned.

Fortunately, nothing bad happened after that. Lisette remained a sweet, caring lady, and sometimes offered Sez even more food.

Of course, Rayton didn't say a word and just kept eating.

"Come to think of it, Rayton, it's the first time having somebody else here for your birthday," Lisette spoke, sipping the black tea served as dessert.

"You should thank Her Royal Highness, Rayton. She came all the way to congratulate you."

"N-not at all. It was me who came here without asking..." Sez stuttered.

She knew better than to expect a thank you.

Rayton was still shooting death glares at her.

“Oh, come to think of it, I didn’t hear your answer earlier. How did you and Rayton get close, Your Royal Highness?”

Lisette's face was full of curiosity, while Rayton’s was full of disgust.

And in such a situation, Sez was the one to feel embarrassed.

"We're not close," Rayton said in a throaty voice. "Not at all."

‘Thank you for clarifying,’ Sez thought.

"Yes, we're not that close, but I wanted to celebrate, so..."

"..."

"S-so I came... yeah."

"Is that so?"

Lisette smiled brightly. She thought about something for a moment before opening her mouth again.

"I heard you like reading, am I right, Your Royal Highness? I heard it from the head steward that your lady-in-waiting always borrows books from the west library."

"Yes, I don't think there's much to do in the palace."

"I see. What books do you read these days?"

Sez quickly thought back to her past life. Now, children of her age would read fairy tales and fantasy novels, but unfortunately, the western library had none of those. Such books were only for the other 'normal' offspring of the emperor.

So, Sez had been reading a book on Kazarkish. Kazarkish was a language used far across the sea. She learned the language herself since it was simpler to learn than others, and she hoped it might come in handy after she left the palace someday. Of course, Sez wouldn't have bothered if she knew she'd never had a chance to use it.

"These days yeah... I'm studying Kazarkish."

"Oh, Kazarkish?" Lisette rejoiced.

"That's great. Rayton is actually pretty good at Kazarkish."

"...Excuse me?"

"I guess you don’t know, but I was actually from Ijorndt Empire, so I can speak it. It was me who taught Rayton too."

It turned out she was from the empire beyond the ocean, where they used Kazarkish as their national language.

"Then, Rayton, why don't you teach Her Royal Highness Kazarkish in return for her generosity?"

Rayton's expression couldn't look any more displeased. Sez suddenly began to hiccup as his fierce eyes turned toward her.

"Are you all right, Your Royal Highness?"

Sez nodded and gulped down her water.

"If you don't mind, Rayton could start teaching you at the library tomorrow. He also goes there very often."

"I'm g...hiccup...good...hiccup!”

Lisette was providing Sez with the excuse she needed. Rayton, however, seemed like he had no intention to do as his mother said this time.

"No, I won't."

"Rayton."

"Why should I tutor that little brat?"

'I'm not a little brat. I'm already 12 years old.' Sez pouted.

"Rayton, don't be a..." Lisette stopped as the head steward came in suddenly.

"Pardon my interruption, Lady Lisette."

"What is it?"

"His Imperial Majesty is summoning you."

An uneasy silence fell around them. Sez saw it clearly; Lisette's angelic face turned cold as ice.

"Okay. Please tell His Imperial Majesty I'll be on my way."

"Understood." Owsen took his leave leaving a short answer.

'The atmosphere turned strange.' Sez thought.

'It's not like it was comfortable until now, but still...' Sez, embarrassed without reason, rolled her eyes.

"Your Royal Highness, it's a shame that the dinner has to end now."

"Oh, I'm okay. Never mind me."

"Could you wait here for a moment? I need to have a talk with Rayton. He will escort you back after we finish."

'What, you want me to go back with him?' Sez’s eyes almost popped out of her head, but Lisette just smiled.

The mistress stood up and bid Sez goodbye with excessive courtesy. Rayton followed her out, leaving Sez alone and horrified that today might be the day she'd lose her head, not five years later.

***

Lisette sat at the dressing table, her face dry as a desert. She looked at her son in the mirror as she combed her disheveled hair.

"It seems that Princess Sez is interested in you."

"Well, I'm not." Rayton chewed out his words. He meant it. He couldn't care less about the little brat.

"Teach her Kazarkish. Start tomorrow."

"Mother!"

"Answer?"

"No, I won't. Why should I waste my time on that little brat?”

Lisette looked back at her son in silence. Blood-red eyes met the emerald eyes and clashed in mid-air.

"She is Yerna's daughter."

"What does that have to do with anything?"

"I'm sure she'll come in handy someday."

"What use? She's the daughter of the woman who’s dying to kill you! There's no way she'll be useful to us!"

"Only if she was close to her mother, like everyone else. You know she isn't. They're actually less than strangers.”

Rayton knew that too. Everyone in the palace knew Yerna didn't love her daughter at all. It was quite the opposite as she beat her and humiliated her in front of others. He was nothing and Sez was nobody.

"Although her family is mediocre, Yerna has strong control over the Imperial Palace. But what if she dies?”

“...”

"The princess will have no trouble succeeding her mother if she's even half as capable. I'm sure you'll find her useful." Rayton bit his lips.

"No such thing as too much preparation." Lisette smiled lightly. Then, she took something out from under the bed and handed it to her son.

"It's your birthday present. Take good care of it."

Rayton unpacked it carefully.

It was a sword. The finest sword that even princes would have difficulty possessing.

"...I'm sure it'll come in handy someday."

Rayton just nodded.

"Will you... go to the emperor?"

"Do I have a choice?"

She spat out quietly. With a cold look on her face, Lisette opened the dresser drawer and took out a small bottle. The light purple medicine in the crystal bottle glistened.

She opened the lid and gulped down the medicine at once. Rayton looked at his mother with a darkened face. The mistress put down the bottle and faced Rayton again.

"You're my son, Rayton. My only.”

"...”

"You should always remember that from now on."

"...Yes, mother."

Rayton answered quietly, and Lisette grinned, clearly satisfied.

"Now go and take the princess to her chamber. Don't forget to tutor her tomorrow either."

Understood. A subdued affirmation leaked out from between his clenched teeth.

Rayton bowed to his mother and made his way back to Sez.