Chapter 2 (1/2)
Translator/editor: ruby
Blondina opened her eyes wide.
A fragrant, flowery smell enveloped the room and a fresh breeze came in through the window.
The child looked at the stunning patterns on the ceiling and the expensive vase on the table next to her, blinking. She murmured in a sleepy voice,
“……yes, this is the Imperial Palace.”
She should have opened her eyes in the attic of the old inn. The flashy decorations all around her couldn’t have been more different.
Blondina’s fate turned around in the blink of an eye
From an unknown, small village in the countryside to the royal family of the Empire, she was now Blondina Ryn Atez.
Her father. The day she met her father, the emperor, she was transported to the royal castle.
The jewelry shop’s owner remained the only person who knew of her secret identity, and rumors began circulating in the village that she had been kidnapped.
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In this era of rampant human trafficking, it didn’t take too long for all the villagers to accept Blondina’s ill fate. She had no one to feel sorry for her.
Her half-asleep daze was interrupted by a voice outside the door.
“Highness, if you’re up, I’ll come in.”
“Yes, come in.”
Blondina sat up on the bed and stretched out her limbs as the door opened.
The maid came in alone, with no escort.
‘It’s probably because I’m from low birth.’
The details were somewhat foggy, but it seemed that she was a sort of bastard daughter, the result of a one-time rendezvous.
She also knew very well that her lowly blood was a disgrace to the royal family.
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Those were the only things she could be sure of, for now.
“Your Majesty invited you to a tea party today. I’ll guide you to the Imperial Palace’s garden.”
“Yes. I see.”
It was strange. Blondina was on her way to meet her father, yet she didn’t feel happy about it.
“Princess Blondina has arrived.”
A chill ran through her body as the maid called out over the garden door.
I can’t possibly face the royal family like this after living as a commoner my whole life.
An attendant took her inside.
“Come in, Princess.”
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She carefully entered, feeling the carefully cut grass under her feet and the pleasant aroma that hovered by her.
There was a huge stone statue of a leopard at the entrance, bigger than a bear. A statue commemorating the sacred leopard clan that was in charge of protecting the Empire.
Blondina unthinkingly cowered away. The statue reminded her of the innkeeper who hit her, and she couldn’t help but feel a bit afraid. It was an instinctive fear she’d acquired from experience.
“Princess?”
The attendant stopped and turned around to call her. Blondina sunk her feet into the grass again and cautiously walked toward her “family.”
There were four people sitting in the sunny garden.
They were the emperor and his wife, along with Blondina’s half-brother and half-sister. They were almost seething with arrogance.
The emperor put down his teacup and called her.
“Closer.”
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Blondina tottered towards him.
The emperor walked up to her and slowly started to examine her face
Their eyes met.
“I wish my eyes were as golden as your hair…”
The emperor roughly smoothed out Blondina’s hair. A smile showed in the corner of his lips.
At first glance, it looked like a very dry smile.
“Keep this in mind, Princess. Your descendance may be… complicated, but no one needs to know that .”
“…Excuse me?”
“You must not reveal your embarrassing past to anyone.”
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“…….”
Embarrassing. You tell me I shouldn’t reveal your secret, but… You’re the one that should carry your past embarrassment, not me.
Blondina looked up at him silently. The emperor continued on, smiling, disregarding the girl.
“You were found in another kingdom in a sickly state and brought back to the palace.”
Blondina bowed her head, just for politeness.
“Yes.”
“Even if others don’t believe it, that’s the truth. Do you understand?”
“I will be careful of what I say and do, and live as if I were dead.”
“Yes. You must be humble, but you’re not a stupid girl.”
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She already knew that for the emperor, she was nothing but some scum of low birth. Maybe that’s why his harsh words didn’t hurt all that much. They were nothing compared to the sharp pain of the innkeeper’s blows.
The emperor shooed Blondina away as he returned to his seat. He paused to say his last words to her.