Chapter 1
Prologue
A cramped parlor packed with people.
Inside were individuals who could be considered the most influential figures in the entire Crayden Empire.
In the tense stillness where silence and chill coexisted, I sipped my tea with a soft slurp. I could feel the eyes of those seated around me, but I’d grown used to the attention—it didn’t bother me anymore.
“Everyone…”
As I began to speak, all eyes instantly zeroed in on my lips. I glanced around at the faces surrounding me and asked,
“Why is no one saying anything?”
Only then did they start looking at each other—as if reluctant to acknowledge something they had been avoiding until now.
At that moment, the Third Prince, who had been idly playing with his fingers, legs crossed, spoke.
“Well, we didn’t expect so many guests, you know?”
When I turned to look at him, he furrowed his brow like he was genuinely disappointed.
“I thought it’d be just the two of us.”
That remark prompted a reaction from the Second Princess, who had been silently eyeing my teacup.
“Are you insane? Why would Rebisia meet with a scoundrel like you alone?”
“Second Princess, that’s rather harsh, no?”
“Your face is harsher. Get lost. Just looking at you makes me feel like mold is growing in Rebisia’s eyes.”
The two of them began growling at each other with no pretense. The Third Prince smiled nonchalantly, but the contempt in his eyes was impossible to miss. Meanwhile, the Second Princess looked like she wished the man would vanish from existence entirely.
I suppressed a sigh that was threatening to escape. Well, it’s not like I didn’t expect this.
Still, I had held onto a sliver of hope. Turning my head, I looked at the others—only to be greeted with more of the same. They weren’t openly fighting, but their tension was obvious. If given the chance, they’d go straight for each other’s throats.
I nodded slowly.
No hope.
I gave up then and there. I had no expectations left. If even this final attempt ended like this, there was truly no room left for hope.
I was a fool to think they might have improved.
Even if some top-tier expert in sibling therapy came and tried to implement “There’s No Such Thing as a Bad Brother” or “Our Siblings Have Changed”, it’d still be hopeless.
“I thought you all had something planned today, since you insisted on seeing me like it was some kind of scheduled meeting.”
The truth was, I hadn’t initiated this gathering. Everyone had—coincidentally or not—asked to see me today, and I couldn’t refuse. This unfortunate accident was simply the result of my not having six bodies to go around.
But at my words, they all looked thoroughly disgusted.
“As if.”
They glared at one another like they were trying to outmaneuver the others. No one looked ready to bring up the real reason they came. Fine then. Feeling like the unfortunate moderator of some godawful meeting, I opened my mouth again.
“Then… is today some special day?”
“You really don’t know?”
The First Prince furrowed his brow and shot the question back at me. I rolled my eyes once and thought carefully before answering.
“No. I don’t.”
“It’s your birthday eve, Rebit.”
Only then, thanks to the Third Princess’s remark, did I realize what was going on. But still—so what if it was the night before my birthday?
“Are you all here to give me presents early or something?”
At that, they all fell silent and began glancing at each other.
“Because tomorrow, you’ll come of age.”
“Rebisia, don’t you know what the last night before adulthood signifies?”
The First Prince and Second Princess chimed in in turn. Just as I was about to nod, the Third Princess added,
“Rebit, do you know what it means to receive a rose at midnight on your birthday?”
“That look on your face says you don’t.”
The Third Prince hit the mark. I couldn’t deny it, so I turned to the last person. But instead of helping me out, the Seventh Princess smiled sweetly and lit a match.
“It’s fine if you don’t know. I’ll teach you when I give you my flower.”
And with that, the entire parlor erupted once more. I desperately wanted to yell, “Please, take this outside,” but I held back. After all, this would be the last time I’d see this scene.
Yes. Tomorrow, I escape.
No future of getting dragged into a succession war and dying for nothing!
Clenching my fists with determination, I declared,
“I don’t know what all of this means, but since we’re all gathered here, I have something to say too.”
Everyone turned to me with curious expressions. Some even seemed expectant… What are they expecting, exactly? Feeling uneasy, I revealed my grand announcement.
“After tomorrow, I’m leaving the Imperial Palace.”
CRASH! BAM!
The moment I finished speaking, the parlor was filled with sounds that should never be heard indoors. Chairs toppled over, the floor cracked, and a sofa broke in half. I instinctively stepped back.
So this is what my end would look like if I stayed here?
But that wasn’t the end of it.
SLAM!
“Sis, I must’ve misheard just now.”
The youngest burst in, having smashed the door to bits, and smiled as he looked at me.
“Could you say that one more time?”
“What… do you think you’re doing?”
I instinctively backed away.
“Don’t make me doubt my ears twice.”
“You’re going where?”
Eyes filled with something twisted and unhinged locked onto me.
“It was too loud to hear you properly, Rebit. What did you say?”
“Ugh, and I can’t exactly burn down the whole palace either…”
“You think we won’t know where you go if you leave?”
“You really underestimated me, Rebisia.”
“Who do you think holds the reins of this empire?”
These people, who would gladly drive each other to death for the throne, were now all reaching toward me as if they’d made some kind of unholy pact.
And me? I was about to lose my mind. I had to get far, far away from this palace if I wanted to live.
This is insane.
Why the hell are they all like this?
