CHAPTER 02
“Both Her Majesty the Empress and the baby are safe.”
“Congratulations!”
Only then did Leodian feel like he could finally breathe again.
As he gently wiped the sweat from his wife’s forehead and kissed her, everyone else was marveling at the newborn princess.
“My goodness!”
With some commotion, the nursemaid carefully wrapped the baby in a swaddle and said,
“Her Highness the Princess is truly beautiful.”
The moment he heard the word “princess,” Leodian recalled the contents of the arrogant letter the priests of Graham had sent in the early dawn:
[…At dawn on the day Orphe rises, the Empress of Dreat will give birth to a princess. And then…]
‘So they did claim to have received a divine prophecy. Seems it wasn’t all lies.’
Today was the day Orphe—the goddess’s star—rose. When he turned his head to the window, he saw that dawn had already broken.
‘But honestly, the child had to be either a boy or a girl. A 50% chance hardly qualifies as divine prophecy.’
Rather than be impressed by prophecy, Leodian simply felt relieved that, as his wife had wished, the child was a girl.
“It’s good that it’s a daughter, just like you wanted.”
Ariana, who already had two sons, had often sweetly said she’d love to have a daughter. Seeing the baby, Ariana’s eyes welled with tears and she smiled.
“Congratulations, Your Majesty. Here is the princess.”
The child was incredibly small and light. Leodian gazed at the tiny life cradled in his arms. Swaddled up, she looked just like a doll.
But surprisingly, the baby made eye contact with him. Her clear, translucent violet eyes stared directly into his golden ones—and Leodian froze.
‘I thought there was no way I could feel affection for the one who nearly dragged my beloved to death’s door…’
But the child had Ariana’s features exactly—her golden hair, her violet eyes, the tiny nose, the rosy lips.
His heart thudded violently. At that moment, a sharp pain pierced his chest like a blade.
‘What… was that?’
Leodian’s expression twisted from the unfamiliar sensation.
“Her Highness the Princess is truly extraordinary,” someone had said earlier amidst the commotion.
That comment now returned to him, stirring his confusion.
‘A newborn shouldn’t be able to make eye contact, right?’
He had learned this with his two sons. Over a decade ago, when Alex was born and wouldn’t even glance at him, he’d lost his temper. The people around him had carefully explained that newborns couldn’t hold up their heads, let alone meet someone’s gaze.
‘But the princess… she clearly looked right at me…’
Of course, those with dragon blood were extraordinary. But still, something about Roziana felt… different.
His heart trembled, and the pain had felt like something sharp had pierced straight through it.
Leodian looked again at Roziana. The newborn princess, having stunned everyone, had already fallen asleep as if her role was done.
‘Something’s…’
Just then, Cedric—who had arrived late—shouted from behind him,
“Good heavens! How can someone who’s just been born be so adorable? Congratulations, Your Majesty!”
Typical of Cedric to be so theatrical, yet for some reason, it annoyed Leodian. He frowned as he approached the crib and coldly ordered Cedric,
“Take three steps back.”
Startled, Cedric wilted and backed up.
“Exactly three steps.”
“Y-Your Majesty, that’s a bit much…”
Cedric mumbled as he scooted backward, though he couldn’t take his eyes off Roziana.
“When Her Highness smiled earlier, I thought my heart would stop!”
“You’re being dramatic.”
Leodian replied curtly.
“It felt like… an angel smiled at me…”
“She didn’t smile at you.”
Leodian cut off Cedric’s delusion. Yet strangely, it made him think about his own reaction.
‘Come to think of it, it did feel like my heart dropped. Maybe it’s just a natural instinct when seeing a baby?’
Cedric’s next words broke his train of thought.
“But since she looks like a literal angel, Graham won’t sit still about this, will they?”
That previously forgotten irritation rose again.
Right. They had said it.
“Outrageous.”
That his daughter was their saint.
That they wanted her given to them.
A cold sneer formed on Leodian’s beautiful face.
‘They really are mad, aren’t they?’
For generations, the dragon-blooded royals of Dreat and the priests of Graham had always been at odds.
Centuries ago, Graham’s priests had worshipped the ‘celestials’ who first attacked dragons, calling them natural enemies.
‘And now they claim the Dreatian princess they’ve always despised is their saint?’
Absurd.
“What do you intend to do, Your Majesty?”
“Not even worth considering.”
Leodian replied coldly, as if Cedric’s question was beneath him.
“But they said they would make any sacrifice to bring her to them.”
“Then I’ll make sure they can’t sacrifice anything ever again.”
Leodian gave a firm command.
“Convene the commanders of all knight orders.”
There were four major knight orders in the empire:
Red Dragon, Blue Dragon, White Dragon, and Yellow Dragon.
Dragons were beings of elemental and magical force—masters of fire, rain, thunder, lightning, and sky.
Those born of dragon blood in Dreat possessed supernatural powers. Even non-royals could wield “sword force” if they had sufficient strength.
These were the Empire’s knights.
“Yes, Your Majesty. Shall I also contact the Grand Duchy?”
Leodian paused for a moment at Cedric’s question, then nodded.
All of the Empire’s Sword Masters needed to know what was happening.
“Of course.”
With that short answer, Leodian recalled a particular child.
A boy with jet-black hair, pale skin, and red eyes.
Young in age but with a gaze that could freeze even the oldest warriors.
“Isn’t he too young to attend such a meeting…?”
“He’s been at court in his father’s stead since last year.”
Leodian dismissed Cedric’s concern.
After the sudden death of the Grand Duke of Tenebres, only one person remained who could wield the power of the Black Dragon—his young son.
“A terrifyingly skilled young man.”
At the meeting where Sword Masters were formally acknowledged, the elder masters had been astounded by the boy’s command of the Black Dragon’s power.
“Also, inform Alex and William that their sister has been born, and summon them to the meeting.”
“The princes as well?”
“If six-year-old Asterios is attending, then the princes should too.”
“Understood, Your Majesty.”
The day had already broken, and though none of them had slept, the matter was urgent. Cedric hesitantly asked another question.
“Then… how shall we respond to Graham, sire?”
Leodian answered without the slightest hesitation.
“We won’t.”
“Pardon? But… what are you planning?”
“If it’s truly urgent to them…”
Leodian turned and gave Cedric a dazzling smile.
“They’ll come in person.”
And just as Leodian predicted—it took less than a day.
Meanwhile, the nursemaids had been thoroughly busy washing me, feeding me, changing my diaper, and bundling me tightly in soft blankets.
‘Why does this feel like a guest reception or something?’
But I was in no shape to welcome guests. I’d just been warmly bathed and swaddled, and sleep was crashing down on me like a tidal wave.
‘My eyelids feel as heavy as 200 years of being a witch.’
As I teetered on the brink of sleep, the door quietly opened and someone tiptoed in.
“Alex, look! She’s so tiny!”
“Shh! They said she only just fell asleep. Keep your voice down, William.”
Ah. So these were the older brothers I’d heard about. The maids and servants had been dying to introduce me to them.
Looks like I’m meeting them already… and I’m so sleepy…
“Welcome, Your Highnesses. This is Princess Roziana.”
The nursemaid whispered beside my crib. I barely lifted my heavy eyelids to see two small boys quickly approaching.
“Oh, she’s awake, Princess!”
The nurse gently lifted me. Now I could clearly see the two round-headed silver-haired boys.
“I heard babies cry a lot, but our little sister isn’t even crying!”
The one who spoke calmly must be the eldest—Alex.
“She’s so cute! Even cuter than a doll!”
The one grinning and blushing must be William.
“She really is! H-Hem. Rozie is adorable, but have some dignity, William.”
Even as he said that, Alex joined William in poking my cheek with pudgy fingers.
‘You two are cuter than me.’
Even though I was just born, I’d lived 200 years as the witch Erica.
I wanted to hug and spoil these adorable boys to my heart’s content.
But I was now the Central Witch and a princess of the Empire.
‘I must maintain my dignity…’
Even if the name “Roziana” sounded suspiciously like the sticky bug-catching plant.
Yes, that’s right.
‘If I’m gonna be called “Sticky Plant,” then I’ll make everyone stick to me like glue!’
That includes the emperor dad, my two brothers, and every single power-holder in this empire! I’ll win them all over with my irresistible charm!
‘I’m going to hoard all the fatherly and brotherly love I never got in my past life!’
This was only the beginning of my grand plan.
But there was one problem…
I suck at being cute.
‘Then I’ll use what I am good at.’
Tsundere mode. Cold at first, sweet in critical moments.
That’s my charm, Erica’s charm!
‘Honestly, this works better than being openly affectionate. It’s more addictive.’
So I can’t just show my cuteness now. I need to wait until they’re desperate for it—then BAM. One cute move.
Today is not the time.
I can’t be easy to figure out on our first meeting.
“Uwaeh! Uweh eng!”
‘I’m sleepy! Go away!’
I babbled as coldly as I could. But obviously they couldn’t understand.
So… I’ll just show them how sleepy I am.
See? I’m closing my eyes now.
Did you see that? I’m closing my eyes.
I slowly shut them.
“B-Brother! Did you see that?!”
“I did! I saw it!”
Why are you freaking out?
“She winked at us! Right?!”
W-What?! I what?!
“She really did! My heart nearly stopped!”
UGH!
‘This damned baby body!!’
Damn it. I must’ve only managed to shut one eyelid.
‘Nooo! My cool first impression!!’
“Your Highnesses, His Majesty is asking for you.”
A servant peeked in and addressed my brothers. And… why is he blushing while looking at me?
What now??
“Brother! Let’s go tell Father!”
“W-Wait! I’ll tell him first! Rozie, I’ll be back soon!”
“Me too! I’ll come back, Rozie. I love you!”
“No, I love you more!”
“…Your Highnesses, you’ll be late to the meeting.”
Only at the nursemaid’s words did they finally leave.
…Damn it.
My cool first-impression strategy has completely failed.
End of Episode 2
