IBRIP l Part 2 Prologue

Part 2 – Prologue

La la la… hmm? Oh my, hello there!

…What’s that? Who am I?
Wow, it’s been a while since someone’s asked me that so bluntly.

Maybe you meant to say, “Haven’t we met before?” Or… are you just teasing me?
If that was your goal, well—you succeeded. You’ve got me talking with you now, haven’t you? Hehe.

So you want to know my name?
Come on… you’ve followed me all this way and still pretend you don’t know? Really?
I’m curious how long you’ll keep up the act.

“Loti! What did you do to the dress, aaah!”

Oh no, why do they always call me at the worst times!

Sigh… well, I guess I can’t hide it anymore.
Yes, that’s right—my name is Loti Hethsward.

I am the loyal aide, the right hand, of Lady Izana Monica Rohia, the one they call the Jewel of the Northern Empire.

Honestly, without me, my lady can’t do a single thing! She’s been in the Northern Empire for seven years now, with no family or connections here. During all that time, she relied on me completely.

You understand what that means, right?
It means you’d better stay on my good side.

“The neckline’s way too low! Why did you rip a perfectly fine dress like that?!”
“Oh, come on, my lady! That’s nothing! You can’t lose to those snobby noble girls, after all—”
“Get out!!”

What? You think I’m just being scolded?
No way! My lady adores me, more than you’d ever imagine. She’d risk her life for me, I’ll have you know.

You’ll see soon enough.

Anyway, don’t follow me. I’m very busy today.

Why? Because today is the Founding Day of the Northern Empire, and a grand banquet will be held.

Truthfully, my lady hates banquets. And who can blame her?
I’ve had my hair pulled by jealous girls plenty of times, but here in the North? That’s nothing compared to what she endures.

So many things have happened over these seven years… but now’s not the time to tell you. I have to check on Shuran’s clothes.

“Shuran, hurry and get dressed.”

Wait—who was that voice?

Oh no! I’m late!
The Grand Duke himself has arrived at Shuran’s room before me!

Just a peek, let me open the door just a little…

Ahh, as always, the Grand Duke shines brilliantly.

There’s something you don’t know about me: I, Loti, have a big secret dream.

Because as Lady Izana’s right hand, I know many secrets hidden from the world.
For example… that the world is soon going to end.

Yes, monsters will attack soon. Lady Izana said terrifying beasts will appear across the continent this year.

But I believe in Lady Izana and the Grand Duke.
I’ve decided to leave saving the world entirely in her hands (wink!).

Sure, I may be important too—something about “holy relics” and all that—but for now, I don’t really help much with her grand plan.

Anyway, back to my dream. Just between us.
It’s… hehe… to marry Lady Izana and the Grand Duke together!

That’s why today, I secretly matched their outfits—her dress is the same color as his uniform, even the brooch matches!

Once they’re married, everyone in the empire will have to kneel before me and shower me with money if they ever want to see Lady Izana!

“Loti.”
“Oh— Cough! Ahem! Greetings, Your Grace!”
“…Your thoughts are noisy.”
“F-Forgive me!”

Oops, I guess my gaze was too intense—he noticed me peeking.
It’s your fault, you know! You shouldn’t have followed me. Can’t you see how busy I am?

“Shuran, I said get dressed.”
“…No.”

Oh dear, Shuran’s being stubborn again.

Whenever Lady Izana is too busy, Shuran acts spoiled like this, hoping she’ll come and comfort him.

There’s only one person besides my lady who can handle him when he’s sulking…

“…Come here.”

Shuran stays silent.

The Grand Duke begins dressing him. Shuran looks displeased, but at least he isn’t ripping off the clothes like he does with me.

…What’s the relationship between those two, really?

When Shuran was smaller—still like a baby—I once witnessed something. I was peeking into his room, just like now.

“Cease! Winter has ceased!”

He hated the Grand Duke back then, throwing things at him. The Duke sighed and said:

“When we’re alone, you can do as you please.”

Shuran huffed, then mumbled softly:

“…A… apua…”

I didn’t hear clearly. At that exact moment—slam!—the door I was peeking through was shut tight.

I heard Shuran crying bitterly behind it. And then… singing. The Duke’s voice, calming him down. Slowly, the crying stopped.

After that, Shuran didn’t resist the Duke as much, though he still doesn’t exactly like him.

Over the seven years, he’s grown into a beautiful young man—long brown hair, jewel-like blue eyes. Pretty enough to be mistaken for a girl.
…Except when he’s angry, his hands and feet turn into vine-like plant stems.

Yes, Shuran holds many secrets.

Even Lady Izana doesn’t fully know them. I think the Grand Duke understands Shuran more than anyone.
That’s why, whenever they’re together, I can’t help but watch closely.

Ah, he’s dressed now. But he pushes the Duke’s hand away and pouts again.
The Duke simply picks him up over his shoulder. They’ll both be out soon.

As for me—I must prepare for the festival.

Later, at the banquet preparations

Honestly, I always feel the same on days like this:
The Northern Empire just doesn’t suit me.

It’s too cold! So cold I might freeze to death if I wore the pretty dresses I like. Such a shame.

“Loti. You’re finally using your head, aren’t you.”

Lady Izana is glaring at me, a vein pulsing on her forehead.

Ah—she must have realized the truth about the dress.

“What do you mean, my lady? I don’t understand at all…”

“The dress in my room earlier was a decoy. You’ve tricked me like this before, so I knew you wouldn’t expect me to wear what you prepared. That’s why I altered it—made the neckline even deeper—to force myself to look for another. The real dress you wanted me to wear is this one, isn’t it?”

Haha! She’s right, of course.

The dress she angrily threw aside earlier was a trick.
The perfect blue gown she’s wearing now—that’s the one I prepared.
It matches the Grand Duke’s blue uniform perfectly.

“…I can’t believe it. I fell for Loti’s trick. Impossible. Unless the world is ending today, this could never happen…”

My lady seems truly shocked.

But it’s fine. Right now, she and the Grand Duke look like a perfectly matched pair.

The Duke has noticed too. I can’t tell what he’s thinking—he’s hard to read.

Ah, but now… he’s smiling.
I don’t know why, but he seems amused.