Chapter 10. The Unavoidable Choice
“It’s all done, Your Highness.”
“Good. Thank you. There’s nothing scheduled for today, is there?”
“No, Your Highness.”
After finishing her preparations, Ellea stepped out of her palace and headed toward where the Emperor and Empress resided. Showing her face whenever she had the time had become part of her routine.
‘At first, even calling them by their titles was difficult.’
As she walked, lost in thought, she overheard a conversation that brought her to a halt. A few nobles were gathered, speaking in hushed but serious tones.
“His Majesty still hasn’t changed his mind?”
“No. You know how adamant he is when it comes to the Princess.”
‘Are they talking about me?’
Hiding behind a nearby building, Ellea quietly eavesdropped on their conversation. Judging by their sighs, the situation didn’t seem good.
She stayed hidden and focused on the nobles’ conversation, who remained unaware of her presence.
“But this is a promise that has been passed down through generations between the two empires. We can’t just break it. It could lead to diplomatic issues.”
“That’s exactly the problem. Now that they know Her Highness has recovered, Luvein is increasing the pressure. It’s not like we can send the Crown Prince, so His Majesty needs to make a decision soon.”
‘Luvein?’
Of course, Ellea knew Luvein well. It was where she had lived her entire life as Elle.
And from the short exchange between the nobles, she immediately understood what they were talking about.
Ellea turned on her heel and stormed off toward another palace. Upon reaching her destination, she flung open the door and entered someone’s office without warning.
“Huh? What’s this about? I just saw you earlier.”
Ignoring Bellua’s reaction, Ellea marched straight up to his desk.
“What is going on?” he asked.
“Luvein Empire.”
At that single word, Bellua’s expression hardened instantly. Ellea, unfazed, spoke firmly.
“How long were you planning to keep this from me?”
“How did you find out?”
“That doesn’t matter. Just answer me. It’s true, right? I’m the one who has to go to Luvein. Because of some long-standing imperial promise.”
Faced with her resolute gaze—so unlike before—Bellua seemed to realize he could no longer hide the truth. He gave a silent nod.
‘I knew it.’
This story began long ago.
Luvein and Jebenica, two empires born with the very continent itself, had fought endless wars for dominance. But after centuries of bloodshed and ruin, both nations were exhausted.
Eventually, the new emperors of each empire chose to end the conflict and signed a peace agreement.
The war ended, and to prevent future outbreaks, they established one key condition:
When a direct royal heir reached a certain age, they would be sent to the other empire to stay for a period of time.
Fortunately, the agreement had held up over the years.
Now, the Crown Prince and Princess of Jebenica had reached the designated age. But an unexpected problem arose.
Ellea, originally chosen to go, had fallen gravely ill and slipped into a coma.
Using the promise as leverage, Terban began pressuring the imperial court to send Crown Prince Bellua instead.
‘But now that I’ve woken up, they must’ve switched back to me.’
“How long were you going to hide this? You think keeping it from me solves anything? You should’ve told me!”
“How could I? You only just woke up. And don’t worry—I already decided to go in your place.”
“What gives you the right to decide that?! Why should you be the one to go?!”
Her voice rose in disbelief. Ellea couldn’t accept such an absurd decision. How could the Crown Prince himself agree to this?
Surely the nobles would oppose it. She certainly did.
“I’ll go.”
“No.”
“I’m a princess of this empire. This is my duty. It was decided long ago that I’d be the one to go.”
“Before that, you’re my sister.”
The word sister caught Ellea off guard. She hadn’t expected that.
Bellua, too, was more serious than he had ever been before. But Ellea had made up her mind and had no intention of backing down.
“Think clearly, Bellua. You’re the one who must lead this empire.”
With that, Ellea turned and walked out of his office, making it clear she wouldn’t entertain any other answer.
After she left, Bellua buried his face in his hands, overwhelmed by the situation.
“I knew she’d react like this. That’s why I tried to keep it from her. But…”
‘Is that really Ellea?’
The Ellea he remembered had always been fragile and quiet. Seeing her this assertive left him stunned.
“I always thought you were just weak… But you’ve grown strong, too.”
Even though they were blood siblings, Bellua felt like she was further away than ever before.
* * *
Ellea walked swiftly away from the Crown Prince’s quarters but soon came to a stop. Bellua’s words lingered in her mind.
“Before you’re a princess, you’re my sister.”
It was something she never expected to hear. Most would try to avoid such a burden, yet he volunteered for it—for family.
“He’s such an idiot.”
Moments ago, she had planned to storm into the Emperor’s quarters and declare that she would go herself. But now, her feet wouldn’t move in that direction.
‘I don’t even know anymore…’
The awkward air between Ellea and Bellua lasted through dinner. The Emperor and Empress, unaware of anything, chatted cheerfully.
Ellea played along, but seeing them act so naturally—despite what must be a difficult situation—left her with an unexplainable feeling.
She couldn’t quite name it.
At one point, she locked eyes with Bellua, but he quickly looked away. She didn’t try to speak to him either, but that didn’t mean she had changed her mind.
Strictly speaking, she wasn’t even truly family. And she didn’t want them—or the Jebenica Empire—to suffer because of her.
She certainly didn’t want to meet Terban either. Honestly, she hoped she would never have to.
Just like when she wished so desperately to die before. But for now, the issue at hand took priority.
After the strained dinner, Ellea, feeling oddly suffocated, threw on a light coat and stepped outside alone to get some fresh air.
She walked to a quiet, tree-covered spot where no one could see her and sat down on the ground without laying anything out.
Despite her training as a princess, when she let her guard down, she still acted like Elle—old habits came out naturally.
With a sigh, she gazed up at the sky. Everything around her suddenly felt like a shackle. At this point, maybe it would’ve been better if—
‘Maybe it would’ve been better if I had just died back then…’
But the thought passed quickly. She sighed again and spoke into the empty air.
“You’re just going to keep staring? Why not come out before you burn a hole in my face?”
“You knew I was there?”
“How could I not? You were staring so obviously.”
Bellua stepped forward and sat beside her. Ellea didn’t even look at him as she asked,
“Did you come out because you’re suffocating too?”
“Looks like you did for the same reason.”
“If you’ve got something to say, just say it. I’ve already made up my mind.”
“You’ve really changed.”
At that, Ellea finally turned her head and looked at him. Their eyes met—his gaze unreadable.
She asked,
“What’s changed so much?”
“Everything. Your tone, your presence, your eyes. You feel like a different person. Sometimes it’s even unfamiliar.”
For once, Bellua spoke openly, without hiding anything. Ellea wasn’t surprised. She responded calmly.
“Then just think of me as someone who came back from the dead. Maybe my soul changed in the meantime.”
“Joking, are you? Just for the record, it’s not a bad thing. You being healthy—it’s a good kind of unfamiliar.”
He laughed, brushing off her words as a joke.
Not knowing it might be the first—and last—truth she ever told him.
Then Bellua brought up what they hadn’t finished earlier.
“Are you really going to go?”
But Ellea didn’t answer directly. Instead, she asked another question.
“Aren’t you even a little angry at me?”
“What? Where did that come from?”
Bellua clearly didn’t understand.
Ellea pressed on, curious about what he truly felt.
“When I was unconscious, you were forced to go to Luvein because of me. Didn’t you resent me? Even a little? If I hadn’t been so weak, you wouldn’t have had to…”
“Ah!”
She couldn’t finish her sentence. Bellua had flicked her forehead gently.
The light tap didn’t hurt at all, but it caught her completely off guard. She looked at him, stunned.
