Chapter 22
Arita, his mother, was the first princess of an allied kingdom bordering the Ulysses Empire. She had grown up showered in love and affection, so when she was sent away to another empire for a political marriage—as if sold off—she spent three days and nights crying, refusing to eat or drink.
The culture, food, and people were all different. The people assigned to care for her were cold toward the foreign princess. The emperor—Thearoha’s father—was no different. He favored his concubine, the First Empress, Cardia, who was one of his own people.
‘Look. I’m pregnant.’
Cardia became pregnant before Arita. When she came flaunting her rounded belly with pride, Arita couldn’t say a word. After the child was born, the emperor’s affection for Cardia grew even stronger. He was the one who gave the name “Alteo,” meaning “gold,” to their firstborn son.
Jealousy burned in Arita’s heart. Even if she hated the empire, as the official empress, she deserved respect. But she was always treated as second-best.
She refined herself in culture and appearance, but the emperor never spared her a glance. She had hoped her status would improve after giving birth to a child, but the discrimination persisted even after she bore Thearoha—the legitimate crown prince. Eventually, Arita’s spirit began to wither, and her broken heart turned into physical and verbal abuse toward her own son.
“It’s your fault.”
She always scowled at him.
“If only you had captured his attention more… You ruined everything, you useless thing! You’re disgusting!”
The untreated postpartum depression had devastating consequences. Arita, unable to give Thearoha even the slightest affection, often lashed out at him violently.
Until the age of seven, Thearoha lived like a motherless child. Even the emperor paid little attention to him or his mother.
He often dressed like a commoner, skipped his lessons, and spoke and acted roughly, never having known love.
It was around then that Thearoha realized he had a talent for magic.
At first, it was simple things—moving objects, lighting sparks. But once the spark was lit, it grew like wildfire. Before long, Thearoha could summon magic at will.
He initially wanted to tell his mother about his gift.
‘If she learns I have rare magical talent, maybe she’ll be proud of me.’
Maybe she would say he was useful and even hug him. The thought made his heart pound.
But the day he went to tell her, she slapped him across the face as soon as she saw him.
Without knowing why, Thearoha couldn’t even cry. Arita’s twisted, hate-filled face was terrifying as she screamed,
“Your brother Alteo is already wielding a sword at his age! What can you do?”
“Mother, I…”
“Don’t want to hear it! Ugh, seriously…”
She muttered in disgust.
“Why did I give birth to something like you… I should never have had you! I hate children!!!”
In that moment, Thearoha’s heart froze.
To be denied by the one who gave him life.
God, in His cruel fairness, gave him the gift of legendary magic—but also parents who never loved him.
And so, even then, Thearoha couldn’t tell his mother about his magic.
Instead, he played alone with his only friend—his magic.
It was truly convenient. As he became more skilled, Thearoha even learned to change his appearance. He altered his golden imperial eyes into black, looking like an ordinary noble child.
That marked the beginning of his secret escapes. Since no one cared where he went, he would sneak out of the palace whenever he pleased. It was never dangerous—he was a mage, after all.
And with each escape, his heart felt lighter.
It was like breaking out of a glass prison.
That was when he first met Lyla.
Now, standing in front of the door, Thearoha stared at it for a long time before turning away.
He felt stifled. He wanted to go out—anywhere. This wandering prince would go wherever magic allowed.
Let’s go outside.
He changed his eye color again with magic, pulled a robe over his head, and slipped out of the imperial palace. The guards simply assumed he was one of the mages frequenting the palace and let him pass.
Where to this time?
The Salt Desert? Lake Remia? The Grand Forest? Anywhere would do. Anywhere would free his mind.
Actually…
He wanted to see Lyla.
Those emerald-green eyes that shone like sunlight through leaves, that silvery hair like a moonlit forest nymph, that clear voice like crystal.
With her, he could just be himself.
“…Should I go see her?”
The wish slipped out of his mouth.
The last time he saw her was at her birthday party. When he told her he was a mage, her eyes widened in wonder. He missed those innocent green eyes terribly.
Yes, he should go to the Duke’s estate.
Just as he made up his mind—
A girl was descending the red stairs of the central palace. Wearing a lilac dress, she was heading to her carriage when she spotted a familiar back. Hesitantly, she called out:
“…Thea?”
Thearoha flinched.
When he turned, he saw her—his beautiful lady.
Lyla Roshahil stood before him.
“It’s you, right, Thea?”
He had pulled his robe deeply over his face, so she wasn’t certain. Her hesitant voice rang through the palace garden.
From Alteo’s reception room to the central stairs, I couldn’t stop thinking about that encounter.
I had to stay calm.
Surely, he wouldn’t seek revenge over something like this… But since I still didn’t fully understand his personality, I had to be cautious, even about the smallest things.
I should’ve said a bit more to shut him down…
I regretted it.
The reason he asked me to date him was obvious.
Nobles often marry for political reasons. I heard my father, Esat, married my mother for love, but that was only because he was the undisputed top noble with no need for external alliances.
But the current crown prince was different. If I chose to support one of the princes, Roshahil’s power would lean that way.
That was surely what Alteo was after. My father loved me dearly and would naturally support whichever prince I married. That would be a powerful card in the succession struggle.
So, rejecting him was the right move.
Hadn’t I vowed to remain neutral?
Still…
I swallowed a sigh, trying to hide my unease. I wished I could move forward without fear.
Originally, Lyla was supposed to be engaged to the First Prince. Not now, but three years later. I had shattered that future by rejecting Alteo’s proposal.
Because of me, the future had changed.
And even now, it continued to change.
It can’t be helped.
The future is fluid. I only knew the broad strokes—I couldn’t prepare for everything. All I could do was move forward, one step at a time, hoping that the future I shaped would benefit us all.
Thinking that way, I felt oddly light-hearted. At least, I didn’t regret turning down the First Prince.
But one thought lingered: Lyla truly must have loved him, even knowing she would be used.
Her unreturned love was pitiful.
Eventually, I raised my head—and froze.
Up ahead, I thought I saw a familiar back.
No way… But still…
That figure looked so familiar.
“…Thea?”
I called his name carefully. His shoulders stiffened at once.
“It’s you, right, Thea?”
I repeated his name with a bit more certainty. He turned.
Even though he was cloaked in white robes, something told me it was him.
After a moment of hesitation, he removed his hood.
His black hair and eyes gleamed in the sunlight—along with that noble air. It was unmistakably Thea.
“Thea!”
I beamed and greeted him.
For some reason, I always felt genuinely happy when I saw him. Was it because we were childhood friends?
“Wow, fancy meeting you here! So good to see you! What are you doing?”
He smiled awkwardly, still as mysterious as ever.
“Well, actually…”
“Oh—wait, are you busy?”
Just a moment ago, he had seemed in a rush. I worried I might be holding him up, but he slowly shook his head.
“I’m not busy. In fact, I was just thinking of visiting you.”
“You were going to visit me?”
My eyes widened.
“That’s perfect. I don’t have anything planned either.”
“Yeah. Perfect timing.”
He smiled faintly.
“So, what brings you to the palace?”
“Oh, I was invited by the First Prince Alteo today.”
His expression stiffened at that. I kept talking.
“He said he had something to discuss… What’s wrong, Thea?”
“No, it’s nothing.”
But his face said otherwise. Then, wearing a resolved expression, he looked up.
“Lala.”
“Huh?”
I tilted my head at his stern voice. Then he said:
“Don’t get close to the First Prince.”
“…Huh?”
My eyes widened.
“I’m asking you as a friend.”
His voice was firm and resolute.
