1.
It was a breezy spring day.
In a small garden within the imperial palace where charming flowers were in full bloom, Neroli sat on a lace-embroidered mat, humming a cheerful tune.
Her hands moved busily.
“Ta-da~! Done!”
She lifted up what she had been working on.
It was a flower crown made from the nearby blossoms.
“Brillint, look at this! What do you think?”
At her bright question, Brillint, who had been reading a book nearby, chuckled.
“Your Highness, seriously. How many flower crowns is that already?”
“This is the third~. One for me, one for Moren. And this one is…”
Neroli paused mid-sentence and looked down at the flower crown she was holding.
Then, as she gently touched the white petals, she murmured softly,
“For Mother.”
Noticing Neroli’s hesitation, Brillint handed her book to a waiting maid and spoke gently.
“You’re still bothered that you declined Her Highness the Consort’s invitation for tea and came on a picnic instead, aren’t you?”
Brillint had been by Neroli’s side for a long time as both a childhood friend and a lady-in-waiting.
She was well aware of the strained relationship between Neroli and her mother, the Fourth Consort.
“Shall we go back now? We can send someone to Prince Moren too and enjoy tea time together.”
“No, it’s fine.”
Neroli answered curtly and flopped down on the mat.
Brillint called out to her softly at the unladylike behavior, but Neroli, known for her carefree nature, paid no mind.
“Mother’s the one who broke our promise first. I’m not going to see her for a while.”
“Still…”
“Hmph! You know how long I waited for her that day.”
At her words, Brillint closed her mouth.
Not long ago, the Fourth Consort had failed to show up to a lunch date with Neroli—without any word or explanation.
“I sent several people to her quarters that day, but she didn’t respond at all! It was just too much!”
The maids who had come along for the picnic nodded quietly.
The Fourth Consort had once dearly loved her eldest daughter Neroli, who resembled her so much, but she could also be terribly cold.
They all knew how much Neroli had struggled with her mother’s inconsistency since childhood.
“You’re right, Your Highness. I misspoke.”
Brillint stroked Neroli’s hair gently with a sympathetic voice.
Neroli accepted the familiar gesture and then suddenly sat up.
“Enough of this talk. Let’s all eat snacks!”
Apparently disliking the gloomy mood, Neroli smiled brightly and opened the picnic basket beside her.
“I brought plenty for everyone! Come on, all of you, come over here!”
She took out sandwiches and gestured to the waiting maids.
Brillint shook her head at her casual demeanor.
“Your Highness, if you eat with us on the same mat, those girls might choke from nervousness.”
“Hmm, really?”
Neroli tilted her head, her platinum-blonde hair cascading over her shoulders.
At the innocent sight, the maids couldn’t help but smile.
‘She’s truly a pure soul.’
‘Our adorable Princess Neroli.’
‘She really is the sunshine of our empire.’
They took a moment to collect their thoughts and bowed politely to Neroli.
“Your Highness, we brought our own mats, so please don’t worry about us.”
“Thank you for the sandwiches. We’ll enjoy them gratefully.”
“Do you need any further service?”
Their warm gazes were not hidden.
Whether Neroli knew or not, she simply smiled innocently.
“No need! It’s a rare outing, so you should all relax too!”
As Brillint poured milk into a cup with practiced hands, she joked,
“Kind-hearted Princess Neroli, what are you going to do, stealing the maids’ work?”
“Cold-hearted Lady Brillint, I bet they don’t want to work on a day like this either!”
At the banter between the two, the maids burst into laughter.
With her beauty, noble status, and humble nature, Neroli was the most beloved royal in the empire, adored by all ages and genders.
The maids stepped back quietly, proud to serve someone like her.
It was such a warm and peaceful moment.
***
[Master! I’m back!]
A small bird, visible only to me, landed on my shoulder.
It was Modeway, the spirit of wind.
[Master’s mother was crying in someone’s arms! She yelled that your father doesn’t trust her!]
As soon as Modeway finished, more spirits appeared in the air.
[Master’s mother’s so shameless~. Not like she doesn’t deserve the suspicion~.]
Said Marin, the water spirit shaped like a fish.
[Ignore that fish’s nonsense, Master.]
Said Nesgal, the fire spirit shaped like a lizard.
These were my contracted spirits.
As I sipped the milk Brillint handed me, I asked inwardly,
‘Was the woman with Mother really the head maid of the Fourth Consort’s quarters?’
[Yep! That brown-haired lady you told me about! I remember everything!]
At Modeway’s response, I nodded slightly and took a big bite of my sandwich.
“This is delicious~.”
I hummed a tune on purpose, and everyone looked at me with warm smiles.
But unlike the relaxed atmosphere, my mind was racing.
‘The head maid will comfort Mother in my place.’
Normally, a consort and her maid shouldn’t grow close.
But my mother wasn’t recognized as a true consort by the nobles and didn’t care much for social norms.
Someone like her needed a loyal and trustworthy person regardless of status.
That’s why I’d verified the maid through the spirits and recommended her.
‘So the Emperor visited Mother again today.’
[Yes! He came this morning! And they argued again!]
‘Naturally, it was about me.’
Then Marin glided through the air.
[How did your father find out~? Your mother hid it so well~.]
‘……’
[That you’re not his biological daughter~.]
At Marin’s words, Nesgal clicked his tongue.
[Tsk, tsk. Humans, seriously. What’s so great about blood ties? Isn’t love and care more important?]
[You silly lizard~. Did you forget what Master taught us~? She’s not just a human, she’s royalty~.]
[The royal family of Lornod treasures their dragon-blooded lineage! I remember that too!]
Ignoring the spirits’ chatter, I finished my sandwich and flopped back onto the mat.
Seeing me, Brillint asked,
“Your Highness, lying down all of a sudden?”
“Yeah! Now that I’m full, I feel sleepy~.”
I closed my eyes and heard Brillint giggle softly.
“Honestly, what am I going to do with you?”
After she tidied up around me, silence fell.
I slipped into thought.
‘Marin’s right. No one suspected for 22 years that I was an illegitimate child.’
I didn’t resemble the Emperor at all.
But since I looked exactly like my mother, the most beautiful woman on the continent, no one thought it odd.
And who would believe that my timid and weak mother had deceived the Emperor?
Even I wouldn’t have considered the idea if not for the spirits.
‘But why now…?’
The Emperor started suspecting my birth about a month ago.
Neither he nor Mother showed it, but my spirits kept me informed.
‘That’s when Mother began acting strangely around me.’
Her attitude toward me was always inconsistent.
She definitely loved me, but sometimes feared me too.
Maybe that’s why even others had grown used to her mood swings.
‘So I could overlook it a few times, like always.’
But prolonged odd behavior would only fuel the Emperor’s suspicions.
If Mother acted unstable whenever she saw me, it would only make things worse.
‘Then it’s better if I avoid her first.’
She wasn’t as skilled in pretending as I was.
So I decided that distancing myself from her would help her feel less anxious.
‘That’s why I’ve been staying away lately.’
This picnic was part of that.
Mother probably hadn’t guessed my intentions and was flustered by my firm refusal.
Naturally, her recent letter came to mind.
“Neroli, I’m sorry I couldn’t eat with you then. I suddenly felt unwell… It’s my fault. Let’s talk face-to-face soon, okay?”
Recalling the message, I let out a soft sigh.
Sigh…
Mother was usually extremely shy and rarely took the initiative.
She must’ve agonized deeply before sending that letter.
After some hesitation, I spoke.
“Brillint.”
“Yes, Your Highness?”
“Hey, do you know my nickname?”
“Of course. You’re ‘the most beloved sunshine of the Lornod Empire.’”
“My mother gave me that nickname.”
“She picked one that suits you perfectly.”
My mother always liked it when I smiled brightly and innocently.
It was easy to act that way.
I always had cheerful, worry-free spirits by my side.
I opened my eyes and looked up at Brillint.
“Do you also think I’m like sunshine?”
Brillint nodded.
“Not just me—everyone thinks so.”
“Even if I’m actually wicked inside?”
“Oh, surely not! If that’s true, then I must be guilty for being fooled!”
She laughed as if it were a silly joke.
I chuckled along with her.
‘Yes, that’s what everyone believes.’
Just like how my mother spent her life hiding that I wasn’t the Emperor’s child…
…I too had pretended to be sunshine, for her sake.
Warm, colorful, honest, and confident.
‘If that’s what sunshine is… maybe it’s time I see Mother again.’
I couldn’t avoid her forever.
Her sending that letter meant she had sorted out her feelings to some extent.
Seeing her in person might not be such a bad idea.
“Oh? The sun’s setting. Shall we head back?”
“Good idea. Shall I gather the flower crowns?”
“Of course! I’m giving this one to Mother tomorrow~!”
Mother loved the flowers I tended to, so she’d surely like the crown too.
‘Yes, I’ll give her this flower crown and talk to her.’
About my birth.
Because I wanted to hear it from her directly.
With that courage in my heart, I stood up and dusted off my dress.
[I’ll keep the flowers fresh~ Don’t worry~.]
[For once, a decent idea, Marin.]
[Master! What about me? Should I stay near your mom tonight too?]
‘…No, it’s okay.’
I had kept Modeway near her just in case, but I didn’t need to anymore.
I’d be going to see her myself tomorrow.
‘Nothing bad will happen overnight, right?’
With that thought, I walked down the flower garden with light steps.
But the flower crown never made it to her head.
Because the next day, my mother was found dead.
The cause was suicide.