The commotion was over, and night had fallen.
When I said I wanted to rest alone, my father dismissed the people, and Lily escorted my mother outside.
I don’t even know which palace this is.
The room, which should have been softly glowing in the moonlight, was completely stained in a gray hue.
The only color I could see was the mana around me.
Something feels empty, but I don’t know what’s missing.
I’m clearly loved by my family, praised as a magic genius, and I’m keeping up with my classes just fine.
Even though I was born into this abundant life, never having starved or been cold, I feel as if I’m completely drained, with one foot over a cliff.
When I closed my eyes in lethargy, the gaze of the assassin who had stared at me so menacingly kept coming to mind.
The coldness of the glass shard in my hand, the killing intent directed at me even as his neck was pierced—it didn’t die.
The smell and taste of the blood that had frothed up and soaked my face—not a single bit of it has left me.
‘This is fucked….’ The red fresh blood, which I remember vividly even in this world that has lost its color.
Like the blood that had clung to my neck, that sticky red color refuses to leave my mind.
As these shitty thoughts surfaced even with my eyes closed, I grew increasingly enraged.
‘They really messed a person up.
What sin did this body commit to deserve being killed?’ After raging for a while, a thought occurred to me.
‘If I had reached the 2nd Circle just a little sooner, would this have happened?’ In my head, a chain of ‘what ifs’ followed one after another, and I began to lament my own weakness.
Then, an ominous realization dawned in my mind.
‘Ah!
In the first place, if I had just been strong, this wouldn’t have happened!’ Even though letting the assassin in wasn’t my fault, having lived a life that was inherently weak and spent reading the room, I didn’t know how to blame others.
But at this simple and clear answer I’d reached on my own, I felt my head clear as if I’d had a great epiphany.
‘Right, when I think about it, it’s not like I even tried that hard, was it?
No matter how I look at it, it’s because I was lazy.
If I get insanely strong from now on, most problems will be solved.
First, I want to get my eyes back to normal.
I have to become the crown prince, I can’t leave a blemish like being colorblind.’ I racked my brain and began to lay out a plan for the future.
‘First, to train, I need to get all my class progress out of the way.
For the sake of securing time later, let’s only practice magic before bed.
In the morning…
I still need to exercise to grow!
After swordsmanship and physical training, I’ll do nothing but eat and study!
Since the assassination failed once, things should be quiet for a while.
The faster I make progress, the more training time I’ll secure.’ I calmly made my future plans and closed my eyes, but the assassin came to mind again.
But I ignored it and shut my mind off to sleep.
I need to sleep early to grow taller!
*** A few months later, at the Empress’s Palace, the servants were bustling about and the priests were spraying divine power everywhere.
From inside the room door, our mother’s pained screams rang out, and we father and son stood pacing in front of it with our arms crossed.
“Your Majesty, it is humbly assessed that the eyes of your subjects are upon your footsteps, and I fear that a wave may stir in the sea of your beautiful people.” [Why are you pacing around like this?
You’re making people conscious.] “However, look at them, confidently carrying out their duties.
The subjects of our empire, protected by the Great Emperor, are not so weak.
As for you, Imperial Prince, your footsteps seem unusually light today.” [What the hell are they going to do about it?
You’re the one who needs to stand still.] “It feels as if a wave has risen in a corner of this humble one’s heart, fearing that the Great Emperor’s radiant gaze might momentarily turn away.” [It’s because I’m anxious…] “Throughout our long history, His ocean-like grace has always watched over our imperial family, so Imperial Prince, calm the waves in your heart.” [You wanna say something that’ll bring bad luck?
If so, just stay quiet.] What a load of bullshit…
Just as their quiz show-like “scream in the silence” was continuing, the door opened.
“Your Majesty!
It is a healthy Imperial Princess!” The two of us entered the room in an instant.
Our mother, covered in cold sweat, was smiling with a small child in her embrace.
At that, my father wrapped his arm around our mother’s shoulder.
“You’ve been through a lot…” “Hehe, would you like to hold her?” At that, my father held the imperial princess and smiled faintly.
I think it’s been a while since I’ve seen that man smile.
“Mother, you’ve suffered greatly.
Are you alright?” “Hehe, my dear Imperial Prince, this mother is fine.
Come here, let me hold you.” After that incident, my mother hugged me often.
“Here, you should hold her too, Imperial Prince.
It’s your pretty younger sister.” A younger sister…
Hearing the words ‘younger sister,’ a memory of the past suddenly came to mind.
[Aaaaaargh!
This goddamn household!
Just die already!
Hurry up and die!
Sob sob sob] While I was lost in my thoughts, my father held the small baby out to me.
“Hold her.
Carefully…
That’s right.” The wrinkled child, gently held in my embrace.
It’s bewildering.
Because this is the first time I’ve ever held a baby.
A miracle born from the fruition of our parents’ love.
I must have been born like this, too.
As I was feeling some unknown emotion, the baby reached out its hand.
Even though it can’t see, it reached out earnestly, as if wanting to grab something.
Fearing it would break if I held its hand, I timidly offered just one finger.