Chapter 13 -- Nightmare (12)

"Today is His Majesty's birthday," commented Lily as she brushed Athy's hair.

Yawning, the princess glanced at the mirror to look at the brunette's reflection. But it was Lily who was carefully observing Athy's expression.

"Yeah. Everyone must be busy today."

That's right. Today is Claude's birthday.

Yet she had replied very casually as if what she heard had nothing to do with her.

"A party will be held in the Garnet Palace this evening."

She had heard that the servants were busy preparing for Claude's birthday party, which was to be held in the Garnet Palace, from Felix. After quite some time, the knight had finally visited her in the Emerald Palace. It had been planned that she would be attending the event; but, of course, that changed when Claude lost his memories.

A royal who has already had their debutante not attending the Emperor's birthday party; that's never happened before. But, well, the person whose birthday it is did not invite me, so what can I do?

"It doesn't matter. I won't be going anyway, so…"

"I'm sure His Majesty will get well soon," Lily protested, trying to make the princess feel better. But Athy only gave her a small smile in return.

The sun was bright against the windowpane, and Bluey was calmly eating its food in its cage. Thinking that the bird might feel frustrated if it was confined only to a cage, she would release him from time to time. The problem was always putting the bird back into the cage afterward.

I heard if I train Bluey well, it can become like a carrier pigeon. But how am I supposed to train Bluey? Hm. When I get an opportunity later, I should call for someone who knows a lot about birds to come to the palace.

The bluebird chirped in its cage. After watching him for a bit, she held a book to her face. Because she was confined to the Emerald Palace, the princess was not allowed to visit the personal library that Claude had made for her. Instead, Athy asked the maids to bring books for her. Currently, she was reading a compilation of literature from around the world. To be honest, she wanted to read far more interesting novels. But she didn't dare to ask for her hidden books after the humiliating experience she'd had with Lucas and the library guards.

Now that I think about it, I wonder if Lucas is doing well? I don't know where that so-called World Tree is located, but it sounded as if it was pretty far away. If Lucas could see me now, he would find this situation hysterical.

The book she'd been reading was still in front of her, but the princess held her palm up expectantly. "Money," she mumbled. Nothing happened. A scowl crossed her face. After the day that she had summoned coins into her room, she had not been able to use her magic consistently. Occasionally, she could create something easily by simply imagining it. Other times, nothing would happen, no matter how hard she tried.

"Gold coins!!"

Nothing.

"Come out, gold!"

Still nothing.

I guess using magic isn't easy. Sorry, Lucas. I started thinking less of you when I was able to use magic for the first time.

"Princess, may I come in?"

"Come in."

The door opened, and Hannah cringed at the sight of Athy's awkward pose.

"Y-You look tired, Princess."

She's extra cautious. She's treating me as if I was a cousin going through puberty.

"I made madeleines for you."

"Ah, it looks delicious." The moment Athy saw the snacks, her dampened mood perked back up.

Indeed the quickest way to a man's heart is through his stomach! As expected of Hannah, who has been making my snacks since I was little!

"But, is it just me? The palace seems more quiet than usual today."

"Oh, more people were needed to prepare for the birthday party. It seems that some people were called away form here to assist."

So that's what happened. Something like, "We're so busy preparing for this event! But you guys have nothing to do. If so, then come help us!"

"That is why Ces will be at the Garnet Palace today."

"Then you must be bored, Hannah."

"Princess. Are you going to be that way as well? I'm not close to Ces at all." Denying a fact, which everyone in the palace knew to be true, Hannah began to complain.

You guys are like a needle and thread, or a pair of chopsticks. Lily, the other maids of the Emerald Palace and I all know it. Don't pretend it isn't true.

"Anyway. Your Highness, I asked the chef to take extra care of your meal. Let's have a fun day to ourselves, alright?"

Hannah's words tugged at the princess' heart.

She's so considerate of me today because she thinks I'm going to be depressed. Not just because I'm alone on Claude's birthday, but also because I was meant to attend the party until all these things happened.

"Yeah. Thank you, Hannah." Athy gave the maid a grateful smile as she rose up off the sofa. Now that the atmosphere was so warm, she couldn't just slouch all over the place like a delinquent.

However, Athanasia was not able to enjoy her dinner that night.

"Wha-What did you just say?!"

Lily was standing opposite some knights, who had suddenly come into the Emerald Palace. Their shocking claim surprised everyone in the dining room.

"We were ordered to immediately drag Princess Athanasia to the Garnet Palace by His Majesty."

"Drag the princess? How dare you speak that way before Her Highness?"

"Unless you wish to meet His Majesty's wrath, move aside."

"I will not! I won't let you touch a strand of her hair - AH! PRINCESS!"

When the man who appeared to be the leader of the knights jerked his chin, the rest moved in. It was as if they'd been waiting for his signal.

"KYA!! LET GO OF ME!"

"GET YOUR HANDS OFF THE PRINCESS!"

Knowing that they would try to defend Athanasia, the soldiers captured all of the servants in the dining room, including Lily and Hannah. They then grabbed the princess by her arms, forcing her to stand.

"PRINCESS!"

What is happening? Did I hear them correctly? Did he order, not to bring me, but to drag me? Forcefully capture me as if I were a sinner?

"P-Princess Athanasia de Alger Obelia enters."

Even as she was being dragged into the party that was being held in Claude's Garnet Palace, the young royal found it impossible to process what was happening. The servant standing in front of the door stuttered, unsure as to whether he should announce her entrance or not. But by the time he had finished his announcement, the knights had already walked past the door.

The bright lights of the banquet hall were blinding. They dragged her forward until, finally, they threw her into a kneel on the red rug before the throne.

"Athanasia."

A voice echoed above her head. It was indifferent and cold, but also a voice that Athy knew well.

Ah, it's Claude.

Despite knowing that she would not find an ounce of warmth in his gaze, she lifted her head to look at them.

"With a generosity unbecoming of me, I have let you, the wench who dared to ridicule me, live."

The throne that Claude sat on was elevated from the rest of the banquet hall. From there, he stared down at her with an icy expression.

"But even on a day like this, your foul name taints my ears. Now, what should I do with you?"

The words that flowed from Claude's lips brought the banquet hall gave all those present goosebumps. Silence overwhelmed the banquet hall. There had been many people invited to the event, but there was not a breath to be heard. Not once.

Finally, someone spoke.

"YOUR MAJESTY!" Felix yelled, incredulously. "How... How could Your Majesty do something like this to Princess Athanasia…!" He had a pained look about him. After watching the blonde girl dragged in so violently, it seemed that he could no longer stand by and watch.

"Felix Robane." That terrifying voice interrupted the knight. "Do you want to die for treason?"

In all of her short life, Athy had never seen Claude speak so coldly to Felix.

"Since everyone has been exalting this wench by falsely calling her a 'princess' she has grown bold and impertinent."

It, too, was the first time he'd ever glared at her so heartlessly. The banquet had been held to celebrate him and his birthday, but he looked more annoyed than ever before. She didn't need to guess that his foul mood was because of her.

"Phadma Beck."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"That wench kneeling before me, what do you think of her?" Claude questioned the man standing to his left. Chilly silence pierced the banquet hall once more, as the man struggled to answer.

"Are you mute? You spoke just a moment ago. Didn't I, your emperor, order you to do so again? Or did you suddenly become deaf as well?"

Dripping with cold sweat, Phadma Beck finally opened his mouth. "Is she not Princes Athanasia of Obelia, whom Your Majesty has acknowledged?"

"Wrong."

The man's response was reasonable and based on Athy and Claude's relationship in the past. But the emperor rejected his reply.

"That wench is neither my daughter nor a princess."

In front of all the other nobles, Claude had disavowed himself from Athy. The attendees felt as though they were watching the unsettling prologue to a tragic play. Their whispers rippled through the banquet hall. Some of them glared at her, some covered their mouths in surprise, and others whispered to those around them.

"Never. Not once, even for a moment."

Having become a spectacle in the middle of the banquet hall, Athy felt as though someone had poured cold water over her head. She felt numb.

"Have I considered that person my daughter."

At that moment she was Athanasia de Alger Obelia -- the Athanasia from Lovely Princess.

"That being kneeling in front of me is merely a poor and insignificant criminal."

Her identity, her entire being, was destroyed and dispersed like dust in the wind.

"Henceforth, if anyone dares to call that a princess in my presence I will behead them for treason, no matter their status, age or background."

When Claude denied that she was his daughter, not even for a moment...

"Ha. What a name: Athanasia. Is such a name even suitable for you?" Claude's blatant sneer pierced through Athy's heart.

...He became a stranger to her, just as she had to him.

"The last time I saw that face, I made a promise."

His icy gaze returned to her once more. She grasped the rug beneath her.

"That when I saw you again, I would definitely kill you."

Under the white light of the chandelier, Claude looked like a bloodless statue made of ice.

"Unfortunately, I am not in the mood to see any bloodshed. I've lost my interest. Today's banquet shall end here."

The man before her had become the cold and heartless Emperor Claude from the novel. The man who showed no benevolence unless it was necessary. The man who had never accepted Athanasia as a daughter. The man who had never called her gently by her name.

He rose from his seat. "Get that wench out of my sight, immediately."

Upon Claude's order, the knights approached the princess. However, Felix stopped them.

"YOUR MAJESTY! YOU CANNOT DO THIS!"

"Are my words a joke to you, Felix? What are you all doing? Hurry and remove that from the banquet hall."

"YOUR MAJESTY! PLEASE! PUNISH ME INSTEAD!"

Felix's commands could never override Claude's orders. The knights forced Athy to stand. Her bottom lip ached. She realized she had been biting it the entire time that she had been listening to Claude's thorny words. Finally, she opened her mouth and made an order to the knights that held her in their grip.

"Get your hands off me. Move away."

However, their hold only became rougher.

"These are His Majesty's orders."

Athy clenched her teeth before forcing herself out of their hands.

"I SAID TO MOVE AWAY!"

The same power that had repelled Jennette and the others away during the picnic now forced the knights away.

This time, the power was rather weak, so the men only took a few steps back. Bewildered, they looked at Athy and then at their hands.

She gave them a frosty look.

"I did not give you permission to touch me."

The silence had shifted into something different. The people in the banquet hall looked surprised; some seemed so shocked that they seemed as if they were about to faint. Their eyes darted back and forth between Athy and Claude. The emperor had his eyebrows raised as he looked down at her.

"There is no need to order them. I will leave of my own free will."

Standing among the beautiful attire of the attendees with the blinding chandeliers hanging from the ceiling - even the clean marble floor next to the red rug, Athy looked disheveled. But, at least she could leave with dignity.

When she was young, she had practiced it thousands of times; lifting the sides of her skirt, she bowed. As she spoke to Claude, it was not as his daughter but as the Princess of Obelia.

"Please forgive me for not preparing a fitting gift for you. It seems as though you do not wish for my congratulations on this grand day. As you wish, this girl will leave now."

Amidst all the shock and silence, the blonde lifted her head and stared back at Claude.

"Glory and blessings to Obelia's Sun. Happy birthday from the bottom of my heart, Your Majesty."

Calm and peaceful until the bitter end, she turned away from him. Claude looked as if he was about to order her execution, but instead, he remained silent. She could feel his eyes on her retreating figure. Her footsteps echoed through the hall. Behind her, the door closed with a creak.

The princess did not lower her head. She did not cower. She had freed herself from the hell that Claude had subjected her to.