PG | Chapter 1: Her Husband’s Funeral

The main hall of the Imperial Temple, built of white marble.

The hymns sung by boy sopranos echoed through the high-ceilinged hall. The magnificent hall was filled to the brim with mourners dressed in black clothes.

Felix Paulus, the Crown Prince of the Delatosa Empire, had passed away.

At the age of 26.

The news of the Crown Prince’s death in his prime was sudden. Even more so because he had no known illnesses or problems.

Despite the abrupt announcement of his death, mourners came from most countries on the continent. Even Bedua, which rarely interacted with the outside world, sent a delegation personally led by its ruler.

It was only natural.

The Delatosa Empire was a powerful nation, controlling over two-thirds of the continent.

The mourners, with their somber faces and expressions of condolence, had other motives. Some came to avoid displeasing Empress Iphis, the empire’s de facto ruler. While others sought to maintain good relations with the empire.

And still others…

“I heard the Crown Prince was murdered?”

…were interested in the cause of the Crown Prince’s death.

“Who could have done it?”

“There were rumors that the Crown Princess wasn’t in her right mind. So perhaps…”

“Surely not!”

Everyone, despite the solemn atmosphere, gossiped amongst themselves. Who wouldn’t be drawn to the empire’s biggest scandal?

“I heard the Crown Princess was with His Highness when he died. Who else could it possibly be?”

“Really? The Crown Princess? But weren’t they close? Why?”

“Who knows what goes on behind closed doors? Perhaps she wasn’t satisfied that her husband wasn’t the Empress’s biological son?”

“Nonsense! The Crown Princess is an orphan herself. How dare an orphan even think of harming the son the Empress herself adopted…”

“Shhh!”

The gossiping mourners, feigning solemnity, quickly fell silent at someone’s sharp warning. Just then, the massive doors opened silently.

“We shall commence the funeral of His Highness the Crown Prince. All mourners, please rise to receive the deceased.”

At some point, the voice of the High Priest, who had appeared on the podium, announced. Then, the organ music began to play, and a woman stepped onto the red carpet laid down the center of the temple.

Another woman followed her, accompanying the coffin. Dressed in black from head to toe, the women proceeded towards the temple’s podium, gazes fixed forward.

It was the Empress and the Crown Princess.

Following the Empress, the Crown Princess walked alongside the coffin adorned with white chrysanthemums. Attendants with black ribbons pinned to their chests carried the coffin.

The mourners bowed their heads in respect, while also observing the Empress and Crown Princess.

Did the Crown Princess really kill the Crown Prince? What would the Empress do to her? Since she’s here at the funeral, perhaps she isn’t the culprit.

However, it’s too early to jump to conclusions.

The Crown Princess is said to be the empire’s strongest Esper. Killing someone would be nothing to her.

Thanks to her, the Empress no longer needed to use her Esper abilities for the empire after the Crown Princess joined the Imperial family.

The fact that the Empress was able to devote herself to rule the empire in place of the Emperor who had passed away early was largely due to the contribution of the Crown Princess. She had completely resolved the empire’s monster problem.

Rumor had it that the Empress wept tears of joy upon meeting the Crown Princess, who was a priestess at the temple at the time.

An Esper capable of creating a barrier to protect the empire from monsters, an Esper who would bring peace to the empire… how could she not be precious? It was no wonder the Empress offered the position of Crown Princess to someone of unknown origin.

The Crown Prince was first in line for the throne.

Offering her the position of Crown Princess was essentially promising her the future position of Empress. Though no one foresaw the Crown Prince’s death.

Crown Prince Felix Paulus was adopted by the Empress because of his exceptional Guiding abilities.

Guide.

And Esper.

‘Espers,’ those who wield powers using mana, suffer from side effects. These can be purified through physical contact with a ‘Guide.’

The more powerful the Esper, the more severe the side effects, such as madness, memory loss, or seizures. If mana isn’t purified in time, the Esper can go berserk and even die.

In order to purify this, a Guide of comparable power is needed.

The reason the Empress adopted Felix, a distant relative of the Emperor, was to prepare for a powerful Esper as Crown Princess. To produce an heir who could protect the empire for generations to come.

Felix was capable enough to purify the Crown Princess’s side effects. Moreover, the Crown Prince and Princess always appeared together in public.

The handsome young couple was admired by the people, both for their appearance and their abilities. They were a seemingly perfect match.

And yet…

Did the Crown Princess really kill the Crown Prince?

Her own husband, her own Guide?

Until the end of the funeral, the people’s curious gazes remained fixed on the Crown Princess.

* * *

“You don’t remember?”

A short while later.

In the House of Lords’ meeting room.

A man with graying hair sneered at the woman seated at the head of the table.

“Aren’t you tired of repeating the same excuse?”

“Margrave, you know… I don’t remember…”

“Yes, we all know the Crown Princess’s power side effect is memory loss.”

Margrave Calistus Hekande cut off the woman, the Crown Princess, and nodded. He glanced around at the nobles sitting in the meeting room and continued.

“But it’s quite a coincidence that you only have no memory of the exact moment when His Highness passed away.”

“Why would I kill Felix? A Guide is a lifeline to an Esper…!”

Aloissia, cornered, protested with a pale face. An Esper without a Guide is a ticking time bomb. Who would willingly live in such a dangerous state?

An Esper’s life goal is to find their own Guide. The idea that she, an Esper, would kill her own Guide, her husband, with her own hands… It was a preposterous accusation.

However, the gazes directed at Aloissia were frigid.

It was understandable.

When Crown Prince Felix died…

She had been found in the bedroom with him, his body covered in blood, and a bloodstained sword in her hand.

“When I entered the bedroom, Felix was already lying there, stabbed. I tried to stop the bleeding. That’s all.”

“And you didn’t call for help immediately?”

“I was about to. That’s when the Head Servant came in!”

Aloissia’s voice rose and trembled slightly with frustration. She clutched the hem of her black mourning dress and pleaded.

“Believe me, please… I didn’t do it.”

“What evidence do you have? Are there any witnesses?”

“Th-There aren’t any, but…”

“So it’s just your word. In that case…”

“Enough.”

Just as Calistus was pressing Aloissia, the door to the meeting room opened, and a woman wearing a black veil entered.

It was the Empress.

As she entered, attended by her maids, the nobles rose in unison and bowed.

“Your Imperial Majesty.”

“We greet Your Imperial Majesty.”

The Empress lifted her veil, revealing her face. Her green eyes, framed by braided reddish-brown hair, shone intelligently.

“I was wondering where the Crown Princess was. You were holding her here?”

“We were investigating the case of the Crown Prince’s death…”

Calistus began cautiously. But at the Empress’s gesture, he stepped back obediently.

“I ordered the investigation into Felix’s death to quell the rumors surrounding the Imperial family, to protect the Imperial family. And you’re interrogating the Crown Princess?”

“But Your Majesty, the Crown Princess is the prime suspect. Moreover, she claims to have no memory of the events no matter what we ask her.”

“Short-term memory loss is a side effect the Crown Princess suffers from. Surely the Margrave is aware of this?”

“With all due respect, Your Highness has no alibi or other evidence.”

“And is there any evidence that the Crown Princess is the culprit?”

“That…”

“Interrogating a member of the Imperial family without any proof.”

As Calistus hesitated, the Empress’s eyes hardened.

“If the Crown Princess’s abilities are affected by your harassment, how will you bear the responsibility? What if something happens to the empire’s protective barrier?”

At the powerful Esper Empress’s rebuke, the Margrave and the other nobles fell silent.

For the peace of the Empire, the Crown Princess, who is an Esper, is more important than the Crown Prince whom the Empress adopted. 

Do not do anything that might threaten her Esper abilities.

That was the Empress’s indirect message.

“We apologize.”

Calistus bowed his head deeply. But his apology was directed only at the Empress. He didn’t even glance at the Crown Princess.