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nWhen he and I showed due manners to the emperor, he ordered the nobles still bowing to him to raise their bodies. When everyone fixed their eyes on the emperor, he said with a solemn expression.

n“Today is the day when the crown prince grows up and comes of age. How can’t I be so happy?”

n“Congratulations, Your Majesty. Congratulations, Crown Prince. ”

nEveryone bowed toward the platform at once. After letting go of his hand, I also stepped back a few steps, spreading the skirt with one hand, and greeted them politely.

n“In accordance with the imperial tradition, I give the crown and sword to the crown prince Rublis Kamaludin Shana Castina, who has come of age,” the emperor said, taking out the shining crown from the box that the servant brought.

nIt was slightly lesser in size andr splendor than the emperor’s crown, but it was exquisitely elegant thanks to the delicately crafted jewels. The crown brilliantly reflected the light of the chandelier on his blue hair as the emperor placed it on his head, then gave him a ceremonial sword with a brilliant decoration.

nAfter looking back at those who bowed deeply and paying respect to him, the emperor said, “Raise your heads. I am so happy that so many people here celebrate his coming of age. I would like to thank you all. ”

n“We’re honored, Your Majesty.”

nAfter handing the crown and sword to the servant, he approached me and reached out with a light smile on his face.

n“To you.”

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n“… ”

n“Can I ask you for a dance to celebrate my coming of age?”

nSuddenly, a scene from my past came to mind. Back then I was having fantasy about the crown prince while struggling to take courses about the empress at a time when I didn’t know the harshness of reality yet. As someone who was told that I had to live as a woman for him, the crown prince was like a man who had the ideal qualities of a man I always dreamed of. I even took his cold attitude toward me for granted because he had to lead the empire.

nThe reason I offered my heart to him the first time was because he asked me to dance at the coming-of-age banquet like this. He was the only one who, if perfunctorily, smiled at me among the people as I looked silly inthe banquet hall that I had visited for the first time. As he reached out to me who was always lonely, I gave him my whole heart on that day.

nBut now …

n“It is an honor, Crown Prince.”

nI shook off my idle thoughts and held his hand. His coming-of-age ceremony was the same as in the past as was his asking me to dance, and his cold hand. I wondered if my fate was again destined to be the same as the past. Maybe the name of ‘the pioneer of fate’ was of no use to me.

nWhen I arrived at the dancing floor, I felt his strong grip around my waist. The chamber orchestra members picked up their instruments. I moved slowly, holding hands with him, in line with the slow dance that started grandly.

nOnly the man who came of age and his partner could dance the first dance. Because of this, he and I alone were dancing under the attention of numerous guests. Even though I practiced all night long, I was so tense that I was taunted when I got my feet twisted, but now I didn’t make the same mistake. Even if I didn’t even practice for a single time, even if I wore high-heeled shoes, I could do dance steps well because I had already been here.

nWhen I followed his lead, he suddenly said with a cold voice, “Oh, It’s surprising.”

n“What are you talking about?” I barely replied, struggling to pull myself together.

n“I’m talking about you. Isn’t it the first time in your life that you are dancing today?”

n“Yes, Your Majesty.”

n“But why are you so used to it?”

nHe asked coldly, pulling me toward him when I was stepping a bit away from him.

n“I can see you’re focused on something else, but you’re still dancing so well. Does it mean that you have danced with another guy so many times? ”

n“What do you mean? How could I do…?”

n“Really?”

nAfter snorting with laughter, he pulled me tight. He grinned strangely at me.

n“That guy over there. Is he Duke Verita’s younger son, right? I hear he often visits your house.”

nHe put his lips close to my ear and whispered. When I turned my head along his gaze, a boy with light green hair came into my view. With his fresh hair and deep emerald eyes in my view, I felt my heart was broken when he was looking at me.

n“… I don’t like him. ”

n“Your Majesty?”

nI raised my trembling eyes and looked up at him. I trembled with anxiety, he once again looked at the boy and smiled in satisfaction this time.

nI felt goosebumps. Why did he feel Allendis rubbed him the wrong way?

nAs if somebody threw cold water over my body, I felt cold and nervous. The blood flowing through my heart seemed to have frozen, and my whole body began to tremble.

nAt that moment, the music stopped and a thundering applause was heard. But I couldn’t take a step forward on the spot. He, who was staring at me, also did not intend to move. My mouth was becoming dry. Their whispering was getting farther away.

n“Thank you for dancing with me first at my coming-of-age ceremony.”

n“It was an honor for me…”

nAfter he took his eyes off of me after a long time, he let go of my hand.

nThen he smiled casually as if nothing had happened. When I replied, barely calming down my trembling body, he reached out with politeness and grabbed my hand.

nAlmost dragged by him, I was headed to the platform where the emperor was seated.

nAfter bowing to the emperor, I was about to turn when I flinched. He stopped me and walked to the platform.

n‘What the heck is he doing?’

nAlthough I looked up at him in surprise, he was already on the podium. Only then did he look back at me and gestured at me to sit down. There were two chairs placed side by side just below the emperor’s.

nMy heart sank. I looked around hesitantly, but suddenly he put his hand on my shoulder and pressed it hard. When I came to my senses, he was already sitting next to me.

nI grew more and more nervous as he looked more different than usual. The messengers from each country lined up to offer him gifts and congratulations, and I watched the emperor expressing gratitude to them, but I felt confused with mixed feelings of fear and tension.

n“Hey, you.”

n“Yes, Your Majesty.”

nWhen I responded in surprise to his sudden call, he said with a frown, “I felt a moment ago that you looked strange. Why are you so scared of me?”

n“Ugh, I don’t get it, Your Majesty.”

n“You must know what I’m talking about. What is the reason? Did your childhood memories come back? ”

n“Pardon? My childhood? ”

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n“I guess not, then. Hmmm…”

nHe put his lips to my ears and said as if he was whispering to his lover, “Is it because of your middle name?”

n“How come you….?”

n“Did you think I didn’t notice it?”

n“… ”

n“Although there is little possibility, you have the right to succeed the throne, and that you can’t give it up because it was given by God’s prophecy. Although the emperor ordered them to keep silent about it, how couldn’t I know it?”

n“… What are you going to do to me, Your Majesty? ”

nI thought I shouldn’t draw his attention in order to avoid my coming fate. Unlike the old me, I was not receiving any education as the next empress. So, I thought that if I was intentionally keeping a low profile, there was less of a possibility that he would take me as his wife instead of Jiun.

nSo, I kept a low profile as much as I could. I made sure my middle name, given as the God’s prophecy, did not draw any unnecessary attention, and I didn’t foresee Jiun’s appearance.

nIf he wanted to have a different woman, he could take her as the next empress, but the imperial family would not let me go as long as I had the God-given right to the throne. If that’s the case, I thought I had better draw as little of his attention as possible until I found the way to deal with my succession right.

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