Chapter 6

Chapter 6

Sezh was eventually left.

“…”

As she sits in front of her vanity mirror, her face was pitch dark. No matter what she did, Sezh is his half-sister. It never crossed her thought that he would say that to his family.

Wait, That’s it, family, older brother. Raytan didn’t bat an eyelash when she tried so hard to get his attention. Nevertheless, she didn’t know that it would be this bad. Sezh sighs deeply.

Is there a way to start a conversation with him? Talking about books or things that older brother usually likes…

But no matter how much she thought, there was nothing that came to her mind. She knew nothing about him. Sezh realizes this fact too late.

Come to think of it, there was such a great quote in a book from an unknown country across the land, which said ‘If you know your enemies and know yourself, you will not be imperilled in a hundred battles, if you do not know your enemies nor yourself, you will be imperilled in every single battle.’* Is this the reason why I lost the battle?

She made an agitated expression.

“I’ll comb your hair for you, Your Highness.”

Luna came up behind her with the comb and began to brush her shiny blondes with utmost care. Sitting absent-mindedly, Sezh looked at Luna’s reflection in the mirror.

`Yeah. Luna probably knows more about Raytan than I do at least.` And that’s where the crazy Sezh carefully opened her lips.

“I, Luna—I have a question.”

“Please feel free to ask me about anything.”

“Raytan Orabeoni said.”

Luna’s hand, which combined her hair carefully, flinched.

“Sir… Raytan?”

“That’s right, it’s him, not someone else. I met my brother in the library earlier.”

“Oh my god, Princess. Did you go to the library alone? I would have taken you with me if you said so!”

Luna repeats her question in astonishment. Sezh knew right away. Luna’s response wasn’t simply because she went out to the library alone, but because she was alone with Raytan, there.

“I beg of you please don’t do that from now on. No, just write a list of books you want to read. Then I’ll borrow every single one of them…”

“Is it because Raytan Orabeoni?”

Luna bit her lips.

“Luna, are you afraid of my brother too?”

“I would be lying… If I said no.”

Of course, you are. Sezh retort to her question. To be very honest, Sezh thought it was stupid to believe in such legend. How can he ruin everything when the Emperor is so ferocious to such an extent that no one dares to defy it. Till the point, he even slashed the Emperor’s neck.

And Raytan also killed her and her mother. He said he would kill all anyone with blonde hair and blue eyes. So he might also have killed the Emperor. Was that really a legend? Suddenly she remembered the book   in the empty place near the window.

‘But that’s not the case. Whether the legend is real or not. If I don’t plan anything for my survival, I’m sure my neck would be slashed again in 5 years.’

“What kind of person is my brother? Does Luna know?”

“I heard that…he is a quiet person. And no matter how much he is bullied, he doesn’t cry at all…”

But he is so good at telling me to get out, though. Sezh tilted her head in confusion.

“Your Highness, please stay away… from Sir Raytan.”

“Huh?”

“Everyone avoids him, and it would be better for you to follow the same.”

“Was it because of the legend?”

“Yes. But I don’t think it’s just because of the legend…” Luna stopped in the middle of her speech.

“Is there’s anything else that I didn’t know?”

“I’ve been going back and forth in the Imperial Palace. Sometimes my eyes meet his, and with all due respect, his… eyes…”

She was so scared. Luna shuddered just by thinking about it. Suddenly, his red eyes came to her mind. The blazing red eyes, quite contrary to Sezh and the Royal family’s, his eyes were so cool.

“The other princes and princess aren’t trying to get close to him either. So, Your Highness too-“

“But that goes the same for me too.”

“Pardon…?”

“You’re not wrong about that. We’re the same. My brother and I…”

She said it without much thought. Because it was the truth. One is treated like garbage and one get a cold treatment…

Well, to put it bluntly, she felt sorry for Raytan. She had never been forced into the lake. But Luna who heard that seems surprised by Sezh’s words. She is making an expression like she was about to cry. It wasn’t until then Sezh realized that she had said something too cynical for a 12 years old kid. She was about to open her mouth and fix what she said, but Luna spoke faster.

“But, Your Highness. Your Majesty always send you birthday gift on your birthday, right?”

“Well… That’s-“

Do you mean useless presents? Sezh giggled weakly. That’s because of her mother, Yerena, who was so upset that the Emperor wasn’t interested in Sezh either. So on her 10th birthday, the Emperor sent her stuffed toys and jewellery. Of course, she kept it well so she could use it when she leaves the palace in the future, but it wasn’t a present that she liked. Suddenly she wondered. What did he get on his birthday? Stuffed toys like her?

“What kind of present that they give for my brother?”

“Nothing.”

“Huh?”

“He never gets any. Not even once. Lady Lise is the only one who celebrates Sir Raytan’s birthday. They have dinner in Lady Lise’s palace.”

He is definitely more pitiful than me. Sezh nodded in understanding.

“I think this year will be the same like before. Tomorrow is his birthday and Your Majesty has yet to give him a congratulatory message, let alone presents.”

“Tomorrow?”

“Your Highness…?”

“You said tomorrow is his birthday?”

Sezh jumped from her seat. Luna had this surprised look on her face, but it’s not the right time to even care about it.

She needs an excuse. It would be obvious that she would be ignored if she visits the library again. So under these circumstances, celebrating his birthday seems like a good excuse to visit Raytan.

“You said they were having dinner at Lady Lise’s Palace, right?”

“Your Highness, I’m sure you don’t intend to go, right?”

Luna said and pressing her.

“You can’t! Something might happen later! And I’m sure Lady Yerena won’t like it either…”

Isn’t that just meaningless concern? Sezh thought that whatever happening now is way better than her neck got slashed again in 5 years.

“I’m only going there to celebrate his birthday. Also, Luna. My mother doesn’t like me no matter what I do.”

“Your-, Your Highness…”

“I’m going to pick some presents. I can’t call a merchant since it’s late already… There should be some jewellery that I can give.”

Sezh took out some from the jewellery box that she had kept and put it on her vanity table, she began to pick out the most expensive and good looking ones. Luna’s face was as pale as a ghost when she saw what Sezh doing.

* TL/N: She is referring to Sun Tzu’s quote