Chapter 13

Chapter 13

“...”

“...”

They were the same purple eyes that Eve remembered. The striking color was just as mesmerizing as before, looking as if they could drag your soul down into them. Mikael, though locked up and stripped of dignity, was just as attractive and beautiful as when he was King of the Homunculi.

Eve took a deep breath.

Talk about looks that could kill. Like Helen of Troy, he set the stage for a rebellion just by seducing Rosie with his appearance.

Mikael seemed to tremble slightly, his eyes locked on Eve. His look of indifference faltered slightly, showing confusion. It was to be expected—he would have never set eyes on a well-adorned, regal lady in a dress before.

Eve wanted to create a good first impression by greeting Mikael politely and with kindness, but Baronet Ercah ruined the moment.

“How dare you! You are going to simply stand and stare? Greet the princess with proper courtesy!”

“A princess...? Of imperial blood?”

That did it. His purple eyes became cold and steely as he looked up at Eve. If Mikael’s hands were free, he looked like he might have tried to attack and strangle her.

Eve gulped—she hadn’t been expecting such a hateful look. Baronet Ercah stepped forward as if to protect Eve, thundering at Mikael.

“You ungrateful monster! Lower your eyes this instant! Forgive me, Your Highness. I should have taught him a thing or two before you arrived. Look here, hand me a whip this very—”

“Sir Ercah. It’s all right,” Eve said, holding up a hand.

Baronet Ercah backed down and Eve placed her hand on the cage bars, undoing the magical lock that sealed the doorway.

Clang.

The door was open. Eve, steeling herself with a small breath, stepped inside the cage without hesitation. Mikael’s eyes widened while Baronet Ercah panicked behind her.

“Y-your Highness! You can’t go inside! Please come back out—this is dangerous!”

Eve wasn’t listening.

“Everyone leave. I will talk to him alone.”

“But your Highness...!”

“Leave now,” she commanded in her most authoritative tone. She even mixed a small bit of magic into her words to minimize any protests. The baronet took the platform back with Sedella.

Eve was now alone in the cage with Mikael.

“...”

“...”

As their gazes met once more, a heavy silence fell between them. At that moment, a powerful gust of wind blew through the cavern, making the rusty chain squeak and the cage sway. Eve and Mikael did not react. In this practically subterranean cave, the warm, humid wind brought only the smell of sulfur and rust. There was not a single ray of light to be seen. It was in this bleak environment that Eve and Mikael had the first meeting of their second lives.

Eve thought bitterly,

How the tables have turned. Now you’re the one that’s locked up, and I’ve come to visit you. It’s clear just how miserable you were during this period of your life. I wonder if it would have given you some satisfaction to see me locked up now too.

Her feelings toward him were confusing. In her previous life, Mikael had perpetrated a coup d'état. He was the enemy of the imperial family, having commanded that all members of royalty be killed, and that Eve be locked up for a month. Despite all that, it was not hatred or resentment that Eve was feeling, but rather pity for seeing what he had gone through earlier in his life.

However, that didn’t mitigate her nervousness at the murderous gaze in Mikael’s eyes. This was the great, future King of the Homunculi, after all. The open display of hostility from him might have overwhelmed a less prepared prince or princess.

Comparatively, I guess the past Mikael was actually somewhat friendly toward me. At least he didn’t look at me that way.

She recalled how Mikael had acted on the day of her death. Come to think of it, Mikael had displayed feelings then that really didn’t make any sense. Those purple eyes had definitely expressed resentment, but it was nothing like the clear enmity he was showing now. Eve could still remember the way he’d looked at her—he’d seemed almost compassionate, if anything.

Then his words, laced with meaning, came back to her.

“You should have chosen me.”

“If you’d chosen me as your personal knight, you would not be here right now.”

The words seemed to echo not only through her head, but her heart, too. She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply.

Yes. So this time, I’m here to choose you, Mikael.

Perhaps it was those words that had led her back to him now. She opened her eyes and spoke his name in a clear voice.

“Mikaelis Agnito.”

“So... you know my name.”

The hostility faded from his eyes. Upon hearing his full name, his malice seemed to lessen slightly, though he was certainly still not friendly.

Mikael questioned her before Eve could even introduce herself.

“You are an imperial princess?”

“Yes. It’s nice to meet you.”

She added some warmth to her voice, trying to sound friendly.

“...”

However, as soon as she had confirmed she was an imperial, Mikael closed his mouth and refused to speak. She immediately realized what he was doing.

“Please, you needn’t be polite or respectful to me. Let’s speak openly.”

“...”

Silence was Mikael’s only way to defy the imperial family, who were to be obeyed without question. The Emperor didn’t sentence him to the floating prison just because of his refusal to accept the allegiance ritual. Mikael was also being punished for his irreverent and rebellious attitude.

“I was hoping to talk with you, Mikael, not at you.”

“...”

Nodding slightly in acceptance, he asked another question.

“What is a princess doing here?”

“I’d like to appoint you as my personal knight.”

“For selection, then? You must be the eighth princess, who is just about to turn 18.”

“I’m sorry to disappoint you, but I am not the White Rose of the Empire.”

“You’re not?”

Eve finally had a chance to introduce herself.

“I am the seventh princess, Evienrose Chloelle Hadelamid.”

“...!”

Surprise registered in Mikael’s features. From his reaction, Eve assumed he must have heard about her.

Perhaps it’s a good thing. Maybe he’ll know that being a personal knight to any of the other princesses would guarantee much worse working conditions.

Mikael was still shocked, and seemed a bit confused.

“You’re... the seventh princess?”

“Yes. But please, call me Eve.”

“Really?”

“Of course. You can call me by my name. I just did the same with you, didn’t I?”

“No, I don’t mean that—are you truly the seventh princess? If you are the eighth princess and this is your idea of a joke, please stop. It’s not at all funny.”

Eve chuckled to herself, feeling a little playful.

“I appreciate that you see me as Rosenitte. You must think me extremely beautiful to keep wondering if I’m her.”

“...”

“Sorry. That was a joke. You’ll likely be upset with me later when you can see Rosie for yourself. I must sound quite vain without you having seen reality.”

“No, I...”

Mikael put a hand to his forehead as if he had a headache. Eve’s mix of jokes and sincerity left him confused. It took him a moment to gather his thoughts.

Clunk.

The chains linked to his handcuffs clanged noisily as he lowered his hand. His face visible once more, he locked eyes with Eve. The purple eyes held no humor or levity. As in her previous life, Eve felt the powerful presence he seemed to resonate that influenced those around him.

Mikael spoke, his voice so deep and resonant that it seemed almost musical.

“I had heard that the seventh princess refused to take on a personal knight, claiming that the personal knight system was one of the biggest problems of the imperial family. If you are truly the seventh princess, was I misinformed about her?”

“No, you’re right. I did say that.”

“Then why have you changed your mind?”

“I need a personal knight to increase my influence as a princess.”

“So you’re choosing me for the role? What peculiar tastes you have,”

Mikael said, looking disappointed. It was deeply disheartening to him that the seventh princess had stooped to the level of the other members of the family. Mikael decided Eve was no different from the other perverted, arrogant imperials, and so he no longer hid his derision.

His cocked his head to the side, and spoke in a mockingly apologetic tone.

“You must have heard that I’m a rarity amongst the homunculi. But alas, I show no loyalty toward the imperial family, and as you can see, I am not at all subservient. If you’re looking for a slave, I’m sorry to say that you have failed here. You’d best go find a homunculus who is obedient.”

“I’m not here to find a slave. I’m here for you, Mikael.”

“Enough of your jokes. Do you think not calling me a slave will make me any less of one? Personal knights have never been anything other than slaves, and don’t pretend otherwise. To think the seventh princess was just like the others after all.” He snorted with contempt. “I should have known.”

In a rare display of his full emotion, Mikael’s face showed a deep, profound rage.