Chapter 18

Chapter 18

“Oh... my hair isn’t really green. It’s lime blond, which is a type of blond.”

Eve’s response came out quite irritably. Just this morning her hair had been compared to mere leaves that existed solely to adorn Rosenitte, the empire’s rose. Ignorant of Eve’s frustrations, Mikael did not notice Eve that spoke as more of a protest than as a response. He nodded with minimal emotion, as if he’d just been given a reasonable explanation.

He then continued his thoughts, saying, “It’s very beautiful.”

“...”

Eve hadn’t expected him to say something like that with such an indifferent tone. She was taken aback. She thought the subject of his statement was unclear, so Eve decided to clarify it to avoid any misunderstandings.

“You’re referring to the palace gardens, yes? If we count all the gardens around the main palace, as well as the annexes, there are a total of 25. We could walk through each of them together, if you like.”

“I’d like that. But I wasn’t just referring to the gardens. Your hair is also beautiful.”

“...”

“What’s the matter?”

“‘What’s the matter?’ I think I should be asking that of you.”

The Mikael of this time was quite candid, but that was not what bothered Eve. The problem was something else... Eve knew she wasn’t doing herself any favors by asking, but she couldn’t ignore the elephant in the room.

“Mikael, didn’t you say you hated members of the imperial family?”

“I hate them.”

His reply was immediate, almost conditioned. He obviously didn’t need time to think about his response to that question. Eve then pointed out the obvious.

“Remember that I’m one of them, too.”

“...”

Mikael’s eyes widened slightly, as if shocked, and then blinked several times in confusion. It was as though she’d reminded him of something he’d forgotten.

“You’re right... I do hate you. So why did I say such a thing, I wonder?”

Mikael shifted slightly as he looked at her. Though he wasn’t looking with animosity, he did look like a person who’d just noticed an annoying bug that was flying around the room. Eve would have been offended under normal circumstances, but right now something else mattered more.

“So you have to make a conscious effort to remember that you dislike me? You don’t feel any hatred if you don’t focus on it?”

Mikael answered after an intense moment of introspection.

“I do not feel any ill will toward you if I do not try to remind myself what you are. Is this an effect of the imprint?”

“I would think it is.”

“Then if that’s what you think, it’s probably right. It’s not a bad thing, considering it will be extremely taxing for me to constantly hate someone I must serve as my mistress. But... it’s not all too pleasing either. It feels like the imprint is controlling my emotions against my will. Will changes like this continue to be forced onto me? It would be terrifying if the imprint slowly transforms me into a loyal, imperial puppet.”

“That won’t ever happen. Don’t worry.”

It was a statement only she could make, as she knew how things turned out in the future.

“I know I’m unusual for saying such an insubordinate thing in the presence of an imperial... but you are quite odd yourself, telling me no such thing will happen.”

“Is that so?”

“It’s also surprising that you’re letting me get away with not using your proper title and speaking to you as I would to an equal. I expected your attitude to change once the imprint was in place.”

Eve had intentionally not required such rigid adherence to etiquette. The imprint had already locked them into what was essentially a master-servant relationship. Requiring formality in simple conversations like this would likely prevent Mikael from ever opening up to her.

She decided to pass over this with a joke instead of giving an answer that was much more serious and complex than the observation demanded.

“You’re the exception, Mikael, since you’re my personal knight.”

“I did hear that some members of the imperial family had a certain predilection for that... as a sexual preference.”

“Oh... haha...”

Given the large number of perverts in imperial family history, apparently even improper lack of formality had made it on the list. Eve gave a dry laugh.

“Only when we are alone. And it doesn’t matter if Sedella sees.”

“If you do not demand honorifics, then I will do as you wish.”

Mikael lowered his eyes, lost in thought. Still shocked at what he had learned, he was mulling over the effect the imprint had upon his subconscious. After a minute, Mikael said to Eve, “Seventh Princess, I would like to test something, and I need your assistance for it. Will you give me permission?”

“What’s the test?”

“I would like to see if I am able to harbor murderous intent toward your person.”

“Uh, all right. I don’t see why not. The energy you give off is quite strong, however. I’d like to shield my mind first, if you don’t mind.”

“Thank you for agreeing.”

Eve spoke the words to cast her spell immediately, then gazed at Mikael. Her amber eyes glowed like a prismatic rainbow, indicating that her mind was now shielded. Mikael raised his gaze, making direct eye contact with Eve. He had clearly been gathering his energy while Eve cast her spell.

As soon as their eyes locked, Mikael’s eyes took on a fierce light. That was all, however. It didn’t frighten Eve in the least. She felt a little embarrassed, if anything, that a handsome man like him was giving her such an intense stare. It seemed to be allure, not menace, that filtered through her mind shield.

Mikael withdrew his gaze after a moment.

“I knew it.”

“It isn’t working?”

“No. It appears I am completely incapable of harming you, even in thought.”

Eve felt an urge to applaud, which she suppressed. The hourglass emptied just in time. She poured tea into Mikael’s cup first, the yellow-green liquid swirling about with the scent of pear.

“One moment.”

Eve decided to garnish the tea using one of her favorite ingredients. She brought out a partially dried flower bud that was the color of a green apple. The delicate, brightly-colored bud floated on the surface of the tea, a visually pleasing decoration. The only tea food she had on hand were some biscotti pieces, so she placed a plate of these at the center of the table before returning to her seat.

“Now then, try the tea.”

“This... is good tea.”

Mikael looked poised as a painting as he sipped from his cup. Eve also took a sip, feeling the warmth spread through her body. This was the first proper tea time she was getting to have with him in either of her lives.

She was savoring her tea when Mikael spoke.

“I just remembered—you promised to tell me something.”

“Oh, you mean the reason I needed you to be my personal knight?”

“Yes. Now that I’m yours, you can tell me this big secret, right?”

“Yes, I can.”

Eve took a bite of biscotti. She chewed slowly and swallowed while Mikael waited patiently.

“I plan to become the crown princess.”

“What?”

“My ultimate goal is the throne, of course.”

“Wait, hold on...”

“My plan is to free the homunculi.”

“...”

This series of shocking statements completely overwhelmed Mikael. There was silence in the reception room, interrupted only by the sound of Eve crunching her biscotti. A considerable time passed before Mikael managed to find his voice.

“Are you... serious?”

“Look into my eyes. Do I look like I’m lying?”

“You do seem... quite earnest.”

“I am.”

Having finished her tea snack, Eve wiped her fingers on a napkin. She straightened up and brought her hands on top of the table, interlacing her fingers in a solemn pose, ready to reveal her grand design.

“I have been constantly frustrated by the imperial family insisting on their perverse systems, dressing them up as traditions to be followed. When I saw that the third princess, Brigitte, was likely to become the Emperor’s successor, I knew all hope for change was lost. I decided I was the one who needed to step up and enact new laws to stop the exploitation of homunculi. For the laws I have in mind, my idea is to abolish the yearly creation of homunculus infants—they are not objects to be mass-produced—in addition to closing down the inhumane training centers. I’d also guarantee homunculi full citizenship rights. I’m still working out all the details, Mikael, so feel free to give me your honest input.”

Eve looked perfectly serious, and her amber eyes shone with enthusiasm. Nothing about Eve’s delivery was in jest, and this only made Mikael more confused.

“What you’re proposing... it’s akin to overthrowing the empire. The empire has been creating homunculi for hundreds of years... You may be a princess, but even for you this would amount to treason. I doubt even rebellious conspirators would plan such things as you’ve just mentioned. And you, the seventh princess, plan to do these things now?”

“Yes,”

Eve replied without any hesitation. And she didn’t stop there. As it was only natural for her to have formed a timeline after setting a goal, she added, “I want to be appointed the crown princess in three years at the most, and I want to hold the throne by the time I’m 30. Hard work will be required to make this happen.”