Chapter 174

Chapter 174

Its a story from a very young age.

In the Star Palace where the Second Empress Dustia and the Third Imperial Prince Ash resided.

Today, the Countess of Silver Winter Merchant Guild and her daughter, Serenade, visited again.

While the Empress and Countess were sipping tea and chatting, Ash and Serenade were playing in the garden of the Star Palace.

...

Serenade seemed unusually down today. Ash tilted his head in front of her.

Whats wrong, sister? What happened?

Sister.

No matter how much she begged him not to call her that, it was in vain. Young Ash always followed Serenade, calling her sister.

Ash asked innocently, smiling.

Tell me, sister! Ill fix everything!

Uh, well... actually...

Serenade, looking around cautiously, whispered.

I heard the word lowborn again...

On the way here today, as they passed through the security check at the entrance to the Imperial Palace, she heard the officers on guard muttering.

- Those lowborn merchant families keep hanging around the palace.

- The Second Empress is lowborn, isnt she? Birds of a feather flock together.

They did not even try to lower their voices, even though they could be heard clearly. It seemed intentional.

Serenade let out a heavy sigh.

Even outside, they shun me, calling me lowborn, and the children...

Serenade had no friends.

No noble child would associate with the daughter of a merchant family that had bought its nobility with money.

Nor did she have commoner friends. Though they had bought the title, they were still a Counts family.

No common child of her age would dare to associate with the Counts young daughter.

Somewhere between nobles and commoners.

The Silver Winter family existed in a gray area.

In this situation, Ash was Serenades first real friend of her age.

You, Prince Ash, are the only friend who hangs out with me.

Hehe, me too! Youre my first friend too!

Ash was in the same situation.

In this vast Imperial Palace, no one sided with Dustia, the Second Empress, who had been born a battle slave.

Her son Ash was treated the same.

Whether judged by pure lineage or the power of the family, the next Emperor would obviously be the son of the First Empress, who openly despised the Second Empress.

Since that was the case, no one tried to get close to the Second Empress and her son.

Except for the people of Silver Winter.

Dont be hurt by what those fools say, sister.

Ash reached out with his small hand, tightly holding Serenades hand.

Only those who have nothing to be proud of do that, judging by family or lineage instead of their ability.

Serenade stared at Ash, astonished by his words.

The young boys hands were warm.

I promise, sister.

Ash smiled like an angel.

Ill create a world where you dont have to hear such words.

Create a world...?

Yes! A world where blood and nobility dont matter... a world for children like us who are shunned. A world where Mom doesnt cry, and where sister isnt bullied, a world like that.

Ashs tiny fingers squeezed Serenades fingers tightly.

Ill... definitely make it.

On Ashs young face was a faint sadness and a clear determination.

At that moment, Serenade sensed it.

She would fall in love with this young boy.

Whether he kept his word or not...

Just the bright sparkle he emanated at that moment was enough for her to know that she would follow this boy for the rest of her life.

She thought so, watching the boys white smile.

***

Serenade suddenly opened her eyes.

From the crack in the curtains, the faint morning light told her it was early dawn.

She felt refreshed. Her body was light. Serenade quickly got up.

Have you awakened, my lady?

Elize, who had been waiting outside the door, entered as she heard movement.

On the tray Elize brought in was a basin filled with hot water.

Good morning, Elize.

Then, her father had said:

- Even if the betrothal breaks, we must still mix our blood with the Imperial Family! With blood!

- Beg Prince Ash if you must! Even a seed! Bring back a seed!

What did it all mean?

What was the significance of the seed from the wayward 3rd Prince, who could never be Emperor, especially when a breakup was so apparent? What was the point?

But the generations-long obsession with status and lineage had already moved beyond rational thought.

The bloodline of the Imperial Family, the bloodline of the Imperial Family...

Every day, her father screamed those words, and finally, Serenade had to seek Ash and speak her mind.

We demand recompense for the devotion our family has shown to you.

Give me... your seed.

The humiliation of begging like this from a man who no longer paid her any attention was more than she could bear.

Serenade wished simply to die, her last shred of pride torn to ribbons.

And all she received from Ash in return was a cold, disdainful glance.

- In the end, youre just like everyone else.

But she had obtained a promise.

When Serenade returned home, tears held back, her mother, the Countess of Silver Winter Merchant Guild, was preparing to leave the mansion, ignoring her husbands objections.

- Making your daughter go through this, youve gone mad!

- Whats truly wretched isnt your family but your mind.

Leaving only a word of apology to Serenade, her mother left.

As soon as her mother departed, her father fell ill and took to his bed, and Serenade was left to manage the Silver Winter Merchant Guild.

Prince Ash did not keep his promise.

Thus, time flowed, leading to the present moment.

"Your mother, she doesnt understand."

The Earl wheezed out these words.

"Because shes a noblewoman, with pure blood, unlike our outsider bloodline... she doesnt understand our pain."

"..."

"Serenade, you understand, dont you? You, with the same wretched blood as this father, surely you can understand."

Serenade, who had remained silent, tightly gripped her fathers hand once more, then rose.

"Ill step out, Father. Rest well."

The Earls strained murmuring continued to reach her even after she left the room.

"We must mix the blood of the Imperial Family into our lineage. Only then... can we escape this curse..."

Serenade clenched her jaw and walked down the hallway.

She felt unable to breathe.

It felt as if dark tar flowed through her veins instead of red blood.

She simply couldnt breathe.

***

Silver Winter Merchant Guild building. 4th floor.

When Serenade, panting for breath, burst through the door,

Huh?

Ash was sitting there.

Whats this? Why are you here so early?

In the bright morning sunlight, the third prince of the empire was dazzling.

His lush and alluring black hair. Those clear, direct eyes. His picture-perfect smile.

It reminded her suddenly of their youthful days in the Star Palace.

Serenades heart ached.

- I promise, big sister.

Yes.

The reason I loved you... was not because you were a prince, not because your blood was noble.

It was simply because you shared my pain.

And because you embraced and comforted my wounds.

Ah.

Serenade slowly bowed her head.

Why didnt she say it back then?

What she needed was not your bloodline, not your seed, but simply,

Just a piece of your heart...

Serenade?

Ash asked, puzzled, and Serenade quickly composed herself.

No, its nothing.

Her eyes reddened quickly, being prone to tears, but trusting the morning sunlight to shield them,

With a smile, Serenade said,

Shall we dance, My Lord?