Curtis then glanced toward Evelyn, who was quietly sipping her juice, expression unreadable.
Curtis (thoughts): She looks different than before. What's wrong with her? Why do I feel such a heavy, oppressive presence from her?
He knew Evelyn had once been a desperate child craving her mother's love—he had watched from afar as she waited time and again outside the Empress's chambers, unnoticed and ignored.
So why does she seem so different now? Why does her presence feel even more overwhelming than the Empress herself?
He shook his head slightly.
He must be imagining things.
Soon after, the hall bustled with movement as one noble family after another stepped forward to present their gifts to the Second Princess.
Rosalia sat beside the Empress, her posture elegant but her eyes wide with amazement as one beautifully wrapped box after another was laid before her.
Jewels. Silks. Enchanted toys. Miniature magical beasts in glass orbs. The floor before her glittered like a treasury.
Then, the Empress herself rose, holding a small velvet box in one hand.
Empress Florina: "And as a mother's gift… I bestow the Crystal Palace upon my beloved daughter, Rosalia."
The crowd gasped.
A wave of murmurs followed almost immediately, thick with shock and speculation.
"The Crystal Palace?"
"That's only meant for the Crown Princess, isn't it?"
"She's declaring Princess Rosalia as the heir… right?"
And slowly, almost instinctively, more than a few guests turned their heads to look at Evelyn.
But Evelyn had already finished the last sip of her juice. With perfect calm, she set the empty glass down on a nearby table.
Then, before anyone could fully register it, she rose to her feet.
She walked forward—not hurriedly but with regal poise. Her dress swayed with each step like rippling moonlight, her crystal heels soft against the polished floor.
The nobles parted in silence as she passed.
Evelyn approached the royal dais, where the Empress, Emperor Consort, and Rosalia sat. She stopped a proper distance away, curtsied deeply with flawless grace, and spoke in a clear, composed voice that carried through the hall:
Evelyn: "I, Evelyn de P. La Cristiane, greet Your Majesties—the radiant pillars upon whom this empire stands. May the guardian spirits' blessings always shine upon you both."
There was a pause.
A breathless hush.
Empress Florina stare for a while at this daughter of her then said coolly,
Empress Florina: "At ease."
Evelyn: "Thank you, Your Majesty."
She straightened, her expression composed, her eyes steady.
Rosalia blinked up at her, surprised. This older girl… so calm, so elegant—was her?
Rosalia: "Cristiane? You're… the First Princess? My elder sister?"
Evelyn looked at her little sister.
And smiled slightly.
Evelyn: "Yes. I'm indeed the First Princess of Cristiane."
Evelyn's gaze slowly turned toward the Empress, her eyes calm, her expression unreadable.
Evelyn: "Your Majesty, I have a slight doubt. May I ask for clarification?"
Florina's eyes narrowed slightly, suspicion flickering beneath her composed smile. Still, she kept her tone smooth.
Empress Florina: "What is it?"
Evelyn: "The Cristiane Empire has stood for a thousand years. With such a long history, can we simply discard our traditions and replace them at will? Of course, times change, and people may form their own ideas… but I wonder—can tradition be changed simply because someone wants it to?"
The Empress's lips tightened. The question was too pointed to be innocent.
Empress Florina: "Of course not. Not even the Emperor or Empress has the right to alter tradition as they please. Our traditions were established by our founder and have been upheld ever since. No one has dared to change them."
A faint smile tugged at Evelyn's lips.
Evelyn: "I see. Then, I must respectfully raise an objection regarding the gift Your Majesty presented to the Second Princess."
Everyone grasped.
Is the princess trying to challenge the empress's authority right now.
Empress Florina's composure cracked for the briefest moment. Her eyes darkened.
Was this child playing word games with her—in front of everyone?
Empress Florina: "And why would you object?"
Evelyn: "If Your Majesty intended to revise tradition, I would have said nothing. However, since we are bound by the will of our founding empress, I, as a subject of Cristiane, must object to this decision."
The Emperor Consort, Curtis, interjected—his voice steady, though curiosity and unease crept into his expression.
Curtis: "What are you implying, Princess Evelyn?"
Evelyn met his gaze without flinching.
Evelyn: "According to one of Cristiane's founding traditions, the rightful resident of the Crystal Palace must be an adult. If Your Majesty wishes to bestow it upon the Second Princess, then she must wait until her coming-of-age ceremony. Otherwise, this act would go against the very foundation of our empire's tradition."
Silence fell.
A thick, suffocating silence.
The entire hall froze.
The air seemed to shiver with tension.
Guests held their breath—every noble, every servant, even the musicians dared not play another note.
Because what Princess Evelyn said was true.
There was indeed such a tradition.
The Crystal Palace was no ordinary residence. It symbolized the next ruler—the chosen heir to the throne. The founder of the empire, Empress Elencia de S. La Cristiane had personally decreed the tradition: The heir must be of age.
Even if there was only one child, they could not be declared heir—or receive the Crystal Palace—until they reached adulthood. This tradition had never once been broken in a thousand years.
Every Sovereign before Florina had upheld it without question.
And now, the First Princess had just reminded the empress of it… in front of the entire nobility.
Empress Florina stared at the daughter standing before her—composed, poised, and far too sharp for a child her age.
She had always known Evelyn would be trouble.
Dangerous trouble.
Yet she quickly masked her irritation with a serene smile, voice calm and graceful as ever.
Empress Florina: "It seems you've taken great care to memorize the history of Cristiane."
Evelyn returned the smile with one of her own—polite, innocent.
Evelyn: "Not really. I just happened to read it once and it suddenly came to mind, so I said it."
A flicker of something unreadable passed through Florina's eyes, but she let it go.
Empress Florina: "I see. Since you're here today, I wonder—did you bring a gift for your sister?"
Evelyn: "Of course, Your Majesty. How could I attend a celebration without a present?"
With that, she made a small wave of her hand.