As I was being dragged away by two guards like a sack of disappointment, a girl suddenly appeared in front of us.
The guards immediately stopped and lowered their heads."Second Princess," they said in unison.
The girl's face twisted like she'd just bitten into a lemon."How many times do I have to say it?! I'm the First Princess! There's no such thing as a second! Right, dear little sister?"
She looked down at me smugly… but her smirk faltered when she saw my calm expression. I just stared at her. Blankly. Like she was an annoying pop-up ad.
"Ugh! Wh—Why are you staring at me like that?! I am the First Princess! This cannot be changed! I—Selena—am the only princess of the Kalgas Empire! Hmph!"
With an offended snort and an unnecessarily dramatic hair flip, she spun around and stomped off.
… I still don't know what exactly she's so proud of. Being the First Princess of a dumpster fire? Whatever.
After Selena left with her nose in the air, the guards dragged me the rest of the way to the carriage.
One of them opened the door and, surprisingly, said with a hint of respect,"Miss, please enter the carriage."
I raised an eyebrow. Miss? Since when did I get an upgrade from "wild girl" to "miss"? Still, I stepped in and sat down without saying a word.
Outside, I could hear the other guard grumble under his breath,"Why are you being so respectful to her? She doesn't even have the princess title anymore."
Inside the carriage, my face twitched. I can still hear you, you armored turnip.
As the carriage rumbled down the road toward the Sylvian Empire, something strange started happening.
My face felt hot. Not embarrassed hot—burning coal under your skin hot. I pressed my palm to my cheek. Still warm. Too warm.
Then my fists clenched tight on their own. Veins bulged, and for a second, I had the wild, terrifying feeling that if I wanted to, I could crush the whole carriage with one punch.
Whoa, okay—Beast-mode, calm down.
I took a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves. The guards outside probably thought I was pouting or sulking, but no—my body was buzzing, like something inside me was stirring.
Something powerful. Something angry.
My heart pounded in my ears. Was this it? Was I... awakening?
Now? After I'd been disowned, packed up, and shipped out like expired bread?
Oh, how poetic.
If this was awakening, then the timing couldn't be worse—or, maybe, just maybe... perfect.
As the strange heat in my body intensified, I couldn't hold it back anymore. My hands clenched instinctively—and the wood beneath my fist cracked.
A jagged line snaked across the carriage wall like it owed me money.
"Ugh… is this what awakening feels like? Because it feels more like I'm about to explode. Do normal people awaken like this? Or is mine just on 'chaotic mode'?"
I stared at my trembling hands. No glowing light, no dramatic music, no magical fairy whispering secrets. Just strength. Raw, terrifying strength.
Then, just as suddenly as it came… the burning sensation vanished.
I let out a breath I didn't realize I'd been holding. The pressure inside me eased, but the strength—it was still there, coiled beneath my skin like a sleeping beast.
I flexed my fingers slowly, watching the faint cracks in the carriage wall.So... I awakened.
Silently. Unexpectedly.And probably illegally, considering I broke royal property.
Suddenly, the carriage window slid open, and one of the guards peeked inside with a strange grin.
His smile was… unsettling. Like someone trying to sell me fake jewelry or borrow money with no intention of paying it back.
I blinked at him, uneasy.Wait. Is he expecting money from me? But I'm broke! I literally own less than a stray cat right now!
I narrowed my eyes. "Why are you peeking into the carriage like a creeper?"
The guard let out a weird chuckle, rubbing the back of his neck like he got caught red-handed."Hehe, sorry, miss. I was just… thinking about something. It was an accident. Totally. Do you believe me? Eh?"
His voice had the same energy as someone caught stealing snacks from the royal pantry.
I didn't even blink. Just stared at him like I was made of stone.
He squinted, confused at my unchanging expression. "Uhh…"
"Then go outside if it's an accident. Shoo, shoo!"I flapped my hands at him like he was a pigeon trying to steal my lunch.
With an awkward grunt, he slowly backed away, muttering something under his breath.
From outside, I could hear the guards chatting. Something about "princess changing clothes" and "rotation time."
Whatever that means. Weirdos.
Wait… does that bastard want to see me changing? But why would he do that? Is he a psycho? Even on Earth, in dramas, only the villains do that. But why they do something like this...? Hm…
Leona put a hand on her head and started thinking deeply about it.