Ten Years Ago

Morning sunlight poured gently over the imperial palace, turning the white marble halls golden beneath the dawn.

The Rose Palace was especially beautiful this time of year.

Roses climbed across ivory walls, blooming beneath crystal windows where soft curtains danced with the wind. It was said the palace was built solely for the empress and her daughter—a place too elegant, too delicate, for ordinary people to enter freely.

A young girl stood quietly near the entrance gates.

Brown hair framed her small face neatly as she held the edge of her dress with nervous fingers. Beside her stood an older woman dressed in noble attire.

“Çeline, wait here,” her grandmother said calmly. “I need to meet Her Majesty Irene.”

“Yes, Grandmother.”

Çeline obediently lowered her head.

As her grandmother disappeared inside the palace, silence settled around her. The servants passed by without paying attention to the child standing alone near the garden path.

Then—

A soft laugh drifted through the morning air.

Çeline turned instinctively.

There, beneath the blooming roses, walked a girl around her age.

Long golden hair shimmered beneath the sunlight like flowing silk, reaching almost to her waist. Her pale dress moved gently with the wind as maids followed carefully behind her.

The girl looked unreal.

Like a fairy from the old storybooks.

I stared without realizing it.

“How pretty…”

The golden-haired girl paused beside the roses, carefully touching a blooming flower with delicate fingers. When she smiled, the entire garden seemed brighter.

I felt my heart tighten strangely.

She’s beautiful.

At that moment, the girl suddenly turned.

Their eyes met.

Green golden light eyes

Bright. Clear. Gentle.

I froze.

The golden-haired girl blinked once before smiling softly at her.

And that—

Was the first time i met her.

The golden-haired girl had just finished adjusting a blooming rose when she turned and walked forward.

Not hurried. Not hesitant.

Just calm, graceful steps across the garden path.

My breath caught slightly as Livia passed closer.

Up close, she looked even more unreal—like something carefully painted into the world rather than born into it.

Before i could look away, footsteps approached from the palace corridor.

My grandmother had returned.

She stopped beside me, posture straight and composed, her gaze immediately settling on the young girl ahead.

Without hesitation, she inclined her head slightly.

“Good morning, Princess Livia.”

Livia turned toward my grandmother .

For a brief moment, her expression softened.

“Good morning,” she replied gently.

I watched quietly, noticing how naturally Livia accepted the greeting—like she was used to it, even though it still felt unfamiliar to me.

The atmosphere shifted again as more presence arrived from the palace path.

Servants stepped aside in silence.

A woman in elegant imperial attire entered the garden.

Her Majesty Irene

As she walked forward, the entire space seemed to quiet even further, as if the garden itself recognised her authority.

Her steps slowed as her gaze shifted toward the young girl standing nearby.

Her expression softened immediately.

“Good morning,my princess livia” she said warmly.

Then she reached out, gently cupping her daughter’s face with a familiar tenderness, brushing a strand of hair back with her thumb as she looked at her with quiet affection.

A soft smile formed on her lips.

“It’s nice seeing both of you out here… it looks like God already put a plan for us today,” she said gently.

Her attention then shifted fully to Livia.

“Livia, today you got to meet someone, this is your new ma—”

Before she couldn’t finish, a sudden sound broke through the quiet garden.

“Sister Livia! Sister Livia!”

A young boy came running into the garden in knight training clothes, breath slightly uneven but face bright with excitement.

He didn’t slow down, calling out again with a wide smile.

“Sister Livia!”

But as he got closer, he suddenly noticed Her Majesty Irene standing there.

His expression froze for a split second.

He immediately straightened up, his energy shifting into nervous discipline.

“Ah—! I- I’m sorry, Your Majesty!” he said quickly, bowing his head in apology.

The garden fell quiet again, only the soft rustle of roses moving in the breeze.

Livia turned toward him, her expression calm.

“It’s fine,” she said gently.

“I was just excited,” the boy said, slightly out of breath. “It’s been a while since Sister Livia came out to the garden. I barely see you anymore.”

A soft pause followed his words.

Livia’s expression softened, and she gave him a gentle smile.

“I’m here now,” she said quietly. “But don’t run so much next time. You’ll get hurt.”

The atmosphere lightened instantly, like the garden itself had warmed with her voice.

I stood still, quietly watching them.

They really did look alike

Same eyes. Same features. Same delicate presence.

But Livia… felt softer. Like sunlight that didn’t demand attention.

Before i could think further, the boy suddenly turned his gaze toward me.

His expression changed.

In one quick movement, he stepped in front of me, placing himself between them.

His back faced me completely, as if he shielding his sister view from her.

I blinked, slightly startled.

The boy narrowed his eyes suspiciously, staring at me as if i had suddenly appeared out of nowhere.

“…Who are you?”

His voice wasn’t loud.

But it carried the confidence of someone used to being listened to.

I immediately lowered her head.

“I-I’m Çeline…”

A pause.

“…Çeline who?”

I hesitated. This boy is rude.

Before she could answer, her grandmother calmly stepped forward.

“She is my granddaughter, Your Highness.”

Only then did the boy glance away briefly.

His expression still looked unconvinced.

Slowly, he turned back toward Livia.

“She kept staring at you.”

Silence.

My mind froze. “Why is he thinking saying that”

My face immediately turned warm.

Ah—

Her highness stare a me

She really did.

Livia blinked once.

Then looked toward me. “I’m scared”

For a moment, those clear green-golden eyes simply watched me quietly.

Not cold.

Not offended.

Just curious.

Then—

Livia smiled.

A small smile.

Soft enough that it felt like the roses around them suddenly bloomed brighter.

“…Really?”

I lowered her head so fast she almost stumbled. I’m to scared to see her reaction what if she disgust by me

“I-I’m sorry!”

The words escaped immediately.

“I didn’t mean to stare…”

The garden became quiet.

Very quiet.

Then—

A small laugh.

Gentle.

Light.

I slowly looked up.

Livia had covered her lips slightly, shoulders trembling just a little.

She was laughing.

Not mocking.

Not cruel.

Just… laughing.

“I’m not angry,” Livia said softly.

For some reason—

I felt my heart stop for a second.

Beside me, the young prince looked completely confused.

“…Sister Livia?”

Livia looked toward him.

Then, she lightly held the edge of his sleeve.

“Lukia.”

The boy immediately straightened.

“Yes?”

Livia looked back toward me with a gentle face.

“…Don’t scare her.” with gentle smiled Livia told that to the rude prince.

And ten years later—

Whenever i thought back to my first meeting with Princess Livia—

I always remembered one thing.

Not the roses.

Not the palace.

Not even the rude Prince.

Only that smile.

The first smile First Princess Livia ever gave to me.

“Hehe…”

A small chuckle escaped my lips before I could stop it.

Livia, who was sitting in front of the mirror as I carefully prepared her for today, glanced at me through her reflection.

“What’s wrong, Çeline?” she asked gently after hearing my little laugh.

I blinked and quickly shook my head.

“Ah, nothing, Your Highness… I was just remembering the first time we met.”

My eyes softened unconsciously.

“It’s already been ten years since then.”

Ten years.

Ten years since that morning in the Rose Palace.

Ten years since I first saw a girl standing beneath blooming roses, looking like a fairy from an old storybook.

And now—

I looked at her reflection quietly.

Today was her coronation day.

The day First Princess Livia Edelweiss would officially be appointed as the heir to the throne.

How much had changed since then…

Livia smiled softly.

“Yeah…” she said quietly.

“It really has been ten years.”

Slowly, she reached out and gently held my hand.

“And you’re still here beside me, Çeline.”

Her fingers were warm.

“Thank you.”

For a moment, I simply stared.

Then I smiled.

“Of course I’ll support you all the way.”

My voice was quiet but certain.

“You’re my queen, my princess… and the dearest person in my world.”

The corners of my lips lifted slightly.

“So of course I’ll stay by your side until the very end.”

Livia stared at me for a few seconds.

Then suddenly—

“Even if I get married and have lots of children?”

I froze.

…What?

She was smiling.

No— my heart aches.

She was teasing me.

I immediately looked away.

“Ah… of course.”

I forced a smile onto my face.

“…But only if that man is worthy of Your Highness.”

Then I quietly muttered under my breath—

“Though I’d rather nobody marry you…”

Too quiet.

I thought it was too quiet.

Unfortunately—

Princess Livia heard it.

I saw her shoulders shake slightly.

Then she laughed.

Not the polite smile she used for nobles.

Not the elegant smile she showed during royal events.

A real laugh.

And somehow—

That smile could fade away the ache i had.

“I know,” she said softly.

I looked up.

Her eyes curved gently.

“You love me too much.”

My face instantly felt warm.

“Does it hurt?”

“Y-Your Highness—”

“I love you too,” she continued with a smile.

“Don’t make that face.”

Then—

She reached out.

Soft fingers touched my cheek.

My heart skipped.

“I’m sure we’ll still have plenty of time together in the future.”

Her smile softened.

“Besides, I’m not planning on marrying anyone right now.”

Then she added:

“Even Father wouldn’t allow it.”

I let out a small breath of relief—

Wait.

Relief?

Why was I relieved?!

Before I could recover—

Livia suddenly leaned closer.

Closer.

Closer—

Then—

A soft kiss landed on my forehead.

…

My mind went blank.

Completely blank.

I stared at her.

No thoughts.

No breathing.

Nothing.

Warmth slowly spread across my face.

No.

No no no.

Absolutely not.

I could already feel it.

My face was definitely—

Definitely—

Turning red. Sometimes Princess Livia really like teasing.

But… whoever would have thought that the “forever” my princess said to me—

Would only last for three hours.

Three hours.

Just three short hours after that smile…

After she held my hand.

After she told me she loved me.

After she kissed my forehead so casually, as if my heart wasn’t already suffering enough.

Everything changed.

The grand coronation hall had been brighter than I had ever seen it.

Golden chandeliers glittered overhead.

Nobles filled the hall.

Music echoed softly through the palace.

Everyone was smiling.

Everyone was celebrating.

Because today was supposed to be the happiest day of the empire.

The day First Princess Livia Edelweiss would officially become the empire’s Crown Princess.

And I—

I stood where I always had.

Behind her.

Beside her.

Watching her.

Like I had done for the past ten years.

I still remember it clearly.

Too clearly.

Livia was smiling.

Then—

She suddenly stopped.

At first, I thought perhaps she was tired.

Her expression shifted slightly.

Her hand trembled.

“…Your Highness?”

No response.

My chest tightened.

Something felt wrong.

Very wrong.

Then—

Livia staggered.

Time slowed.

I watched her eyes widen slightly.

Watched the colour slowly drain from her face.

And before I could even understand what was happening—

She collapsed.

Right in front of me.

“PRINCESS LIVIA!”

My voice tore through the hall.

The sound of her body hitting the marble floor echoed across the room.

For a moment—

No one moved.

No one breathed.

Then I saw it.

Blood.

Red.

Too much.

Flowing from her chest.

My eyes widened.

No.

No—

No no no no—

My legs gave out as I dropped beside her.

My hands shook violently as I pulled her into my arms.

Warm.

The blood was warm.

Why was there so much—

Why?

“…Princess L-Livia?”

My voice broke.

No.

No.

This wasn’t real.

Three hours ago—

Three hours ago she was smiling at me.

Three hours ago she promised—

Forever.