At the age of seven, I fell in love at first sight in a garden of rare beauty.
A petite figure with black hair swaying gently.
One who never ceased smiling, who showed me such consideration, and listened to my words.
Above all, the one who unraveled the dissatisfaction I could not express in words.
I wished to speak more with such a wise person, to spend more time together.
I felt that feeling was love.
"Hehe, well..."
"Oh, Diora. You look delighted; do tell me. What did His Highness say this time?"
Mother approached the sofa where I sat.
Reluctant to return to my room, I had been waiting eagerly in the drawing room, unfolding the letter I cherished.
A year ago, I had wished to marry because of my feelings for Asha, but he is the crown prince of another nation, and moreover, of an empire superior in national power.
Even had I wished for it, I could not even become engaged, and the maids said it was special enough just to be permitted this correspondence.
Is exchanging letters with the opposite sex such a special matter in the imperial family?
My parents had also been surprised that Asha and I could correspond.
"Yes, I hear there are fish monsters in the Imperial Capital's lake larger than humans. Moreover, they apparently possess something like a pointed, sword-like snout. They are large enough to swallow Asha whole, yet the beastmen defeat them with a single blow, or so I am told."
The letters often contain events like tales of adventure.
Stories heard, stories seen in picture books, someone's travelogue, anecdotes collected in books passed down in the imperial family—various things.
Since I was born into the royal family of a nation called the Academy Kingdom, reading is mandatory.
Even so, I am not as erudite as Asha.
A diligent person, one who does not show off, a straightforward person at heart who admits when something is not understood.
"Hmph! He's just making things up. There's no way monsters exist in a place like the Imperial Capital. You're so easily deceived; this is why children are..."
Suddenly my brother interrupted my conversation with Mother, simply denying everything.
"Adel, if you are going to deny something, be logical. At the very least, monsters do inhabit the waters of the Imperial Capital."
Naturally Mother admonished him, but my brother didn't even try to hide his dissatisfaction.
I realized this brother hated me after I met Asha.
My brother had told me that women shouldn't show off their knowledge, but Asha said it matters not whether one is male or female—that was exactly right.
"Brother, please stop interrupting our conversation. It is terribly rude."
"What did you say? A little sister acting high and mighty giving me orders?"
"Adel. Diora is not wrong. To enter a conversation, one must first announce oneself. That is manners. If you do not pay attention to this normally, you will never acquire it."
When scolded by Mother again, my brother glared at me as if I were the one at fault.
But in truth, this was not the first time he had interrupted conversations like this.
As far as I know, he does this to other noble children as well.
Moreover, at thirteen years of age, this leaves concerns before entering the academy.
That is why Mother has been admonishing him so frequently of late.
"It's because you always target me like that that Diora gets carried away. You spoil her."
"Adel... right now we are not talking about Diora, but about your conduct."
"I don't care anymore! Hmph!"
On top of nothing being good, my brother doesn't acknowledge his own faults nor has any intention to correct them.
Mother seemed troubled, wondering whether she should say more.
"What is going on?"
Father appeared with a stern expression, likely because my brother was making a fuss.
"Everyone knows that the Empire's First Prince is incompetent, right!?"
And he still didn't understand.
While Mother and I were greeting Father the King, he raised his voice without permission.
Father was merely being indulgent as a parent, which is why he didn't mind the breach of manners toward him either.
"We shall have to speak of this later."
Mother sighed with disappointment.
No doubt Father would also look more strictly upon his manners this time.
And Father himself was frowning at my brother's words.
"Who is this 'everyone'? Who said such insolent things?"
"Everyone says it. After all, he's a greedy prince aiming for the throne who tried to assassinate his younger brother, yet hasn't achieved a single thing and only learns the tricks of alchemist frauds—"
"Adel."
Not noticing Father's anger, my brother who had been talking only about himself finally closed his mouth.
"Whether it is the Second Prince or the princes below him, there are no facts regarding assassination attempts."
He spoke as if chewing on each word, but it was obvious.
If such things happened, I would not be able to correspond with Asha like this, and if I were, it would be the same as judging the Empire incompetent for allowing treason.
Even I know one shouldn't say such things out loud.
Moreover, this 'everyone' that Mother mentioned is uncertain and rather like rumors and slander.
I believe my brother was taught that royalty must not speak carelessly.
"How long do you intend to remain a child? You must judge what should be spoken and what should not. First, count to ten before speaking what rises to your mind. Then endeavor to judge whether those words are correct to speak."
"If I stay silent that long, I'll be thought a fool."
"Words once spoken cannot be taken back. Better to remain silent and make wise judgments than to speak indiscreetly."
My brother seemed dissatisfied with Father's sermon too.
Why doesn't the person being scolded—my brother—understand more than I, who am watching from the side?
"Besides, you learned at ten what Diora had already learned at seven. That Diora can exchange arguments on equal terms with the First Prince—how could you say he is incompetent?"
"That's just because an adult is ghostwriting it, not the First Prince writing it himself!"
Father sighed, disappointment mixed in.
"Are you still saying that? I checked because you kept insisting so much. I sent a subordinate who witnessed the First Prince writing the reply himself, and Count Strateg confirmed it. The letters sent to Diora are indeed written by the First Prince's own hand."
I hadn't thought Father would do such a thing.
Count Strateg of the Empire is my grandmother's nephew, the one who connected our correspondence.
I heard he has a friendship with Father, but to go so far...
In the end, my brother was scolded by Father and sent back to his room.
He cannot leave his room until given permission—in other words, punishment for misconduct.
"When did you...? Could it be you also suspected these weren't written by His Highness's own hand?"
"No, that is... they have the Green Tail there as well. I couldn't help but wonder if... Besides, Diora is unmistakably a prodigy. Could there be talent to match such a daughter... right?"
Father was pressed by Mother and making excuses.
If they could exchange words, they would understand Asha's wisdom, but it was a shame there was no such opportunity.
Both parents, and surely my brother who only judges and refuses to understand—if they could speak with Asha, they would understand.
I thought of the distant Imperial Capital, and hugged the letter tightly with frustration.At the age of seven, I fell in love at first sight in a garden of rare beauty.
A petite figure with black hair swaying gently.
One who never ceased smiling, who showed me such consideration, and listened to my words.
Above all, the one who unraveled the dissatisfaction I could not express in words.
I wished to speak more with such a wise person, to spend more time together.
I felt that feeling was love.
"Hehe, well..."
"Oh, Diora. You look delighted; do tell me. What did His Highness say this time?"
Mother approached the sofa where I sat.
Reluctant to return to my room, I had been waiting eagerly in the drawing room, unfolding the letter I cherished.
A year ago, I had wished to marry because of my feelings for Asha, but he is the crown prince of another nation, and moreover, of an empire superior in national power.
Even had I wished for it, I could not even become engaged, and the maids said it was special enough just to be permitted this correspondence.
Is exchanging letters with the opposite sex such a special matter in the imperial family?
My parents had also been surprised that Asha and I could correspond.
"Yes, I hear there are fish monsters in the Imperial Capital's lake larger than humans. Moreover, they apparently possess something like a pointed, sword-like snout. They are large enough to swallow Asha whole, yet the beastmen defeat them with a single blow, or so I am told."
The letters often contain events like tales of adventure.
Stories heard, stories seen in picture books, someone's travelogue, anecdotes collected in books passed down in the imperial family—various things.
Since I was born into the royal family of a nation called the Academy Kingdom, reading is mandatory.
Even so, I am not as erudite as Asha.
A diligent person, one who does not show off, a straightforward person at heart who admits when something is not understood.
"Hmph! He's just making things up. There's no way monsters exist in a place like the Imperial Capital. You're so easily deceived; this is why children are..."
Suddenly my brother interrupted my conversation with Mother, simply denying everything.
"Adel, if you are going to deny something, be logical. At the very least, monsters do inhabit the waters of the Imperial Capital."
Naturally Mother admonished him, but my brother didn't even try to hide his dissatisfaction.
I realized this brother hated me after I met Asha.
My brother had told me that women shouldn't show off their knowledge, but Asha said it matters not whether one is male or female—that was exactly right.
"Brother, please stop interrupting our conversation. It is terribly rude."
"What did you say? A little sister acting high and mighty giving me orders?"
"Adel. Diora is not wrong. To enter a conversation, one must first announce oneself. That is manners. If you do not pay attention to this normally, you will never acquire it."
When scolded by Mother again, my brother glared at me as if I were the one at fault.
But in truth, this was not the first time he had interrupted conversations like this.
As far as I know, he does this to other noble children as well.
Moreover, at thirteen years of age, this leaves concerns before entering the academy.
That is why Mother has been admonishing him so frequently of late.
"It's because you always target me like that that Diora gets carried away. You spoil her."
"Adel... right now we are not talking about Diora, but about your conduct."
"I don't care anymore! Hmph!"
On top of nothing being good, my brother doesn't acknowledge his own faults nor has any intention to correct them.
Mother seemed troubled, wondering whether she should say more.
"What is going on?"
Father appeared with a stern expression, likely because my brother was making a fuss.
"Everyone knows that the Empire's First Prince is incompetent, right!?"
And he still didn't understand.
While Mother and I were greeting Father the King, he raised his voice without permission.
Father was merely being indulgent as a parent, which is why he didn't mind the breach of manners toward him either.
"We shall have to speak of this later."
Mother sighed with disappointment.
No doubt Father would also look more strictly upon his manners this time.
And Father himself was frowning at my brother's words.
"Who is this 'everyone'? Who said such insolent things?"
"Everyone says it. After all, he's a greedy prince aiming for the throne who tried to assassinate his younger brother, yet hasn't achieved a single thing and only learns the tricks of alchemist frauds—"
"Adel."
Not noticing Father's anger, my brother who had been talking only about himself finally closed his mouth.
"Whether it is the Second Prince or the princes below him, there are no facts regarding assassination attempts."
He spoke as if chewing on each word, but it was obvious.
If such things happened, I would not be able to correspond with Asha like this, and if I were, it would be the same as judging the Empire incompetent for allowing treason.
Even I know one shouldn't say such things out loud.
Moreover, this 'everyone' that Mother mentioned is uncertain and rather like rumors and slander.
I believe my brother was taught that royalty must not speak carelessly.
"How long do you intend to remain a child? You must judge what should be spoken and what should not. First, count to ten before speaking what rises to your mind. Then endeavor to judge whether those words are correct to speak."
"If I stay silent that long, I'll be thought a fool."
"Words once spoken cannot be taken back. Better to remain silent and make wise judgments than to speak indiscreetly."
My brother seemed dissatisfied with Father's sermon too.
Why doesn't the person being scolded—my brother—understand more than I, who am watching from the side?
"Besides, you learned at ten what Diora had already learned at seven. That Diora can exchange arguments on equal terms with the First Prince—how could you say he is incompetent?"
"That's just because an adult is ghostwriting it, not the First Prince writing it himself!"
Father sighed, disappointment mixed in.
"Are you still saying that? I checked because you kept insisting so much. I sent a subordinate who witnessed the First Prince writing the reply himself, and Count Strateg confirmed it. The letters sent to Diora are indeed written by the First Prince's own hand."
I hadn't thought Father would do such a thing.
Count Strateg of the Empire is my grandmother's nephew, the one who connected our correspondence.
I heard he has a friendship with Father, but to go so far...
In the end, my brother was scolded by Father and sent back to his room.
He cannot leave his room until given permission—in other words, punishment for misconduct.
"When did you...? Could it be you also suspected these weren't written by His Highness's own hand?"
"No, that is... they have the Green Tail there as well. I couldn't help but wonder if... Besides, Diora is unmistakably a prodigy. Could there be talent to match such a daughter... right?"
Father was pressed by Mother and making excuses.
If they could exchange words, they would understand Asha's wisdom, but it was a shame there was no such opportunity.
Both parents, and surely my brother who only judges and refuses to understand—if they could speak with Asha, they would understand.
I thought of the distant Imperial Capital, and hugged the letter tightly with frustration.