#3. A New Beginning (3)
2023.08.03.
Amy thought long and hard. If she claimed she didn't covet a future guaranteed with wealth and glory while the future emperor followed her around confessing his feelings, it would be a lie. But her cold reason slammed the brakes on that vain dream.
'Becoming a corpse would be faster than becoming a Crown Princess.'
The Empress was someone who would sooner strangle Amy with her own hands than see her become the partner of her precious, precious son. And she would do it as quickly and as cruelly as possible.
And would the Crown Prince raise a banner of rebellion against the Empress for her sake?
'Absolutely not.'
Amy shook her head firmly.
The Crown Prince had always been a lacking son who failed to meet the Empress's standards. Conversations between the two were one-sided scoldings, rebukes, and apologies. The Crown Prince revered his mother, yet at the same time, feared her more than anything in the world. In such a mother-son relationship, it was inevitable that the son could not lift a finger against his mother. The Crown Prince was no exception.
Amy took pride in having broken free from parental oppression and carved out a life of her own.
She had long since decided that later, she would use the nest egg saved from her work as a maid to settle down in the warm Southern Kingdom, raise cats, and live comfortably. Thus, a miserable death had no place in her plans.
The conclusion was simple.
'For a peaceful old age, I need to cut off this trivial romance first.'
The Crown Prince had likely mistaken the affection of having grown up together for romantic love. Since they had been comrades in crossing the treacherous mountain that was their parents, it was no wonder he had misunderstood.
Amy fell into deep thought.
The next day, she went to the Empress and laid out her plan. The Empress initially doubted her motives, but since it was a welcome plan, she supported it wholeheartedly. Amy immediately set to work. She selected noble young ladies from families that would please the Empress and orchestrated so-called "chance encounters."
"Oh my, if it isn't the young lady of Duke Esmaine. Your Highness the Crown Prince, please greet her."
The young lady of Esmaine approached the Crown Prince, who was standing there in a daze, and greeted him elegantly.
"I greet the Little Sun of the Empire. I am Katarina of Esmaine."
"Ahem. It is a pleasure."
Amy smiled covertly as she watched him respond composedly while his eyes kept drifting toward the young lady. Since he was so interested in the opposite sex, she felt relieved that she likely wouldn't have to become the Crown Prince's concubine.
After introducing several young ladies in this manner, Amy subtly probed the Crown Prince's inner thoughts.
"Which young lady did you like the most?"
"Mmm? What do you mean?"
"You've seen four in total. I thought the young lady of Esmaine was the most suitable, whether in terms of family, appearance, or knowledge. What does Your Highness think?"
"...Amy, I told you I like you."
The Crown Prince, now quite grown up, noticed Amy's ploy to foist him off on another woman and hardened his expression. Amy let out a sigh. It seemed she still needed more time.
"Then I'll give you an answer when I'm eighteen."
People of the Imperial family typically decided on marriage around that age. By then, the Crown Prince would surely know that his marriage would be decided through complex political calculations.
It was fortunate that the Crown Prince wasn't the type to force matters. Though he had a weak constitution, easily swayed by women, he did not pressure Amy. And so, Amy bought another three years from the Crown Prince.
Her strategy succeeded; during that time, the Crown Prince met many women and gradually forgot about Amy. And then, when the long-awaited eighteenth year arrived! Just before the appointment of the Crown Princess, Amy was kidnapped by the young lady of Esmaine and imprisoned in a cold dungeon.
***
"Amy?"
Lost in a daze in memories of the past, she snapped back to her senses at the sound of her name. Before she knew it, the Second Prince had finished his meal and was staring at her fixedly.
"Ah, Your Highness. Have you finished eating?"
"Yes, you should eat too, Amy."
The Second Prince had been sure to see to Amy's meal as well. How could someone with such a kind heart have rumors circulating the palace that his temper was ferocious and that he had driven out all his servants? Meeting the Prince's clear, gentle eyes, Amy felt her chest tighten for no reason.
"I'm fine."
She cleared the completely empty bowls and tidied the kitchen. The Second Prince followed her around like a dog wanting something. Amy raised an eyebrow.
"Do you have something to say to me?"
She put down the dishcloth and asked point-blank. At that, the Second Prince's fair face flushed red.
"...Yes."
"Then say it."
"Well, so..."
The Second Prince rolled his eyes, bit his lip and released it, dragging out time. Amy silently tapped her fingers on the table—tap, tap, tap. 'If you have something to say, just say it quickly when I'm busy. Why are you dragging this out?' she muttered inwardly. Just then—
"I'll give you this."
The Second Prince took something from his pocket and carefully pressed it into Amy's hand. Then he hurriedly stepped back and wiped his hand on his pants. It didn't seem to be because he disliked touching Amy, but because he was shy.
Amy furrowed her brow and unconsciously opened her hand. Then her eyes went wide.
"This is..."
The Second Prince kept his eyes lowered, a nervous expression on his face.
"My mother gave this to me long ago... She told me to give it to someone precious when I found them."
His tone was so solemn, as if he were proposing marriage. No, in a way, it was similar. Because he was giving her what was most precious to him.
He furtively lifted his gaze and stared fervently at Amy, who was gazing at the jewel in a daze. Normally, she would have quickly noticed that the Second Prince's behavior was unusual, but by coincidence, Amy was preoccupied with something else.
"..."
Amy's eyes trembled. Resting in her palm was a small gem. It was the very same one the Second Prince had shyly handed to her in her previous life, just before she was kidnapped by the young lady of Esmaine.
Amy stared blankly at the gem she had cherished until the moment of her death in her previous life.
'You are giving this to me once again...'
The Second Prince continued speaking.
"You know my mother was a princess of the Southern Kingdom, right? She said it's rare even there, and told me to keep it safe. She even said it might be able to perform magic."
Amy blinked and repeated after him.
"Perform magic..."
The Second Prince nodded with a proud smile, then quickly added:
"Not that I believe that or anything..."
He seemed worried that Amy might think him childish. But there was no need for that. Because Amy's mind was tangled up like a ball of yarn played with by a cat.
'As I thought, this must be what caused my regression.'
Feeling that something clicked into place, she gulped dryly and carefully lifted the jewel to eye level.
'Was it always this brilliant...?'
She tilted her head. Before her regression, it had surely been like a rough stone, nothing special in terms of light or color... But looking at it now, wasn't it incredibly sparkling?
'The color changes depending on the angle. It was purple, then blue, and I see red too?'
How could this be? Amy turned to the Second Prince and asked.
"What kind of gem is this?"
"Ah, it's not a gem."
The Second Prince brightened at her question and answered a bit shyly.
"It's a magic tool."
"A magic tool?"
Amy's eyes grew round. She alternated between looking at the gem and the Second Prince with a dazed expression.
"Isn't that an ancient relic from the previous century?"
Magic tools were divine implements that had been forgotten by people since the generation of the great-great-grandfathers of the Crown Prince and the Second Prince. History records that in those days, fantastical tools were used that regulated temperature and humidity, shone light in the pitch-black night, caused water to spring from barren lands, and spewed fire in frozen places.
They were especially abundant in the Southern Kingdom, where the divine fluid of a god was said to be buried, but the strange thing was that they could not be made by human hands. They had simply appeared in the world at some point, and humanity merely used them according to their purpose. And that was only possible until a century ago—that is, one hundred years ago.
The magic tools of today did not function, like wind-up dolls with their springs fully wound.
'But the late Imperial Consort said it could perform magic.'
Since she had been a princess of the Southern Kingdom's royal family, it wouldn't be strange for her to possess a national treasure secretly passed down through the royal house. So indeed, it was clear that this was what had caused her regression. But the fact that the magic tool's color had changed meant that perhaps...
"If this is a magic tool, does that mean it can no longer be used?"
It had undoubtedly spent all its power sending her back in time. At Amy's words, the Second Prince's sparkling eyes immediately dimmed.
'What was that tingling sensation like being struck by lightning when I held the gem just now?'
He reflexively fiddled with the black earring on his earlobe, his expression growing serious.
"...I suppose so."
He seemed deflated, thinking Amy considered the magic tool to be nothing special. But that hadn't been her meaning at all.
Amy looked at the Second Prince with a strange expression.
"Even so, you've cherished it all this time. And you're giving something so precious to me?"
"...Huh?"
"Something that the late Imperial Consort told you to give to someone precious?"
"Uh, yes."
The Second Prince's face brightened again. He blinked, his cheeks flushing slightly as he muttered:
"The only precious person to me is Amy."