“M-Me?”

Lorette widened her eyes in surprise.

“Thanks to your wisdom and kindness, things were able to go well. The misunderstanding with Prince Sisef has been resolved, and also it was never your fault that I fell, but because I was narrow-minded.”

“I can’t believe you think that way, I….”

A faint light was lingering in Lorette’s eyes.

“I know I’ve treated you unfairly a lot before.”

Lorette was hesitant and unable to deny it right away. She should’ve denied it even if those were simply empty words, but Hazel could see that she was bewildered because she couldn’t do so.

In that sense, Lorette’s pure side was more apparent. She was born with a personality that couldn’t lie easily. She was just a doll who did as his mother wanted her to do, because she was the type of person who had no intention to do anything bad by her own will.

“I-I’m….”

Lorette stuttered at her words and her face turned red.

“It’s alright.”

Hazel continued to speak in a soft voice as if to soothe her.

“We are the daughters from the same father, but I was so selfish. I’m regretting it deeply. If you accept this lacking sister…”

“What are you talking about! You are a savior to me. You’ve helped me so much.”

Lorette hastily waved her hands at Hazel’s hands.

“It’s nothing.”

“I want to be taught more by you in the future. About how to become a real princess.”

“Aren’t you already a princess? Very wise and beautiful one. You were endowed with the natural qualities of a princess.”

“But it’s still not enough. I’ll learn anything you would give me, so please teach me a lot of things.”

Hazel looked at Lorette’s face quietly. Lorette was sincere all the time. Especially her determination to become a proper princess and that she was worthy of living highly. She could understand her to think that way.

‘Because she was doubted as soon as she was born into the world.’

Since Lady Pais gave birth to Lorette outside the palace, the public was also doubting about Lorette’s blood when they both entered the palace.

Ileos threatened to not let those who spread false rumors live, so the talks gradually died down, but he could not completely stop the attention for that matter.

Lorette didn’t know that she made the whole palace an uproar. No matter how deep the king’s affection toward her and her mother, he could not easily get rid of the inferiority situation that was directed to both of them.

“I want to be like you, sister.”

Lorette said sincerely. Hazel could feel a sense of desperation in those words.

Those who were not recognized from birth had no choice but to try hard in order to prove themselves. For Lorette, it was a symbol of her dignity as a princess.

The ‘real princess’ she could watch and follow and imitate was Hazel. That was the reason why Lorette had been afraid yet yearned for her half-sister at the same time.

Just like Hazel who envied and jealous of the father’s love toward Lorette.

“…I’m proud of you.”

Hazel stood by the window and looked down at the rose garden. Unlike a greenhouse that was filled with abundance of flowers, the garden looked quite lively because the roses were cut down.

It reminded her of an idea when she was looking at it.

“It’s a nice day, so why don’t we go for a walk in the greenhouse together?”

“That’s a good idea!”

“I’ll have the maids bring the tea to the rose greenhouse.”

Hazel frowned when she stepped her legs on the floor as soon as she finished talking.

“Ouch.”

The pain in her ankle that she had forgotten for a while rushed back in as soon as she stepped on the floor since she didn’t walk much. As she reflexively bent her legs and soothed her ankle, Lorette approached her with a worried look on her face.

“Are you okay? If your feet hurt so much…”

“No, I’m fine. I think it would be nice if I wear crutches.”

“I’ll tell the maid to prepare crutches for you. Until then, let me help you.”

Lorette quickly grabbed Hazel’s arm. She smiled softly at Hazel’s hard grip so she could completely lean into her.

“Thank you.”

***

The greenhouse of Rose Palace was made by weaving glass built into a regular hexagonal structure. The roses grown inside the palace were more beautiful than the flowers anywhere in the kingdom, as they were meticulous calculation and taken care of.

In the middle of the regular hexagonal building, there was a separate room for drinking tea. Hazel and Lorette were sitting there drinking their tea.

“It’s a tea made of dried rose petals which were grown here. Please drink it.”

Hints of surprise crept to Lorette’s face when she heard Hazel’s recommendation.

“It really smells like roses! And the roses in the greenhouse are so pretty. I guess it is because they grew up after receiving your affection.”

“I simply give them water sometimes. Most of the time, they are carefully raised by greenhouse managers.”

“They’re so beautiful.”

Lorette murmured in a dreamy voice.

“It’s a place specifically designed to maintain the temperature all time throughout the year. It is more beautiful than the roses in other places because they only give these roses a certain amount at a fixed time.”

“This greenhouse is The Queen’s favorite place, right?”

“Yes, this is where she grew her own roses.”

Martina chose to grow flowers as a way to control her undisclosed anger and anxiety. She used to tell young Hazel that growing flowers for a long time was able to relieve her anger.

But Hazel didn’t feel like it.

She was just getting more angry when she saw those flowers. There was no connection between growing flowers carefully and controlling the mind. Hazel couldn’t understand her mother.

She would rather rip off those flowers, she couldn’t believe taking care of them would control her anger. That was ridiculous.

“I think about it sometimes.”

“What are you thinking about?”

“If we had come out of the same mother, you wouldn’t have to grow up while struggling in that slum.”

“…….”

“You’re a natural princess, no matter how people look at you. I’m sure those people who are talking about your origin will admit it. It’s just that the person who gave birth to you is different….”

“I don’t think so.”

Lorette answered quickly. Seeing her biting her lips, Hazel then smiled and added.

“Of course, I understand how you want to keep being Lady Pais’s daughter because the mother that gave birth to you will be the most precious person in your life. I’m just saying it out of disappointment. If we had been born from the same mother, I would have cared for you since we were young.”

Hazel put the red rose that she had just picked to the side of Lorette’s head.

“I’m glad I have a sister, too.”

Lorette looked a little surprised and bewildered at Hazel.

“I know you had a hard time when you first came to the palace.”

No matter how popular Lorette was among the public, she could not be given the same treatment inside the palace. The king’s illegitimate child was inevitably similar to an impurity.

“You were also questioned about your legitimacy.”

Lorette blushed as if she was stabbed on the face. Hazel smiled when she saw her face tinged the same color as the rose on her head.

“But no one cares about that. Now, who would say you’re not a princess?”

Hazel said proudly and her hands around Lorette’s hands which were used to hold the teacup.

“I’ve been stuck in the Rose Palace because I’ve been feeling unwell, but like you said, I think I’ve become weaker because I’ve been in the palace for too long. I feel energized after going to the masquerade ball with you.”

“That’s great!”

Lorette said with a bright smile.

“I think I’ve recovered a bit now.”

“So now… Are you also doing social activity?”

“Of course. However I think it would be difficult to attend a ball right now. What if I make a mistake?”

“Then we can invite people to the Rose Palace!”

“Should we do that?”

“Yes, of course. Your palace is the most beautiful palace in the Land. It would be great to have a tea party.”

“Yeah, let’s do it. Why don’t you invite the family members that you are in close relations with?”

Lorette widened her eyes at Hazel’s suggestion.

“Can I do that?”

“Of course.”

Hazel smiled and nodded to Lorette, whose eyes were sparkling. In fact, Rose Palace was a palace that many people wanted to visit.

However, in order to come to the Rose Palace, the first thing people must have in hand was the favor of the owner, Hazel. Hazel was extremely picky in choosing people who were able to enter the Rose Palace.

Hazel had the highest position in the royal palace which was currently without the presence of a queen, so many people struggled to impress her. The reason was because it would be a great honor to be invited to the Rose Palace.

But ever since Lady Pais became pregnant, the situation began to change subtly. The number of people trying to enter the palace where Lady Pais was living had increased.

Nevertheless, it was true that Hazel was still in highest position, and many people were cautious because it was unclear whether the child in Lady Pais belly would be recognized by the king as an official prince or princess.

Of course, Hazel already knew the child’s gender.

‘A prince is going to be born.’

On the day the child was born, King IIeos was really happy. He didn’t care about the fact that the child was not born from the queen’s belly.

After the prince was born, it became really hard for her. Before that, Hazel felt the need to pull as many people as possible to her side.

The Duchess of Conces was apparently on Hazel’s side since the family’s blood was flowing in her body. Thus, it was against them when Lady Pais was brought in and her daughter, Lorette was recognized as a princess. The other noble families who were following the Conces also did the same thing.

‘But when the child was born, everyone will change their attitude.’

The Conces Family used to stick to the stronger side. The side that carried more power than just their family’s blood.

Even though they were opportunist and dirty, it was because of such a way that made the family to prosper for a long time and have been able to accumulate wealth as well as maintaining their power.

So there was only one way to keep them from switching into Lady Pais’s side.

Lady Pais would lose her power.

***

T/N: You may notice the names of the characters have changed here and there, it’s because a different translator took over the translation. I apologize. We’ll try to be consistent with the names from now on.