Translator: Nox

Chapter: 10

I froze in place. Sion turned around and looked at me.

"Your Highness?"

"I don't think it'll work for me."

I didn't even need to check. If I were truly worthy, they wouldn't have abandoned me.

"Your Highness, please come here."

I glared at Sion, who was gesturing me toward the stone tablet. But he didn’t give up, insisting.

"Why do you keep telling me to look if it’s not going to work anyway?"

"Because you need to see it for yourself."

Eventually, I gave in to his stubbornness and trudged over. And the moment my eyes landed on the writing on the tablet, I forgot how to breathe.

‘What is the name of the world’s prettiest, cutest, and smartest child?’

"...I think I know the answer. What about you, Your Highness?"

Sion had read it before me and asked with a calm voice.

I bit my lip. It couldn’t be. That couldn't be the answer.

But…

With a trembling hand, I reached out and touched the tablet. After hesitating for a while, I finally spoke.

“…Ella.”

With a metallic clank, the sealed door began to open.

I stared at the now half-open door as if it were inviting me in. For some reason, I didn't want to believe it.

‘This is all a lie.’

If I were really pretty and cute, if she had planned to leave everything to me, then why did she abandon me?

Why didn’t she ever come back?

I waited for so long.

I believed her when she said she’d come to get me one day.

"Your Highness, don’t cry."

Only then did I realize I was crying. I didn’t want to cry over something like this, but the tears wouldn’t stop.

Sion pulled out a handkerchief and gently wiped my face.

I murmured in a daze.

"I'm an orphan. Besides my late grandfather, no one ever loved me. So I told myself I had to be strong, that I didn’t need to be hurt by anyone’s words."

While working at the inn, I was always hungry.

So I swallowed my longing and resentment whole. At least that way, my heart wouldn’t hurt.

"That’s why I don’t understand. Why did she write something like that? Should I even believe it?"

"Then don’t think about it," Sion whispered.

You can think about it later. Decide after you’ve seen everything.

For some reason, those words put me at ease.

Seeing that I’d finally stopped crying, Sion smiled.

"Froggy eyes now."

I suddenly felt indignant and raised two fingers to jab at his eyes. Sion leaned in without resistance.

"Be gentle, it’ll hurt."

"..."

I firmly pressed his eyelids.

Sion rubbed his eyes playfully. "You’re the first person to poke me in the eye."

"Then consider yourself honored."

With a snarky reply, I quickly walked toward the door. Honestly, I was just embarrassed about crying in front of Sion and wanted to escape.

But the moment I passed through the door, I forgot everything.

"Whoa…"

A pure white hall unfolded before me, as if carved from moonlight.

Beautiful chandeliers hung from the ceiling, and intricate mosaics decorated the floor. The embossed walls and statues gave off an air of grand majesty.

It was breathtaking.

‘This is all mine?’

If just the entrance looked like this, what about the rest? It was beyond imagination, like a dream.

"Now it begins," Sion said.

Snapping out of my daze, I nodded. Yes, this was the start. I had to reclaim my rights and be acknowledged as a princess.

"Then I’ll do my best."

Sion smiled at my response.

[Web Message]
Unexpected Achievement ☆*.٩(ˊᗨˋ)۶.*☆
Congratulations!
You’ve obtained an Incomplete Field.
You’ve gained a new stronghold.

I was momentarily surprised by the sudden popup, but even more relieved that Spam had returned.

At the same time, I realized just how anxious I’d been without him.

‘It’s not my fault. Spam is my only family.’

While Sion wasn’t looking, I quietly reached out and petted Spam.

‘Thanks for coming back.’

Spam’s screen blinked, highlighting unread content.

I muttered the words without thinking.

“…Incomplete Field?”

"Huh?"

"No, I just mean… I don’t remember ever gaining a field?"

No matter how many times I read it, I didn’t get it.

Sion tilted his head. "Didn’t you know? The shadow you used earlier—that’s your Field, Your Highness."

I blinked and finally understood what he meant.

“…W-what?!”

But I’m a half-blood! I’m not even supposed to have powers?!

* * *

"The seal on the New Moon Palace has been broken. It appears the half-blood has become its new master."

Dante bowed deeply after finishing his report to the Emperor.

Losing Lilith’s palace was a serious blow. Dante feared the Emperor might collapse from sheer fury.

- What did D say?

After a long silence, the Emperor asked. His voice showed no signs of anger, which startled Dante.

"Wolfhedin said… he had no idea. That he never imagined the half-blood had such intentions."

- Fooled by a child? And he’s not even ashamed to admit it.

The Emperor’s voice turned cold. Dante wanted to defend D, but couldn’t find the words.

- So this girl who claims to be my niece deceived D, entered the palace, incapacitated the knights, and stole the New Moon Palace?

"…Yes."

Dante wished he could disappear.

That brazen half-blood stormed the place and metaphorically slapped the Emperor across the face.

No—actually slapping him would’ve been less rude.

- A bold one. She’s like Lilith.

"…?"

Dante reflexively looked up. Did he mishear? But the Emperor continued with an excited tone.

- What does she look like? Does she resemble Lilith?

Dante bit his lip. As a knight, he shouldn't lie, but he couldn’t possibly answer that honestly.

Saying that the girl resembled *that man* would be an unbearable insult to the Emperor.

So he gave the only answer he could.

"She has blonde hair and purple eyes."

- …Blonde? Why blonde?

The Emperor sounded puzzled. Every previous ‘fake’ had at least black hair.

- I guess they stopped caring whether it was convincing or not. So lazy.

His voice turned colder.

Sensing the shift, Dante cautiously asked, "If it displeases you, shall I dispose of her?"

- No. Leave her be. Even if she’s a fake, the power of that Field was impressive. She’s earned the right to stay in the New Moon Palace for now.

Dante had seen the dark Field that engulfed the palace.

It was too powerful to dismiss. For someone who respected strength, it made sense that the Emperor would take interest.

Still, Dante felt compelled to state the obvious.

"Your Majesty, half-bloods cannot use bloodline powers."

Vampire power weakens with each generation.

Even if she were the Emperor’s descendant, after five or six generations, she’d be as weak as a human.

That’s how a dhampir is born—half-human, half-vampire with no powers.

A dhampir using a Field? That was absurd.

"According to Sir Gav, the Field appeared when the girl broke something. It might be a dark trick."

There was no doubt the girl was suspicious. Yet the Emperor only seemed more intrigued.

- I want to meet her.

"…Your Majesty?"

- Send an envoy. Invite her to the Full Moon Palace with courtesy.

Then, after a short pause, the Emperor added with a faint chuckle—

- Yes… send *him*.