Chapter 1.1 - The Princess's Dream

Chapter 1: The Princess’s Dream

It happened when Sienna was seven years old.

It was the day after her birthday, so she remembered the date perfectly. She was called by the Emperor to hold an audience with him, so she went to the Sun Palace.

“Something came up, so I was unable to attend your birthday celebration. I know it’s late, but happy birthday.”

“Thank you, Your Imperial Majesty. Your Imperial Majesty is busy taking care of the affairs of the state day and night. My birthday is merely a trivial matter.”

The seven-year-old girl replied decorously.

“What should I give you as a birthday present?”

“Your well-wishes are more than enough, Your Imperial Majesty.”

The Emperor gazed at Sienna wordlessly before abruptly standing up.

“Follow me.”

The Emperor took Sienna to the highest part of the Sun Palace. The path leading up to this place was lined with knights, keeping a strict watch. Not even a drop of water would be able to escape notice.

Only the Emperor and Sienna walked up to the final step. Sienna turned around and took a look. The attendants that normally followed the Emperor wherever he went had stopped following him and waited behind with strange expressions on their faces. Walking alone with her father was odd, but Sienna felt excited.

They entered a circular room that had an incredibly high ceiling. Unlike her expectations, the walls were void of gold, and colorful jewels didn’t line the pillars. The walls and floor were of dark, gray stone.

However, that did not matter. The sight of the humongous, beautiful tree in the middle of the room caused Sienna to catch her breath. She couldn’t even begin to describe the feelings she was experiencing. The divine sanctity impelled everyone who saw it to bow their heads.

This was the Sacred Tree.

It was the symbol of the Empire. God’s blessing.

“This is the first time you’re seeing it, right?”

“…Yes.”

Sienna returned to her senses and gave a short reply. Sunlight poured in from the open ceiling above, shining down on the tree. It almost seemed like the Sacred Tree was emitting light.

“It’s beautiful.”

“It is our duty to protect the Sacred Tree.”

“Yes. I will keep that in mind, Your Imperial Majesty.”

Sienna was in her bed, lost in the memories of her childhood. That was a strange day. Why did the Emperor show her the Sacred Tree? Was it because he was sorry he couldn’t attend her birthday celebration? Or did he simply do it on a whim?

‘It happened ten years ago. It’s not something I can ask His Majesty now.’

The girl chuckled and went to sleep.

* * *

“Your Imperial Majesty.”

Sienna glared at the woman who was bowing her head.

It was an inappropriate title. His Majesty was still alive and well. It was also dangerous. Even though she was the future Emperor, she was not the Emperor just yet.

—I haven’t heard of any news regarding a new maid…

She had never seen this woman before. Sienna had a good memory. She was able to remember the faces of people she had merely passed by.

“What is it?”

Sienna was confused. ‘Who are you?’. That’s what she had asked, but something totally different left her lips.

“The king is requesting an audience with Your Imperial Majesty.”

“Denied.”

Again, the words left her mouth against her own will, and she continued to have a conversation with the unfamiliar woman.

Additionally, she didn’t intend to lower her head, but her line of sight went downwards. Her body was moving on its own.

“You may leave.”

—That’s not my voice.

The voice sounded older. Sienna was embarrassed.

“I told you to leave.”

“…I will obey your command.”

The maid reluctantly replied. Sienna could sense her departure.

“Huuu…”

Her ‘body’ let out a low sigh as she threw the papers down. She looked down at her desk blankly before raising her head.

Sienna quickly took in the room.

It was a large room. The door was all the way over there. The floor was made of smooth marble, and the high ceiling was supported by engraved, magnificent, circular columns. For some reason, it looked familiar.

Her line of sight suddenly went up. She had just gotten up from her seat. She slowly began to walk.

—Excuse me.

Sienna called out cautiously just in case her ‘body’ could hear her. There was no response.

—Can’t you hear me?

She called out a few more times, but there was no reply. This body’s owner definitely couldn’t hear her. Sienna was unable to move or speak as she wanted. She was only able to share the body’s eyes and ears.

No, that wasn’t it. In this situation, Sienna was an intruder. She was using someone else’s eyes and ears to peek in.

The body began to pace next to the desk. It suddenly turned around. It was headed for the balcony doors. It unlatched the doors and, with both hands, pushed them open.

The body went out onto the balcony and grasped the railings. Sienna could feel that the blue sky was above her head, telling her that they were somewhere high up. She could see the wide garden underneath her.

—This place is…

Sienna quickly opened her eyes.

Sienna was absentmindedly thinking about the odd experience she had last night as she was going through her morning routine. The chief lady-in-waiting, Countess Pope, noticed her condition and asked her a question.

“Is something worrying you, Your Highness?”

Sienna lowered her head and was briefly lost in thought. Maybe telling the countess would be okay. Countess Pope was a unique person who was not intimidated by idle talk.

“Something odd happened last night.”

“Something odd?”

Countess Pope, also known as Beth, listened to Sienna’s explanation and laughed lightly.

“It sounds like you had a dream.”

“Dream…? Countess, deities do not dream.”

The Imperial family of the Holy Empire called themselves ‘deities’. According to the myth regarding the creation of the Empire, the First Emperor inherited the blood of the gods.

However, what Sienna said was true. The royal family had special skills that were passed down from generation to generation. They also had characteristics that differed from normal humans. One of them was the inability to dream.

It was unusual but not well-known. This was because, while it was unusual, it wasn’t an important difference.

“Ah… I apologize. I was ignorant…”

“That’s fine. It’s just that it was so realistic. If I were to dream, is that what it would look like?”

“Yes. Occasionally, one will have those kinds of dreams. They are so realistic that, no matter how much time passes by, one can even draw them out by hand.”

“Have you had those kinds of dreams before, Countess?”

“Of course. Everyone will have had them at one point, Your Highness.”

Sienna’s expression showed her surprise.

“Then wouldn’t you be confused about what is reality and what isn’t?”

Beth smiled. The always-dignified princess’s fascination with dreams was cute.

“There are two kinds of dreams. Some dreams let you relive the experiences you had while you were awake. Others let the impossible take place in your reality. Whichever one it is, a dream is merely a dream. Once you’re awake, they end.”

“How pointless.”

“Yes. They are fleeting and pointless.”

“Didn’t you say you were leaving early today? I’ll send you off.”

“You don’t have to do that…”

“Let us go.”

The two walked along the corridor. They walked side-by-side, so the difference in their heights was even more prominent than usual.

Sienna was a head taller than the countess. This wasn’t because the countess was especially small. It was because the Imperial family was much taller than the average person. An impressive physique was also one of the superior characteristics that came with the blood of the gods. Not only was the physique impressive, but their appearances were also like perfectly sculpted pieces of art. Sienna had inherited all of these traits of the Imperial family.

When anyone first saw Sienna, they couldn’t take their eyes off her. Silvery hair mixed with hints of blue, golden eyes, a fair complexion that seemed to sparkle. Everyone thought that if a goddess were to descend to the human world, she would look just like Sienna.

Everyone Sienna encountered stopped in their tracks and bowed their heads when they saw her. She didn’t think twice about it.

Sienna Argent.

She was the Princess of the Holy Empire of Arr as well as the heir to the throne. The crown blessed by the Sacred Tree was to be hers in the future.\n