When Sienna returned from sending off the countess, she saw that a messenger from the Sun Palace was waiting for her . After receiving the message that the Emperor was looking for her, she went right back out and started heading for the Sun Palace .
âWhen was the last time I was called to the royal office?â
She stopped when she saw the door leading to the royal office . Seeing how her memory was hazy, she believed that it had been quite a long time since she was here .
She opened the door and stopped in her tracks after walking inside . She was overcome by an unsettling sensation as if she was out of place . Sienna frowned when she saw the circular columns .
She walked towards the spacious desk and stopped a few steps short . She took the hem of her skirt and bowed deeply .
âI have received your call, Your Majesty . â
âYou may rise . â
Siennaâs golden eyes met the Emperorâs golden eyes . The Emperor watched closely as Sienna lowered her gaze once more .
As he recalled Siennaâs age, he began to think about his own age . She was born when he was nearly forty years old . The proof that his age was nearing sixty was standing before his eyes .
âItâs almost your birthday, isnât it?â
âYes, Your Majesty . â
âOn your coming-of-age celebration, I will bestow the crown upon you . â
âThank you, Your Majesty . â
Even though she answered calmly, her heart was pounding inside her chest .
When a member of the Imperial family came of age, they were crowned . This was to acknowledge the perfection of the godly blood flowing through their veins . With the crown, they were given a portion of the duties of the ruling emperor .
âHave you thought of a name?â
âYes . Please give me the title âSilver Emperor1â . â
ââSilver Emperorâ?â
The Emperorâs gaze fell on Siennaâs silver hair .
âItâs not because of my hair . â
Unlike her usual self, Sienna had a look of embarrassment .
âSilver is able to detect the presence of poison . As such, I am determined not to be fooled by conspirators . â
ââSilver Emperorâ . . . Itâs quite good . â
The wide room, the marble floor, the circular columns supporting the high, arched ceiling .
âThis place is . . . â
âDo you have something you wish to discuss with me?â
âI have a favor I would like to ask of you, Your Majesty . Could you let me go out on the balcony? It will only be a moment . â
The Emperor glanced at Sienna quizzically when he heard her random request . However, he didnât ask for a reason and gave her his permission .
Sienna used both her hands to push open the balcony doors . Like a person that had just discovered an unknown world, Sienna blankly looked out as she slowly walked over the threshold . She grasped the railing as her heart began to beat wildly .
âAh . . . â
The girl let out a sigh of despair as she looked over the railings and saw the sight underneath .
It was the same . It was the same garden she saw last night .
âItâs quite strange . â
Sienna was deep in thought as she left the Sun Palace .
The countess had said that dreams were either past experiences or rooted in imagination . However, Siennaâs experience did not fit into either of those categories .
It was the first time she had looked down from the balcony of the royal office . How could she have dreamed something she had never seen before?
âIt was the garden . â
Sienna had been walking back to her own residence but turned around and headed for the garden . She was lost in thought as she arrived at the maze garden that was quite far from the Sun Palace .
âIt has been a while . â
She used to explore the maze garden when she was little . After she memorized all the paths, she lost interest and stopped coming here .
âWait for me here . â
Sienna left her ladies-in-waiting at the entrance of the maze and made her way inside . The deeper she walked into the maze, the more she remembered . She followed the tall shrub walls and enjoyed her solitary walk .
âIâm halfway there . I just have to turn right over there and then Iâll reach the open space . . . â
Sienna stopped walking in surprise . It was an open space that was like a little room inside the maze . In this place, two men had set up a table and were sitting together . These men also had surprised expressions on their faces .
Silence hung in the air . The three of them continued to stare at each other wordlessly .
âThat person is . . . â
Sienna recognized one of the men . The man in his mid-twenties was older than when she had last seen him . His ashy blonde hair had streaks of red .
Dian Argent . He was Siennaâs half-brother .
He was five years older than her . However, she never considered him as an older brother . He was considered to be half-royal because his mother was of a lower rank . Therefore, Sienna was ahead when it came to the succession of the throne .
Siennaâs eyes rested on Dianâs hair . He had half of the characteristics of the Imperial family . Sienna recalled the words her mother, Patricia, had uttered while gnashing her teeth . Displeased, Sienna turned around .
âSienna!â
Sienna frowned when she heard the call . They werenât close enough to call each other by their given names . Even though he was able to see Siennaâs displeasure, Dian continued to smile and laugh .
âItâs been a while . Has it been, what, six years?â
âIt has been seven,â Sienna thought .
Dian did not grow up in the Imperial Palace as a child . Seven years ago, the Imperial Palace was thrown into chaos by the sudden appearance of the Emperorâs grown-up son .
Dian was older than Sienna and carried the traits of the Imperial family . Seeing this, the Emperor didnât think twice and recognized him as a Prince of the Empire . Just like that, Siennaâs firm position as the heir to the throne was shaken .
However, the chaos eventually subsided . The line of succession to the throne was determined by the motherâs rank, but Dian would not reveal his motherâs identity .
As she looked at Dian, Sienna began to recall the events that took place seven years ago .
Seven years ago, Sienna secretly went to see Dian . She was curious about her older brotherâs sudden appearance . Dian caught her snooping, and they began to talk . Dian didnât take himself too seriously, and they had a good time .
However, Siennaâs disappearance caused a commotion . Even the knights were mobilized to find her . Ultimately, Sienna and Dian only spent a short time together before she had to return to the Palace . That was the first and last time she had met him .
ăIs Prince Dian going to be my older brother?ă
Sienna asked Patricia, and it caused her to go on a rampage .
ăâOlder Brotherâ?! How can a half-blood of vulgar birth be the brother of an Imperial princess?!ă
Patricia did not hide her wrath and annoyance .
ăYou are a member of the Imperial family . You are of a different class than that half-blood . ă
ăDo not even think about getting close to him . He grew up outside of the Palace . He will only hurt you . ă
ăYou will become the Emperor one day . If you associate yourself with someone like him, you will only lose your dignity . ă
ăHe will try to use you . You must not get involved with him . ă
Patricia continued to criticize Dian every chance she got . As time went by, she mentioned Dian less and less, but now Sienna was the one that ignored his presence . She decided that nothing good would come from having a close relationship with him .
And thus, she hadnât seen him for seven years . The Palace was large . If one did not purposely try to meet someone, there was no way they would cross paths .
âThis is a nice place to take a walk, isnât it? Itâs quiet and there are no eyes watching you . I was just enjoying some tea over here . Do you want to join me?â
Sienna narrowed her eyes and glared at Dian as he spoke so shamelessly . She didnât even know where to start with him . He was being rude . Did he not receive any training in etiquette? Half of his blood was from the Emperor, but why was he so frivolous and light-hearted in his way of speaking?
âNo thank you . â
Sienna turned around .
âPrincess Sienna!â
She heard him calling for her again, but she did not turn around this time .
As she walked along the maze, Sienna unknowingly snorted before coughing awkwardly .
It had been seven years . That was quite a long time . Dianâs appearance had changed a little, but his attitude remained the same . Seven years ago, he talked to her amicably, smiling brightly . At the warm memory, Sienna couldnât keep a straight face and cracked a smile .
The Korean text doesnât use the word âqueenâ or âempressâ when it refers to Sienna . It continues to use the male form âemperorâ, so Iâm just going to keep it as it is . \n