Chapter 5
Kalix had grown up under the abuse of his father, the former emperor.
Because he could not control his magic, even those who feared him never approached him, and he was always alone.
Most of the time, he was confined to his own room. On days when his father’s mood was especially bad, he would even be locked in the underground prison like a criminal.
One day, while Kalix was looking out the window and watching the second prince, Alec, running around in the garden, he secretly escaped his room to avoid his father’s notice.
“Brother!”
Alec happily greeted the older brother he had not seen in nearly a year, and for a brief moment, they played freely together. But just as Alec was about to fall, Kalix instinctively released his magic to protect him—and Alec ended up injured due to the backlash from resisting that power and fell unconscious.
In rage, the former emperor slapped his eldest son without mercy.
Smack—!
The small body was flung away and rolled down the stairs, yet no one helped him up.
“I told you never to leave your room! Are you a fool that you still cannot understand?! You are a being who harms everything around you—so you must be isolated!”
After that, while the former emperor tended to Alec, Kalix was imprisoned in the underground dungeon. There, in the pitch-black darkness, he hugged his knees and endured loneliness.
The emperor’s past, briefly mentioned in the original story, was one of the saddest parts I had ever read—I had even cried while reading it.
No wonder he never learned how to express affection. Emotional deficiency was inevitable.
Maybe that was why he couldn’t properly mourn his younger brother’s death and instead wiped out the Kingdom of Tetan.
I sighed deeply, coming back from my thoughts.
But even so, this was too much. I could understand that his twisted upbringing had formed a twisted worldview—but he was far too cruel toward a child.
Shouldn’t he have embraced her warmly so she wouldn’t suffer the same fate as him?
I stepped toward Rubellin.
“You were told to stop.”
A cold, growling voice stopped me mid-step.
I hesitated. Should I say it or not? The hesitation lasted only a moment. Even if it meant losing my head for speaking out, I had to say this.
In both past and present, no one had dared to advise him because of his overwhelming power.
“Your Majesty. Whether someone lives or dies, gets hurt or not—that’s not the real issue.”
Kalix frowned deeply, as if he could not understand my words at all.
“What are you talking about? If she didn’t die, isn’t that enough?”
“It’s the heart.”
I turned to face him completely.
“Sometimes, things you cannot see also get hurt, Your Majesty.”
(…Unlike your father, that piece of trash who broke your heart dozens of times without ever realizing it.)
Kalix’s eyes widened, staring at me in disbelief.
After a long silence, his shadow fell across his face as he lowered his lashes.
“You sound exactly like Alec.”
His voice was distant, hollow.
I pushed through the crowd of stiff, silent attendants and went back to Rubellin.
“Princess, are you okay?”
I knelt to meet her eye level. Her red eyes shimmered.
Then she suddenly burst into tears and hugged my neck.
I patted her back.
“It’s okay, Princess. Don’t cry.”
At that moment, gasps echoed from all around.
One man adjusted his glasses in shock.
“The pr-princess has actually controlled her strength…”
He stepped forward with curiosity.
“M-How is this—”
“Mevern.”
At the stern voice, Mevern flinched and turned back to Kalix. Under that gaze, he broke into a cold sweat.
“I-I don’t know either, Your Majesty. It was impossible just yesterday…”
Ken stepped forward before him.
“I will explain, Your Majesty.”
I slowly looked around.
This was Rubellin’s room—in other words, the bedroom of the second highest authority in the empire after the Emperor.
Was it really appropriate for a child’s room to be this extravagant?
A canopy bed large enough for several people, mahogany furniture, smooth leather sofas, even a rocking chair covered in beast hide.
Oddly, there were no toys or cute decorations suited for a child.
Ah… it must be because of the Emperor’s magic. The entire palace had suppression magic to prevent destruction from Rubellin’s strength. Otherwise, everything would collapse with a single movement.
“But why are they taking so long?”
Ken and the Emperor had said they would explain, then disappeared—and never returned.
Before leaving, the Emperor had stared at me and said:
“Lock her up.”
So this is what he meant by “lock up”—not a prison, but a room.
If I had known, I wouldn’t have resisted so much.
“I didn’t do anything wrong!”
Dragged by attendants and tutors, I had been brought here into Rubellin’s room.
A “lock-up” that wasn’t a prison but a room… both the Emperor and Princess were so warped that even this felt normal to them. I felt strangely sorry for them—and for the world that would eventually be destroyed by their hands.
I sighed deeply.
According to the novel, the empire would be destroyed shortly after the princess came of age.
So what happens to me? To the villagers? To everyone?
I rubbed my face.
Maybe I should just tell the Emperor the truth—that this is a novel, and Rubellin will eventually kill him and destroy the world.
No… what if he kills her first instead?
While I was thinking, Rubellin suddenly appeared in front of me.
“Mom, are you cold?”
“No, n-not at all.”
“Hold hands!”
She stretched her hand toward me.
After hesitation, I took it. I had confirmed twice already that my strength didn’t work on me, so I felt a little less afraid.
Rubellin smiled brightly.
“Mom!”
It felt like flowers and stars were floating around her face.
“Ugh, too bright…”
I covered my eyes.
“Mom, look at this!”
“W-wait, Princess!”
She suddenly pulled me somewhere. I tried resisting, but I was dragged forward anyway.
She ran to a drawer, opened it, and rummaged through it on tiptoe.
“I found it!”
She pulled out a yellow envelope.
“…What is this?”
“Mom’s!”
She handed it to me excitedly.
Inside was a handwritten note with ten items written in messy handwriting.
“Did you write this yourself…?”
I read the first line.
“Mom… singing a lullaby?”
“Yes!”
“Mom… going on a picnic?”
“Yes! Let’s go together!”
One by one, I read through them.
They were wishes related to “mom.”
A list of things she wanted her mother to do.
My chest tightened.
I’m not her mother… I can’t fulfill these wishes.
Still, I gently patted her head.
“Wish!”
Rubellin smiled brightly.
“My wish came true! Best!”
I looked again at the list.
The last line read: “Mom patting my head.”
…So this was what she meant.
Before I could respond, she suddenly shouted:
“Mom is the best!”
“Wait— I’m not your mom…”
“Anma is the best!”
“Anma?”
Wait.
Did she just say “Anma”?
From “mom” → “Angma”…
“…Demon?”
I looked at the attendants. They nodded as if that was correct.
Why is this child saying “demon” instead of angels or fairies?
I asked again.
“You like demons?”
“Yes!”
Rubellin nodded brightly.
“…Why a demon of all things…”
I felt my soul drain out.
Just as I was realizing again that she was truly the villainess destined to destroy the world, a knock sounded at the door.
A new servant entered.
“The Emperor requests your presence.”
Finally.
I swallowed hard and clenched my fists.
As much as I had grown fond of Rubellin, I couldn’t stay here any longer.
