Tia’s Smooth Life After Regression - Chapter 88

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Tiya’s Smooth Regression Life

Chapter 88

【Face, schemes, intelligence, poison…?】

“…So not just anyone can become a beauty that topples nations.”

【The beauty strategy failed, but the Princess will probably invite you again soon.】

Tiya looked puzzled.

“Why? Princess said she wouldn’t become Emperor, so she won’t be friendly with me anymore.”

【Because the Princess loves this country too much.】

Princess had said that too. That she loved the Empire too much.

That’s exactly why she said she wouldn’t get involved in the succession struggle.

The true meaning behind those incomprehensible words would be revealed a month later.

* * *

Spring flowers bloomed in competition throughout the Princess’s Palace garden, touched by skilled gardener’s hands.

Though there were many places to escape the harsh spring sun in the newly decorated garden, Anaël was waiting for her guest in front of the towering zelkova tree.

The small mound that had looked like wet earth was now covered with wild grass in just a month.

Behind the Princess who quietly stood guard in front of it, footsteps could be heard.

Without turning to look at her guest, Anaël spoke.

“Thank you for accepting my invitation, Lady Vladijef.”

Tiya hesitated briefly at the formal address that felt distant, then replied belatedly.

“May I come closer?”

Instead of answering, Anaël nodded. Then she quickly realized her nod wouldn’t be visible under the parasol.

But she didn’t need to speak.

As if reading her mind, Tiya stood beside Anaël.

In Tiya’s hands was a crudely woven bundle of wild grass. Tiya placed it in front of Kar’s grave.

“These flowers bloomed all over our manor’s garden… though I don’t really know their name.”

“…They’re weeds called netherworld flowers.”

“Weeds…? But they’re so pretty.”

【Now everyone knows your manor garden is overgrown with weeds.】

An awkward silence flowed between the two.

Tiya glanced sideways at the Princess.

But due to the deeply tilted parasol, her expression was completely invisible. It was just that her face couldn’t be seen, yet somehow the Princess’s atmosphere seemed different from before.

‘Princess did invite me again just like Winter said.’

As she rolled her eyes, not knowing the reason.

“I’ve asked the Empress to let me study alongside my brother.”

A calm voice flowed from beneath the parasol.

Recently, Anaël had visited the Empress and requested to receive successor education together with her brother.

The Empress showed an unreadable expression briefly at this sudden request, but soon gave permission.

From then on, Anaël’s daily routine completely changed.

The hands that once arranged flowers, embroidered, and copied poetry now turned pages of tactical textbooks, moved chess pieces, and sometimes held bows for hunting.

Just keeping up with her studies every day was overwhelming, and she often fell asleep exhausted when night came.

It was incomparable to merely glancing through a few books related to imperial studies out of trivial curiosity and self-satisfaction.

“Thanks to that, I could understand. How much effort my brother puts into becoming Emperor. And how lacking I am.”

Compared to that, how comfortable life was when living according to the Empress’s teachings.

She had never held anything heavier than a silver spoon, never had to assert her will, so never had to bear responsibility either.

A comfortable life surrounded by beautiful and gentle things, just waiting for a prince on a white horse.

Perhaps the Empress had expected her to gain this realization and give up. That’s why she so easily permitted receiving successor education.

During the past month, Anaël had learned exactly two things.

One was that she wasn’t suited to be Emperor.

And the other was…

“Your Highness?”

That her brother, no, Prince Karsein was preparing for ‘war’.

She knew nothing of war.

It had been 16 years since the conquest wars ended. For eleven-year-old Anaël, it was longer than her entire lifetime.

Yet on war memorial days, there were people who cried missing lovers and children they’d sent away, and fresh flowers were placed daily before memorial monuments.

Anaël learned of war’s horrors that she hadn’t experienced directly in this way.

‘And yet my brother…’

Anaël’s hand gripping the parasol trembled terribly.

Then, fierce wind swept through and snatched the parasol away, carrying it far off. But neither the Princess nor Tiya chased after the flying parasol.

“What should I do, Astiya.”

Anaël’s face, hidden under the parasol’s shade all along, was revealed.

Tears streamed down her pale cheeks, drained white with fear.

“I’m afraid of my brother.”

For the first time, Anaël saw Karsein not as her brother, but as a prince.

All the politics, diplomacy, and philosophy the Prince advocated had a clear goal.

The dream of continental hegemony that the previous Emperor never achieved. He was dreaming of conquest war. Even his anger toward the North was merely groundwork for that.

If he became Emperor, many people would surely die.

When that time came, how much could she protect?

‘At most, just the people I’ve brought into my palace.’

Compared to those who would die in war, what she could protect was truly just a handful.

“Your Highness.”

Tiya grasped the Princess’s trembling hands. The Princess’s gaze, which had been wandering while imagining a bloody future, fixed on Tiya.

A resolute face as if she had decided something.

Even knowing the Prince’s sword was pointed at her, even after saying she was afraid of him, ironically there wasn’t a trace of fear in her starlight-like eyes.

“If there’s anything I can help with, I’ll do anything. So Your Highness.”

Tiya hesitated briefly and trailed off.

Anaël thought she knew what she would say.

‘She’ll tell me to oppose my brother and become Emperor.’

Behind Tiya was Duke Vladijef, and Count Valoz who had the current Emperor’s trust.

With support from both factions, if she worked herself to death, perhaps she really could become Emperor.

Hadn’t Astiya Vladijef approached her for that purpose?

It was the moment the Princess squeezed her eyes shut at the truth she didn’t want to face.

“Let’s run away together!”

“…What?”

Anaël’s eyes widened.

“What are you saying? Run away?”

“I may not look it, but I ran away when I was four! I’m confident. I’ll take you wherever you want to go, Your Highness.”

Tiya’s expression was extremely solemn. As if she would flee anywhere with her.

Drop. The last teardrop fell from Anaël’s chin. She was so dumbfounded that even her tears had stopped.

Her lips, which had been painfully twisted, curved into a strange arc and then—

“Ha. Ahahaha.”

She burst into refreshing laughter.

Tiya’s face turned bright red.

“I-I’m really serious. I’m a repeat offender who ran away recently too, so I’m really confident!”

Not knowing how absurd her words were, Tiya showed confidence. Anaël, who had barely stopped laughing, wiped the tears from her eyes and nodded.

“I know. That you’re sincere.”

“Then…”

“But I won’t run away.”

It was an absurd notion, and even if it were possible, Anaël had no intention of leaving this palace. As long as she remained a princess.

“Astiya. I really don’t want to become something like an emperor.”

“Yes, I know.”

Tiya answered without avoiding Anaël’s gaze.

Yes, that’s probably why this child didn’t tell me to become emperor.

‘Instead, she offered to run away together.’

It was quite a romantic notion.

Perhaps thinking that Tiya might be the first and last prince on a white horse in her life, the Princess continued speaking.

“But still, I will become emperor.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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