This scene had always repeated itself before my eyes.
I had memorized it—
and hated every moment it happened.
I didn't even have enough time to find the answer to a single question:
Who is the true protagonist?
---
Inside the palace corridors—deep blue hallways traced with soft white patterns,
as if stepping into an endless sky detached from the real world—
Mariana walked steadily behind the Crown Prince,
her eyes fixed on his back
while her mind drifted far away,
thinking only of escape.
But entering the reception room snapped her out of her thoughts.
"Father, the Crown Prince has arrived,"
she said quietly, making her father turn toward them.
Salfester was around the same age as the Emperor—both men well into their sixties.
His beard was flooded with white, and the marks of time carved deep stories across his features.
With a gentle smile, he bowed.
"Welcome, new sun of the Empire."
Rafael lowered his head respectfully and stepped forward to shake his hand.
"If I am the sun, then surely the moon resides here," he said humbly.
He sat down—but never once took his gaze off Mariana.
She smiled politely on the outside,
and spat curses at him on the inside.
She held no personal grudge against him—
she simply despised such gatherings.
So she crafted an excuse and said sweetly:
"Father, I'll go make sure everything is prepared."
After receiving permission, she slipped out,
wiping imaginary sweat from her brow and fixing her dress like a soldier preparing for battle.
"Now…
my target is the silver–haired guy.
This is the first time I'll see him in person."
She lifted her dress so it wouldn't slow her down and hurried off.
Meanwhile, Songjin had reached their carriage and found both Jin-ho and Rora still asleep,
completely detached from the world.
He tried waking them with a calm voice that, somehow, sounded more like a lullaby.
So he snapped, annoyed:
"Jin-ho!! Get up!"
Jin-ho jerked up in shock while Rora clutched her cheek and blurted out:
"W-we're awake! What—what's happening!?"
He wanted to laugh, but the situation didn't allow it.
He nudged Jin-ho's leg to hurry him up.
Both stepped out, stretching like sleepy cats.
"You two sleep too deeply. We arrived a while ago."
Jin-ho yawned,
"Didn't we stay up the whole night cleaning for your party? Of course we're tired."
"Just come on," Songjin sighed. "Let's head to the kitchen."
Rora frowned.
"And how are we supposed to know where that is?"
Jin-ho flicked his wrist dramatically.
"Follow me. I'll handle it."
Songjin nodded.
"Good. Then I'll get going."
Jin-ho waved.
"Take care."
Songjin tilted his head slightly, his voice softer than usual.
"You take care too."
He walked off, following the same path the knights used earlier.
Inside the palace, Jin-ho and Rora quickly realized the place was far bigger than they expected.
Jin-ho should've known the way from reading the novel—
yet somehow, he felt completely lost.
Rora narrowed her eyes.
"You sure you know the way?"
Jin-ho replied dryly,
"Don't ask me anything until we reach the kitchen."
He was already lost enough as it was.
As they walked in confused silence,
Jin-ho bumped into someone—
so hard he almost fell,
but a hand wrapped around his waist and steadied him.
He looked up at the one who caught him—
a girl with short black hair streaked with white,
eyes the color of crimson flames,
smiling brightly at him—
as if she'd been searching for a treasure…
and finally found it.
Rora burst into laughter with all she had.
The scene looked completely reversed—
wasn't it supposed to be the prince catching the princess and gazing at her like that?
Jin-ho tried to stay composed,
but who was he fooling?
His whole body flushed red,
and he was this close to exploding.
Mariana stepped back, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
"I finally found you!"
Jin-ho laughed nervously, thinking to himself,
Should I die now, or later?
Rora tried to calm herself,
but the sight before her looked like a comedy sketch where the spell backfires on the magician.
Mariana placed one hand on her hip and raised a finger of the other, saying,
"May I know your name? And yours as well,"
she added, turning to Rora.
Rora immediately stopped laughing, bowed respectfully, and said,
"I am the Emperor's maid. My name is Min Rora.
And this is also a servant, named Kim Jin-ho."
Mariana clapped her hands excitedly and reached out for a handshake.
But Rora pulled back nervously.
"Y-You cannot do that, my lady. A duke's daughter must not shake hands with servants.
It is improper."
Mariana's eyes sharpened.
"Are you saying I'm doing something improper?"
Rora's voice trembled.
"I didn't mean it like that, my lady…
I only repeated what I was taught.
But if you wish to shake hands, it would be an honor."
Mariana smiled and took her hand firmly.
"It seems Raphael has taught you to keep your tongues sweet."
Behind them, Jin-ho smiled softly, wishing he could quietly slip away.
But Mariana turned to him and said,
"Jin-ho… your aura feels like a noble's, not a servant's."
He replied respectfully,
"I used to be a noble… before my title was stripped away."
She tilted her head curiously.
"Why did that happen?"
"That's enough, Mari,"
said a deep voice behind them.
Rora and Jin-ho turned to see a tall young man with a broad frame,
wearing proper clothing.
His hair was half black and half white—
a sight strange enough to spark anyone's curiosity.
"This does not concern you, brother,"
Mariana snapped with annoyance.
Jin-ho took the chance and quickly grabbed Rora's wrist,
pulling her away before anything escalated—
the last thing they needed was to hear something dangerous and end up responsible for knowledge they couldn't escape.
Rora blinked.
"Where are you taking me?"
"The kitchen is behind this wall," Jin-ho said.
"We'll go this way."
He released her hand,
and she hurried to match his pace until they finally arrived.
The kitchen was massive as well,
but completely different from the hallways—
painted inIt looks. a cool, soft yellow with delicate blue flower patterns,
bright and calming to the eyes.
As they stepped inside, an older woman approached them—
surely the head maid.
"Welcome, dears," she said warmly.
"Please change your clothes and come help."
Both of them froze.
They had assumed they would only serve the prince and knights…
but it turned out they were expected to serve the entire household.
Her gentle tone was hard to trust—
everyone else they met had greeted them with cold, angry, or resentful stares…