Aisha froze for a second, still holding the prince's school card in her hands.
Her fingers tightened slightly around it.
…Haruto Kurosawa.
But he is the prince of the Karki Empire.
Then why… is his family name different?
Her thoughts showed clearly on her face.
Prince Haruto noticed immediately.
He let out a quiet breath.
"I know why you're looking at me like that," he said calmly. "It's because of my family name… right?"
Aisha lifted her eyes, startled.
Rin also glanced at the card, her expression stiffening as she read the name again.
Prince Haruto continued, his voice steady but distant.
"Everyone reacts the same way when they see my surname," he said. "That's why I don't allow anyone to say my real name inside the castle."
He looked away, gazing out the carriage window.
"Many people are confused by it," he went on. "And many hate it."
A brief silence followed.
"My surname comes from my mother," he said quietly. "But I don't know who she is."
Aisha's breath caught.
"I've never seen her," Haruto continued. "I don't even know her face."
He paused, then added in a low voice, "People say she was only a maid."
Rin clenched her hands.
"That's why the nobles hate me," Haruto said flatly. "And the empire… the emperor himself said I was born by mistake."
Aisha's eyes widened.
"He never cared about me," Haruto continued. "He spoke to me only once."
His fingers curled slightly.
"That was the day he sent me away," he said. "He told me never to use the name 'Karki.'"
His voice hardened, just a little.
"He never saw me as his child."
The carriage fell into silence.
Aisha suddenly frowned.
lost in thought.
…How could I forget that?
Her grip on the edge of her skirt tightened as a distant memory surfaced.
When I was six years old… I read something about the prince. About his birth… and about his mother.
She remembered dusty records and whispered stories she had once stumbled upon. Words that spoke of a prince born under strange circumstances, and a mother whose name was never mentioned with pride.
…At that time, those stories felt real.
But later…
Inside the castle, people kept saying it was fake.
They said it was nothing more than a lie something made up to insult the royal family.
So I believed them.
Her eyes lowered, shadows crossing her face.
That's why… I forgot about it.
The memory had been buried beneath years of silence and denial.
The carriage continued to move forward, the sound of hooves echoing softly, while Aisha remained lost in thought—realizing that what she once dismissed as false might have been the truth all along.
After several days of travel, the carriages finally reached the capital gate.
Aisha pressed closer to the window, her breath catching.
…So this is the capital.
Massive stone walls towered high into the sky, far taller than anything she had ever seen. A wide river flowed alongside the walls, its water shining under the sunlight like a natural barrier protecting the city.
In front of the gate, countless people stood in long lines, waiting patiently to enter. Merchants, nobles, travelers, and commoners—all gathered under the watchful eyes of the guards.
The capital was enormous.
Far beyond the gate, she could glimpse the inside of the city—tall buildings, beautiful streets, and flags fluttering in the wind. Everything felt grand, overwhelming, and alive.
The prince's carriage slowed as it approached the gate.
The gate itself was huge, carved with royal symbols, standing open like the mouth of a giant beast welcoming those allowed inside.
Many soldiers were stationed there, fully armored, standing in perfect formation.
One by one, they checked the ID cards of everyone entering the capital.
When the prince's carriages arrived, Aisha expected the atmosphere to change instantly.
Usually, soldiers would straighten, nobles would bow, and the path would open.
But nothing happened.
The long line before the capital gate remained unchanged.
The prince's carriage stopped… and waited.
Aisha sat quietly inside, her hands resting on her lap.
…Why aren't they moving?
…Shouldn't they recognize the royal carriage?
She glanced through the small window.
People ahead were still being checked one by one. No one paid attention to them.
Her heart beat faster.
…Did something go wrong?
Without realizing it, she reached for the card hidden close to her chest and touched it gently.
…This card… is the reason I can stand here.
…Without it, I wouldn't even be allowed near the capital.
Time passed slowly.
Minutes turned into hours.
They were still waiting in line—like ordinary travelers.
Aisha lowered her gaze.
…We're being ignored.
That thought made her uneasy.
When the carriage finally reached the gate, a soldier stepped forward and opened the door to inspect inside.
The moment his eyes landed on the prince
He froze.
His expression didn't show happiness. It didn't show respect.
It was shock.
A sharp, silent shock, as if he had seen something that should not exist.
His breath caught.
Behind him, other soldiers began whispering to each other. Their voices were low and tense. They glanced toward the carriage again and again.
Prince Haruto, Aisha, and Rin didn't know what was happening.
But they could feel it.
Something was wrong.
After a brief pause, the soldier stepped aside and raised his hand.
"…You may enter."
The gates slowly opened.
The carriages moved forward and entered the capital city.
As they passed through the market streets,
Aisha noticed people staring.
Not with admiration.
Not with curiosity.
With disbelief.
Whispers spread around them.
Why is he here…?
He's still alive…?
Shouldn't he be dead by now?
How is he alive…?
Aisha's chest tightened.
She looked at Prince Haruto.
His face remained calm, but the air around him felt heavy—like the capital itself was holding its breath.
Only then did Aisha understand.
This city was not welcoming them.
It was afraid of him.
The carriage moved forward. Aisha clutched her card, feeling the capital's cold, uneasy gaze on them.