...
{Ember POV}
I looked at myself carefully in the mirror, observing every small detail of my reflection.
My hair was a beautiful jade-green color, almost identical to my sister's and father's—shiny, smooth, and slightly wavy, catching the morning light in a way that made it look like strands of polished gemstone.
However, unlike them, my eyes weren't green.
Instead, they were a pale, icy blue—just like my mother's.
It created a strange yet appealing contrast.
My mother, a stunning Elf who looked no older than her early twenties despite her actual age, possessed long blonde hair that glowed faintly under the sunlight and the same calm, pale blue eyes that I had inherited.
Now, one might wonder—why is my name Ember if I don't have red or orange hair, or even eyes that could remotely fit that fiery name?
It's a fair question, and one that I had asked my mother once, out of simple curiosity.
When I did, she immediately turned crimson and looked flustered, while my father—usually composed—also avoided my gaze, his expression awkward.
They both said they'd tell me the true reason when I was older.
I could already take a few guesses about what that might mean, but honestly, it's probably better to leave it alone for now.
There's no need to poke that mystery until I can actually handle whatever embarrassing or complicated story lies behind it.
"Your Highness, there you go!" said Remia cheerfully, interrupting my thoughts as she finished dressing me in my formal outfit for the occasion.
She stepped back slightly and gave a satisfied nod, her hands resting on her apron as she admired her work.
"Thank you, Remia," I said sincerely, glancing at myself again in the mirror.
The attire fit perfectly—it was elegant but not overly flashy.
Remia giggled softly, covering her mouth with one hand.
"You're so sweet, Your Highness. I'm quite sure that when you grow older, there will be a huge number of young ladies absolutely charmed by you."
Before I could even respond to that, I heard someone cough rather loudly from behind her.
Both of us turned to see Riveria standing in the doorway, her arms crossed and a faint smirk playing on her lips.
"Greetings, Your Highness," Remia said quickly, bowing respectfully.
Riveria gave a brief nod in acknowledgment before walking toward me with her usual confident stride.
"And here you are, looking adorable as ever," she said teasingly.
Without warning, she reached out and ruffled my freshly styled hair, completely messing it up. I could feel all of Remia's hard work instantly go to waste.
"Sister!" I exclaimed, glaring at her, though I knew she found my glare more amusing than intimidating.
"You made a mess of my hair! Miss Remia worked so hard on it!"
Riveria gasped dramatically, her emerald eyes sparkling with mischief.
Then, glancing at Remia—who was staring wide-eyed at the disaster that had just occurred—she let a sly grin form on her lips.
"My, my," she said, her tone dripping with playful teasing, "already taking the side of the beautiful lady, Ember? Are you going to grow up into a little playboy?"
Remia chuckled quietly, clearly entertained, while I squinted my eyes at Riveria in disbelief.
Excuse me?!
I'm a three-year-old child!
You seriously expect me to start flirting with Elven beauties already?
What kind of twisted expectation is that?!
I could feel my eyebrow twitch as I looked at her smug grin, clearly proud of having gotten a reaction out of me.
I sighed internally, realizing that reasoning with her was pointless.
She was going to tease me no matter what.
Still, this kind of interaction was becoming a daily routine—Riveria teasing me, Remia giggling from the sidelines, and me being the unwilling participant in their little comedy act.
I swear, sometimes I wonder who the child in this relationship really is.
Though I only thought all of that inside my head and didn't say a single word out loud, Riveria must have noticed my silence because she let out a light chuckle and said, "Whatever. Enough of the jokes! It's time I finally get you outside of this palace!"
I simply nodded, already expecting her energetic insistence, and she took my hand before walking toward the large doors leading out of my room.
Soon, as we stepped into the hallways and made our way out, a few Elven guards began to follow us at a respectful distance.
It was standard procedure for members of the Royal Family to be accompanied by guards whenever they left the main palace.
In all honesty, though, the need for such protection was almost nonexistent.
The likelihood of any Elf daring to attack a member of the Royal Family was practically zero, considering how utterly devoted and loyal they were to us.
The White Elves revered the Royal Alf bloodline almost to the point of worship.
Still, the guards followed, armed and alert, more out of formality than necessity.
I understood the reasoning behind it, even if I found it unnecessary.
After all, while the Elves themselves would never harm their royals, there were always unpredictable dangers in the world—monsters that could wander too close to the forest's boundaries or, on extremely rare occasions, heretical Elves who might harbor resentment toward the royal bloodline.
Even if the chance of such an incident was one in a thousand, precautions were a part of royal life.
I decided to ignore the presence of the guards and instead focused my attention on the scenery around me.
Despite having gone outside a few times before with my mother, stepping out of the palace still felt strangely novel and refreshing.
The air outside was crisp and filled with the scent of flowers and earth.
The moment we exited the main gates, my vision was filled with the sight of massive, lush green trees stretching endlessly in every direction.
Their canopies formed a natural roof over the world, filtering sunlight into soft golden rays that scattered across the forest floor.
Turning back for a moment, I gazed at the royal palace.
It wasn't a conventional castle built of stone and steel, but rather, it was grown—carved directly inside a gigantic living tree that towered above all others.
Despite the structural modifications, the tree itself still thrived, its massive trunk pulsing faintly with life energy.
Surrounding the palace was a beautifully maintained garden filled with vibrant flowers and exotic plants, neatly arranged along cobblestone paths.
Beyond the gardens stood a small outer wall made of finely crafted stone, marking the perimeter of the royal grounds.
Elven soldiers and magicians patrolled the area regularly, maintaining vigilance and order.
As we walked, every single Elf we passed—whether guard, magician, or servant—immediately dropped to one knee in reverence.
Their heads bowed deeply, their expressions filled with a mix of awe and devotion.
It wasn't arrogance that made them act this way—it was faith.
The Royal Alf Family was considered not only the ruling class but also the sacred guardians of the Elves' survival.
In the eyes of the White Elves, the Royal Family were almost divine beings, protectors chosen by fate.
That belief had deep historical roots.
The main reason the White Elves had even survived the great massacre in ancient times was because of our ancestor, Celdia Alf, a legendary hero who gave her life in the final battle against the infamous Black Dragon.
Her sacrifice cemented our bloodline's status as sacred.
As we continued along the forest path, Riveria suddenly spoke, her voice full of excitement.
"Hmm, Ember, how about I introduce you to my friend today? I've taken some time off from my archery practice and my studies, and she's done the same so that we could meet."
Her tone carried an eager warmth that immediately caught my attention.
I raised an eyebrow slightly, curious.
"Your friend?" I asked quietly, tilting my head in thought.
I tried to recall every bit of information I could remember about the early life of Riveria from Danmachi's lore.
My memories were still mostly intact, but I knew that as time passed, I would eventually start forgetting the finer details.
That was why I had already decided that soon, I would begin keeping a secret diary—one where I could record everything I remembered about the plot and key events, just in case my memory began to fade.
Still, at the moment, I had a pretty good guess about who Riveria's friend might be.
The clues lined up neatly in my mind.
We continued walking for a while, and soon, the palace walls disappeared behind us.
As we approached the outskirts of the royal grounds, the scenery opened up into a large market area.
It was bustling with life—stalls lined both sides of the main road, selling everything from food and fabric to potions and wooden ornaments. Elves filled the streets, chatting, trading, and laughing, their long ears twitching slightly whenever the wind blew through the trees.
It was a purely Elven settlement—every single person I saw shared that graceful, ageless beauty unique to our kind.
Their clothing was light and elegant, woven from silk-like forest fibers.
The faint melody of a flute could even be heard somewhere in the distance, adding to the tranquil yet lively atmosphere.
But just as I began to truly take in the scenery, the soldiers walking ahead of us suddenly raised their voices.
One of them shouted a few formal words, announcing the arrival of members of the Royal Family.
The effect was immediate.
The chatter in the marketplace came to an abrupt halt.
Every Elf within sight froze for a brief second before dropping to their knees almost simultaneously, their expressions turning reverent and feverish.
Some even pressed their hands to their chests, whispering words of praise.
I glanced at Riveria and saw her expression visibly drop.
Her bright, excited smile disappeared, replaced by a tired, awkward look.
Clearly, she wasn't fond of this kind of attention.
She probably just wanted to walk freely and enjoy her time outside like a normal Elf, not as a princess who made everyone around her kneel.
I couldn't blame her.
Watching the entire crowd kneel wherever we went made the atmosphere heavy and unnatural.
This was the cost of being royalty in Alf's Royal Forest—a life constantly admired, respected, and isolated all at once.
My sister let out a long sigh when she saw the entire crowd kneeling before us.
It was clear from her expression that this kind of scene was something she found troublesome rather than flattering.
As for me, it was still a bit surprising to witness firsthand.
Perhaps the reason I had never properly seen it before was because whenever Mother took me outside, she usually carried me in her arms instead of walking openly through the streets, and we didn't use a carriage most of the time either.
"Sister," I asked, tilting my head slightly while looking at the kneeling crowd, "why are all of them kneeling like that? Wouldn't it be fine if they just made way for us to pass?"
It seemed strange to me that an entire street full of Elves would drop to their knees just because a few members of the Royal Family were walking through.
It had to be inconvenient for them—what if someone was carrying goods, or rushing somewhere?
Stopping everything just to kneel couldn't be practical.
Riveria sighed again, glancing down at me with a mixture of exasperation and affection.
"I can't help it, Ember," she said in a tone that sounded slightly annoyed but patient.
"The Royal Family is considered sacred by the Elves. To them, we are the descendants of divine protectors. Not giving us proper respect would be seen as blasphemy."
I nodded slowly, still not completely convinced by the logic but understanding her explanation nonetheless.
My eyes drifted over the crowd again.
Every Elf we passed wore an expression filled with reverence, awe, and devotion—almost like they were looking at a miracle walking before them.
It was honestly unnerving.
Some of the Elven women, however, had a faint blush on their faces when their gazes met mine, which only made me more uncomfortable.
I stared back at them deadpan and sighed internally.
'Great, even as a three-year-old I'm apparently some sort of 'charming prince.''
It was ridiculous.
Eventually, after walking through several winding paths and smaller roads, we arrived at the house of Riveria's friend.
It was a modest but well-kept Elven home made from intertwined roots and vines, typical of the architecture in the forest city.
A soldier accompanying us stepped forward and knocked firmly on the wooden door.
Moments later, the door opened, revealing three Elves standing together—a man, a woman, and a young girl around Riveria's age.
All three immediately dropped to one knee and bowed their heads.
"We greet Her Highness and His Highness!" they said in unison, their voices polite and formal.
Riveria immediately frowned, a hint of irritation flashing across her face.
"Aina," she said sharply, "didn't I tell you there's no need for such formal greetings?"
The young girl—Aina—gave a nervous smile and a small, apologetic bow.
[Aina Wisteria(Mother of Eina Tulle)]
"I did tell them, Riveria, but they wouldn't listen," she admitted, sounding slightly embarrassed.
Before Riveria could respond, Aina's father stepped forward.
He bowed again, speaking in a respectful yet sincere tone. "I do understand, Your Highness, and I apologize if it seems excessive. However, please understand that it brings me great honor and joy to know that someone like our daughter—who isn't even part of the Elven nobility—has become friends with Her Highness. Still, it would be rude of us not to show at least the minimum level of proper respect."
Riveria's shoulders slumped slightly as she let out another sigh.
"Fine…" she muttered under her breath.
Her tone clearly showed that she didn't enjoy being treated like some divine relic.
I could sympathize.
Watching this whole exchange, I felt the same sense of annoyance building inside me.
If every single meeting with other Elves was going to be this formal, filled with rigid greetings and suffocating politeness, then I might as well prepare myself for a lonely existence.
At that moment, something clicked in my mind.
I finally understood one of the main reasons why the future Riveria, the one shown in Danmachi, had become the calm, stoic, and reserved woman that fans knew.
Living in an environment like this—constantly idolized, isolated, and treated with excessive reverence—would make anyone weary and distant over time.
Seeing the bright, playful Riveria of now compared to what she would eventually become made the realization hit even harder.
After a few minutes of awkward pleasantries, Riveria managed to pull Aina away into a private room.
The Royal Guards stayed stationed outside, maintaining a respectful distance, which finally gave the two girls the freedom to talk without all the suffocating formality.
"Sorry, Riveria," Aina said once the door closed, her tone filled with guilt.
"When my mother and father heard that you would be visiting, they insisted on preparing properly to receive you. I couldn't stop them."
Riveria shook her head with a light chuckle, her irritation fading.
"No need to apologize, Aina. I can understand. Parents will always act that way," she said with a wave of her hand, then suddenly brightened.
"Anyway, Aina, let me introduce you to my brother—Ember! Isn't he just the cutest little thing you've ever seen?"
I felt her hand on my shoulder as she set me down gently on the ground.
I looked up at Aina and she looked back at me.
She was quite pretty for her age—her green hair was a deeper shade than Riveria's, and her eyes were a softer, lighter hue of green, giving her an overall gentle appearance.
Putting on my best polite smile, I stepped forward, extended my small hand toward her, and said clearly,
"Nice to meet you, Elder Sister. I am Ember. Please, just call me Ember."
Aina blinked in surprise, taken aback for a moment.
Then, all at once, her expression softened into pure adoration.
Without saying another word, she bent down and pulled me into a tight hug.
"So cute!!!" she exclaimed with genuine delight, rubbing her cheek against mine like an affectionate cat.
"Riveria! Your Highness is so adorable! And he's so polite too!" Aina gushed, her voice full of joy.
I didn't particularly enjoy being treated like a living plush toy for what felt like the thousandth time, but I couldn't bring myself to get upset.
Instead, I just let her do it.
At least she wasn't acting afraid or overly formal toward me.
She was friendly, warm, and completely at ease—even though I was technically a prince.
That alone told me why she had managed to become Riveria's friend and her handmaiden.
Unlike the others, she didn't care about my title or my status—she just saw me as a child, as her friend's little brother.
Even Remia, who had been serving me since my birth, didn't dare act so casually around me.
And obviously... I found it refreshing.
"Do you believe me now? My brother is the cutest brother in the whole world!!" Riveria declared proudly, puffing out her chest as if announcing a great victory.
I couldn't help but find her display amusing.
Aina scooped me up onto her lap and began ruffling my hair with obvious delight.
"Your Highness, I am Aina," she said warmly, "you can call me Elder sister—on second thought, would you call me 'Elder sister' one more time?"
I nodded obediently and called out, "Elder sister."
The instant the words left my mouth, I immediately regretted them.
Aina's response was instant and enthusiastic: she hugged me tightly and yelled at the top of her lungs, "So cute!!!"
Riveria's face shifted into a mock-jealous pout.
"Hey! Aina, he is my brother! Give him back to me!" she protested, leaping forward.
Aina only shook her head mischievously, still clutching me in her arms.
"Nope! Get him if you can!" she taunted, then sprang up and started running away while holding me like a prize.
"Get back here, Aina!!" Riveria shouted, chasing after her.
The whole situation was ridiculous and… why the hell was I being dragged around like a ragdoll?
I squirmed and tried to call out, "Eld—aahhh!" but Aina paid no heed.
She slid down the banister of the stairs with me still on her lap, then jumped down and began sprinting through the house.
"Sister, save me!!" I cried, looking back at Riveria who was running down the stairs as fast as she could, but she was too slow.
"Give me Ember back!!!" she yelled, lunging after Aina, but Aina easily managed to keep her distance.
After several minutes of what felt like torture, I had had enough.
"Put me down!!!!!" I screamed, my voice loud and fierce.
The command hit everyone in the room like a sudden chill. Aina froze mid-stride, Riveria halted in her tracks, and even Aina's parents turned pale.
The soldiers accompanying us swallowed audibly, taken aback by my sudden outburst. Aina, realizing she'd gone too far while playing, hurriedly set me down on the floor.
I felt furious—like nothing more than a toy that people tossed around for fun.
Fuckers! I thought angrily, vowing to get immediate revenge.
(A/N: Ayooo chill)
To make sure they took me seriously, I let my eyes fill with tears and began to cry loudly.
"Ember!" my sister panicked, and everyone else in the room reacted in alarm as well.
They all rushed toward me, clustering around like a storm.
But I had no intention of showing mercy; I wanted them to understand how it felt.
My wails grew louder and more dramatic until the situation escalated into a full-blown disaster for Riveria, Aina, and the others.
Eventually, my sister somehow managed to calm me down, though not without appeasing me with certain promises and conditions that I made her agree to first.
The soldiers, who had been standing by in stunned silence, finally reacted with indignation.
"What's the meaning of this?!" one barked at Aina as he reached down to take me back in his arms, obviously outraged.
"Making Your Highness cry! Playing around while holding him like a doll! She shouldn't receive anything less than the death penalty!" another soldier declared in a harsh, scandalized tone.
Aina's face drained of color at the accusation, while Riveria ground her teeth in anger and embarrassment.
Before anyone else could continue, I piped up in a clear, controlled voice: "What's the meaning of this!!"
The soldiers froze at the sound of my own question.
I continued calmly but firmly, "I allowed her to grab me. Yes, she went overboard in the end, but my sister did too! If you blame her, doesn't that mean you blame Her Highness as well?"
Those words hit harder than anyone expected.
The soldiers' faces went pale; even Riveria and Aina's parents exchanged uneasy glances.
In that stunned silence, the uncomfortable truth settled over the room: my tiny voice had shifted the blame and forced everyone to reconsider the whole scene.
They all opened their mouths, clearly wanting to retort, but how could they argue in front of a member of the Royal Family, even if I was technically just a three-year-old child?
The sheer weight of my position, combined with the authority I projected, seemed to have frozen them in place.
In the end, they remained completely silent, unable to say a word, effectively shut down by my presence alone.
"Forgive me, Ember," Aina said after a moment, her voice soft and apologetic.
"I got a bit carried away."
I smiled warmly at her, trying to ease the tension.
"I forgive you, Elder Sister," I said with calm sincerity.
"While it did trouble me at first, it was still fun seeing you and Sister enjoy yourselves so much."
The moment my words reached her, Aina was struck by my sheer cuteness.
She gasped, blinked rapidly, and then, quite dramatically, rolled backward and fell unconscious.
I stared at the scene in total disbelief, frozen in shock.
'Damn it… is my Shota power off the charts or something?!'
I suddenly realized a terrifying fact: apparently, Shota me was far too deadly, particularly for women.
My very presence seemed to overwhelm them completely.
The rest of the day, however, went by in a much more enjoyable manner.
After Aina finally woke up and regained her composure, we were escorted out to the forest beyond the city limits, under the watchful protection of Royal Soldiers.
In the forest, the three of us played together, although I mostly observed rather than actively participated.
Even so, the sheer fun of watching Riveria and Aina interact, chasing each other and teasing one another, was entertaining enough.
The trees around us were enormous and vibrant, casting dappled shadows across the forest floor as sunlight filtered through the leaves.
Despite being on constant guard for safety, the mood was relaxed and joyous.
As evening approached, and it was time for us to return to the Royal Palace, a sudden realization struck me like a lightning bolt.
'Wait a minute…!'
I thought, eyes widening.
'Aina is Eina's mother. According to the plot, she is supposed to be ninety-nine years old. And right now… she's sixteen, just like my sister! That means there are almost a full century's worth of years before the main plot even begins.'
The revelation completely blew my mind.
I had almost forgotten this critical piece of information.
I knew that decades remained before the story would truly begin, but until this very moment, I hadn't paid much attention to the significance of it.
Riveria, noticing my sudden pause and the thoughtful expression on my face, leaned closer with concern.
"What happened, Ember? Are you feeling unwell?" she asked, her tone soft and filled with worry.
I quickly snapped back to a normal expression, forcing a smile.
"Nothing!" I said cheerfully, trying to dispel any concern.
Hearing my words, Riveria visibly relaxed, her shoulders easing as she smiled.
Without another word, she scooped me into her arms once more and began heading back to the Royal Palace, carrying me with the same casual grace as though nothing unusual had happened.
I allowed myself to ride with her, feeling completely safe and unbothered by anything around us.
I couldn't help but consider this a personal victory.
After all, knowing that I had nearly a full century before the plot would officially start meant that I had an incredible amount of time to become insanely overpowered.
Mind you, Riveria had only been Falna'd for a little over sixteen years and had already reached Level 6.
By comparison, if I dedicated myself to training, studying, and exploiting every advantage, there was a very real possibility that I could be Level 9, maybe even Level 10, before the plot officially began.
Sure, the actual story might feel a little boring once it finally started, but did I care about that? Absolutely not. With the sheer amount of time at my disposal, I could prepare, grow, and secure my position in ways no one else could even imagine.
The future was wide open, and I intended to dominate it completely.
To be continued…
{A/N: Please read the warning before proceeding.
I have a Patreon where you can get chaps in advance after buying a membership.
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