(Eri's POV)
People say I look exactly like my mother.
Blonde hair.
Blue eyes.
It is not a common look in Kazunaga.
Most people here have dark hair. My father included. Black hair is normal in our kingdom. Long hair, traditional robes, and silk kimonos are part of our culture.
But my mother came from another land.
The kingdom of Aryanda.
Their style was very different from ours. Thick gowns, heavy fabrics, and tall stone castles. When people looked at me, they often said I carried the blood of Aryanda more clearly than Kazunaga.
I never knew if that was praise or criticism.
Kazunaga itself is a wealthy kingdom.
Our land is rich with minerals, gems, and diamonds. The mountains hold treasures beneath the earth, and the fields grow strong crops because of our good weather.
Agriculture feeds our people.
Trade strengthens the kingdom.
Because of that, Kazunaga is prosperous.
But wealth always attracts attention.
We have many neighboring kingdoms.
Some are allies.
Others are enemies.
Politics between kingdoms can be complicated.
But inside the palace, things are much simpler.
You can easily see who your enemies are.
And in my case—
it was not Haru.
It was my aunt.
Princess Sato.
Haru had always been kind to me. We grew up playing together in the palace gardens. Sometimes we trained together, sometimes we simply ran through the halls like normal children.
But the adults around us were never simple.
One day, I heard something I was not supposed to hear.
I was passing by one of the council chambers when I heard voices inside.
My father was there.
And so was Sato.
I stopped outside the door.
Her voice was sharp.
"The constitution of Kazunaga should be changed."
There was silence inside the room.
Then she spoke again.
"I am willing to step down for my son. Haru should inherit the throne."
Of course she would say that.
Haru was her son.
And behind her stood the powerful Han family.
Then her voice changed, softer but still dangerous.
"I should have been the heir in the first place," she said.
"But because of the male succession law, the crown went to Korei."
For a moment, the room was quiet.
Then I heard something unexpected.
My father laughed.
Not loudly.
Just a small, cold sound.
I slowly looked through the slightly open door.
He was leaning back in his chair.
There was a smirk on his face.
"The law of Kazunaga is male succession," he said calmly.
"The crown was never yours, Sato."
The words were simple.
But they landed like a slap.
I saw my aunt's face tighten.
My father continued.
"So tell me," he said, his voice steady, "why should I change the constitution?"
"Yes, Haru was once the crown prince."
"Yes, the court was preparing him."
"But the crown belongs to my bloodline."
There was a short pause.
Then my father said the words that changed everything.
"And now my heir exists."
Silence filled the room.
Everyone knew what he meant.
Me.
Because I exist—
Haru had moved down in the line of succession.
The crown no longer waited for him.
I saw the anger in Sato's eyes.
She tried to hide it, but it was there.
Burning.
That was the moment I understood something clearly.
Inside this palace, I was not just the king's daughter.
I was a threat.
To ambitions.
To plans.
To power.
My aunt's hands tightened slightly.
She was furious.
But she could not argue with the law.
Finally she stood up.
Her voice was calm again, but the anger was still there.
"This discussion is not finished," she said.
Then she walked out of the chamber.
I quickly stepped away from the door before she could see me.
My heart was beating fast.
For a long moment, I stood alone in the corridor.
Then something strange happened.
I smiled.
I rarely smile inside the palace.
Everyone knows that.
But that day—
I did.
Because I understood something important.
In this palace, many people might want the crown taken from me.
Many might see me as a problem.
But one person stood on my side.
The king.
My father.
And as long as the king stood with me—
the crown of Kazunaga was still mine.