The Regressed Tyrant Princess Rewrites Her Dark History - Chapter 1.18
“This is His Majesty Raphael.”
At those words, Ariadne, Arnold, Siegbert, and every noble present immediately lowered themselves in a formal bow. Amidst the reverent silence, Raphael solemnly commanded:
“At ease. This is a celebration.”
Ariadne lifted her gaze toward Raphael.
(My father… Yet, he never allowed me to bear his family name. Even before my regression, I barely exchanged words with him.)
She had even less interaction with him than she did with Ariane.
Choosing to remain cautious, Ariadne kept silent, standing properly composed. However, Raphael soon turned his gaze toward them and spoke.
“So, what is all this commotion about?”
Arnold stepped forward.
“My apologies, Your Majesty. Prince Siegbert and I were having a disagreement over who has the right to dance with Princess Ariadne.”
(W-what is Prince Arnold saying!?)
Ariadne had already made peace with breaking ties with the Second Prince’s faction.
But severing ties was one thing—openly provoking them was another. She had no intention of picking a fight with Siegbert or Raphael.
This situation had escalated far beyond what she had expected.
(Why…? How did things spiral into such a mess? What do I do now!?)
The nobles surrounding them held their breath, their expressions tense as they watched the situation unfold.
After a moment of contemplation, Raphael turned to Siegbert and spoke.
“Hmm… Siegbert, I understand that you adore your sister, but if you interfere with her love life, she may come to resent you.”
Ariadne’s eyes widened.
A collective murmur swept through the hall.
Ariadne was an illegitimate child. She had never been granted the right to bear the Granheim name.
Yet, here and now, the King himself had declared her to be Siegbert’s sister.
The weight of his words sent shockwaves through the gathering.
Even Siegbert, clearly caught off guard, opened his mouth in disbelief.
“Father, are you saying—”
“What of it?” Raphael replied, his tone unwavering. “Ariadne is my daughter. She holds no claim to the throne, but I have never denied her existence.”
Another round of murmurs spread through the crowd.
Yet, even in her previous life, Ariadne had never once heard such words from him.
(He must have a reason for saying this now.)
Raphael shifted his attention back to Siegbert.
“So, Siegbert. Are you going to stand in the way of your sister’s romance?”
“Father, I had no such intention—”
“Then, are you saying you do not see her as your sister?”
Raphael’s gaze sharpened.
If Siegbert denied it, he would be admitting that he was interfering as a romantic rival.
If he acknowledged it, he would have to accept the role of an overprotective brother.
Neither answer was ideal.
Forced into a corner, Siegbert clenched his jaw and finally exhaled heavily.
“My apologies, Father. It seems I may have taken things too far in jest.”
“Hmm. It’s natural to dote on one’s sister, but do learn moderation.”
“Understood.”
With that, the matter was settled.
(…Wait, what just happened? Is His Majesty… protecting me?)
It was unthinkable—yet, the way things had played out, it was the only conclusion that made sense.
Still trying to process everything, Ariadne stiffened as Raphael’s gaze fell on her.
“Now, Ariadne. This is our first time speaking directly, isn’t it? I have long wished to converse with you.”
“…It is an honor, Your Majesty.”
(There’s no way I can call him ‘Father.’)
She couldn’t afford to be careless—this might very well be a test.
However, Raphael’s expression softened slightly, tinged with something almost resembling sadness.
“Your Majesty?”
“It’s nothing.” He shook his head lightly. “I wish to step out for some air. Would you accompany me?”
“Of course, Your Majesty.”
Refusing was out of the question. Ariadne immediately nodded.
“Father, allow me to accompany you as well.” Siegbert stepped forward.
“Siegbert, I just told you to stop hovering over your sister.”
“…Understood.”
Siegbert reluctantly stepped back.
Raphael then turned his attention to Arnold.
“Arnold, do you mind if I borrow your partner for a short while?”
Arnold’s gaze flickered toward Ariadne.
She immediately gave him a small nod, signaling him to comply.
“Of course, Your Majesty.”
And so, Ariadne found herself alone with Raphael on the terrace.
There were no guards present—an unusual oversight for a monarch.
The sheer vulnerability of the situation left her unsettled.
(…What is going on? Why is he so unguarded?)
(Doesn’t he realize how difficult it was for me to even get close enough to assassinate him in my past life?)
Even when she had been operating as part of the Second Prince’s faction, she had rarely been granted an audience with him.
And now, she had succeeded in meeting him alone without any effort at all.
It was as though the timeline itself had unraveled into something unfamiliar.
“Ariadne… you’ve grown.”
“…You remember me as a child, Your Majesty?”
“Yes, I do. I may have only seen you a handful of times, but those moments were never forgotten.”
(What does that even mean? It almost sounds like he was looking forward to seeing me.)
Raphael’s gaze grew distant.
“Ariadne, I heard about Ariane’s poisoning… How is her condition?”
“…She is recovering, albeit slowly. But there are signs of improvement.”
“I see… I sincerely pray for her full recovery.”
His voice carried a weight of genuine sorrow.
“And… I ask for her forgiveness, for being unable to visit her. My position limits what I am able to do.”
“…Your Majesty?”
(What… is this? What does he mean?)
The Raphael standing before her was not the man Ariadne had known.
“Now then, while I would like to take more time to speak with you, we don’t have much time. Let’s get straight to the point.”
“I am listening, Your Majesty.”
Sensing the shift in Raphael’s demeanor, Ariadne instinctively straightened her posture.
“Are you aware that the Restour royal family was once part of Granheim’s royal bloodline?”
“Yes. I’ve heard that centuries ago, their faction lost in a political conflict and was exiled. The current Granheim royal family is descended from the victorious prince.”
That was why the Emperor of Restour had sought to reclaim the former capital. It was the very reason why the Restour Empire foolishly waged war against Granheim.
“That is what history tells us.”
“…‘That is what history tells us’? Are you suggesting there is doubt about this?”
“The source of this doubt is you, Ariadne.”
“…Me?”
Confused, Ariadne tilted her head slightly.
“To be precise, it is because of your gemstone eyes.”
Raphael continued, his gaze steady.
“The Restour royal family is known for their gemstone eyes. And as I said before, they were originally Granheim’s royal bloodline.”
Ariadne’s breath caught.
“…Are you saying that before the political upheaval, Granheim’s royal family also had gemstone eyes?”
“That is correct.”
His voice was calm, but the weight of his words struck her like a thunderclap.
“It is a truth erased from history by the ruling family that followed. However, within the records only kings are permitted to read, this fact is clearly documented.”
(So… that’s what this means.)
Gemstone eyes were not always inherited, but they frequently appeared within the Restour royal lineage.
Meanwhile, within the current Granheim royal family, not a single member possessed them.
Meaning—
(The current Granheim royal family… is nothing more than usurpers? They do not carry the true royal bloodline?)
It was merely a possibility, but it was the most logical conclusion.
As the realization sank in, Ariadne felt the bl00d drain from her face.
“I suspected you would grasp it quickly.”
Raphael’s tone remained composed.
“This fact is hidden from the public, but there are those who have also uncovered the truth. For example—Siegbert.”
(Ah… so that’s why Prince Siegbert…)
Ariadne was the only woman with gemstone eyes.
If Siegbert could make her his wife, their child would inherit the proof of the true royal bloodline.
However, if she could not be claimed—
Then the only solution was to eliminate her.
Currently, the only individuals with gemstone eyes were Ariane and Ariadne.
If both were erased from existence, the legitimacy of the true royal bloodline would disappear forever.
“By the way, Ariadne, you have chosen to stand with Arnold, haven’t you?”
“—!”
The unexpected remark pierced straight through her defenses.
If the previous conversation had been a strategy to lower her guard, then Raphael had executed it perfectly.
Ariadne faltered, visibly shaken.
“…I… I…”
She tried to answer, but the words caught in her throat.
“I know you are wary of me.”** Raphael’s voice softened. “But I only wish for your happiness.”
Ariadne froze.
She could not understand him.
She refused to understand him.
In her past life, she had long abandoned the hope of ever calling him ‘father’.
In the end, she had even sought to take his life.
How could she accept that he had ever wished for her happiness?
And yet—
Ariadne understood.
If she had been granted the right to inherit the throne, she would have become the primary target of assassination by other royals.
The only way to protect her life—
Was to deny her place in the royal family entirely.
“Your Majesty, I…”
She hesitated.
Raphael, however, simply shook his head.
“It’s fine. Let’s return. If we take too long, Arnold will grow concerned.”
He turned to leave, heading back toward the hall.
Just as he took a step forward, he murmured in a quiet voice—
“Ariadne, I have no intention of letting you bear the Granheim name.”
“So… live as you wish.”
“Whatever future you choose—I will watch over you from the shadows.”