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This is the tale of a young girl—a Beafrouxian noble—whose future was decided for her the moment she was conceived.

On the day she was brought into this world, she was given a name by her parents.

Melyn.

Born into House Lotierre, she was named after the family's legendary progenitor who'd served as Beafroux's first queen, Queen Melyneux.

And although the Lotierres were not the only descendent family to lay claim to the throne, Melyn's parents were certain their daughter would be the one to inherit the crown.

Such were the expectations she was burdened with.

To become the sovereign that would usher her people towards a new age.

The Kingdom of Beafroux itself was a prosperous country up north, bordered by Merulea to the northwest and Salzagar to the southeast.

Together, these three nations formed a tight-knit alliance, colloquially referred to as the Goldweave Covenant, a name in reference to the thread-like shape these three collective landmasses formed and the unrivaled wealth they shared.

As I'd mentioned, members of House Lotierre weren't the only ones considered for the line of succession.

Three additional noble houses—House Dubois, House Basse, and House Cuerin—vied for control of the crown, and they too could be traced back to the founding matriarch of Beafrouxian royalty.

Thus, unlike the neighboring kingdoms, the crowning of a new monarch was made to be a semi-democratic process.

As all the noble houses staked an equal claim on the throne, it was determined long ago that the people of Beafroux would be the ones to choose their leader.

Well... not directly. It was kind of complicated...

People would vote on the house they supported, as each family harbored vastly differing agendas on how the country was to be run.

And the house that won the most votes would appoint its family representative as the sitting monarch. Think of it as a party system, of the political variety... only everyone's technically a relative.

Long story short, Melyn was to be representative of House Lotierre—a candidate for the crown.

At the age of three, she was subjected to strict monarchical homeschooling. And her days were filled with teachings of etiquette, history, self-grooming, and governing.

The girl was rigorously raised for the role of queen. Tutors would visit her home daily, and her childhood was largely defined by these royal lessons.

But she hardly complained, for what accompanied her demanding studies was a life of luxury—one complete with servants, a mansion, an endless supply of books, and most importantly...

Parents who gave her all the attention in the world.

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「Ah... a little more to your left, young Madamoiselle!」

The photographer gestured Melyn towards the center of the frame.

「Yes, yes! Like that. Now smile and stand perfectly still... This apparatus is quite sensitive to motion...」

She did as the man asked. And a radiant smile brighter than the morning sun lined her lips.

「Alright... 3, 2, 1...」

Cha-click! Cha-click!

「And that's a wrap! You're free to go now, young Madamoiselle.」

Even after the photoshoot, Melyn's beam never dissipated, and she giddily capered to her parents, who stood quietly behind the lensman with warm expressions on their faces.

「Father! Mother!」

The frills of her beautiful white dress bounced as she skipped towards them.

「Woah there, kiddo! Be careful not to trip in those high heels!」

Arnou—patriarch of the Lotierre family—enfolded the young girl in his arms and stroked her chic green braid.

Beside him was his loving wife, Betriss, who was five months pregnant with their second child. She too received a hug from her elated bundle of joy.

「You promised we'd go to the bookstore after this right, father?!」

「Aha... that I did, Melyn. For being a good girl and following the kind photographer's directions, I suppose you're due for a new book or two...」

「And mother will read it to me before bed again right?!」

Arnou glanced over at his wife pleadingly. She responded with a cheeky smirk and crossed her arms.

「Hmm... I don't know... It's been a while since your father tucked you in...」

「Eeeh?! But I don't like it when father reads. He never does the voices you do...」

The man flinched at Melyn's unbridled rebukes and pathetically tried winning her back.

「M-Melyn... your old man's right here you know..? I-I'm the one paying for the books remember..?」

「Bleeeh!」

The little girl hid behind her mother and stuck out her tongue at him, shattering Arnou's heart.

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Betriss could do naught but chuckle at their back-and-forth.

「Now, now Melyn. Don't treat your father too harshly. Just because he's terrible at storytelling doesn't mean he isn't trying.」

Arnou was shut down mercilessly.

The woman swiftly signaled for a maid on standby to scurry over.

「Yes, Madame Lotierre?」

「Could you play with Melyn for a bit while we talk to the photographer? It'll only take a minute or two.」

「Oh certainly, Madame. Come now Young Miss, I think I spotted a fountain over by the belvedere!」

Melyn nodded and went along with the maid who was barely in her twenties. The servant's violet twin-drills and golden eyes indicated she was of Jazgan parentage.

As the two descended the stairs in front of them and disappeared from sight, Arnou sighed and turned to his wife.

「That four-year-old's going to be the future ruler of Beafroux huh..?」

「Feels strange, doesn't it?」

「Mhm... I can't help but wonder if the Ashen Thief made mistake...」

Betriss clasped her husband's hand and gave an assuring look.

「I wouldn't doubt him, dear. His people have helped the Lotierres for generations. And never once have their divinations failed us.」

「I know but...」

They were abruptly interrupted by the presence of a photographer patiently awaiting his pay.

「Um... I do beg your pardon Monsieur, Madame... but uh... your photos have finished developing.」

「A-ah, right! Sorry about that. Should this cover the fee?」

「Yes, this is most satisfactory! Merci bien, Monsieur Lotierre!」

The man handed Arnou a sealed envelope containing the pictures and bid farewell to the couple. And the two were left alone in silence, amid the palace garden.

Betriss eyed the building nearby and took a deep breath.

「That's going to be her home someday... History will be made on her coronation...」

「Mm... it's been centuries since our house last controlled the royal palace.」

The couple sauntered away from the official residence and towards the edge of the upper gardens. They overlooked the vast greenery below from behind marble balustrades.

There they saw the young maid, Wista, chasing a mischievous Melyn through the hedge maze that surrounded the main grounds.

It was a tranquil scene, filled with giggles from their daughter and the worried exclamations of the Jazgan servant girl.

Arnou slowly opened the paper flap in his hands and gandered at the pictures. His wife nuzzled up against him, as though to comfort the disquieted father, and inspected the photos as he did.

A young girl against a garden backdrop, wearing a fine white dress and bearing a smile.

His hands slightly shook as he thought of his daughter's future.

「This happiness won't last forever.」

Arnou cast his gaze to the evening sun, his crimson eyes glistening like a bed of watered roses.

「But... at least we'll have these to remember it by. These memories... I'll never let go of them.」

「Are you seriously crying, dear? Come now... that's no way for the patriarch to act...」

「Oh? And who are you to talk, Betriss?」

Tears streamed down Betriss' cheeks and trickled off her chin onto her dress.

「S-shut up Arnou...」

「Heh... serves you right for badmouthing me in front of our daughter...」

「It's not my fault you suck at telling bedtime stories.」

「Here we go again... Listen, my job as house representative demands I argue with members of parliament..! And yelling every day puts significant pressure on my vocal—!」

The woman lightly nudged her husband and placed her hand on her protruding abdomen.

「Shush dear. Let's not cry over the fleeting past... We should be thinking about what's to come.」

「Well... you're not wrong...」

「I hardly ever am. You should listen to me more.」

「Again you're not—! W-wait a second, don't try to change a subject on me! What does this have to do with you turning our daughter against me?!」

Betriss tittered as Arnou donned an irritated moue. He was usually accustomed to his wife's antics, as they were childhood friends.

But the sentimental mood had clouded his mind, making him more susceptible to her pert ripostes.

「Little Miss?! Where are you?!」

「Hahaha! You better come find me!」

The pair was reminded of the young maid's plight, as her cries echoed throughout the garden. And Arnou pushed himself from the balustrades and offered his hand to Betriss.

「That's our cue. Let's go rescue our poor maid shall we?」

「Yeah... let's.」

The man pocketed the photos in his suit jacket and walked side-by-side with his wife down steps away from the palace.

It was too soon for them to be there, and in their hearts they knew, it was far too soon for Melyn to be there as well.

---

The months continued as normal.

As there were dangers in admitting her to private academies, especially amidst the tumultuous political climate looming over Beafroux, Melyn would remain homeschooled within the confines of her own estate.

This in turn resulted in her rarely ever encountering children her age.

And the loneliness inside her grew, not helped the least by her constant exposure to adults and their boring platitudes. Any child would tire of their patronizing attitudes.

That was... until he came into her life.

Soryn.

Second child of Arnou and Betriss... and Melyn's only brother.

When the girl first spotted him in her resting mother's arms, she was confused as to what she was seeing.

Her parents had informed her many times before she would receive a younger sibling, but the girl wasn't entirely aware of what that entailed.

Arnou noticed the blank stare on her visage and pat her on the back.

「Congrats kiddo... you can call yourself a big sister now.」

「Big... sister..?」

「Yeah you know... since he's your little brother and all...」

She furrowed her brow, trying to process her father's remarks.

Never had her books ever contained mentions of "brother" or "sister". Thus, the concept of siblinghood was completely lost on her.

「Father... what is a little brother..?」

And the man laughed at her question, before doing a double-take.

「Uh... wait... you're not joking?」

She sincerely nodded.

「Ah... did we really not tell you Melyn..? I'm pretty sure we said you'd be getting a younger sibling...」

「Oh! Are those two connected? I thought a sibling was some fancy term for nanny...」

「You can't be serious...」

Arnou scratched the back of his head.

「Well... a brother is... put it plainly... You can think of a brother as...」

He didn't know how to convey such a thing to a mere child. Melyn also wasn't the type to simply accept the baby boy as family from the getgo.

Especially as she wasn't present for the birth.

「Uh... you know what a friend is, don't you?」

「Of course father! People who play with me like Wista and Jaz, right?」

「S-sure! That's what a brother is! Someone who'll play with you, fight with you, stick with you through thick and thin... And I don't mean a maid either. He's your equal... uh... but not exactly... After all, he's your younger brother and...」

Melyn tilted her head, more perplexed than she was previously.

「Ah, I got it! You know Uncle Estille?」

「Uh-huh?」

「He's my younger brother! So, really, you get another Estille into your family! Mm! Something like that!」

「Ohhh! So... a balding geezer?」

「N-no... not exactly. Though you're not wrong about the balding part... Actually, wait... where did you learn to call him that—?!」

Ahem!

Betriss cleared her throat, cutting their private discussion off.

「What are you two whispering about? Come over here and greet the new member of our family already!」

「B-Betriss... I'm trying to explain what a brother is Melyn. She doesn't seem to get it... We never did explain it to her...」

「Hm..? That's simple, isn't it?」

She beckoned Melyn to her bedside with a glint in her ruby gaze.

As the young girl neared her mother, she took a closer look at the newborn nestled against her bosom. And she immediately fell in love with the frail creature.

「That's... my brother..?」

「Do you want to hold him?」

Arnou was quick to interject with his concerns.

「U-uh... Betriss... are you sure she can handle it..?」

「Don't be such a worrywart, dear. It won't do to have House Lotierre's patriarch appear a coward.」

He was swiftly shut down.

Melyn put out her hands and gently received the sleeping infant. She was taken aback by how light he was, and her first instinct was to bring him closer to her chest.

The soft beating of his heart, the heat radiating off him, his peaceful countenance—the boy's very being was like a vortex that pulled her in.

「Do you understand what a brother is now... Melyn..?」

A dimple appeared as Betriss watched over them, and Arnou leaned by the doorway, a blissful grin prying his mouth asunder.

Suddenly, Soryn's eyes flickered open.

Upon seeing his sister's face for the first time, the boy naturally mimicked the expression she was making.

And a cheerful smile was shared by all in the room.

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