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Up to this point I was quite sure of myself, as I expected to just say a quick hello and walk away. Maxie was still waiting for me outside the gate, so I didn\'t want to worry her too much.

I stopped a few feet away, still not looking up, and curtsied and said:

— Greetings, Your Majesty.

The reply was immediate.

— You are late.

I felt an electric shock at those words. It… It wasn\'t Philip\'s voice!

I looked up in shock to find that the crown prince wasn\'t on the imperial throne at all. It was the person I least expected to be here.

A young woman with long black hair, her scarlet eyes piercing from top to bottom. A pale face with aristocratic features-which had become even more graceful with age. It was like a rose that was finally able to fully bloom.

She was dressed in imperial robes, but not the usual white that the members of the royal family always wore. The costume was all black, which was an obvious echo of the Cassius family.

I was almost speechless.

— R-Rachel…?

Seeing the fear on my face, Rachel Cassius grinned. She sat perfectly at ease on the throne with her head propped up on her fist.

— Leah, what are you doing? Right now, you\'re supposed to kneel before me.

Actually, the girl didn\'t have to remind me of that. Because I was so discouraged that I could hardly stand on my own feet. And when she ordered me to, I collapsed to the floor immediately, wanting to stare anywhere but at her.

Terror paralyzed me instantly, and I had no idea what was happening. Shaking feebly in my body, I tried to keep my sanity.

When did this happen? What had happened? Why had things worked out the way they had?

How had Rachel Cassius ended up on that throne…?!

Many questions overwhelmed me at once, but the main one was… Philip Blanche. I hadn\'t seen the crown prince anywhere. A frightening speculation about the boy\'s fate came over me, but I still didn\'t want to believe it.

— What is it? You didn\'t seem that shy before.

While I was truly terrified, Rachel was mocking me. Apparently, this scene was very amusing to her. I couldn\'t understand when she\'d changed so much.

I clutched at the floorboards with my palms, trembling even more.

If this wasn\'t a dream and I hadn\'t lost my mind, then Rachel Cassius-my so-called «ex"-was the queen. I couldn\'t have imagined such a thing even remotely. In fact, I was still hoping I was just dreaming.

That just couldn\'t happen…!

While I was silent, trying to pull myself together, I couldn\'t help but notice how much the aura around her had changed.

Rachel had changed so much since the last time I had seen her. I could feel it even at the foot of the throne. She was no longer the gloomy, silent teenager I\'d known before.

It was like a kitten that had turned into an adult cat, and that now I had no idea how to handle her.

What would she do to me? Kill me? Torture me? Embarrass me throughout the empire? At any rate, my fate would clearly be no better than Philip\'s.

Realizing this, I didn\'t even move when Rachel\'s patience began to wear thin. Apparently, my overly submissive behavior quickly bored her.

— Raise your head.

A cold, clear order came from above.

Fear, however, still prevented me from even moving. Afraid that I might be led to the executioner at any moment, all my limbs felt as if they were numb. And how could I look Rachel in the eye like that?

— You dare go against the Emperor\'s will? — the girl asked this irritably when I was still motionless.

Finally, she sighed, and began to walk down the steps herself. At that moment I was even more frightened.

«What the hell…?! Why is Rachel coming down here? Does she want to kill me right now?»

Every step echoing through the empty hall was torture for me. It was like a prisoner waiting for the executioner\'s axe. And, even more terrifying, I couldn\'t even break away and run. After all, the doors were securely guarded by guards outside…

I guess I can see why they brought me here. I fell into this trap like a complete fool.

Rachel bridged the distance between us in seconds. I could see the soles of the black boots in front of me, but I didn\'t dare look any higher.

Then the girl lowered herself to my level and grabbed my chin roughly.

Tears welled up in my eyes when I was forced to meet her gaze at last. Scarlet irises like a predator\'s instantly dug into my face.

I\'d never imagined we\'d meet like this after three years.

— Leah,» she grinned, «I can\'t believe my obedient dog had the nerve to run away from me.»

I sobbed as her fingers gripped my jaw painfully.

— It\'s not so bad, though,» she continued, «It\'s a good thing you took a walk before you got your new title. You won\'t be able to leave the palace so easily now.»

— W-what…? — For the first time a question came out of my mouth.

Seeing the bewilderment on my face, Rachel let out a chuckle.

— Oh, I haven\'t told you yet…» I pretended to remember this by accident, «Congratulations on your new duties. From this day forward, you are Her Highness Crown Princess.»

I thought it was a joke at first, but the girl\'s tone seemed quite serious. And before I could say anything, the next statement finally got me down.

— …But the title of crown princess is also temporary. Our wedding is in three months, so soon you will be queen.