"...u....ugh...."

Rays of sunlight entered the guest room where Aristia is resting. The stinging light woke her up from her deep slumber, slowly opening her golden orbs. The first thing she saw was a ceiling, an unfamiliar one. She sat up and looked around, an unfamiliar room interior, but her eyes spotted something familiar. The crest of the roaring gold lion, painted at one of the walls in the room.

"I-It couldn't be...!"

Click.

The door opened and a maid walked in, Aristia's personal maid, Rina. She glanced towards the silver-haired who was supposedly lying in bed, her eyes widened.

The orange haired immediately ran towards the bed and bombarded Aristia with questions. "My lady! Are you awake now? Are you feeling uncomfortable anywhere?"

"Ri-Rina!" Aristia exclaimed, surprised. "Why are you here? W-wait... why am I here? Isn't this the palace?"

"You fainted on the crown price's coming of age party, don't you remember?"

The silver-haired grabbed her head, recalling her memory. Images of the event started flowing in her head. "Ah, right...."

"What exactly happened, m'lady? I heard that you were with the crown prince when you fainted. Did he harass you or something?"

"Its.... not like that..."

'Ah, right. The crown prince... how am I supposed to face him now?' Aristia said to herself. But then, something came to mind. "Hold on, then how long did I stay unconscious? And when I fainted, is it the crown prince who brought me here?"

"You remained unconscious for about... 10 hours? I'm not sure about the crown prince bringing you here, though..." Rina mumbled. "I heard that the Marquess was at the garden's gate, and when he heard a loud scream, he rushed inside and found m'lady unconscious, and then the crown prince ordered to bring you to the nearest available guest room. Well, I guess he practically brought you here?"

'Father...? He's Back???' Aristia's golden orbs widened. "Rina, Daddy's back??? Where is he right now??"

Aristia got up from her bed and prepared to dash off to find her father.

"Whoa! My lady! You shouldn't get off bed yet. I'll call him, so you should wait here."

After saying that, the orange-haired left the room to call the Marquess. A few minutes after, the door opened loudly.

Bang!

"Tia!" Keirean exclaimed, calling his daughter's name.

"Dad!!" Aristia ran towards her father, hugging him.

"Are you okay now? Do you still feel uncomfortable anywhere?"

The silver-haired shook her head. "I'm fine, now. When did you arrive at the capital?"

"I arrived at the capital last night and immediately went to the palace to check on you, but there was that commotion."

"...I'm... sorry..." She whimpered.

"Don't say that, you did well, Tia." Keirean patted her head, then he glanced at Rina, signaling her to leave the room. The orange-haired caught the Marquess' signal and nodded, then she quietly left the room.

When Keirean confirmed that the only ones left in the room are him and his daughter, he spoke up. "Tia, listen to me carefully."

The silver-haired raised her head, "What is it daddy?"

"Last night, when you were unconscious, the emperor, the crown prince, duke Rass, duke Verita, and I discussed about the commotion that happened that evening."

"....."

"The fact that you denied the seat of the crown princess has spread among the nobles and also among the envoys from the other countries. We decided to come up with one conclusion."

Aristia swallowed her breath, feeling anxious. 'Will the emperor punish me for that?' She hid her face, looking downwards.

"Aristia la Monique," Keirean called her name, her full name, and raised her chin with his hand. He smiled at her, and brought his daughter to the warmth of his arms. "You're finally free, my daughter."

Aristia's golden orbs widened. She couldn't understand what her father is talking about. "Pardon? What do you mean by that, daddy?"

Keirean widened his smile, and said, "His majesty will follow your wishes and break-off the engagement between you and the crown prince."

The silver-haired girl couldn't believe her ears. She was surprised, really surprised. Tears unconsciously poured down from her cheeks. But it was not tears of sadness, they were tears of happiness and relief.

Seeing his daughter cry of happiness, Keirean's eyes grew watery. He hugged her tight and said, "You're free now, you can do whatever you want to do, you can have whatever you want to have, like what other noble ladies are supposed to do."

"....Dad..."

"I'm sorry for letting you suffer the past 13 years, I'm really sorry, Tia."

Aristia shook her head, drawing a smile on her lips. "No, I'm happy daddy, I really am."

Then she took a deep breath, and let it out. The huge load on her chest is finally lifted. This is her first breath of freedom.

Aristia Pioneer la Monique. 'Pioneer' the one who carves her own path.

***

The next day, on the council meeting, Mirkan Lu Shana Castina, the 33rd Emperor of the Castina empire officially announced the breaking off of the engagement between prince Ruveliss and lady Aristia la Monique.

And of course, everyone was shocked.

The imperial faction broke into confusion since they lost their candidate for the next empress, while the aristocrat faction was overwhelmed with joy.

"Your majesty, please reconsider your decision!" An imperialist exclaimed.

"That's right, your majesty! Lady Aristia has been taking lessons in preparation to be the crown princess ever since she was very young! We can't lose such suitable candidate!" Another followed.

"This decision is final," The emperor announced. "or do you have any objections crown prince?"

".......No, father...." Ruveliss answered reluctantly.

Tok, tok, tok!

The hammer was hit three times, indicating that the decision was finalized, and approved. And in no time, the news of the crown prince and Aristia's breaking of engagement spread like wildfire among the empire, and to other countries as well.

***

"Hey, you okay, Aristia?"

After hearing the results of the council meeting, Carsein dashed towards the Monique Manor to find Aristia, checking if she's okay. A certain silver-haired girl was reading a book while having tea. Looking as if nothing particularly happened.

"What do you mean, Carsein?" Aristia asked as she didn't understand what he's talking about.

"I mean, the breaking-off engagement between you and the crown prince. You're the talk of the whole empire now, and probably the talk of other countries as well."

In truth, Carsein was worried that she'll feel sad because of the break-off. Aristia wanted it, but in the past, she loved Ruveliss so he was worried that she felt sad about it.

"Well, it feels a little awkward..." The silver-haired girl spoke out. "But it feels as if the load on my chest have fade away. I feel good about it."

Her lips curved, forming a relieved smile. Seeing that, Carsein couldn't help but feel happy. She's not sad about the break-off, and she's no longer the crown prince's fiancé. He can approach her freely now, unlike in the past.

"So, what's your plan?"

***