After Shayla was rescued by Kai (Shayla had been asleep and lost track of the date, but it was still the day after the Starry Night), she was furious at the news of the Red Rose's execution and started to return to the palace.

I've been waiting for you, Alford. Let's go to .......

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　He was born to be a king. He was born King of this country.

"Your Highness. Your Highness, you will eventually rise to the top of this land. To be a worthy sovereign for our great kingdom is the greatest mission that you should perform.

　He had been told this over and over again since he could remember ...... or perhaps even before he could remember, and it was probably more than enough to bind his young mind.
　His father was the king. His mother was a princess of Mondria, the only duchy that had existed since the founding of the country.
　With the blood of both of them in his veins, he, Juke, was undoubtedly the most noble being in this country, and to the old conservative nobles who valued 'history' and 'lineage', he was a more venerable 'king' than his father, if not worse.
　In addition to the fact that it's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for, it's also a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for. The dukes have never been particularly clear about their position over the generations, but because of the peculiarity of their existence, it is inevitable that they will become a heavy stone for the old nobles. Regardless of the principles of the head of the family, it is inevitable that he would be regarded as a member of the old guard.
　Juke's mother is a princess who married into the royal family from such a family. Even before he was born, he was the "hope" of the conservatives.

　The fact that the Ministry of the Interior was becoming tainted with conservatism when he was born was probably one of the factors. From the nanny who took care of the Dauphin, to the lady-in-charge, the maidservant, the chambermaid, and the educator, Juke was surrounded by conservatives. They were all conservatives, but they did not join the faction outwardly so that others would not notice their bias.
　By the time the king and queen realized their son's bias, it was already too late. The conservative faction in the Ministry of the Interior had established a system in which even the king and queen had no say in the education of the crown prince.
　--So...

There's nothing trivial in the people's words. --A king is for his people.

　My father's words at that time... Juke now understands that his father's words were an important message that he tried his best to convey in the few opportunities he had.

　For the young Juke, the royal palace was not a comfortable place to be. He rarely saw his parents, who cared for him unconditionally, and the people who took care of him on a daily basis, when they judged that Juke's attitude was not worthy of a king, refused to talk to him. When Juke apologized and promised not to do it again, they said, "This is for your sake, Your Highness. I'm glad you understand,' he said, smiling gently.
　Early on, Juke learned not to think of disobeying the adults around him. He does what he is told and nothing else. Teachers praised Juke when he did well, but hated it when he disobeyed them. They scolded him for even voluntarily studying ahead, saying, "The king's arbitrariness sometimes tilts the country. There was no way I could question them, much less contradict their teachings.
　If you behave as they wish, they will remain kind. It's better to obey them than to disobey them, so you don't get hurt.

　When you grow up and make your debut in society.
　As the next king, you will gradually become involved in political affairs.
　Who to accept and who to respect: ....... It was not Juke who was deciding, but the people around Juke.
　By that time, Juke felt nothing for doing what others told him to do.
　Not in social gatherings, not in government offices. What they wanted was an "understanding Dauphin".
　In a repressed corner of his consciousness, he may have thought that if it doesn't matter who he goes out with, it doesn't matter who is by his side.

　And yet--perhaps, in truth, I knew. "I can't go on like this.
　That's why I was so upset.

　--Father's death.

Your Highness!　His Majesty has just passed away. --From now on, you are to be the king of this country. How wonderful!

　Most of the nobles and the people wouldn't know. Juke was not allowed to attend to his father's sickbed. He could not be present at the death of a man he respected as a father and a king, even if he had never met him or even had a vague memory of spending time with him.

"How dare you call the death of the great King 'wonderful'!　Would you like to have your head ripped off for disrespecting the king right now?

　The one who brought the news was his long-serving chamberlain, but in a fit of rage, Juke, perhaps for the first time in his life, threw him and all his attendants out of the room.
　Alone in the room, Juke wept over his father's death,......, realized what was coming for him, and was struck with a dread that made him lose his footing.
　So. When he first became aware of the throne. What Juke felt was unmistakable fear.

　It was not that he remembered his father's words that a king was for the people.
　But perhaps, subconsciously, Juke did not believe his teachers' words that a king was the supreme being in the land.
　If you study the history of the country and the footsteps of its kings, you will understand. What kind of kings have been called "wise kings" in history? Why was the king of the time removed from his throne during the Azure Civil War 150 years ago?
　If you save more people and make your country prosperous, you are a good king. On the other hand, if he oppressed his people, tormented them and sent them to their deaths, he was considered a bad king and subject to be defeated.
　The fate of the country and the lives of tens of millions of people are in Juke's hands. And you're in charge of steering it.
The one who bears the Elgrand Kingdom. --That's what a king is.

　The death of his father changed Juke's environment, for better or worse. As the Dauphin, Juke was assigned an educator, but it would be unbecoming for the King to have such a person.
　All the people who had served Juke as the Dauphin were moved to other places. Those who had served the King's father would continue to take care of Juke as King.


　And the man who came to Juke's side to take the place of the educator was Alford Swoon, the leader of the newly formed Order of the King's Kingsguard.

From now on, I am His Majesty's sword and His Majesty's shield. My loyalty is to you and your kingdom.

　The Commander, who knelt before the New King according to protocol, was unlike any of Juke's previous educators in every way.
　First of all, he rarely opened his mouth. He would answer when Juke spoke to him, and there were times when he would talk lightly with the knights under his command, so it seems that he is not a mute. Normally, he is always quietly waiting behind Juke.
　To be honest, at first I thought that he was also on guard duty. I thought that, like the educators, he was connected to those who wanted an "understanding king," and that they would know if Juke behaved in a way that was out of line.
　But then one day... On one occasion, however, he sternly told a member of the Ministry of the Interior, who had repeatedly advised him during the period of mourning that it was time to choose a queen .......

"With all due respect. Isn't that too cruel a thing to say to His Majesty, who is struggling day by day as King, suppressing the pain in his heart after the sudden death of His Majesty the First. To proceed with His Majesty's marriage before the mourning for His Majesty's predecessor has ended is an outrageous act that shows no regard for His Majesty's heart or the dignity of the royal family. Is this your personal opinion or the intention of the entire Ministry of the Interior? If it is the latter, then we, the King's Kingsguard, as protectors of His Majesty, must formally protest to the Ministry of the Interior.

　The commander of the King's Kingsguard glared at him, and the Ministry of the Interior official slunk out of the room.
　In the office where we were left alone, he bowed his head and said, 'I apologize for my presumptuous behavior.

It is the duty of the Konoe to protect the heart as well as the body of His Majesty.

　The words of "sword and shield," which should have been only a ritual. This commander is really trying to fulfill it.
　This was the moment I could believe that he was not Juke's lookout.

　Now that he had someone to believe in, Juke was able to express his will, albeit little by little. In the political arena, there are many times when the opinion of the "king" is required. He had been taught that hesitation was a bad thing, so he had to make quick decisions on the spot, but by the time a year had passed since his father's death, he began to think that he had become a bit more like a king.
　But then a case came along that knocked him off his feet.

"The Inner Palace?
Yes, Your Majesty. Yes, Your Majesty. We are inviting unmarried girls from all over the country who wish to marry into the royal family to stay in the palace for a short time. You can come to the palace whenever you feel like it, and if there is a young lady you are attracted to, you can make friends with her.

　At one time, Alford had fought off the calls to choose a queen, but a year after his father's death, the calls grew louder again. Now that the mourning is over, I guess it's enough.
　Juke had few memories of spending time with his family, but he could sense how close his parents were, even in the short time he had known them. His father loved and respected his mother from the bottom of his heart, and his mother respected and supported his father. For Juke, the ideal couple was his parents.
　Only the woman who would become his wife. He couldn't say, "Do what you want.

I won't marry until I find a woman I truly love. The Ministry of the Interior was tired of Juke's constant refusal to marry until he found a woman he truly loved.
　If he accepted this proposal, at least he wouldn't have to be bothered by the Ministry asking him to choose a queen. Thinking so naively, he said, "Suit yourself. But you must not urge me to go to the palace.' The official from the Ministry of the Interior nodded and said, 'I understand.

　How much sorrow and grief I felt over that exchange, which I had only exchanged in order to keep my own selfishness in check and escape the troubles.
　How much grief and sorrow I have created - I am truly guilty of not even knowing until the other day.

　Of course, I had no intention of turning my back on Juke when the palace was opened. There was no way I wanted to see the faces of the women who had come to flatter me for the queen.
　The announcement of the palace was made during the social season last year. Since its opening in the spring, noble ladies have been arriving in droves. In the history of the world, no matter how many "candidates" for princesses were gathered, the number was limited to five, but before I knew it, Juke's palace had grown to nearly fifty.
　At this point, it's like a battle of wills between the Ministry of the Interior and Juke. One day in early summer, I was wondering which girl would be chosen as the next "concubine.

"The Countess of Clester?
"Your Majesty, please calm yourself and speak.
'I need not ask!　You, of all people, would welcome the daughter of that infamous family into the Red Rose Room?

　In a large country that boasts a history of over 400 years, it is inevitable that one or two of the noble families would have some shady activities going on. In the event that you're not sure what to do, there are a few things you can do.

The king of the underworld who controls the evil of the kingdom" - that is the two names they have been given.
　It had been well over three hundred years since the Crester family had been given the title. In all that time, they have continued their evil deeds without letting anyone catch their tails, and have amassed an enormous fortune. Their connections and methods have been passed down from generation to generation, and now their roots have spread throughout the kingdom.
　Even if you are lucky enough to catch their tail, it is only a tail. If you cut it off, it will be discarded as harmless, and the darkness of the main body will never come to light.
　If we do anything to them, we will be in danger, and for those who seek justice, they will only feel anger.
　That is the Countess of Clester.

　That's what I thought when I first heard about them. I wondered why they gave the title to such a scoundrel.
　They've been doing evil for generations, so why can't they be caught?
Why didn't those who were cut down as tails retaliate against them?

"They are feared as 'emperors' because they can defeat all of them.

　The educator's words came true when I made my social debut and saw the current Count of Crester from a distance. I've never seen such a bad face in my life.
　And. It was the Count of Crestor's daughter that the vassals came to ask to enter the palace.
　There was no way she would be admitted. It was only after the palace was established that Juke protested to the vassals.
　--But...

"Your Majesty. There are many people in the Ministry of the Interior who can help Count Crestor. The Count's daughter's entry into the palace was encouraged by them. The Count's daughter's entrance into the palace was encouraged by them. ...... If they defect now, the government will not stand a chance.



　Even a competent prime minister could not help but accept the situation.

　--I can understand now. I'm not sure why the Prime Minister, who basically stayed out of the palace, didn't take a step back at that time and try to get the Countess of Clester to agree to enter the palace.
　It is true that there was pressure from Count Crestor's "cronies". But more than that.
　She was the only person he could put his hope in.

　Of all the rooms in the palace named after flowers, the Red Rose Room was the only one that was vacant. This is where the Countess of Clester arrived. Even before she entered, it was whispered that the Crester family had finally made a move to seize control of the center, and Juke could no longer ignore the palace.
　I visited the Red Rose Room with the intention of telling him not to do anything without permission... that day.

"As you wish. Your heart belongs to you, Your Majesty. It's not up to those around you to decide who you love.

　The words said with a quiet smile did indeed upset Juke.
　Head-on, she was... She certainly looks like a bad girl who plays with men. Her eyes were narrow and slit, her nose was turned up cheekily, her lips were red, and everything about her looked really bad.
　But... But despite her evil looks.
　Her eyes, filled with the sea, were surprisingly clear.

　Juke resisted desperately, thinking that such words from an evil woman, or perhaps this was just her trickery. Just after he was upset, she put him to sleep and he spent the rest of the night in her room, annoyed that this was all a ruse.
　--I didn't even think about the fact that it was because I stayed in her room until morning that I was able to meet Shayla feeding the birds in the early morning.

　Until he met Shayla, Juke was convinced that all the women in the current palace had come to deceive him in order to get the queen. The new Red Rose's relaxed attitude toward the king only added to his belief.
　That's why I was so moved by Shayla, who secretly fed the birds so that no one would find them, and who remained blank when she saw the king, and then came to her senses and hurriedly fell flat. Not only is she modest, but she also looks the king straight in the eye and tries to convey her heart to him. I liked that about her.
　I knew immediately that I had fallen in love.

　The palace, which I had never been interested in, became a place where I could find Shayla. Shayla is a lady-in-waiting, and there is no inconvenience in attending her.
　However, when Juke was about to issue the notice, Alford, the Commander, who had never expressed his opinion voluntarily before, stopped him. He said that Shayla's position in the palace would be in jeopardy if Juke proudly favored Shayla, who was only the youngest member of his entourage.
　I'm sure Alford knew that. He must have known how hellish the inner palace was for those innovative ladies from lowly families. He knew that Shayla's life would have been in danger if Juke had been formally notified to go to Shayla's room.

　In the summer, the rear court was filled with women from the conservative families who despised and harmed the innovative noblewomen who were supposed to be in the same household. This was the harshest time in the palace during the summer.
　There are many different types of innovators. Some, like Shayla, came from houses that had lost their power, others came from families that had a growing voice in the royal court, and others came from houses that had made huge fortunes in commerce and were driving the economy of the kingdom. These women were lumped together as "innovators" and were treated coldly by the conservative members of the family.

　When the family found out about their situation and how they were treated in the court. If they were angered by the plight of their beloved daughters.
　The power of the royal family would vanish in a flash.
　In the worst case scenario, the innovators, mainly the new nobles, could become a rebel force that would turn on the royal family.

　It wasn't Juke who stopped them. He didn't know anything back then.
　He didn't even listen to the current state of the palace or the lamentations of the nobles who couldn't save their daughter's suffering. He was just in love with ...... Shayla.
　It was Juke who saved the kingdom while he was in love.
　Of all people, it was the new Red Rose, Deanna Crester, whom Juke had nothing but horrible words for.

　When she learned of the palace and the reality of the mistreatment of the servants, she made her move.
She brought together the faction that would come to be known as the Red Rose Faction, and stood at the top of it. She stood at the top of the Red Rose faction and competed with the conservative noble families of the Peony faction.
　He became a shield and sometimes a sword for the weaker members of the noble family. --She protected the safety of the entourage and the peace of the palace.

　For those who don't know anything about her, it seems as if the arrival of Diana in the palace has caused a factional war to break out. I'm not sure who was protecting her at that time, when she was ridiculed as "the Red Rose has immediately started to move".
　I had met her in person, and we had exchanged words. I had seen those clear eyes of the sea up close.
　Juke, who went to the palace every night and could only see the person he fell in love with (Shayla), believed the rumors and selfishly despised Diana. He believed the rumors and selfishly despised Diana. He even thought he had the upper hand, saying, "No matter how much we fight for power, she will never become the rightful queen.

　--The inescapable, foolish past. Every time I think of it, I have the urge to disappear.

　From the beginning, Deanna... From the beginning, Deanna had tried to talk to Juke.
　She never abandoned the foolish Juke and reached out to him.

"Please turn your attention to your palace as well. The palace can be transformed into any kind of evil cave by your actions. Please, Your Majesty, check the place yourself before things get out of hand.

　She was telling me exactly what to do. Juke, who wanted to believe that Deanna was an evil woman, closed his eyes, covered his ears, and did not take her words seriously. He interpreted the words as a roundabout threat to destroy the palace if he didn't look at me.

"I am well aware of the importance of the role I have been given. I know the importance of the role I have been given, but I am simply not strong enough to fulfill it on my own. Your Majesty must see the palace for yourself and think about it.

　No matter how much the Red Rose struggles, if the King does not see his own palace, there will be no fundamental solution to the problem. He even brushed aside the words that told him to do so.

　After all, he approached Shayla at an evening party where all the nobles of the kingdom were gathered. Even though Shayla's position was in jeopardy, she didn't even realize it and doubted Diana who was protecting Shayla.
　When Shayla was directly harmed by the Peony Faction, she finally realized the danger. Juke learns that the current palace is not really a palace at all. --The deception of the current court.



　That's what the Ministry of the Interior said. The ones who come to the palace are "the daughters who wish to marry into the royal family. They come to the palace of their own will and desire.
　The one who shattered this established fact in Juke's mind was Laia, the lady of the Waterlily Chamber from the Marquess of Stresia.

I'm not sure what to make of that. More than half a year has passed since then. ...... What has His Majesty done for us in that time?　What do you expect from a man who has not been seen for such a long time?

　Clearly, she said. I came to the palace by order of the palace.
　When I asked her if she didn't want to be in the palace, she laughed and said, "Who doesn't love you?

Who would want to go all the way to the depths of the palace to become the wife of someone they don't love?　--It can't be that they all came to this place because they wanted to.

　Juke's assumptions were shattered.

　Even though Raia had taught him so much, Juke still couldn't apply it to the Red Rose. I'm not sure what to make of that. The reason for this was because he was not getting along with Shayla.
　It was nothing reckless or out of the ordinary to consult with the palace side about the women's guard guarding the palace. If you have a decent mind, you would know that it is impossible, even reckless, to suddenly ask them to make preparations in order to make it widely known, without being informed of its existence until just before the day of the garden party.
　--In other words. Juke was a foolish king at that time.

"With all due respect, Your Majesty. I was informed that there was to be a meeting before the garden party, but I have heard no explanation as to the nature of the meeting. I only found out about it when Commander Gracie came to pick me up from my room a few minutes ago.

　Deanna's objections were perfectly reasonable. Nevertheless, Juke said.

"I took the trouble to notify you that I wanted to talk to you. If it was so important, you would have known that the most important thing in the palace nowadays is the internal security.
"With all due respect, sir. But that's a bit of a leap in logic. If there had been an actual intruder in the palace, you wouldn't be asking me to suddenly consider the security in the palace as a problem.
"Nothing?　I'm not sure what you've seen so far!

　I respect Diana from the bottom of my heart. If Juke had been in Diana's position, he would not have been able to keep his mouth shut when the blind foolish king said this to him. If Juke had been in Diana's position, he would not have been able to keep his mouth shut. Diana, who was five years younger than him, was much more patient and calm than Juke.
　Deanna must have known that Shayla had been harmed by the Peony Faction's concubines. She was the one who had saved Shayla's life when she was in danger, and Diana was the one who had saved her. I'm sure she was aware of every detail of the palace's security.
　I'm sure you'll be able to find something that works for you.

I've already discussed this matter with Liliane and she has promised to ensure that this will never happen again. I'm sure there hasn't been any problems since then.
If such a thing happens even once, for the sake of discipline in the palace, the Kingsguard is necessary!

　What do you mean by 'for the sake of the court's morals'? At that time, I was only thinking about Shayla, hoping that she would not be in danger.
　A concubine harming the same concubine. It was only when Shayla's life was in danger that I learned of this "reality" that Juke didn't know about it, but it had been the "everyday life" of the palace not long ago. If he was really thinking about the discipline of the palace, he should have taken some measures as soon as the palace was established, or at the very least, as soon as the number of side chambers reached an unprecedented level.

　So... Looking back, I can say it now.
　At that time, Juke was no longer even a king. He shouldn't have stood as king.

Because the Red Rose lives for the court and the royal family. Just as the King exists for all the people in the kingdom. --I don't know how His Majesty intends to take his place and use his power.

　In contrast to him. In contrast to him, Deanna was a "red rose" in every way.
　She said that she would follow orders, and completed Juke's request to make the Knights of the Inner Palace known and recognized, which was only impossible.
　In the event that you've got a lot of time and energy, you may want to take a look at the following.

He said, "Is it the king's job to choose who to admonish?　What's the use of ignoring the words of someone you don't like and covering your ears when they say something painful? You're just a kid!

　I'm not sure what to make of that. --That fact had the power to shake the head of Juke, who had gone astray and was leaning 80% towards the foolish king.
　What's more.

If you want to execute the Red Rose for disrespect, cut off my head first!　I can't serve the king any longer if his words don't resonate with me!

　For the first time in my life, I was told to kill by a being I thought I could trust. It was the first time in my life that someone I thought I could trust told me to kill him. I can say that this was the most shocking thing that had ever happened to me, both as a king and as Juke himself.
　At that time, Alford risked his life to stop me from being foolish. From then on, Juke was deeply grateful to him for treating him in a way that transcended his position.

　That garden party showed Juke many things. I wonder how much he learned and learned in that one day.
　That the warring factions in the outer court and the inner court were not unrelated. I was able to feel it firsthand because I was in the same space as the side chambers and their families that day.
　The relationship between Shayla and her adoptive parents was not a good one, to say the least. Shayla wasn't the only family member who had a strained relationship with her.
　Sheila was not the only family member who was upset. If it hadn't been for the stark reality of the situation, he wouldn't have known it was necessary.

　For the first time, Juke realized how lazy he had been. He had always been at someone else's mercy in order to avoid getting hurt and to be treated kindly. --But the king, the one who determines the future of the country, should not be at the mercy of someone else.



"Your Highness is the one who will eventually stand at the top of this nation. To be a worthy monarch for our great kingdom is the greatest mission that you should perform.

　If they really believed that from the bottom of their hearts... They wouldn't have raised Juke like that.
　In the end, the "respectable monarch" they wanted would have meant a "puppet king" who would do what they wanted. My father was a wise king who was always calm and listened to what his subjects had to say, but he never gave in when the situation called for it. Those who were disgusted with him tried to make the next generation incompetent and puppets. That's a better way to look at it.
　Shayla, Diana, Alford... If only Shayla, Deanna, and Alford hadn't repeatedly told him to see for himself.
　If not for Shayla, Deanna, and Alford repeatedly telling him to see for himself, the lazy Juke would have fallen right into the trap of those who wanted a "puppet king".

　As Juke began to think for himself and search for his own answers, a landscape that he had never seen before began to unfold before him.
　A straight path with an answer is certainly easy. There is no hesitation, no hesitation.
　A world without a path is full of confusion. Even if you choose one after much thought, you don't even know if it's the right one.
　But. The more you hesitate and the more you think, the more you see things you never paid attention to before, but now you see them in a new form.
　I was astonished at how wide and colorful the world was, and at how little I had really seen.

　Of course, it's not all fun and games. The misdeeds of the former High Priestess Maris are a case in point.
　In the past, the punishment of officials would have been left to the vassals. Juke learned a lot by being involved.
　Not only those who come to the king for advice are "vassals". As Juke became involved with the officials of the Outer Court, who were a bit eccentric, but sincerely and faithfully faced the task at hand, he began to think about who and what he was for.

　Juke is a king. He was born to a king and grew up being told that he would eventually become a king.
　But why do we need a "king"? The same is true for those who seek a puppet king. If you don't like that the king doesn't listen to you, then don't have a king in the first place.

　You think, but the answer remains unanswered. Time waits for no man, and Advent arrives.
　This year, the Red Rose would accompany him to the service, whereas last year he had been alone.

　By this time, Juke's feelings of seeing Diana as the "bad girl" she was rumored to be had already diminished considerably.
　However, the rumors about the Crester family were too strong for him to believe them without any doubt. Even though I knew in my head that the house and the daughter were not the same, the Red Rose and her family seemed to be on very good terms at the garden party.
　The one thing that blew away Juke's doubts about which was the truth about the Red Rose was the sight of Diana enjoying herself with the people's festivities every night on her way north for worship.

　Even with a light disguise, there was no disguising her face. She looked like a noblewoman in seclusion, but she was sincerely enjoying the festival and blended into the scenery without any sense of incongruity. The more people gather, the more unsafe it becomes, and there are always problems with pickpockets and runaways, but Diana and her handmaiden resolve them as naturally as if they were breathing. Even Juke, who was not very familiar with this kind of situation, could understand that this was their "norm".
　Deanna is definitely not a bad woman. She's just misunderstood because her face looks so evil.
　Just as I was thinking that, the procession was attacked and Diana's life was threatened, and she disappeared alone.
　As a result, she joined us the next day at the Temple of Mist without a care in the world. After that incident, I became more and more convinced.
Bad girls don't usually risk their own lives to protect those around them. According to ...... herself, she is used to the forest, so it is not dangerous to run away in that condition.
　On the day of the Lord's Day, after the service was over, I visited Diana's room. I finally got to know "Diana".

　--But even that was only an arrogant assumption.

　He was convinced that Deanna was not a bad woman, and she even supported him in his relationship with Shayla, but Juke had overlooked something important.

I want to end this foolishness and leave the palace.

　In the truest sense of the word, what Diana has done and how much she has been burdened with.
　It wasn't until much later in the year that Juke learned and understood.

　It all started with Shayla again. When it comes to the people he loves, Juke's perspective narrows, even though he knows he shouldn't.
　Deanna pointed this out to him mercilessly. You'll have to get to know the palace first," she said.
　And that's when Juke finally learned.

　This little box garden was made for him.
　That this little box garden that was made for him was nothing more than an apparent waste garden that withered the flowers gathered inside.
　It was the proud rose, which was supposed to be in a position to want water, that watered the flowers that had been abandoned and only withered.
　One rose was enough to restore the garden to its former glory.

　I was wrong. After all this time, Juke knew he had made an irreversible mistake.
　He should not have nodded at the words, "Open the palace.
　How many daughters had been sacrificed because of Juke's selfishness? Peony, who was said to have mistreated the innovative noblewoman, would not have committed such an outrage if the palace had not been opened in the first place, or if Juke had been able to keep a close eye on her even if it had been opened.
　What do you mean by "a happy marriage with a loved one"? I was just drunk.
　--I was just drunk with the misery of being forced into an unwanted marriage. The sweet delusion of being forced into a marriage I didn't want, with women who flattered me.
　You don't know what's really going on, and you feel sorry for yourself because you're immersed in a fantasy world. He neglected the voices of lamentation and suffering that he could have heard if he had listened carefully.

　I couldn't get enough of it. He humiliated Juke over and over again, with his trivial vanity and pride, a mere seventeen-year-old girl who was unwilling to bear his foolishness, his laziness, his mistakes.
　Sinful is too light a word. What Juke has done to Diana is something that no human being can ever forgive. The fact that he thought she was a bad woman is not even an excuse.
　What is it about Juke that makes him a "king"? It wasn't Juke or his ministers who were truly protecting the peace of the kingdom. She was just a daughter who had no power and was only a concubine.


　How did Deanna feel, being forced to deal with the king's and the outer court's blunders without a single head to lower? I wonder how Deanna must have felt.
　At the very least, since Deanna's arrival in the palace, Juke has never, to this day, paid his respects to Deanna from the bottom of his heart and rewarded her for her devotion, even if it was only with his feelings. There was nothing that Juke could give to Diana, who was far from the rumor of a bad woman and had no desire of her own.
　In this palace, where you can't get anything, you just have to fulfill your responsibilities.

If I hadn't joined the palace, if I hadn't gotten caught up in the factional strife, I would probably still be living in my own little world, despairing of the outside world on my own. I would have been stuck in the bad habit of arrogantly framing people without knowing the preciousness and warmth of the bonds that are formed by trusting and being trusted by others. ......, and never realized the importance of joining hands with trusted friends in the face of high walls and overcoming them together. --I don't think I hate this palace anymore, where I can have everything I want.

　--Still, she smiles. Without clouding her clear ocean eyes, she loves even the world that should be cruel.

　She wraps the selfish greed-ridden world that tries to take away even life with her noble soul and affirms it.