The Forgotten Princess Wants to Live in Peace

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'Calling this a stew is an insult to all stew.'

The stew has a whole carrot floating in it and was quite watery.
Other ingredients weren't included as if it was a leftover.

The amount of food has been ridiculously reduced since that First Prince said, “Give them food enough for them not to die.” At first, it was a tad bit tolerable, but three days ago, she couldn't recognize anything that looks edible.
It was clear that he was deliberately throwing a mess on them on purpose.

The light that squeezed through a palm-sized window used as ventilation barely shone on Eluana.
Green eyes shone subtly in the sun.

Eluana gathered her tangled golden hair and tossed it behind before picking up a bowl of stew on the floor.
A tiny groan came out between her dry lips as hair that had been tangled and clumped after not being able to wash it for a long time brushed against her back.

Her back seems to be burning.
She barely swallowed the groans that were about to burst one after another and slowly breathed out. 

Since entering the prison tower, Eluana has been beaten every day.
The increasing number of hits per day has become more and more unbearable, and the back has long been filled with marks.

'It doesn't hurt.
I can stand it.
It's okay.'

Eluana, hypnotized and barely conscious, glanced back.

Six-year-old brother Louie was lying crouched in a damp cot.
After confirming that he hadn't woken up, Eluana took half of her stew and moved it to Louie's bowl.
Then she filled her bowl with water.

The water-diluted stew was transparent and visible.
But if you eat it like this, it feels like you ate the stew, not water.
The smell of the Mulgan Stew was overpowered by the stench of the prison's mold.
She ate honey rice cake stew and left some on purpose. 

When Louie wakes up, she says, “You ate first.” 

“You should eat too.”

'I'm hungry.'

Obsessed with the desire to chew something, Eluana chewed her hair.
It tasted like dust, but she was satisfied because she could feel the chewing.
She hoped all the hair turns into honey bread.

The color is similar, but will it change?

As she chewed her hair hard, the clock tower bell rang.
Ding.
Ding.
Ding.
The twelve bells ringing meant that the sun had risen above the sky.

Stumbling toward the window, Eluana looked outside.

Today, she saw a new hung head.
Frightened eyes were pointing somewhere, and the wide-open mouth still seemed to scream.
Drops of blood flowed along the walls, not long after they had been cut off.

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Eluana knew who's head was hung.
It looked so visible from here since she was trapped on the top floor of the prison tower.

“…Mary.”

She was suffocating and her heart fluttered.
They were not close.
She had it difficult just like Eluana, a noble, but she could not be friends even though they're the same age.
She looked cute when she smiled.

She'll never see her again.

“What's wrong?”

Louie's voice penetrated behind Eluana's back.

Louie, who had just woken up, was rubbing his eyes.
His chubby cheeks became thin in a few days, and his squishy pink eyes were lifeless.

Eluana tried to keep her tears from spilling, pretending to be calm.

“Mary was hung.”

It was a poor explanation, but Louie immediately understood the situation.
One of the young'uns had her head cut and hung on the gate again.

“…Why?”

“It must be another ridiculous reason.”

There are many reasons why the Empire's first prince, Regis Pegimul Portona, killed people.
Because the decorations were covered with dust, because it rained, because he felt dirty, or the food was bland, and something like a servant didn't say his greetings.

'Crazy first brat.'

It was hard to believe that such a man would become an Emperor, even if the empire was ruined.

Eluana and Louie's neck are intact because they have the surname “Vita.” They are an aristocrat who could not be executed without a trial, although they had no title or land.
His father's name “Ron Vita” had also gained fame with his sword “The Brilliant Endless Night and the Silence of the Black Sun,” which was sold at the auction for 1,000 gold.

Louie wriggled his brackish hands and grabbed the hem of Eluana's clothes.

“Don't go.
Stay with Louie.”

Her heart pounded.
This was because Louie's anxiety was entirely conveyed to her.
Eluana forcefully raised her lips and laughed.

“There's nowhere to go in this palm-sized prison.”

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“Mom and dad, too.
They went to heaven.
If you get caught…
they're cutting your throat.”

Louie started to cry and said, “You might be placed beside Sister Mary.”

Eluana raised her tone and said, “They won't cut my neck.
Your sister will not go to heaven until Louie grows up, gets married, gives birth to a child, and the child gives birth.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, that's what I just decided.
I'll stay with Louie until he says that he's annoyed by my presence.”

“Is that a promise?”

“Promise.”

Even after receiving a pinky promise, Louie could not hide his nervousness.
The trembling eyes were directed several times toward Eluana's back.

Eluana spoke in a brighter tone to change the subject.

“Your sister ate first because she was hungry.
Hurry up and eat, too.”

Louie's eyes turned to the stew bowl on the floor.
He must have been very hungry that he drank the whole bowl without using a spoon.
She didn't have to worry about him getting a lump stuck in his throat since there are no ingredients.

Louie looked