Everything for the throne

Sword and bare hands

Alice, who had poured the coffee brought by May, handed the cup to Felix

Alice: Regardless of someone's strength, when you target their vulnerability, they inevitably heed your words.

Felix, who took a sip of coffee, throwing more questions

Prince Felix: Father's weakness?

Alice: Your father cares deeply for Queen Sabina, and he would be greatly unsettled if anything were to happen to her.

Prince Felix: Mother?

Alice: Picture Queen Sabina's situation upon discovering that the Princess Alice who visits her daily is not her daughter, but rather a replacement brought by her husband.

Felix kept the empty cup on the table, thinking about the consequences of Alice telling the truth to the Queen.

Prince Felix: All I have is pity for your enemies.

Alice: I typically do not enjoy emotionally threatening someone, just cutting their heads off saves time.

Alice spoke as if it were insignificant, but Felix stared at her wide-eyed and gulped.

Prince Felix: Can you... keep that sword aside?

He stuttered while pointing towards the sword lying next to Alice. She glanced at the frightened cat seated before her, then spoke while examining her hand.

Alice: A well-executed twist with bare hands is sufficient to halt a person's breathing.

Felix looked at her in disbelief and sneered

Prince Felix: If you were to say you fatally stab someone with your sword, given your exceptional swordsmanship, I might believe it. But using bare hands? Do you really expect me to believe that?

Alice poured another cup of coffee for herself.

Alice: Yet you chose to believe the rumor that I enjoy spending my nights with pretty boys.

Prince Felix: If I hadn't seen a man entering your room that night, I wouldn't have believed those rumors.

Alice: I'm not so desperate as to seek enjoyment from the assassin who came to kill me.

For a few minutes, the room was filled with silence.

A year ago, rumors circulated throughout the kingdom alleging that Princess Alice, the youngest, spent her nights in the company of male prostitutes. Despite those in the palace knowing it to be untrue, they chose to believe it due to their discomfort with a commoner among the royals.

Prince Felix, brimming with pride and ego, awaited an opportunity to discredit Alice. His chance came when he witnessed a man entering Princess Alice's chamber. Rushing to the Emperor, Felix hoped to catch Alice in the act with the unknown man, as he approached her chamber accompanied by Prince Henrik, Carlos, and the Emperor.

As the Emperor opened the door, all four men were stunned to find Alice seated in a chair, holding a book. Yet, that wasn't the alarming sight. What horrified them was the headless body lying at Alice's feet. Serenely reading her book, the Princess made it evident they had welcomed a predator into the palace. From that moment on, no one dared to challenge Alice, whose dark gaze alone sent shivers down one's spine.