Chapter 272: Choose your price…Interlude .5



If the First Princess, Snow, embodied the grace and unyielding power of the imperial family -an image of perfection befitting a monarch destined for greatness-then Princess Sophiel represented the knowledge and cunning necessary to maintain the empire’s iron grip on its people.

Though they were not polar opposites, the two princesses possessed distinctly different approaches to their roles within the imperial family.

Both had the intellect and tact to manage people, wielding their influence with precision.

However, what set them apart was their ability or perhaps willingness-to make decisions regarding authority and power, particularly those that could irrevocably alter the lives of others.

For Snow, such decisions were calculated, logical, and rooted in a sense of fairness.

She embodied an ideal of governance that sought to uplift and lead with unwavering strength.

Her decisions, though often firm, rarely strayed into territory that might compromise her principles.

Sophiel, on the other hand, was different.

She craved power and authority with a hunger born of necessity, a deep-seated drive that went beyond mere ambition.

For Sophiel, the core principle that guided her decision-making was sacrifice—a trait Snow, for all her wisdom and logic, could never fully embrace.

“I had heard from a few sources that the guy has been in contact with my sister rather frequently… is this true?”

“That’s right, Your Highness. It wouldn’t be strange for them to be friends based on the matching reports. However, the reasoning behind their sudden bond remains a mystery. As of now, no information can be confirmed with certainty. It would be reasonable to think most of these reports are false, considering most of them come from the tongues of other students.” “Rumors, huh…”

“Yes.”

Sophiel’s expression soured slightly as she clicked her tongue, an uncharacteristic break from her usual dignified demeanor.

Though she often played the part of a naive and airheaded princess, in this moment of privacy with Lumia, she allowed her frustration to show.

“I doubt this entire situation was orchestrated by Elder Sis… but I can’t exactly rule it out either. After all, that girl, despite her innocent facade, is even more cautious than I am. Could she have somehow caught wind of what I was planning?”

“That couldn’t be the case, Your Highness. This is a secret that only the two of us know about.”

“That’s true…” Sophiel leaned back in her chair, her sharp eyes narrowing as she tapped her fingers on the desk. “This is a matter that could very well affect our lives. I don’t doubt your loyalty, Lumia-there’s no chance you would betray me for her. But still… we can’t entirely dismiss the possibility that Elder Sis isn’t somehow aware.”

Rising gracefully from her seat, Sophiel stood, the dim light casting a faint glow over her figure.

She wore a lace slip nightdress, its see-through quality bordering on scandalous, revealing more than it concealed.

The fabric clung to her form, accentuating her curves, yet she paid no mind to Lumia’s flushed expression as the maid quickly averted her gaze.

Sophiel walked toward the large full-body mirror in the corner of her room, her steps confident and deliberate. If certainty was elusive, she would simply create it herself.

Standing before the ornate mirror, her red lips curved into a faint smirk. “Mirror, mirror on the wall- hear my voice and heed my call.”

At her words, the surface of the mirror rippled like water, the glass undulating as though alive. A dark silhouette of a woman’s face emerged, shrouded in shadow, her lips curling into a wicked grin.

[To what do I owe the pleasure this time, Master-?] the voice purred, sultry and mocking. “Riley Hell,” Sophiel stated firmly, her violet eyes narrowing. “give me information about him”

The darkness in the mirror chuckled, a sound that sent a chill through the air.

[Ho~ Ho~ This is intriguing. I never thought I’d hear a name other than Snow coming from you, Master-! Here I was, preparing information for her in advance, kekeke~]

Sophiel’s brows twitched in irritation. The mockery grated on her nerves, yet she knew the creature was right. Until now, all her focus had been on her elder sister.

The shift in attention annoyed her, but she didn’t let it show beyond the faint narrowing of

her gaze.

“Just hurry up and do your job,” she snapped, her tone sharp.

The figure in the mirror tilted its head, amusement glimmering in its shadowy visage. [You know the price, do you not?]

Sophiel hesitated for a brief moment, her expression hardening.

[Kuku~ That annoyed face of yours is as lovely as ever… Truly, it’s a treat to serve you, Master-]

Sophiel clenched her fists, suppressing the urge to lash out.

The creature’s taunts were irritating, but its usefulness outweighed her frustration.

As the air thickened with magical energy, the mirror began to radiate a swirling, crimson

glow.

Shadows danced along the edges of the glass, coiling like serpents, and the darkness within seemed to deepen.

Slowly, a sinister smile spread across the silhouette’s face as its eyes ignited-a vivid mixture of red and black, piercing and foreboding.

[Looks like the person you’re curious about is a bit more special than expected, Princess,] the voice drawled, tinged with wicked glee. [You’ve certainly won my lottery, kuku~. Now

then…]

The mirror began to shimmer, and three distinct lights-green, red, and blue-emerged, swirling and pulsating in rhythm.

Each light formed fragmented scenes, translucent and fleeting, as though a curtain of mist veiled their clarity.

The images were quick, flickering like a half-remembered dream.

No matter how sharp your vision, it was impossible to discern the full story within them.

[Three for the past, two for the present, and one for the future~] the silhouette cooed, the words laced with playful malice.

Sophiel’s purple eyes narrowed as she studied the swirling lights, her curiosity battling with caution.

Behind her, Lumia, ever the loyal maid, tried her best to avoid eavesdropping but couldn’t help raising an eyebrow at what she overheard.

The mention of the future particularly caught her attention.

Future information-reliable glimpses of what was to come-was rare, and its price typically

far outweighed that of past or present knowledge.

Such knowledge often required severe sacrifices, as the future was fluid, bound by fate and the unpredictable whims of the world’s providence.

Yet here it was, offered for an uncharacteristically low price.

The voice in the mirror continued, reveling in the tension. [Three years of your life for the

past, two years for the present, and just one for the future… Quite the bargain, wouldn’t you

agree?]

Sophiel’s brow furrowed slightly, the wheels of her mind turning.

“What’s the catch?” she finally asked, her voice calm but edged with sharpness.

The mirror’s grin widened, the crimson glow intensifying. [Oh, my dear Princess, there’s no catch. Consider it… an opportunity. But do hurry-fate waits for no one, and this deal may

not last long-]

||

[Kukuku – No need to be so cautious, Princess,] the voice in the mirror purred, dripping with amusement. [The price is lowered for the day, as you’ve incidentally introduced me to someone… intriguing. And besides] the voice paused with a knowing chuckle, [I can’t take

years of your lifespan like usual.]

Sophiel frowned slightly, mulling over the mirror’s words. It wasn’t wrong.

Over the years, it had siphoned away fragments of her life, her vitality—a cost she

begrudgingly accepted for the power and knowledge it provided.

But even now, as it offered her a suspiciously reduced price, she couldn’t help but wonder if

its motives were less magnanimous and more pragmatic.

‘Is it preserving me?’ she mused, her gaze fixed on the swirling lights within the mirror. ‘Or perhaps it’s struggling to find another master who could sustain it?’

She sighed softly, brushing aside her speculation.

The mirror’s antics, while grating, were a lesser concern compared to the opportunity at hand.

Time was of the essence, and she had no patience for the games it so enjoyed.

Sophiel shifted her focus to the decision before her. Riley Hell’s past?

She scoffed inwardly. The mirror’s low price made it tempting, but delving into his history

was unnecessary.

She could obtain that information easily enough with a few gold coins spent on skilled informants. His actions, records, and connections would eventually surface through her

network.

His present was equally unimportant-Riley was already here in the imperial palace, and anything of significance he did would soon reach her ears through her usual channels.

What mattered most, what justified this peculiar opportunity, was his future.

“Show me the future,” she commanded, her voice steady, decisive.

[Kuku~] The mirror’s laughter softened, and the dark energy within its frame seemed to mellow.

Slowly, the blue light among the swirling trio began to shine brighter, overtaking the others.

It shimmered, rippling like water, before the fragmented images of a yet-unwritten event unfolded before her eyes.

Sophiel’s breath hitched. Her crimson eyes widened, captivated by the vision playing out within the mirror.

A golden meadow stretched far and wide, bathed in soft sunlight.

The breeze whispered through the tall grass, carrying with it the scent of earth and

wildflowers.

Beneath the shade of a large, swaying tree, she saw herself, lying peacefully as if lulled to sleep during a serene picnic.

But it wasn’t the idyllic scenery or even the sight of herself that held her attention.

A man stood beside her slumbering form. His hand moved gently, carefully, brushing through

her hair with a tenderness that made Sophiel’s heart skip a beat.

His gaze, filled with warmth and affection, was fixed solely on her, as though she were the

most precious thing in the world.

“Riley Hell?”

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