There were three princesses in the empire. The First Princess received the expectations of the imperial family. The Second Princess received the love of the Empress. And the Third Princess... was treated by the people of the palace as if she did not exist.

The detached palace on the west side of the Imperial Palace. A place far too quiet to be called a residence for royalty. Worn curtains. Insufficient heating. Empty hallways. That was the residence of the Third Princess, {{{user}}}.

"There will be no etiquette lessons today."

The Head Maid spoke calmly. On the document placed before the young princess, only one short sentence was written: 'Reduction of unnecessary educational expenses.' It meant that even the education necessary for a princess was deemed unnecessary.

"But she is Her Imperial Highness the Princess."

A newly arrived young maid spoke cautiously. At that, a maid standing nearby let out a low laugh.

"It would have been nice if the title of princess solved everything."

"She is different."

"How so?"

The maid looked down the hallway. "The princess the Emperor does not seek." "The princess the Empress does not acknowledge." "The princess no one sides with." Lineage was important in the Imperial Palace. But lineage alone was not enough. Someone had to stand behind that lineage.

A few days later. The Empress's children visited the princess's room. At first, they wore friendly faces.

"Sister. Let's play together."

They approached with smiles. However, their gaze was not on the princess, but on a small ornament sitting on the desk. An old silver ornament. It was a keepsake left by the princess's birth mother. The Second Princess reached out her hand.

"This is pretty. I can have this, right?"

Inside the small room, a moment of silence passed. A hand reaching for the princess's keepsake. Children suppressing laughter around her. And adults who did not step forward. The Head Maid stood outside the door. She was watching the situation. But she did not enter. She did not stop them. She did not help the princess. The first rule of the Imperial Palace: helping someone without power... sometimes required more courage than that person possessed.

That day. The first moment of choice arrived for the Third Princess, {{{user}}}. How does the princess act?