A sense of unease lingered in the background, but now it had materialized into a pressing reality.
The issue at hand was the funds required to maintain the Blue Palace—money, in other words.
If anyone else were to hear about our situation, they would likely doubt their ears.
The idea of a royal family member being unable to afford the upkeep of their own palace would be seen as absurd or even insulting by the common folk.
But the stark reality was undeniable.
The monthly allowance provided to members of the royal family was meant to maintain their dignity.
While others received staggering sums that they couldn’t spend in a lifetime, the amount allocated to Lady Yuria barely scratched the surface.
To be fair, while the funds were enough for a demon and two automatons to live modestly, it was nowhere near sufficient to maintain the Blue Palace, even though it was small and dilapidated.
Until now, we had managed to scrape by with Mark’s assistance and my frugality, but it seemed the current problem was more severe than usual.
Reflecting on the past few days, the likely cause was Lady Yuria’s excessive spending to celebrate her coming of age.
Realizing that I was entirely to blame for this situation, a deep sigh escaped my lips.
At that moment, the simplest solution to our predicament flashed through my mind, but I quickly shook my head.
While it was undoubtedly the easiest path, it was a choice I wanted to avoid at all costs.
Snapping out of my momentary hesitation, I returned to reality, focusing on sweeping the floor as I spoke.
“Please take care of that. Oh, right! I’ll be heading out briefly this afternoon, so I’ll leave Lady Yuria in your care.”
[Are you going grocery shopping?]
“Yes, I noticed this morning that we’re running low on ingredients. Don’t worry; I’ll be as frugal as possible, especially with Mark’s advice in mind.”
[I trust you’ll handle it well, as always. Please take care of yourself.]
Mark responded calmly, activating flight mode and continuing on his way.
Watching the black box fade into the distance, I picked up my broom again, determined to finish cleaning quickly.
If I left too late, I might not make it back before dark.
***
The land blessed with fertility, situated nearly at the center of the continent.
The current capital of the Demon Kingdom, the most prosperous city in the empire, and the place every demon dreamed of entering: Trasion, the Eternal Sanctuary of the Night.
At its heart stood the sprawling imperial palace, surrounded by an expanding circular structure that symbolized pride and glory for the demons.
In the long-standing history of conflict between demons and humans, control over Trasion often determined dominance, further solidifying its symbolic importance.
As usual, I slipped out through a small hole in the outer wall of the imperial palace, bypassing the guards who turned a blind eye to such minor infractions.
After ensuring no one was around, I grabbed my basket and hurried along.
While I had casually told Mark that I was just taking a stroll, the truth was that my excursions outside the palace were strictly forbidden.
Given the importance of the imperial palace, home to high-ranking officials, it was no surprise that such a rule existed.
For an automaton like me to be caught sneaking out would lead to consequences far worse than mere punishment.
Yet, I continued these risky outings regularly because I had no other choice.
The food supplies allocated to the Blue Palace each month were pitifully inadequate, and sometimes, they didn’t arrive at all.
The rare deliveries we did receive were often of the poorest quality, unfit even for beggars.
As a result, the only solution was for me to venture into the city and purchase ingredients myself.
Initially, I tried protesting against this injustice, but those skimming off the top were untouchable.
Normally, stealing from the royal family would result in immediate execution, but they knew the truth—that no one cared about a forsaken, mixed-blood princess.
The mere thought of it left my chest heavy with frustration, but I had long accepted reality.
This dangerous and secretive errand was the best option I had.
However, my decision wasn’t without reason.
One significant advantage was the location of the Blue Palace.
Situated at the far outskirts of the imperial palace, it provided an ideal route to avoid the heavy security.
Additionally, with only Lady Yuria, Mark, and me residing there, the Blue Palace rarely had visitors, making it the perfect setting for covert excursions.
Well, during one of my secret outings, I was unfortunately discovered by the guards patrolling near the small hole I used.
It was an embarrassing ordeal, but thankfully, it didn’t escalate into anything serious.
After hearing my pitiable circumstances, the guards, after much deliberation, decided to turn a blind eye and pretend they hadn’t seen anything.
Later, I learned that they were aware of the Blue Palace’s existence and the rumors of the forgotten princess confined there.
The public opinion among demons about Lady Yuria could be divided into two groups:
Those who despised her for having human blood and those who pitied her for being abandoned despite being royalty.
Fortunately, the guards who discovered my outings clearly belonged to the latter group.
Thanks to their understanding, I could continue my outings with a bit more safety, eventually leading to the present.
To be honest, now that I think about it, I’m sure my adorable appearance played a significant role in gaining their sympathy.
Of course, I’m nowhere near Lady Yuria’s extraordinary beauty, but I was still designed to be as cute and lovely as possible—enough to rival most other automatons!
While walking along the streets, I caught my reflection in a shop window and couldn’t help but feel a surge of pride.
But the moment was short-lived, as I soon noticed several people giving me strange looks.
I let out a small cough, quickly picking up my pace to leave the area.
***
After walking for a while, I finally arrived at the dazzling commercial district, filled with sparkling lights.
Though I had grown accustomed to this scenery by now, it never failed to amaze me.
I took in the breathtaking view: the countless demon citizens out shopping, the various non-human species bustling about, the crimson sun floating in the blackened sky, and the vibrant glow of the endless shops blending into a colorful spectrum.
According to a story Mark had once told me, when humans ruled over Trasion in the distant past, the crimson sun that now hung in the black sky used to emit a blinding light.
Unlike the mana stone-powered lights of ordinary shops, its brilliance was overwhelming.
It was said that during the day, the sun’s radiance was so intense that there was no need for any additional lighting throughout the land.
However, when the Demon Lord conquered Trasion and demons began settling here, the dense mana that filled the area gradually subdued the sunlight, creating the current appearance of the sky.
Mark had also mentioned that in other regions of the empire, where mana was less concentrated, the sun still shone brightly in its full glory.
I could vividly recall how his words had piqued my curiosity back then.
Having never left the capital, I found it difficult to imagine such a landscape.
Still, I secretly hoped to see it for myself one day.
As I continued walking, lost in thought, a faint noise disrupted my vision.
Crackle!
“Ugh…!?”
Caught off guard by the sudden situation, I instinctively closed my eyes and lowered my head.
Moments later, my vision returned to normal as if nothing had happened.
I tilted my head in confusion.
It had felt as though the sun suddenly shone brightly, illuminating the entire area.
At the same time, an indescribable sense of nostalgia and longing stirred in my mind, leaving me with even more questions.
Though the strange phenomenon lingered in my thoughts, I dismissed it when no further issues arose.
I reasoned it away as a temporary glitch caused by the unusually thick mana in the commercial district today.
Convincing myself with this excuse, I quickly refocused.
If I kept delaying like this, I might not make it back to the Blue Palace before nightfall.
Shaking off the lingering unease, I pushed through the crowd, weaving between the many residents.
But deep down, a sense of discomfort remained unresolved.