Chapter 6: The True Protagonist Appears
The story didn't wait for me.
No matter how much I prepared…
No matter how much I changed things—
There were some events that still arrived.
Unavoidable.
Unstoppable.
---
"The princes will gather today."
A servant's voice echoed in my room.
"The Emperor has summoned everyone."
I paused for a moment.
"…So it begins."
---
In the original story—
This was one of the earliest turning points.
The moment where he appeared.
The real protagonist.
---
I walked into the grand hall.
One by one, the princes had already gathered.
Some were confident.
Some arrogant.
Some surrounded by nobles and supporters.
Each one backed by powerful families.
Each one already playing the game of the throne.
---
And then—
I saw him.
Standing at the far end.
Alone.
---
"…So that's him."
He looked no different from the others at first glance.
Simple clothes.
Calm expression.
Nothing special.
Nothing eye-catching.
---
But what stood out—
Was what he didn't have.
No nobles behind him.
No supporters.
No influence.
---
"The forgotten prince…"
I muttered quietly.
---
His mother came from a small noble family.
One with no power.
No voice in politics.
No presence in the capital.
A family that couldn't protect him.
Couldn't support him.
Couldn't even help him survive.
---
Unlike me.
---
My mother—
Died giving birth to me.
I never met her.
Never knew her.
---
But her family…
Was different.
One of the Three Great Noble Families of the capital.
A name that carried weight.
Power.
Influence.
Even if I didn't use it—
It existed.
It protected me in ways I didn't even realize.
---
He didn't have that.
He had nothing.
---
"…And yet…"
I narrowed my eyes slightly.
In the end—
He would be the one who survives.
The one who rises.
The one who kills her.
---
"…This world is unfair."
---
As if sensing my gaze—
He looked up.
Our eyes met.
Just for a moment.
---
Calm.
Quiet.
Unshaken.
---
There was no fear in his eyes.
No desperation.
No weakness.
---
"…So that's why you win."
I looked away.
---
While others relied on power—
He relied on himself.
While others fought for the throne—
He endured.
Waited.
Survived.
---
"…He's dangerous."
More dangerous than any prince here.
More dangerous than anyone realized.
---
Because he had nothing to lose.
---
"Fourth Prince."
A voice pulled me back.
I turned slightly.
"…You're quiet today."
"…Just thinking."
---
The princes continued their conversations.
Schemes within schemes.
All blind.
All focused on each other.
---
None of them noticed—
The real threat standing alone.
---
"…Should I get involved?"
The thought crossed my mind.
---
If I interfered now—
If I changed his path—
Maybe I could stop everything.
Maybe I could prevent the future.
---
But…
"…No."
I shook my head slightly.
---
Getting involved meant risk.
It meant attention.
It meant stepping into the center of the story.
---
And that was the one thing I had avoided since the beginning.
---
"I just need to survive."
That was still my goal.
Nothing more.
Nothing less.
---
Even if that meant—
Letting the story continue.
---
From the corner of my eye—
I saw him again.
Still alone.
Still unnoticed.
---
But not for long.
---
Because soon—
Everything would begin to revolve around him.
---
And when that happens—
The peace I have now…
Will disappear.
---
I let out a quiet breath.
"…So it really starts now."
---
Far away—
Unseen by everyone in the hall—
A pair of red eyes watched everything unfold.
---
Silent.
Cold.
Focused.
---
Not on the princes.
Not on the throne.
---
But on me.
---
The protagonist had entered the stage.
But I didn't realize… I was already standing at the center of someone else's story.