99th Betrayal: I Abandon My Crown

Sylara's POV

I was Sylara Aureveil, firstborn princess of Auremount, daughter of King Aldric Aureveil and Queen Vaelis Sorenwyn.

I had trained at Lunara Sanctum since I was 12 years old, eventually becoming the youngest Sacred Huntress in Auremount.

Those achievements didn't mean much to my family, though, as they had always favored Elara Aureveil, my younger sister.

She had been born with weak divine power and a frail constitution, so my parents often reminded me that she had already suffered enough and that, as the elder sister, I should always yield to her.

Yet, no one ever asked whether it pained me as well when I was forced to give in time after time. I couldn't even get a single glance from them, even when I was severely injured after being trampled by a mount.

I could hear the distant echo of drums and cheers drifting in from outside as the healer dressed the wounds on my legs. They were celebrating Elara's ascension as the new Sacred Huntress—a position that, until then, had always been mine.

It was then that the healer said softly, "Your wound has already scabbed over, but it would be best to avoid any strenuous walking for the time being, Princess Sylara."

I nodded in understanding.

I didn't receive a single visitor during that period.

Wren Ashford, my maid, secretly voiced her resentment on my behalf, saying, "King Aldric and the others are far too biased. I heard that General Caelum even went into the hunting grounds himself to catch a white fox for Princess Elara, turning it into a scarf as a gift.

"There are plenty of people in Auremount saying that Princess Elara will become General Caelum's wife in the future…"

I listened in silence, never speaking a single word.

It wasn't until the fifth day that I could finally manage to walk. I changed into a simple white gown and had Wren bring over a box that had been locked away for a long time.

It contained the Lunara Pendant gifted to me by Mother, the Argent Bow Crest worn exclusively by the Sacred Huntress, and also a departure document that I had written long ago.

It was three days later when the sacred flagship of the Athenveil Temple was scheduled to depart Auremount—and I intended to leave with it.

I was heading to Silvergate Divine Harbor when I passed the central banquet hall of Aureveil Citadel and saw Elara in the middle of a crowd. She was dressed in a pale gold gown, while Mother adjusted her crown, and my brother, Darren Aureveil, held her wine glass.

Caelum Dawnmere, on the other hand, was standing beside her like a knight guarding a newly chosen Sacred Maiden.

Their surroundings were so lively that it appeared as if the family were completely whole without me.

It was then that Wren called out softly. "Princess Sylara has arrived…"

It was then that everyone in the banquet hall fell silent, and several people turned to look at me. I saw a trace of surprise in their eyes as they seemed to finally remember that I had been missing for several days.

Mother, with a slight hint of awkwardness on her face, approached and gently grasped my hand. "There have been so many things to attend to in Aureveil Citadel lately that I couldn't make time to see you, Sylara. Where have you been these past few days?"

She noticed that my palm was freezing cold and noticed the bloody bandage seeping through my sleeve as she grasped my hand. She froze for a moment before asking, "Did you injure yourself?"

Darren sneered and asked sharply, "Did you go into hiding just because Elara was chosen as the Sacred Huntress? You even faked your injuries now, huh? Do you really hate your own flesh and blood that much, Sylara?"

I withdrew my hand in silence, offering no explanation at all.

Darren was surprised by my silence; after all, in the past, whenever he accused me of being aggressive and lacking gentleness and compliance, I would always cry and argue back, completely lacking the dignity and composure expected of the firstborn princess. He couldn't help but wonder why I remained silent.

Elara pulled on Darren's sleeve and said softly, "Sylara has always been the Sacred Huntress before this, so now that I've taken the role, it is only natural that she feels upset, Darren…"

She picked up a glass of wine from the tray a maid was carrying and looked at me with an apologetic expression. "It's all my fault, so please accept this apology from me, Sylara!"

I stepped back slightly and declined the glass of wine she was offering. I then said softly, "I'm not upset with you. I don't want to interrupt your celebration, so I'll head back now."

I was just about to turn around when a loud bang echoed through the banquet hall. Father slammed his hand on the table, fury written all over his imposing face.

"Elara, out of the goodness of her heart, brought you a glass of wine to make amends, yet you treat her with this attitude! What is the meaning of this? You possess none of the grace expected of the firstborn princess of Aureveil Citadel!"

I could feel a tight ache seizing my chest, the grief making it hard for me to breathe. I couldn't see clearly because of the tears clouding my eyes, but I still took the glass of wine from Elara's hand and drained it.

I set down the empty glass, wiped my tears, and spoke calmly to Father. "I've been told by the healer that my injuries haven't healed and that drinking alcohol would worsen them. It doesn't matter anymore, though, since I drank all the wine she offered to make amends. I'd like to leave now, Father."