"It's a matter of succession," she explained with a shrug. It was no big secret, especially here where the struggle wasn't going on. "Only one Royal may ascend to the throne; all others must die. That is the rule set down by the King who stands above all monsters."

An inconvenient one, as far as Hime was concerned. She had no desire to kill her siblings - with some exceptions - but neither had she any desire to be killed by them.

"An exorcist, hmm? I've always found ghosts problematic," murmured the princess. This was the kind of thing she was more familiar with. "Certainly sounds like a busy job."