Episode 15

Episode 15. “Abandon You? I Was Never Responsible for You!”

“How fortunate. I was just in a bit of trouble.”

A low, deep voice came from the darkness and a dark figure rose from the shadows of the late-night gloom.

“I got lost, you see.”

Under the dim lantern light, the man revealed himself.

The first thing that caught the eye was his deep crimson hair, as though it was stained with blood. His features were sleek yet graceful—sharp lines and a refined air. His pale blue-gray eyes shimmered with moonlight as they locked onto me. The way he looked at me—like a predator that had spotted its prey—sent a chill down my spine.

After silently observing me for a moment, he curved his lips into a small smile.

“Hey, which way is out for this maze?”

I couldn’t respond to being addressed so casually.

Was he talking to me?

I glanced around, wondering if someone else was nearby that he could be speaking to, but there was no one.

“The imperial palace is needlessly complex. If it’s not too much trouble, would you guide me out?”

Flustered, I just stared at him. His eyes narrowed.

“Can’t hear me, is that it?”

…Is he drunk?

Quite a few nobles had entered the palace today for tomorrow’s banquet. He must have been one of them, someone enjoying the festivities a little too freely. But despite his loose demeanor, his clothes were anything but ordinary—an ornate coat lined with red thread and extravagant decorations. It was the opposite of the neat, restrained style of our Empire. Suddenly, I remembered that foreign guests had arrived in the capital. He must be one of them.

So he’s drunk and foreign. That explains the inappropriate manners and the unkempt clothing.

Between the undone buttons of his shirt, I could clearly see the firm contours of his chest. I had no idea where to rest my eyes.

I decided it would be best to ignore him.

Feigning indifference, I started to walk away—only for his voice to chase after me.

“Where are you going? Damn it, can you really not hear me? This is a problem.”

His languid voice became more insistent as he followed behind me. Why was he trailing me?

Growing uneasy, I picked up my pace. But the sound of his footsteps kept in step with mine, relentless.

“Hey, are you seriously not hearing me?”

His gruff voice made fear surge in my chest.

It was a dark, quiet night. No one else was around. The sound of his footsteps behind me seemed to close in.

I imagined a hand suddenly covering my mouth and the start of something far worse. A shiver ran down my spine.

I should’ve brought some handmaidens. I cursed myself for coming out alone.

What do I do?

Just then, I spotted a small building with a green roof at the corner of the path—the guard post where knights and soldiers took their breaks.

I ran toward it and flung the door open.

“Help me!”

“Yes?!”

“What’s wrong?”

The knights inside looked up in alarm. It must have been shift change—four of them were crammed into the small post.

I pointed outside urgently.

“There’s a suspicious person out there!”

Their expressions turned serious.

“Suspicious?”

“How dare someone cause trouble inside the imperial capital…!”

Grabbing their weapons, the knights rushed out.

“Hm?”

Surrounded by knights, the red-haired man blinked in surprise.

Now that I had calmed down a bit, I looked back at him.

It was a cloudless night. Bathed in bluish moonlight, the man stood in the open. His clothes were still disorderly, but this time, what caught my eye most was his hair.

In the moonlight, his dark red hair shimmered with a mysterious hue.

“What’s going on now?”

The man looked genuinely puzzled. Switching his gaze between me and the surrounding knights, he suddenly seemed to understand something—and smiled brightly.

“Ah, are you the ones here to guide me?”

He lifted the corners of his mouth slightly, but the knights only responded with cold hostility.

“Cut the nonsense and identify yourself!”

“Get on the ground, now!”

The knights pointed their gleaming swords at his throat.

“Hah.”

The man stared nonchalantly at the blades pointed at his neck.

“Now this is an unexpected turn.”

His gaze returned to the knights. There was a strange ripple in his eyes.

My heart sank.

Was he not planning to surrender?

“What if I say no?”

His lazy voice provoked them.

“He’s suspicious!”

“Kneel!”

“Take him down!”

The knights all charged at once—but not a single blade grazed him.

With restrained, fluid movements, the man dodged every strike.

Thud. Whack. Slam.

“Ugh!”

“Ack!”

Grunts of pain filled the air.

What just happened?

One moment, the knights had attacked him; the next, it was all over.

In the moonlight, the only thing I could see clearly was the man’s red hair—like fresh blood, vivid and unforgettable.

That color reminded me of someone.

The man who destroyed the fountain. The man whose cape had been soaked in his enemy’s blood.

Their personalities, mannerisms, and presence were nothing alike.

So why had I thought of him?

“The hospitality in this palace is certainly… unique.”

His calm voice brought me back to the moment.

“Tonight has been entertaining in many ways.”

Bathed in moonlight, the red-haired man looked at me with an enigmatic smile.

Four knights lay unconscious at his feet, not even groaning.

He casually dusted off his hands.

His blue-gray eyes found mine again. The flicker of amusement disappeared.

“You…”

He had closed the distance between us before I realized it.

He was close enough that I could feel his breath.

In those chilling eyes, I saw my own frightened reflection.

Thump, thump.

My heart pounded in my chest.

Now what?

Revenge? Retaliation?

Would he accuse me of trapping him?

Should I reveal that I’m the empress?

Would that even help me? Or would he laugh and draw his blade anyway?

We’d had assassins in the palace recently, after all.

As my mind spiraled with worst-case scenarios—

“Really now?”

He looked down at me, drawing out his words.

“You could talk all along?”

Under the gentle moonlight, I walked calmly.

Behind me followed the same footsteps from before.

Exactly like earlier—before the guard post.

This absurd situation had a simple cause: the knights I’d called for help had all been defeated.

Fortunately, things hadn’t turned out as badly as I’d feared, even if the outcome was a bit odd.

I glanced back.

There he was again—the red-haired man.

“What? Is there a problem?”

Problem?

Well, maybe the fact that I was guiding a mysterious, possibly dangerous man through the palace at night.

“Judging from your clothes, you’re not from the Empire. Where are you from?”

“The Kingdom of Calus,” He answered curtly.

Calus?

I remembered Countess Chloe saying that was the most important delegation to watch during this visit.

“You don’t seem like an ordinary person.”

“Of course not. If someone in Calus’s royal palace doesn’t recognize me, they’re probably a spy.”

I scoffed softly.

“Quite proud of yourself, aren’t you?”

“Not really. I get scolded sometimes for being too low-key, you know. By Momo.”

Momo?

He must have a nanny or caretaker of some sort.

“So, as a guest of the Empire, how did you end up lost without an escort?”

“Well, I had a bit too much to drink.”

“So you just asked a random passerby for directions? What if I were someone important to the Imperial family?”

“Like who?”

“For example… the empress?”

I said it playfully, testing him.

He paused—then burst into laughter.

I frowned.

“What’s so funny?”

“At first, I thought you couldn’t even speak. But now I see you’re pretty good at jokes too.”

“You think I was joking just now?”

“You’re not serious, right?”

…I am. I’m really the empress of the entire country.

“Even if you were, how could someone of your status be walking around the palace in plain clothes, at this hour, without a single escort?”

It’s a long, complicated story.

“If you really are, call someone over now.”

He stared straight at me.

Should I really call for someone?

I hesitated, then shook my head.

“Forget it.”

“Why not? Why won’t you call anyone?”

“If people come running, someone might get hurt.”

To be honest, it would take someone like the commander of the knights to handle him. I didn’t want anyone else getting hurt unnecessarily.

Also…

I glanced at him and spoke quietly.

“You don’t seem like a bad person.”

“You don’t think I’m bad?”

He suddenly moved closer.

“You saw me take down those knights, didn’t you?”

“I did.”

“And you still say that?”

“You didn’t kill them. You only knocked them out.”

“…What?”

He looked genuinely caught off guard.

“That’s all? That’s your reason?”

“Yes. That’s it,” I nodded.

Honestly, I didn’t know what other reason there was. Maybe just the fact that he didn’t kill them?

Even though he was rude, and clearly powerful enough to kill me if he wanted… for some reason, I just wasn’t scared.

“Really?”

He bent down slightly so we were the same height, locking eyes with me. His jewel-like eyes shimmered.

Then, he chuckled softly.

“You’re interesting.”

…What exactly does he find so interesting?

I eyed him suspiciously.

This guy really gets fixated on weird things. Let’s just drop him off and go.

A fork in the road appeared ahead. Thankfully, I recognized this path.

“That way leads to the guest residences.”

“So that’s it? You’re just going to abandon me?”

Abandon? I was never responsible for you in the first place!

“You should go now.”

“Hmm… I don’t think I can walk away just yet,” he rubbed his chin with his index finger as he stared at me. “I can’t let us part ways like this.”

“Why not?”

“I’m worried about you,” he smiled faintly. “You’re my savior now. If you met someone dangerous after parting with me, I wouldn’t feel right.”

“That’s an unnecessary worry.”

“Didn’t you see how incompetent those knights were? With guards like that, how can I feel at ease?”

“Shouldn’t you consider that being with you is more dangerous?”

“Don’t worry. Like you said—I’m not such a bad guy.”

Despite all my refusals, he wouldn’t back down.

What do I do now?

I couldn’t exactly return to the empress’s quarters with this drunk foreigner.

As I stood there, unsure—

“There you are.”

A low voice cut through the dark.

A hand reached out and gently pulled me away.

When I came to my senses, I found myself shielded by a tall man. He looked down at me, his eyes reflecting my startled expression.

“Sir Leonard?”

“I’ve been looking everywhere for you.”

His breathing was heavier than usual, like he’d been running for some time.

His cool eyes turned to the red-haired foreigner.

“Is that the man who was rude to Her Majesty the Empress?”

His blue eyes burned with quiet fury.