Episode 47

Episode 47: The Emperor Might Abandon You

“Sir Leonard.”

The one who had given me the ring was none other than Sir Leonard.

As always, he was dressed in his usual black clothes.

Cedric, standing beside him, frowned slightly.

“Is Sir Leonard coming along too?”

“Surely… Didn’t I tell you?”

“……”

Judging by his expression, apparently he hadn’t known.

I thought I had mentioned the plan while we were discussing it, but that was my mistake.

“Sorry. I thought I told you beforehand; I must have been mistaken.”

“It’s alright. I just… thought you were only meant to be teaching me horseback riding, so I was a little surprised to see you here, too.”

“Oh, you didn’t know that I am also the Empress’s bodyguard?”

Leonard smoothly stepped closer.

“If Her Majesty the Empress is going, of course I have to accompany her.”

He smiled gently and looked at me.

Anyway, since I had met Leonard already, I got out of the carriage.

“Why are you getting out of the carriage?”

I hesitated at Cedric’s voice behind me.

“Huh? Of course I’m—”

I turned my gaze toward Leonard.

More precisely, toward the reins of the two horses he was holding.

“Ah.”

Following my gaze, Cedric understood the situation.

Right. Since I had been practicing horseback riding, I had intended to ride a horse.

That’s why Leonard had prepared a horse for me.

The horse he had prepared was a beautiful black steed.

Pitch black without a single spot.

A fine horse, clearly well-trained.

“I assumed you would be riding with me in the carriage.”

I could sense a hint of disappointment in Cedric’s voice.

“Haven’t you seen me practicing horseback riding all this time?”

“That was before I was assigned to drive the carriage.”

It seemed he assumed that since he had been assigned the carriage, I would naturally join him there.

That would definitely be more convenient for me.

Then Leonard spoke.

“That’s unfortunate. Her Majesty the Empress has already decided to ride the horse I prepared.”

Leonard stepped between Cedric and me.

I opened my eyes wide.

Of course, what Leonard said wasn’t wrong.

But why was he the one announcing it?

Cedric tried once again to persuade me.

“Your Majesty, riding the horse yourself is dangerous. It would be far more comfortable to ride in my carriage.”

“There’s no danger. I’ll be right there by your side to protect you.”

Leonard reassured me.

Honestly, whichever I rode wouldn’t make much difference.

So why did both of them seem so determined to push their side?

They continued exchanging words back and forth, neither showing signs of backing down.

I shook my head.

Don’t fight over something like this.

I calmly passed between the two arguing men.

Then, sticking to the original plan, I mounted the black steed Leonard had prepared.

After all the effort I had put into learning horseback riding, it would feel like a waste not to ride.

And somehow, the idea of leaving on this journey on horseback felt exciting.

Maybe for those reasons and more.

Were they surprised by my decisive action?

Both horses stopped simultaneously as they stared blankly at me.

I smiled brightly and said,

“Let’s go.”

The dim night bathed the place in pale blue moonlight.

Deep within a dark forest, where few footsteps ever reached, there stood a small house with a faint light shining through its windows.

Tap, tap.

A woman approached, her steps quiet but deliberate.

Holding a small lantern, she glanced around cautiously.

As if afraid someone might spot her, she pulled her robe tighter around herself.

At last, she reached the door and knocked gently.

After a moment, the door opened, and a woman greeted her warmly.

“Welcome.”

The visitor stepped inside and removed her robe.

Her lush pink hair, hidden beneath it, cascaded down.

The house owner spoke, watching her closely.

“Fay. To think you’d come by without a word. That’s unusual.”

“I came because I needed to talk.”

Fay met her eyes steadily.

The person she had come to see—even going so far as to use the palace’s secret passages—was none other than—

“Mother.”

Fay’s mother, Antea.

Fay was sitting in a chair, holding the teacup Antea had given her.

“Child,” Antea called from across the table.

“Before I hear what you have to say, there’s something we need to clear up.”

“Clear up?” Fay blinked her big eyes in question.

“I heard there was a trial before. But why wasn’t the Empress dethroned?”

“Ah.” Fay sighed.

Seeing that, Antea’s gaze sharpened even more.

“I even gave you hard-to-get items on purpose. And you couldn’t even manage that one thing?”

“Well…” Fay hesitated, clutching the teacup.

Then she spoke carefully.

“Finding her guilty became difficult. The Empress got hold of the same poison.”

“What? The same poison?”

“It’s true. I was surprised too. On the day of the trial, she collapsed from poison…!”

Antea stroked her chin thoughtfully.

“I thought she was a spoiled brat, but maybe she’s not so helpless after all.”

“What should we do now, Mother?”

“What do you mean, what should we do? It’s useless no matter what tricks she pulls.”

Antea sneered coldly.

“So you came here to tell me about the Empress?”

“Yes.”

Fay nodded.

“The Emperor’s been acting strangely lately. I think it’s connected to the Empress.”

“Didn’t I tell you? That woman is always scheming against you.”

“But the Empress didn’t marry the Emperor out of love. Why does she target me?”

“Isn’t it obvious?”

Antea answered calmly.

“She’s a greedy woman. She can’t stand seeing others succeed, and thinks she has to have everything for herself.”

Antea clicked her tongue.

“If this keeps up, the Emperor might just throw you away.”

“No!” Fay shouted desperately.

“Not that. I could never give up on His Majesty.”

Her voice trembled with helplessness.

“You told me he’s my destined partner.”

“That’s right.”

Antea reached out her hand.

“Child, don’t worry. I’ll take care of everything.”

She gently brushed Fay’s pink hair aside and asked,

“So, any interesting gossip at the palace lately?”

“Not interesting, exactly… but there’s a rumor going around.”

“Tell me.”

“Recently, the Empress has been plagued by bad rumors.”

“Rumors? What kind?”

“The drought has been severe. They say it’s all the Empress’s fault.”

“The situation is turning quite entertaining.”

“Because of that, many things have happened. The Empress plans to leave the palace for a while to rest…”

At that, Antea’s eyes gleamed sharply.

“The Empress is leaving?”

“Yes. I happened to hear it when I went to the Emperor’s office.”

“I see.”

Fay expected her mother to suggest another plan, as she always did whenever Fay mentioned Helena.

But—

“For now, leave it be. You look tired.”

Antea didn’t suggest any other course of action.

Surprised, Fay hesitated.

“But what about a plan—?”

“Don’t worry. I’ll handle everything.”

“…Yes.”

Fay obediently accepted.

She believed her mother would sort everything out well.

Rising from her seat, Fay draped the robe she had over the chair around herself.

“Then rest well, Mother.”

As Fay walked out and her footsteps faded, Antea’s gaze grew cold.

She took an elegant sip of tea and quietly murmured,

“Did you hear that?”

From behind the curtain, a dark figure slowly stepped forward.

“Yes, I heard.”

“The Empress was careless this time. With the world in such turmoil, what if she’s waylaid by a highwayman on the way…”

“Indeed. Hopefully, nothing happens.”

The man’s voice was filled with amusement at her words.

A long, thin smile spread across Antea’s lips.

“Well, if that happens, it would be even more to my advantage. Wouldn’t you agree?”