Episode 52

Episode 52: At Least She Seems More Awake Than the Emperor

“So she’s really the Empress?”

The question came in a shocked voice from Karssen’s secretary, who followed behind him after the audience with Helena. The woman who’d crossed the border in secret had actually turned out to be the Empress of the Empire.

“What, did you think I was joking?” Karssen shot back.

“…”

“Why the face?”

“My face?” The secretary blinked. “I just look like this normally.”

“It looks awfully surly.”

“That’s a misunderstanding. My expression is just like this by default.”

“Just don’t go making that face in front of foreign guests and causing trouble.”

“You might want to fix your collar first, Your Highness.”

“It keeps coming undone,” Karssen grumbled, doing up the buttons with an annoyed expression.

“Anyway, why did the Empire’s Empress sneak across the border? What does she want?”

“Exactly what you’d expect.”

“She actually wanted to blow up the dam?”

The secretary’s eyes widened in disbelief.

“With just three people? What is she, some kind of human weapon?”

“She might be. She’s got guts, I’ll give her that.”

“What nonsense did she spout this time?”

“She somehow knew everything about our plans.”

“I mean, at this point even an idiot could start to guess.” Moritz clicked his tongue. “We’ve already had multiple formal protests from the Empire. Of course, we kept denying it.”

“She said a war would break out over this too.”

“Well, if they want a fight, we’re not exactly going to shy away. So what did you say?”

“I agreed to give her what she wanted.”

“Good. Wait—what?”

“I said I’d give her what she wanted.”

Moritz’s eyes narrowed dangerously.

“Your face looks surly again.”

“Are you out of your mind?”

“Now your words are surly too.”

“Do I look like I’m not being serious? How can you just give away something that’s been planned since the last king’s reign?”

“Calm down. We’re getting something in return: access to the ice-free port.”

Moritz went from glaring to slack-jawed.

“The… ice-free port?”

“Yep.”

“How does the Empress know exactly what we want?”

“Good question.” Karssen shrugged.

The Kalus Kingdom had its roots in nomadic tribes; of course, publicly they pretended not to care about ports. Yet she’d named their most coveted need without hesitation.

Karssen let out a short laugh.

“She’s an interesting woman, don’t you think?”

“Interesting? She’s terrifying!” Moritz shuddered. “What if she actually has some sort of foresight? Even her timing is too convenient. It’s terrifying that someone like that is an Empress.”

“…Is that so?” Karssen’s gaze went distant for a moment as he thought of Helena.

He remembered those eyes, the way they seemed to draw people in with an inexplicable gravity. That look had stayed with him ever since they first met—even after he’d returned to Calus.

“Are you seriously planning to just accept her proposal?”

Karssen let out a dry chuckle.

“She seems more awake than their Emperor at least.”

Moritz’s mouth dropped open.

That wasn’t the point at all!

He sighed deeply, pinching the bridge of his nose.

“Seriously, Your Highness. At least think it over again. Even if you’re going to agree, you should set proper conditions. I’ll arrange a meal later; bring it up then. We should get the relevant ministers in the room and have a proper talk…”

Karssen cut him off.

“That’s not what’s important right now.”

Moritz blinked.

“What could possibly be more important than this?”

“Something very important.”

Karssen’s suddenly serious tone made Moritz stiffen reflexively. If he was this grave, it had to be critical. Moritz clenched his fists slightly. Maybe it really was about war.

He held his breath, waiting.

But Karssen’s next question was utterly nonsensical.

“Why are you being so stiff and formal with me again?”

“…What?”

Moritz blinked.

Surely he’d misheard. He waited, hoping for a punchline, but Karssen just watched him expectantly.

Finally, Moritz realized the truth.

‘He’s finally lost it.’

He’d suspected it before. Denied it, even. But now there was no more room for doubt.

‘At this rate I won’t live to see old age…’

As he massaged the back of his neck, Karssen’s lips quirked into a grin.

“MoMo.”

“I’ve told you a hundred times—don’t call me that.”

“MoMo.”

“It’s Moritz!”

“MoMo, MoMo.”

“Say Moritz, you damn king!”

“You used to be so cute when you were little. Now it’s all nagging, all the time.”

“Stop teasing me already, you rotten king!”

The blue moon had risen high.

By the time I left the negotiation room, it was already quite late.

Once it was confirmed that I truly was the Empress of the Pentrian Empire, the Calus Kingdom’s treatment of me changed completely.

Instead of the dusty, cramped cell, they offered me a spacious and pristine guest chamber.

With the attendants’ help, I bathed in luxurious scented oils and changed into a dress of deep blue fabric edged with black lace. Unlike the Empire’s ornate fashion, this dress emphasized movement and practicality; perhaps that difference was what made it feel so refreshingly appealing.

Seated at the vanity, I let the maids sweep through my long hair with their combs, finally gathering it into a loose, tidy twist secured with a pearl hairpin.

Just as the finishing touches were done, someone knocked on the door.

“Your Majesty, may I come in for a moment?”

It was a familiar voice: the green-haired secretary who had been at Karssen’s side.

“Come in.”

The door swung open quietly, and he stepped inside.

“I wasn’t able to greet you properly earlier. I’m Moritz, the Chief Secretary.”

He bowed politely, so different in bearing from his unruly king. I inclined my head briefly in acknowledgment.

“Is the room to your liking?”

“Yes, of course.”

It was luxury itself, impossible to compare to a prison cell.

“I’m simply grateful for the Calus Kingdom’s hospitality.”

“We regret not recognizing Your Majesty sooner and for any disrespect caused.”

“If that’s all the offense there was, then I should be the one apologizing.”

After all, I’d crossed the border without permission, dragging along a carriage packed with explosives.

I smiled lightly.

“It was a situation where both sides could easily misunderstand.”

“Thank you for understanding.”

Moritz hesitated for a beat before continuing.

“So… the reason I came here is…”

“Yes?”

“Dinner has been prepared.”

At the mention of food, a wave of hunger struck me. I realized I’d hardly eaten all day, so frantic had everything been.

“I’ll escort you. This way, please.”

“Thank you.”

I followed Moritz out of the room.

The chill in the air met me alongside a sky crowded with stars.

A kingdom on a plateau.

The night sky felt so close it seemed you could just reach out and gather it in your hands. Calus truly felt like a land that floated above the world.

“The starlight here is… incredibly beautiful.”

“This isn’t even the best of it,” Moritz replied, a note of pride in his voice. “When winter comes, you’ll see even more—several times as many stars.”

“Really? Now I’m even more curious.”

Even now the stars were countless; I could hardly imagine how many more would appear in winter.

Chatting lightly with Moritz, I eventually arrived at the dining room.

“Well then, I’ll leave you here. Please enjoy your meal.”

He offered one last polite bow before departing.

Stepping inside, I saw the table already laid out in advance.

A pure white cloth covered it, and a vivid arrangement of colorful flowers sat in the center.

On either side were neatly arranged silver place settings—two in total.

‘Two?’

Why only two? There should have been three.

I turned to a passing attendant.

“It seems there aren’t enough place settings.”

“Pardon? That shouldn’t be. We were ordered to set places for exactly two people, Your Majesty.”

“That must be a mistake. My party includes three.”

Now that I thought of it, where were Leonard and Cedric? I’d heard they were released just as I was.

I glanced around, searching, when a low voice spoke behind me.

Laced with a faint amusement, it was unmistakable.

“It’s no mistake.”

I froze.

“This meal is meant for you and me.”