Chapter 8

Deep golden eyes locked onto Roabellin’s. Unable to meet the intense gaze that made no effort to hide his desire, Roabellin averted her eyes, sliding her gaze to the side.

 

‘I’m sorry. I have things I must do. Even if I loved you, I cannot be trapped in the Imperial Palace.’

 

When Roabellin hesitated without answering, Kaisertern spoke again.

 

“Did you not say you used contraception because you didn’t know I was the Emperor? Then, now that you know I am the Emperor… do you have any thoughts of bearing my child?”

 

Of course, that was true. Though her reasoning was a bit different from the norm.

 

But… how should she answer? If she said right now that she didn’t want his child, he would suspect her intentions for approaching him.

 

‘He might even frame me, thinking I intend to assassinate the Emperor while he sleeps.’

 

Then, what if she answered honestly: that she wanted the Emperor’s child, but didn’t want to raise it as his?

 

‘Of course, that’s nonsense. I’d either be thrown out of the palace or locked in a dungeon.’

 

And if she simply answered that she wanted his child…

 

‘It feels like… the act would happen right here, right now.’

 

And he would likely make her a concubine immediately and overprotectively forbid her from stepping outside until a pregnancy was confirmed. Kaisertern was a perfectionist by nature, and given the atmosphere where everyone was eagerly awaiting an imperial heir, it was entirely possible.

 

“I, I…”

 

Roabellin, after a moment of thought, opened her lips.

 

“I… I want to date. Having a child immediately and becoming someone’s wife… that’s still a bit… I’ve only just become an adult.”

 

She squeezed her brain to fabricate an excuse. But after saying it, she realized belatedly that it was her sincere truth. It was what she truly wanted, something she had ignored out of a sense of duty to her family.

 

She had come this far ambitiously claiming she would have the Emperor’s child, but in truth, she was afraid. Afraid of the act of bearing and raising a child itself, of secretly carrying the Emperor’s child and raising it in hiding, and of successfully raising that child as a descendant of the Huga family.

 

Though she was technically an adult, she was barely twenty. She wanted to push those massive responsibilities back a little and experience a fresh, youthful romance. She wanted to meet someone she truly loved. If possible, she wanted to build a family gradually. It was a dream she had folded away due to her circumstances, not because she didn’t desire it.

 

As if he had heard something unexpected, Kaisertern’s eyes widened slightly before furrowing.

 

“Didn’t you say you would seduce the Emperor? Did you not know what that meant?”

 

At his words, Roabellin’s face flushed red.

 

“For someone who confidently told the first man she met that she would seduce the Emperor, I assumed you had a fair amount of experience with men.”

 

Kaisertern moved his face closer to hers. His golden eyes remained fixed on hers.

 

“Let’s be honest one more time. You aren’t the type to seduce men and roll around casually as you claimed. I was your first man. Was I not?”

 

Roabellin found it momentarily difficult to control her expression.

 

‘As expected… he’s not the Emperor for nothing. He didn’t believe any of my lies from the start.’

 

She bit her lip without a word. Watching her reaction, Kaisertern continued.

 

“Your reactions that day were enough to tell. I don’t know the reason, but do not lie to me anymore.”

 

The golden eyes, which had turned cool, seemed to tighten around her, making Roabellin nervous. But regardless of her state, he said what he intended to say.

 

“I intend to be not just your first man, but your only man, and your last.”

 

“Th-that is…”

 

Roabellin felt her mouth go completely dry.

 

‘What is he planning to do? What is he trying to say…?’

 

“For now, I will appoint you as an Imperial Concubine.”

 

“…!!”

 

At the unexpected bombshell declaration, Roabellin’s jaw dropped in a daze. If she were a concubine, not just a mistress, she would officially be the Emperor’s wife.

 

“As you said, you succeeded in seducing me. So, I will give you the place beside me, and we can have that romance you spoke of. Since you said what you did earlier, I won’t insist on having a child right away.”

 

Kaisertern’s face was utterly serious. Roabellin’s head spun, leaving her unable to answer.

 

“I only mentioned making you a concubine because I cannot make you Empress immediately due to your status. Let me state first that I absolutely do not think lightly of you.”

 

Kaisertern gazed quietly at Roabellin’s face, then slowly leaned in toward her lips. Just as his lips were about to touch hers, Roabellin snapped out of her daze and turned her head slightly, avoiding him again.

 

Kaisertern looked at her with a puzzled expression, evidently not expecting her to refuse this time.

 

‘Snap out of it. Concubine or Empress, I must avoid becoming the Emperor’s official wife at all costs.’

 

Buying a moment of time by shifting her posture, Roabellin spoke with her eyes fixed on the ground.

 

“Your Majesty. I am grateful for your words… but I beg you to withdraw that command. It is a position too excessive for me.”

 

At her suddenly stiff tone and words of refusal, Kaisertern’s brow narrowed.

 

“In this entire empire right now, you are the only woman who has shaken my heart. It is absolutely not excessive. Ah, is it because my proposal was unromantic? I apologize. I will prepare properly and do it grandly.”

 

Hearing the sincerity in his words, Roabellin felt a fresh wave of guilt and heartache at having to reject him. But she answered in a deliberately calm voice.

 

“No, Your Majesty. I cannot handle that position. As you said, because right now, I am the only woman to Your Majesty.”

 

Kaisertern raised one eyebrow sharply, as if asking what she meant. Roabellin continued.

 

“The seat of the Empress is currently empty. In this situation, if I were to become the sole concubine without any others, imagine how much attention I would receive from the entire empire. I would receive the jealousy of the entire empire. Soon, there would be many who wish to eliminate me.”

 

“…”

 

Kaisertern was momentarily left speechless by her words.

 

The Imperial Palace seemed peaceful on the surface, but beneath it, a fierce battle of wits and power struggles was waging among various factions to claim the empty seat of the Emperor’s partner.

 

In such a situation, if a young woman who was a commoner with no proper family—and from a vassal state, not even the homeland—suddenly became the sole concubine…

 

“I have no family or clan to protect me… I would be eliminated in no time.”

 

Kaisertern spoke urgently.

 

“I will not let that happen. I will mobilize every method to protect you.”

 

However, if someone truly made her a target and attacked with calculation, the possibility of falling could not be ruled out. It was merely a question of when. No matter how well one defended, a small crack would inevitably appear.

 

“Your Majesty, you know the saying that ten guards cannot stop one thief.”

 

Roabellin smiled bitterly. She already knew too well what a life lived as a target was like.

 

“Your Majesty. I beg of you. Please welcome an Empress first, and consider me later. You may make me a nameless plaything; just please do not make me an official concubine… if you truly cherish me.”

 

Suddenly feeling sorrowful about her plight, having to say such things to the man she liked, Roabellin began to tear up. It was an excuse she had thought up to avoid the appointment, but it was also her reality.

 

‘Why must you be the Emperor, and why am I a fugitive who lost her family? I just… simply like you as you are.’

 

She tried to hold it back by biting her lip, but the tears filling her eyes eventually spilled over, drip, drop.

 

Kaisertern was slightly flustered by her sudden tears. He carefully reached out to wipe them away, then pulled Roabellin into his embrace, locking her in his arms.

 

Enveloped in his warm, broad embrace, Roabellin could no longer hold back the overwhelming emotions and the tears poured out.

 

“Sob…”

 

Her tears soaked the front of Kaisertern’s shirt. Without a word, Kaisertern wrapped his firm arms around her shoulders and held her tight.

 

Roabellin rested her forehead against his chest and thought. As the sudden burst of emotion calmed slightly, she was able to think more rationally.

 

‘I want to stay in this large, warm embrace forever… But if I get trapped in this palace, what will happen to Hertenes? Right. This is just a fleeting emotion. I cannot be swayed by this and forget my great and important goal.’

 

Steeling her heart, she quickly dried her tears. Kaisertern carefully looked into her face, still holding her shoulders.

 

“Are you a bit calmer now?”

 

Roabellin rubbed her reddened eyes and nodded slightly.

 

“Alright, Yulli. Do not worry too much. I will lay the groundwork so that the things you fear do not happen.”

 

Roabellin looked up at Kaisertern with eyes still glistening with teardrops.

 

“My resolve to make you my woman has not changed. I just need you to wait by my side for a little while.”

 

What on earth was he planning to do? Roabellin sent him a questioning look, but he simply hugged her again without an answer.

 

It had become late afternoon, and a slightly chilly wind swept over the two of them.

 

“Shall we go in?”

 

“…Yes.”

 

Kaisertern picked up the shawl she had taken off and wrapped it firmly around her shoulders.

 

“Your dress is thin; you must be cold. Let’s go inside quickly.”

 

The two held hands and walked back along the same forest path they had come by. They walked in silence, each lost in their own thoughts. Kaisertern walked with his head turned slightly to the side, looking at her rather than the path ahead.

 

In the time when the temperature of the sunlight was gradually dropping, in a forest with only the two of them. Seeing her with platinum blonde hair and purple eyes in a place and time similar to the Aventador Royal Hunting Grounds eight years ago, Kaisertern kept seeing someone else’s image overlap with hers.

 

‘That child… I only saw her for a day back then and never again, so her features are hazy. I only remember that she was so beautiful I wondered if she wasn’t human… Roabellin. From now on, whenever I see a woman with your hair and eye color, I feel I will try to piece together my memory, wondering if your face looked like this.’

 

Kaisertern suddenly realized that he was thinking of another person while looking at Yulli.

 

‘I’m sorry, Yulli. But I didn’t come to hold you in my heart because you resemble the Roabellin in my memories. Even if your appearance were different, I would have fallen for you. But… come to think of it, platinum blonde hair and purple eyes seem quite rare. I should ask Evan how common they are outside the Imperial Palace.’

 

Roabellin, for her part, had a lot on her mind as well.

 

‘I knew Kai had feelings for me, but I didn’t know he would go as far as trying to make me a concubine. It’s not Empress, but it’s still becoming his wife…’

 

That would be a life far removed from the ordinary, happy marriage she had wanted. And, more than that…

 

‘No, why am I imagining married life with Kai? I said I would carry the Emperor’s child, run away, and raise it as a child of the Huga family!! I have to rebuild our family. I can’t live here with him.’

 

Roabellin tried to rein in her heart, which kept leaning toward him.

 

After leaving the forest, Kaisertern went to the Main Palace to return to work, and Roabellin returned to the Emperor’s Palace alone.

 

Walking back to the Emperor’s Palace, Roabellin thought about the day’s events and found herself unintentionally imagining a future with Kaisertern again.

 

‘If I have a child who resembles Kai a lot, and that child succeeds the Huga family…’

 

She told herself not to imagine it, but telling herself not to only made her do it more. The imagination stretched further into reality.

 

‘Since it’s a child of the Huga family, they would have platinum blonde hair, right? If it’s a girl, she’ll almost certainly have purple eyes, but if it’s a boy, the eye color manifests in various ways, so he might inherit Kai’s golden eyes.’

 

As she considered the physical traits inherited by children of the Huga family, Roabellin suddenly realized she had missed a crucial element.

 

‘Ah, no. It won’t be platinum blonde. If Kai is the rightful King… Our… first child will have black hair and blue eyes.’

 

The fact that the first child between a King and a daughter of the Huga family would have black hair and blue eyes was accepted as a matter of course in Aventador, but…

 

‘People of Prahenfelt won’t know about the Huga family. They might think the black hair resembles Kai, but since neither Kai nor I have blue eyes, if our child has blue eyes, they will investigate the reason.’

 

Roabellin shivered slightly without realizing it.

 

‘Kai will soon find out that I am a daughter of the Huga family. The Emperor can easily investigate matters related to the royal families of other countries.’

 

If he found out she was a daughter of the Huga family, how would Kaisertern react?

 

‘Would he say it’s just a ruined duchy of a foreign nation and that he doesn’t believe the legends of the Huga family? Or would he try to keep me by his side, claiming a daughter of the Huga family shouldn’t become another man’s wife? Or perhaps… if the King of Aventador still wants to kill me. Would Kai try to use me as a diplomatic bargaining chip?’

 

As her thoughts reached that point, she became certain that staying in the Imperial Palace was not a good choice.

 

‘This isn’t Aventador, where everyone reveres the Huga family. Hertenes isn’t even a powerful duchy right now. If things go wrong, I might get swept up in the politics between the two countries and be sacrificed. I shouldn’t linger here with foolish attachments; I need to plan my escape quickly.’

 

Trying to think as realistically as possible, Roabellin returned to the Emperor’s Palace. The person waiting for her as she entered was none other than the Head Maid, Countess Molly.

 

“Are you returning from your picnic?”

 

“Yes.”

 

Countess Molly asked while scanning Roabellin’s face and attire.

 

“Hmm, nothing special happened in the forest?”

 

“Ah, yes. We finished safely without any accidents.”

 

At Roabellin’s innocent answer, the Countess’s brow furrowed.

 

“Hmm… You look so lovely. Should I have given you more direct education? Or should I have chosen the clothes better?”

 

The Countess muttered incomprehensible words under her breath.

 

“Pardon? I didn’t hear you clearly.”

 

“No, it is nothing. Go to your chambers. His Majesty has an unexpected schedule and has gone out; he says he will return late at night. He sent word for you not to wait and to sleep first. …But you know that you shouldn’t do that, right?”

 

The Countess’s eyes glinted sharply.

 

“Ah, yes. I will not sleep and will wait at my station until His Majesty returns.”

 

Hearing Roabellin’s businesslike tone, the Countess’s brow furrowed even more.

 

“Right. You should. However, you can simply say, ‘I will be waiting for His Majesty in the bedchamber.’”

 

Just like the Countess, Roabellin was from a noble background and educated, so she knew the importance of every single word well.

 

“If I say that, it would sound… too personal.”

 

At her cautiously spoken words, the Countess looked as if she had finally heard an answer she liked.

 

“Exactly! Become a private relationship with His Majesty… Ahem, hm-hm. Anyway, when His Majesty comes, just do whatever he suggests. Understood?”

 

The Countess didn’t speak explicitly, but Roabellin understood well enough what she was saying. However, since she wasn’t in a position to give a different answer, she simply bowed her head. Seeing this, the Countess handed her a document she was holding.

 

“Right, putting that aside, go deliver this to the Ministry of Finance on the first floor of the Main Palace. It’s an urgent document that must be submitted today, but I forgot it. His Majesty said not to send you outside the Emperor’s Palace if possible, but you should walk around the Imperial Palace a bit. You’ll feel suffocated if you only stay in the Emperor’s Palace.”

 

It was a good opportunity to leave the Emperor’s Palace for the first time in a while. Roabellin quickly took the document and bowed.

 

“Yes, I will go right away!”

 

 

***

 

 

At that time, Kaisertern was leaving the main gate of the Imperial Palace. And ahead of him, Kaisertern’s attendant hurriedly rode a horse and arrived in front of the house where Itanistad stayed when he came to Byzantium.

 

“Are you there, Young Baron Ratnen!! It is a message from His Imperial Majesty!!”

 

Itanistad, who happened to be home, opened the door with a bewildered face.

 

“Yes? What is this all of a sudden…”

 

“His Majesty says he wants to see you at the salon where you met the other day.”

 

“Right now? For what reason…”

 

“He just said that if I tell you he has something to consult you about, you would understand.”

 

“Pardon? His Majesty needs counseling from me… Ah.”

 

Itanistad immediately guessed the Emperor’s intent. He got ready and went to the high-end salon where he had first met Kaisertern. The attendant waiting at the entrance guided him to the deepest private room.

 

Inside, Kaisertern was staring at the wall, deep in thought about something.

 

“Your Majesty. You called for me.”

 

Itanistad entered the room and bowed. Seeing him, Kaisertern shifted into a comfortable sitting position and spoke.

 

“Yes. By the way, your etiquette is always perfect. Among the central nobles who frequent the palace, there are some whose manners are lacking. A Young Viscount from the provinces is better than the sons of dukes in the capital.”

 

‘I am from a ducal family too, though.’

 

But now, Itanistad could skillfully hide his expression when such topics arose.

 

“You flatter me. By the way, the business you called me for…”

 

“Usually, when nobles get a private audience with me, they are busy flattering me to look good or asking for this and that favor. You ask me to state my business first.”

 

A very slight playfulness crossed Kaisertern’s face.

 

“Ah, I apologize. I heard you had something to consult about, so out of curiosity, I committed a discourtesy.”

 

“No, I was joking. I like that you don’t try to curry favor with me. You can guess the reason I called you.”

 

“Ah, is it relationship counseling? What part isn’t going well…?”

 

The faint playfulness vanished from Kaisertern’s face.

 

“Yes. It’s about that child I mentioned last time. At first, she said she would ‘seduce the Emperor’ not knowing it was me, but today, when I asked her to be my concubine, she refused. She said that as a commoner with no backing, she would be eliminated quickly.”

 

Thinking she seemed quite smart for a commoner, Itanistad nodded slightly.

 

“Ah, was she truly a commoner? If so, it’s not unreasonable for her to worry about that. She must have come in ambitiously knowing nothing, only to gradually learn the cold reality of the palace.”

 

“She didn’t seem like a naive child unaware of the world at first either… Anyway, since she only spoke logical, realistic points, I didn’t know how to turn her heart around.”

 

Kaisertern let out a light sigh.

 

“However, I will solve those realistic parts step by step. In the meantime, I need secret strategies to keep her heart captured.”

 

Itanistad’s eyes sparkled like a top student being asked a question from the material he had studied the night before.

 

‘I received special training at the salon for this very day!’

 

He was secretly pleased that he could use what he had prepared just in case, sooner than expected.

 

“Yes, Your Majesty. I will tell you everything.”

 

“Truly worthy of the title ‘Emperor of the Night.’ Good. Let’s begin immediately.”

 

Kaisertern began to listen with a serious face.

 

“Yes, Your Majesty. In truth, even among women, every individual’s disposition is different, so I will only tell you the somewhat common and basic parts. Beyond that, you must align with her through deep conversation.”

 

“I will keep that in mind.”

 

Throughout the evening, Itanistad gave a detailed and kind lecture to Kaisertern on how to treat a woman’s body and heart.

 

‘If I just do as Terick teaches, Yulli will soon come into my arms on her own.’

 

Kaisertern marveled at his lecture and advice, which flowed smoothly without blockage for hours. When the lecture ended, it was time for Q&A.

 

“What should I do to make her want me enough to forget the fears I mentioned earlier?”

 

“Your Majesty should openly tell her until when and how you will resolve those problems. So that she can feel reassured. After that, plant a fantasy in her mind that ‘if I am with this man, I can be happy.’ Since Your Majesty is someone who can truly turn that fantasy into reality, persuasion won’t be difficult. It is best to embrace her after the persuasion is complete, but if the situation is urgent, try creating opportunities intermittently without forcing it.”

 

“Without forcing it…”

 

“Yes, it would be good to go on a short trip, just the two of you, to a place with a good atmosphere. It would be even better if it is a place where you can be alone and have plenty of physical contact.”

 

Listening to his words, a suitable place came to Kaisertern’s mind after some thought.

 

“That’s a good idea.”

 

Itanistad answered with a smile and continued.

 

“Since she says she is afraid of becoming a concubine, promising not to appoint her as one until she desires it is also a method.”

 

Kaisertern sighed and laughed self-deprecatingly.

 

“Hah… I’m the Emperor, yet if I say I cannot appoint a woman I’ve embraced as a concubine as I please, people will laugh.”

 

He said that, but in fact, the ability to push things in the direction he wanted regardless of what the world said was proof of his power.

 

“Is it not because Your Majesty cannot be satisfied merely by having her body? Winning a heart requires effort.”

 

“Right. I don’t want to take her forcibly using my authority. It’s to win her heart, but it’s also a matter of my pride.”

 

Itanistad found the Emperor’s dual attitude—relaxed with power but humble toward ‘that person’—a bit fascinating. What kind of woman was she?

 

“I am becoming curious about what kind of person could capture Your Majesty’s heart so completely.”

 

Kaisertern, staring blankly at Itanistad’s platinum blonde hair which looked just like Yulli’s, answered.

 

“Ah, come to think of it, she looks a bit like you.”

 

But Itanistad laughed it off as if it were nothing.

 

“That lady must be very handsome then. Haha.”

 

“Could it not be that you are pretty, resembling her?”

 

Joking aside, Kaisertern asked something that suddenly crossed his mind.

 

“Oh right, there is one more thing I am curious about. I don’t think I’ve seen platinum blonde hair like yours very often. Is it common in your hometown, Ratnen?”

 

Itanistad froze for a moment at the sudden question. His rare hair color could be a clue to estimating his identity.

 

“…Ah, it is not particularly common, but it is seen occasionally. Why do you ask?”

 

“Because she has platinum blonde hair exactly like yours.”

 

“Ah, I see.”

 

Answering casually, Itanistad momentarily thought of his sister, Roabellin. Memories of his dead family were painful just to think about, so he usually kept them buried deep in his heart.

 

‘My Roa… if she had lived to become an adult, surely this Emperor would have fallen for Roa too. My sister, whom I can’t even bear to remember…’

 

Thinking of his sister who died young after so long made one side of his chest ache. As he sank into thought, he was snapped back to reality by Kaisertern’s question.

 

“Your expression isn’t good. What are you thinking about?”

 

“Ah, it is nothing. I apologize. Have all your curiosities for today been resolved?”

 

“Yes. You worked hard today. In return, I would like to create an event soon and invite you to the Imperial Palace. Building friendships with the central nobles will help your business.”

 

Of course, that was true. But it wasn’t what Itanistad, who bought a Viscount title to live hiding his true identity, wanted.

 

To him, hiding his identity safely was more important than business expansion, and the more he was exposed to people, the greater the risk of being caught.

 

Showing panic would provide another clue, so he declined as calmly as possible.

 

“Your Majesty, I am grateful for your words, but I feel I am not yet of the caliber to step into the central social circles. Operating in Ratnen is enough for me.”

 

But Kaisertern rejected his rejection.

 

“A noble’s child should naturally enter the central social circles to build connections and expand their reach. Only then can you gain more opportunities and contribute to your family. And if you expand your business in Byzantium, wouldn’t I see you more often as well?”

 

Kaisertern liked Terick Ratnen, who gave him much help and somehow resembled Yulli. Therefore, the suggestion also stemmed from a wish for him to move his main area of activity from Ratnen to Byzantium.

 

With the Emperor speaking like this, refusing further would clearly look even stranger. Itanistad sighed inwardly but answered with a feigned bright expression.

 

“Haha… If I decline any further here, it would be disloyalty. Then, I thank you in advance for the invitation, Your Majesty.”

 

“Good. I will arrange a seat and call for you soon.”

 

At the acceptance obtained with difficulty, Kaisertern smiled broadly.

 

 

***

 

 

Estina packed her bags immediately and moved her residence to Iskal’s home. Iskal, wearing a look of excitement and anticipation, took her luggage and led her to the guest room. Following him inside, Estina was startled by the scenery, which had changed since her last visit.

 

“Is this… the same room from back then?”

 

“Yes. Since you said you were coming, I had it redecorated a bit.”

 

The room, which had previously been simply neat and tidy, was now completely transformed. Thanks to the pale rose-colored wallpaper, the room felt bright and lovely overall. The bed, draped with a translucent canopy, was large enough for two people to sleep in comfortably.

 

Estina approached the bed and ran her hand over the plush, luxurious bedding. It felt as if she were resting her hand on a cloud.

 

‘The last time I used a bed this fine was at Hertenes Castle.’

 

She looked around the rest of the room. The wardrobe and vanity were moderately ornate yet sophisticated, and the chandelier hanging from the ceiling was the crystallization of luxury. The en-suite bathroom was also furnished with the highest quality materials.

 

Iskal stood by the door, watching with satisfaction as Estina explored the room.

 

“How is it? Is it a little more presentable than before?”

 

Estina turned back to him with a bright face.

 

“I really love it. Thank you so much for taking such care, even though I’m only staying for a short while.”

 

At those words, Iskal’s smile faded slightly.

 

“A short while? No, you can stay as long as you like.”

 

But Estina quickly waved her hands.

 

“Oh, no. How could I impose on you for so long? Just until the maid’s quarters are completed. I plan to finish the investigation as quickly as possible and return home.”

 

“Return? To Avery?”

 

“Ah, yes. For now.”

 

“Hmm… Right. Leave your bags for now and come out. Let’s have dinner.”

 

Soon, Iskal served Aventador-style dishes, and the two spent a pleasant evening together.

 

After the meal, Iskal brought out some wine.

 

“Is wine alright?”

 

“Yes, that sounds good.”

 

He poured wine into a glass and handed it to Estina. A rich aroma wafted up, signaling immediately that it was a high-quality vintage.

 

“How is it?”

 

“Wow, it smells wonderful.”

 

“It’s the best wine produced in my territory. I’m glad you like it.”

 

“Oh my, so the Grand Duchy produces wine as well.”

 

“I had quite a bit of land that was just sitting idle, but Duke Hertenes helped me improve the soil quality and plant high-grade grape varieties. This was back when I was young, and the Duke was looking after the affairs of my estate.”

 

“Ah, my brother did…”

 

“I owe your brother far more than you know. And I want to repay that debt through you in the future.”

 

Iskal looked at Estina with warm eyes.

 

Conversing like this, Estina suddenly realized that talking with Iskal always led back to her past connections. Feeling a bit tipsy, she spoke her mind a little more freely than usual.

 

“From the moment I was born, I was designated as Your Highness’s consort. In the end, I didn’t become the Princess Consort… but afterward, my brother looked after Your Highness when you went to the Grand Duchy. And Your Highness protected me at the Magic Academy, and even after the fall of Hertenes. Then we each came to the Royal Palace and met again, and now I’m even staying at your house for a while. It’s truly fascinating how our fates keep intertwining.”

 

When Estina, flushed from the alcohol, looked at Iskal, he was looking straight at her.

 

It was rare to see his usually gentle and warm eyes burn hot with longing for something. He was a man who knew how to skillfully hide his greed.

 

But Estina, pleasantly buzzed, failed to read the heat lingering in his eyes.

 

Iskal wasn’t drunk, but realizing Estina was, he felt the urge to speak his truth as well.

 

“Indeed. Since our fate is so deep, you don’t have to stay just for a while; you can impose on me for a long time. No, please stay for a long time. That is my request.”

 

At his desperate tone, Estina simply gave a weak laugh.

 

“Thank you for saying that, Your Highness. But still, I must go.”

 

Speaking with slightly slurred pronunciation, Estina pushed against the table to stand up. Iskal shot up to follow her. Thanks to that, he was able to catch her when she stumbled from a sudden wave of dizziness.

 

He grabbed her shoulders, then reached out to pull her into a hug. Perhaps because she was drunk, Estina allowed herself to be held in his arms. Holding her, Iskal spoke in a low voice into her ear.

 

“Go? Go where?”

 

It was a short question, but it was laden with his complex feelings. Estina looked up at his face with eyes blurred by alcohol.

 

“Don’t go, not to Avery. Just stay with me. Please?”

 

Estina looked at him for a moment with slightly wet eyes, then grinned sheepishly.

 

“Mmm, for now, to bed. I want to go to sleep.”

 

When Iskal remained still even after hearing that, Estina looked puzzled. At that moment, Iskal slipped his hands behind her back and knees, lifting her effortlessly into his arms.

 

Startled by this sudden action from the usually gentlemanly man, Estina struggled.

 

“Y-Your Highness! I can walk!”

 

“No, looking at your condition, I think you’ll trip five times before you reach the bed.”

 

There was a hint of laughter in his voice. Thinking about it, it seemed likely, so Estina decided to stay still in his arms.

 

Iskal walked very slowly, holding Estina, until he reached her bed. He carefully set her down and sat on the edge of the bed beside her.

 

“Ah right, I didn’t explain everything I installed in this room earlier. Look at this.”

 

Iskal picked up something that looked like an egg-sized crystal shard from the nightstand. Estina recognized what it was.

 

“Ah, I was wondering what that mana stone was for.”

 

At her words, Iskal smiled brightly.

 

“Here, if you press this…”

 

When Iskal pressed one side of the mana stone lightly, the lights of the beautiful chandelier went out. When he pressed it twice, the mood lamp next to the bed lit up.

 

Thanks to the yellow light of the mood lamp, the bedroom instantly took on a warm and cozy atmosphere.

 

“Everything that emits light in this room is a mana stone. It’s the home of the Mage Tower Master; surely mana stones suit it better than candles?”

 

He said it like a joke, but Estina, knowing how expensive mana stones were no matter how small, was secretly shocked.

 

Iskal turned his attention back to the mana stone. When he pressed it three times, the pitch-black ceiling was suddenly embroidered with pouring stars. It was the Milky Way, recreated with tiny mana stones.

 

“Wow…!!”

 

As a gasp of admiration escaped Estina’s lips, Iskal looked at her with satisfaction.

 

“I really put some effort into this part. I’m glad you like it.”

 

Estina, who had been staring blankly at the galaxy, suddenly turned her head to face Iskal.

 

“Why did you put so much care into a guest room I’ll only be in for a moment? It’s too beautiful and extravagant…”

 

Iskal gazed into her purple eyes, relying on the starlight. The Milky Way was reflected in her large eyes as well.

 

“To me, you are more beautiful and precious than anything in this room.”

 

Iskal reached out to Estina and pulled her waist slightly closer. She was a little startled, but she didn’t feel like pushing him away.

 

When Estina didn’t push him away, Iskal pressed his lips to hers without hesitation.

 

‘…!’

 

Startled for a moment, Estina felt as if she were in a dream and gathered the courage to wrap her arms around his neck.

 

His kiss was as hot as his long-held feelings for her. Estina was breathless, overwhelmed by his lips crashing down on hers. Soon, Iskal’s breathing grew rough as well. His hand, which had been around her waist, had moved to the front of her clothes.

 

Estina, hazily intoxicated by the ecstasy encroaching upon her entire body, snapped back to reality at his touch. She was someone who had to hide the fact that she was alive; she could never become the official wife of Grand Duke Lexton.

 

‘Ah… No. Do I intend to become His Highness’s secret mistress? Wake up.’

 

Estina quickly grabbed his hand. It was a large, firm hand, unlike her soft one. While Iskal paused, stopped by her hand, Estina pulled her lips away from his.

 

“Estina?”

 

Wondering if he had approached too quickly, Iskal examined her expression. But Estina turned her head slightly to avoid his gaze.

 

“…I’m going to sleep now. Maybe it’s because I drank, but I’m tired.”

 

Iskal straightened up and carefully held her wrist.

 

“Are you okay? Did I, perhaps, too…”

 

Estina cut him off, knowing it was rude.

 

“No. I’m just tired. Please go to your room and sleep, Your Highness.”

 

“…Alright, I understand. Lie down. I’ll tuck you in and leave.”

 

Estina worried that he might be hurt since she was the one who pushed him away. But Iskal’s warm eyes looking at her held only concern. When she hesitated and lay down on the bed, Iskal pulled the blanket up to her neck.

 

“Sleep well. Sweet dreams. If you need anything, knock on my door anytime. Okay?”

 

“Yes, Your Highness… Good night!!”

 

Once he left and the door closed, Estina let out a long sigh as the tension released.

 

‘I must have really been swept up in the atmosphere. Crazy, I’m crazy!’

 

Thinking of Iskal brought back the memory of the kiss they just shared and his hot touch.

 

Embarrassment washed over her like a tsunami, and Estina pulled the blanket over her head.

 

‘What do I do? How can I face him tomorrow morning?!’

 

It felt like she had crossed a line they had maintained for so long.

 

‘Can I never go back to that relationship with His Highness again…?’

 

Estina, worrying under the blanket, remembered an item that would be her salvation in this situation.

 

‘Ah! I have that!!’

 

She sprang up and went to the wardrobe where she put her bag. Rummaging through it, she grabbed a small magic potion bottle from the deepest part. It was the ‘Illusion Scent’ she had made. Estina clutched the bottle and sighed with relief.

 

‘Good, this will work. Let’s wait until His Highness falls asleep.’

 

The thought of using the drug on Iskal made her heart pound so hard that sleep completely fled. Estina sat at the desk, staring at the small bottle in her hand.

 

‘I’ll use this, and pretend none of it happened.’

 

Actually, for Iskal, he was publicly known as a Grand Duke from a branch of the royal family. So, he could simply marry a young lady from a suitable noble family. But Estina was the problem.

 

‘He chooses not to marry, but I’m not even in a position where I can. Roa, who just became an adult, won’t be able to marry anyway, so she went to Prahenfelt claiming she would bear the Emperor’s child according to the prophecy.’

 

Her head was a mess. After thinking this and that, she looked at the clock and realized an hour had passed.

 

‘Okay, he must be asleep by now.’

 

Estina left the room, trying to calm her wildly beating heart. Arriving in front of Iskal’s room with silenced footsteps, she carefully pressed her ear to the door.

 

“…….”

 

No sound came from inside the room. Estina cautiously turned the doorknob.

 

‘What if he’s awake? Should I say I had a nightmare?’

 

She opened the door worrying over and over, but fortunately, Iskal was asleep.

 

Estina stood by the sleeping Iskal, looking down at him with a nervous heart. Even in this situation, his elegant and straight features were beautiful.

 

Estina waved her hand in front of his face, then took out the bottle. She opened the lid and shook it under his nose; the liquid medicine instantly vaporized and entered his nose with his breath.

 

‘Good, this is enough.’

 

Estina snuck out of his room again. Even back in her own room, her heart pounded so much she couldn’t sleep until dawn.

 

The next morning, Iskal woke up as usual. But he felt something unfamiliar.

 

‘Something is… strange? What is it?’

 

Lying there, retracing the events of last night, Iskal realized he didn’t remember well how he came to lie in bed yesterday. And…

 

‘I think… I kissed Estina. But where?’

 

Strangely, the memory wasn’t vivid; he only remembered a few fragmented scenes. He felt sure they kissed, but he couldn’t recall the sensation.

 

‘Don’t tell me, was it a dream?’

 

Iskal became confused. But truly, he had no memory of the situation before or after the kiss. Like a dream, he only remembered the image of the moment of the kiss.

 

‘There’s no way I wouldn’t remember the context of such an important moment. Then… does that mean it really was a dream?’

 

Iskal roughed up his hair in frustration and got out of bed.

 

By the time breakfast was ready, Estina, ready for work, came out of her room and greeted him.

 

“Good morning, Your Highness!”

 

Iskal, who was preparing the food, looked back in slight surprise.

 

“Ah, hello! Did you sleep well?”

 

“Haha, yes~”

 

Estina smiled brightly and sat at the table.

 

“The soup smells so good! Thank you for the meal~”

 

It was just as she was about to take a spoonful of soup. Iskal spoke cautiously.

 

“Um, Estina. By any chance.”

 

“Yes?”

 

“By any chance, did we… yesterday…”

 

“Yes? What about yesterday?”

 

Estina blinked with an innocent expression, as if she knew nothing. Seeing her face, Iskal hesitated more before speaking with difficulty.

 

“Um… Yesterday, we drank wine… and what did we do?”

 

At his question, Estina was greatly relieved inwardly.

 

‘He doesn’t remember properly! It was successfully processed as a dream!’

 

Illusion Scent was a drug that, when used on a sleeping person, turned the events of the few hours before sleep into hazy, fragmented memories like a dream.

 

It worked by erasing memories of other senses like touch and smell, leaving only fragmentary visual memories, causing people to regard those memories as events from a dream. Estina played innocent perfectly.

 

“We drank wine, got a bit tipsy, and went to our respective rooms to sleep. Don’t you remember well?”

 

Iskal was relieved on one hand but bewildered on the other at her words.

 

“Ah, is that so? I don’t remember clearly. That’s strange. I must have been drunk too.”

 

“I suppose so. Oh my, look at the time! I need to hurry to work.”

 

Afraid that Iskal might keep trying to recall the memory, Estina quickly changed the subject.

 

After spending the day at their respective places and returning home, Estina and Iskal talked over dinner. It was about the progress of the investigation, which was their purpose for coming to the Aventador Royal Palace.

 

“How far has your investigation gone?”

 

At Iskal’s question, Estina spoke about the suspicions she had held and the indirect evidence she found in the library.

 

“To summarize, it seems the King and Queen mobilized the priests and prosecutors. The circumstantial evidence has emerged, and the pieces of the story are fitting together; now we just need physical evidence.”

 

Iskal nodded. It was what he had expected to some extent.

 

“My investigation will be complete once I see the records of the private meetings between the King, Queen, and the High Priest. Securing the original copy of that data is the key.”

 

“It’s amazing that you got that far alone, Estina.”

 

At his praise, Estina looked a bit shy. Smiling slightly at her, Iskal continued.

 

“My investigation… I told you before that the Late King was likely poisoned, right? I have a good idea who did it, but I need physical evidence.”

 

Estina nodded.

 

“We are in the same situation. Since I just need to find the records of the private meetings with the royal couple, let’s find the evidence Your Highness needs together.”

 

“Thank you, Estina. Then, could you look for records detailing the symptoms of the Late King around the time of his death in the library? Surely, there will be recorded characteristics of poisoning. I’ll handle the mana detection in the library sector that day, so you can use magic freely. Once the symptoms are investigated, let’s figure out what poison it was based on that.”

 

Gathering information together, what they had found so far and what they needed to find became organized, and the direction of the investigation became clear. Feeling that they would soon uncover the truth and resolve the grudges of their families, the two felt much lighter at heart.

 

“I have a good feeling about this. Since the mood is good, shall we go to the terrace for a drink?”

 

When Iskal spoke brightly, Estina, whose mood had also lifted, immediately agreed.

 

“Sounds good! Let’s have champagne today. Wishing for our successful investigation~”

 

While Iskal went to get the champagne and simple snacks, Estina went up to the second-floor terrace first. Since the house was located mid-slope on a small mountain behind the palace, the Royal Palace could be seen at a glance from the terrace.

 

As dusk fell, lights hung here and there were lit. The Royal Palace with its yellow lanterns looked beautiful and cozy even from a distance.

 

“What are you looking at so intently?”

 

Iskal stepped onto the terrace carrying a tray with champagne, glasses, and snacks.

 

“Ah, Your Highness.”

 

Estina turned back at his voice.

 

“…The Palace. It’s beautiful, but looking at the Palace always makes my thoughts complicated.”

 

Placing the tray on the table, Iskal came to stand next to Estina, leaning against the railing.

 

“Me too. I was born and raised there, and you were destined to be the mistress of that palace in the future. And now…”

 

Estina picked up his trailing words.

 

“Our fates have completely changed, and the people who changed our fates are living there.”

 

Iskal smiled bitterly. The evening breeze lightly brushed through his hair.

 

“…Right. However, I will not live according to the fate others have changed for me.”

 

Estina looked up at his face. She could feel both loneliness and strength in his profile.

 

The top-quality champagne Iskal brought from Prahenfelt tasted truly magnificent. As she kept sipping it because it was delicious, Estina ended up getting drunk again today, like clothes getting soaked in a drizzle.

 

In her swaying vision, only Iskal’s sky-blue eyes sitting across the small table were clear. His gaze looking at her held a strange heat.

 

Dizzy with intoxication, Estina called out to Iskal.

 

“Mmm… Your Highness.”

 

“…When it’s just the two of us like this, call me Kal.”

 

“Umm… Buuut…”

 

Drunken Estina’s words slurred long. Seeing this, Iskal got up and moved to the seat next to her. Then, he let Estina’s swaying head rest on his shoulder.

 

“When we were young, you used to call me Prince Kal.”

 

The alcohol and his soothing, warm voice unlocked the latch in Estina’s heart.

 

“Mmm… Yes, Kal…”

 

“That’s good. Please call me that forever from now on.”

 

“Forever…?”

 

Estina lifted her spinning eyes to look at Iskal’s face. Seeing her slightly wet eyes and moist lips, Iskal couldn’t keep his head straight.

 

He unknowingly lowered his head and lightly kissed her lips. Looking into Estina’s wide eyes, Iskal spoke in a low voice.

 

“Yes, I mean I want you to stay by my side forever.”

 

“That is… Mmph…”

 

Before she could answer, Iskal’s lips covered hers again as she hesitated even in her drunkenness. It was a gentle kiss, soothing and seducing her.

 

After a light kiss, Iskal pulled back just enough so their lips were barely touching and whispered to her in that position.

 

“If you dislike it, tell me right away at any time. But I hope you won’t reject me.”

 

But before she could say anything, Iskal immediately started kissing her again.

 

“Hah… Doing this… Mmph…”

 

Iskal pushed on without giving her a chance to speak. Accepting his kiss frantically, Estina’s mind grew increasingly hazy. Then, without realizing it, she lifted her arms and embraced his neck.

 

The kiss deepened, and the two’s breaths tangled roughly. When she came to her senses, Iskal had already carried her to the bed and set her down.

 

‘Huh?’

 

Realizing she was on the bed, Estina felt instantly sobered. Meanwhile, Iskal took off his shirt. The crest of the Mage Tower, symbolizing he was the Tower Master, glowed gold on his left chest. Seeing his firm body, Estina’s trembling intensified.

 

‘With a body that looks that strong…’

 

Imagining what he intended to do to her from now on, she felt strangely excited, but the fear was greater.

 

Iskal climbed over her body as if covering her and began to shower her with kisses. Their bodies were pressed together without a gap. Only when his lips moved to her neck did Estina push his shoulders with all her might.

 

Due to the large difference in their physiques, he wasn’t pushed away by her strength, but Iskal stopped what he was doing and looked at Estina’s face.

 

“Your Highness, no, Kal. Doing this so suddenly… I don’t think it’s right.”

 

At her words, Iskal’s eyes, which had been clouded with heat, became clear. He spoke in a desperate voice.

 

“I have waited too long. It’s been years that I’ve wanted you.”

 

“Y-you have to think about my feelings too! Starting with something like this…”

 

Unlike commoners, nobles often educated their daughters not to know men before marriage. Knowing this, Iskal accepted the reason for Estina’s panic.

 

‘True, you were born and raised as a Princess of Hertenes. For me, as long as the partner is you, the order doesn’t matter, but…’

 

Accepting this, Iskal slowly sat up.

 

“…Alright, I understand. That’s it for today.”

 

He was truly regretful, but worried that Estina might feel burdened, he showed a slight smile.

 

Estina watched him with slightly trembling eyes as he backed off so easily at her single word.

 

“I’ll go sleep. Good night, Estina.”

 

“Y-Your Highness too.”

 

Watching the door close behind him, Estina let out a long sigh.

 

‘I guess I have to use the Illusion Scent one more time. Otherwise, it’ll be too awkward to face His Highness tomorrow morning.’

 

She waited about an hour, then entered Iskal’s room cautiously, just like yesterday. Today too, he was sleeping straight on his bed.

 

Estina approached his bedside and waved a hand in front of his face.

 

At that moment. Iskal, who she thought was asleep, snapped his eyes open and yanked Estina’s wrists.

 

“Kyaa!”

 

The next instant, her body was flipped. Iskal climbed on top of her, pinning both her wrists down with his hands. Estina instantly found herself bound by him while lying on his bed.

 

Estina’s eyes, looking up at Iskal, trembled mercilessly. Iskal’s eyes turned to her hand clutching the bottle.

 

“What is this?”

 

“It’s not… poison. I wasn’t trying to harm Your Highness…”

 

At her trembling words, Iskal replied calmly.

 

“I know. You know well that as a Prince, I’ve built up immunity to various poisons. I’m also protected by the mana circulating in my body. So, what is this drug you were trying to use on me, whom you can’t poison anyway?”

 

There was no particular expression on Iskal’s face looking down at Estina. Because he believed she wouldn’t try to harm him. He was just genuinely curious about the identity of the drug. However, being interrogated in this position, Estina was nervous in many ways and felt suffocated.

 

“It’s not bad for the body… P-please let go of this and let’s talk…”

 

“No, answer first. If you don’t give a proper answer, I won’t let go.”

 

Estina sighed inwardly and finally opened her reluctant lips to speak forcefully.

 

“…It’s Illusion Scent.”

 

Though he rarely used magical potions, as the Mage Tower Master, Iskal understood immediately what it was.

 

“Aha. It’s my first time seeing it in person. I had completely forgotten such a thing existed.”

 

Thinking for a moment while looking at the bottle in her hand, he recalled something.

 

“Then, did you use this on me last night too?”

 

“…Yes.”

 

Estina answered resignedly, closing her eyes.

 

“Right, since it’s not poison, it worked on me too. Then, what I thought was a dream yesterday was reality.”

 

Finding the situation absurd, Iskal organized his thoughts and asked her.

 

“What is the reason you used that on me? Why did you try to erase such precious memories?”

 

Searching for words for a moment, Estina answered excusingly.

 

“To make… the things we did never happen. We are nothing to each other right now, so such things are…”

 

Iskal immediately refuted her gently.

 

“I thought we were long-time fiancés and lovers. Of course, this might be my own thought, but still, how can we be ‘nothing’?”

 

Deep disappointment was evident on his face as he said those words.

 

“Fiancés… That ended when I was designated as Prince Skark’s consort after Your Highness became the Grand Duke. And lovers in our precarious situation? Is that even plausible?”

 

Iskal had said ‘lovers’ thinking of the time they spent together at the Magic Academy, but Estina deliberately spoke in the future tense despite knowing that. At Estina’s words, the strength drained from Iskal’s hands holding her wrists.

 

When he let go, Estina, who had been lying under him, quickly sat up. Iskal stared at her blankly before opening his mouth.

 

“I am also thinking a lot about our situation. It’s true that my surroundings are unstable, and you must still be afraid of the Royal Family’s pursuit. But Estina, we talked earlier. This situation will end soon. I will return our fates to how they were originally. To the fate we possessed from birth.”

 

There was no wavering in his low voice persuading her.

 

‘If only the matter with the Royal Family is resolved, will everything be okay for us?’

 

Thinking about his words for a moment, Estina realized that wasn’t the case.

 

“Your Highness. If Your Highness becomes King,”

 

Estina’s voice came out trembling.

 

“The person who must become Queen is a direct descendant of the Huga family. Not me, a branch member, but Roabellin.”

 

The following thoughts were things she couldn’t say to Iskal.

 

‘But if Roabellin becomes Queen, the direct line of Hertenes will be cut off. So… our family cannot send the daughter of this generation to be Queen. But you, as King, must take Roa as your Queen. Because a daughter of the Huga family must not become another man’s wife… Therefore, Roa and I must run away from the Royal Family. Even if you bring down the Royal Family as planned, I cannot be by your side.’

 

To her, who was biting her lips unable to speak, Iskal spoke in a voice like one waking from a long dream. His slightly cracking voice was clearly filled with panic.

 

“Ah… There was… Roabellin.”

 

Iskal had only thought that he and Estina were a perfect match for each other, first as direct lines and later as branch members. But if he became King, it would be impossible to take a branch member as Queen while a direct descendant of the Huga family was alive and well.

 

“But, for me, it is only you. Roabellin is your niece. Watching her for a long time, I have also thought of that child as my niece. Then, if I do not become King…”

 

“No. Your Highness must become King.”

 

“A throne without you by my side has no meaning to me.”

 

Iskal spoke desperately, but Estina’s voice was firm.

 

“Only when the Royal Family is ousted and Your Highness sits on that throne can I live with peace of mind, no longer being chased. If Your Highness truly cares for me, please become King.”

 

“You want me to become a King… who cannot take you as Queen.”

 

Iskal’s voice sank deep. A dark shadow cast over his handsome face. After thinking with a dark expression for a while, he raised his head.

 

“I will find… a way, somehow. Until then, please do not leave me. I beg you.”

 

Holding Estina’s hand, he spoke pleadingly.

 

“…For now, just while we investigate at the Palace.”

 

It was a reluctant conditional acceptance, but Iskal was happy even with just that and pulled Estina into a sudden hug.

 

“Kyaa…”

 

At the sudden embrace, Estina let out a small scream. Holding her, he spoke low into her ear.

 

“I will definitely find a way… so trust me, and be my woman.”

 

While Estina hesitated on how to answer, Iskal’s lips, which had been kissing her neck, moved to her smooth collarbone. Fearing it would turn into a situation like earlier again, Estina quickly pushed his chest away.

 

“No, Your Highness. What if, by a one in a million chance, you end up taking Roa as your Queen? Until everything is certain, let’s keep the line.”

 

At her refusal, Iskal spoke desperately.

 

“I will definitely find a way-“

 

“No. I trust Your Highness, but this is too dangerous.”

 

Speaking firmly, Estina got off the bed and stood up.

 

“Let’s finish our investigation first, resolve the problems, and then think about it. Then, I’ll go sleep. Good night.”

 

“Ah…”

 

Estina quickly left his room without giving Iskal a chance to hold her back. Iskal, staring blankly at the door she left through for a long time, laughed with a self-deprecating smirk and muttered.

 

“…Good night, Estina. Dream of me.”

 

 

***

 

 

While Roabellin was waiting near the main gate of the Main Palace after delivering her message to the finance department, she heard whispering from behind the corner of the building.

 

“Haven’t you heard anything from the servants at the Emperor’s Palace?”

 

Since she belonged to the Emperor’s Palace, Roabellin’s ears naturally pricked up at the mention of it.

 

“They say His Majesty is incredibly vigorous. Doesn’t that mean there are already some servants in the Emperor’s Palace who have received his favor?”

 

‘What are they talking about? How would they know that?’

 

At the unexpected conversation, Roabellin leaned in to listen closely. Fortunately, someone asked the very question she was thinking.

 

“How do you know if His Majesty is vigorous or not?”

 

“The rumor has spread all over Byzantium; haven’t you heard it yet? They say every time His Majesty goes outside the Imperial Palace, he leaves several women fainting. Rumor has it he’s even more impressive than Young Baron Ratnen, who is famous as the Emperor of the Night.”

 

At the outrageous rumor, Roabellin felt dizzy.

 

‘Who is Baron Ratnen? Ha, Kai… He made such a fuss about me taking his purity. Was that a lie? He acted like that with me, but meanwhile, he’s been doing enough to spread rumors all over Byzantium…!!!’

 

Roabellin bit her lip. The palace servants, unaware she was listening, continued their chat.

 

“Is it true he’s that big, and his technique is amazing? They say he doesn’t get tired all night long.”

 

“Oh my, oh my. Tell me more details~!”

 

Rumors tend to inflate as they pass from mouth to mouth. The servants listed in great detail the stories they had picked up and embellished themselves.

 

As their specific descriptions continued, Roabellin unintentionally searched her memories. Memories of her first night spent with him fearlessly, not knowing he was the Emperor.

 

And unfortunately, the rumors about the exaggerated ‘enormous man’ matched the actual Kaisertern almost perfectly.

 

‘That… is all true. Seeing how specific the rumors are, it must really be…’

 

The servants’ chatter went on.

 

“If he’s rumored to be that vigorous, how did we inside the palace not know?”

 

“Well, since the person in question is here, he must have strictly gagged everyone in the palace. Or maybe, he doesn’t touch the women inside the palace and only does that when he goes out?”

 

“Huh? Then how come there are no imperial children yet? Is His Majesty perhaps impoten…”

 

“Shh! Hehehe. No way. Maybe he has a hidden heir—no, hidden heirs plural—being raised somewhere in secret. Since the Empress’s seat is still empty, maybe he can’t reveal them and is raising them in secret?”

 

“Since it’s natural for the Emperor to have multiple concubines anyway, would he really bother doing that?”

 

Listening to them, Roabellin suddenly remembered the Head Maid’s words.

 

‘His Majesty went out of the palace a little while ago. He said he would return very late today, so he told me to tell you not to wait and to go to sleep first.’

 

He had definitely gone to the women outside the palace today.

 

‘Earlier in the forest, he said he wanted me… He said it so desperately, yet he went straight to enjoy himself with other women…’

 

She felt a hollow ache in her chest. She felt foolish for believing he might be sincere.

 

‘What did I expect… I came here for my own purpose anyway. Did I actually think I would have true love with the Emperor?’

 

She had definitely come to use him for her own ends… at least, that was the case in the beginning. Strangely, her heart kept stinging, and tears welled up.

 

She didn’t even remember how she delivered the documents to the finance department. Roabellin returned to the Emperor’s Palace in a daze. She was supposed to go to the Emperor’s bedchamber, but right now, she didn’t even want to look at his bed.

 

She went into her small room and buried herself in her bed.

 

Her head felt empty, but sleep didn’t come, nor did tears fall. Becoming Kaisertern’s concubine was dangerous, and now that she couldn’t fully trust his sincerity, the thought that she just needed to leave the Imperial Palace quickly solidified into a firm resolve.

 

After lying there for a long time, she heard footsteps passing in front of her door.

 

The footsteps slowed down near her room, stopped for a moment, and then moved away again in the direction they were going. Since this was a room within the Emperor’s sleeping quarters, the only person who could pass by this room at this hour was Kaisertern.

 

Despite the Head Maid’s instructions to go to the bedchamber and wait for His Majesty, Roabellin did not leave her room even after hearing Kaisertern’s footsteps. She knew the Head Maid’s words weren’t simply about greeting him, but about serving him in bed. Roabellin didn’t have the confidence to look at his face as if nothing was wrong right now.

 

‘He must’ve just come back after having fun all night outside the palace… Disgusting. Is that just how emperors are? Or are all men like that?’

 

If he enjoyed himself enough to start such rumors, why did he care for and obsess over her so much? How could he look at her with such straight, unwavering eyes? She couldn’t understand.

 

*‘Does Kai sleep with that many women and care for all of them like this? Surely he wouldn’t only care about me. Or is he teasing me because I’m not clinging to him like other women, even after he revealed he’s the Emperor?’*

 

Because she was upset, all sorts of thoughts appeared and vanished repeatedly. It had been a long time since she lay down, but her mind was so noisy that she couldn’t sleep. Lying there with her eyes open, she recalled the assumptions she had made before leaving her home in Avery.

 

‘I thought if the Emperor was promiscuous, he wouldn’t care whether I ran away or not after sleeping with me. Back then, I even thought the Emperor might be impotent since he didn’t keep women close…’

 

It had only been about two months since she left home, but thinking about that time made it feel like ancient history.

 

‘Thinking about it now, I knew nothing back then. I learned about sex only through books, so I didn’t know about a real man’s body, and I didn’t know what kind of person the Emperor was… I came to the Imperial Palace fearlessly and survived only by luck. Right. Let’s look at it objectively. To Kai, I am just one of many women. Yet, the fact that he is paying attention to me is a very bad situation for my goal. This won’t do. Let’s not get dragged around by Kai anymore, let’s not give him my heart anymore, and let’s run away quickly. As soon as possible.’

 

Once she organized her thoughts and reached a conclusion, her head felt clearer. But strangely, her heart continued to ache.

 

 

***

 

 

Kaisertern parted ways with Terick Ratnen and returned to the Imperial Palace. He felt good, thinking that if he just did as he learned today, he could win Yulli’s heart completely in no time.

 

The fact that he was able to buy the “Sleeping Incense” at a discounted price because it was his second purchase also contributed to this mood. Even with the discount, it was still nearly 20 times the market price, but there was no way he would know such microscopic details of the economy.

 

‘It’s almost midnight. Since I told her not to wait and to sleep, Yulli must be sleeping in her quarters.’

 

Even though they had only been apart for a few hours, he already missed her. Kaisertern stopped for a moment in front of Yulli’s door, which was on the way to his room.

 

‘Should I just give her the sleeping incense…’

 

Hand raised to knock, he hesitated for a moment. But it was too late, and when he listened closely, her room was quiet.

 

‘It would be too much to wake her up to give her a small gift after I told her not to wait. Since I’ll see her tomorrow morning anyway, it’s better to give it to her then.’

 

He looked at the sleeping incense in his hand for a moment, then quietly moved his feet.

 

The next morning. Roabellin, who hadn’t slept a wink due to worrying all night, knocked on Kaisertern’s bedroom door with a face that couldn’t quite hide her fatigue.

 

“Your Majesty, it is Yulli. May I enter to assist with your washing?”

 

Kaisertern’s low, resonant voice came from inside.

 

“Yes. Come in.”

 

He was sitting on the bed, wearing a bathrobe with the waist loosely tied, welcoming Yulli. His firm chest and abs were half-exposed through the robe, but Yulli entered with her head bowed and didn’t even glance at his body. Kaisertern immediately noticed her gloomy mood.

 

“Why is your face so dark?”

 

At his question, Roabellin quickly composed her expression and answered stiffly.

 

“Ah, I couldn’t sleep well yesterday, so I fell asleep a bit late.”

 

Kaisertern noticed she was hiding something, but since it seemed to be a topic she didn’t want to discuss, he decided not to pry.

 

“…I see. Ah, come over here.”

 

Kaisertern picked up the sleeping incense he had placed on the nightstand next to the bed and handed it to her as she approached.

 

“I went downtown yesterday and bought this. It seemed effective seeing how you slept like the dead last time.”

 

He spoke with a hint of laughter in his voice, recalling Yulli falling asleep in his bath.

 

However, recalling the same memory, her face turned beet red. Suddenly embarrassed, she momentarily forgot that she was disappointed and angry with him.

 

“Ah, thank you…”

 

Roabellin bewilderedly accepted the sleeping incense he held out.

 

“Right. Feel free to use my bathroom whenever you need it.”

 

“N-no, that’s fine!!!”

 

Thanks to the sleeping incense and the memory of that day, the atmosphere, which had started somewhat subdued, brightened a little.

 

After washing his face, Kaisertern wiped his face with the towel Yulli handed him and spoke.

 

“I will be going outside the Imperial Palace for the weekend.”

 

Just as Roabellin thought, ‘Hmph, is he going to those women outside the palace again? Ah, then am I off duty?!’ Kaisertern continued.

 

“What are you thinking that makes your expression change so rapidly? You are accompanying me as my attendant.”

 

Wondering if her thoughts were that obvious on her face, Roabellin quickly lowered her head slightly.

 

“Ah, I, I see. Understood.”

 

“You look like you want to go out. Why, is this palace stifling? or do you want to leave altogether?”

 

At the question that hit the nail on the head, Roabellin answered while struggling to hide her awkwardness.

 

“No, it’s not that. Since Your Majesty said you were going… I naturally thought I should go with you.”

 

Roabellin forced a smile suitable for social life. Kaisertern smiled faintly seeing her flustered by his innocent question.

 

“Don’t be so flustered. I was joking. Anyway, since we are going for the weekend, get ready. I’ll have other servants prepare everything else, so you just need to pack your own things.”

 

“Yes. Where are we going?”

 

“I’ll tell you later. It’s not very far.”

 

Roabellin was curious about where they would be going for the weekend, but Kaisertern didn’t tell her until the end and went to work.

 

Before leaving, he turned back to Roabellin and gave her a pleasant smile. It was a smile so radiant it made her momentarily dizzy.

 

‘No, I can’t fall for that face. I have to run away from that man quickly. But why is he smiling so happily like that… Making me want to keep looking at him.’

 

Faced with his devastatingly handsome face and the bright smile hanging on it, Roabellin had to steady her swaying heart several times.

 

 

***

 

 

An attendant entered the office and announced to Kaisertern.

 

“Your Majesty, Count Raymond has arrived.”

 

“Yes. Let him in.”

 

Count Raymond entered the office, bowed briefly to show respect to the Emperor, and got straight to the point.

 

“Your Majesty. I have investigated the matter you asked about the other day.”

 

“Ah, about the platinum blonde hair and purple eyes. How was it?”

 

“I checked with a dozen people who frequently travel to neighboring countries, and it wasn’t much different from what I knew. Platinum blonde hair can be seen occasionally in Prahenfelt. However, it is said to be very rare in neighboring countries. And purple eyes are even rarer than platinum blonde hair, and moreover, they usually appear with black hair. People with platinum blonde hair mostly have blue eyes, and occasionally dark red or green eyes appear. However, among those I asked, none had ever seen the combination of platinum blonde hair and purple eyes Your Majesty mentioned. That means it is an incredibly rare trait.”

 

“Is that so…”

 

Kaisertern answered, recalling Terick Ratnen’s platinum blonde hair and blue eyes.

 

“It means it’s a very rare combination that goes against general genetic laws. At that level, is the probability low enough to identify a person solely by their appearance?”

 

“I believe so. Considering that a dozen people who have spent their lives trading across the empire and neighboring countries say they have never seen such a combination.”

 

“Then, pass this on to the informants dispatched to each country on the continent. Ask if there is, or was, anyone with the combination of platinum blonde hair and purple eyes in their region. Even if they’ve only heard rumors that such a person lived. Tell them to investigate every small clue and report back.”

 

“Yes.”

 

“And one more thing. Investigate the background of the child named Yulli, my personal attendant. This must be done very secretly. If necessary, Evan, you may go yourself. That implies how important this is.”

 

“Understood.”

 

Count Raymond bowed as he answered and withdrew.

 

After hearing Count Raymond’s report, Kaisertern thought of Yulli as an even more unique and unparalleled existence. And once again, someone from his hazy memories came to mind.

 

‘She has a very similar appearance to Roabellin, and is the same age… But that child is likely dead. I even buried her with her family. Furthermore, even if by some chance she is alive, she would either return to her status as a duke’s daughter or live quietly in hiding. What reason would she have to infiltrate the Imperial Palace of another country?’

 

Thinking of Roabellin and Yulli as the same person felt like too many pieces didn’t fit.

 

‘For now, let’s wait for the reports from the informants. Something might turn up.’

 

Sitting at his desk, Kaisertern fell into deep thought.

 

Due to preparing for the sudden trip, the servants of the Emperor’s Palace were busy all day the day before departure. Even for a short trip, since it was the Emperor moving, no part could be neglected.

 

Roabellin asked several maids of the Emperor’s Palace who were bustling about where Kaisertern was going, but no one knew exactly. Eventually, she grabbed Joyce, the maid she was closest to, and asked.

 

“Does really no one know where His Majesty is going?”

 

At her question, the kind-natured Joyce tilted her head.

 

“I only heard that His Majesty is going to rest because he’s been exhausted from heavy work lately. Maybe if you ask the knights accompanying him this time, they might know.”

 

“I don’t know any knights… It feels awkward to go around asking people I don’t know well. If it’s for rest, where does His Majesty usually go?”

 

“Well? At least since I entered the palace, His Majesty has never gone on a retreat, so I don’t know.”

 

“What? Joyce, how long have you been in the palace?”

 

“Seven years. I’ve served His Majesty since he was in the 3rd Prince’s Palace.”

 

“Gosh… You mean he hasn’t rested once in seven years?”

 

To the surprised Roabellin, Joyce spoke as if whispering.

 

“He’s someone who only works, and he rarely gets tired. His Majesty is a bit… not quite human, you know. Maybe because he’s not 100% human…”

 

“Huh? Not human? What does that mean?”

 

“Shh, lower your voice, Yulli. There is a story that the former Empress had dragon blood, but it’s not exactly known if His Majesty inherited the dragon’s abilities. However, seeing that he possesses magical power that completely overwhelms his two older brothers, the rumor seems true. There’s talk that his stamina, strength, concentration, hearing, and various physical abilities far exceed those of a human.”

 

“Aha…”

 

Roabellin inadvertently recalled the tremendous stamina he had shown in bed on the last night of the Vicent Festival and her mouth fell open slightly.

 

‘Ah, so that’s why…’

 

Not knowing what Roabellin was thinking, Joyce found Roabellin’s stunned expression cute and continued her story.

 

“The former Empress was one thing, but the former Emperor’s blood was also formidable in its mystery. The royalty of this country truly has a special lineage. Do you know that the direct princes go through something called an ‘Explosion’?”

 

“A person explodes? What does that mean?”

 

Roabellin asked with sparkling eyes at the fascinating story she was hearing for the first time. Joyce answered, satisfied with her reaction.

 

“Fufu, not literally explode. It’s a metaphorical expression. Princes, after the period of secondary sexual characteristics, undergo an ‘Explosion’ when they fall in love for the first time. For our Emperor, it was when he was 15. So, that was 8 years ago.”

 

Joyce looked at Roabellin’s round eyes and continued with a solemn face, as if leaking a great secret.

 

“A body that was like a young boy’s grows into an adult man’s body in just a few days.”

 

“What?! How is that…”

 

While surprised by her words, Roabellin imagined it and suddenly felt that this story was somehow familiar.

 

‘I’ve never heard such a strange story in my life… why does it feel like I’ve heard it from someone before?’

 

Joyce continued excitedly.

 

“While sick with fever and severe body aches for a few days, the body grows rapidly at a tremendous speed. It must hurt to grow so fast, right? Usually, it takes about a week to ten days, but the current Emperor completed his growth in just 3 days. They say the more sincere the love, the more intense the feelings, the faster it ends. In my opinion, it might be because dragon blood flows in him… Isn’t it amazing?”

 

“Yes, just like…”

 

Roabellin was about to answer, ‘Just like a eucalyptus tree after the rain,’ but stopped at a strange sense of déjà vu.

 

‘Did I ever say… that a person growing this fast is like a eucalyptus tree after rain? Or am I distorting my memory with a metaphor I heard from someone?’

 

Because Roabellin started to speak and then stopped quietly, Joyce didn’t seem to hear.

 

“I entered the palace the year after His Majesty, I mean, back then he was the 3rd Prince, completed his Explosion, so I didn’t see him before he exploded. Working in the palace, I feel it’s a pity I didn’t get to witness firsthand the amazing event of the person I serve becoming an adult in an instant.”

 

“True… I’m curious about His Majesty’s childhood appearance too. Right now, how should I put it, he’s such a large, no, such a complete man, I can’t really imagine his young self.”

 

While nodding along appropriately, Roabellin suddenly realized something was missing from Joyce’s story.

 

“Oh, right. First love isn’t something you do staring at a wall. There must have been a partner. What happened to His Majesty’s first love? Did it work out?”

 

“Ah, usually when a prince explodes, they tend to marry him to that first love. Since royal marriages are early anyway. If the status doesn’t match well, they might bring her in as a concubine instead of a princess consort.”

 

“Ah… Then did His Majesty also…?”

 

Since the Empress’s seat was currently empty, Roabellin momentarily almost imagined Kaisertern as a widower who lost his wife early. Fortunately, Joyce noticed her unfinished question and answered.

 

“No, His Majesty didn’t bring that first love into the palace.”

 

“Seeing that he completed the ‘Explosion’ so quickly, His Majesty must have liked that first love very much… Why didn’t he bring her?”

 

“I don’t know exactly about that part either.”

 

Suddenly, another voice cut into their conversation.

 

“They say that first love died before she could be brought into the palace. Seeing as there was no obituary for a noble young lady at that time, she must not have been a noble of our empire.”

 

Roabellin and Joyce turned to the side in surprise to see the Head Maid, Countess Molly, approaching.

 

“Ah, Head Maid.”

 

The two chatterboxes quickly bowed their heads slightly to greet the Head Maid.

 

“His Majesty went abroad as a congratulatory envoy just before the Explosion. So, we only guess that the partner might have been a young lady from that country. Now, if your curiosity is satisfied, go do your work. Don’t go spreading stories about His Majesty elsewhere; keep it to yourselves.”

 

“Ah, yes, yes!”

 

Roabellin and Joyce answered quickly and tried to disappear from the Head Maid’s view. But the Head Maid gently grabbed Roabellin’s shoulder and whispered.

 

“I personally chose the clothes for you to take tomorrow and sent them to your room. Using an aphrodisiac would be best, but since we can’t recklessly put things in what His Majesty consumes, we have no choice but to put our heart and soul into your adornment. I’ll make sure to pack several bottles of liquor good for men in the luggage, so you must succeed on this trip!”

 

The Head Maid clenched her fist in front of Roabellin’s face, making a playful gesture to cheer her on. Her intention was so blatant it was impossible to misunderstand. But since she couldn’t nod in agreement, Roabellin avoided her burdensome gaze and tried to pretend she didn’t understand.

 

“S-suc-succeed at what…”

 

“You just need to drape yourself roughly in the clothes I gave you and serve His Majesty plenty of alcohol. Then His Majesty will take care of the rest.”

 

The Head Maid’s eyes shone slyly.

 

“Ha, haha… Such things should be left to the countless noble ladies who wish to catch His Majesty’s eye…”

 

“It would be good if that were possible. But, what can we do when you are the only woman His Majesty has given his heart to so far? Now is not the time to be nitpicking about nobility or whatever. His Majesty has two older brothers alive; what will happen if he doesn’t see an imperial child soon? You must bear one quickly.”

 

“Imperial child, an imperial child? Me, me?”

 

Roabellin stammered, feeling guilty as if her purpose had been discovered.

 

“Eh, ey, how could a commoner from a foreign country like me… That is preposterous. And… I heard rumors.”

 

“What rumors?”

 

“That, His Majesty, um… keeps many women close… That he often goes outside the Imperial Palace to enjoy the night with various women…”

 

Embarrassed by the content as she spoke, Roabellin’s voice trailed off.

 

“So… wouldn’t he already be doing… that necessary work even if it’s not necessarily me…?”

 

Countess Molly knew roughly about the rumor too, but she had dismissed it as impossible. She let out a light sigh.

 

“I wish he would, please. I don’t know what he does outside the palace, but at least inside the palace, the Emperor I’ve seen my whole life has had absolutely no interest in the opposite sex. If I weren’t so worried, would I be pestering you, a foreigner and commoner as you say?”

 

At the story contradicting the rumors, Roabellin tilted her head.

 

“Anyway! Don’t mind the idle gossip, just be faithful to your role. Now, go finish your work quickly, and sleep well tonight. You must succeed on this trip, understand?”

 

“…….”

 

In the end, Roabellin had to turn away having only heard unexpected information about Kaisertern’s lineage and history, without finding out where their destination was.

 

 

***

 

 

“Have a peaceful night.”

 

“Yes. Sleep well, Yulli.”

 

That night, after leaving Kaisertern’s bedchamber and returning to her own room, Roabellin could not easily fall asleep.

 

‘Right. I don’t know where we are going tomorrow, but this is a golden opportunity to escape the Imperial Palace and Kai.’

 

It felt like a divinely timed opportunity dropped from the sky.

 

If she succeeded in escaping, today would be her last day in this room and in the Imperial Palace. It meant she only had one or two days left to see the man named Kaisertern.

 

Recalling him as she had seen him just a while ago in his chambers, she felt a pang of regret at the thought of never seeing him again.

 

‘Looks aside, and forgetting that he is the Emperor, he has actually given me nothing but warm memories. Where else in the world could I meet a man like that?’

 

She started to feel sorrowful about her situation, having to leave such a perfect man, but Roabellin quickly persuaded herself otherwise.

 

‘No, let’s not think like that. He’s a man who says he wants me to my face, then goes straight to other women. If he gives me the position of concubine when he doesn’t even love only me, that would be an even bigger disaster. Wait, if he embraces so many women but still has no imperial children… As the servants said back then, maybe he really is a man who cannot produce children. If that’s true, since I need a child, there is even less reason for me to stay by Kai’s side.’

 

Thinking this way made her sigh, but a certainty that she was making the right choice to leave him also began to spread in her heart.

 

‘Let’s just be satisfied that I had something resembling a romance with such an incredibly handsome man, even for a short while, and leave. Right, I made a wish at the festival that I wanted to date! That wish has definitely come true. Now that I’ve experienced the romance I dreamed of, I should focus on my mission as the last direct descendant of the Huga family without regrets. Goodbye, Kai. I am leaving! You go live happily with your other women!!!’

 

Turning the direction of her sorrowful heart toward positive thoughts gave her strength.

 

‘Tomorrow is finally the day!!!’

 

By this point, her mind was so clear that sleep seemed out of the question, so Roabellin sat at her desk to plan her escape. However, it was daunting because she had no information about their destination.

 

‘Phew… Since I don’t know where we’re going. Let’s just think within the bounds of common sense. Dividing it into the journey there, the lodging, and the return trip. First, on the way there, Kai will ride in the Emperor’s carriage, and I’ll probably ride in the servants’ carriage or on a horse.’

 

Roabellin recalled the few experiences she had going out with her parents when she was a young lady of the duchy.

 

‘I might be able to slip away when we stop for a break. But once the break is over, my disappearance will be noticed immediately. There’s no way I could get very far in that short time… So the success rate for this is low.’

 

Having crossed out one escape idea, she thought that if her divine power were intact, it would have been helpful in some way.

 

‘Even if my divine power were intact, given the nature of my abilities, teleportation would have been difficult anyway. Still… couldn’t I have at least hopped on the back of a wild animal and controlled it to run? Haa… Since it was blocked before it properly manifested, I’ve never tried it, so I can’t know.’

 

A sigh escaped her lips out of regret. She tried to think of other methods for now.

 

‘Then, at the lodging. Yes. This is when the probability of success is highest. Kai will have time to rest alone, and since I’m a maid, I can move freely in and out of the lodging under the pretext of working. Then I can naturally leave the lodging and go to the magic shop in the nearest village. Most magic shops have teleportation devices, so I just need to move to a magic shop near my home in Avery.’

 

Roabellin took her bag out of the closet and counted her money. It was the money she earned selling the magic potion at the shop where she first met Kaisertern, plus a little earned working as a palace maid.

 

‘I spent almost all the money I brought from Avery before entering the palace, but the balance is still higher than I thought. It was a good idea to sell the potion back then. This is definitely enough for a one-way teleportation fee. Great!’

 

Leaving Kaisertern was regrettable, but the thought of seeing her beloved aunt and the servants who had become like family again brightened her mood.

 

‘Trapped here, I can’t plan for the future of the Huga family, and if by some chance I really become a concubine, it becomes too dangerous… Let’s live with peace of mind in a safe place with my people whom I can trust. I’ll think about the Emperor’s child later. For now, my safety comes first.’

 

Having organized her money well, Roabellin packed her bags. She hadn’t brought much luggage when she came to the Emperor’s Palace in the first place, but if the personal luggage of a maid attending the Emperor was unnecessarily large, it could arouse suspicion, so she couldn’t even take all of that.

 

‘Let’s just pack the one set of comfortable clothes I wore when I first came to Byzantium and the magic potions.’

 

Just in case she was caught, she hid the magic potions well in a secret pocket inside the bag. She had to leave behind other comfortable clothes and her only cotton dress.

 

‘I’ve grown attached to these, so it’s a bit sad. Then I guess I should pack the clothes the Head Maid gave me to wear while attending. Let’s see… Ugh.’

 

Roabellin screamed internally as she held up the clothes the Head Maid had given her. As expected, the clothes she sent were all extremely revealing.

 

‘Is this… something I should wear? Or not wear? Oh my goodness… This one is even worse!’

 

After agonizing for a moment holding the ridiculous clothes, Roabellin went to the closet and took out a modest black maid uniform she used to wear.

 

‘What is the point of all that when I’m running away? Let’s just work wearing this, and run away as is.’

 

What she needed most were clothes that would be least conspicuous when escaping. After thinking for a moment holding the maid uniforms, Roabellin picked one that was slightly less revealing than the others and packed it in her bag.

 

‘Hmm… If a situation arises where I won’t be caught by other servants, I might spend one last night with Kai, right? Kai said he wouldn’t appoint me as a concubine if I didn’t want it anyway. Yes, it’s the day the only romance of my life ends. I want to spend a happy time for the last time. Just for one day, just for the last night, I want to be greedy. And after that, I’ll leave without regrets.’

 

Honestly, she didn’t want to leave Kaisertern, and she wanted to date him a little longer. Roabellin made long excuses to herself to ignore her true feelings.

 

Since she had little luggage, it didn’t take long to pack. After packing her bag, Roabellin lay down on the bed. Her heart raced at the thought of running away, so sleep didn’t come quickly.

 

As she lay there thinking about this and that, she remembered the story she heard from her fellow maid Joyce during the day.

 

‘To think a person grows explosively in just a few days… Is that possible? It’s fascinating. Then Kai, who is so big now, must have looked like a boy before the explosion. What kind of person was the first love Kai fell for? She must have been young, around Kai’s age at the time, but why did she die?’

 

She became curious about Kai’s childhood, which she hadn’t seen, and the person he had loved. Her thoughts branched out, one after another.

 

‘Like a Eucalyptus tree… Somehow I feel like I said those words to someone at some point… I feel like I’ve heard a story about people growing suddenly like this somewhere too… Why can’t I remember?’

 

Strangely, she felt uneasy, as if she had been living having forgotten something. But no matter how much she thought about it, that memory seemed just out of reach, never grasped clearly.

 

At the same time. Kaisertern couldn’t sleep for a different reason than Roabellin.

 

‘I hope Yulli likes that place too… nominally she is my attending maid, but I should let her rest as much as possible, avoiding the eyes of the servants. I told them to decorate the garden and the entire lodging with the most romantic atmosphere possible, I wonder if it’s done well.’

 

Honestly speaking, he was excited. He felt like a boy facing his first date. Dreaming not even in his wildest dreams that she was planning to run away from him, Kaisertern was only agonizing over ways to firmly catch her anxiously wavering heart.

 

‘If I succeed in winning Yulli’s heart for sure this time, I should give Baron Ratnen a separate reward.’

 

Imagining the time he would spend with her at the resort, Kaisertern couldn’t fall asleep for a long time.

 

And at that time, there was one more person who couldn’t sleep.

 

“As expected… I knew a gap like this would appear someday.”

 

The spy planted in the Emperor’s Palace had just reported to Radak that Kaisertern was going outside the palace tomorrow with Yulli in tow. Thinking it was a golden opportunity, the corners of his mouth curled up high.

 

“Finally, the daughter of the Huga family is coming out of the palace. Isn’t Aire right next to my territory? If she comes that far, I’d be very grateful. Heh heh…”

 

Radak smiled even more deeply, recalling Roabellin’s dazzling beauty.

 

‘According to the information, Kai hasn’t made her a concubine yet. Then I have a chance too. I’ll have to cause a disturbance at the lodging at night to get that girl to come outside. As long as she’s separated from Kai, kidnapping her or whatever is a piece of cake. I’ll take her to the Grand Duke’s residence by any means necessary. After that, I’ll never let you go, pretty lady.’

 

Because he had a half-brother who was too outstanding, he was someone who hadn’t even dared to fight. He felt like the throne, which he had to turn his back on even though it was right in front of him, was now approaching right in front of him.

 

 

***

 

 

The next morning. Roabellin woke up with a slightly foggy head from sleeping fitfully, got ready, and looked around the room one last time.

 

‘The attendant took my personal bag earlier to load onto the carriage, and I packed everything I needed last night… It’s all done.’

 

Once she left this room now, she would never return. It was just a small maid’s room, and she hadn’t used it for very long. It seemed she had grown a little attached.

 

‘Leaving is always instantaneous. The night Hertenes’ castle burned, when I left my home in Avery saying I would bear the Emperor’s child, and today too… I always leave as if being chased.’

 

Roabellin, who had been lost in thought for a moment, raised her head again.

 

‘Right, let’s rebuild the Huga family quickly. Rebuild it, settle down stably, and live happily with my family. I just need to stay alert and escape well today.’

 

Roabellin looked around the small room one last time, then left.

 

When she went down to the entrance of the Emperor’s Palace, a large, magnificent carriage was standing in front. It was a black carriage trimmed with vine-shaped gold frames, giving it a luxurious yet beautiful feel. The imperial crest was affixed to the side of the carriage.

 

In fact, since a carriage that was too flashy could become a target for bandits, high-ranking nobles and royalty often deliberately rode in carriages with simple designs when traveling a bit far.

 

Knowing that, Roabellin was a little puzzled, but thinking that the person inside that carriage was Kaisertern, not just an ordinary emperor, she naturally understood.

 

‘True, they say he possesses the greatest magical power on the continent, so what would he be worried about? Actually, he probably doesn’t even need guards. With dragon’s blood mixed into his lineage… if anything, we should be worried about the bandits foolish enough to attack his carriage.’

 

Since almost all the luggage seemed to be loaded, there were few servants coming and going now. Most of the accompanying people, including knights and servants, seemed to have already boarded their carriages.

 

After briefly examining the carriage the Emperor would ride in, Roabellin turned to go to the carriage for the attending staff.

 

At that moment, Kaisertern came out of the Emperor’s Palace. Dressed more casually than usual for his vacation, he looked not like an Emperor burdened with a heavy empire, but just a young, handsome noble man. Roabellin internally marveled at his seemingly glowing figure.

 

‘No, why is my heart racing all of a sudden?’

 

As Kaisertern approached, several servants loading luggage onto the wagon stopped and bowed to him. Roabellin also stepped aside to the side of the road and bowed her head, afraid he might hear her pounding heart.

 

Kaisertern walked briskly toward his carriage. His feet stopped in front of Roabellin, who was looking only at the ground, waiting for him to pass her and get into the carriage.

 

‘…?’

 

Puzzled, Roabellin gently raised her head and met Kaisertern’s eyes, which were looking down at her with an indifferent face. He opened his mouth.

 

“Why are you here?”

 

True to his style, it was a concise tone without much explanation, but his voice held a faint tenderness. Roabellin, blank for a moment at the question that popped out without context, realized she hadn’t understood his question.

 

‘What do you mean? You told me to follow and attend you on your vacation. Ah! You mean why haven’t I boarded the carriage yet.’

 

“Ah, yes! I am late. I will go and board immediately.”

 

Roabellin bowed deeply to Kaisertern and turned to go to the carriage where the attending staff rode. But Kaisertern quickly reached out and grabbed her arm.

 

“Ah…”

 

Suddenly caught by his strong grip, Roabellin stumbled slightly. But paradoxically, thanks to him holding on tight, she didn’t fall.

 

“Ah, I must not have controlled my strength. I apologize. Where are you going? You are over there.”

 

Kaisertern pointed his thumb with his other hand toward the Emperor’s carriage over there.

 

“Pardon? Why would I… I am over there, the attending…”

 

Roabellin tried to say, ‘I should go to the attending staff’s carriage,’ but Kaisertern cut her off.

 

“No, since you are my personal attending maid, you must always stay by my side. The two of us will ride in that carriage. Get in.”

 

Roabellin looked up at the Emperor’s magnificent carriage. It looked very large and sturdy. And although there were small windows on both sides, it was structured so that if the curtains were closed, no one outside could see what was happening inside.

 

‘It might take several hours, and I have to go alone with him in a narrow carriage? What kind of service am I supposed to provide inside a carriage…’

 

While Roabellin hesitated, feeling troubled, suddenly her body was lifted into the air.

 

“Eek!”

 

Kaisertern lightly lifted her with one arm, draped her over his broad shoulder, opened the carriage door with his other hand, and climbed in. Roabellin’s mind went blank at the thought that someone might be watching this scene. But since she was officially in a position where she had to obey him, Roabellin couldn’t even struggle and just held onto Kaisertern’s back.

 

“Your Majesty…!”

 

Contrary to her urgent voice, Kaisertern’s voice was relaxed.

 

“The carriage looked a bit high for you to climb, and there was no step stool. So, my service.”

 

Having spoken with a playful voice, he looked at the attendant closing the carriage door and raised his index finger to his lips.

 

It meant to keep his mouth shut about what he just saw. The seasoned attendant, who had served him for a long time, answered by bowing silently instead.

 

‘Getting into a carriage while being held by Kai… Oh my god! What if others saw?’

 

The carriage departed, carrying Roabellin, whose head was spinning, and Kaisertern, who was looking at her with eyes subtly full of playfulness.

 

Roabellin sat opposite Kaisertern for now. She sat down because she was flustered from being carried in, but as she calmed down a little, the interior of the carriage gradually came into view.

 

A long sofa wrapped around three sides, excluding the side with the carriage door. The sofa was finished in dark red velvet, and the backrest was rimmed with gold, adding luxury and splendor. A large table was placed in the center, and there were even several palm-sized portraits and paintings in fancy frames hanging on the walls.

 

‘Wow… It’s just the inside of a carriage, but it looks like a miniature noble’s drawing room. I thought the carriage of our family back in the day would be the last carriage I’d ride in my life, but to enjoy the luxury of riding in the Emperor’s carriage like this. Since I’m leaving today, this is also the first and last time in my life.’

 

Kaisertern was sitting back in a relaxed posture, watching Roabellin, who was busy looking around the carriage alone.

 

“Take your time looking around.”

 

“Pardon? Ah, no. I’ve seen it all.”

 

“Sit comfortably. You look tired; you can sleep if you want.”

 

“No, thank you. More importantly… where are we going right now?”

 

To her question, Kaisertern answered readily.

 

“Aire Hot Springs. There is a hot spring resort and palace owned by the Imperial Family there.”

 

It was a place she had heard of too.

 

‘If it’s Aire, we must be heading west right now. That’s the direction moving away from Avery. Then the teleportation fee will go up too… Well, it’s fine. I still have a little money to spare.’

 

Having quickly finished even realistic worries, she quickly responded to him.

 

“I see. But why go to a hot spring all of a sudden? I heard you rarely rest usually.”

 

“Before, I didn’t feel like going to such a place alone. This time, I suggested going because I wanted to rest quietly with just the two of us. I thought you would like it too.”

 

It was an uncharacteristically sincere answer, but he couldn’t say his real purpose out loud.

 

‘If we soak in the warm hot springs and are just the two of us, maybe your heart toward me will open too.’

 

Hot springs were very rare across the entire continent, so unless they were small hot springs deep in the mountains, most were occupied by imperial and royal families and high-ranking nobles. Because of this, commoners often didn’t even know hot springs existed, and even if they did, most people lived their whole lives without ever soaking in one.

 

Even in Aventador, there were only two hot spring resorts in the entire kingdom, and both were owned by the royal family. Thanks to that, Roabellin had been able to visit very occasionally when she was young.

 

But because it was when she was young, Roabellin didn’t think of it as a special experience that not just anyone could have, and just scoffed internally.

 

‘Hmph, so you just boasted about your stamina to all those women and didn’t even go on a trip with them? For an Emperor, to only keep one-night stands that aren’t even mistresses. His taste is truly bizarre. Is that why one night with me was so easy too…’

 

Thinking about how they spent the night together just two days after meeting, she felt bitter thinking she was just one of the countless, easy one-night stands to him.

 

‘And resting with me? He should speak correctly. Telling me to attend him without giving me a vacation even on the day he goes to rest! Honestly, if he had left me behind, it would have been a million times easier for me to escape!!’

 

Thinking up to that point, she found him somewhat detestable, so she deliberately spoke indifferently.

 

“Ah… Yes. I like hot springs. But Your Majesty will be going in, so does it matter what I like? While Your Majesty rests in the hot springs, I’ll just take a walk nearby.”

 

She distanced herself by emphasizing her position as a maid, but her jaw dropped at Kaisertern’s following words.

 

“What are you talking about? You are the only maid I brought this time; where would you go? When I enter the bath, you must attend to my bathing.”

 

‘Bathing attendant?!’

 

Roabellin’s pupils trembled mercilessly. Kaisertern smiled small and playfully seeing her like that, but internally he thought differently.

 

‘She likes hot springs… That means she’s been to one. It’s not completely impossible for a commoner, but given the clues so far, the probability that this is also an experience as a noble is very high. I’ll reveal your identity soon once we return. I hope Evan completes the investigation quickly.’

 

Still wrapped in shock, Roabellin lost her words and turned her head out the window.

 

‘Oh my god… Bathing attendant. Then, what time will Kai go to sleep at night? To sneak out pretending to work at that hour…’

 

Beautiful scenery passed by outside the window, but her head was full of escape plans.

 

Watching her beautiful profile, Kaisertern moved his seat next to her. And as he naturally wrapped his arm around her waist, Roabellin gasped in surprise.

 

“Ah…”

 

Roabellin instantly found herself sitting close to him, half-embraced. Since she was in the middle of thinking about running away, she was flustered, feeling as if her thoughts had been caught, and couldn’t even think to push him away.

 

Kaisertern turned his upper body slightly toward her, faced Roabellin sitting next to him, and spoke in a low voice.

 

“I didn’t know you liked sightseeing this much. Let’s come out together often from now on.”

 

His breath touching her ear directly was erotic, causing Roabellin to hold her breath for a moment.

 

“Actually, I could have teleported the entire party through a magic gate this time. But I thought watching the scenery with you like this would also make for a good trip. That’s why I deliberately took the time to go by carriage.”

 

Hearing that, Roabellin inadvertently opened her mouth a little.

 

“T-thank you. But, moving this entire party by gate…?”

 

‘The fee for using a magic tool to teleport just a single person is formidable. But to move this many people and all this luggage, a distance of several hours by carriage, via teleportation?’

 

The more she thought about it, the scale was tremendous. To her, Kaisertern answered in a nonchalant tone.

 

“The Imperial Archmage is competent, so that much is a routine task. He is away for a moment right now, so I intended to do it myself this time.”

 

At his words, Roabellin had to remind herself again that Kaisertern possessed overflowing magical power on the level of a Mage Tower Master.

 

“I heard Your Majesty is also the possessor of tremendous magical power, so for such a Majesty to acknowledge him as competent… The Archmage must be a truly amazing person.”

 

“That’s right. He is a subject I trust very much, both in ability and character.”

 

Thinking of Archmage Iskal, Kaisertern suddenly remembered Yulli going to find the Mage Tower Master to treat her blocked energy flow. The day they ran into each other at the magic supply shop.

 

“Ah, is your energy flow still in that state?”

 

“Yes, there hasn’t been any change since Your Majesty gave me emergency treatment before…”

 

While answering inadvertently, Roabellin remembered waking up in his bed wearing only her underwear the next morning.

 

Remembering how flustered she had been that morning, Roabellin couldn’t bring herself to finish the sentence and trailed off.

 

‘I’m sure he did it because it was necessary for the treatment, but it’s still embarrassing!’

 

But Kaisertern’s focus was on a completely different part.

 

“You keep calling me Your Majesty today. I’m getting tired of pointing it out every time.”

 

Kaisertern’s gaze sharpened slightly.

 

“From now on, never call me Your Majesty when it’s just the two of us. It feels distant.”

 

It was true that Roabellin had deliberately called him that to keep a psychological distance with the intention of leaving him, but in this situation, she had an excuse.

 

“We are inside a carriage. I did it just in case the coachman hears.”

 

At that, Kaisertern pointed to a small window equipped with a sliding door leading to the coachman’s seat and said, “If we open that window from our side, the coachman hears our words. But if it’s closed, or if the coachman opens it from his side, our words aren’t heard on that side without my permission. This entire carriage also has soundproofing magic cast on it to block internal sounds.”

 

It was a device installed to prevent any secret stories from leaking to the coachman’s seat in case the Emperor spoke of them.

 

For the same reason, carriages of high-ranking nobles were often designed with physical soundproofing. Of course, there were almost no nobles who wastefully used precious and expensive magic for information security inside a carriage that wasn’t even a house.

 

“So, even if you call me Kai here, or even scream loudly, it won’t be heard outside.”

 

Saying that, Kaisertern smiled an enigmatic smile.

 

“…?”

 

The moment after Roabellin looked up at him with puzzled eyes, Kaisertern lifted her up and sat her on his firm thighs.

 

“Eek!!”

 

Looking at Roabellin’s face, Kaisertern said with a playful expression.

 

“Yes, I mean no one can hear even if you scream like this.”