Chapter 11

“Father, did you call for me?”

 

Marquis Rodain welcomed his daughter as she entered his study, gesturing for her to take a seat.

 

“Yes, Elina. An invitation for you arrived from the Imperial Palace.”

 

“Oh? What kind of invitation?” Elina’s light green eyes sparkled with anticipation.

 

“His Majesty is hosting a small tea party for the young nobles of Vicentium.”

 

“Wow, I was invited? Does this mean I finally get to see the Imperial Palace?”

 

Despite being the daughter of a Marquis, Elina had never set foot inside the palace because there had been almost no parties or celebrations held there since she reached adulthood. Her face lit up at the thought of finally seeing its legendary splendor. A smile spread across the face of the Marquis, who doted on his only daughter.

 

“Look at you, are you that happy? Well, while you’re there, try to make an impression on the Emperor. He is still single, after all.”

 

At those words, Elina frowned slightly. “Oh, Father. I’ve heard the Emperor is a terrifying man. I’d rather…”

 

Elina’s face flushed as she thought of the handsome Young Baron Ratnen. Since the rumors of Itanistad’s ‘Emperor of the Night’ circulated mostly among the young male nobility, she was blissfully unaware of such talk.

 

“Why? Is there another young gentleman who has captured your heart? Who is it?”

 

“N-no! It’s nothing like that! By the way, do you happen to know who else was invited to the party?”

 

“I’m not sure. I only heard it was the prominent young nobles of Vicentium.”

 

“Then… do you think Young Baron Ratnen might be invited? He isn’t originally from Vicentium, but he’s very active here and even has a house in the city…”

 

Fortunately, the Marquis wasn’t particularly quick-witted when it came to romance, and he answered nonchalantly.

 

“Perhaps. Even if His Majesty left him off the list, I imagine Count Raymond would have seen to it that he was invited. It seems he’s quite close with the Count.”

 

Elina’s beautiful face instantly beamed with joy. She barely managed a quick goodbye to her father before spinning around and heading for the door.

 

“Father, I’m going now!”

 

“Where are you going in such a hurry?”

 

“I have to start preparing for the party!!”

 

“There are still three weeks left—”

 

Before the Marquis could finish his sentence, the study door slammed shut.

 

 

***

 

 

For two weeks, Roabellin pretended to work quietly while secretly preparing her escape. However, Kaisertern wouldn’t let her go from evening until dawn every day, and since she had to help with chores at the Emperor’s Palace in the afternoon, she rarely had a moment to focus her thoughts.

 

‘But I have to think. I don’t know when another chance like this will come. Besides, lately, every night with Kai… sigh. If I get pregnant while I’m trapped like this, what will I do? Kai said it himself—if that happens, his hands would be tied…’

 

Exhausted, she failed to notice Iskal watching her as she moved to and fro in the palace, or that Kaisertern was looking at the tattoo on her back with increasing intensity while they were in bed.

 

‘At least I’ve been to that villa before. Since I’ve escaped from there once, I know the surrounding geography a bit. Just in case, I should pack some sleeping incense and other non-toxic medicines. To navigate the mountain paths at night, I could produce light from my hands… no, a magic potion that allows me to see in the dark would be better…’

 

Roabellin meticulously planned her escape—likely her final opportunity—considering various scenarios. Two weeks passed in this manner, and the day arrived for Roabellin and Kaisertern to head to the villa.

 

 

***

 

 

Today’s official schedule was for Kaisertern to tour Vicentium incognito, then spend the night at a villa located in the city before returning. However, in a break from protocol, Kaisertern refused to allow any security personnel, bringing only Yulli under the guise of personal service.

 

The veteran Head Maid, sensing the unusual arrangement, seemed to have caught on to the situation.

 

“Yulli. His Majesty had the house cleaned in advance and arranged for the food to be prepared so that it only needs reheating. So, even if you’re on your own, it won’t be too much work.”

 

“Ah… that’s a relief.”

 

“Yes. So you make sure to… well, you know? Have a wonderful time with His Majesty.”

 

“Haha… Well, I’ll be going now!”

 

“Yes, good luck! Make sure it happens today!!”

 

“Hahaha…”

 

Roabellin gave a vague response and quickly hurried away from the Head Maid. Back in her small room, she changed into her traveling clothes, mentally reviewing the day’s schedule and her own plan. Her heart was heavy.

 

‘My departure is set in stone. If I want to survive, I have to leave this time. My original plan when I first came to Prahenfelt has gone too far off track. Today is truly my last day with Kai. Since it’s the last… let’s enjoy it. Let’s make it a happy day. That way, I’ll feel slightly less guilty toward Kai, who loves me.’

 

Though she couldn’t be sure how he would react if he knew her true identity, his love for the maid ‘Yulli’ was undoubtedly sincere. Roabellin resolved to decorate her final day with him as Yulli beautifully before turning her back for good.

 

 

***

 

 

Kaisertern and Roabellin left the Imperial Palace together, dressed in plain clothes. Of course, even dressed that way, their looks still drew attention—but having lived their entire lives with such appearances, neither of them gave it any thought.

 

‘If the head maid saw this, she’d be stomping her feet, saying the clothes are far too modest for time spent alone with His Majesty.’

 

Imagining Countess Molly’s expression, Roabellin let out a small, amused smile. At the soft sound of her laughter, Kaisertern—walking beside her—smiled lightly and asked, “What is it? Does being outside the palace put you in a good mood?”

 

“Hm? Yes. Hehe. Oh—why did you tell me to dress like this? What’s our concept today?”

 

At her smiling question, Kaisertern replied evenly, “A commoners’ date.”

 

“Haha, that’s a concept? Are you doing this to suit me? If you’re going to dress like a commoner, you should try fixing your way of speaking too.”

 

Perhaps it was because she had finally escaped the oppressive atmosphere of the palace that weighed on her just by existing there. Roabellin’s mood had lifted, and she continued cheerfully.

 

“My way of speaking? Is it really that bad?”

 

“It’s very authoritarian. I mean, considering your position, it’s only natural.”

 

“Ah. Is that so? Then how am I supposed to make it lighter?”

 

For a moment, Roabellin recalled the Kaisertern she had met eight years ago. Back then, he had spoken to her casually, even rudely at times—but it had felt friendly rather than domineering.

 

“Hmm… try speaking as if I’m a friend you’ve known since childhood.”

 

A flicker of discomfort crossed Kaisertern’s face. A prince who had grown up isolated, constantly checked by his half-brothers, could hardly have had such a friend. But in this mood, he couldn’t exactly say, “I never had anyone like that.”

 

“…Fine. I’ll try… somehow. But—since you mentioned a ‘commoners’ date’—have you ever… gone on one?”

 

He couldn’t completely change his manner of speaking in an instant, but Roabellin appreciated the effort coming from an emperor of all people. Still, the question at the end made a mischievous impulse rise in her.

 

“Hm, a date? With another commoner man?”

 

At her light tone, Kaisertern frowned slightly.

 

“Have you…?”

 

Seeing his reaction, mischief sparkled in Roabellin’s eyes.

 

“Well~? Your Maj—no, Kai. Did you know? Commoners in Prahenfelt freely date before marriage.”

 

“…You’re not from Prahenfelt.”

 

“That’s true, but when I first came there, I found it fascinating. It seemed so free.”

 

Her evasive answer made Kaisertern quietly restless.

 

“So. Was there someone, or not?”

 

“Mm, actually—”

 

Just as Roabellin was about to speak, Kaisertern quickly turned his face away.

 

“That’s enough. Don’t tell me. I don’t want to know anymore. As long as you’re mine right now, that’s enough.”

 

An emperor. A man who could scrutinize every condition and choose the most perfect woman imaginable.

 

‘He’s saying he doesn’t care about my past…’

 

In truth, she had grown up in hiding—unable to date, barely even able to make friends—so there wasn’t much of a past to speak of.

 

‘Still… that kind of sincerity toward me is honestly touching.’

 

It felt as though a single drop of warm water had fallen into her chest, spreading outward until it gently warmed her whole heart.

 

“Hehe.”

 

Her chest tingled pleasantly, and Roabellin smiled without thinking.

 

“What? Did I amuse you? Do I look… jealous?”

 

Kaisertern asked hesitantly, unusually cautious about how his words might sound to her.

 

“No—no, that’s not it. I’m just… happy. Because of what you said. And—before you, Kai, I’ve never been with another man. That festival day was my first date, and that night really was my first.”

 

Kaisertern’s face brightened instantly at the answer he had secretly hoped for. Normally, he was skilled at concealing his expressions—but perhaps because they were outside the palace, or because he was alone with Roabellin, he kept revealing sides of himself she’d never seen before.

 

“…That’s the same for me.”

 

He turned his gaze away to hide his happiness, but he couldn’t suppress the upward curve of his lips.

 

Arm in arm, they walked leisurely through the streets of Vicentium. It wasn’t a festival day, just ordinary life unfolding—but it was still a lively, beautiful city. They retraced places they had visited together, places where they had first met, reminiscing about their shared memories. Blending into the crowd as an ordinary couple felt wonderful. With the rainy season over and the air cool and pleasant, the day felt even more beautiful.

 

‘I really have to leave a person like this… a city like this. Today is the last day.’

 

Lost in bittersweet thoughts, Roabellin noticed something odd about Kaisertern. He seemed distracted at times, even flustered in a way unlike him.

 

“Kai, what’s wrong? You seem like you’re thinking about something else. Is there something important you need to do today?”

 

“Ah—does it look that way? No, not at all. I’m sorry if it did.”

 

He even stumbled slightly over his words as he denied it.

 

In truth, he was thinking about how he would propose later.

 

‘I hope Yulli likes it.’

 

Originally, he hadn’t planned to propose at the villa. He had considered traveling to a southern imperial palace, clearing out an entire tourist city just for the two of them, or recreating a festival like the last Vicent Festival in Vicentium. In his mind, countless extravagant plans—each requiring an astronomical budget—were created and discarded.

 

But remembering Yulli’s past reactions, Kaisertern shook his head.

 

‘No. She might hate suddenly becoming known to everyone. Trying too hard could backfire.’

 

And so, after much deliberation, he settled on a proposal that was not excessive, but sincere: the villa proposal.

 

‘I planned every detail for nearly two weeks. Even had the villa redecorated. I thought I was fully prepared.’

 

Yet now that the day had come, all the other possibilities kept resurfacing to torment him.

 

‘It’s a once-in-a-lifetime proposal… Would it have been better to erect a giant statue of Yulli in Vicentium’s central square and give her the ring there?’

 

With his mind so tangled, it was only natural that it showed on his face.

 

“Kai, are you sure you’re okay?”

 

But the moment he met her worried gaze, all those complicated thoughts vanished. Right now, the most important thing in the world to him was looking into Yulli’s beautiful violet eyes. In an instant, his heart filled with springlike excitement. Abandoning his doubts about whether his preparations were enough, he tightly held her hand.

 

Walking hand in hand, Kaisertern said with a bright, eager smile, “No, really—it’s nothing. Yulli. Today, I’ll make this the happiest day of your life.”

 

It was an abrupt declaration, but his radiant expression was so lovely that Roabellin smiled just as brightly and nodded enthusiastically.

 

 

***

 

 

‘Hmm… the atmosphere looks quite good.’

 

From a distance, carefully hiding herself, Letis observed Kaisertern and Roabellin enjoying their date. She was carrying out Radak’s orders to follow and monitor them during their outing from the palace.

 

Though Kaisertern was usually sensitive to others’ presence, the crowded streets—and Letis’s skill at concealing herself—kept her from being detected. More than that, all of Kaisertern’s attention was focused on Roabellin.

 

As Letis watched them, she recalled what she had seen while monitoring Roabellin during the last Vicent Festival.

 

‘Yulli, was it? That day, she treated a stray puppy and emptied her own pockets for a beggar child. Whatever else she may be, her heart is as warm as her beauty. It would be wonderful if someone like her became His Highness’s partner. He wouldn’t have taken an interest in her for no reason.’

 

Though Radak had ordered her to watch Roabellin, he had told her nothing about Roabellin’s true background. Fewer people knowing, he claimed, was better for security.

 

And so Letis monitored Roabellin without understanding why—driven solely by loyalty to Radak. She didn’t know that Roabellin was the daughter of a ducal house, what kind of family that was, or what Radak truly intended. All she knew was that Radak had taken her in as a child, and she repaid that kindness with pure devotion.

 

‘Still… the way His Majesty looks at her is no joke. Even from afar, it’s obvious—his eyes are practically dripping with honey. And the way Yulli looks at him isn’t ordinary either. I heard they’re heading to the villa in the city today—don’t tell me they’re going to… do something there?!’

 

Unaware that Roabellin and Kaisertern were already deeply involved, Letis worried that Yulli—whom her master coveted—might fall for the handsome, charming emperor.

 

‘But I was told not to interfere… not even to let them notice me.’

 

When the two turned onto the hillside road leading to the villa, Letis departed for the Grand Duke’s residence to report their movements to Radak.

 

 

***

 

 

Kaisertern and Roabellin were climbing the hill where the villa was located. Though it was a hill, the slope was gentle and the well-maintained forest made it feel more like a stroll along a promenade.

 

“This is your second time here, isn’t it?”

 

“Yes, that’s right. It was so wonderful back then. I’ve wondered if there has ever been another day in my life that felt so perfectly happy.”

 

Kaisertern gave her a small, loving smile and interlaced his fingers with hers. Because he usually had a cold impression and rarely smiled, his warm expressions felt all the more intense. Roabellin responded with a bright smile of her own, but soon, she surreptitiously looked away, busily scouting the path she would use to escape later.

 

The two soon arrived at the villa.

 

“Oh, the garden feels a bit different from last time?”

 

Indeed, the garden that had previously felt merely clean and tidy was now bursting with lovely, colorful flowers.

 

“You’re right. I had the garden fixed up and the interior design completely changed this time. Go on in.”

 

As soon as she stepped inside the door Kaisertern held open, an exclamation escaped Roabellin’s lips.

 

“Wow…!”

 

The villa interior, which had felt like a mountain cabin during her previous visit, had been transformed into something resembling a luxury villa at a seaside resort. The design was elegant and ornate with meticulous attention to detail; one could tell at a glance that the highest quality finishing materials had been used. Furthermore, flowers and candles were placed throughout, creating an atmosphere that was both cozy and deeply romantic.

 

Watching Roabellin look around in awe, Kaisertern let out a faint smile.

 

“Do you like it?”

 

“Yes, it’s incredible. But does it matter if I like it? It’s your villa anyway, Kai.”

 

Roabellin spoke with a light laugh, but Kaisertern’s face remained serious.

 

“It matters. I changed it because I wanted you to like it.”

 

“What? Because of me?”

 

Roabellin never imagined he was planning to propose; she simply assumed he had prepared this for a nice date.

 

“Ah… thank you. I really love it. Oh, then I want to see all the rooms and spaces again!”

 

“As much as you like.”

 

Using the new interior as an excuse, Roabellin meticulously re-examined the villa’s layout before entering the maid’s room, which was separate from Kaisertern’s room. Officially, she was there as the maid attending the Emperor.

 

When she changed into suitable clothes and came out, Kaisertern was preparing a meal.

 

“Oh, Kai. Let me do that.”

 

No matter how private the setting, he was still the Emperor. A startled Roabellin hurried over to take the food from him, but he did not yield easily.

 

“No, I am doing it today. The food is mostly ready and just needs heating, so there isn’t much to do. Just sit at the table.”

 

Kaisertern insisted on doing it himself, but for Roabellin, sitting there felt like sitting on a bed of nails.

 

“N-no. Then please, at least let us prepare it together. Please…”

 

Roabellin clung to him with a desperate look in her eyes, and Kaisertern, unable to win against that gaze, finally answered reluctantly.

 

“…Fine, then.”

 

Though Roabellin, who had experience in the Imperial kitchen, meddled here and there, Kaisertern laid out the meal with decent skill for a first-timer.

 

Soon, a meal prepared by the Emperor himself was ready. It was a simple spread for an Emperor’s standards, but in a meal shared alone with a loved one, both felt a heart-warming happiness.

 

As they were finishing the meal, Kaisertern suddenly spoke up.

 

“Do commoner couples always prepare dinner together like this?”

 

Family life for commoners. In truth, it was something Roabellin had never experienced either, but she couldn’t say she didn’t know, so she made up a vague answer.

 

“Well, I suppose it varies from house to house. In my home, my father tended to come home late, so I think my mother did most of the dinner preparations.”

 

As she was inventing the answer, she realized the intention behind his question a moment too late.

 

‘Ah, Kai is imagining a married life with me. Because “Yulli” is a commoner…’

 

What would it have been like if Kaisertern were a commoner instead of an Emperor? She tried to imagine it, but his aura of command was so strong that it was difficult.

 

‘His gaze is fundamentally arrogant. For Kai to seem like a commoner, he’d have to change his eyes first. Actually, his features are too refined, and there’s a dignity in everything from his shoulders to the length of his limbs. I really can’t imagine him as a commoner.’

 

“Yulli, what are you thinking so hard about? If you look at my face like that…”

 

She had apparently been staring blankly at his face while lost in thought. Realizing this, Roabellin jumped and waved her hands dismissively.

 

“Oh, no! I’m sorry…”

 

“No, it makes me feel good when you look at me like that.”

 

Kaisertern now wore a playful smirk.

 

“N-no, it’s not that. I was trying to imagine you as a commoner, but it’s hard to picture.”

 

“Same for me.”

 

“Right? Even you think so…”

 

“No, I mean it’s hard for me to imagine you as a commoner. You say you’re one, but the aura you exude and your actions are like those of a noble.”

 

At his casual remark, Roabellin felt her heart sink.

 

‘Could it be…?’

 

Since she couldn’t be sure of his intentions, she decided to deny it adamantly.

 

“Oh, is that so? I must have unconsciously mimicked what I saw and heard while working in noble houses since I was young. A mere commoner like me… I shall behave more prudently.”

 

She deliberately humbled herself excessively. She said it hoping Kaisertern would never bring it up again, but instead of taking it back, he doubled down.

 

“No, that’s not what I meant. I meant it suits you well. It doesn’t seem like something you learned clumsily; it’s as if you were born a noble.”

 

“…!”

 

Roabellin now felt like her heart had dropped to the floor.

 

‘Is he saying this on purpose because he knows something? I tried to change the subject, but it didn’t work.’

 

She tried to keep her voice natural and gave a half-hearted reply.

 

“Ah, I’m… flattered you see it that way…”

 

Perhaps because she was so flustered, she felt a bit dizzy and began to break into a cold sweat. Kaisertern, whose eyes were fixed only on her, quickly noticed the change.

 

“Yulli. You don’t look well. Are you alright?”

 

“Pardon?”

 

“Your face has gone pale. You have no color.”

 

“Ah…”

 

It seemed her nervousness was showing on her face. Suddenly, Roabellin remembered she had a long journey ahead of her tonight and used her wits.

 

“Actually, I’m not feeling very well. I’ve felt a bit off since this morning, and I think walking so much during the day made me more tired.”

 

Of course, considering protocol toward the Emperor, one shouldn’t show that they were unwell.

 

‘Besides, I feel bad saying I’m unwell because of the date Kai suggested… but if I say I’m fine, he’ll definitely try to stay with me tonight. I have to focus only on successfully escaping.’

 

Guilt pricked at her heart, but she had no choice. Roabellin ignored her feelings and Kaisertern’s slightly flustered face, speaking with deliberate boldness.

 

“So, I think I should go in and rest early.”

 

“Is it that bad? Then, shall I call a physician?”

 

“No, no. It’s just accumulated fatigue. I think I’ll be fine after a good sleep.”

 

“Then, I think injecting mana into your dantian would help with your recovery.”

 

This, too, was an expected offer. Roabellin deliberately put on a more tired face and answered.

 

“That isn’t healing magic, so I don’t know how it would affect me right now. I think that should only be used when I’m healthy.”

 

Kaisertern was inwardly flustered by this unexpected turn of events that wasn’t in his perfect plan. However, he couldn’t hold onto someone who was unwell and propose to them. Swallowing his disappointment, he forced a thin smile.

 

“Alright, then get some deep rest and recover today.”

 

“Thank you for being so considerate. I’m sorry we couldn’t spend more quality time together since we came all this way. …I’ll be going in now.”

 

The moment Roabellin turned toward her room, Kaisertern quickly caught her hand.

 

“Where are you going? You should sleep by my side.”

 

It seemed sleeping with Roabellin had become a matter of course for him now. But for her, who planned to slip away in secret, that was absolutely out of the question. Roabellin racked her brain and quickly thought of a reason to refuse. Fortunately, there was an Imperial regulation on her side.

 

“Is it not forbidden for someone who is ill to attend to Your Majesty? We don’t know what kind of illness it is, and I might pass it to you. In fact, if we followed the regulations, I should return to the Imperial Palace immediately and someone else should be brought to serve you.”

 

To emphasize the regulations, Roabellin deliberately referred to him as “Your Majesty.” Kaisertern wanted to say he didn’t care. No one was watching anyway; he could ignore any regulation he wanted. However, because Roabellin’s complexion truly looked poor, he decided to let her rest comfortably.

 

“……Understood. Get some rest. Don’t feel pressured to wake up early; you can sleep late.”

 

At his permission, Roabellin looked at his face with genuine gratitude.

 

“I will. …Thank you, Kai.”

 

This would be the last chance to look into his eyes. Roabellin gazed at his face for a moment, hoping her eyes didn’t look too affectionate. Even in this situation, his face looked like a sculpture carved by a god.

 

“…….”

 

Kaisertern met her beautiful violet eyes with an unreadable expression. An eternal-feeling moment passed, and it was Kaisertern who broke the silence.

 

“I suppose you’re quite disappointed about sleeping apart from me?”

 

At his joking remark, Roabellin realized she had been staring at him blankly. She instinctively averted her gaze in a flurry.

 

“Ah, yes. I am disappointed.”

 

To some extent, that was the truth. In her final moment with him, she wanted to leave at least one word of sincerity.

 

Unaware of her inner thoughts, Kaisertern leaned in close to her face with a smile.

 

“Then, a goodnight kiss.”

 

“Ah,”

 

Before Roabellin could respond, his lips descended onto hers. As expected, the goodnight kiss that started lightly did not end so simply.

 

“Phew…”

 

The two pairs of lips that had been heatedly entwined finally broke apart after a long while. Kaisertern, pulling away with lingering regret, looked at her with eyes that held a hint of bewilderment.

 

“We’re only going to be apart for one night, so why does it feel so heavy? It’s strange.”

 

Had he instinctively sensed that this wasn’t a one-night parting? Roabellin’s heart, which had been momentarily colored with affection, was instantly filled with fear. She felt an urgent need to flee the spot.

 

“I wonder… why. Well, I’ll go in and sleep now. Goodnight, Kai.”

 

Lest he discover her pounding heart, Roabellin turned away and hurried into her room. Fortunately, Kaisertern did not follow her. Just in case, she even locked the door and lay down on the bed. Of course, sleep would not come.

 

‘While I was pretending to look around the room earlier, I sprayed plenty of sleeping incense under Kai’s bed and pillow… Kai will sleep deeply tonight, oblivious to the world.’

 

She thought of his face as she had turned away from him outside the room, then gave her head a small shake.

 

‘Enough, that’s enough. No more lingering regrets. Now, think only of the escape plan.’

 

Roabellin lay in bed pretending to sleep while quietly listening for Kaisertern’s movements. He entered his room immediately after she went into hers, and no sound was heard afterward. It seemed he had fallen asleep before long.

 

‘Good. I’ve layered the maid’s uniform over comfortable activewear, just like last time. Let’s head out.’

 

Roabellin crept out of her room. In the unlikely event she ran into Kaisertern, she planned to make the excuse that she had come out for a drink of water.

 

But the house was silent. Encouraged, she plucked up the courage to go to the room where Kaisertern was sleeping and gently pushed the door. The well-maintained door opened without a sound.

 

“…….”

 

A faint nightlight illuminated his handsome, deeply sleeping face. For just a moment, she etched his image into her mind before quietly closing the door.

 

‘Sweet dreams, Kai. Goodbye for real now.’

 

She felt the regret, but she couldn’t delay any longer. Roabellin muffled her footsteps and left the villa. The night was pitch black. Through the fog, only a faint crescent moon shone down upon the villa.

 

 

***

 

 

The Schlett Grand Ducal Residence was located in the heart of Vicentium. It was the secondary estate of Radak, once the second prince of the Prahenfelt Empire and now the Emperor’s half-brother. On the surface, he appeared to have followed in the footsteps of his brother, Heymelic, by quietly relinquishing the throne without challenging Kaisertern.

 

“I truly have no greed for the throne. Just by being born a prince, I receive enough money to live in luxury for the rest of my life, don’t I? I’m perfectly content spending that money traveling the continent,” he would always say.

 

True to his word, he frequently left the residence empty for long periods while traveling across the continent. Thanks to his mastery of mana, he often traveled alone without an escort. While Kaisertern’s mana was overwhelmingly superior, Radak’s power was by no means weak by objective standards.

 

He claimed to prefer traveling quietly alone, but in truth, it was because he was a deeply distrustful person. More fundamentally, no one could be allowed to discover the true purpose of his journeys.

 

‘The daughter of the Huga family… I must capture her this time.’

 

As he sat lost in thought, the butler entered and spoke. “Your Highness, Dame Berfen has returned.”

 

It appeared Letis, who had been out monitoring the city of Vicentium, had arrived.

 

“Fine. Let her in.”

 

Letis soon entered Radak’s study and bowed. “Your Highness.”

 

“Well? How was it?”

 

Letis hesitated for a brief second but soon recounted what she had seen. “…The atmosphere between His Majesty and that woman seemed… pleasant.”

 

Radak’s face contorted at the unexpected report. “They looked pleasant? You mean Kai isn’t just dragging her around as he pleases? Or perhaps she was acting coquettishly to seduce the Emperor?”

 

The suspicious Radak pressed the uncomfortable Letis with pointed questions. Letis, though slightly flustered, answered calmly. “I only saw them from a distance. There was nothing unusual; they looked like any other ordinary couple.”

 

Displeased by the answer, Radak ran a hand roughly through his hair. “Hmph. If that’s true, why hasn’t that girl even been made a concubine yet? The seat of the Empress is still vacant, and as Emperor, he should at least be playing around with a few concubines, shouldn’t he? How can he not have a single woman? Is that bastard Kai really a eunuch, like the rumors say?”

 

Being a man who loved women but grew bored easily—living by the creed of ‘never spending more than three nights with the same woman’—Radak could not comprehend Kaisertern, who had neither an Empress, nor a concubine, nor even a mistress.

 

Letis ignored Radak’s final remark and continued her report. “According to the source I planted in the Emperor’s palace, His Majesty plans to stay at a villa in the city tonight. The maid named Yulli is scheduled to accompany him.”

 

Radak’s face scowled instantly. “Ha! Accompany? You mean attend his bed! Is he planning to spend the night like that and then appoint her as a concubine? If she ends up pregnant tonight, it’s all over…!”

 

Radak paced the room, biting his lip anxiously. Watching him, Letis cautiously asked the question that had been weighing on her. “But Your Highness, may I ask why you desire that girl, Yulli, so much? Her beauty is certainly remarkable, but why would the Grand Duke of the Empire want a mere commoner from a foreign land so desperately? I am curious about the reason.”

 

Radak stopped his pacing and glanced at Letis as if he had heard something unexpected. After a moment of silence, he looked directly into her blue eyes and spoke.

 

“Right. Since it is time to take decisive action, you must know my true goal to make the right judgments even if unexpected situations arise. You have served under me since you were young, so I will trust you.”

 

Letis’s eyes widened with anticipation at the uncharacteristically straightforward response. “Yes. Please, leave it to me, Your Highness.”

 

“Very well…”

 

Radak paused again, seemingly weighing whether he should truly speak. But finally, he opened his lips.

 

“Yulli—that girl is no commoner. She comes from an ancient ducal family of the Kingdom of Aventador.”

 

“Ah, I see.”

 

If she were the daughter of a Duke, she would be of appropriate rank for a Grand Duke. However, there were many such daughters across the vast continent. That alone didn’t explain this level of obsession.

 

“It is no ordinary ducal family. They have produced the queens of that country for generations. Listen carefully. In Aventador, it is not the woman chosen by the King who becomes Queen. Rather, the man who marries a direct daughter of that ducal house becomes the King.”

 

Letis’s eyes went wide with confusion at the incomprehensible explanation. “Just how strong is that family’s power…?”

 

“No, it’s not that. It is the power of ‘Destiny’ that the family possesses. It sounds like a legend, but in reality, nearly every Queen for a thousand years has come from that family. No matter whom the daughter of that house marries, her husband eventually becomes King by any means necessary.”

 

It was a story hard to believe, but these were the words of the Prince she had served her whole life. Furthermore, as a high-ranking royal close to the throne, the chances of his information being wrong were slim. As she processed the unbelievable tale, Letis suddenly felt a chilling realization.

 

‘If that story is true, it means in this Empire, the man who marries Yulli will become the Emperor. Then, if His Highness takes that girl for himself…!’

 

Letis stood speechless, her eyes wide. What Radak had just admitted was that he intended to take the throne for himself. Regardless of whether one believed the legend of Yulli’s family, his intention was clearly treason.

 

Seeing the change in Letis’s expression, Radak gave a smirk. “I knew you’d be shocked. You’re a stiff-necked one, obsessed with the knight’s code. I’m disappointed you hadn’t noticed a thing despite working under me for so long.”

 

“Your Highness, that is…”

 

“What, did you really see me as just some mindless playboy? I thought you were serving me with some inkling of the truth.”

 

Though there was a hint of laughter in Radak’s voice, Letis’s face was frozen. After a long silence, she managed to answer in a cracked voice.

 

“It was because you took me in when I was young and had no one to rely on.”

 

“Hmm.”

 

“I have only done everything I could to repay that debt. But… have I been helping in a rebellion?”

 

At the gravity in Letis’s voice, the laughter vanished from Radak’s face. However, his oily tone remained.

 

“Rebellion is such a harsh word. Like Kai, wasn’t I also born the son of an Emperor? I’m even his older brother. The throne is a seat that could easily be mine. Don’t you agree? Brother Heymelic was just a fool who pushed too hard just because he became an adult first. I’m different from that idiot. If I take my time and prepare perfectly, that seat will eventually be mine. When that day comes, you will be the Commander of the Emperor’s direct knights. Or, if you prefer, I will reward you with something else in abundance. Dream a little bigger.”

 

As he threw out these sweet words, Radak gave Letis a friendly pat on the shoulder. But her rigid face didn’t move an inch. Realizing she had no intention of changing her mind immediately, Radak sighed.

 

“Sigh… I knew it. You’re good at your job, but you’re so stubborn. Tsk, fine. You stay quietly in your room today. I’ll go capture the girl myself. Hmph, I have plenty of people, but not one I can actually trust to get the job done.”

 

Letis stood in a daze, watching Radak’s retreating back as he grumbled and left the room. It was only when the door slammed shut that she finally snapped out of it. In her mind, images of Radak—whom she had served for so long—flickered back and forth with the word ‘treason’ and the memory of Yulli helping a stray dog and a beggar child during the festival.

 

It didn’t take her long to make up her mind.

 

‘Though I have been loyal to the Grand Duke my whole life, I cannot be a tool for treason. Furthermore, I cannot allow the kind-hearted Yulli to be kidnapped and used for a rebellion. I can’t just stay here!’

 

Regaining her senses, Letis sprinted out of the Grand Ducal Residence.

 

Her urgent footsteps led her nowhere else but the villa. As she drew near, she spotted Radak hiding in a spot where he could watch the villa.

 

“Your Highness!”

 

She whispered as quietly as she could, but Radak, who was cautiously hiding, jumped in surprise.

 

“Quiet! What if Kai hears you and comes out? His ears are incredibly sharp!!”

 

But instead of bowing to him, Letis spoke in a low, heavy voice.

 

“I should have realized… when you called him ‘Kai’ instead of ‘Your Majesty.’”

 

“What?”

 

“Out of my final shred of loyalty to you, I will not report this to the Emperor right now. However, I will not help with treason. As a knight, I cannot do such a thing. I am sorry, Your Highness. I will do my best to prevent you from committing this rebellion.”

 

“What?!”

 

Radak’s face turned vicious instantly. “You dare try to bite your master after all the grace I’ve shown you? Ha, I’ll give you one last chance. Go back. Don’t make me dispose of you with my own hands.”

 

But Letis did not flinch even at Radak’s threat. “I am sorry, Your Highness. I speak out of loyalty. Please, I beg you, stop this.”

 

“Ha, you really don’t understand, do you? Then I have no choice. Don’t blame me, I warned you.”

 

The moment he finished speaking, Radak emitted a crimson mana from his hand and lunged toward Letis.

 

“……!!”

 

Startled by the surprise attack, Letis moved nimbly to dodge, but Radak’s assault didn’t end with a single strike.

 

“Die! Just die!!”

 

Letis continued to dodge his incoming attacks, but eventually, one struck her in the shoulder.

 

“Ugh…”

 

As her movements grew sluggish, Radak’s attacks continued to rain down. Dodging by a hair’s breadth, she eventually took a direct hit to her abdomen.

 

“Gah…!”

 

Though she wore armor that offered some protection against mana, the blow was fatal. Letis collapsed on the spot, coughing up blood.

 

‘His Highness truly intended to kill me…’

 

It was clear that if left without treatment, she wouldn’t survive the night. Radak looked down at her—his loyal subordinate until moments ago—with cold, emotionless eyes.

 

“Hmph. I suppose I don’t need to finish the job myself. Just die on your own.”

 

Worried that Kaisertern might wake up and come out, he glanced toward the villa and turned away. He seemed intent on fleeing the scene for now. Radak quickly disappeared into the darkness, leaving the bleeding Letis behind. Watching his retreating figure, Letis managed to prop herself up against a nearby tree.

 

‘It’s a pity to die like this… but it’s fine. As a knight, I’m dying while doing the right thing.’

 

As she closed her eyes and waited for the end, a rustling sound reached her ears. Someone’s cautious footsteps were drawing near.

 

But Letis, her mind hazy from blood loss and pain, could do nothing. Soon the footsteps stopped, and she heard a young woman’s small gasp of surprise.

 

“Oh my goodness!”

 

The woman rushed over to Letis and checked her condition. “Heavens, open your eyes. How did this happen… Wait, you are?”

 

Wondering if it was someone she knew, Letis forced her heavy eyelids open. In front of her were soft platinum blonde hair and beautiful violet eyes that seemed to glow in the dark. If she hadn’t recognized the face, she would have thought she was looking at an angel in the afterlife.

 

“Uh… Yulli…?”

 

“I knew it, you’re the knight I met in the forest, right? What on earth happened? How did you end up like this?”

 

The woman was none other than Roabellin, who was fleeing the villa. She was in a hurry to leave, but Letis’s condition was clearly critical. If she left her, the knight would surely die soon. Roabellin glanced anxiously back at the villa. All the lights were still out.

 

‘If Kai is still sleeping… I’ll just save this knight and head straight to the magic shop in town. This person helped me when I almost died in a mana trap in the Aire Onsen forest. I have to help her too.’

 

Back then, Letis had only gone to collect Roabellin from the trap on Radak’s orders, but Roabellin believed she had been helped by chance. Resolving to save Letis, Roabellin quickly removed the armor and checked the wounds.

 

“Heavens, the injury is severe. I won’t be able to heal it completely, but I’ll perform emergency treatment. Stay still.”

 

Roabellin gently placed her hand on Letis’s torn abdomen, which was still bleeding. Focusing her mind, Roabellin gathered divine power in the form of golden dust and channeled it through her palm into Letis.

 

“Ah, this is…”

 

Letis felt her pain slowly subside and her blurred vision gradually clear. However, because the injury was so severe, Roabellin consumed far more divine power than expected and felt her stamina draining rapidly.

 

‘Ah, I need energy to escape, I shouldn’t overdo it… but if I stop here, she won’t survive.’

 

If she stopped the healing halfway, Letis wouldn’t just fail to survive; she might die in even greater agony over a longer period.

 

‘Fine. Since I’ve started, let’s see it through. After I save her, I can ask her to help me… somehow it’ll work out.’

 

Doing just a little more, then a little more, Roabellin ended up pouring every ounce of divine power her current body could handle into Letis. Her head spun and she grew short of breath. Her hands, completely drained of strength, began to tremble.

 

“Haah, ugh…”

 

Thanks to her, Letis had recovered significantly, though her injury had been so deep and the blood loss so great that she still couldn’t stand immediately. Meanwhile, Roabellin, having pulled her hand away, was on the verge of fainting.

 

“Yu-Yulli. Are you alright?”

 

Regaining consciousness, Letis found Roabellin half-collapsed on the ground, gasping for air. Her face was deathly pale; she clearly looked unwell.

 

“Yes… I overdid it, but, hah, hah, if I rest a bit, I’ll be… First, we have to get away from here… hah.”

 

Just as Roabellin was barely clinging to consciousness to answer—

 

“Ha, here you are? I was wondering how to get in, but thank you for coming out on your own.”

 

Startled, Roabellin and Letis looked back to see Radak emerging from the forest with a wide grin. He looked pleased, licking his lips and smirking. Even in her fading consciousness, Roabellin found his glinting eyes terrifying.

 

“Ah, Letis. You were the one who held Yulli here? Hehe… To be useful until the very end. I’ll give you credit for that loyalty.”

 

Radak approached and leaned down, roughly wrapping an arm around Roabellin’s shoulder. “Let’s go, pretty thing. I’ll show you plenty of love back at the Grand Ducal Residence.”

 

“No…!”

 

Roabellin tried to push his hand away, but her arms were so devoid of strength that she couldn’t even manage that.

 

“Your Highness, that girl is—ugh!”

 

Letis tried to stop him, but the pain in her barely healed stomach forced her to double over. “No… You cannot take Yulli, Your Highness. Please, stop here…”

 

Letis pleaded weakly, but Radak only looked down at her with contempt. “I left you to die, and yet you’re still breathing and talking? Ugh, how annoying. Just die already!”

 

Irritated, Radak raised his other hand as if to swat a bothersome insect. Soon, the same deep red mana as before gathered in his palm. Seeing it, Letis squeezed her eyes shut.

 

‘So this is… how it ends.’

 

But in the next moment, Radak’s expression changed grotesquely. He suddenly went limp like a doll, his hands dropping powerlessly. Roabellin, who had been held in his grip, slumped to the ground, and the red mana intended to kill Letis flickered out.

 

At the sound of Roabellin hitting the ground, Letis peeked her eyes open.

 

“……?!”

 

An unexpected scene unfolded before her. A tall, strikingly handsome man was binding Radak with blue mana emanating from his hand. And Radak was frozen mid-posture, as if trapped in ice.

 

“Phew, glad I wasn’t late. What kind of cowardice is this, picking on two injured women?”

 

Roabellin and Letis stared blankly at the man who had suddenly appeared. Letis, who at least had enough strength to speak, managed to ask:

 

“Who… are you? By any chance, were you sent by the Emperor…”

 

The man replied in a bright tone, “Me? I’m someone who helps His Majesty, but I came here on personal business today.”

 

He approached them and knelt on one knee, checking on Roabellin, who was slumped on the ground. “It’s just exhaustion; she’s not otherwise hurt. Thank goodness, Roa.”

 

At his last word, Roabellin’s eyes snapped open. Her whole body began to tremble with fear.

 

“W-who…”

 

“Ah, no need to be scared. I’ve come to help you.”

 

He reached out toward the terrified girl and cast a healing spell. Thanks to him, Roabellin fully recovered her drained stamina moments later. Even after healing Roabellin, the man seemed relaxed, as if his energy hadn’t been depleted at all.

 

‘Someone with this much mana isn’t an ordinary person… but who is he to know my true identity?’

 

While Roabellin questioned his identity, he cast a healing spell on Letis as well. Helping the two fully recovered women to their feet, he looked directly at Roabellin and spoke.

 

“You both look very curious about who I am. Allow me to introduce myself. I am Iskal of Aventador.”

 

From his manner of speech and appearance, Roabellin had guessed he was from Aventador. However, the name he introduced himself with was completely beyond her expectations.

 

“If you are Iskal, then… Pr-Prince? No, Grand Duke Lexton…?”

 

Roabellin had only heard his name; this was her first time meeting him in person. At her words, Iskal’s warm sky-blue eyes curved into a smile.

 

“Well, something like that. Right now, I’m helping Estina.”

 

“My aunt…?”

 

At the sudden mention of her aunt’s name, a warm spring breeze seemed to blow through Roabellin’s heart. Roabellin knew that Estina and Iskal had originally been betrothed. Thus, even without knowing the details, she could easily accept that Iskal was on friendly terms with Estina.

 

Iskal, who had been smiling at her, turned his gaze toward the villa. Tension suddenly flickered in his eyes. Confirming there was no sign of Kaisertern waking yet, he looked back at Roabellin and spoke quickly and quietly.

 

“Were you planning to go somewhere just now?”

 

“Ah… yes. I think I need to leave quickly.”

 

“Right. I came to help because I thought as much. Where to? To Estina?”

 

Because she hadn’t expected him to help so readily, a flash of surprise and a hint of suspicion appeared in Roabellin’s eyes.

 

“Yes, I’m going to my aunt. But… Your Highness. Why are you helping me?”

 

Despite her suspicion, Iskal only smiled gently. “It must be hard to trust me immediately upon our first meeting. I understand. To explain… this is for Estina. Helping you achieve what you want is exactly what Estina would want.”

 

Gazing intently at his face and eyes as he answered, Roabellin could tell he wasn’t lying. Since she had no other choice anyway, she decided to trust him.

 

“Then… could you send me as far as the magic shop in this town?”

 

“No, I’ll send you directly to your destination. You’re going to Avery’s house, right?”

 

“What? From right here?”

 

Roabellin’s pupils dilated. This was the middle of a forest without a single magical device for teleportation.

 

‘He’s going to perform such a long-distance teleportation alone, without another mage or a magical tool?’

 

It was something one wouldn’t even dream of unless they possessed an immense amount of mana.

 

“Yes, it seems urgent, so I’ll send you right away.”

 

Just as Iskal was about to reach out his hand into the air—

 

“Excuse me, may I come along as well?”

 

Letis, who had been listening to their conversation from behind, stepped forward. She gestured toward Radak and said:

 

“As you saw, my former employer turned out like that… I have nowhere left to go now. He was the one who gave me those injuries earlier, too.”

 

Letis looked into the eyes of the hesitating Roabellin. Somewhere along the line, her way of addressing Roabellin had changed.

 

“I owe you a great debt. I want to stay by the side of the person who saved my life, to protect and help her. I may have looked pathetic earlier, but despite my appearance, I am a trained knight. I will be useful if you keep me with you.”

 

For Roabellin, the fact that Letis had been one of Radak’s people was naturally a concern. However, she had also seen with her own eyes that she had been betrayed and abandoned by her master. Since she had been Radak’s loyal subordinate for so long, it was also true that she had nowhere to go now.

 

After considering the request while looking into Letis’s steady gaze, Roabellin made up her mind.

 

“Hmm… I can provide room and board, but I can’t afford to pay a salary. What should we do about that?” Roabellin spoke with a hint of a smile.

 

But Letis was serious. “I wish to repay my debt, not to earn money. I don’t need a salary.”

 

“Alright, then let’s go together. A knight… that’s reassuring.”

 

Iskal, who had been watching the two with a faint smile, finally spoke. “Is it settled then? I should send you both to Avery’s house?”

 

“Yes, Your Highness. Please.”

 

As she spoke to Iskal with a smile, Roabellin turned her head to look at the frozen Radak. Her face contorted slightly, as if she were looking at something repulsive.

 

“Ah, and one more thing. Your Highness, could you perhaps make sure that man can never find us again…?”

 

At her request, which was tinged with fear, Iskal answered readily. “Of course. I’ll keep him captured and then hand him over to the Emperor on charges of treason. Don’t worry. Oh, in that case—”

 

Remembering something, Iskal raised his hand and plucked a small object from the air, handing it to Letis. “It’s a mana summoning orb. If your testimony is needed regarding this man’s treason, I’ll use this to request your presence. Since you were his close aide, you must have plenty to testify about.”

 

Many emotions flickered across Letis’s face as she took the orb Iskal offered. “Yes, the Grand Duke certainly had treasonous intentions… I ended up in that state earlier because I tried to stop him. Call me whenever you need me.”

 

At her clear answer, Iskal nodded and smiled. Turning back, he created a door of light in the air, large enough for a person to pass through. Roabellin and Letis’s eyes widened.

 

“Wow, is this a teleportation portal, the kind you only see in books…?”

 

The beautiful cluster of light hummed and swirled. Watching the concentrated mass of mana, shaped like the entrance to a cave, with an awestruck face, Roabellin was certain that Iskal was no ordinary mage.

 

‘At this level, he’d at least be a member of the Magic Tower.’

 

As they stood dazed by the miraculous sight, Iskal spoke as if suddenly remembering something.

 

“And before you go, one more thing.”

 

He had Roabellin and Letis stand still as he gathered white mana in his hands.

 

“It’s a protection spell. It will prevent anyone from detecting you or those around you through mana or unique presence. Using a small amount of magic won’t be detected either. But, if Estina tries to use a massive amount of mana, do stop her.”

 

Iskal smiled broadly and draped a magical shield over their entire bodies. Roabellin looked down at the shimmering barrier in wonder and expressed her gratitude again in a slightly trembling voice.

 

“To go this far… Thank you so much. I will tell my aunt in detail how much you helped us.”

 

Hearing exactly what he wanted to hear, Iskal smiled happily.

 

“You’d better. Haha. Now, hurry along.”

 

“Yes. Truly, thank you.”

 

After bowing deeply to Iskal, Roabellin stepped into the door of light. Letis followed behind her after also offering her thanks.

 

For a brief moment, the two felt as if the world were rushing past them, accompanied by extreme dizziness. But it was only for a second. The next moment, they stood before an entirely different landscape. Roabellin, clutching her head from the vertigo, gasped at the familiar sight that suddenly appeared.

 

“It’s our house! It’s really our house!”

 

In truth, Roabellin had worried that walking into the door might drop them somewhere else or lead into a trap. Fortunately, those were groundless fears. They had arrived safely in front of Avery’s house.

 

Located in Raznie, a commercial city in the Kingdom of Avery, the house sat at the foot of a somewhat remote mountain. It was a plain, rather large house that one might mistake for the residence of a large commoner family. However, the unusually high walls for a non-noble home were a bit peculiar.

 

Leaving Letis behind to stare up at the unfamiliar house in wonder, Roabellin approached the gate. Though it was very early morning, a middle-aged man’s voice responded instantly when she knocked.

 

“Who is it?”

 

Roabellin pressed her face against the gate and whispered through the crack.

 

“It’s me, Laila, back from the market.”

 

“…?”

 

Just as Letis tilted her head at the nonsensical answer, the gate swung open. A kind-looking middle-aged man opened the door with an immensely joyful expression.

 

“My Lady! You’ve returned!”

 

Though his expression was bright, the man spoke in a low whisper just like Roabellin.

 

“Please, come in! You aren’t hurt anywhere, are you?”

 

The man’s eyes, which were busily scanning Roabellin for injuries or a pale complexion, soon landed on the tall woman standing behind her.

 

“Uh… and who is this person?”

 

“Ah, someone I brought with me. Let’s head inside and introduce everyone.”

 

“Yes. Please enter.”

 

After ushering the two inside, the man checked the surroundings to see if anyone was watching before closing and locking the gate.

 

As they stepped further into the yard, other voices greeted Roabellin.

 

“Huh? My Lady?”

 

“Gasp!”

 

Lisa and Jeff, the servants who had been in the yard, were reeling from the shock of seeing Roabellin when another young woman’s voice drifted from inside the house.

 

“What’s all the noise? Who’s here?”

 

Roabellin turned toward the voice and saw Estina, whom she had missed so dearly, opening the door and stepping out into the yard.

 

“Aunt!!”

 

Roabellin immediately ran to Estina and threw herself into her arms. Her voice was already thick with tears. Startled, Estina caught the girl charging at her.

 

“Heavens, Roa…!!”

 

“Aunt, Aunt… I missed you so much.”

 

“Roa, you’re safe, right?”

 

Estina pulled Roabellin back and, just as the middle-aged man had done, checked her face and body from front to back. Confirming everything was alright, she pulled her back into a hug.

 

“I’m so glad you’re back safe… Oh, thank you. Great Dominador… thank you.”

 

“Sniff, I’m never leaving your side again. I was so lonely and scared.”

 

Though she had bravely set out alone claiming she was now an adult, she became a complete child again in front of her aunt.

 

“Yes, yes. Don’t ever leave again. You’ve worked so hard. We’ve done enough. Let’s not be greedy anymore…”

 

As she patted Roabellin’s back, a question occurred to Estina.

 

“But how did you get all the way here? Did you come through a magic shop like when you left? Was there a place open at this hour?”

 

“Ah, coming here was thanks to Prince Iskal—no, the Grand Duke.”

 

Estina froze in shock at the name she never expected to hear from Roabellin’s lips.

 

“What? What do you mean? How did you meet His Highness?”

 

Roabellin briefly explained their encounter and how he had sent them here.

 

“I see. I’ll have to thank His Highness separately later. Well, let’s go inside for now. You must be exhausted; let’s catch our breath and talk.”

 

Estina led everyone into the house. After feeding and putting Roabellin and Letis to sleep, Estina sat alone in her room, lost in thought.

 

‘It’s a blessing that Roa returned safely thanks to Duke Iskal… but he is also the Emperor’s man. This house, which His Highness now knows about, could be revealed to the Emperor at any time. Or perhaps, while contacting me, His Highness might unintentionally be discovered by the Emperor.’

 

Estina let out a small sigh.

 

‘This house we’ve grown so fond of… it’s time to leave it behind.’

 

 

***

 

 

Kaisertern woke up to the dazzling morning sun.

 

“Ugh…”

 

It felt strange to have slept so late that the day was fully bright.

 

“Was I that tired yesterday?… Unusual.”

 

Sitting up and recalling the previous day, he remembered that Yulli was sleeping in the room downstairs.

 

‘But what is this strangely empty feeling?’

 

Feeling an inexplicable sense of deja vu and unease, he left the room and headed downstairs. He had vaguely felt the absence of her presence since he opened his eyes, but he tried to deny the feeling as he walked. Had he sharpened his senses, he could have confirmed her presence immediately, but he chose to go and check in person.

 

“Yulli. Yulli?”

 

But no answer came. He arrived at her door, calling her name.

 

‘Is she still sleeping?’

 

He knocked and waited, but there was no response. Sensing something was wrong, he pushed the door open slightly and immediately saw that the room was hollow and empty.

 

‘Where did she go this early?’

 

He had no choice but to check now. He reached out with his senses. However, he couldn’t catch even a trace of a human presence in the house or the yard outside. Kaisertern finally realized the reality of the dread he had been feeling.

 

‘Yulli… is gone.’

 

It felt like falling into a bottomless abyss. Even though his senses confirmed she wasn’t there, he stepped out into the garden and called her name again, just in case.

 

“Yulli? Yulli??”

 

He focused all his mental energy on detecting her presence as he called, but she was nowhere to be found. Standing in the garden full of beautiful flowers planted for her, he cast a wide-range detection spell.

 

*‘Since I’ve memorized her mana wavelength…’*

 

But even as he expanded the search range beyond the gates of Vicentium, he caught nothing. A suffocating sense of helplessness and anxiety crushed him.

 

“What happened? Where on earth did she go?”

 

Kaisertern immediately considered the possibility that someone had kidnapped Yulli.

 

‘But the villa is doubly protected by physical and magical barriers. It’s impossible to infiltrate or attack the villa in a way I wouldn’t notice.’

 

If so, he didn’t need to worry about the possibility of an intruder kidnapping her.

 

‘Then, at the very least, she left the villa on her own feet…’

 

Like at the Aire Onsen Palace, she might have gone for a walk and been taken by someone.

 

‘Or, Yulli simply left me of her own free will.’

 

While this would mean she was safe, he hated even thinking about this final possibility. The mere thought sent a sharp pain through his chest.

 

‘Whether it was voluntary or forced, I’ll find out once I find her and hear it. First, I find her. By any means necessary…’

 

Biting his lip until it bled, Kaisertern didn’t waste another second and returned straight to the Imperial Palace.

 

“Your Majesty! What brings you back so…? You said you would return after lunch…”

 

Seeing him return early against the original schedule, the startled attendant received a stern order from Kaisertern’s stony face.

 

“Call the Archmage immediately. And after that, have the Minister of Internal Affairs on standby.”

 

Seeing his eyes, which held a hint of madness from anxiety, the attendant bowed quickly in shock.

 

“Yes, I will summon them at once.”

 

Soon, Iskal, the Archmage of the palace, arrived at the Emperor’s office.

 

“You called for me, Your Majesty?”

 

Kaisertern turned to look at Iskal. Iskal was inwardly surprised to see the Emperor’s face had grown visibly darker in such a short time.

 

“Yes. I’ve called you to ask for help in finding someone urgently.”

 

“…Who is it?”

 

“The woman I asked you about regarding the tattoo recently. A great beauty with platinum blonde hair and purple eyes.”

 

‘As I thought.’

 

His heart pricked since it was his own doing, but Iskal skillfully masked his expression.

 

“I understand. Platinum blonde hair and purple eyes are rare, so I will bring every young woman of that appearance the moment they are found.”

 

Unaware that he was the one responsible, Kaisertern was grateful for his ready answer without asking questions.

 

“With you on the case, I feel we’ll find her soon. However, the search area is vast. She doesn’t seem to be in Vicentium, but I’ve released search parties inside the city and just outside the gates just in case. I want us to divide the Empire—excluding Vicentium—into sectors and search.”

 

“Will Your Majesty be participating in the search personally?”

 

Iskal, who hadn’t expected Kaisertern to be this proactive, could only now gauge the weight of his feelings for Roabellin.

 

“Yes. Every second counts; I can’t leave it entirely to others.”

 

Iskal bowed his head slightly as if in agreement, mostly to prevent his complex inner thoughts from showing on his face.

 

‘Even if the Emperor feels this way, it’s not as if I can bring her back now. Since Roabellin is already out of the Empire, it’s better to let him search within it. I’m truly sorry about this…’

 

Even if Kaisertern traveled outside the Empire and neared Roabellin’s home, she was protected by Iskal’s magic, so Kaisertern wouldn’t find her even with mana detection.

 

‘Unless he finds her with his own eyes, he won’t find her with mana. But Roabellin is the only family Estina has left. I must protect that child. Since the Emperor is a man who can have as many women as he wants, he might forget Roabellin if another woman comes along while he’s searching.’

 

Iskal replied to Kaisertern with his head still slightly bowed. He justified his actions internally, but he still couldn’t meet the Emperor’s eyes out of guilt.

 

“I understand. I will go and begin the search immediately. However, as I must attend to my original duties, I won’t be able to devote all my time to the search.”

 

“I am in the same position. Regardless, I thank you for your cooperation. Contact me immediately if you find even a small clue.”

 

After Iskal left, Kaisertern summoned the Minister of Internal Affairs.

 

“Due to certain circumstances, I will be away frequently for the time being. The duration… I hope it’s short, but I cannot say for sure. However, there must be no vacuum in state affairs even if I am absent.”

 

To the bewildered Minister, he categorized the tasks the Minister could handle on his own and those that required his personal approval, and he also gave him a communication orb to reach him in case of emergencies.

 

He also instructed soldiers nationwide to detain any young woman with platinum blonde hair and purple eyes and report to the palace. Of course, since he knew she could change her appearance with magic potions, he didn’t hold much hope for that route.

 

Thereafter, Kaisertern scoured the Empire like a madman, excluding the minimal time required for official duties. But he couldn’t find a single trace of Roabellin. Outside the Empire, he first searched Avery, which he had heard was her hometown, but with no results.

 

With no other clues, he had no choice but to search the entire continent piece by piece, however inefficient it was. A week passed, then ten days, but he couldn’t find even a hint of her.

 

‘The longer it takes, the exponentially larger the area she could be in becomes…’

 

Iskal also only sent occasional reports stating, “I searched such-and-such region today but found nothing.” A look of exhaustion began to appear on Kaisertern’s bleak face.

 

Even while sitting in his study for the first time in a while, he was lost in deep, anxious thought. Watching his face, the Chief Attendant spoke cautiously.

 

“Your Majesty, you look very unwell. Why not leave the search to the Archmage and others for just a day and get some rest?”

 

Kaisertern raised an eyebrow as if wondering what on earth he was talking about. His gaze had grown even sharper due to his gaunt appearance. The Chief Attendant froze like a rabbit facing a tiger’s eyes, then managed to continue under Kaisertern’s silent pressure.

 

“Th-the tea party schedule you instructed previously is the day after tomorrow. Since invitations were sent to the young nobles of the capital in Your Majesty’s name… I thought you should at least show your face briefly as the host… Th-then, if you catch your breath, perhaps the search will go better afterward… I think…”

 

His voice trailed off in fear, but the seasoned attendant managed to finish the sentence. Hearing the unexpected words, Kaisertern’s face went slightly blank.

 

“Ah. I had completely forgotten.”

 

Since Roabellin disappeared, things like tea parties had long been erased from his mind. Since he spent almost all his time searching outside the palace, he wouldn’t have noticed the servants busily preparing for the tea party for the past few days.

 

‘I don’t even know what Yulli is going through right now, and here I am having a leisurely tea party.’

 

He resented himself for setting the schedule this way, but the Chief Attendant was right. If invitations were sent in the Emperor’s name, it was only right to show his face as the host, however briefly.

 

‘I’m in no mood for this…’

 

No matter how crazy he was over Yulli, he didn’t want to neglect his public duties.

 

“…Fine. I will attend.”

 

The Chief Attendant, who had been trembling in fear of a thunderous rebuke, breathed a sigh of relief.

 

“Th-thank you! I will ensure everything is prepared perfectly!!”

 

As the attendant bowed with awkwardly large gestures and hurried out, Kaisertern sat alone in his study, lost in thought again.

 

‘It was an event prepared as a gesture of thanks to Young Baron Ratnen and to recruit the young nobles of Vicentium, yet I’d forgotten it so completely. I had planned to win them over and then, at the next gathering, introduce Yulli as a noble lady from abroad to secure her place in society.’

 

With Yulli’s elegant movements and speech, he believed it wouldn’t be hard to pass her off as a noble lady with just a bit of training in Prahenfelt etiquette and some fine clothes.

 

Even when he tried to think of other things, his thoughts always converged back to her. Frustrated to the point of roughly messing up his hair, Kaisertern suddenly remembered that he had ordered an investigation into Yulli’s background.

 

‘It isn’t the priority in this situation, but I should look into it again soon. No, perhaps the answer to her whereabouts lies in Yulli’s true identity.’