Side Story 1.4

The duel’s winner was decided in a flash. A commoner’s strike defeated the knight of Grand Duke Raksid. The knight took off his helmet, revealed his face, and immediately left the arena, leaving only one victor. It seemed her wish had come true, that he had returned to protect her. The champion set his sword on the ground and walked toward the dais where Edelis was seated. He was tall with broad shoulders. His cloak was embroidered with the Imperial emblem, which was even permitted for commoners, but on him, it looked more brilliant than on anyone else. Edelis’s heart pounded with anticipation.

The champion knelt before Edelis and bowed his head. She raised a ceremonial sword and touched his head and both shoulders, acknowledging his victory.

“What is your name?”

The champion hesitated before taking off his helmet. Beneath the helmet, sweaty red hair came into view.

“…Your Majesty?”

The person who had revealed himself was not Lehan, but the Emperor. She couldn’t understand what was happening. Why was the Emperor here?

“Yes, Edelis.”

“You said you couldn’t participate today…”

Edelis was so flustered that her sentence trailed off. Lehan smiled, as if he had expected her surprise.

“Didn’t I say I would be the one to protect you?”

She didn’t remember him ever saying such a thing. She had thought she’d be lucky if he didn’t kill her, so why would he protect her?

‘No, more importantly, I thought it was Lehan, but it’s the Emperor.’

His appearance was so similar to Lehan’s, and even his swordsmanship was alike. But Lehan was a commoner from a gladiator background, and the man in front of her was the Emperor.

“So, what will my prize be?”

The money given to Edelis was the privy purse the Emperor had allocated for the Empress. She couldn’t very well give it back to him as a prize. Moreover, she couldn’t say, ‘Be my bodyguard!’ The Emperor, who had been enjoying Edelis’s confusion, kissed her on the cheek. Seeing this, the crowd clapped and cheered even louder.

“What gift do you want?”

“A name. Call me by my name.”

“Keirhan Raksid Cronad?”

As before, the Emperor’s brow furrowed, and he shook his head.

“Isn’t there a name that only you can use?”

“A name only I can use?”

“Yes.”

While the Emperor smiled brightly, Edelis’s head was spinning. What could this name be?

“Keirhan?”

“…Are you doing this on purpose?”

Raksid was his family name before the rebellion, and now he used Cronad, the name of the Empire, as his surname. So his name was essentially ‘Keirhan,’ but why was he reacting like this?

‘Wait a minute?!’

The same hair and eye color as Lehan, and even the same swordsmanship. And his name was Kei… Lehan.

‘But Lehan is a commoner!’

Edelis muttered softly, as if she couldn’t believe it.

“Lehan…?”

“Yes.”

Lehan smiled brightly and nodded.

“Lehan?! You’re really Lehan?!”

“You mean you didn’t know?”

Edelis, her mind blank, nodded.

“You said you liked my hair and eye color.”

“N-No! Are you really the Emperor?!”

“I told you from the beginning.”

“No! That’s not what I meant!”

She had known the man in front of her was the Emperor since the moment she saw him. The man with an overwhelming presence looked like an Emperor even on horseback. But she had never imagined that this man… would be Lehan, the boy she grew up with.

‘Did fate change? Did I save Lehan, and that’s why he became Emperor? No, the Emperor in the book was just like this!’

In that case, she had saved Lehan, who was already the Emperor… The unbelievable story made Edelis’s head feel like it was about to explode.

“I looked for you for so long!”

“Me too. You don’t know how long I searched for you.”

Lehan hugged Edelis tightly. The crowd’s cheers grew louder, having witnessed the passionate love of the Emperor and Empress. Edelis, finally grasping the situation, tried to push him away, but Lehan wasn’t about to let go of the woman he had just finally reached.

The people who were at the arena that day said that the Emperor and Empress were a very loving couple.

***

On the Emperor’s bed, Edelis was earnestly trying to soothe Lehan, who was lying with his back to her.

“No, no, it’s been so long. I didn’t know you had grown this much!”

“Even if I’ve grown taller, my eye or hair color hasn’t changed…”

“I did think you looked alike!”

“…I recognized you at first sight.”

Lehan’s back looked lonely. The more he seemed this way, the more helpless Edelis felt. She had thought the Emperor would kill her, but he turned out to be Lehan, her one and only ally. And he still cherished and valued her just as before. Only after she realized he was Lehan did all the pieces of the puzzle fall into place.

“But who would have known you’d suddenly have such a high status!?”

“I would have found you even if you were a commoner.”

“You say that, and I have nothing to say…”

Because of that book! She had misunderstood innocent Lehan and put herself through all this trouble.

“You, you know I was afraid of the Emperor, right?”

“The Emperor you were afraid of has already been eliminated.”

But you were that Emperor…

“You should have told me!”

“I thought you would know. Just like I recognized you at first glance.”

They were back at square one.

“I’m, I’m sorry…”

“Just with words?”

Lehan turned slightly and his eyes met Edelis’s. His gaze clearly wanted something, but she couldn’t tell what it was.

“Huh? What else should I do?”

“It’s nothing…”

Lehan adjusted his position and turned his back to Edelis again.

“Lehan.”

“Yes.”

“Look at me.”

At Edelis’s serious tone, Lehan sat up and faced her directly.

“I’m sorry I didn’t recognize you at first glance. I won’t make that mistake again.”

“…Okay.”

“I’ll make it up to you for all the things I couldn’t do before.”

“Then tell me one thing.”

“Okay, what is it? Tell me.”

Edelis nodded as if she would say anything. But Lehan asked a question she hadn’t expected.

“The person you said you missed. Who is it?”

“Huh?”

“I know you asked for the martial arts tournament because of them. Who is it?”

Who could it be, of course, it’s you.

“You might not know, but I’m very jealous.”

“…I know. The first time we met, you told me not to think about going anywhere else and to stay by your side.”

“That’s right. So, who is it?”

“Why?”

At Edelis’s question, Lehan pressed his lips together. He seemed to have no intention of just letting it go once he knew who it was.

“…”

“Aren’t you going to tell me?”

“Lehan.”

“Yes.”

“Lehan.”

“Yes.”

“Lehan, it’s you!”

Embarrassed, Edelis shouted, but she couldn’t stop her face from turning red.

“If you missed me, couldn’t you have just come to my office or my bedroom?”

Lehan said, questioning Edelis’s reasoning. She agreed with him. She just hadn’t known that Lehan was the Emperor.

“…I would have if I had known.”

“Pardon?”

“If I had known you were Lehan, I would have gone to find you without any worry.”

Edelis looked at Lehan, her face beet red. Lehan’s face also reddened as he realized she was telling the truth. Knowing that the person she missed was him, he was filled with happiness and kissed her. Lehan kissed Edelis several more times without hesitation, as she stood there with wide eyes at the sudden kiss.

“May I kiss you?”

“But, you already…”

He had already kissed her, so why was he asking for permission now? Her words were cut short by another kiss.

“I love you, Edelis. Don’t think about anyone else but me from now on.”

Edelis couldn’t understand the situation at all. That the boy she’d once thought a child was now a grown man, kissing her with such passion. The Emperor, who had felt like a stranger, was telling her that he had loved her from the start. And through it all, her heart was pounding.

***

What if she hadn’t been caught for 10 years?

“My father?”

Edelis received the news that the Marquis of the Empire was at death’s door. Tears welled up in her eyes upon hearing this. Her father, who had cherished her so much, had decided it would be better to have no daughter than for her to commit treason. But she had left without saying a word, and that had always weighed on her heart. It had been 10 years since she fled, and her father was now old. Her mother had passed away when she was young, and with his only daughter’s life or death unknown, she could only imagine how her father must feel…

“Should I go?”

But the Emperor was still looking for her. She would probably die a terrible death. Fleeing before her wedding was an act of deceiving the Imperial family, a crime punishable by death.

“Should I not go?”

But her father’s health was said to have rapidly worsened. Time had passed for the rumor to reach her, so he might be on his deathbed now. She was worried that she wouldn’t be there for the passing of her only family member. Unable to decide what to do, Edelis finally made up her mind to see her father so she wouldn’t have any regrets.

“Just for a little while, I’ll go for a very brief visit.”

***

It had been a long time since Edelis had appeared, but the servants showed no surprise and expertly guided her. There, her father lay motionless in bed.

“…Father!”

Edelis ran to him with a tearful voice and hugged him. In the 10 years that had passed, the wrinkles on her father’s face had deepened.

“Father, it’s me, Edelis. Please open your eyes!”

At her words, the Marquis opened his bloodshot eyes. His eyes were filled with tears, and he couldn’t see Edelis clearly.

“I-I can’t see well, my child.”

“I’m sorry I couldn’t come sooner.”

“No, I’m the one who is sorry.”

“No, Father, you have nothing to be sorry for.”

“G-Go back quickly. I’ve seen your face, that’s enough.”

“Father…”

Her father urged her to leave, worried that she would be caught. But seeing him so old and frail weakened her resolve. She regretted it and wondered if she could stay just a little longer. She hoped the Emperor was so obsessed with the female protagonist that he had forgotten about her existence. But a voice that shattered her hopes instantly was heard.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

She turned her head in the direction of the eerie voice, and there stood a man wearing several ornate sashes. He was far too noble to be called a mere ‘noble.’ Edelis recognized his identity at a glance.

“Your, Your Majesty?”

“Didn’t I tell you? That I would find you even if it took 10, or 20 years.”

No way… Edelis muttered to herself, unable to believe what she was seeing.

“And I promised myself. Once I catch you, I will never let you go again.”