Chapter 46

“I never thought I’d suffer from seasickness. But… hmm…”

 

I realized I didn’t know his name. As if he had read my mind, he smiled softly.

 

“I’m Apol. May I ask your name, my lady?”

 

“Oh, I never introduced myself.”

 

I had been so focused on getting out to sea quickly that I’d forgotten the basics.

 

‘You gave everyone else’s name but not your own, huh?’

 

I scolded myself for being scatterbrained. Standing up, I walked toward him. The open view of the sea eased the queasiness in my stomach, if only slightly.

 

“Lepina Clies.”

 

Apol’s eyes widened.

 

“I thought so… I felt I’d seen you somewhere.”

 

I gave an awkward smile. My face had appeared in the newspapers often enough that it wasn’t strange he recognized me. And now that I’d given him my name…

 

I wondered if he felt pressured, so I glanced at him. But Apol’s expression had shifted into something more complicated—uneasy, tense.

 

Perhaps because the ducal family stood behind me? If I thought of it that way, his expression wasn’t strange.

 

“How long do you think it’ll take?”

 

Though the rough waves made me feel like dying, the ship was catching even more speed thanks to the current pushing in our direction. Apol snapped out of thought and answered.

 

“At this rate, we’ll arrive within five days.”

 

“That’s faster than expected.”

 

I had planned to arrive on the night of the full moon, but it looked like we would reach the destination two days early.

 

‘Well, that’s better. More time to search. And I have Pat.’

 

Even in the middle of the sea, a scent doesn’t disappear. With no information to rely on, I placed my trust in his ability to locate a poisonous herb through smell alone.

 

“You seemed quite seasick.”

 

I scratched my cheek awkwardly.

 

“Elsa keeps medicine that works well for seasickness. Next time, ask her. It’ll help noticeably.”

 

He was very prepared.

 

“By the way, do you have some business out here in the middle of the open sea? I heard the commission details, but this is different from ordinary escort work. The pay was high enough that many became suspicious.”

 

I had assumed the high pay would attract applicants. I was wrong.

 

“I’m looking for something. The reason the pay is high is because I don’t plan to return until I find it. So most people refused. They didn’t want an open-ended commission.”

 

A few had been willing to hear me out, but with no clear explanation of what I was searching for, where exactly it was, or how long it would take, mercenaries had found the request suspicious and backed out one after another. Especially now that the sea routes were unstable.

 

“So when I heard your group accepted, I was thrilled. Ben told me you said any conditions were fine. I was so relieved. I was worried I wouldn’t be able to hire anyone at all. Is that confidence from experience?”

 

I had been surprised—he accepted without even hearing details.

 

‘Well, lucky for me. If no mercenaries were available when I arrived, I’d be in trouble.’

 

They were a well-known mercenary company. I couldn’t imagine a better deal. It felt like the goddess of fortune had blessed me.

 

“We accepted because the pay was high. We needed quick money.”

 

“Really?”

 

He didn’t look like someone in need… but people have their own circumstances.

 

Five years. I had searched for five years. Now, finally, a clue. I would find it. I would—preferably a year sooner if possible.

 

Perhaps Apol saw that determination in my eyes, because he spoke.

 

“Is it something needed for someone precious to you?”

 

I tried to hide my surprise. Was it that obvious?

 

As I blinked in shock, Apol continued.

 

“For me as well. I would give this whole body if it meant helping someone precious.”

 

I blinked slowly. His hand tightened around the helm. Blue veins stood out on the back of his hand. His expression had hardened—like a man who had made a heavy decision.

 

“Then we’re comrades.”

 

Apol gave a messy, faint smile. Yet something about it looked sorrowful, and I couldn’t look away.

 

Just then, a dolphin burst from the water and cried sharply.

 

 

***

 

 

A woman sat sipping tea, sunlight and pleasant wind streaming in through the curtains. Though the surroundings seemed peaceful, the atmosphere around her was grim.

 

“Even a tiger that cannot move is still a predator.”

 

Rishana ground her teeth. Thinking of the visitor from earlier, she realized she had underestimated them and raised her guard.

 

“But it’s too late now.”

 

A mocking smile curved her lips. At that moment, a maid entered quietly.

 

“Your Majesty the Empress, His Highness the Prince has arrived.”

 

“He’s quick with news. Well, it doesn’t matter. Let him in.”

 

Before the maid finished speaking, the door burst open. It was Bastien.

 

“Mother, I’ve heard something strange.”

 

“What is it?”

 

“I heard that the pirate I arrested with my own hands has been released.”

 

Bastien said only one person could’ve done such a thing—his mother—and demanded an explanation.

 

Rishana clicked her tongue and set down her teacup. She gestured for him to sit beside her, but he remained standing.

 

“Sit.”

 

At her firm tone, Bastien finally sat.

 

“You must be curious why.”

 

His suspicion was proven correct. She had indeed freed them.

 

“They are people who should never have been released. How could you—!”

 

“There’s no need to worry. Once they finish their task, I’ve taken measures to ensure they can’t harm the citizens.”

 

“…You mean death?”

 

“Yes.”

 

She spoke of death as calmly as if she were discussing the weather. Bastien’s hand tightened.

 

This was what he hated about her—the way she judged everyone solely by whether they were useful or harmful to her.

 

If useful, she kept them close and drained them dry before discarding them. If harmful, she cut them off immediately.

 

“You told me to eradicate the pirates as quickly as possible.”

 

“Of course. A true emperor must quell even small unrest swiftly. And if resuming trade with the Zeiran Empire is sped up, all the better. Didn’t the people praise you after you subdued them?”

 

“…”

 

“They should praise you. It’s only right.”

 

He hadn’t expected words of praise, but he had hoped for acknowledgment. Just a little.

 

But she was the same as always—everything was simply what he ought to do.

 

Bastien pressed his lips together.

 

“What do you intend to do with the pirates?”

 

He wasn’t a child. He knew well the kinds of schemes the empress conducted behind the scenes. He simply pretended not to see.

 

And his guess had not been wrong. Her words were shocking.

 

“Did you know Lady Clies has gone to sea?”

 

“How did you—…”

 

A chill ran through him. Why was she tracking Lepina’s movements?

 

And her eyes… were the eyes of a snake waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

 

“She’s bothersome.”

 

“…What do you mean?”

 

“The Grow merchant guild has grown too big. It only increases the duke’s influence. It’s already too much—growing further is unacceptable. So I’ve decided to remove her.”

 

Rishana spoke as if discussing the morning’s menu. Bastien slammed his hand on the table and shot to his feet.

 

“Mother!!”

 

But she wasn’t finished.

 

“This is a rare opportunity. Throughout history, the dukes and the throne have always competed for dominance. They may be dukes, but the power they wield rivals the emperor’s. Now is the time. And fortunately, a foolish girl who doesn’t know her place has given us the perfect excuse. Using her to swallow the ducal family whole is ideal, wouldn’t you say?”

 

She had no intention of missing this once-in-a-lifetime chance.

 

Why had she become empress? To be above all others.

 

“You should join forces with the ducal family instead. Then unnecessary bloodshed—”

 

“You clearly don’t understand. That opportunity is long gone.”

 

A small smile touched her lips. Bastien’s face twisted. She sipped her tea unhurriedly.

 

The Clies count family alone wasn’t a major threat. But her reason for targeting Lepina was the ripple effect of the girl’s actions.

 

“The young lady went to sea to find an herb, didn’t she? That herb is the key ingredient in Duke Weiss’ antidote.”

 

“…Is your plan going to fall apart because of her?”

 

He knew she had been quietly manipulating things from behind the scenes, using his brother’s poor health as an excuse to support a different successor. Everyone in society knew it.

 

“She has been troublesome for a while. Lowering the price of medicine by mass-producing it, spreading her name among the commoners—naturally, that raises the duke’s prestige as well. The sooner she disappears—”

 

Bastien jerked his head up, stunned.