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~Chapter 20~
A Mad Emperor Can Get Away With Anything
“Have you found the princess?”
“No, but we did find traces of monsters.”
To a monster, a mage’s blood and flesh are the best treats.
Regina, beaten and wounded, wouldn’t have been able to hold out against a swarm of monsters.
“She must be dead. What could a useless body that can’t use magic do?”
But Heraeis wasn’t relieved.
He couldn’t sleep easy until he was sure that illegitimate child was really dead.
If Regina—once called the reincarnation of the great mage—was still alive, she could one day put a knife to his throat as Emperor.
Some of her loyal mages had already disappeared near the border without a sound. Maybe they had found a trace of their master.
“If she’s dead, bring me the body. If she’s alive, make sure she’s dead—and then bring me the body.”
Count Wallas spoke hesitantly.
“But… it’s not easy to send people through the magic barrier, Your Highness. You know this.”
“Just in case, I made a gap in one place—a spot that can be opened and closed easily.”
“What? A gap in the barrier?”
Even for a traitor, making a permanent weak spot in the border that stopped the monster wave was terrifying.
Heraeis clicked his tongue and added,
“I mean, I created a passage only humans can use—not monsters.”
He had designed this from the beginning.
The barrier itself was made by Regina.
But Heraeis had dug into her magic circles and made a secret path, in case he ever needed to move troops.
It could only be used with his blood as the key.
He’d even set up traps that would turn any approaching monster into ashes—an idea based on Regina’s research about how monsters and humans have different body temperatures.
“As expected, Your Highness is brilliant.”
Heraeis was gifted at handling magic precisely.
He didn’t have huge magic power, but he had the knowledge to make up for it.
If not for Regina, he’d be famous for his control of magic and magic circles.
Count Wallas thought he’d made the right choice in serving Heraeis.
“I’ll lend you my mages.”
Heraeis’s own unit was second only to Regina’s mage corps in strength.
Plus, they had all kinds of magic items Regina had invented. With the mage corps now destroyed, there was no knight squad in Permang Empire that could stand up to them.
The only one who might have matched them was Count Wallas, but he had no reason to get in Heraeis’s way.
“Understood, Your Highness. I will obey your command.”
The count smiled and came closer to Heraeis.
“Don’t worry too much. I’m only worried because you, who will soon lead Permang, are pushing yourself so hard.”
Up close, they looked so similar that people might mistake them for father and son—if not for their different eye and hair colors.
Heraeis took a step back, lips twisted in a sly smile.
“Do I really seem that weak to you?”
“Yes, Your Highness. Please take care of your health.”
At the count’s obedient attitude, Heraeis gave his final order and left.
“Then find the body.”
Warm golden sunlight touched Regina’s face.
Her eyelids fluttered, and Conrad, who’d been watching her, reached out and blocked the light.
He pulled Regina closer in his arms and, smiling with satisfaction, kissed her forehead.
His lips touched her smooth forehead for just a moment, careful not to wake her, but his blue eyes never left her.
‘Her aura has grown.’
Regina had only fallen asleep at dawn, finally at ease in his arms.
As he checked her body, Conrad could still feel aura and magic flowing between them where they touched.
He squinted at the faint crescent moon seal glowing red.
‘I need to look into this more.’
He’d married Regina to break her seal, but now he had no intention of ending the marriage so easily.
That was why he’d rushed to sign the marriage vow instead of waiting for a formal ceremony. In the Fredericks Empire, you couldn’t get divorced without finding the marriage contract hidden in the temple.
But the contract only appeared with the agreement of both spouses.
There was a time when he laughed at the gods for forcing eternal love on couples.
“How could a god decide what’s in a person’s heart?”
Conrad knew he couldn’t even understand his own feelings. He’d never liked the idea of offering a marriage contract to the gods, but now he realized the restriction could work for him.
If he didn’t agree, Regina could never escape the marriage.
“Hmm.”
He was unexpectedly pleased that the bold Regina Permang was now bound to him.
His large fingers lovingly stroked her soft red hair.
He suddenly remembered the way Cain had looked at Regina yesterday.
‘How dare he covet my partner?’
Conrad’s jaw clenched.
If Stella hadn’t been there, he might have used the excuse of sparring to beat him with his sword.
“Mmm.”
Feeling Conrad’s muscles tense, Regina shifted in discomfort.
Even her little movements made Conrad’s body react. He covered his face with his hand, troubled.
‘This is awkward.’
It was the first time his body moved against his will.
He’d tried to block the sunlight so she could sleep, but now he wanted to wake Regina and satisfy his desire.
In the struggle between reason and instinct, reason won—barely.
His conscience pricked him when he saw all the red marks on Regina’s neck.
“Regina Fredericks.”
He liked the sound of her name with his family name at the end.
Conrad whispered softly, brought her hand to his lips, and nuzzled her fingers.
“I’ve been waiting for you.”
Looking at her like a satisfied beast, Conrad’s smile deepened.
Pulling her close, he closed his eyes to rest a little longer.
Regina let out a soft, contented sigh as magic gently wrapped around her body.
Her waist ached a little, but the magic filling her made her feel good.
“Mmm.”
She tried to stretch, but it wasn’t easy—someone was holding her tightly and wouldn’t let go.
With effort, Regina opened her heavy eyes to see who it was. Her cheeks turned red.
She couldn’t escape from Conrad’s arms around her waist.
As last night’s memories flashed through her mind, Regina’s whole face turned the same red as her hair.
‘No, wait.’
This was a contract—she was just fulfilling her duty as the Emperor’s partner. She had to do it. She had no plans to neglect her role as Empress.
She would break the magic barrier of Permang, and Conrad would get a perfect empress. That was their deal. There was nothing to feel guilty about.
Thinking that far, Regina looked at Conrad, who was still sleeping.
His tightly shut lips, long eyes, high nose, and full lips—
Those eyes, now closed, once held an ocean within them. Remembering the way he’d looked at her last night made her forehead grow hot again.
She squeezed her eyes shut and shook her head.
“You’re awake?”
At the sound of a low, rough voice, Regina’s eyes flew open.
Her blue eyes, wide with surprise, met Conrad’s gaze. Flustered, Regina pulled the blanket up to cover her chest.
“You should sleep a little more.”
Conrad put his big hand around her neck and pulled her into his chest.
