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Chapter 20
How could this be?
She had no idea how they recognized her, even with a wig and mask on.
This might be a warning.
Maybe it meant, “I know your weakness, so agree to meet me quietly.”
Lucretia pressed her throbbing temples and replied that she would accept the invitation.
Jaina looked at Lucretia in surprise.
Finally, she’s starting to expand her presence in society, Jaina thought happily.
Lucretia, unaware of Jaina’s gaze, nervously bit her lip.
The Alora Kingdom delegation stayed in a villa filled with all kinds of artworks—paintings, sculptures, everything. It was obvious they wanted to show the empire’s power to their guests.
“Your Majesty, the Empress! You really came!”
Rai smiled with his eyes slightly closed.
“It’s a great honor. Just your presence makes this place brighter. Please, sit wherever you like, Your Majesty.”
Not only Rai, but the entire delegation greeted Lucretia with curiosity and kindness.
The southern people had a reputation for being gentle and relaxed, and indeed, they all seemed warm and calm.
“Your citizens are truly lucky to have such a beautiful and wise Empress.”
“Indeed. I hope our King soon meets Your Majesty…”
Contrary to her nervousness, the conversation went smoothly. Rai, who had summoned her with a mysterious letter, only smiled and sipped his tea.
What exactly is the purpose of calling me here?
After an hour of tea, Lucretia felt growing unease.
Perhaps they were trying to get something from Marquis Zepher through her. If the marquis had secretly dealt with the ambassador, he would have to pay a high price to keep it quiet.
No, that can’t be. He couldn’t have guessed that just from seeing me briefly in the hallway.
She tried to calm her irrational anxiety, but she still couldn’t guess Rai’s intentions.
After a while, Rai set down his teacup and spoke casually:
“The weather is wonderful, Your Majesty. I heard your empire has had continuous rain, but it cleared up after our arrival. It feels as if the weather itself is welcoming us.”
He smiled genuinely.
“This villa’s gardens are beautiful. Would you like to take a walk, Your Majesty?”
Finally, getting to the point.
Lucretia nodded firmly—there was no turning back now.
As they walked into the garden, a warm spring breeze brushed her skin. The weather was perfect, just as Rai said, but Lucretia, tense as she was, couldn’t enjoy it.
“The sun is lovely, but it’s cooler than the southern lands. …Have you ever been to the southern continent, Your Majesty?”
Rai suddenly turned to her.
It was an unexpected question.
For the northern Zicfried Empire citizens, the south was an unknown world: warm all year, full of sweet fruits, relaxed people, and beautiful dances. Somewhere in the south was said to be the largest, densest forest on the continent.
Lucretia shook her head.
“No. Never.”
She had never even left the islands.
Rai glanced around, ensuring no one was nearby, then spoke again.
“Excuse me, Your Majesty, but you have fairy blood, don’t you?”
Lucretia’s eyes widened. She was too shocked to speak.
Never before had anyone outside her family known her identity.
Should I deny it?
If her fairy blood were revealed, everything would be over. She would be captured for deceiving the emperor. Even if the emperor wasn’t hostile to fairies, he would kill her without hesitation. No one could imagine an Empress of Zicfried Empire being a fairy.
But Rai spoke as if he already knew her secret.
“I’m sorry for asking so directly. You must be very surprised.”
Rai looked at her pale face with concern.
“I only spoke because… I am the same as you.”
Lucretia’s mind went blank. She didn’t understand what he meant.
“…You are…” she whispered.
“Yes. I am a fairy too.”
Rai nodded and pointed to his eye.
“Under this iris cover, my eye is purple. Yours is too, isn’t it?”
“…How do you know?”
Lucretia steadied herself. Her secret had been seen, but she needed to stay alert.
“Why are you saying such nonsense? If you intend to insult me, I won’t stay silent.”
“Fairies can recognize each other easily, Your Majesty,” Rai said calmly.
“You probably know that fairies have very dense mana in their bodies. Even a touch can reveal a match. Perhaps you never noticed because you’ve never met another fairy until me… right?”
It was true. Lucretia, pale, remained silent.
Rai lifted his right hand to his eye. When he uncovered it, she gasped: the iris was a vivid purple. Across the continent, only fairies had violet eyes. No further explanation was needed.
“Most people fear and reject fairies,” Rai continued cautiously after covering his eye again.
“Have you heard of the Regina Forest?”
Lucretia nodded. Even though she had never left the islands, she knew the forest’s name. It was the largest and most mysterious forest on the continent.
“After the Great Demon War, the surviving fairies hid there. Not many, but enough to form small communities.”
Lucretia’s lips parted in shock.
Since the Great Demon War a thousand years ago, fairies had been treated as monstrous and persecuted. They were nearly wiped out and now existed only in legends.
And yet, they were still alive, and not just a few—they had communities.
“Our King in Alora understands our story,” Rai continued.
“One reason I was sent here was to rescue fairy slaves circulating in the black market.”
Lucretia swallowed hard. The marquis had said her mother was a lowly slave. Could her mother have been sold in the same markets?
Rai carefully watched her reaction before continuing:
“I don’t know why you hide your blood and became Empress. I don’t intend to demand your story. The reason I invited you today is simply…”
He paused, then spoke firmly:
“To tell you that your kind still has allies on this continent… including me.”
“….”
“And, of course, to help you. How have you been coping with your chronic condition?”
He meant mana addiction, a hereditary ailment common to fairies.
For the first time in a long while, Lucretia spoke.
“…I’ve been supplied with Elnash leaves.”
“Elnash… leaves?”
Rai’s eyes widened in disbelief.
“Why… how did you survive on just that?”
Lucretia realized her only relief from mana addiction was Elnash leaves. Before being found by Marquis Zepher, life had been unbearable without them. Even light activity left her breathless and in pain.
“Elnash leaves don’t work for mana addiction, Your Majesty,” Rai said.
“No,” she shook her head. “I survive because of them.”
“But… they truly have no effect. They only dull the mind and slightly numb. Could it be… Empress?”
Rai’s voice lowered in disbelief.
“You overused the leaves to the point you could forget the pain from mana addiction?”
Overused? Lucretia remembered burning the leaves so thickly that the room filled with smoke. By now, lesser amounts did not ease the pain.
Realizing her silence meant yes, Rai sighed.
“How long have you lived like that… all your life?”
Lucretia nodded slightly. Rai bit his lip.
“If you were exposed for so long… your health must have suffered greatly. Didn’t you feel it?”
