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~Chapter 14~
“Something has appeared at the border of the Halen Empire and the Lusephon Empire. It isn’t an animal or a human, but something completely black. The scripture the Goddess left behind calls it a ‘demon beast.’”
“Yes, I received the report.”
“Take charge of the Lusephon delegation for the founding festival. I want to see that demon beast with my own eyes.”
The Pope spoke gently.
“I always obey Your Holiness’s words,” Loand replied, bowing his head.
The Pope looked at his loyal follower with pride and patted his shoulder.
“You are trustworthy. Use the festival as an excuse to secure the demon beast before Lusephon does. And keep an eye on the Lusephon Emperor. He’s past the usual age for marriage but still refuses to wed. Find out why.”
“Yes.”
Loand answered dutifully.
Loand stopped thinking as he reached the audience chamber.
A servant silently opened the door for him.
He walked alone across the long white carpet toward the Emperor. Portraits of past emperors on the walls seemed to stare straight through him.
He approached and saw Emperor Grey, the young emperor, sitting with a relaxed smile—yet there was an overwhelming presence about him.
“Loand Ophelion, Commander of the Holy Knights of the Halen Empire, greets His Majesty, Emperor of Lusephon.”
“It’s been a while, Commander.”
“Thank you for remembering me.”
“How could I forget the Halen Empire’s only swordmaster?”
Although Emperor Grey was smiling, his eyes were cold.
He seemed to be asking, Why has Halen’s only swordmaster come here? But Loand only met his gaze calmly, as if he didn’t notice.
“It’s just a title.”
Their eyes met, blue like the sky against black like the night.
Loand was the first to lower his gaze.
Only then did the Emperor ask about the Pope’s health in a casual tone, though his words held a hidden edge.
“Is His Holiness well, still?”
“Yes.”
“I received the Pope’s gifts well. All that holy water will be very useful for the empire. Please give him my thanks.”
“I will do so.”
A silent tension hung between the two men.
“Commander, have you ever seen our empire’s founding festival before?”
“This is my first time. So I’m quite excited. Oh, may I have permission to look around the palace grounds?”
Loand spoke naturally, as if the thought had just come to him, hiding his true intentions.
“You have my permission.”
“Thank you. Then I’ll take my leave.”
Loand bowed his head.
“Commander, you’re only looking around to enjoy the festival, right? No other reason?”
“That’s right.”
The Emperor smiled brightly, the corners of his eyes lifting.
“Go, then.”
“Yes.”
After the meeting, Loand walked through the white marble halls and left the main palace.
He saw beautiful flower gardens everywhere, as if the grounds themselves were showing off their beauty—just like the Emperor’s striking looks.
What did the Emperor’s last smile mean?
It bothered Loand a little, but he told himself not to worry.
Suddenly, a faint, familiar scent of flowers brushed past his nose. He turned his head without thinking.
His steps stopped.
A woman was standing under a tree full of green leaves. Even from a distance, she was so beautiful she drew his gaze.
Why can’t I look away from her?
For a moment, her face overlapped with the memory of a young girl he could never forget.
Someone he’d never dared to look at directly.
A princess, whose sparkling eyes and bright smile were as lovely as a star.
“Princess…”
Loand was surprised by the word that slipped from his mouth and covered his lips.
The princess who never left the deepest part of the palace—how could she be here?
But his feet moved toward her anyway.
Just then, the woman looked around, as if waiting for someone, and their eyes met.
Her clear eyes, a mix of violet and sky blue, looked right at him.
Could there really be two women in the world with eyes like that? Impossible.
Loand brushed his hair back and slowly walked closer, even though his heart told him not to.
He stopped in front of her.
She looked at him, blinking curiously.
He had thought he’d never see her again. The little princess he remembered had grown into a beautiful woman.
“Prin—”
But before he could finish, Dahlia quickly covered his mouth with both hands.
“Who are you? No, I mean—it’s not me! That!”
Dahlia glanced around nervously, whispering.
Didn’t she know that her reaction only made him more certain?
The princess is still as innocent as ever, Loand thought.
Meanwhile, Dahlia was trying to figure out what to do. She had never seen this man before, but he was staring at her so intently that she didn’t look away.
Cole had told her that in a staring contest, whoever looks away first loses.
I should have just lost…
His blue eyes looked down at her.
“I’m sorry for covering your mouth, but I’m really not the prin—that person.”
She couldn’t read his expression at all. Was he angry that she covered his mouth?
“I’ll move my hands now, so please don’t misunderstand, okay?”
Dahlia slowly took her hands away and watched him.
He just stared back at her quietly.
Since he didn’t answer, she couldn’t tell if he understood her or not.
“Why are you here?”
After a long pause, the man finally spoke.
His words sounded as if he knew her well, making Dahlia’s long lashes tremble with nervousness.
“Do you know me?”
“Aren’t you the one who never leaves the separate palace? The prin—”
She quickly covered his mouth again.
“I’m really sorry for doing this, but I’m not that person. If you call me that, I’ll be really shocked.”
Dahlia almost looked like she might cry.
The man didn’t resist at all as she covered his mouth again.
“I’ll move my hands again. Please be careful what you call me. If you understand, could you nod?”
But he just stared at her.
What do I do? He’s so stubborn, Dahlia thought, starting to panic.
Just then, a familiar voice called out from behind.
“That’s a crime, you know.”
Startled like a rabbit caught by a hunter, Dahlia spun around.
The Emperor was standing there with his arms crossed, looking at her and the man beside her with a cold stare.
“You’re covering a man’s mouth in a quiet place, aren’t you?”
Dahlia lowered her hands, looking troubled.
It was the middle of the day, and while she had covered his mouth, it wasn’t really like that…
