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Chapter 9
“What are you talking about?”
Contrary to her uneasy suspicion, Rowen’s face was nothing but pure innocence. Slightly furrowed brows and a puzzled look made that clear.
Kia, who had been watching Rowen as well, glanced at Edel as if to say she came to the same conclusion.
Thank goodness. Rowen hadn’t regressed either.
“Sorry. That was a pointless question. I just had a very unsettling dream last night. It felt too real… almost like a prophetic dream.”
“A prophetic dream… you say.”
When Edel heard Rowen mutter in a low, heavy voice, her spine tingled with discomfort.
Could it be she judged wrong—
—No. I don’t think that’s it. It must be for some other reason.
Before Edel could finish her thought, Kia whispered quickly in her ear.
—Really?
When Edel shaped the word silently in confusion, Kia nodded firmly. There was no way Kia would lie.
Convinced Rowen’s reaction had another cause, Edel refocused.
“Maybe it was just my imagination.”
“But why was it in the past tense and not the future? You said someone killed you?”
“I misspoke.”
Rowen still looked doubtful, but seemed to accept Edel’s excuse, and just as quickly turned the conversation elsewhere.
“Anything else happen? I heard you visited Duke Dwelsen’s estate.”
“Yes.”
With that single word, Edel paused.
Well, the whole Empire would know soon enough anyway. There was no reason to hide it from Rowen.
“The Duke said he wanted to postpone our engagement.”
“Truly? And you agreed?”
“He’s very ill.”
“…I see.”
Was that genuine worry on her face, or just an act? Edel chose to believe it was the former.
Even if Rowen hadn’t regressed, she would still fall in love with Cassian all over again. No—she already loved him even now.
“If you know of anything good for one’s health, please let me know. I think the Duke would appreciate it as a gift.”
She figured it was best to start with small gestures.
Rowen looked thoughtful, then nodded.
“I’ll see what I can find.”
The conversation slowly wound down. It was about time for Edel to meet the Emperor.
Rising from her seat, Edel’s pink eyes glowed softly as she smiled and waved cheerfully.
“Recover soon, Sister. Let’s meet again when you’re well.”
“Yes, Edel. Take care.”
As she turned away, Edel cast one last glance at Rowen.
No matter how she looked at it, the length and color of the hair strand she had found matched Rowen’s perfectly.
Evening fell, and lights began to flicker on one by one in the Imperial Palace.
Edel hadn’t attended an imperial dinner in what felt like ages. Before her regression, she hadn’t even had the chance—she had been thrown into prison for treason and spent an unknowable length of time rotting there. In that darkness, her world had collapsed piece by piece.
And yet, here she was, only one day after returning to the past, already stirring things up all over again. Perhaps she hadn’t completely broken after all.
Maybe, instead of shattering, she had been sharpening the blade of vengeance.
Despite the formality of the occasion, Edel made only simple preparations and headed to the Emperor’s hall.
He was a cold father. Surely he knew her charge of treason was false, and yet he had sentenced her to death without a word of protest.
How could she ever trust a man like that?
The Emperor had been part of her broken world. She had already decided never to give him her heart again.
By the time she arrived at the banquet hall, the officials had already taken their seats.
All eyes turned toward Edel as she strode calmly to her place. In the silence, the sound of her heels echoed sharply.
“I greet Your Majesty.”
Before sitting, Edel lifted the hem of her dress and dipped in a graceful curtsey.
The Emperor gave a small nod, and with a faint smile Edel took her seat.
“Let us begin.”
At his words, the previously relaxed atmosphere grew taut in an instant.
Despite their hunger after a full day’s work, the ministers ate with perfect poise, never losing their aristocratic composure.
Political conversations flowed across the table. Edel, who had always made an effort to stay informed of imperial affairs, understood without difficulty.
“But why is Duke Dwelsen not present tonight, Princess Edel?”
At one vassal’s question, the topic shifted immediately. People had already noticed Cassian’s absence and were whispering about it.
Their gazes darted between Edel and the Emperor.
The Emperor surely had received Cassian’s letter. And yet, as if to test her, he merely cast her a probing glance.
Catching the signal, Edel smiled faintly and replied.
“The Duke has announced he will suspend all public appearances for the time being. It seems the news has not yet reached you.”
“What? This is the first we’ve heard of it.”
“It was decided only today. I too was surprised at his words, but what can be done? All losses arising from this will be borne by Duke Dwelsen himself.”
Her crisp response left little room for further questioning.
Edel’s tone carried the message: If you want to know more, ask him directly.
The courtiers exchanged murmurs among themselves, until one suddenly asked:
“Then what of your engagement, Princess?”
“That too has been postponed.”
Gasps and sighs spread through the hall. Those who supported Cassian were disappointed, while those who opposed him began scheming.
Perhaps the rift between the Duke and the Princess could be exploited. Perhaps their own sons could be pushed forward as candidates. Already, more than one lord was entertaining the thought.
“What a pity.”
It was Duke Kartner who poured cold water over the heated atmosphere.
With a flat, emotionless gaze, he regarded Edel.
“I sincerely hope the matter with Duke Dwelsen is resolved well, Your Highness.”
“Thank you, Duke Kartner. I hope so too.”
“But while it is fortunate that Princess Edel has a fiancé, it is troubling that Princess Rowen and Prince Shisan have had no discussions of marriage. Your Majesty, this is a serious concern.”
The new topic reignited the table.
“It is unusual for Princess Rowen to miss a banquet, yet she is absent tonight.”
“Do you know why, Princess Edel?”
“Princess Rowen is unwell.”
“That cannot be!”
The bold contradiction made the atmosphere heavy in an instant.
It was Marquis Basant, Rowen’s most loyal supporter, who challenged her openly.
“Princess Rowen is not the sort to fall ill for no reason.”
“…Why do you look at me so, Marquis?”
His glare was sharp enough to kill. He was clearly demanding an explanation.
“It seems you have just visited her. Tell us clearly—how was her condition?”
“Marquis Basant.”
Edel sighed as she spoke his name. His brows furrowed.
“…!”
But then, her pink eyes glinted with a dangerous sharpness, and without realizing it, the Marquis flinched.
“How rude. You speak as though I had harmed Princess Rowen myself.”
“…No, Your Highness.”
The quiet, cutting counterattack stunned not only Basant but the entire table into silence.
Clink.
The crisp ring of glass broke it. The Emperor had tapped his goblet with a spoon.
“Your concern for Princess Rowen is admirable.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
“But who would dare deceive the royal family?”
His words were barbed, aimed at Basant for daring to challenge Edel.
Of course, Edel knew the truth. The Emperor wasn’t defending her out of love—he simply wanted to crush any noble who presumed to stand against royalty. He had no affection for family.
Still, the matter ended with Basant bowing his head, and talk of the princesses faded as the Emperor desired.
The discussion moved on to diplomacy and the absent prince.
To Edel’s relief, the banquet ended more smoothly than she expected.
But she knew all too well—she could not afford a moment’s carelessness.
The next morning, Edel lay awake in bed for a long while.
She had dreamed the same nightmare again.
Not of torture, not of scorn—but of dying at Cassian’s hands.
I have lost.
I have lost. Kill me.
I will grant you a painless end.
At least this time it was only a dream.
Still, she could feel the cold bite of the blade at her neck. It was an experience she never wished to relive.
“Good morning!”
If Kia hadn’t come in at that moment to wake her, she might have drowned in the nightmare again.
Rubbing her head, Edel swung her legs off the bed.
“Did you sleep well?”
“Did you, Your Highness?”
“…I’m fine. But you, on the other hand… No matter how much makeup you use, those dark circles under your eyes are impossible to hide.”
Edel herself had slept decently—only the unpleasant dream lingered.
Kia, however, looked as if she hadn’t closed her eyes at all.
At Edel’s words, Kia quickly tried to cover her face, but it was too late.
Edel firmly pulled her hands away.
“This is serious. Why didn’t you sleep?”
“Well…”
Hesitant, Kia only spoke after Edel gave her a sharp look urging her to.
“The truth is… I was too worried about you, Your Highness. The past you told me of—it was so terrible I could hardly bear it myself. I couldn’t stop worrying about whether you’ll truly be all right, or if the same things might happen again…”
“Kia, you worry too much.”
“But—”
“Instead of worrying, shouldn’t you focus on taking care of yourself? Don’t let yourself collapse from exhaustion.”
“I won’t collapse—… Wait, in that past of yours, did I collapse?”
“Now you understand?”
Edel chuckled softly, and Kia’s face went pale.
That was no small matter. Kia was an assassin, trained to the peak of physical strength.
For someone like her to have collapsed… things must have been truly dire.
Kia trembled like a leaf in shock, while Edel only laughed quietly and patted her shoulder.
“Come, get things ready. We’re going out.”
