TCTR 13

Chapter 13

“Milady?”

The first thing I saw was the dirt-covered tip of a shoe.

I wasn’t sure why, but when I lifted my head a little higher, I saw something all too familiar—the clothes he had prepared for me, fluttering lightly in the wind.

The woman sitting awkwardly as if she might be blown away at any moment was wearing those clothes.

That woman was none other than my master.

Startled, Kissel quickly rushed over and lifted her in his arms as if rescuing her from the precarious terrace railing.

Soon, a small, weak voice escaped from my lips.

“…Sorry. I made a mess.”

Kissel stared down at me in his arms, and I began sweating nervously.

Well, you see… It’s kind of a long story…

Unable to meet his gaze, I looked away awkwardly, and he raised one eyebrow sharply.

Then, he rolled his tongue thoughtfully and muttered in a low voice,
“A mess?”

“Yeah.”

After placing me inside the room, he glanced down at my dirty shoes and put his hands on his hips before simply saying,

“Alright. Where should I go to bury the body?”

“…What? What body?”

“Come on, let’s go.”

With a pale face, I grabbed his arm.

“What kind of terrifying joke is that?”

I slapped Kissel’s back to calm my racing heart.

“I thought you killed someone again, but could there be something bigger than that?”

Well, it could be something bigger… or not…

“By the way, why did you enter through the terrace? That was dangerous.”

Changing into clean shoes and gloves, I rolled my eyes sheepishly.

“I could already picture the new rumors that would spread if I came through the front door looking like this.”

“So you came through the terrace? You should’ve called me.”

Kissel tapped the communication artifact that looked like a pretty earring on his earlobe and grumbled.

“There was a tree nearby. It was easy to climb. I’m fine.”

“Haah. If you keep doing things like this, I won’t be able to let you go anywhere alone.”

“And what if you don’t let me?”

While I bickered with Kissel, someone knocked on the door.

Knock knock.

The door opened and a maid entered.

Oh! Dessert!

But Kissel blocked her, and my dessert instantly became out of reach.

“Not until you finish telling me everything.”

Well, that was only with his eyes.

He placed the tray far away from me.

“What kind of mess did you make?”

Since I really had done something wrong this time, I bit the tip of the fork regretfully.

“I used it.”

“Used what?”

“The Grand Mage’s artifact. That… brainwashing magic.”

Seeing Kissel’s body freeze stiffly, I realized I had no chance of getting that dessert now.

He ran his hand through his hair out of habit and asked in a hollow voice,

“You already used it?”

On who? Why?

His eyes drifted to my hand, where the ring had disappeared.

“Do you remember what I told you?”

Don’t do this… You’re scarier when you’re calm.

“The caster has to fulfill any request from the person they cast the spell on. Surely you haven’t forgotten that, right?”

Of course I remembered.

So much that I wanted to rip the memory right out of my head.

“Oh… dear god.”

“You don’t even believe in god.”

“Is that the point right now?”

“…No.”

Yeah, not really.

I gently put down the fork.

I glanced at Kissel, who looked very, very angry.

“Tell me who you cast it on.”

“Eshid and Paul Ribedro.”

Kissel, who had been about to sit across from me, jerked his head up.

Just a couple of names—but there wasn’t a person in the Empire who didn’t know them.

“Ha…”

“The man I ran into that day.”

At that, cracks spread across Kissel’s usually composed face.

Knowing how shocked he must be, I cautiously took both his hands and smiled.

“Smiling won’t work. I’m not letting this slide.”

Kissel, silent for a long moment, finally let out a deep sigh that filled the room and rubbed his face.

“…If you put it that way, I really don’t know what else to say.”

“Don’t say anything. It really was a situation that called for it.”

His brows furrowed like mountains.

That sharp look wasn’t directed at me, but at the man I’d met while descending the mountain alone that night.

“He acted like he knew me.”

“…”

What’s done is done.

No matter how much you try to scoop up spilled water, you can’t restore it to its original form.

“I can’t be held back by the past anymore.”

So I just used it.

Whatever the truth, if the man revealed what he saw that night…

Then I might have to relive my terrible past.

A dreadful image of me repeating that awful past formed in my mind.

“Milady.”

A firm voice broke through those thoughts.

“…Huh?”

“You said he acted like he knew you, right? That means he had a reason. If he was someone I could simply eliminate, I’d do it right away. But he’s not.”

“…”

“That man—someone you can’t fully trust—is now holding your fate in his hands. Considering that, how could I say anything more about you using that artifact?”

Each word he spoke was slow and deliberate, filled with clearly restrained emotions.

“Kissel…”

“As long as the spell worked properly, that’s all that matters. I trust you made the right call.”

I covered my mouth.

“That was actually… kind of touching.”

I gave him a rare hug, and when I let go, he stiffened awkwardly.

Then, with a sigh, Kissel handed me the dessert.

I thought I’d lost my appetite—but surprise, it was delicious.

✦ ✦ ✦

On the second day of my stay in the Imperial Palace—

I was summoned by the Emperor.

I’d expected to be kept in suspense for three or four days, but no.

Eshid and Paul Ribedro.

It happened before I could even decide what to do about that Pandora’s box.

“I’m off.”

Still, since I was summoned, I had no choice but to go. With that resigned mindset, I followed the attendant and stopped in front of a grand, imposing door.

The attendant knocked, and soon, permission to enter was given from inside.

‘I didn’t expect to meet him so soon.’

The attendant turned toward me, signaling that I could go in.

I calmly took a step forward.

‘I’m finally going to meet the Emperor.’

A private audience.

It was the Emperor’s request.

What is he thinking?

I swallowed nervously.

The door opened, and I stepped inside.

The moment I entered the room, a chill greeted me.

A soft carpet cushioned my steps.

‘This feels dangerous…’

A coldness crept up my fingertips.

Alert, I lifted my head.

And at the end of my gaze—

The Emperor sat.

“I greet His Majesty the Emperor.”

I never thought I’d actually use that greeting in my life.

Thanks to the etiquette teachers who scolded me into learning, my body instinctively bowed slightly, hand over my chest.

My body tensed automatically.

“Lady Mertiel, it’s a pleasure to meet you.”

A deep voice, rich with ease.

The moment our eyes met, an indescribable sensation washed over me. One thing was certain—it wasn’t a good feeling.

‘Why would he go so far as to treat me like an honored guest?’

I didn’t know much about the Emperor.

But I knew one thing for sure:

‘He’s the man even Father couldn’t deal with!’

The Emperor picked up his teacup and crossed his legs leisurely.

“Please, have a seat. I can’t have a noble lady like you standing all this time.”

He reclined into the chair, appearing quite vigorous for his age, with a subtle smile playing on his lips.

I sat down and moistened my dry mouth.

“Thank you.”

As I raised my head and smiled, our eyes met again.

And again, I felt the pull of an unknowable dark abyss—so much so that I nearly gasped.

“I heard about the Duke. Truly unfortunate.”

The Emperor smiled gently as he spoke.

He was clearly looking at me—but it didn’t feel like he truly saw me.

“I was deeply saddened by the loss of my respected father, but I’ve found comfort thanks to the Imperial Family’s warm care.”

“Who would have thought the Duke would end up like that? You must stay strong despite the hardship.”

Officially, he was still listed as missing—no body found.

“But, Lady Mertiel.”

“Yes, Your Majesty?”

“Isn’t it strange?”

The Emperor smiled with narrowed eyes and leaned against the chair’s arm.

“For a Duke to vanish overnight, without a trace…”