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Chapter 46
Could anything in this world, no matter how rare or precious, ever be more beautiful than this?
A woman with dazzling beauty raised her voice high enough to echo through the imperial palace.
“I heard His Highness the Crown Prince was sent to the duchy!”
The Emperor, who had just risen from bed, let out a deep sigh at the sight of the woman who had suddenly barged in.
“Lady Giselle, what brings you here in such haste at this hour?”
The woman—Henya Giselle—trembled as she clenched her fists and marched up to the Emperor.
“Did Your Majesty not promise to give me the Crown Prince in exchange for my loyalty? And yet, you’ve sent him off with the Duke? What is the meaning of this?!”
From the moment she was born until now, she had never failed to get what she wanted.
Before the Asra Trading Company was established, her father—an earl who once ran the largest merchant guild in the Empire—had always given her anything she asked for.
“I’m not supposed to be denied anything.”
Whether it was from fatigue or sheer irritation, the Emperor, clearly consumed by unpleasant emotions, pressed his fingers to his temple and gently gripped the young noblewoman’s shoulders.
“Tell me, Lady Henya. Have I ever broken a promise to you?”
“…Urk.”
His grip dug into her shoulders, rough and unyielding.
“Do you realize where you are, raising your voice like that?”
“But…!”
Crushed by his overwhelming pressure, Henya quickly stepped back.
The Emperor folded his arms and looked at her, his eyes darkening—though a moment later, he offered a slight smile that masked the chill beneath.
“Well, I suppose I can understand your frustration.”
“…”
Henya bit down hard on the inside of her cheek. Blood welled from the already-torn flesh.
“But, my lady, you should have thought more carefully before this.”
His voice was soft—almost soothing.
The beautiful voice of the Emperor carried an irresistible power.
Henya hesitated, and the Emperor continued.
“I’ve already said it, haven’t I? I too dislike the idea of the Duke being near my son.”
He clicked his tongue and turned his gaze toward the window.
Snow was falling heavily.
Though it hadn’t accumulated as much as it would in the far colder region of Mertiel, it was enough to blanket the world in white.
Henya didn’t appreciate the Emperor taking time to admire the view in such a situation.
With her brows furrowed and fists clenched tightly, she spoke through gritted teeth.
“That’s why I don’t understand it even more. You should separate the Crown Prince and the Duke immediately.”
The Emperor turned back to her, unhurried and calm.
“Haha. There’s no need to worry. The more you try to keep lovers apart, the more they burn with passion. Isn’t that how all true love works?”
“…!”
“Love… Yes, it changes many things—more than you can imagine.”
His eyes momentarily deepened with something unreadable, but Henya didn’t catch it.
“Doesn’t your heart ache even more not being able to see my son?”
“I… I always…”
“Come here, child.”
The Emperor held out his hand.
Shaking, she had no choice but to take it.
“I’ve watched you since you were a child. I was the one who gave you your name. You were the precious child the Earl cherished most dearly, and I named you with affection.”
“I already know that, Your Majesty.”
A strange smile flickered on the Emperor’s lips.
Whether it was admiration for her ambition or ridicule at her audacity, it was hard to tell.
“And whenever you wanted something, haven’t I always helped you? But one must not be too greedy.”
“But what I want most right now… isn’t mine!”
“Enough.”
At his warning tone, Henya shut her mouth instinctively.
“I’m not trying to scold you. Henya, I still believe that if my son is to have a partner, you would suit him best.”
The Emperor clasped her hand tightly in his.
She winced at the pressure, but dared not show displeasure in front of the Emperor, bowing her head low instead.
“Please keep your promise, Your Majesty. You said that if I did what you asked, you would give me the Crown Prince.”
“Yes, of course. I will.”
“You asked me to find discreet assassins without strings attached, and I did so just a few days ago. So now, the price…”
She trailed off.
As if he had anticipated this very moment, the Emperor nodded, and the door—firmly closed until now—opened. Someone stepped inside.
Henya’s head snapped toward the unexpected visitor, eyes widening in disbelief.
“Unfortunately, I lost a certain bet. So I won’t be able to act personally for a while.”
“That man is…”
“Therefore, I’d like to introduce someone who can assist you in my place.”
The Emperor’s tone was casual.
Henya glanced back and forth between the Emperor and the man who had just entered, her eyes trembling.
The man stepped forward and held out his hand.
“Hello.”
Henya’s expression morphed from confusion and shock to a greed-filled smile.
She carefully placed her hand in his.
“…Who is he?”
The man’s smile only deepened in response.
✦ ✦ ✦
When I woke up that morning, perhaps as a reward for all the pain, I felt much better.
Cough.
I could’ve sworn I fell asleep curled up in front of the stove… but I was in bed now.
I had no thoughts. No will to act. No ability to move. I just sat on the bed blankly.
“I’m still tired.”
Even after all that sleep, I was still exhausted.
I closed my eyes again.
The porridge bowl had been pushed far aside, and I curled into a ball under the blanket, alone.
When I opened my eyes again—
“…Why isn’t he coming?”
Still alone.
Another day had passed, and no one had come to this cabin.
“At this rate… I think I’ve mostly recovered.”
There was no longer any need to sit here like a good patient, waiting endlessly for the man who had locked me in this place.
His smile—strangely vivid in my memory—briefly tugged at me.
But hesitation was a luxury.
I stood up.
✦ ✦ ✦
In a space thick with stifling silence and fragile tension, two men exhaled slow, heavy breaths.
One of them, with deep navy-blue hair, addressed the stranded knights outside in a voice so low it nearly sliced through the air like a blade.
Afterward, he stepped briskly back into the tent, which offered a bit more warmth compared to the blizzard outside.
The hastily erected tent could only do so much to fend off winter’s bite.
He rubbed at his brow, then reached for something that wasn’t his—someone else’s belongings.
What he pulled out was a sheet of plain-looking paper—but it was anything but ordinary. It belonged to its master alone.
He began writing something on the paper.
Watching him, another man smoking a cigar let out a long, weary sigh.
Just as the traces of inked script began to vanish into the air—
The two men turned sharply in unison.
“Hello.”
“……”
“……”
A woman entered, gracefully pulling aside the tent flap.
One man’s eyes narrowed. The other stared wide-eyed in disbelief.
“I was starting to think you’d never call me.”
She glanced between the two of them, lifting her chin with elegant poise.
Her long lashes fluttered.
“I waited a very long time.”
In her hand was the paper Kissel had just cast into the air—covered in his neat handwriting.
It was the item the Pope had once entrusted to Inera, to be used when in need of aid.
Beneath her lifted eyelids, pure white irises gleamed.
Her eyes were so pale, only the whites were visible. And they shimmered with a strange, ethereal light.
“Did you know? I once had a bird.”
Her abrupt, unrelated words made both men’s expressions twist in different ways.
“Its feathers gleamed with glossy black, and its eyes sparkled with intelligence, silver and sharp.”
“…”
“Oh, its name was Marinne. It was quite adorable.”
She slowly closed her eyes.
“The way it chirped to me was lovely. I cherished that bird dearly.”
The two men still hadn’t said a word.
The woman brought a hand to her upturned lips and whispered softly.
“Shall we go, then? I dearly hope my little bird isn’t trembling in this bitter cold.”
It was only then that they realized—
This merciless snowstorm would soon come to an end.
