🔊 TTS Settings
Episode 9
In the past, Jenaden never even properly hugged Sarubia because he always said it was because he cared about her.
Sarubia never once dreamed that the real reason he wouldn’t hug her was that he disliked her. Instead, she simply thought, So this really is because Jenaden loves me.
Of course, deep down, she still felt a little hurt by the way Jenaden treated her.
There had been a day when Jenaden had held Sarubia tightly in his broad arms.
It was the day the nursemaid who had raised Sarubia since she was little passed away.
Sarubia had never grown attached to anyone in her family, so her nursemaid’s death came as a huge shock to her.
She cried all night.
Seeing Sarubia shedding tears nonstop, Jenaden tried to comfort her in his own way.
‘Empress, please stop crying.’
‘Your Majesty, I’m sorry…… Sob…… I can’t stop my tears.’
Tears continued to stream down from her large eyes, which were like blue sapphires.
Jenaden, sitting across from Sarubia, let out a small sigh.
He suddenly stood up from his seat, bent down slightly in front of Sarubia, and opened his arms.
Then he suddenly pulled her tightly into his embrace.
It was the first time.
The first time Sarubia had ever been held in Jenaden’s arms.
She was so surprised that she stopped crying and simply stared wide-eyed while being held against him.
‘You’re finally not crying anymore.’
Jenaden let out a relieved sigh.
Sarubia couldn’t say a word to him.
For the first time, she felt the warmth of the person she loved.
That warmth was so wonderful that it seemed to melt both her body and heart.
She was completely dazed.
But she didn’t want to let go of his warmth.
I want to be closer.
She wrapped both arms tightly around Jenaden’s waist.
Thump, thump.
She could hear his heart beating almost as fast as hers.
For a brief moment, she felt truly happy.
Why am I remembering that time now……?
The old memory came back to her.
Suddenly, everything felt uncomfortable.
She desperately wished for Jenaden’s hand around her waist to move away.
‘That damn emperor!’
Duke Bronard’s angry voice echoed through the underground passage.
The duke stomped his foot against the floor several times in frustration.
‘You still think you can rebel against me?! You’re nothing but a puppet!’
He ground his teeth angrily.
After cursing Jenaden in an enraged voice, Duke Bronard scoffed.
‘Fine. If Sarubia gives birth to a boy…… Then that bastard will meet the same end as last time.’
The same end?
Sarubia’s eyes widened.
What is he planning?
She carefully turned her eyes toward Jenaden.
His hand around her waist was trembling slightly.
He was biting his lips tightly, as if desperately trying to hold back his anger.
Duke Bronard entered the warehouse and came back out almost immediately.
Sarubia was terrified that they might be discovered, but fortunately, he simply went back upstairs.
Clank.
The sound of the door closing echoed through the underground passage.
Sarubia slightly raised her head and looked at Jenaden.
Even in the darkness, she could see his eyes shining fiercely with anger.
She raised her hand and lightly tapped the hand covering her mouth.
Jenaden’s shoulders flinched slightly.
He immediately removed his hand from her mouth.
‘I’m sorry.’
‘It’s fine. Please take this hand away too.’
Sarubia pointed lightly toward her waist with her finger.
Jenaden seemed slightly surprised to realize that he was still holding her.
He quickly removed his hand from her body.
He cleared his throat awkwardly and turned his head away.
Sarubia gave him an indifferent glance before walking past him.
‘Let’s go upstairs. It’ll probably be morning soon.’
‘That would be best.’
The two of them immediately left the underground prison.
Once outside, Sarubia turned around and stared at the firmly closed door.
What will Duke Bronard do if those jewels disappear?
She could already imagine it.
The duke would probably call her an ungrateful, crazy girl who didn’t even appreciate everything he had done by raising her.
And then, standing in front of him, she would give him a cold smile and say:
‘You raised me? You can give that favor to the dogs.’
She suddenly thought it would be rather amusing to see Duke Bronard’s face twist in anger at her words.
Morning came.
Sarubia and Jenaden had a simple breakfast before leaving Duke Bronard’s villa and getting into the carriage heading back to the Imperial Palace.
Duke Bronard couldn’t hide his displeasure at them leaving earlier than expected, but Jenaden simply ignored the duke’s expression.
Inside the silent carriage, Sarubia kept thinking about what Duke Bronard had said early that morning.
When he said, “back then”…… What time was he talking about?
Until now, Sarubia had believed that the reason Duke Bronard kept telling her to have a child quickly was so that he could strengthen his position even further.
But after hearing his words yesterday, she began to wonder if there was a deeper reason behind it.
What is his real plan?
When will the dark intentions he has hidden from everyone finally come to light?
‘We’ve arrived.’
The carriage stopped.
A servant’s voice came from outside the door.
Jenaden immediately stood up, opened the carriage door, and stepped outside.
He stood in front of the carriage and turned toward Sarubia as she followed him out.
With a bright smile on his face, he spoke to her.
‘Empress, how about having a cup of tea with me?’
‘Your Majesty, I’m really tired, so I don’t think I’ll be able to have tea right now…….’
Jenaden’s face stiffened slightly.
‘If that’s what you want, then I suppose it can’t be helped.’
He gave her a slightly bitter smile.
‘Then please get some rest.’
Sarubia lightly lifted the hem of her dress, bent forward, and politely bowed to Jenaden.
As he watched her walk away, Jenaden wore a somewhat displeased expression.
‘Stella!’
‘Your Majesty!’
As soon as Sarubia entered the palace, she immediately called for Stella.
Stella had already been waiting for her after hearing that Sarubia would be arriving early.
Once Sarubia entered the room, she turned toward Stella.
‘Do you know of any guild with a skilled information broker?’
At Sarubia’s question, Stella tilted her head.
Then her eyes suddenly lit up.
‘Oh! Now that I think about it…….’
Stella moved a little closer to Sarubia and whispered quietly.
‘There’s a small shop called “Harrington” in an alley behind Freedom Square. I heard the owner is so famous that people say he has information about practically everything in the empire.’
‘Harrington?’
‘Yes. It’s just a small general store, but I heard the owner can find out anything if you pay him.’
‘You remember Viscountess Meln, the one who said she was scammed before?’
Sarubia nodded at Stella’s words.
Stella continued right away.
‘Apparently, she paid the owner of that general store to find the scammer who tricked her. And before long, he actually found the scammer.’
‘Isn’t that amazing?’
Stella’s eyes sparkled.
After hearing her, Sarubia tapped her lips lightly with her index finger and thought carefully.
If his information network is really that good, he might be able to find what I’m looking for.
‘What’s his name?’
‘They said his name is Dimon.’
‘Dimon?’
Sarubia was slightly surprised.
It was a rather unusual name for a person.
Stella tilted her head at Sarubia’s reaction.
‘No…… It’s kind of a strange name. The person’s name being Dimon.’
It sounds almost like the name of a demon.
She wanted to say that, but she thought it might be rude, so she kept her mouth shut.
People wearing all kinds of gorgeous dresses and beautiful masks filled Sarubia’s view.
Today was Jenaden’s birthday, and Sarubia was attending the masquerade ball with him.
The ball had begun in the evening.
Sarubia was already exhausted from greeting so many nobles.
She briefly looked up at the ceiling.
A chandelier specially made for today’s celebration was shining brilliantly.
It was decorated with the pattern of a golden dragon.
Sarubia was extremely tired.
Preparing for Jenaden’s birthday had been exhausting because there were so many things to take care of.
And whenever she discussed their plans with Jenaden, several hours would always pass before she even realized it.
I just want to lie down on that huge bed and rest right now.
But she was the Empress of a nation.
Even though she was exhausted inside, she kept her posture straight on the outside and smiled as she looked at the people in the ballroom.
Jenaden, sitting beside her and watching the people in the ballroom, gave a small chuckle.
‘This is boring.’
Sarubia turned toward him at his words.
Even through his mask, she could see how bored his eyes looked.
‘The ball will begin soon with the toast, so please bear with it.’
As soon as she finished speaking, the loud sound of trumpets echoed through the hall.
Jenaden let out a short sigh and stood up together with Sarubia.
He picked up the glass that had been prepared for him and spoke in a solemn voice.
‘I want to give great honor to the people of the Elsania Empire who have gathered here to celebrate my birthday. To the eternal peace of the Elsania Empire!’
Jenaden’s voice echoed throughout the grand banquet hall.
The orchestra began playing, and the masquerade ball officially started.
Jenaden and Sarubia stepped down from the platform and began receiving greetings from the nobles.
Standing behind Jenaden, Sarubia kept both hands neatly folded and wore a gentle smile.
She secretly glanced around the ballroom.
She could see many people talking among themselves and enjoying the ball.
But she couldn’t see that familiar blonde hair anywhere.
I thought Elaine was supposed to appear today.
Just as Sarubia was about to look forward again, she noticed a blonde woman wearing a mask.
‘No way…….’
The masked woman was looking directly toward Sarubia and Jenaden.
Sarubia immediately felt that she had to be Elaine.
She had to meet her.
Sarubia looked toward Jenaden and whispered.
‘Your Majesty, I’ll be away for a moment…….’
Jenaden looked slightly confused by her words, but soon nodded.
The woman who had been standing by the door suddenly turned around and quickly walked outside.
‘W, wait a moment…….’
Sarubia hurried after her.
She left the banquet hall and stood in the hallway, looking around.
‘Where did she go?’
Tap, tap, tap.
The sound of footsteps in high heels echoed through the hallway.
Sarubia lightly grabbed the hem of her dress and hurried toward the sound.
Just as she reached the end of the hallway and was about to turn the corner, she collided with someone coming from the opposite direction.
‘Ah!’
‘Ugh!’
Sarubia fell straight onto the floor.
The strap of her mask broke, and the mask dropped to the floor with a soft thud.
How could I make such a mistake inside the palace?!
She didn’t know what to do because of embarrassment.
Then a deep voice sounded beside her.
‘Are you all right?!’
‘Ah, yes. I’m fine…… Oh…….’
Sarubia noticed another mask lying beside her own.
The man’s mask had also fallen after its strap broke.
Sarubia raised her head to apologize to him.
And the moment she saw his face, her entire body froze.
She couldn’t say a word.
Elaine Costel.
The person Sarubia had been desperately searching for was standing right in front of her.
Except she wasn’t a woman.
She was standing there in the body of a man.
No.
This is a lie.
Sarubia’s eyes trembled.
Why?
Is this a dream?
Countless questions filled her mind.
‘……Are you all right?’
It was the same deep male voice.
Lady……?
The man’s voice sounded as if it were coming from somewhere far away.
Sarubia’s body collapsed toward the floor.
That can’t be.
And just like that, Sarubia’s entire world turned completely black.
