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Chapter : 10
Hibiscus was the maid that Etern had secretly moved near the audience chamber, without his father knowing.
Originally, Hibiscus had run errands within Etern’s quarters. She was unable to speak.
She had been carefully chosen so that no one would suspect her of spying on the Emperor—but now, the very Hibiscus came running toward Etern, her face pale.
“Calm down, Hibiscus, and tell me what’s wrong.”
Etern handed her paper and a pen. Hibiscus exhaled sharply and hurriedly scribbled:
“The mage has disobeyed the Emperor. The messenger and the mage’s lives are in danger.”
Before Hibiscus could even put down the pen, Etern dashed out like an arrow.
—Crash!
The moment the large vase shattered, the officials present instinctively shut their eyes.
Wintier glared down at the messenger kneeling at his feet, his eyes radiating a cold, blue fire.
“Speak again.”
The trembling messenger slammed his forehead against the floor.
“I-I have found one mage…”
“And?”
“He says he will not come to the palace…”
A sharp metallic sound, and a razor-edged blade was instantly pointed at the messenger’s throat. Wintier’s tightly pressed lips trembled with overwhelming rage.
“So you didn’t kill him?”
“Your… Majesty…”
“How dare he speak such words, and you let him return alive? Very well. Then you, at least, shall die twice over.”
Just as Wintier swung the sword, a high-pitched scream echoed through the audience chamber, along with the groans of the officials.
“Father, stop!”
The sword, poised just inches from the messenger’s neck, froze in midair. When Wintier lifted his head, Etern’s body trembled as their eyes met.
“Leave.”
The cold command was so familiar to Etern that swallowing his fear was almost unbearably painful.
“I won’t leave.”
“What are you doing! Take the princess out immediately!”
As stiff soldiers ran toward her, Etern dodged them and swiftly ran to Wintier, grabbing his sword-wielding arm.
“Let go immediately, Etern! I will kill that insolent mage, and then that messenger as well!”
“He has done nothing wrong! And if we turn the mages into enemies, we will never be able to save Mother!”
Though the messenger’s life was at stake, what Etern truly wanted to prevent was the latter.
Wintier’s body shook with anger and confusion, the rage building again and again. Yet, somehow, he could not bring himself to abandon Etern, and even he found this strange.
Wintier exhaled heavily, still trembling:
“…Everyone, leave. Now.”
As soon as his words fell, everyone in the chamber emptied out like receding water.
The sword fell from Wintier’s hand, and only the labored breathing of the father and daughter—who had just narrowly escaped death—echoed through the empty chamber.
“…Father.”
Etern carefully held Wintier’s trembling hand.
“There is more than just one mage. If we search throughout the Empire, I’m sure we can find a skilled mage who can help Mother.”
“…And if we cannot find one?”
Etern’s eyes blinked softly. Wintier, teeth clenched, lifted his gaze to his daughter. From his pitch-black eyes, a pitiful scream poured forth.
Etern cautiously leaned into her father’s embrace.
“We can find one, Father. I know it. Mother will wake up, I promise.”
Resting her forehead against her father’s chest, Etern spoke not just for him, but also for herself:
“No matter what anyone says, Mother will wake. As long as we don’t give up hope.”
“Hope…”
Wintier muttered, disbelief lacing his voice. His gaze fell to Etern’s silvery hair. He reached to touch it, then recoiled as if burned.
Just moments ago, this hand had nearly taken a life.
‘And yet now it touches my daughter…’
At that moment, Etern grasped Wintier’s hovering hand. Without hesitation, she placed her own head beneath it and said:
“Instead of holding a sword, please stroke my head. I like you better this way, Father.”
A heavy sigh escaped Wintier’s parted lips, but he did not push away his daughter’s hands.
Resting against her father’s touch, Etern finally felt some relief. Her body, tense all this time, erupted with goosebumps.
Still, Etern thought:
‘I was able to stop Father. I’m so glad he listened to me.’
The incident in which Etern had saved the messenger’s life in the audience chamber spread through the Empire overnight.
Everywhere she went, whispers followed, tickling her ears.
Even strangers came to her quarters, bowing and flattering her, causing Dora to develop headaches.
Though the ill intentions of those who tried to manipulate a young princess were obvious, Etern did not drive them away.
Instead, she listened carefully, and secretly gave Wintier the names of those with particularly vile ambitions.
[How did you know that?]
Wintier was partly incredulous but also genuinely surprised. Among the names Etern brought were those he had long planned to deal with when the opportunity arose.
[Just a feeling.]
Had anyone else said such nonsense in front of Wintier, they would likely be dead—or barely alive.
Yet Wintier took his young daughter’s absurd words very seriously.
[I will handle them myself. You step back. Do not let any strangers into your quarters again.]
[I will, Father. But…]
[What now?]
[No killing, okay? Just send them far away. Maybe let a big dog bite them on the way.]
Etern phrased her suggestion to have wandering pests dealt with as cutely as possible. After securing Wintier’s promise not to kill anyone, she happily returned to her quarters.
‘Those who are of no help to Father can be handled this way.’
Etern pondered, staring out the window:
‘The problem is Ziggart. He said he’d arrive this evening, right?’
Just seeing that face was enough to give her a headache, but she had to meet him before he faced Father.
She needed to find out his intentions first to prepare for what came next.
“Is that true?”
“Really. I just heard it from the outer guard.”
Etern’s ears perked up at the whispering maids.
“What are you talking about?”
The maids, startled by her question, lowered their heads.
“I-I’m sorry, Your Highness.”
“You don’t need to apologize. I’m just curious what you’re saying.”
“Well… um…”
A hesitant maid spoke carefully:
“That young minor duke…”
Etern’s eyes widened.
“Minor duke?”
“Yes, I heard he arrived at the palace alone…”
At that moment, before the sentence even finished, Etern sprang up and ran outside at top speed.
“Your Highness!”
The maids called after her, alarmed, but Etern had no time to wait.
‘No way! He arrived so quickly! Has he already met Father?’
No—what did she just hear?
‘He came all alone? That’s impossible!’
Etern sprinted to the central palace and looked around frantically.
But no one was in sight. Even the soldiers were gathered far away.
‘Where could they have taken him already? Who took him? I can’t search this entire palace…!’
Just as Etern was about to dash toward the soldiers, a clear voice spoke from behind:
“Excuse me.”
Etern froze. Slowly turning around, her green eyes widened as if swelling with recognition.
‘Those eyes.’
The person who had called her was a boy of the same age.
Eyes redder than the most exquisite jewels. Soft, ebony-like hair. A perfectly composed posture.
“Ziggart…”
Etern murmured. The boy tilted his eyebrow, curious.
“I didn’t expect to meet someone who knows my name.”
Ah, damn it!
Etern squeezed her lips tightly, realizing she had greeted him first—a foolish move!
The boy spoke:
“Pardon me, are you from Landschuter? Which family’s daughter are you?”
