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chapter 05
I froze at the sight of the chilling beauty before me. Meanwhile, the emperor’s low, melodious voice teased my ears.
“There’s not entirely no hope for the spoiled brat of the Duke’s house. Count Kairus certainly educated them well. Well, it’s only natural, considering they’re his disciple, the future prime minister and the empire’s brain.”
But the words from his mouth were far from beautiful.
It seemed the emperor even knew that Count Kairus was my private tutor.
‘It’s surprising that the emperor knows such minute details.’
A slanted smile appeared on the emperor’s face as he looked down at me. There was a satisfaction in it I couldn’t comprehend.
Combined with his sharp aura, it made him look indescribably magnificent.
‘I wish his words were as beautiful as his appearance.’
Since earlier, the emperor had been subtly belittling me. I chewed over his words while trying to restrain myself from being captivated by his appearance.
He was undeniably handsome.
‘But so what? His personality is rotten.’
A man’s face alone is never enough. It was a lesson the nurse had drilled into both the original Asha and me after arriving in this world.
Moreover, as the daughter of a duke, I had no right to choose the emperor. He was famously someone who would never give up his proximity to anyone.
My heartbeat gradually stabilized. Then the emperor spoke in his leisurely tone.
“So, how should we resolve it?”
His fingers still holding my chin distracted me, making it hard to hear his question properly.
“W-What… do you mean?”
“I mean the matter that will arise on the southern border.”
His tone was endlessly languid, like that of a top predator at the apex of the pyramid, subtly reminding me that I was nothing more than a lowly herbivore.
Even amid the instinctive tension, his tone irritated me. My nerves twisted so badly that even the emperor’s natural condescension annoyed me.
And I didn’t understand why he was asking me instead of the capable ministers of the empire.
Meeting his deep, smoldering gaze made me even more uncomfortable.
But if I acted rashly here, following my cursed personality, Duke Esperanza would also end up in an awkward position.
Suppressing the rising anger amid fear was nearly a miracle for me.
The priority was to get out of here first. I answered without overthinking.
“Perhaps we should take care of the poor before they develop rebellious feelings.”
“Exactly. Then you shall do it.”
“Huh?”
Before I could process my disbelief, the corners of the emperor’s mouth stretched even wider.
“Duke Esperanza certainly asked me to help you regain your senses. I accepted that request. And I never settle for ‘suitable.’”
Now that I looked closely, his beautiful smile bore a faint resemblance to that of a devil.
“Go to the southern slums and replenish the lacking food. Do it quickly, before the poor starve and develop rebellious feelings. Even that small experience will teach you something.”
I only swallowed dryly at his following words. I had no idea how to respond to this sudden situation.
From a corner of the hall came a faint ‘Eek’—the sound of someone gulping.
Turning to the sound, I saw Duke Esperanza pale as a ghost, trembling.
He clearly hadn’t expected things to escalate this much. Southern slums—his reaction made sense.
Even among the borderlands adjacent to the Dark Spirit, the slums were where incubus sightings were most frequent.
The duke would never want his only daughter sent to such a dangerous place.
But it was the emperor’s order. Besides, the duke had contributed to this situation to some extent.
‘That’s why he’s trembling and can’t speak.’
I feigned calm and stepped back, freeing myself from the emperor’s hand on my chin.
“I will follow the imperial command.”
Though reluctant, I bowed, having no alternative.
The emperor raised an eyebrow as if finding my retreat amusing. Then, noticing something in my right hand, he chuckled softly.
I didn’t understand his reaction. Just as I was about to be irritated by his laughter, the emperor stepped toward me.
Though it was only one step, his stride was much longer than mine, bringing us far closer.
His scent, reminiscent of a verdant summer forest, swept over me.
While I was flustered, he leaned toward my ear.
His low whisper was warm, almost like a woodwind instrument.
“Interesting situation. You might even see the black mist.”
I somehow understood what he meant. He referred to the ominous black mist that had risen from the prisoner brought to the hall earlier.
I flinched, and the emperor continued softly.
“Didn’t you know? The black mist is a harbinger of an incubus’s appearance. Only those who have encountered demons can see it.”
His hand gently brushed my right hand. The touch was as soft as his whisper, making it even more surreal.
“The mad dog of the Dark Spirit is stirring up something interesting.”
He spoke as though he knew demons intimately.
Even knowing how absurd it was, I felt as if the emperor had discovered the demonic energy absorbed in my right hand.
‘Does the emperor already know everything?’
“Since you can see the black mist, use that ability well in the southern slums. It will be helpful.
And if you’re lucky, you might even find light in the empire’s darkest place.”
I couldn’t make sense of his words, utterly dazed.
While my mind swirled with questions, the emperor stepped back.
By the time I recovered, he was already seated on the throne.
I stood there, unsure what to do.
The emperor, radiating the calm of a top predator, looked at me from the throne and spoke.
“Count Kairus, your disciple seems unusually nervous. They don’t look like they’ll enter on their own. Go and bring them.”
It was then I realized that despite my composure, my legs had been trembling uncontrollably beneath my voluminous skirts.
“Your command.”
Count Kairus quickly stepped to the center of the hall and gently held my shoulders.
“Lady, let’s return to your seat.”
I snapped back to my senses at his familiar voice and nodded. He carefully escorted me, and the ministers cleared the path so we could return.
Once back in my seat, relief washed over me.
Then it clicked why the emperor’s earlier words lingered in my mind.
‘Find light in the darkest place? That’s a phrase from the game’s submission hint!’
Perhaps I had, by luck, gained a clue to the long-unsolved submission from the past year.
Before I could get lost in thought, the emperor called Count Kairus again.
“Count Kairus, thoroughly prepare Lady Esperanza so she can complete her mission successfully.”
“Of course, Your Majesty.”
After giving instructions, the emperor looked down at me again. My mind went blank once more.
Even from afar, his piercing blue eyes were as sharp as if he were right in front of me.
Under his gaze, I froze once again.
“May the Blessing of the White Dragon be with Lady Esperanza.”
The tyrant’s arrogant smile, radiating lethal energy, was unbearably beautiful.
Why did my heart race so much seeing him—was it fear, defiance, or something else entirely? I didn’t know.
Since returning from the palace, Count Kairus had been giving me thorough lessons about the empire’s borders.
“The empire’s borders are dotted with slums in all directions. People who couldn’t adapt to central life gather there.”
“Could we call those the empire’s darkest places?”
“In a manner of speaking, yes. They are areas where incubus appearances are most frequent. Incubi appear where there are many to consume.”
Count Kairus explained such grim matters with remarkable composure.
Yet, amidst the horrifying details, I felt a glimmer of hope—perhaps I could find the game’s guide in the southern slums.
The day before my mission to the southern slums, Count Kairus finished the lesson, wishing me luck.
“I would have loved to accompany you, Lady, but His Majesty would not allow it.”
I shivered, recalling the emperor’s piercing blue gaze.
Count Kairus was so busy, called to the palace daily. The emperor would never squander such a capable person.
“You’re so busy, but I’m grateful for your care all the same.”
I expressed my genuine gratitude. He had truly done his best for me.
The next early morning, before dawn, when the night air was as sharp as the emperor’s eyes, my party set off on the journey.
Three days later, under the scorching sun with not a breeze in sight, I stepped onto dry, parched land.
My white wide-brimmed hat, parasol adorned with lace, and flowing chiffon dress starkly contrasted the barren surroundings.
I had come on a royal mission to distribute food rations, and I had chosen the plainest dress among my collection—but even so, I stood out.
“Miss, you look like a heroine from a masterpiece painting.”
Even here, my servant tried to flatter me excessively.
I glared sharply, and he awkwardly covered his mouth in embarrassment.
Even in this harsh place, my twisted personality and infamous reputation remained intact.
