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Chapter 37
Ariadne stepped off the airship with Kanin’s help.
The acrid smell of smoke hit her nose, sharp and pungent. She felt as if she were standing in the middle of the sky. Then, a strong wind blew.
“Ah, please be careful.”
As the wind made her stagger, Kanin tightened his grip on her hand. The height from the ground made her dizzy.
The long bridge from the airship port connected directly to the tallest tower of the royal palace.
Crossing the bridge, they entered the tower, where Iliad’s palace guards greeted them politely.
Inside, someone approached quickly, moving with urgency.
“Your Majesty! Your Majesty!”
He wore a white robe that reached his feet, with a long green stole decorated with golden tassels on his shoulders. A thick book was tucked under his right arm as he searched for Kanin.
“Ah, Lucen. It’s you.”
“Yes, I’ve been waiting so long for Your Majesty to return.”
After bowing to Kanin, he noticed Ariadne standing beside him.
“This is…?”
“You should bow.”
“Ah, I apologize.”
Lucen bowed properly to Ariadne.
“My name is Lucen Arcam,” he said.
Not sure how to respond, Ariadne bowed in the Iliad style. Kanin quickly shook his hand.
“Lucen is my subordinate. Lady, you don’t need to bow so formally. Please feel at ease.”
“Oh…”
Ariadne straightened her knees and gave an awkward smile. Lucen smiled warmly and immediately moved next to Kanin, quickly reporting the events that had occurred in Iliad.
“There’s an epidemic spreading in the Haren region.”
“An epidemic?”
“Yes. The entire Haren area is under quarantine.”
Lucen started with the matters Kanin needed to know immediately.
“Also, the First Prince’s actions are unusual. He seems to have met with the anti-royalist faction.”
“That’s insane.”
“He appears to be acting recklessly out of fear of losing power.”
“And?”
“Oh, there’s a message from Rensha.”
“From Rensha?”
“Yes. It seems they are sending an envoy.”
Kanin, who had been walking briskly, stopped abruptly. Ariadne, overhearing, immediately noticed the word “Rensha.”
Rensha and Iliad had little official exchange. Kanin’s recent solo visit to Rensha was already extraordinary. But as Iliad grew technologically advanced and strong, Rensha openly requested diplomatic relations.
From that perspective, the envoy’s visit wasn’t necessarily bad.
But there was Ariadne’s situation.
“They want to send an envoy at a strange time.”
“Exactly.”
“What did His Majesty say about their visit?”
“Well… he said that if it brings relations between the two nations, it shouldn’t be a problem.”
“….”
Ariadne thought of Rensha’s emperor.
This visit wasn’t just for diplomacy. The emperor must be in need of healing power. He would want Ariadne and would likely try to bring her back by any means.
“Do not worry too much.”
Kanin was already watching Ariadne. The mention of Rensha had made his brows furrow without realizing it.
“Oh, don’t worry about it,” Ariadne said, quickly relaxing her expression with a smile. She didn’t want to interfere in the relations between the two countries.
She wanted to live quietly. That was the whole point of taking the new name, Rene Ashard. If they came looking for her, she would simply live as Rene. She had no attachment to her life as Ariadne anyway.
“Do not worry. Lady, you will not be sent back to Rensha.”
“Even hearing that is reassuring…”
Ariadne smiled lightly, signaling that she wasn’t concerned.
Soon, they reached the audience hall where the emperor was waiting.
Kanin gave Lucen some brief instructions and dismissed him. Then he explained to Ariadne.
“His Majesty is waiting inside.”
“Ah… should we just go in?”
“Yes. He is not overly strict, so please be at ease.”
Ariadne smiled awkwardly. Even if he wasn’t strict, the emperor was still the emperor.
Moreover, she knew Rensha’s emperor to be highly authoritative and difficult to approach. He treated people like pawns and valued himself above all. Ariadne didn’t know how to behave comfortably in front of him.
The audience hall doors opened, and she followed Kanin inside, pushing aside her complex thoughts.
The room was elegantly decorated. The most striking feature was the large interlocking gears on the central wall.
While she stared at them, another door opened. A man with graying hair slid in smoothly on a moving chair.
She immediately recognized him as the emperor. Not only the aura, but his appearance closely resembled Kanin.
“Are you Ariadne Blyers?”
Ariadne bowed in the Iliad style, following Kanin.
“Yes, Ariadne Blyers. It is an honor to meet Your Majesty.”
“Ha, I welcome you.”
“Thank you for your hospitality.”
“The prince told me about you. As I heard, you are truly beautiful.”
Ariadne laughed awkwardly. The emperor gestured for her to sit on the opposite sofa.
“Will you remain stiff even in front of your father?”
“Did I not greet you?”
The emperor chuckled at Kanin’s strict remark.
“So, you brought the saint or whatever?”
Kanin glanced at Ariadne before speaking.
“The so-called saint of Rensha cannot fully use her healing power.”
“Hmm, that is unfortunate. I hear the emperor of Rensha is ill.”
The emperor touched his chin, frowning.
“…Besides the saint, there is someone else who can use healing power.”
“Oh? Is that so?”
“Yes. That’s why she came with me.”
The emperor looked at Ariadne again.
“Oh, I didn’t expect a Rensha noble in exile to possess such power…”
Kanin quickly stepped in.
“No, Lady Ariadne is not that person. She can use healing power, but cannot appear in public.”
“Really? How curious.”
Ariadne felt grateful that Kanin had quickly explained. To help him further, she spoke up.
“Your Majesty, she is not the saint of Rensha, but I have seen her properly use healing power. The prince also received help from her in Rensha.”
“Hmm…”
The emperor’s eyebrows moved slightly at the mention of Kanin receiving help.
“But she cannot appear in public?”
“Yes, so I took responsibility—”
“So you are vouching for her power? A noble in exile?”
The emperor’s tone implied doubt. It made sense. Iliad’s advanced technology and medicine made such powers seem unbelievable. Even when Kanin mentioned bringing a saint, the emperor hadn’t expected much. And now, someone who wasn’t a saint was presented.
“She is not a saint…”
“She could not fulfill the saint’s role anyway. I have received her help, so I can guarantee her skill completely.”
Kanin said firmly.
“Is that so…”
The emperor gave a vague answer, tapping the armrest of his chair with his finger, deep in thought.
“But, Prince…”
“…”
“Even if a saint had come as planned, I would not have entrusted her with the empress.”
“Your Majesty!”
Kanin shouted, and Ariadne’s eyes widened in shock.
She had just realized that the person she might need to heal was the empress herself.
