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Chapter 38
“Goodness… the Empress?”
Ariadne felt a bit overwhelmed. Of course, she had expected that, being close to the Crown Prince, she’d encounter someone of importance. But the Empress? Being asked to use her healing power on someone of such high rank was far too daunting for a first task.
Originally, she had assumed that it was the person he loved who was sick—perhaps his fiancée. But the Empress?
“From the very start, this is far too high-profile…”
Ariadne glanced between the Emperor and Kanin, lost in thought. She had never cared much for fame or honor. Healing the Empress would inevitably bring attention, and the aftermath was predictable. She had seen what happened when Ashley treated the Emperor—unnecessary complications.
Moreover, if anyone discovered that the person using the healing power was Ariadne Bliars, it would be a serious problem. She had intended to live quietly as “Rene Ashad,” demonstrating the benefits of her abilities without drawing unnecessary attention.
“As you know, the Empress already has the best physicians in the palace attending her.”
The Emperor looked over Ariadne before speaking again.
“Of course, Lady Ariadne, we are truly grateful that you came to our country.”
“You may call me Ariadne,” she replied politely.
The Emperor seemed pleased with her manner.
“Ha ha, unlike the nobles of Iliad, you are very personable!”
He laughed heartily. In this place, where practicality and profit were highly valued, people often seemed somewhat cold. While Iliad’s people were not impolite, compared to the ceremonial Rencha nobles, they could appear rigid. Ariadne, following her usual polite conduct, was somewhat surprised that it pleased the Emperor.
“I am simply grateful for your warm welcome,” she said.
“No, it is I who am pleased that you have come to our country.”
Until recently, Iliad had been a very closed-off nation. Its Emperor considered his country’s technological and mechanical advancements to be the best in the world and saw foreign relations as a waste of resources. But something had recently changed his mind, and he was beginning to open the nation’s doors. Ariadne happened to be the first visitor in this new era.
“Once again, thank you.”
The Emperor laughed heartily once more, clearly pleased. Kanin, however, looked uneasy. Noticing his expression, the Emperor turned back to Ariadne.
“Lady Ariadne, while I appreciate your willingness, I do not wish for you to use your healing power on the Empress.”
“Oh… is that so?”
Ariadne forced a slightly awkward expression but inwardly felt relief. If the Emperor was opposed, she had no desire to insist on healing the Empress.
Kanin stepped in.
“Your Majesty, even the best medicine cannot help in this case. Perhaps it would be wise to try the healing power.”
“I cannot entrust my wife to a stranger. This so-called healing power—whatever it is—has not been verified!”
The Emperor raised his voice, challenging Kanin. Kanin frowned, glanced at Ariadne, then continued.
“I can verify its effectiveness!”
“You, Crown Prince? How?”
The Emperor raised an eyebrow.
“When I first went to Rencha, I was almost killed by a horde of monsters. But there, I met a woman—Ah, Rene—who healed my injuries flawlessly. I saw it with my own eyes!”
“Hmm…”
The Emperor paused, stroking his chin, seemingly considering it.
“Still… it cannot be done.”
“Your Majesty!”
The Emperor’s tone was firm. Ariadne felt a wave of relief. He was maintaining a softer expression, perhaps because she was present, and regarded her calmly.
“So, what is the name of the one who wields this healing power?”
He asked thoughtfully, showing consideration for Ariadne. She glanced at Kanin, who nodded slightly to signal that it was okay to answer.
“As I mentioned earlier, she goes by the name Rene Ashad.”
The Emperor, having not expected this, simply nodded gravely, keeping a serious expression.
“I see… it seems I must apologize for bringing Rene here.”
The Emperor would later deeply regret this decision, but that was for another time.
“Oh… no, it’s nothing.”
“Please speak kindly to her,” the Emperor added.
“I will.”
Ariadne stepped back gracefully, and the Emperor seemed pleased with her composure. Then he spoke again, as if a new thought had come to mind.
“If she still wishes to use her healing power, perhaps she could go to the Haren region to help. That would be gladly accepted.”
“Your Majesty!”
The Emperor, unaware that Ariadne and Rene were the same person, spoke freely. Ariadne inwardly chuckled. She clearly remembered Kanin’s aide mentioning that an epidemic had broken out in the Haren region.
“Not the Empress, but the epidemic… huh…”
She smiled brightly, thinking that all nobles were essentially the same.
“Understood. I will relay that message.”
There was no need to argue further. It would be better to prepare and leave for the border region immediately rather than getting entangled with the Emperor, Empress, and other nobles.
Kanin, however, was the only one who felt awkward. He knew that Ariadne was Rene, yet here the Emperor was discussing it openly. He could only endure it silently.
“All right, I should host a welcoming feast for you,” the Emperor said.
“…Excuse me?”
Ariadne was surprised by the unexpected announcement.
“You are the first guest from Rencha. Even if in exile, you are now part of our people, so naturally, you should be welcomed!”
The Emperor seemed almost childlike in his enthusiasm. Exiles were essentially people who had fled, yet he treated it lightly. For Ariadne, it was a relief to avoid seeing the Count or Ashley.
She bowed gracefully, showing her gratitude.
“I am truly thankful for your consideration.”
“Consider this your own country,” the Emperor replied warmly.
“Understood, Your Majesty.”
With that, Ariadne stepped back from the Emperor’s presence. Kanin asked if the Emperor had any more matters to discuss and told her to wait outside.
Yet, throughout her time outside, she could hear their entire conversation. Kanin still wished for her to use her healing power on the Empress, while the Emperor remained opposed—a disagreement that seemed impossible to reconcile.
“How can I trust this power?”
“I have experienced it firsthand!”
“Even our finest physicians could not cure the Empress.”
“Then entrust her to this power!”
“How can something that our medicine failed to cure possibly succeed with this so-called power? Crown Prince! Think carefully!”
The Emperor had never approved of Kanin going to Rencha. He trusted Rencha’s medicine over any unknown healing ability. Despite this, Kanin had set out determinedly with a small group. The Emperor’s resistance was perhaps the minimum courtesy extended to a foreign exile.
“…And frankly, I cannot trust this so-called healing power or any of Rencha’s barbaric methods, Crown Prince.”
Listening to this, Ariadne felt a strange mix of emotions. In Rencha, her abilities were revered as sacred; here, they were dismissed as “barbaric.” The contrast was jarring.
While it was fortunate that the Emperor was opposed, hearing his honest thoughts gave her clarity on the general perception in this country.
“If the Emperor thinks this way, the people here likely feel similarly…”
Kanin’s persistence was truly remarkable. Ariadne could hear the remainder of their conversation.
“Ensure that this so-called saint or healer does not run amok across the Empire, Crown Prince.”
Kanin, lost for words, left the room. Meeting Ariadne’s eyes outside, he approached her, running a hand over his face.
“Sorry you had to see that.”
“It’s nothing,” she waved him off.
Though she couldn’t laugh at their bickering, Ariadne felt a sense of relief. She had no desire to gain fame by healing the Empress—doing so would only complicate matters. She only wished to repay Kanin’s assistance. With the Emperor refusing, she could focus on what she truly wanted.
Remembering the Emperor’s last words, Ariadne smiled and asked,
“So… are you planning to keep an eye on me?”
