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Chapter 35
Without realizing it, I held As in my arms and tightened my embrace. Hisha glanced at me, then gradually slowed down.
“Hisha?”
Puzzled, I looked down. Beneath us, I could see the tiny roof and garden of the house I had lived in for the past five years.
“…Let’s head straight to the capital.”
All the beautiful memories I had built there over the years had been ruined in an instant by Millern’s outrageous behavior.
Even if I went down to pack my things, I’d only be reminded of today’s horrible memory. I didn’t want to bother.
There weren’t any important belongings anyway.
Hisha nodded firmly and sped up again.
That was when As opened his eyes.
“…Einra.”
Through the sound of wind brushing past my ears, a faint voice whispered.
Startled, I quickly lowered my gaze. As was looking up at me with dazed eyes.
‘If you give me three children, I’ll let little As go unharmed.’
The moment I met those defenseless eyes, Millern’s vile words resurfaced in my head.
I bit my lip.
Guilt began to bloom in my chest.
…If it weren’t for me, As would never have had to face such threats.
As if sensing my thoughts, As smiled faintly and reached for me.
“Why do you look like that?”
“…Like what?”
“Like you’re about to cry.”
With a soft whisper, his small fingers brushed the corner of my eyes.
I blinked blankly, then averted my gaze.
“…How’s your body? Are you feeling better?”
Perhaps sensing my attempt to change the subject, As withdrew his hand obediently.
“I’m fine. The poison was one I’ve developed resistance to.”
Resistance?
I frowned, never having heard such a thing before.
As continued gently, as though to soothe me.
“Earlier, I only fainted because I was in a narrow, suffocating space for too long. I really am fine.”
“…How is that fine?”
I felt tears welling up again from frustration.
Seeing me, he gave an awkward smile and cupped my cheek with his small hand.
“I didn’t mean to make you cry.”
Of course. He said that to comfort me.
But he didn’t realize his words only made me more upset.
“You always say you’re fine, even when anyone can see you’re not.”
I grasped the hand on my cheek and muttered,
“…I hate that.”
Thinking back, he always insisted he was fine in situations where he clearly wasn’t.
‘I’m fine. It’s a poison I’ve built resistance to.’
Just like now.
But it was never fine.
At my muttering, he furrowed his brows in slight confusion.
“But I really am fine.”
“…”
“My body’s intact, my mind’s clear. Everything’s fine.”
I scowled.
“You were in pain.”
“…What?”
“You said you were poisoned. That hurts, doesn’t it? You fainted from being trapped in a sealed space. That must have been painful. How could it not be?”
As blinked at me, then smiled as if I had said something endearing.
“Like I said, I’ve built resistance, so it didn’t hurt. Inside the sack, since my body is small, I lost consciousness quickly, so it wasn’t that suffo—”
“As.”
I couldn’t listen anymore.
I glared at him with sharp eyes.
“Wasn’t it painful before you built that resistance? Wasn’t it agonizing to be suffocated until you fainted?”
Even at my questions, As still looked like he didn’t understand my true meaning.
“I didn’t mean to upset you.”
His little hand carefully brushed between my brows.
“But you look upset, Einra.”
“I must have upset you, didn’t I?” he murmured gloomily.
His melancholy eyes lowered, looking so pitiful that if he had rabbit ears, they’d be drooping.
‘As if anyone could resist that look…!’
Of course, I gave in.
“…Alright, so don’t make that face.”
I sighed softly. But As’s expression only grew more sorrowful.
“But Einra still isn’t smiling…”
His eyes shimmered, as if tears were about to fall.
In the end, I raised the white flag.
“See? I’m smiling now.”
I looked down at him with a smile, and finally, his face lit up with laughter.
“As expected, Einra looks best when smiling.”
His voice drifted softly on the passing wind.
After hearing the full account of what happened, As wore a dazed expression—then suddenly burst out laughing.
I tilted my head, unsure what was funny about the story. As chuckled lightly.
“I didn’t know Einra had such a scary side.”
“Mm, really…?”
I scratched my cheek awkwardly.
It seemed Harnen hadn’t told him about my school days…
‘Well, not like those were memories worth sharing anyway.’
Better if he never knew.
While I silently swore to myself never to bring it up, Hisha descended into the heart of the capital, Heraid—specifically, into the Semelite Garden within the Imperial Palace, a place only the Emperor and her closest circle could enter.
“…The Imperial Palace.”
As muttered, frowning in distaste.
I gave an awkward smile.
“It’s been five years since I last came. I should at least pay my respects.”
“You’re right, Einra.”
As sighed, slowly brushing his hair back.
“…You’re right, but still.”
His tightly pressed lips clearly showed his displeasure.
The sight was so adorable I almost burst out laughing, but I quickly cleared my throat.
“Let’s just greet them quickly and leave.”
As I habitually reached for his small hand, As gave a firm squeeze and asked,
“…And after that?”
“Mm?”
“After that, what will you do?”
He asked softly.
At the sudden question, I tilted my head and replied like it was obvious.
“Go home, of course.”
“….”
“Home…” As repeated the word quietly, almost savoring it.
His pale cheeks flushed pink.
He squeezed my hand tighter.
“That ‘home’—you don’t mean going back to Count Haila’s estate, do you?”
A cheerful voice interrupted.
It had been so long since I’d heard it, yet it hadn’t changed a bit.
Suppressing a sigh, I turned. A woman was striding toward us.
Her long navy-blue hair swayed with her steps. Her sharp, rose-colored eyes carried a trace of laziness, while her refined features, set against her pale skin, were so beautiful they could make anyone gape in awe.
Rohineas Diesir d’Elberk.
The Emperor of the Elberk Empire.
It had been five years since I had last faced her directly.
As’s lips curved into a polite, practiced smile as he bowed.
“Head of the Serenia Ducal House, Aces de Serenia, greets Your Imperial Majesty.”
“Yes, Duke Serenia. You’ve… changed quite a lot since I last saw you.”
The Emperor’s rose-colored eyes narrowed slightly as she looked him over.
“You’ve gotten smaller, haven’t you?”
“….”
“And much cuter.”
The Emperor smiled mischievously.
At her utterly unchanged demeanor, I pressed my fingers to my temple.
Her words could easily be taken as an insult, but As only smiled politely, unfazed.
“Is that so.”
“Yes. Of course, still not as cute as our Einra.”
The Emperor’s mischievous gaze shifted to me.
And there it was.
Suppressing another sigh, I smiled calmly like As and prepared to offer my greeting.
“Einra, blessed by the Water King, greets Your Imperial Majes—”
Or I tried to, until the Emperor suddenly rushed up and grabbed my cheeks with both hands.
“―Your Majes…?!”
“Ahhh, our Einra…”
Her long, slender hands squished my cheeks like I was a toy. With an expression of utter delight, she examined every inch of me.
“Even after five years, how are you still this cute?”
“…Um, excuse me—”
“And you’re so heartless, too! I’ve sent you countless letters over the years, and you never once replied!”
Her sharp eyes drooped in exaggerated sadness.
