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Chapter 78
When Arkes showed little reaction, the Emperor leaned back against the chair with a disappointed expression.
“I wish Einra had come.”
“…….”
“To be absent from the glorious moment of punishing a traitor and upholding justice, even though you achieved the greatest merit… it’s truly regrettable.”
The Emperor muttered aloud as if expecting someone to hear.
Arkes’ lips curved into a polite smile once again.
“I understand your regret, Your Majesty.”
His cold crimson eyes fixed on the Emperor.
“Do not force anything upon Einra.”
The Emperor smiled coldly and tilted his head.
“Force? Grand Duke, if someone heard that, they’d think I was threatening Einra.”
“You sent a handwritten letter subtly coaxing her to attend, even though she already declined.”
Because her attendance would give legitimacy to the execution.
Regardless of the reason she refused.
“Hm… I sincerely encouraged Einra for her own sake, but to be misunderstood like this does not sit well with me.”
Shaking his head, the Emperor sighed deeply and raised a hand.
A nearby aide, waiting outside the chamber, approached.
“Your Majesty, did you call?”
“How much time remains until the execution begins?”
“About ten minutes, Your Majesty.”
“And the people?”
“They’ve gathered sufficiently.”
Nodding, the Emperor gave his order.
“Good. Begin the execution immediately. Bring the criminal here.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
The aide disappeared outside the chamber.
Soon, amid the throngs of people who had gathered like clouds, shouts and cheers rang out.
The execution had begun.
After removing my makeup and changing into comfortable clothes, I lay on the bed staring blankly at the ceiling.
Though I felt relieved having dealt with at least one villain, there was still a fluttering sense of unease.
‘I feel… blank.’
How long I lay there, killing time, I don’t know.
I suddenly jumped up.
“Alright, time to get up, Einra!”
Lying around only let stray thoughts drift through my mind, and I couldn’t take it any longer.
“Hisha!”
At my call, Hisha appeared obediently.
I climbed onto Hisha’s back and soared high into the sky.
The fresh air at such heights brushed against my cheeks.
My loose chestnut hair fluttered wildly in the wind like scattered threads in the sky.
“Ah, this feels great.”
I took a deep breath as I rose into the clouds.
The dark, stormy thoughts in my mind cleared, replaced by a refreshing calm.
Looking down, the capital appeared minuscule beneath me.
“So small.”
It looked like a toy, making me giggle.
After circling above the clouds for a while, I slowly descended as the cold began to nip at me.
“Hm, where should I go…?”
Resting my chin on my hand, I decided to head toward the outskirts of the capital.
The villages in the suburbs exuded a completely different atmosphere from the capital.
‘If the capital is a cold, merciless city where eyes and noses could be cut, this is a warm, soft village where kindness flows freely.’
Perhaps because it was summer, flowers of every kind were in full bloom everywhere.
I leaned against Hisha and slowly flew over a wide flower field on the edge of the village.
A gentle breeze carrying the scent of summer brushed warmly against me.
Wherever I looked, vibrant flowers were scattered like stars among the waving grass.
“So beautiful…”
The healing scenery naturally brought a smile to my face.
I asked Hisha to land in the flower field.
Soft petals brushed against my bare ankles as I wore only light indoor shoes.
I bent down and began collecting flowers, one by one.
‘White, yellow, pink, orange…’
I deliberately picked only warm-colored flowers.
Once my hands were full, I asked Quiel and Silavi to gather more.
‘Before Arkes returns, I’ll decorate the bedroom with these flowers.’
He liked flowers, so seeing the room adorned with them would surely please him.
‘I hope he smiles when he sees them.’
My chest fluttered with pleasant excitement.
Leaving the fragrant flowers behind, I returned home.
Some were placed in vases, some woven into pretty wreaths and hung around the room.
The remaining flowers, with the help of spirits, were turned into potpourri.
“All done.”
After arranging even the potpourri in glass jars, only a single white daisy remained on the table.
‘I’ll put this in Arkes’ hair when he returns.’
A smile formed naturally on my lips.
I decided to keep it in a vase for now. As I picked up the flower and stood, I heard:
“Quiel?”
After several days, the Quiel who had gone searching for Dante had returned.
I smiled brightly and turned to them.
“Did you find Dante?”
As I extended my hand, the Quiel nodded and one by one clung to me.
Then, their thoughts flowed into my mind with a refreshing clarity.
‘Dante.’
‘Gray hair, purple eyes.’
‘Male human.’
‘He’s here now.’
‘With a female human.’
Focusing on the relentless stream of Quiel thoughts, I tilted my head.
‘With a female human?’
Just as this question arose:
‘In the Belzesti Empire.’
Thunk.
The white flower in my hand fell to the floor.
The Cervante estate, located in the capital of the Belzesti Empire, was so vast it could be mistaken for a palace.
Following the man he met in the underground prison, Dante gaped at the overwhelming grandeur of the mansion.
‘Even the Baharman Grand Duke’s estate, which tried to rival the Emperor, wasn’t this magnificent…’
Though he had once worked in the Belzesti imperial palace, seeing the Cervante estate firsthand was a first.
“…Sir, the sorcerer?”
“Ah, did you call?”
Dante flinched as the voice calling him continued.
The man he glanced at nodded and spoke.
“My task ends here. I’ve brought the sorcerer to the front of the estate, and now I shall leave.”
“I see. Thank you. You saved me.”
“I only did what I had to do.”
“…And for the advice you gave me on the way here as well.”
At my soft addition, the previously expressionless man gave a slight smile.
He bowed subtly, pulled his hood tighter, and disappeared.
Dante looked toward where the man had vanished, then back at the estate.
A small carriage approached and stopped at the front gate, perhaps expecting him.
“Sorcerer Dante, welcome. I am Servans, the chief steward of the Cervante estate.”
The middle-aged man who stepped out of the carriage bowed politely.
Dante hurriedly returned the greeting.
“Nice to meet you, Steward. I am Dante, the sorcerer.”
“The master is waiting for you. Please, come inside.”
Following the chief steward’s guidance, Dante moved inward.
After about ten more minutes by carriage, they reached the main residence, the pinnacle of elegance and splendor.
Without time to admire it, Dante was immediately led to the reception room on the first floor.
“Master, the sorcerer Dante has arrived.”
“Ah, let him in.”
The door opened after a cold voice spoke.
Cautiously stepping inside, Dante heard the voice again.
“So, you’ve finally arrived, Sorcerer Dante.”
The first thing he noticed was a shock of flame-red hair.
Beneath the straight, silky hair glowed golden eyes, perfectly complementing the cold beauty of the figure.
“I’ve been waiting.”
The central figure of the Belzesti powers, who could topple even flying birds.
Akela La Cervante.
The duke leaned back gracefully with one leg crossed, tilting his head slightly.
His overwhelming presence far surpassed that of the Baharman Grand Duke.
Unconsciously flinching, Dante bowed a beat late.
“…I am Dante La Basilic, sorcerer, to pay my respects to Your Grace, the shining light of Cervante.”
“Hm, being from Belzesti, you are familiar with our customs.”
Murmuring in a languid voice, the duke opened his mouth again.
“Come closer.”
“…Yes, Your Grace.”
Dante straightened and took a few steps toward the duke.
When they were close enough to touch:
Suddenly, the duke reached out and grabbed Dante by the neck.
