TCTR 10

Chapter 10

“There’s no sign of anyone nearby or inside the room.”

So that’s what he was checking when he came in quietly?

“Well, that’s a relief. I was worried the Emperor might have other intentions—but I guess not.”

I thought maybe there were eyes watching.

At my words, he gently closed his eyes.

He always seemed carefree, but in moments like this, he was truly reliable.

“Yes… I agree. I can’t hear any sounds from outside either.”

I dove onto the bed.

Hugging the blanket tightly, I murmured softly.

“The Imperial Palace really is beautiful. That long carriage ride was worth it.”

“Rather than tormenting that poor blanket, would you mind coming over here instead?”

I ignored Kiscel and buried my face deeper into the covers.

“Shall I have someone bring some tea at least?”

“No, it’s fine.”

Then I glanced up at the still-unpacked luggage in the room.

Right—this wasn’t the time to be resting.

I lifted only my head, keeping my body in the bed, and said,

“I’m going for a walk in the garden. Go get my new shoes.”

“Shoes? You looked like you were about to take an afternoon nap… but alright.”

“Thanks.”

I should at least take a look around the Imperial grounds.

There was no time to nap peacefully.

I let my legs drop off the bed.

Kiscel knelt to help me put on my shoes.

“Why the sudden rush? Just wait a bit and go out with me.”

“Actually, I was planning to head out while you clean the room. Might as well look around the palace.”

“…Sometimes I really wonder what’s in your head. If you’d allow me, may I give it a knock?”

It feels like you’re just full of plans to make me work.

Ignoring him, I pushed myself up using my arms and sat up.

Stretching out with a smile at his words, I couldn’t help but laugh.

“You can knock on my head anytime. I wouldn’t deny my old friend that much. But… that’ll probably be the day you get thrown out with nothing on.”

“If you’d said I’d be thrown out in just my underwear, I might have considered it. But completely naked? That’s a no-go.”

Laughing at his teasing voice, I quickly stepped out of the room.

✦ ✦ ✦

The Imperial garden emphasized harmony.

“As expected, it’s stunning.”

The mingled scent of flowers that drifted to the tip of my nose created a single sweet fragrance, as if striving for perfection, and the vibrant colors pleased the eye more than I had imagined.

I stood alone for a while, then started walking along the neatly maintained path.

The clean stone walkway didn’t leave a single mark on my new white shoes.

Just then, I heard birds chirping.

“Birds?”

The Imperial Palace is normally protected by a barrier—nothing living can enter without permission.

That includes birds flying in the sky.

So they must be birds that the palace raises intentionally.

Judging by their sweet and gentle songs, that guess seemed spot on.

“I should ask for a few birds to be released in our estate too.”

And maybe plant more flowers.

It’s going to be my estate now, after all.

I can shape it however I want.

As I looked up at the clear sky, someone’s face suddenly came to mind.

“Since I’ve come all the way to the capital, I should stop by the temple.”

I still don’t know why he was at the temple in the duchy last time, but the Pope’s usual residence is in the capital’s temple.

Since he’s said to be the incarnation of the gods, there’s no point in questioning it.

As I walked further, I sensed the presence of people and tilted my head.

“Who is that?”

They looked like nobles visiting the palace.

I heard the mingled voices of four or five people.

Quietly, I lowered my footsteps and approached the sound.

Two men, three women.

Glancing discreetly, I saw a group sitting around a tea table.

‘They really are nobles.’

I lit up with excitement at the sight of unfamiliar noble faces.

Their voices carried on the wind.

“Parties hosted by House Marilde are always so grand and beautiful.”

“They’re second only to the Imperial ones.”

“Haha, I’ll be sure to invite you to the next one.”

Hiding behind a tree, I eavesdropped like a little mouse.

Their fancy clothes and exaggerated voices made me almost shout, “This is exactly what I wanted!”

I’d always been curious about how nobles talked among themselves.

“But remember that party the other day? Did you see the second son of the Viscount Maldon?”

“You mean the one in the navy uniform?”

“Yes, him.”

“Of course I remember. His sleeves were all worn out… Tsk, I thought I’d seen that uniform before—it looked like he inherited it from the eldest son.”

But the tone of their conversation was different than I had expected, and my excitement popped like a balloon.

“The social scene is terrifying.”

I felt sorry for the poor second son of Viscount Maldon and straightened up from my crouch.

It felt like I had peeked into one of those scandalous gossip magazines common among commoners.

I loosened my grip on the tree.

“Nothing else worth hearing.”

Not all nobles are like this, surely. There must be ones who have more meaningful conversations.

Just then—

As I turned to leave, something white appeared in my vision.

Before I could react, thump!—I crashed into someone.

“Oof.”

My hair became a mess, and I instinctively staggered back.

A stranger’s arm quickly wrapped around my waist.

Startled by the touch, I looked up—only to see a jawline so perfect it looked sculpted.

Tilting my head back further, I finally saw the face of the man in the white uniform I had just bumped into.

My lips pressed into a tight line without me realizing.

The first thing I noticed was his shimmering, slightly wavy honey-blonde hair.

It was the first time I’d seen such rare golden hair in the empire—just as rare as black.

But that rare hair paled in comparison to his striking features.

Long golden lashes framed his soft eyes, casting shadows across his fair cheeks every time he blinked.

Below them, his deep blue eyes gleamed like a summer lake.

I was entranced by the sight before me.

“He’s beautiful.”

As my gaze followed the elegant jawline down to his collarbone peeking from under the uniform, I felt him watching me too.

Just as I opened my mouth to speak—

“Ah.”

A meaningful murmur slipped from his red lips.

As our eyes met, his lips curled into a faint smile.

Then, he bent down to match my eye level and said in a gentle, teasing whisper,

“You look familiar.”

As he leaned in closer, our breaths nearly touched.

“Should I pretend not to recognize you again this time?”

His eyes curved into perfect crescents.

And at those words—

Only one thought echoed in my mind.

I’m doomed.

Cracks spread across my composed expression.

“Should I pretend not to recognize you again this time?”

The words that brushed past my ear made my heart pound like crazy.

It was him.

That night—

The one who spoke to me in the darkness.

It was you.

I placed my hand over the arm still around my waist.

My heart was beating so loudly I was afraid he might hear it.

His firm arm was solid beneath my fingers.

He looked at me, and I looked up at him.

A suffocating silence settled between us.

Or maybe I was the only one who felt that way.

I remembered that night—the air, the scent of grass, the pain that made it feel like my feet were being sliced, and… that voice.

The unfamiliar voice that spoke to me from the dark.

I remembered everything.

Because that night, I got caught doing something no one must ever find out about.

After that, for two whole months, I replayed that night over and over in my mind.

I even tried to find the man who had spoken to me.

I assumed he must have been a knight and thought, How hard could it be to find someone who roams the woods at night?

At first, I felt both anxious and confident.

Well… for the first few days, at least.

But as time passed, there was no progress.

And every time, only his voice echoed in my head—“You look familiar.”

If he really did know me, then something should’ve happened.

But a month passed, then another, and nothing happened to me.

I couldn’t tell if that was fortunate… or unfortunate.

Because it felt like carrying a live grenade in my pocket.