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Chapter 05
“The Emperor’s command!”
At the sight of the banner, the soldiers and executioner all dropped to one knee at once. It seemed to be the proper etiquette for receiving a messenger sent by someone of extremely high rank.
Astrid wanted to show the same respect, but if she did that, her neck would probably snap before the temporary stay of execution meant anything at all, so she remained standing stiffly atop the stool.
The rider gradually slowed his horse, finally stopping directly before the gallows before dismounting.
Looking closer, he appeared almost as ragged as Astrid herself. He must have ridden for a very long time.
The messenger pulled a rolled parchment from inside his coat. After clearing his throat several times, he steadied his voice and began to read aloud.
“Hear this, loyal soldiers of the Crown. By imperial decree, the execution of the red-haired woman captured off the coast of Rouge Rosada is to be suspended immediately. Furthermore, His Majesty wishes to confirm certain matters with the woman personally, and thus commands that she be delivered into imperial custody.”
It was a short decree.
The messenger gestured toward the soldiers before turning his gaze to Astrid.
The soldiers leapt to their feet and, though wearing deeply puzzled expressions, quickly removed the noose from Astrid’s neck and helped her down from the stool.
Only then was Astrid finally able to kneel before the messenger just as the soldiers had done.
“Hey, could you untie my hands too?”
At the imperial envoy’s single remark, the rope binding Astrid’s wrists was cut away. They had been tied for so long that having her hands free again felt strangely awkward.
Astrid wiped the sweat from her palms against her skirt.
“Is your name Astrid?” the messenger asked.
She nodded fervently.
At that moment, even if her name had not been Astrid, she would have claimed it was and prepared to live the rest of her life under that name.
“His Majesty wishes to meet you personally.”
And so, she found herself riding in a luxurious carriage.
The situation became easier to bear once she organized her thoughts.
First of all, it was certain that her death sentence had been postponed for some reason. Even if that reason turned out to be that the Emperor wished to kill her personally after she had unknowingly caused him some enormous loss.
“Some enormous loss…”
The Ortez Trading Company flashed through Astrid’s mind.
Had she interfered with goods intended for the Imperial Palace? Was attacking that merchant company a mistake after all?
Astrid tried to come up with reasons why losing her head to the Emperor’s sword would be preferable to hanging on a desolate shoreline, but no answer came.
Still, for someone being delivered as the Emperor’s criminal, neither the envoy nor the carriage driver treated her harshly. The driver even noticed her cracked lips and shared some of his own drinking water with her.
Moreover, making the driver’s kindness seem almost unnecessary, the carriage itself contained a basket filled with soft bread and wine.
She did not feel capable of eating, but after retracing the situation in her mind and calming her trembling somewhat, Astrid took a sip of wine, hoping it would ease her nerves.
Once the terror that felt fatal finally passed, another deadly thing began instead: boredom.
Aside from being slightly softer and less damp, Astrid could find little that made the carriage better than the prison cell.
The carriage even shook.
Astrid was accustomed to the rocking of ships, but the movement of a carriage was completely different. It did not feel like seasickness or land sickness either.
When she opened the window and dry-heaved, the envoy riding beside the carriage suggested that she should sleep if she was feeling unwell.
But how was candy rattling inside a shaking paper bag supposed to fall asleep?
Astrid had no watch and could not be certain, but the journey seemed to last roughly five hours.
The sun was slowly sinking behind low hills.
Outside the carriage window, the scenery changed from forests to villages, then into bustling streets after they passed through a city gate.
The carriage continued onward, crossing a drawbridge before passing through another gate. At last, it stopped before an enormous iron door.
The envoy looked three times more exhausted than he had earlier that day. After exchanging a few words with the guards, the heavy iron gates slowly creaked open.
“Lady Astrid. From here on, we’ll proceed on foot. Just follow me.”
After sitting for so long, the suggestion of walking was actually welcome.
Stretching ahead in a straight line beyond the broad brick road was an enormous and majestic structure. The envoy briefly explained, “This is the main palace.”
They passed by the main palace and headed even deeper inside.
After walking for some time, the envoy finally stopped before another building. It was smaller than the main palace but just as elegant and magnificent.
Waiting before its entrance stood a noblewoman.
The envoy bowed to her, and Astrid awkwardly copied him.
She would later learn that, for a woman, it was actually improper etiquette.
The noblewoman returned only the slightest nod before glancing over Astrid.
Without realizing it, Astrid quickly pressed her feet together and clasped her hands neatly before her.
The noblewoman inspected her carefully from head to toe before letting out a small sigh.
“Lady Astrid. From now on, you will follow me.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Feeling rather like the cloth in a game of drop-the-handkerchief, Astrid turned to at least nod farewell to the envoy while climbing the stairs.
But the worn-out messenger was already walking far away.
Apparently, the moment he handed Astrid over to the noblewoman marked the end of his workday.
Feeling awkward, Astrid ran her fingers through her hair. It was still stiff with saltwater and sticky to the touch.
The moment she instinctively licked her palm to get rid of the unpleasant feeling, the noblewoman caught her doing it.
This time, the noblewoman did not even bother hiding her exasperated sigh.
“If it were up to me, I’d scrub that filthy state off you and change your clothes before presenting you, but His Majesty insists on seeing you immediately.”
Embarrassed, Astrid wiped her hand on her skirt instead.
The crease between the noblewoman’s brows deepened even further.
“Do not do such things in front of His Majesty.”
“Understood…”
In the end, Astrid could only hide both hands behind her back.
She would later learn that this, too, was improper etiquette.
She felt like she was going mad from curiosity over why someone as important as the Emperor wanted to see her.
Of course, Astrid was certain it was not because the Emperor wished to praise her. She had done far more wrong things than good in her life.
Following the noblewoman, Astrid walked down a corridor lined with thick carpets.
Countless candles burned along the walls, while small chandeliers hanging at regular intervals reflected the light.
Though it was already dark outside, the interior of the building felt bright and warmly inviting.
The softness of the carpet against her bare feet soothed Astrid’s tense nerves, if only slightly.
Eventually, the noblewoman stopped before an ornate door.
It was no larger than the others, but the intricate carvings and lavish decorations surrounding it clearly marked the room beyond as something special.
The noblewoman approached and knocked gently.
“Your Majesty, this is Juliana. Lady Astrid has arrived.”
“Send her in.”
A low, gentle voice answered from within.
The noblewoman silently opened the door, pushed Astrid inside, and immediately shut it behind her.
The room was as warm and inviting as the corridor.
The chandelier hanging from the ceiling was far larger and more splendid than those outside.
The windows stood open, and whenever the cool night breeze brushed against the chandelier’s glass crystals, they glittered brilliantly, scattering candlelight in every direction.
Not only the chandelier, but the sofas, tables, and chairs as well—
Everything in the room was more beautiful than anything Astrid had ever seen in her life.
It was the moment the very definition of luxury changed for her.
“Astrid.”
A soft, low voice called her name, yet there was unmistakable sharpness hidden within it.
Astrid tore her gaze away from the room and turned toward the speaker.
She had no idea how she ought to greet the Emperor. Should she throw herself to the floor and beg forgiveness first?
After hesitating briefly, she decided to kneel.
“Come closer.”
Astrid shuffled forward on her knees toward the middle-aged woman seated upon the sofa.
Compared to the splendor of the room, the woman’s dress could almost be called modest.
Yet none of that mattered.
An overwhelming pressure radiated from her presence alone.
Instinctively, Astrid lowered her head.
The Emperor’s fingers approached her.
Astrid flinched, but those fingers gently lifted her chin instead.
Only then could Astrid properly see the Emperor’s face.
And the Emperor could properly see hers.
A satisfied smile appeared around eyes lined with faint wrinkles.
“Welcome, Sasha. You don’t resemble your father at all.”
