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Chapter 3
A Tiresome Time-Limited Life (3)
“Indeed, Llewellyn. I have already heard the news, but I was told you are achieving very good results at the Academy.”
“I am honored.”
“Good. Do not become satisfied with the present and continue to improve yourself.”
As if that was all he had to say, the Emperor patted Llewellyn on the shoulder before turning his gaze toward Elia. Elia blankly stared at the father and son, whose silver and golden hair strangely suited each other, then flinched slightly when the Emperor suddenly looked at her.
‘So I thought they were going to have a proper conversation… but apparently not.’
At that moment, she realized the Emperor’s smile was only part of playing the role of a father. It seemed like Llewellyn wanted to speak with the Emperor more, but…
The Emperor walked past Llewellyn, who was still looking at him, and stopped in front of Elia before meeting her eyes.
“Do you know who I am?”
“I believe… you are His Majesty the Emperor.”
The word Your Majesty did not come out naturally. No matter how many fantasy novels she had read, it was still difficult for someone from the modern world to adapt to such words.
“Yes. I am the Emperor of this Empire and your father.”
There was a reason the Emperor’s downward gaze felt familiar to her. It was exactly the same look her own father used to give her after she had been diagnosed with an incurable disease and admitted to the hospital—a gaze completely empty of emotion.
“I do not know what caused you such suffering that you even forgot me, but it pains me to become a father forgotten by his own child.”
“My apologies.”
Ever since Elia became ill with the unknown disease, the Emperor had cut off everything he once supported her with. He gave nothing to children who were no longer useful. Knowing that, no matter how sweetly the Emperor spoke to her now, she could not view him kindly.
Was he only pretending because she had lost her memory?
“How is your body? I heard you suddenly collapsed. I was very worried.”
“Thanks to Your Majesty’s concern, I have recovered greatly.”
It had only been a week since she opened her eyes after possessing Elia’s body, and not even three days since she started speaking. Since she knew nothing about Elia’s personality or way of speaking, she had simply kept her mouth shut and pretended she could not talk.
“However, I only remember fragments of my memories, so I think it will take some time to adjust.”
After staying silent for days, she finally came to one conclusion—pretending to have amnesia was the best option. She truly knew nothing anyway, so it was no different from memory loss.
Imperial Year 619.
One year before the original story began.
Since this period never appeared in the novel, there was almost nothing she knew. The only thing she did know was that Aaron and Lotte should still be living peacefully around this time. Back when Lotte was still a princess, the Kingdom had only been described as unstable because of the rebellion.
If she got the chance today, she needed to ask permission either to visit the Kingdom of Veronica or to invite Aaron and Lotte to the Empire. Opportunities like sitting together like this would surely be rare.
Once the Empress—Llewellyn’s biological mother and the former concubine—arrived, the conversation with the Emperor ended, and silence filled the room as the meal began.
“Elia, if there is anything you need, speak comfortably.”
At the Emperor’s sudden words during the meal, Elia’s ears perked up.
Need?
She had been wondering when she should bring it up, but unexpectedly the Emperor spoke first. Was he trying to act like a caring father? Well, that worked out well for her.
“In that case, there is something I wish to ask.”
This was the first family meal since she collapsed. It was a rare opportunity, so Elia carefully placed down the fork and knife she had been holding and looked at the Emperor. It was not like she brought it up first—the Emperor himself told her to ask for anything she wanted. Even if it was only polite talk, there was no reason not to use the chance.
“Go ahead.”
“May I visit the Kingdom of Veronica for a short while?”
She spoke with hope after seeing how willingly the Emperor seemed to listen, but the atmosphere around them instantly became heavy.
“No.”
Before her words had even fully ended, a firm voice cut through the silence.
It belonged to Llewellyn, the male lead of the original novel and the half-brother of this body’s owner. The young boy looked far too innocent for someone who would become a tyrant in the future, yet his eyes were dry and emotionless.
“Could you tell me why not?”
“If rumors spread that an Imperial Princess has gone to another nation, it could become dangerous. Besides, your health is poor. If you suddenly collapse again like before, it would become a serious problem.”
In some ways, everything he said made perfect sense, but it was still hard to accept. Even if an Imperial Princess traveled abroad, she would obviously bring knights for protection, and security would be extremely strict. So what exactly was the problem?
Still, if the Emperor allowed it, none of this would matter…
But seeing the Emperor nod his head, it was obvious he had already been persuaded by Llewellyn’s words.
“Yes. If you travel such a long distance alone in your weak condition, it would only exhaust you. Do not worry too much and simply rest comfortably.”
Llewellyn’s mother, now the Empress, added support to his words while pretending to care for Elia. If she truly meant it out of concern, Elia would have been grateful—but there was no way that was the case.
She had wanted to enjoy life a little as an Imperial Princess, like rich nobles relaxing at a vacation estate for recovery, but even that seemed impossible.
The Emperor appeared to think for a moment before shaking his head.
“As Llewellyn said, your safety may be at risk. I cannot ignore that and allow you to go. Since your condition may worsen at any time, traveling to another nation is too dangerous. Is there anything else you desire besides leaving the Empire?”
Elia sighed deeply inwardly, though she could not show it outside. If she sighed openly, someone would surely criticize her for being improper and lacking manners. Even if they said it politely, she did not want to hear such things at all.
“If Your Majesty says so, then I cannot argue further, however…”
The Emperor had already refused. What power did she have to argue or leave anyway? She briefly considered trying to persuade him more, but quickly gave up after realizing there was nothing she could accomplish alone with this weak body.
In some ways, traveling to another country could truly lead to her death. Perhaps staying in the Imperial Palace was safer. If someone wanted to kill her, they would find a way no matter what.
Unconsciously, Elia glanced toward Llewellyn before quickly looking away.
Their eyes had met for only a brief moment. Pretending nothing happened, she smiled calmly at the Emperor and spoke again.
“Then… please allow me to meet Sir Aaron Albert, the commander of the knights of Veronica Kingdom.”
A life that could end at any moment.
At the very least, she wanted to see her favorite character before dying. If even this request was rejected, then her second life would truly have no hope.
Aaron Albert.
A loyal knight and a man pure enough to pray for the happiness of the woman he loved!
What would it feel like to see such a man in person?
Before matching Aaron and Lotte together, surely it was fine if she fulfilled a little selfish desire first?
If Lotte was invited, Aaron would naturally follow her. But asking to meet Aaron seemed far more realistic than directly requesting the Queen of another nation to visit.
Besides, although Lotte wished to interact with the Emperor of the Rier Empire, the Emperor always refused.
If so, there had to be a reason for it, right?
In the original story, it was even said that after Lotte became Queen, she never once stepped inside the Rier Empire until after Llewellyn began his tyranny.
So Elia could not hold much hope.
“It is not a difficult request, but I am curious how you know about him.”
“I learned about him while studying the history of our Empire again. I heard that the knights of Veronica Kingdom are famous for their bravery and loyalty, and that Sir Aaron Albert is the most loyal among them, always devoted to his nation. I also became curious about how they differ from the Imperial knights.”
The moment she said it, she almost panicked. She wanted to see Aaron so badly that she nearly forgot she was supposed to be pretending to have amnesia.
Still, she desperately continued her explanation as naturally as possible. Nervously watching the Emperor’s expression, she waited anxiously for his answer.
“Hm. Very well. I shall send a letter, and once a reply arrives, I will inform you.”
Unexpectedly, the Emperor agreed quite easily. She wondered why he had refused Lotte’s requests to visit the Empire yet accepted her request so simply.
Still, regardless of the reason, she had at least escaped the fate of spending this second life trapped alone in one room, living meaninglessly until death came again.
“Yes. It would be nice if Her Highness Lotte could visit as well.”
Just gaining the chance to see Aaron already made today’s meal worthwhile for her.
Would her grand mission to unite Aaron and Lotte succeed?
“You are telling me to visit the Rier Empire?”
Meanwhile, the Kingdom of Veronica was filled with confusion after receiving the Empire’s letter.
Three years ago, when the Empire helped suppress the rebellion caused by traitorous nobles inside the royal castle, the Emperor had discouraged any visit, saying stabilizing the people came first.
Yet now, for the first time since Lotte became Queen, he was inviting them to the Empire simply because the Empire’s only Imperial Princess wished to meet a mere knight commander like Aaron.
“As long as I remain Your Highness’s guard knight, this is not for me to decide. Please simply give your command.”
Aaron quietly waited for Lotte’s response while watching her sink deep into thought. A royal guard knight leaving without the Queen’s permission was impossible.
“Then I shall go with you.”
Lotte’s gaze slowly moved from the letter allowing even the Queen of Veronica to visit and settled on Aaron.
“The Emperor rarely offers invitations so easily. I should take this opportunity to meet him.”
Aaron, who had been looking up at Lotte, lowered his head deeply in respect.
“I will follow your command.”
The next morning, since they could not leave the kingdom unattended for long even after entrusting state affairs to the Chancellor, the sounds of horses filled the air before sunrise.
The road toward the Empire reminded them of the day they once fled toward the outskirts to protect the young Lotte.
The day when the King and Queen died during the rebellion, and Aaron took Lotte’s hand as they escaped the royal castle together for the very first time.
Although the situation now was different from back then, it had still been a very long time since they had left the castle and traveled so far away.
