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CHAPTER 15:
In the Same Boat
Seliya blinked several times before breaking into a clear, bright laugh. Her laughter echoed through the room.
In contrast, Dietrich looked thoroughly displeased.
“What are you laughing at like you’ve done something right?”
“You’re just too funny.”
Seliya smiled, her eyes curving as she approached Dietrich. Dietrich narrowed his eyes and looked down at her — she barely reached his shoulder.
“You’ve got bread crumbs on your lips. I was hoping you’d wipe them off for me.”
At her remark, Dietrich frowned in disbelief.
“Don’t play games with me.”
Seliya stared at Dietrich, intrigued. If he were an ordinary man, he would have easily confessed why her abilities didn’t work on him — maybe even spilled more than she wanted to know.
Still, the fact that he was starting to show his emotions more than before was a good sign to her.
Though she seemed to be joking casually, Seliya wasn’t doing it thoughtlessly.
She knew very well Dietrich was unlike other men.
When the knight came into the prison trying to do something to her — had she just let him and escaped, she would’ve been caught soon after.
And since Dietrich himself had declared her life to be his, he would also decide when to take it.
So she had used her abilities while waiting endlessly for Dietrich, draining her life force in the process — all to lower his guard.
The moment he might fully trust her might never come.
Then again, Seliya didn’t trust him either.
Even as she locked eyes with him and made light-hearted remarks, she was always calculating — wondering when he would finally answer her questions about her powers, and how he even knew about their existence.
‘And what your real identity is… hidden beneath the title of Imperial Knight Commander.’
Of course, he wasn’t going to answer that now.
So Seliya masked her thoughts with a mocking smile.
“How is wiping off crumbs considered flirting? Unless… did you start thinking something strange just now?”
Dietrich’s gaze darkened at her teasing, his eyes deep like an abyss as he quietly stared at her.
Instead of responding to her foolish words, he got straight to the point.
“You’ll be accompanying me shortly… to have an audience with the Empress.”
“The Empress?”
Seliya blinked, confused. Dietrich pulled a handkerchief from his coat and roughly wiped the crumbs from her mouth.
“Is this how you take out your frustration? Can’t you be a little gentler?”
Dietrich looked utterly fed up. He shoved the handkerchief into her hands and continued.
“I managed to get you out of prison, but you’re still a criminal who assassinated the Emperor. Are you even aware of that?”
“Of course I am.”
Her nonchalant reply irked Dietrich.
Most people would be groveling if he’d saved their lives — but whether in prison or now, Seliya remained just as defiant.
She didn’t even speak formally and was clearly mocking him.
He knew this confident woman in front of him was the same person who had once writhed in pain and begged to live.
But still, it was hard to believe.
How could someone act like they had a thousand lives one moment, and be weak and desperate the next?
His gaze landed on her red lips — lips that had once clung to his, sucking the life out of him — now looked healthier than ever, and that made him suddenly angry.
Even though he was the one who had given her his saliva to ease her pain.
Seliya looked at him strangely.
He had the same expression as when he first saw her — a murderer of the Emperor.
“Why are you staring at me like that in the middle of a sentence?”
“…”
“What’s your problem? If you’ve got a problem, say it. Don’t bottle it up and explode later. That’s not good for you.”
That innocent expression — as if she knew nothing — was beyond shameless. It was almost nauseating.
Still, Seliya wouldn’t be able to laugh so freely for long.
Because escaping prison was by no means a victory for her.
It only meant she became easier to target — a bigger prize for others.
The men outside the palace didn’t carry her burden.
They lost nothing while spreading rumors that she was framed.
The ones who truly lost something were the gullible ones — poor men, who had never even seen her face.
Rumor had it she was incredibly beautiful.
But they were too poor to even pay the Viscount’s family for a glimpse of her.
They didn’t care whether she’d actually killed the Emperor or not.
All they wanted was to see her once. Maybe — if she was released because of them, and expressed gratitude — just maybe they could be with her.
They each held onto this hopeless fantasy and sparked riots all over the country.
Even when they were thrown into prison with the label of ‘rioters,’ they believed she would be touched when she found out and accept them.
They’d heard she was beautiful, with a heart as kind as an angel.
The Angel of Brillion would surely come save them.
They believed it until their dying breaths behind bars.
In truth, Seliya didn’t even know they existed — let alone what was happening outside.
Dietrich never told her. He thought there was no benefit in her knowing.
To him, she was merely a tool — just like the dead Emperor had been.
Even though she was broken, she could still serve his purpose — as long as she proved useful.
He could’ve tried to disobey the Empress’s order, but he didn’t.
He needed a tool — not a burden that couldn’t do anything without him.
This was also his test for her, under the Empress’s name.
“The Empress wants to see you in her palace at noon today.”
Seliya tilted her head.
“Why does the Empress want to see me?”
“She probably thinks it’s strange that someone who killed the Emperor is still alive.”
“Didn’t you say you’d handle everything?”
Dietrich let out a small chuckle at her audacity.
“You’re curious how I know about your abilities, right? If you really want to know — prove your worth here in the palace.”
“…”
“This place isn’t as easy as you think. The Empress isn’t as soft as I am. You’d better be careful.”
Anyone else hearing this would’ve been stunned.
People who’d seen what happened to those who defied or tried to harm Dietrich would never call him “soft.”
But it was true — he treated Seliya more leniently than anyone else.
And she seemed to understand abilities like his quite well.
He figured hers would be useful to him too.
“So what exactly do I have to do?”
“Use formal speech. Answer her questions politely. But never speak about your powers. Nothing good will come of it.”
Seliya had no intention of revealing that to the Empress anyway.
From his words, she realized he didn’t want anyone else to know about her powers either.
And that made sense. If others knew, they might try to exploit her.
Even at the Viscount’s house, she had kept it tightly hidden — especially because of the men of Brillion who would sneak into her room at night.
She had often used her powers to paralyze their senses, check the hallway, carry them back to bed, and lock the door securely behind her.
Dietrich, noticing her thoughtful silence, added:
“If you disobey and reveal your powers, you’ll be used up and then burned at the stake as a witch. That would be a fitting end for someone who murdered the Emperor.”
Seliya found it ironic — he spoke as if he was worried about her, even though he intended to use her too.
But she didn’t show any of that on her face.
“Don’t worry. I won’t say a word about my powers. We’re in the same boat, aren’t we?”
Dietrich looked at her — unable to put into words the expression he wore.
“Any other warnings?”
“The Empress will ask why you killed the Emperor. And definitely about your relationship with me. Say what you must about the reason, but when she asks about us — say we’re nothing.”
“But we’re not ‘nothing,’ and you want me to say we are?”
At her innocent reply, Dietrich started to speak — then stopped, turning to the window.
“Once I bring you into the palace, the Empress will try to separate us no matter what.”
“…”
“If you can’t prove your worth, I won’t be able to protect you anymore.”
He looked back at her — gaze fixed.
“It’s time.”
