Chapter 3

“I had actually been thinking about it for some time. There are two options. One is to open our borders. The other is to become a vassal state of the Empire.”

Rea looked at Aren with surprised eyes.

She had already been wondering how she could persuade Aren.

The solution Aren had been considering was the same conclusion Rea had reached after debating with the King of Nortia.

“You had been thinking about this for a while?”

“Yes. But there was fierce opposition. If I had brought it up publicly, I thought public opinion would become so divided that the country itself might split in two.”

Rea sighed.

She had not known that Aren had been struggling with such a problem at this point in time.

“But the people who opposed it have all been swept away by this incident.”

The two looked at each other silently.

The same thought crossed both their minds.

Had those who opposed it really done so for the sake of the national interest?

“The current emperor changed the empire’s strategy of conquest from annexation to establishing vassal states. Vassal states are guaranteed a certain degree of self-government.”

“Our kingdom is small, and we don’t have any special products that the Empire would covet. The Empire’s pressure on us should be minimal.”

“Zephyros is a small desert kingdom, but it has something special. Its roots go back to one of the four ancient kingdoms that ruled the continent long ago.”

“If we say that we are willing to become a vassal state, the Emperor will welcome us with open arms.”

The siblings continued exchanging their thoughts before looking at each other and smiling.

“Brother. I’ll go to the Empire.”

There was someone Rea absolutely had to meet.

‘Carion, the Fourth Imperial Prince and Commander-in-Chief of the Northeast.’

He was Nella, the Queen of Nortia’s son.

⌜ Go back to the past. Correct your regrets. Prevent the destruction of your kingdom and save the people precious to you. And then… ⌟

Nella had stared into the distance with regret in her eyes before saying,

⌜Save my son. ⌟

Nella’s expression as she said those words had been calm.

⌜That is all. ⌟

‘Your Majesty. I will definitely save your son.’

Preventing her son’s death was even more important than stopping Enoch, the First Imperial Prince, from ascending the throne.

Six months later, Rea departed with her group as the head of the Zephyros Kingdom’s diplomatic delegation.

“Fifteen people in total? I only have three large rooms left. What are you going to do? You can sleep packed together if you don’t mind.”

“The other inns are all full. Is something going on?”

“The arena is opening soon. Isn’t that why you came?”

“Ah, the arena. We’re on our way to Elios.”

“So you’re just passing through. You picked the wrong time.”

“I suppose so. Give us the rooms anyway. How much will it cost for one day, including meals and feed for the horses?”

“Fifteen silver coins.”

“We’ll pay in advance. Thirteen silver coins. We’ll leave early tomorrow morning.”

The innkeeper scratched his head and clicked his tongue before saying,

“All right, let’s do that.”

As always, the members of the group simply stood there blankly while Rea negotiated.

After they put their luggage in their rooms, Rea said to Kasim,

“I’m going to look around for a little while, so get some good rest.”

“Y-Your Excellency, again by yourself…”

“Don’t worry. This city is relatively safe.”

Kasim reached out toward Rea’s retreating back, but he could not say anything and lowered his hand.

He had come along as her escort and protector, but somehow he felt as though he was the one being protected.

No matter how much he thought about it, he could not understand.

How did a princess who had barely ever left the royal palace know the geography of the continent so well? And why was she so comfortable dealing with the locals?

He remembered the conversation he had had with the king before they departed.

⌜That child has changed. You feel it too, don’t you? ⌟

⌜Yes, Your Majesty. ⌟

⌜She used to be so timid that she couldn’t even leave her bedroom after sunset. She was such a softhearted child that she cried until her eyes became swollen when she saw a baby bird that had fallen from its nest and died. You remember that too, don’t you? ⌟

⌜…Yes, Your Majesty. ⌟

⌜When did the little sister I thought I had to protect begin looking at the world with eyes that could see far into the distance? Did Rea grow up because I was not enough? ⌟

⌜Your Majesty. The princess has simply grown into an adult. She is at that age now. ⌟

⌜But at some point, I found myself relying on that changed child. As her older brother, this is rather embarrassing for me. ⌟

⌜Your Majesty. The princess will sincerely be happy to know that she can be of help to you. ⌟

⌜If Rea goes to the Empire, she might be taken hostage. Even knowing that, I have no choice but to send her. There is no one better suited for this mission. Please take good care of her. ⌟

⌜Yes, Your Majesty. I will protect the princess with my life. ⌟

Kasim’s firm resolve was soon put to the test.

“She’s gone!”

The next morning, Penny screamed as she brought them the letter Rea had left behind.

—I’ll go to Poema first. There’s something important I need to do there. I roughly drew the route to Poema below. Just follow it, and you should arrive within ten days. See you later.

‘P-Princess!’

He clenched the letter in his trembling hands and roared inwardly.

After climbing a hill, Rea looked down at the endless plains stretching before her.

For the first time since returning to the past, she was alone.

She remembered the days when she could never let her guard down for even a moment because she had to fight to survive.

Her previously relaxed state of mind immediately tightened.

The reason she was traveling alone was to move faster.

She had obtained important information at the marketplace.

‘The Commander-in-Chief of the Northeast is in Poema right now!’

With the intelligence network of the Kingdom of Zephyros, they had been unable to find his exact whereabouts.

That was why she had planned to go to Poema, the closest territory under his jurisdiction, and search for him there.

But as luck would have it, he was already there.

Rea had never met the Fourth Imperial Prince, the Commander-in-Chief of the Northeast, before.

‘It doesn’t matter what kind of person you are.’

The only thing that mattered to Rea was that he was Nella’s son.

She was prepared to risk even her own life to prevent his death.

‘If I can repay the debt I owe Her Majesty with just my life, then that is a cheap price to pay.’

After traveling for five days, she arrived at the Poema garrison.

She sent her spirit to scout the area, and the garrison was heavily guarded.

Rea wanted to meet the Fourth Imperial Prince unofficially.

There was no way she could meet him simply by asking for an audience without revealing her identity.

‘Looks like I’ll have to sneak in after all. I’m counting on you.’

She whispered to the spirit.

As if answering her, the wind tickled the back of her neck.

Rea smiled and took a step forward.

The spirit would show her a hidden path that would allow her to avoid the eyes of the people guarding the area.

Inside the administrative office of the Poema garrison.

A man with jet-black hair leaned back in his chair with his feet resting on the desk as he read the imperial decree brought by the emperor’s envoy.

—It seems the cold winds of the Northeast have frozen even the commander’s loyalty. I can hardly remember what your face looks like anymore. Enter the capital before the full moon and let me see your complexion. I shall reward you with a cup of warm tea.

A faint trace of mockery appeared in the indifferent silver-gray eyes.

There was no way the Emperor had summoned him because he genuinely wanted to see his son.

To the emperor, his five sons were tools that made the imperial authority look more secure, as well as replaceable parts that could be discarded at any time.

Carion had been away for so long that the Emperor was simply trying to keep him under control in case he slipped beyond his reach.

He snapped his fingers.

Whoosh—

The imperial decree flew into the air before falling to the floor.

Orbin, the intelligence officer, picked it up and said,

“Your Highness. You have already refused to obey two imperial orders. Next time, they won’t send an envoy. They’ll send hunting dogs. You need to go this time.”

Carion, the Fourth Imperial Prince and Commander-in-Chief of the Northeast of the Terra Empire, traveled throughout the region year-round to oversee the annexed territories and vassal states in the Northeast.

He had become Commander-in-Chief six years ago and left the capital.

For the past few years, whenever the Emperor summoned him, he had come up with excuses and sent the imperial envoys back.

“It’s noisy outside.”

Carion turned his gaze toward his adjutant, Cedric.

“Find out what’s going on.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Not long after Cedric left, the noise outside grew louder.

He seemed to hear someone shouting, ‘This way!’ and the footsteps of several people running down the corridor echoed through the building.

“Your Highness, cancel your next patrol and—”

While Orbin was speaking, the door suddenly flew open, and someone entered before quickly closing it.

The person’s face was hidden beneath a deeply pulled-down hood.

Orbin drew his sword, his face twisting menacingly.

“Who are you?”

“I have something urgent to tell His Highness the Imperial Prince.”

Orbin paused when he heard the intruder’s beautiful voice.

The stranger grabbed the hood and pulled it back, revealing the face of a woman with her hair tied behind her head.

Her abundant sand-colored blond hair shone in the sunlight and covered her shoulders even though it was tied back.

Her fair skin seemed to glow on its own.

Her clear, water-green eyes sparkled like sunlight reflected on rippling water.

‘Oh.’

Orbin was genuinely impressed.

He had seen quite a few beautiful women, but this one felt different.

Was it because she looked healthy? Or perhaps fresh and vibrant?

She immediately caught his attention, and he found it difficult to look away.

Orbin discreetly glanced at Carion.

‘Probably not, but still… maybe?’

It could be some kind of romantic dispute involving the prince and a woman, so he hesitated to intervene.

“I am Rea, Princess of Zephyros. I have been rude enough to come here without permission because I wanted to meet Your Highness without attracting the attention of those around me.”

Carion looked her over with an expression as though he were evaluating an object, then asked coldly,

“Princess of Zephyros?”

“Yes.”

Carion lowered his legs from the desk and stood up.

As he walked steadily toward Rea, she did not move an inch.

As the distance between them grew smaller, Rea naturally raised her head higher while maintaining eye contact with him.

“An unexpected guest. If you truly are the Princess of Zephyros.”

“The people who can prove my identity are on their way. The official delegation sent by the kingdom will arrive within a few days.”

“Why would the Zephyros delegation come here instead of the capital?”

“I have something important to discuss with Your Highness.”

“If it is something that can be settled in one short sentence, then I will hear you out.”

It was essentially the same as telling her that he did not want to hear it and that she should leave immediately.

Rea was not intimidated by his cold response.

Meeting his gaze directly, she spoke with firm determination.

“Marry me.”

Oh.

It almost seemed as though someone could not hold back an exclamation of admiration.