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Chapter 11
Her eyes showed not even the slightest hesitation.
Those dark, dry eyes—deeper than the darkest night—gleamed as if she were looking at an interesting toy.
Tilting his head slightly, the Emperor let out a wrinkled smile.
“Didn’t you say you would grant my request?!”
At the Emperor’s shameless, unexpected response, all Rizeana could do was shout in indignation.
She immediately turned her head and shot Ian a resentful glare.
‘You said you would save me. You said you would protect me!’
Ian met her eyes calmly, then quietly turned his attention back to the Emperor.
The Emperor’s expression was indifferent.
There was boredom in the way he looked down at Rizeana, as if his interest had already faded now that he had obtained what he wanted.
“However, I’m afraid….”
‘No!’
A cold sweat ran down Rizeana’s back.
“Your Majesty.”
Ian quickly composed himself and called out to the Emperor in a calm voice.
“Lady Delisa has already abandoned her homeland. Where could a traitor possibly return to? She has already provided a solution to the massive problem of Gwanggak grass. She may still hold further useful information.”
Ian continued steadily.
“Lady Delisa has already set foot in Tenzel and learned our circumstances. If Your Majesty rejects her now, death is all that awaits her.”
“I don’t care whether a prisoner lives or dies.”
‘Damn Emperor… I gave that information in exchange for my life!’
Rizeana swallowed her anger.
As expected of the Emperor of Tenzel. A cold, merciless old ruler who changed his attitude the moment he got what he wanted.
Her helplessness made her teeth grind harder.
“This young lady is requesting asylum. If she wished to return to Avid, she would not have spoken of Gwanggak grass at all.”
Ian spoke again.
“Hm….”
“Please grant her asylum with Your Majesty’s generosity. In return, she will surely provide more intelligence that will help bring down the Avid Empire.”
At Ian’s subtle gesture, Rizeana straightened her back and lifted her chin proudly.
“Just as the Duke said. Do you think the only thing I know is Gwanggak grass?”
She looked at the Emperor confidently, as if she had never trembled before.
Her posture was elegant—worthy of a crown princess of Avid.
“I have witnessed everything while standing beside Laiphin. There are thousands—no, countless ways to destroy the Avid Empire.”
The Emperor raised his eyebrows with interest.
Despite the unexpected situation, their words aligned surprisingly well.
Ian quickly added one last point.
“As the one who brought her here, I will take full responsibility and keep her under surveillance. If anything suspicious happens, I will report it immediately.”
The Emperor, who had been watching them with amusement, slowly lifted the corner of his lips.
“If the Duke insists that much… very well. I grant Lady Delisa asylum.”
It was done.
A thrill of joy ran through her entire body.
A faint sound of Nerua clicking her tongue in displeasure reached her ears—but Rizeana didn’t care.
She had always been hated. Being disliked in a foreign land was nothing new.
She barely restrained the urge to jump up and celebrate, instead maintaining perfect noble etiquette as she bowed.
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
Who would have thought that the crown princess of a nation would be thanking an enemy emperor for sparing her life?
But to survive, Rizeana was willing to bow her head at any time.
“Then I shall take my leave. Nerua, you should return first.”
Ian decided not to give the Emperor any chance to change his mind.
He grabbed Rizeana’s arm and helped her stand.
Nerua’s gaze locked onto Ian.
There was a hint of expectation in her eyes—but Ian ignored it completely.
“Duke….”
Nerua called out softly, but Ian’s cold look urged her to leave.
She bit her lip, wanting to say more, but swallowed her words.
Though she seemed slightly shaken by Ian’s unfamiliar attitude, she had no choice but to obey.
“…Then, Your Majesty, I shall take my leave as well.”
Nerua bowed to the Emperor and Ian, then opened a magic circle and disappeared—her lips tightly pressed in frustration.
Meanwhile, Ian supported Rizeana as she stood and walked slowly toward the grand doors.
“Good job. You earned your asylum with your own hands.”
Ian whispered quietly into her ear.
At the same time, he untied the ropes binding her wrists.
As her hands were finally freed, Rizeana flexed them unconsciously, still unfamiliar with the sensation.
Was this relief because her wrists were no longer bound… or because she had finally found freedom?
“I look forward to seeing you again.”
The Emperor’s voice echoed from behind them.
Ian and Rizeana bowed respectfully toward him.
Ian reached for the massive golden doors of the audience chamber.
Creeeeak—
The doors opened, and brilliant light poured in from beyond.
It welcomed her.
And Ian’s voice lingered in her ear.
“Welcome to the Tenzel Empire. Asylum-seeking Crown Princess.”
Meanwhile, in the Avid Empire
The imperial palace of Avid was thrown into turmoil.
The crown princess—wife of the crown prince, future empress, and daughter of one of the empire’s most powerful dukes—had disappeared. Chaos was inevitable.
“For now… keep it secret. Act as if nothing has happened in front of the other nobles.”
Laiphin held his throbbing head as he looked at Eliza holding documents.
He had relied on Rizeana as a shield for many of his actions, so he could not easily entrust anything to Delisa instead.
Soon, commotion arose outside his office.
A servant entered quietly and whispered something to Eliza, who then turned to Laiphin.
“Lady Delisa has arrived. Shall I send her in?”
“…Tell her to come later. I have more urgent matters.”
Though he had never refused Delisa before, Laiphin declined her now with a complicated expression.
He sighed deeply, rubbing his forehead.
“I will… report to His Majesty myself.”
“As you command.”
Eliza bowed and left without complaint.
Laiphin remained alone, burdened by responsibility.
Though he was only the crown prince, there was no other heir. The Emperor was bedridden, unable to leave his chamber.
Thus, Laiphin had to act as ruler in everything but name.
That was why he had kept Rizeana by his side—even greedily.
‘Good job.’
‘Being by your side makes me happy.’
A convenient doll who would do anything for a few words.
“So why…”
Laiphin rubbed his face roughly.
“Why do I feel like this?”
It was a feeling he could not understand.
Meanwhile, at the Magic Tower
“Welcome, Your Grace.”
After leaving the audience chamber, Ian and Rizeana arrived at the center of the Magic Tower via teleportation.
“Ugh… this never gets easy.”
Rizeana staggered, still affected by the teleportation.
A familiar green-haired man in a neat suit rushed toward them.
Ian caught Rizeana lightly and introduced him.
“This is Harhin. My loyal… assistant. You’ve seen him before in the prison, so you’re not strangers.”
“Harhin at your service. You can just call me Hin. But this lady is…! Ian-sama! Don’t tell me…!”
Harhin recalled Ian bringing a different woman instead of the expected captive and was shocked.
Had he truly deceived the Emperor?
How bold!
If things went wrong, it would be Ian who suffered!
But Harhin still trusted Ian would handle it.
‘But I never expected him to bring her here so politely!’
He swallowed his thoughts.
“She will be staying with us for a while. Remember that.”
“B-But…!”
“I’ll handle things. Go back to your duties.”
“No! I will guide her.”
Harhin glanced between Ian and Rizeana, trying to understand the situation.
“Harhin.”
At that moment, a low voice made chills run down his spine.
“…Aren’t you leaving?”
Ian released a faint killing intent.
‘Oh no.’
Having experienced it before, Harhin quickly decided to retreat.
“R-right away!”
He bowed and quickly disappeared.
After confirming he was gone, Ian turned to Rizeana.
“There’s a lot to discuss. Come with me. I’ll show you your room first.”
“I’d like to know where I am first.”
“Follow me.”
She followed reluctantly, thinking:
‘I’m just a guest… they’ll probably give me a guest room at best.’
But—
“Is this… my room?”
The room Ian showed her was luxurious.
A marble table with elegant patterns.
Furniture decorated with gold, potted plants scattered around, and a large bed welcomed her.
“You must be tired. Sit down.”
She hadn’t expected such a fine room for a political asylum seeker.
She sat opposite Ian at a table.
“Now that the urgent matters are settled, I have a question.”
“What is it?”
Ian couldn’t let her rest yet.
There were still things to discuss—and mysteries to solve.
“How did you know I would appear at the temple and kidnap Countess Crodenne?”
His gaze darkened as he looked down at her.
Rizeana quickly realized she could not avoid this conversation.
What a persistent man.
“Very well. If you insist, I’ll tell you.”
She decided to mix a little truth with a little lie.
And slowly, she opened her mouth.
