🔊 TTS Settings
Chapter 13
Rizeana remembered the words Laiphin once whispered to her at their first meeting during the debutante ball.
“Rizeana, you are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen.”
Those sweet, gentle words made her fall for him at first sight. After that day, Rizeana lived only for Laiphin.
Everything he did made her heart race. Especially when he proposed to her—she was so happy that she swore she would live for him forever.
“Marry me, Rizeana. I want to share the beginning of everything with you.”
His proposal made her completely unable to think of escaping from him.
That was the moment she became fully devoted to Laiphin.
“The beginning? Yes… the beginning.”
And now, thinking back on those words only made her feel ridiculous.
Maybe he wasn’t wrong. After all, he was the man who gave her betrayal and death for the first time.
Rizeana shook her head as old memories surfaced and frowned slightly.
“Even if I regret it, what would I gain?”
She slowly reviewed her plan in her mind.
She would make the Avid Empire and her family, who pushed her to the edge, suffer just as she had suffered.
Slowly, she would tighten the noose around them.
Now, Rizeana was no longer the Crown Princess of Avid. And she no longer loved Laiphin, the future emperor of Avid.
She was going to show just how cruel a betrayed woman could become.
Rizeana organized what she needed to tell Ian and waited for him.
A week had already passed since she came here. That was enough waiting.
After finishing her plans, she asked Harhin, who brought her meals, to call Ian. He looked a little reluctant, but he still agreed.
Knock knock.
Soon, Ian appeared at the door.
“I heard you called me.”
Ian stood at the doorway, his coat loosely thrown over one shoulder, wearing a relaxed shirt underneath.
“Sorry I’m late. The Emperor gave me more work than usual today.”
He rubbed his eyes lightly.
His eyes looked tired, just as he said.
Rizeana only nodded. She wasn’t close enough to ask if he was okay.
Besides, after Laiphin’s betrayal, she found it hard to trust people.
A person who has been betrayed once always stays cautious.
Wounds from people are deeper than any other wounds and take much longer to heal.
She simply responded politely instead of showing concern.
“Yes. I see.”
Ian, who had been quietly watching her, lifted the corner of his lips slightly as if amused.
“?”
When she noticed his gaze and looked up at him, he quickly turned away.
“…Never mind. So, let’s begin. You’re the one who asked to meet first.”
He stepped inside the room, his shadow overlapping with hers on the floor.
Rizeana guided him to the marble table. When he reached it, she moved to the opposite side.
But even after arriving at the chair, she did not sit.
She stood straight, as if waiting for something.
“Why aren’t you sitting?”
Ian asked first, unable to hold back.
Her answer was simple.
“Isn’t it proper for someone of higher rank, like a duke, to sit first before I do?”
Rizeana spoke calmly, as if it was obvious.
“…What?”
Ian was speechless.
In Avid Empire, she had been a noble crown princess. But now she was a refugee.
Before he could respond, she continued.
“I am no longer the Crown Princess or anything. I’m just a refugee who just arrived in Tenzel. It’s only right that I show respect to you, Duke.”
This was a habit drilled into her by the Philorentia family.
Even though she had escaped her father’s control, habits learned over many years did not disappear easily.
Respect those above you. Always behave properly.
Even after returning from death and getting a second chance at life, these habits remained.
When she realized this, she felt a sudden sense of emptiness.
Her posture remained perfect, but her eyes were dark.
Ian noticed it and let out a quiet sigh.
“…What are you even… Never mind. Sit down.”
He stopped himself from asking further and sat first.
Rizeana then walked to the table, picked up a stack of papers, and finally sat across from him.
“So, what is it?”
“I have something to report to the Emperor.”
“To His Majesty?”
“Yes.”
Ian frowned slightly.
She had only just escaped execution and gained asylum—what could she possibly report already?
But her eyes were firm, so he didn’t interrupt.
“…Go on.”
“I cannot directly reveal Duke Philorentia’s crimes to the Emperor. Because I am currently disguised as Delisa Crodenne. And this is something he is secretly doing behind the scenes.”
“Behind the scenes?”
That phrase immediately caught Ian’s attention.
He leaned forward, resting his chin on his hand.
“I think I’ll be returning to the palace soon.”
Rizeana smiled slightly. As expected, Ian was interested.
But the real part of her plan was just beginning.
“What do you think is the most important ingredient for making Gwanggak grass?”
Ian replied,
“There is no useless ingredient. If even one is missing, it cannot be made.”
“No. There is a key ingredient.”
“A key ingredient…?”
“There is something Tenzel has, but Avid does not.”
“…Don’t tell me—”
“Yes. Opium.”
She placed the papers in front of him and smiled confidently.
“We will use opium.”
Ian’s expression changed. He leaned back slightly, now fully interested.
“So that’s it… opium. But how exactly do you plan to use it?”
“Look at this. According to these documents…”
She began explaining in detail, pointing at the papers.
Ian silently watched her as she worked.
When did she prepare all of this?
She wasn’t someone who just stayed still—she always moved forward.
He observed her quietly.
“She really is a strange woman.”
A few hours later
After exactly two hours, Ian returned to his office in the Magic Tower, feeling exhausted again. He rubbed his face repeatedly.
Knock knock knock.
A knock came at the door.
Ian didn’t even answer. He already knew who it was.
“I thought you might need a glass of whiskey.”
As expected, it was Harhin, his assistant.
“You… are surprisingly useful in useless ways.”
Ian muttered while struggling to stay awake.
“I figured you’d be tired from the Emperor’s work.”
“You’re like a ghost.”
Ian let out a small laugh.
He took the whiskey and sat on the sofa, crossing his long legs.
Harhin sat across from him.
“Duke, there are two ways to make someone angry. One is to stop mid-sentence, and the other is…”
Harhin narrowed his eyes dramatically.
“Never mind.”
Ian ignored him and took a sip of whiskey.
Harhin kept complaining, but Ian paid no attention.
His thoughts slowly shifted—from the Emperor… to Rizeana.
She really prepared a revenge plan all by herself in such a short time.
She had boldly asked to be kidnapped. She even confidently explained her plan to him.
She had done a lot of research.
Sometimes she frowned while pointing at documents.
Then Ian suddenly noticed Harhin’s angry face again.
Without meaning to, Ian frowned.
Come to think of it, Rizeana always frowned or stayed expressionless in front of him.
What would she look like if she smiled?
The thought came suddenly.
Ian smiled faintly.
Harhin jumped in shock.
“Why are you smiling?”
Harhin pointed at him, half drunk.
“I’ve never seen you smile like that while drinking.”
“Drink your whiskey.”
But Harhin kept talking.
“I’m actually pretty good at this kind of thing. Haha.”
“Good at what?”
“Did you just think about a woman?”
“…Write your last words carefully.”
“…”
Harhin quickly shut his mouth.
Ian finished the rest of his whiskey and leaned back.
“Nosy people are the most exhausting,” he muttered.
