Of course, this time, he had a dubious reason; but he wasn’t the kind of person to tell his younger brothers what it was.
“One is a saint, and one is evil, isn’t it? We’ll see the answer soon.”
“Then, will Princess Lania investigate with you? For the sake of speeding up the process.”
“Why would she? If she comes along, then it’s better if I don’t go.”
Rashid, who threatened to take care of it by himself, approached the window.
He spotted the silhouette of someone climbing the stairs from far away, his face grimly set in satisfaction.
“…and I’m much more needed here.”
***
As I climbed the endless stairs, I forgot my words for a moment at the sight. The Dukedom of Evendell is magnificent, being the most powerful house in the North; but His Majesty’s palace is completely different.
Just looking at the view is overwhelming enough to make my legs shake.
They call it the winter palace. Every area is majestic, from the marble steps on the floor to the endless columns. At first glance, it was like a sacred temple.
This is the place where I had committed countless sins.
Holding my fluttering chest, I saw the scenery spread out in front of me.
I had never dreamed that my heart would be this desperate enough, even ignoring all the food I missed from my previous life, like tteokbokki, galbi, and japchae.
‘Let’s calm down.’
If they had known I had Haniel, they wouldn’t have sent me away like this. That great tyrant’s character would have left me tied up in chains and dragged me away, hovering around a short distance away.
‘They don’t know yet. All I have to do is do well.’
I have a child to protect!
I followed the attendant inside, thinking of Haniel, who would cheer me up.
My eyes got blurry when I thought of my baby princess who still clung close to me.
“Mommy, mommy! Don’t go.”
“Mom will come back alive. Okay? Listen to nanny.”
Mommy should go to sleep. I’ll be with you.
“Hugh…”
“Here you are, Duchess.”
A huge door opened before me, and I stepped aside. Just like the owner of the palace, the delicate sculptures seemingly carved out of ice sparkled everywhere.
I couldn’t escape anyways, so I loosened my shoulders and took a step inside.
“Greetings to the great emperor; may you be protected by the Lord Teresa.”
“…Stand up.”
The cold voice of the emperor made me tremble.
I couldn’t believe his words flowed so smoothly.
Last time, there were a few people present, but now there are only the two of us, the emperor and I.
“You look nervous.”
“M-me?”
I raised my head towards the emperor, my eyes meeting his crimson ones. It was the same as when I first saw him, but he still was simply breathtaking.
“Hmm.”
His blood red eyes were clearly illuminated in the backdrop of the winter palace; his eyes were cold as if it was implying that he should reign.
Nevertheless, it was strangely familiar.
Of course. He resembles Haniel.
His eyes were the same color as my baby swan’s eyes. Of course, she can’t be compared to a tyrant like that, but his vivid eyes were familiar; they were the same as the eyes of the child I loved to hug.
“…Huh?”
“What?”
I shook my head, even if I was white as a sheet.
You look like my daughter!
Our topic was about any newly-caught herbivore animals, causing me to start.
“Maybe the Duchess knows something interesting that I don’t know.”
“No!”
Was my voice too loud?
The emperor crossed his legs and lifted his chin. My chest couldn’t help but flutter. I felt like my heart was going to explode, but I pulled myself together when I thought of Haniel, whom I left behind.
‘He doesn’t know everything, does he?’
I couldn’t believe that my whole body felt small and twitchy when I faced him. It was just so weird.
I felt like I was being stabbed by his gaze.
However, I had no choice but to hide the truth unless he revealed his purpose.
“I am living alone, wasting away every day after his death. There cannot possibly be anything interesting involving me.”
Of course, this time, he had a dubious reason; but he wasn’t the kind of person to tell his younger brothers what it was.
“One is a saint, and one is evil, isn’t it? We’ll see the answer soon.”
“Then, will Princess Lania investigate with you? For the sake of speeding up the process.”
“Why would she? If she comes along, then it’s better if I don’t go.”
Rashid, who threatened to take care of it by himself, approached the window.
He spotted the silhouette of someone climbing the stairs from far away, his face grimly set in satisfaction.
“…and I’m much more needed here.”
***
As I climbed the endless stairs, I forgot my words for a moment at the sight. The Dukedom of Evendell is magnificent, being the most powerful house in the North; but His Majesty’s palace is completely different.
Just looking at the view is overwhelming enough to make my legs shake.
They call it the winter palace. Every area is majestic, from the marble steps on the floor to the endless columns. At first glance, it was like a sacred temple.
This is the place where I had committed countless sins.
Holding my fluttering chest, I saw the scenery spread out in front of me.
I had never dreamed that my heart would be this desperate enough, even ignoring all the food I missed from my previous life, like tteokbokki, galbi, and japchae.
‘Let’s calm down.’
If they had known I had Haniel, they wouldn’t have sent me away like this. That great tyrant’s character would have left me tied up in chains and dragged me away, hovering around a short distance away.
‘They don’t know yet. All I have to do is do well.’
I have a child to protect!
I followed the attendant inside, thinking of Haniel, who would cheer me up.
My eyes got blurry when I thought of my baby princess who still clung close to me.
“Mommy, mommy! Don’t go.”
“Mom will come back alive. Okay? Listen to nanny.”
Mommy should go to sleep. I’ll be with you.
“Hugh…”
“Here you are, Duchess.”
A huge door opened before me, and I stepped aside. Just like the owner of the palace, the delicate sculptures seemingly carved out of ice sparkled everywhere.
I couldn’t escape anyways, so I loosened my shoulders and took a step inside.
“Greetings to the great emperor; may you be protected by the Lord Teresa.”
“…Stand up.”
The cold voice of the emperor made me tremble.
I couldn’t believe his words flowed so smoothly.
Last time, there were a few people present, but now there are only the two of us, the emperor and I.
“You look nervous.”
“M-me?”
I raised my head towards the emperor, my eyes meeting his crimson ones. It was the same as when I first saw him, but he still was simply breathtaking.
“Hmm.”
His blood red eyes were clearly illuminated in the backdrop of the winter palace; his eyes were cold as if it was implying that he should reign.
Nevertheless, it was strangely familiar.
Of course. He resembles Haniel.
His eyes were the same color as my baby swan’s eyes. Of course, she can’t be compared to a tyrant like that, but his vivid eyes were familiar; they were the same as the eyes of the child I loved to hug.
“…Huh?”
“What?”
I shook my head, even if I was white as a sheet.
You look like my daughter!
Our topic was about any newly-caught herbivore animals, causing me to start.
“Maybe the Duchess knows something interesting that I don’t know.”
“No!”
Was my voice too loud?
The emperor crossed his legs and lifted his chin. My chest couldn’t help but flutter. I felt like my heart was going to explode, but I pulled myself together when I thought of Haniel, whom I left behind.
‘He doesn’t know everything, does he?’
I couldn’t believe that my whole body felt small and twitchy when I faced him. It was just so weird.
I felt like I was being stabbed by his gaze.
However, I had no choice but to hide the truth unless he revealed his purpose.
“I am living alone, wasting away every day after his death. There cannot possibly be anything interesting involving me.”
