Chapter 20: Chapter 20

Chapter 20

The birth of a child was a wonder. Of course, she almost died giving birth though that was nothing to her. She almost died on the battlefield many times.

She couldn’t see the child right after she gave birth. As her body weakened, it took a long time for her to recover, and when she was able to walk, it was the imperial doctor who brought the child.

“You have to be careful. Especially the wrist.”

The wrist was the most important part for the wizards who drew seals by hand. Knowing this, the imperial doctor told Isilis, who wanted to see the child, that he would only show the child, and she was not allowed to hold the child.

Her child was not born with imperial red hair. With the child’s appearance resembling the man’s dark hair, she thought of the man again.

A child who was not born with magic powers.

She had to somehow pave the way for this child who wasn’t gifted with red magic. Even as she lay down and stayed in her place, only that thought was in Isilis’s head.

Nearly a month passed, and Isilis, standing in front of the child, gently held out her hand.

“You can hold her. Your Majesty.”

“She’s too small.”

She turned to the child, who gazed at her with her eyes wide open. The child grabbed her fingers as Isilis gave her a faint smile. As the tiny little hand squeezed her long fingers, she felt a surge of indescribable emotion.

She was sad, she wanted to hug her, and she didn’t know what to do with her heart.

“The Princess seems to recognize Your Majesty too.”

Although she could hear the words of the imperial doctor speaking with a happy face, Isilis did not turn her head. The warmth she felt in her hand made her resolve.

…She will protect this little hand. She will do anything for this child.

That was her first decision. And that thought had now changed to a desperate desire not to lose her child.

“Ilis. You seem too obsessed with the child.”

Faylos spoke in a worried voice, but she didn’t respond. He, who looked at her stubborn side face, let out a sigh.

“All right. Who will win against you?”

“Do you know him? Fayl?”

Faylos nodded at her sudden question.

“Then, don’t tell me.”

“If I were going to tell you, I would have told you already.”

There was a time when Isilis lost her consciousness after giving birth to the child—five days. During that time, she continued to ponder her troubles, but she came to only one conclusion.

…She could not let him know.

“Did I tell you? I trust you the most.”

“How funny!”

Hearing Isilis’s words, Faylos snorted and lifted his chin.

“You don’t trust anyone. Ilis. When I see you, I think I’m lucky that I’m not the Emperor.”

“You saw right. But, it is true that I believe in you.”

“Even though the position of the emperor is such a position… You won’t be able to stand it if you go on like this.”

“That’s what the emperor is.”

“Ilis. Find someone to lean on. Whether it’s the princess’s biological father or the husband you want.”

“Does such a thing come up if you look at the history?”

“What do you think? As far as I know, you won’t be able to fall that far.”

Isilis raised her head and stared at Faylos, who had stared at her, and opened her mouth again.

“…Because I’m scared.”

* * *

“I can’t believe I’m coming back here.”

Entering the Capital of the Larchen Empire, Berthas shook his head. He had left Larchen as if he had been kicked out after getting served with compensation.

The Emperor was enraged by the Crown Prince, who returned to the Hillenton Empire and listened to his misfortune, but that was all. There was only one Crown Prince in Hillenton. However, as soon as Berthas arrived at the Imperial Palace, he was driven back to the battlefield.

When he went to the border, a castle was already occupied by the wizards of the Larchen Empire. It was already too late when his lieutenant, Sir Hector, reported to him.

“They’re already defending the castle. We must say it has passed to them.”

“As expected… That’s great.”

“What would you like to do?”

“Let’s just go back.”

“If that’s the case, how will the Imperial Family act…”

“We can occupy another place.”

Hector bowed his head and went out of the barracks after hearing Berthas’ words casually discussing the occupation.

“It’s Larchen…”

He had no idea that the Empress would come out so boldly.

“An empire is really an empire, is it?”

It was rather nice because it seemed to prove that her pride had been seriously damaged. Larchen had to act like this so Hillenton would continue to shake.

“By the way… Where should I find her?”

She disappeared from the Larchen Empire, and according to Falylos, she was certain that she was of the Larchen Empire, so he had to enter Larchen. Nonetheless, now it was impossible. There was no way Larchen could let him in.

“It’s going to be long.”

He thought he would find her soon.

Despite the fact that he tried to get even the slightest clue through Faylos, he didn’t even succeed. In addition, as time passed, Berthas couldn’t even contact him anymore. After that, rumors were heard that the Empress had disappeared from Larchen.

“How is that possible?”

“It really is. Now, a Grand Duke is the Emperor’s deputy and is now controlling the country.”

“Isn’t the country supposed to be doing well, though?”

“Well, yes.”

“Then, isn’t it possible that the number of imperial families in Larchen had increased?”

“From an unmarried Empress?”

“Nobody knows that.”

Hector made an absurd expression at Berthas’ words.

“Hey, how proud are those of the imperial family that they don’t even get married? Don’t talk nonsense.”

“Would you like to bet?”

“Great!”

A hundred pesos. The two of them bet enough money for about ten drinks at the tavern.

“Sudden news!”

It was a letter from the Emperor of the Hillenton Empire.

[ Stop fighting over the border with Larchen and return. ]

At the Emperor’s command, Berthas turned his head. Before entering Hillenton’s empire, another messenger came to his army and gave the order to turn to the border. It was an order to occupy four castles in a small country adjacent to Hillenton’s border.

“Even so, four castles! I think the Emperor is crazy.”

“Watch your mouth. Sir Hector.”

“Aren’t you even angry!”

“A commander who leads an army simply follows orders from above.”

“No…!”

Seeing Hector beating his chest in frustration, Berthas stared straight ahead and drove his horse.

“Let’s go together!”

Hector and the soldiers followed after complaining.

A year has passed since he occupied four castles. It’d been a year and a half since they crossed the border.

Another order came to him.

[ Go to the Larchen Empire and escort the Ministry of Finance. ]

“No! See, the emperor seems crazy.”

Berthas made an impression on Hector’s words, which became more rough during the one-and-a-half years of going around the battlefield.

“Hector.”

“I have to say something. What does he think the Duke is doing here now? Now, as I said, you had taken the four castles, so go back to the Empire to rest. What does this mean? Go back to Larchen…? They’re really crazy, aren’t they?”

He closed his eyes at the angry words.

Time passed, but there was no news of the woman. He couldn’t even contact Faylos, so he sent a request to another intelligence guild in the Larchen Empire, although they only delivered the news that they didn’t know.

Berthas thought about moving the men from the duchy, but he was afraid that the emperor would hear the news, so he gave up.

“The Duke must be happy!”

“…What do you mean?”

“You can go find that woman!”

There was definitely a reason.

The cause for entering the Larchen Empire… If he entered the Larchen Empire, where the checkpoint and search were thoroughly conducted, it was clear that there would be a great commotion. So, the last time he went to the port city, he changed his hair color with dye.

Even though he couldn’t avoid Isilis’s eyes, at least in the eyes of others, his hair color was green.

“I don’t need to bother changing my hair color this time.”

“You like it that much?”

“Rather than liking it… I can find her now.”

A year and a half have already passed.

It was impossible that the woman was still unmarried, but Berthas decided to find out. He was determined to bring her back, even if she had become someone else’s wife. Had he ever wanted something so desperately…?

‘…Because she resembled that child.’

Her eyes were different colors, but they were very similar. Especially the fiery red hair.

“I’m afraid we will meet in the Empire.”

“At least you will be able to enter the capital.”

Things were different back then. They had paid all the compensation demanded by Larchen, and for that, he lost one of his castles. He gave everything they wanted, so he was sure they would give him a chance.

Berthas decided to aim for that very point. He would enter the capital and visit the largest information guild.

He would go and find the woman.

The Capital of the Larchen Empire, after several days of horse-riding. It was the first time that the capital of a foreign country was so welcoming.

“Let’s take a day off today and start moving tomorrow.”

“All right.”

Not all his troops could enter the capital.

He left his army on the lands of the Hillenton Empire and crossed over to Larchen with his four men. The Minister of Finance, whom he was supposed to meet, had not arrived yet, so Berthas had a day to spare, so he headed to the most prominent intelligence guild in Larchen.

When he asked to find someone, the information guild leader demanded a fairly large amount of money. If they could find her properly, he could give them that amount of money only if they find it right.

After dropping the request, Berthheas walked down the road helplessly.

He hadn’t been able to find her yet, so he had a dark thought if he could find her. However, he clenched his fists, saying that he would not let go of the string of hope that he will still find her.

Just then, there was a person who passed by his eyes.

‘…Ah! That person!’

Berthas ran quickly and grabbed the person’s wrist, whispering in a low voice.

“Found you.”