Chapter 30: Chapter 30

Chapter 30

‘…Who is it?’

Looking at the records of successive emperors, there was always one… The rebellion of nobles aimed at the Emperor’s magic. However, this time, the incident was a little more significant. It should have been done without the knowledge of the people of the empire though it broke the unwritten rule.

‘How dare you kidnap and kill the Imperial Family in the imperial palace… No way.’

“It can’t be.”

She wondered if they noticed that the Princess lacked magical powers and was trying to cause a disturbance.

At this time, when the case of the kidnapping of the Imperial Family came to the surface, and it was known that Berthas had touched the barrier, the Princess naturally couldn’t stand as a successor without magical powers.

Magical powers were the reason for the Imperial Family’s existence.

“No way…”

The Princess’ existence was a secret. The only people who knew that she was not born with magical powers were the now-deceased nanny, the imperial doctor, and the chief handmaid.

‘There is no way that Aire could have done it alone…’

It was obvious. Never had such a cowardly man ever worked alone.

“Then, who is it?”

Darkness lurked in a place she couldn’t grasp.

“Who is it…”

The night deepened with curiosity. Isilis, disturbed in her heart, confirmed that the Princess was sleeping and moved her. As if knowing her dizzy heart, the moon was hidden through the clouds.

A shadow was cast at the end of the Imperial Palace’s darkened corridor.

It was Berthas. It was already late at night.

Isilis smiled softly as she saw him appearing in front of her as she walked down the hallway alone, without anyone escorting the Empress. Berthas, who had been staring sullenly at her, opened the door to the room at the end of the hallway and entered. What was going on when he opened and just walked in?

She suddenly wondered. What was he thinking in this Imperial Palace?

The side view of her looking at the moon hanging from her hallway window was faint. Her faint face made up her mind. With a determined look, Isilis opened the door, and Berthas stood right in front of her.

“You are late.”

“I’ve been thinking.”

“…Then, can I think that you accepted me?”

“That and this are different. I have something to tell you.”

“What is it?”

She did not respond to Berthas, who spoke as if puzzled. Instead, she gazed at his face for a while as she opened her mouth.

“Does it hurt?”

She asked as she looked at his sword-cut face.

“It’s not that painful. This much won’t hurt.”

“That’s a relief.”

Both were speechless. Suddenly, the clouds disappeared and the bright moonlight was shining on the two of them.

“Then… Who is targeting our child?”

“We are still investigating.”

“Well. It will be difficult to find out quickly.”

“I won’t let them go.”

“I know.”

Berthas said while looking at Isilis’ bright blue eyes.

He knew that she wouldn’t let them go. The problem wasn’t that… He had his own problem. Berthas could not contain the rising anger. He could not stand the anger and was wandering the hallways on this dark night. She even gave him a place to stay and arranged a place for him.

The problem was then…

“I heard the princess wasn’t born with magic?”

“I heard she didn’t have red hair?”

“Then, what will happen?”

“What will happen?! The Princess cannot inherit the throne!”

“I heard the Empress had ordered to announce her as the successor?”

“Is it that easy?”

“But… Because there was no Emperor who did not possess magical powers in our empire.”

While he was washing, he heard the handmaids’ words who were arranging the bedding. Berthas had better senses than others as he became a sword master, so he listened to everything even if he didn’t want to hear it.

His heart ached. The child he couldn’t even hold properly was treated like that because she was not born with magical powers. What kind of Imperial Family was being gossiped in the mouths of mere handmaids?

It was as if he was looking at his former self.

…First, there was regret, then sadness, and finally anger.

‘In the magic empire of Larchen, if only those born with magical powers become emperors, what will happen to my daughter?’

He thought over and over again. If his daughter’s fate was the same as his and she couldn’t succeed to the throne, what would that child do with the sense of deprivation and loss? No, was she going to think of that child’s mind?

He suddenly wondered what Isilis was thinking. Perhaps, she thinks so, too.

Berthas, who could not sleep, found Isilis walking in the distance and hid his body in the empty room. It was fortunate to be treated as a distinguished guest and was placed on the same floor as the emperor. He wanted to hug Isilis, who had followed him.

‘But, I can’t…’

He hid his sorrow and continued the conversation calmly.

“Then, what will happen to the child?”

“The Princess?”

“The child… What will happen to our child who was not born with magical powers?”

“The Princess will be the princess. She will be my successor.”

“Is that possible? In a place called the Magic Empire, who’s not born with magical powers?”

“…I have to make it happen.”

Berthas frowned at her answer that came after a short pause.

“Isn’t it going to be difficult for the child?”

“Things will happen.”

“Do you have to hand over the throne?”

“I’m trying to give her the best of what I have.”

“Is the throne the best?”

“Then?”

When she asked back, he could not continue. An imperial family who had renounced his throne, he didn’t know how he would sound to Isilis. How could he tell the Empress that the throne means nothing?

“…Isilis.”

“I am the Empress. That is an unchanging fact.”

“I know you are carrying a heavy load. However…”

“As a member of the Imperial Family, it’s a burden that I must have. Don’t tell me to put it down. It’s the same with my child.”

In the end, shut his mouth at her words. She didn’t tell him directly, ‘You forsaken your royal duties,’ but it hurt more than saying that. When her expression was not well, a look of hesitation caught his eye.

Berthas, who immediately made a straight expression, opened his mouth.

“Right. If you are a member of the Imperial Family, of course, you should.”

“That’s why I try to give the Princess the best.”

“If that’s your will, then you can do it.”

Seeing him reluctantly nodding, Isilis nodded her head. She knew as well. She was the Empress… No matter what happened, she would not give up the throne—especially if it was the Empress of the Larchen Empire.

It was ‘that’ Larchen, not any other small country.

An empire built around the imperial family. A country that fed on the magic of the imperial family. And, Isilis… She was the only Imperial Family in this country. The Larchen she was holding, such a great person was what Berthas wanted to have.

“Anyway, for protecting her princess…”

“That’s enough.”

Berthas opened his mouth again, cutting Isilis’s words decisively.

“It is natural for a child’s father to protect the child. There’s no reason to say thank you for that.”

“…Right.”

“I don’t want you to forget that she is your child, but she is also my child.”

“…I have not forgotten.”

“Isilis.”

He met her eyes as he whispered her name in a low whisper. He pondered as he looked into her trembling blue eyes.

…You are as anxious as I am. My anxiety is something I can handle, but how about yours? Why do you say nothing when you are so anxious? I am something to you.

He always came back with the same question. As he struggled to hold himself back, Berthas placed his hand lightly on Isilis’ shoulder.

“It would have been nice if I could share the load you put here.”

At that moment, her eyes widened even more at the words that burst out. Her eyes, which had trembled finely, creating a wave of blue, avoided his eyes.

‘In the end, will you not give me the answer I want this time as well?’

He didn’t mean to say that he wanted to be called her consort. A definite answer was enough. The confirmation that he was the only man in Isilis’ life, and that they would sometimes meet like this… that was all she needed to say.

‘I will wait.’

As long as he became the distinguished guest of the Larchen Empire for saving the child, he had no intention of giving up. He intended to win Isilis’ heart here. He firmly believed it…. He was going to gain the trust he could not get at the Etort port.

And by the time he left here, he hoped she would tell him to stay.

“The Empress’ seat is lonely.”

“I know.”

“If I start to share the burden with someone, that Empress is bound to weaken.”

“I don’t think you will, but… If you say so, that’s it.”

Her own words, showing a weak smile, loosened the mood. He smiled once again as he watched the sharpness disappear in an instant, and Isilis warmed like a spring breeze.

‘Cute.’

It was easy to understand when he thought about it. Few people were as confident in expressing their emotions as she did. Hiding feelings was also the job of someone in a high position though not the woman he knew.

Perhaps, he couldn’t give up on her because of these appearances that she only showed in front of him.

“Don’t forget. You have me.”

“You’re talking nonsense.”

Isilis’s head shook from side to side despite Berthas’s firm words.

“Always think about me. Me.”

“You?”

“Yes. Empress.”

He spoke playfully but still politely.

“This body has already been enslaved by the scent of the Most Supreme. I beg you to choose me.”

“What?”

“Tonight. May I come upon your bedroom?”

He asked, kissing the back of her hand. As those eyes trembled finely, Isilis opened her mouth without hiding her embarrassment.

“It’s a scene from a play.”

“What?”

“It’s an interesting play. The story of the Empress of the empire and the knight who loved her.”

“A play?”

“It’s a line from the play.”

Her face turned red in embarrassment, and Berthas’ hand was thrown away.

“This!”

“Still, I am serious. Isilis.”

Saying so, he pressed his lips to the back of his hand, clasping her outstretched hand. When his hot tongue licked the back of her hand, Isilis’s body shook​.

“It’s been a long time since I became a body that had to be without you. So, will you choose me?”

This was the knight’s line. A scene in a play in which he desperately wooed the Empress, who didn’t love him.

“…Otherwise, I will go back to the battlefield and draw a sword for you. Hold me.”

The last line of the knight speaking to the Empress, who didn’t accept his own heart. How did the Empress respond here?

“I can’t hold you.”

Yes. She answered like that.

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