Chapter 9

“…Yes, Your Excellency. Please speak.”

“Although Nella spoke harshly, I don’t think you’ll die.”

“Right, Dad? Like I said, I’ve found someone amazing.”

“Be quiet, Nella. Father is talking to Serienne right now.”

At the Duke’s scolding, Nella glared at me in vain, before turning to her food.

“If you survive the Emperor and fulfill your role well, a big reward will follow. Do you understand?”

Oho. So, he’s saying that if I offer my spot to Nella at the prime moment, then take my leave, they’ll give me a big reward, right?

But, oh dear.

The Emperor that you’re working so passionately to fool is already my husband.

We even registered our marriage. And since Hadel is probably still storing it preciously, I doubt evidence of our marriage would just disappear.

Although many thoughts came to mind, I put them away and nodded with a resolute expression.

“…Yes, Your Excellency.”

I’d never acted before, so I wasn’t sure if my performance was believable or not. Seeing the Duke’s pleased smile, it seemed it’d worked.

“Speaking or acting out is forbidden. You said that Viscount de Ach is your relative, right?”

Hearing my father’s name coming from the Duke’s mouth, I gasped.

Trying not to show it, I slowly breathed out and gave a dry reply.

“Yes. A… distant relative.”

“But it seemed you had a close relationship.”

“It’s because it’s been a while. Before then, we barely had any interactions.”

“Hm. Regardless, keep in mind that Viscount de Ach is within the Valkirino domain.”

Ahh. A hostage.

This is a threat that they’ll keep the de Ach household as hostages.

Although I tried my best to speak without any emotion, it seemed he’d found out that I was deeply attached to the de Ach family.

Facing the Duke’s purple gaze, I gave a small smile.

“Nothing that the Duke is worried about will happen.”

“Hm. It’s good you understand what I’m saying. Now that you’re a member of the Valkirino’s, I’ll issue an escort guard for you.”

“By escort guard, you mean…”

“It’ll be a guard who you can take to the palace, so you don’t have to worry about your safety no matter where you are.”

“…I see. Thank you.”

It’s an escort guard in name, that was just a pretense for easy surveillance of me.

* * *

Time was passing by quickly.

To avoid being splashed with water every morning, I had to get up at an obscene hour, and receive terrible education each day.

Like that, two weeks passed by in a flash.

“Accessory! Bring the hair accessory!”

“Not this dress. It’s too fancy!”

“Where’s the necklace?”

The maids were up and about early in the morning to adorn me for the day’s appointment ceremony.

Until now, I felt that the workers of the Valkirino residence were like machines, but today, it felt like they were seriously scrambling.

Was the first Queen of the Emperor that important?

They even seemed nervous to an extent.

“Let us depart, Young Lady.”

As the door closed, I heard the loud neighs of the horses as the carriage started to rattle forward.

As I watched the scenery go by, I could picture Hadel’s face.

Ten years had passed, so how much would he have changed?

My Hadel, who I missed so much.

There really isn’t much time left now.

I’m coming right now, Hadel. So just wait a little bit more.

* * *

Clip clop.

The man on top of the jostling carriage, Rahu, slowly yawned.

He had been secretly following them after receiving orders given by the Valkirino Duchy to monitor the silver-haired girl, but now, he didn’t have anything to do.

“How boring.”

A tree’s branch, barren of leaves, passed by his yellow eyes.

The woman he had been assigned to guard was a more ordinary person than he’d imagined.

He wondered how the Valkirino Duchy, which routinely indulged in shady deeds, could make such a normal woman go forth as Queen.

He discovered the reason after a conversation he had in the Duke’s room yesterday night.

[Tomorrow, that child will enter the Imperial Palace. You’ll follow as well.]

[Yes, Your Excellency.]

[Even among the Ru Tribe, you’re the warrior with the greatest fighting power. That’s why I’m entrusting you with such an important task.]

[Please speak.]

The Duke spoke with a disgusting smile.

[That child’s appearance will probably satisfy the Emperor quite a bit, so I don’t think he’ll kill her right away.]

For a moment, the man was confused.

She was definitely pretty. With her silver hair and eyes that sparkled, at times he even thought she was beautiful.

But that didn’t mean the Emperor wouldn’t kill her.

Of course, he knew the Emperor had a weakness for silver-colored women, but… could the color of one’s hair and eyes really decide whether you’d live or die?

It seemed that the Emperor was truly crazy.

But since the man wasn’t stupid, he didn’t question it.

He just nodded and listened to his master.

[The Emperor is slowly losing control of his emotions. I’m not completely sure whether he’s bluffing or not, but, on the off chance he kills Serienne…]

Gulp. The man’s Adam’s apple carefully moved.

The corner of the Duke’s mouth rose briefly.

[Utilize the moment he kills Serienne to cut the Emperor’s throat. No matter the Emperor’s strength, the second he kills a silver-haired woman, his heart will be anxious.]

At the Duke’s low command to assassinate, the man’s yellow pupils widened.

[The sword of someone whose heart is shaken is no longer sharp. Do you understand what I’m saying, Rahu?]

[Of course, Duke.]

The yellow-eyed man, Rahu, was the Duke’s trained assassin.

Regardless of the target, if his master issued an order, he had to obey.

With a stiff face, he nodded.

[But the Emperor will likely be unable to kill that child. And if she safely becomes the Queen…]

The Duke brought the wine glass in his hand to his lips.

His smile, more terrifying than ever, was swallowed by the red wine.

[After assassinating the Queen, escape.]

[…!]

[Then I’ll grant you freedom. I’ll destroy the contract tying the Ru Tribe with the Duchy. Furthermore, I’ll save your people from oppression.]

Freedom. The end of the Ru Tribe’s oppression.

Baited by the dream he had held his entire life, Rahu faced the Duke and wordlessly kneeled.

[I shall receive your order.]

Although it didn’t feel right to kill a woman who had not sinned, there was no other choice.

Because even he had a goal and things he had to do.

* * *

Whinnyyyy—!

He’d been lost in thought for a while.

At the horse’s sudden cry, the carriage lurched forward.

Wondering what happened, he looked down from atop the carriage to where the horse continued to struggle.

“Whoa—Whoa!”

The coachman attempted to calm the horse. Judging from the situation, it seemed the carriage wheel had fallen into a deep hole.

The servants who followed from behind tried to help by pushing, but the hole was too deep; the carriage only slid in place, without moving forward.

In the end, Rahu let out a sigh before he jumped to the ground from the hood of the carriage.

“Move. I’ll do it.”

The Ru people were a warrior tribe born with formidable musculature.

And for Rahu, the strongest warrior among them, pushing a mere carriage like this was easy.

“Ohhhh! Sir Knight!”

Rahu easily removed the carriage from the hole.

Observing servants either looked at him with awe or turned their heads in displeasure.

This was due to his skin tone, which was clearly different from the average citizen of the empire.

“What the, it’s someone from the Ru Tribe?”

“Sh! Be quiet. That’s the Duke’s personal knight!”

As if used to it, Rahu didn’t pay attention to the stares directed toward him and knocked on the carriage door.

His intention was to make sure the person he guarded was safe.

Knock knock—

“Young Lady. Are you okay?”

There was no response. After thinking for a moment, he opened the door.

“Excuse my rudeness, Young Lady. Although there was a brief problem, it’s been solved, so there’s no need for you to worry…”

Rahu spoke with his gaze lowered, and upon sensing that something was amiss, lifted his head.

He saw that the woman, who previously shone beautifully from the way she’d dressed, now lay in a fetal position.

Seeing her quivering form, her eyes tightly shut, and her ears covered, Rahu was momentarily lost for words.

After witnessing how she was so weak she’d tremble at the slightest shaking of the carriage, he felt a sudden wave of guilt rush over him.

He should offer words of assurance now that he was there, but he wondered whether he had the right to say something like that.

Because his objective was to kill this woman anyway.

* * *

“Y-Your Majesty. I shall… prepare your clothing.”

Hadel stared at Derrell, the Chamberlain who entered while trembling.

He reckoned that this Grand Chamberlain had lasted for quite some time, but it seemed the passing of time only increased his fear of him.

Seeing how he trembled so hard it was visible, he couldn’t help but laugh.

Perhaps his laughter became another source of terror, for the Grand Chamberlain’s legs lost strength and he fell.

“I-I apologize! P-p-p-please don’t be angry, Your Majesty!”

Observing the Grand Chamberlain shudder while he prostrated himself, as if he’d committed some egregious error, Hadel silently let out a sigh.

If there was no mistake, he wouldn’t kill him.

The reason he had killed the previous Grand Chamberlain was because he’d hidden a poisonous needle in his clothes.

A normal chamberlain wasn’t even worth killing.

“It’s fine. Just start.”

As soon as Hadel spoke, the Grand Chamberlain bolted upright to spread the clothes.

If he didn’t act as soon as the command was given, he would be scolded.

“When did you say the appointment ceremony was again?”

“A-After lunch, at around 10 o’clock.”

Hadel was lost in his thoughts.

Although he didn’t know which pitiful woman would come here to be offered as a sacrifice, he had no intention to accept her as his Queen.

In fact, she might not actually be such a pitiful woman.

She might be ambitious and use this as an opportunity to aim for the spot next to the Emperor.

Regardless, he would make a decision after seeing her personally.

Anyway, as long as there were no huge variables, that woman would die today.

Would she die, becoming a key that he could use against the Valkirino?

Or would she just die as an expendable good?

“I’m looking forward to it.”

While his words were quite bleak, the tips of Hadel’s mouth moved up.

How stupid was this woman to shorten her own lifespan by walking into this place?

Regardless of who she was, it didn’t matter.

If not Asha, they were all the same.

“It’s all done, Your Majesty.”

“Then you can leave.”

Trembling, he gave a deep bow, then fled the bedroom.

Looking down at his clothes, his brows knit before he grabbed his forehead.

Perhaps it was because he lacked so much sleep lately that he often got migraines.

Although he’d tried taking medicine that would help with sleep, after he’d been almost poisoned, he’d stopped taking medicine altogether.

Since then, he’d suffered insomnia, but it was especially bad these days.

“Hoo… Asha, it’s too hard for me.”

Even if it was a life that didn’t matter if he died right now.

He couldn’t die just yet.

Until he got revenge on everyone who made Asha die like that.

No matter what happened, he would survive and destroy them all.

“…I miss you.”

Hadel’s untouchable cries resonated in the air.

Bitter pink eyes, full of moisture, slowly closed.