Chapter 47………………….
He’s Already Mine!
Robby’s expression was dark as he headed to the Imperial Palace again on the Emperor’s summons. The last imperial banquet he had attended right after returning from Freetan had been nothing but shock and confusion.
The reputation of Hailey within the Harun Empire’s high society had been devastating, and his private audience with the Emperor afterward had left him deeply unsettled.
“Count Stone, what did you see in Freetan?”
“Nothing in particular, Your Majesty. It was a cold, barren land. The war-crazed king was absent from the castle the entire time.”
“You know that is not what I am asking.”
The Emperor of Harun fixed Robby with sharp eyes, a gaze so piercing it seemed to see right through him. Robby flinched.
This must be why Harun’s nobles mocked the Emperor as a lecherous old fox behind his back, but never dared to oppose him to his face—because of those fearsome eyes.
“I didn’t notice anything unusual about the Queen of Freetan. However…”
His lips moved of their own accord under the strange tension.
“…Though I didn’t see it myself, I heard something strange.”
“Strange, you say?”
“They said a Malaw princess, staying in Freetan as an envoy, committed some mistake and cut out her own tongue. But the Freetan Queen reattached it flawlessly…”
“What??”
The Emperor’s reaction was far stronger than Robby had anticipated. Startled, Robby recoiled.
“Who told you this?”
“The Malaw princess herself.”
The Emperor began tapping the armrest of his chair anxiously, muttering to himself.
“Has Yurahel’s daughter finally awakened at last…?”
“Your Majesty??”
Confused by the Emperor’s cryptic mutterings, Robby tried to ask, but was soon dismissed.
Since that day, Robby had been plagued by a strange guilt, as though he had betrayed Lea. Now, summoned yet again by the Emperor, he felt like a dinghy tossed about on stormy seas—restless, powerless to resist the current.
When he arrived at the palace, someone was already waiting for him: a woman he had never seen before.
“Who are you?”
“A message from Her Imperial Majesty, Empress Hailey. She asks that after your audience with the Emperor, you discreetly stop by the Empress’s palace.”
Without waiting for a reply, the woman vanished like the wind.
Soon after, the Emperor’s attendant came to fetch him. But instead of leading him to the Emperor’s chambers or reception room, he led Robby down into the underground passages of the palace.
“Where are we going?”
“His Majesty is waiting.”
A strange answer.
Down and down they went, until they reached a narrow dungeon lit only by two flickering torches.
So this is the underground prison I’ve only heard rumors about?
Inside, a man lay chained and disheveled, his body covered in welts from beatings. The Emperor sat indifferently in a chair.
When a guard splashed a bucket of water over the unconscious man, he slowly raised his head. His eyes were vacant—blind.
That face…!
Recognizing him, Robby dropped to his knees. It was none other than Harris Dorman, the High Priest of the temple.
“Who’s there?”
The blind High Priest turned his face toward Robby.
“I am Robby Stone, eldest son of the Stone family.”
“Did the Emperor send you?”
The Emperor answered with a mocking laugh.
“Not sent—he came with me.”
Then he ordered Robby:
“Repeat what you heard in Freetan.”
Nervously, Robby obeyed, speaking toward the High Priest.
“I did not see it myself, but I heard that Queen Lea of Freetan healed the severed tongue of a foreign envoy perfectly.”
The High Priest flinched at his words.
“…Though I admit, I find it hard to believe such a thing is possible.”
“If she is Yurahel’s daughter, it is more than possible. Yurahel was not only a seer, but the most gifted healer since the founding of Harun.”
The High Priest raised his blind eyes fiercely toward the Emperor.
“I devoted decades to unlocking her divine power. But a foolish Emperor drove Yurahel to her death over a mere woman. And now, he’s even thrown her daughter to the barbarians!!”
The Emperor’s face twisted with fury. The High Priest’s voice rose even harsher.
“She should have been raised in the temple from the beginning. Why entrust her to Marquis Uzcal and cause this disaster?”
“How could I trust the temple? You would have hoarded her power as if it belonged to the clergy!”
“And so you tried to monopolize it for the crown, and this is the result? How laughable.”
The Emperor, now livid, seized the guard’s whip and lashed the High Priest himself.
“Argh!!”
With one blow, the High Priest convulsed, frothing at the mouth, and collapsed unconscious.
The Emperor looked at him with utter contempt before striding out of the dungeon. Robby followed silently, his mind reeling.
Back in the secret chamber, the two sat in silence, each lost in thought. Finally, Robby asked the question gnawing at him.
“Forgive me, Your Majesty… but are you saying Lea is not the Marquis of Uzcal’s true daughter?”
“Does that fool look like her father to you?”
The Emperor’s scornful reply left Robby reeling. Lea had endured hardships as an illegitimate daughter, but never once had he doubted she was the Marquis’s child. And now to learn that her mother, Yurahel, had been the Empire’s greatest priestess?
While Robby struggled with the shocking revelation—knowledge even Lea herself did not possess—the Emperor struck him with an even greater bombshell.
“You knew her since childhood, did you not?”
“Yes, since I was nine. We grew up as childhood friends.”
The Emperor’s eyes gleamed with curiosity.
“Then answer me this. In bed—was she as extraordinary as they say?”
“Absolutely not! Lea is a modest, virtuous woman. We never had such a relationship.”
Robby’s firm denial only drew a twisted smile from the Emperor.
“Ah, so she’s bewitched countless men, yet denied her closest friend. How amusing.”
“Where could you have heard such lies?”
“From the mouths of Wilhelm’s third son, Viscount Gillet’s second son, Johnson’s illegitimate son… The Empire’s most notorious libertines, all told me themselves how incredible she was at night.”
Robby fell silent, dumbfounded. Those had been Hailey’s lovers. Clearly, she had arranged for them to slander Lea before the Emperor. But for what purpose?
“The most pitiful man in the Empire stands before me. I pity you too much to keep you here. You may leave.”
Humiliated by the Emperor’s derision but eager to escape, Robby bowed and quickly left the chamber.
*****
“Your Majesty, should the dress be gold or black-rose?”
In preparation for the Malaw envoys’ hastily arranged salon party, Millie, Adelle, and Sophie were fussing more than I was.
Each held up a gown for me to inspect.
“We chose with ‘dazzling charisma’ and ‘intense sensuality’ in mind.”
The golden gown was the most opulent in the wardrobe, while the black-rose one was cut daringly low at the chest and back.
The latter would certainly draw more eyes. But…
“Must I choose between these two?”
I asked uneasily, glancing at Millie.
“The hostess of this party is that fox, Princess Shine, who flaunts her charms shamelessly. You should match her at least this much!”
“That’s right. Besides, these gowns look perfect on you.”
They insisted it wasn’t about competing with Shine, but about what suited me best. But to me, that felt even more like competing.
“Bring me three completely different styles instead.”
“What?”
Both Millie and Adelle looked openly disappointed.
“Your Majesty, we told you already!!”
Millie clenched her fist and began a passionate speech.
“A maid from the Crown Prince’s palace saw it with her own eyes! That vixen had a private meeting with His Highness, then fled the chamber in tears, her clothes disheveled!”
Adelle nodded furiously beside her.
“To an outsider, it might look as if His Highness had wronged her. But in truth, she must have tried some trick and gotten scolded for it.”
“This is a direct provocation against you, Your Majesty!”
Even quiet Sophie spoke up, proof of how widespread the rumor had become.
But I refused to be drawn in. Why?
“As Queen of Freetan, why should I dress as if competing for my husband against Princess Shine? He’s already mine.”
I lifted my chin proudly. Millie and Adelle exchanged glances, then slowly began to smile.
“We were shortsighted.”
“You’re right. There’s no need at all.”
The three dove back into the wardrobe with renewed energy and eventually presented three gowns.
“This time, the themes are ‘queenly dignity,’ ‘mystique of a goddess,’ and ‘restrained allure.’”
Despite Millie’s solemnity, I almost laughed. But I steadied myself and examined each gown carefully.
After much debate, we chose the one Millie had dubbed “Mystique of a Goddess.”
The deep blue gown shimmered, making my pale skin and platinum hair glow. Lace at the neckline revealed my collarbones subtly, while the back was daringly cut low—a surprising balance of elegance and allure.
For jewelry, I settled on pearls only: necklace, earrings, and a hairpin.
“You look so beautiful~~~” Millie clasped her hands, eyes shining. Adelle and Sophie nodded eagerly.
Studying my reflection in the mirror, I had to agree—this was my best look yet.
A knock sounded. Mick entered.
His dark-blue suit, matching his cold, handsome eyes, made him look devastatingly striking. Even better—it perfectly complemented my gown.
My breath caught again at the sight of my man. And as I gazed, I realized he was staring at me just as intently.
Heat rose between us, enough to make Millie and Adelle blush beside us.
Then Mick leaned close, his lips brushing my ear as he whispered:
“Shall we skip that silly party?”
