CFT 132

Chapter 132

Thirty minutes passed.

Betty and Daisy’s busy hands finally came to a halt, and for a moment, silence filled the room.

“……”

“Wow…”

Not only the other maids who had been helping, but even Lora—someone with an exceptional eye for beauty—nodded silently in agreement.

“You’ve worked hard.”

Riana, the subject of all this effort, was the only one smiling with satisfaction as she praised the girls’ work while gazing into the mirror.

Her hair was casually swept up and tied with a dark blue silk ribbon, exposing the slender line of her neck. Long drop earrings hung delicately against her skin.

A touch of makeup, a pair of moderately heeled shoes—nothing more was needed.

Excessive decoration would only ruin the regal elegance and commanding dignity of her attire.

“Your Highness…”

“Yes?”

“Now, I could die without any regrets…”

It was the awestruck murmur of one of the younger maids, who was staring at Riana with sparkling eyes.

Riana gave her a dumbfounded look.

“Don’t say things like that.”

“But Your Highness is just too beautiful…!”

In short, what the girl meant was that Riana was so stunning, she could die without regrets.

“Really, I feel the same! Ha… right now, I think I could smash through a building.”

“I think this should be preserved in a recording crystal for future generations.”

Their words poured out one after another, leaving Riana utterly bewildered.

…Do they all take a class somewhere on how to say these dramatic things together?

Their starry-eyed expressions, filled with rapture, only made the whole situation feel even stranger.

“Anyway, thank you. I guess the saying ‘clothes make the person’ is true.”

“What?!”

“That’s only because it’s Your Highness wearing them! If I wore this, I’d look like a tomboy sneaking into her father’s wardrobe!”

“If I wore it, I’d look like I was in a bathrobe!”

“For me—it’d look like pajamas! Ha… I really need to exercise more.”

Riana couldn’t even tell anymore—were they praising her, insulting the design of the outfit, or just criticizing themselves?

She cherished the children of the Emerald Palace, but at times like this, she couldn’t help feeling a little overwhelmed.

In the end, she covered the awkwardness with a soft smile.

Once the maids who had helped her dress finally left the room, Riana led Lora, who was standing at her side, over to the sofa opposite and sat down with her.

“Lora.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

It was only after a few blinks that Riana spoke again, her face turning serious.

“Say… do you think I should pick out clothes for His Majesty and send them to him?”

“…Clothes for His Majesty?”

The question caught Lora off guard, but soon her face lit with a pleased smile.

“If Your Highness were to choose and send them, I’m sure His Majesty would be delighted.”

“Really?”

“Of course. Just as Your Highness was touched by the clothes His Majesty carefully chose for you, it’s not the garment itself but the thought that matters most.”

She was right.

More than the costly clothes, what had moved Riana was Ianheart’s heart when he picked them out for her.

So it was only natural that Riana’s heart tilted in that direction now.

The memory of Ianheart’s face when she gifted him the enchanted dagger yesterday flickered before her eyes—his ears flushed red, his hands careful as though the box were priceless.

…He was so happy.

Riana gave a small cough and glanced at Lora for help.

“Then help me, will you? I’m hopeless at this kind of thing. And… not ready-made clothes, but something new. For Ianhar—no.”

She quickly swallowed the name she had nearly spoken aloud, but judging by Lora’s faintly amused smile, she had already heard it.

“…I’d like something specially designed to suit His Majesty.”

Though embarrassed, Riana forced herself to continue.

It wasn’t as though calling her lover by name was embarrassing in itself—but saying it when he wasn’t around felt strangely different.

“You’d like to prepare it without His Majesty knowing, correct?”

“Right.”

“Then I’ll discreetly bring a designer into the palace soon. My husband often commissions work from him. He’s eccentric, but his skills are unmatched.”

“His personality doesn’t matter. I’m surrounded by plenty of odd people already.”

Riana waved it off, and Lora nodded.

“Yes, Your Highness. He’s excellent with both men’s and women’s clothing, so it won’t look out of place. I’ll also bring his catalogs.”

Lora’s tone was quicker than usual, a touch brighter too.

…She seemed excited.

After spending so much time with her, Riana could tell.

So Lora enjoys this sort of thing too.

Well, she had once said she’d had a loud, passionate romance with her husband, the Marquis of Gisel.

It had always seemed a little out of character for the calm and steady woman, but seeing her like this, perhaps not.

Riana chuckled softly, tapping her nails against the sofa arm.

“Your son is studying at the Imperial Academy, isn’t he?”

“Yes. He’ll come to the capital for the Founding Festival, so you’ll be able to meet him along with my daughter.”

Though Lora looked young, she’d been married for over fifteen years already.

Her eldest son was twelve, her daughter eight.

“Are you sure he doesn’t resent me for stealing his mother away?”

At Riana’s playful question, Lora shook her head.

“They’re both very independent, so they hardly minded at all.”

As she spoke of her children, a faint sigh escaped her lips. At that moment, she was less the competent chief lady-in-waiting and more a mother worried about her precocious children.

“They grow up so fast. My eldest acts as though he’s already lived a lifetime, and my daughter… well, let’s just say she’s spirited.”

“Haha… Still, they’re children. No matter how grown-up they seem, they’ll always long for their mother.”

Riana knew it well.

As a child, people had always praised her for being mature, but the truth was she had only pretended, fighting desperately to look composed.

“You know… it’s not really my place to say this, but I’ll make sure you get all the leave you need from now on.”

Riana smiled faintly, granting her unlimited leave in her own way of showing care.

Lora returned the smile, though she reminded gently, “Your Highness shouldn’t be so indulgent with subordinates.”

“Mmm, being stern on the battlefield is enough. If I treated them like I used to, they’d probably quit in tears.”

“On the contrary, I think they’d adore seeing this new side of you.”

“…Good grief.”

Riana let out a breathless laugh. Lora didn’t sound as if she were flattering her.

Their conversation about Ianheart’s surprise gift concluded there, and Riana spent the remaining time working through documents related to the upcoming Founding Festival banquet.

She had just finished her fifth document when—

“Your Highness, His Majesty the Emperor has arrived.”

Ianheart had arrived at the Emerald Palace a full thirty minutes before the meeting was due to start.

Since it took less than ten minutes to walk from the Emerald Palace to the meeting hall, there was no reason for him to come so early.

“I’ll go.”

But Riana thought she knew why. She felt the same, after all.

Click—

Already prepared, she stepped out the door without delay.

As always, Ianheart waited for her at the Emerald Palace gates.

Tap—

Her hurried footsteps stilled before the tall man waiting for her.

She had wanted to run into his arms, but the presence of others held her back at the last second.

Ianheart chuckled quietly, reaching out to clasp her hand.

“Riana.”

“Ian, you’re early?”

“Yes. I missed you.”

At his honest words, Riana let out a soft laugh.

It was an ordinary day, yet simply putting a name to their relationship made it feel so different.

“I missed you too.”

Leaning closer, she whispered the words so only he could hear.

It was too embarrassing to say aloud, but her heart was the same as his.

And just as she pulled back with a smile—

“…Huh?”

Her eyes widened as she finally took in Ianheart’s attire.

It wasn’t that his outfit was unusual.

“…No way.”

From head to toe, Ianheart wore a robe almost identical to hers.

Her own dark navy robe embroidered with silver thread.

His—dark navy, embroidered with gold.

…We’re in matching outfits.

She hadn’t noticed at first, too distracted by his face, but now… anyone would think they had coordinated.

“You caught me.”

Ianheart grinned slyly and began walking, naturally guiding her along hand in hand.

“You didn’t say in your letter that the clothes matched! I didn’t know. You should’ve warned me!”

He only looked at her fondly, clearly amused by her fluster.

“You think I’ll let you off just by looking at me like that? Explain yourself.”

Her little threat only made him smile wider.

“Aren’t they pretty? They suit you perfectly.”

“They are pretty… but really! We’re going to a meeting. Foreign envoys will be there! And we show up like this?”

Flustered, Riana swatted his arm, though she secretly liked the outfit.

She didn’t dislike wearing matching clothes—it was just a little embarrassing, especially when heading into such a formal meeting.

“It’s perfect. This way, no flies will come buzzing around.”

Flies?

“What are you talking about?”

He didn’t answer clearly.

“Don’t worry. I’ll swat them before you even notice.”

Before she could press him for clarification, he leaned in with that pitiful, wet-puppy look of his.

“Sorry I didn’t tell you. If I had, you wouldn’t have worn it.”

“…You know me too well.”

“Forgive me just this once. We’re lovers now. Everyone already suspects as much—but I wanted to show it openly.”

With that, Ianheart lifted their joined hands, kissed the back of hers, and brushed his cheek against it.

…What a shameless man.

No matter how many years passed, she knew she’d never win against him when he acted like this.

Riana sighed softly and squeezed his hand back.

“Fine. But next time, at least tell me first… Then maybe, even if I’m embarrassed, I’ll go along with it.”

Because we’re lovers now.

Her final whisper was so faint that only Ianheart could hear.

“…Ha.”

He let out a quiet laugh.

He knew it already—he would tremble for the rest of his life at Riana’s unguarded words.

The meeting hall was twice the size of the one used before.

The reason was simple—many foreign envoys had been sent to discuss the matter, so the number of attendees had greatly increased.

The seats were arranged in a round table format, ensuring fairness to all nations.

“Thank you for attending. Let us begin.”

Ianheart announced the start with his usual commanding ease.

Then Vernian took over to lead.

The first topic was to share unusual phenomena reported across different nations.

“In the North, monsters in the snow mountains have increased compared to last year. Herbalists say they often lose consciousness in a strange haze, only to wake up in unfamiliar places.”

“In Telton, the damage from monsters is greater than ever. It spread across the entire kingdom before we even realized the scale…”

When the reports were added together, the numbers were staggering.

Even more shocking—it had all occurred within just a single month.

The room grew heavy with tension.

“…This is worse than we feared. What of Roan? Doesn’t much of its land border the Forest of Death?”

One imperial noble turned to Raindel, the Roan delegate, while many eyes shifted toward Riana as well.

Everyone here knew the First Princess of Roan was soon to be Empress of Erkal.

Riana ignored their stares, focusing instead on Raindel.

Perhaps sensing her gaze, he swallowed hard and spoke belatedly.

“…The same for Roan. Battles at the border have doubled in the past month. The damage is nearly triple.”

Double the battles. Triple the losses.

The figures made several people gasp.

“That’s serious!”

“It seems Roan has suffered the worst by far.”

A few sighed in disbelief.

Twice the battles, but three times the casualties… That cursed Richemm must be failing miserably.

Though she cursed inwardly, Riana and others familiar with the border knew the truth—such numbers meant sheer incompetence.

…Haa.

Roan was still her homeland, no matter how distant she tried to be from its royal family.

And until recently, she herself had led the border troops.

So of course her heart ached.

Then a sharp voice cut through the silence.

“Why is Roan reporting this only now? Wasn’t it an unspoken rule that any unusual activity in the Forest of Death be immediately shared with neighboring nations?”

It was the Northern prince, rebuking Roan with pointed words.

Raindel’s expression soured instantly. The North and Roan had long been at odds, despite sharing only a small border.

“We were overwhelmed. I planned to address it during the Founding Festival.”

“Ha! So if His Majesty of Erkal hadn’t summoned us, you wouldn’t have said a word.”

His mockery was harsh—but not untrue.

Even Riana silently agreed.

With Roan’s current leadership, they’d have kept quiet if the Empire hadn’t raised the issue first.

They were fools who thought border battles were someone else’s problem.

“Enough. This gathering isn’t for bickering.”

Ianheart’s cold voice silenced the quarrel.

“…Yes. I was too heated.”

The Northern prince admitted easily and withdrew.

Raindel followed with a reluctant apology.

In that small clash, the North had clearly won.

For a moment, Raindel’s resentful eyes flickered toward Riana—but she ignored him.

The prince’s words had been fair, and she had no intention of defending Roan.

Her words to Raindel yesterday had been nothing but the truth.

“Ahem. Then allow me to speak.”

An elderly scholar with white hair stood from his seat.

Ianheart gave no objection, signaling his permission.

“I believe I’ve identified the unknown monster that appeared in the capital yesterday.”

“Truly?”

“Yes. Based on His Majesty’s account and eyewitness testimonies, I searched old texts. It matches this record.”

He raised a worn book from the table and read aloud.

[Deep within the Forest of Death dwells a monster that shakes the human mind. Those who see it suffer piercing headaches and inescapable terror. Some recover after hours, but in severe cases they lose their sanity entirely. …Its form is this: two serpent heads sprouting from its neck, the body and legs of a horse, the claws of a bear, and the wings of an eagle.]

The description matched what witnesses had reported—the great wings, the four terrifying eyes, the long and sleek body.

But one thing made no sense.

Why was a monster said to dwell deep in the Forest of Death appearing here, in the imperial capital?

Something unnatural was at work.

The hall fell into heavy silence.