Chapter 11
“Miss? …Ahem, Miss?”
“……”
“Elena, Miss?”
“…Huh? Ah, yes!”
I was moving my pen absentmindedly when someone called me. I looked up and saw the alchemist, Noberdine, watching me with an awkward smile. I suddenly realized what I was doing and let out a small “Ah.”
“You seem very tired. Did you not sleep well?”
“That’s not it… I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine. Everyone has days like that. Shall we take a break?”
I nodded, and Noberdine smiled gently before leaving the room. Once the door closed, I sighed deeply. I grabbed my glass of water and swallowed away the dryness in my throat. Licking my lips, I exhaled again. Silence and stillness filled the room.
That quietness made me remember last night.
‘…I’ve never seen such clear, upright eyes before.’
Rigel’s eyes used to be cloudy, always full of wounds and pain. But last night…
“Until the day I remember my real name, you are my master.”
When he said those words, his golden eyes were brighter and clearer than ever. Like a lost traveler who had finally found his path.
I picked up my pen again and scribbled across my notebook.
Emperor.
In Rigel’s eyes yesterday, I could clearly see it—he had the blood of the emperor, just like in the portraits.
But… the prophecy book Mom left me didn’t say anything about Rigel becoming emperor. The book just stopped halfway, on the last page. Was there a second volume?
An illegitimate emperor.
I looked down at the notebook and saw I had drawn a messy picture. Was that supposed to be Rigel?
“A master should make a slave remember he’s a slave, not the other way around…”
I sighed. Then a thought came to me.
“Now that I think about it…”
Mom’s book said something like that: Raise him well.
Back then I didn’t understand what it meant.
But now… I think I do.
Knock knock.
I raised my head at the sound. The butler came in.
“Miss, I have urgent news.”
“What is it?”
“…Count Ken Neibel has come again.”
I tilted my head, staring blankly.
“…What?”
I checked the prophecy book again, but nowhere did it mention Count Neibel visiting again. I even read carefully in case I had missed it, but no—it wasn’t there.
Only a few events in the book had exact dates written. I had marked those separately.
Since the first event at the front happened just as written, I thought the rest would follow in order.
“Baron Twarlo is meeting him now, but the Count insists on speaking with you directly. He even brought the Deputy Commander of the Defense Department with him.”
“Oh, really?”
So that scolding I gave him last time must have hurt his pride badly. It hadn’t even been that long, but he brought people from the Defense Department with him?
“The Baron told me not to inform you no matter what, but…”
The butler trailed off with an awkward face. Of course. Even though Erchiel was my guardian and managed most of the house’s affairs, he was still an outsider. And if the Count had his own reason for coming, no matter how much Erchiel stopped him, it wouldn’t work.
“You don’t need to apologize, Butler. This is my responsibility.”
Mom trusted me and left the family in my care. She believed I could handle it. I wanted to live up to that trust.
“Shall we go?”
Erchiel was a man of talent. Ever since he was young, people called him a genius. His speech skills were especially sharp. He had even worked as a diplomat once, so persuasion was his specialty. He always believed he could win in conversation with anyone.
“Enough! Bring me the young lady of the Visern family. I didn’t come here to talk to you!”
But the two nobles sitting before him were testing that belief to the limit.
“I understand your words, but the young lady is still too young. This isn’t something she should handle.”
“Ha! Young, you say? She sure had a sharp tongue for someone her age! What did she say again? Something about—oh right—‘Is getting old something to brag about?’ Hah! Ridiculous!”
“She said that?”
“She did! I was so shocked. An adult speaks and she just stares with big eyes, then talks back. By title and by age, she should bow her head. Clearly, this is a problem of poor upbringing.”
“Tsk. Like mother, like daughter. Blood can’t be hidden.”
Erchiel clenched his teeth. Count Neibel was already arrogant, but the aide, Moras, was even worse. Unlike the Count, who at least stayed barely within line, the aide crossed it completely, mocking without restraint.
‘He brought that man here on purpose.’
Erchiel forced a smile, holding back his anger. If he exploded, Elena would be dragged in. She didn’t need to see this dirty side of politics. He sipped his tea to calm his burning chest.
“If this is about money, then please discuss it with me first.”
“You think I came here for money?”
“Count Neibel never thinks of money! He has lived an honest and clean life! How dare you suggest money is the issue?”
“I only meant—if it’s about funds to survive the winter, I can arrange some support.”
He sipped his tea again, swallowing his frustration.
“Not long ago, there was a similar matter. Fortunately, I believe I can prepare the needed amount for you… How does that sound?”
Pride means nothing compared to a large sum of money. Especially for a man like Count Neibel, who loved money.
“Hmph. I told you that’s not the reason, but… Well, since it’s urgent, let’s hear what you can offer.”
As expected. Erchiel sighed inside, but if it protected Elena, he would endure anything. He smiled politely.
“Very well, then I will—”
“There’s no need for that.”
A young voice cut in. No sound of the door opening—but there she was.
A girl with striking crimson eyes.
“You don’t need to give these men a single coin, Master.”
It was Elena.
“Huff…”
Rigel wiped sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand. He thought his constant fainting spells were because of weak stamina. After all, he had spent years being beaten and dragged around. It was strange his body was even holding up at all.
So Rigel decided the only solution was training. After breakfast, he ran hard around the castle’s training yard.
Some servants and guards gave him strange looks, but no one stopped him. They knew he had been given special permission.
For the first time in his life, Rigel had time for himself. Wiping off sweat, he headed back to the mansion.
‘But… is this really the life of a slave?’
The warm sunlight on his back, freely walking inside a noble’s estate—it all felt too free. Slaves were supposed to be restricted, controlled. But here, he came and went as he pleased. Even the servants cared for him.
This was a luxury he had never experienced. As a slave, he had been locked up. Before that, as a refugee, he had been bullied and rejected, always hiding at home.
Yet now, treated like an animal slave, his life was strangely better. The irony made him laugh bitterly.
“…Huh?”
As he walked back toward his room, Rigel spotted familiar golden hair in the distance. Elena was crouching in front of a half-open door, peeking inside.
What was she looking at?
Curious, Rigel stepped closer, but then froze.
‘…That smile?’
Elena was grinning mischievously, like a prankster planning trouble. Then suddenly, she stood up, wiped her face clean, and walked into the room with a serious expression.
“There’s no need for that.”
Her playful grin was gone, replaced by a stern face. Rigel blinked in surprise, then shook his head. He turned away. If the guards caught him loitering here, they’d misunderstand.
“…What’s this?”
Just then, Rigel noticed something. On the spot where Elena had been crouching, there was a paper envelope.
He picked it up and turned it over. His eyes widened.
“…That fool.”
Rigel quickly looked toward the room Elena had entered.
