Chapter 137
Ruska recalled the contents of that letter.
‘That inn has been closed for a long time, and the owner couple have gone elsewhere.’
The retainer who inspected the dilapidated inn reported that the structure matched exactly what Ruska had described, and, just as she had said, there was a hot spring in the middle of the forest.
[I tried to ask the villagers about the whereabouts of the inn’s owner couple, but two years ago, wolves from the forest suddenly started descending upon the village. As a result, all the villagers moved elsewhere, making it difficult to gather information. We will continue to track the owners and ask the villagers if they know anything about the child.]
Ruska had hoped that finally something would be resolved upon hearing that the inn had been found—but it seemed they were back to square one.
The only comforting detail from the report was that the wolves had started coming down two years ago, after Ibi had left that place.
‘If they had attacked the village while Ibi was there, it would have been disastrous.’
Ruska did not believe the owner couple would have protected the child in question.
‘But isn’t this kind of the same?’
Even when Ibi was there, the forest was full of wolves. Yet the moment Ibi left, they almost immediately descended upon the village.
‘Just like how Lilian protected the village.’
The forest near Lilian’s territory was also full of wolves, yet they never came down to the village.
Ruska had found this odd until she once saw the villagers closing the gates and maintaining the walls when Lilian left her territory for a day.
When she asked why, they answered with an expression that seemed to say, “Why are you even asking something so obvious?”
“Because if Lady Lilian is not here, the wolves will enter the village without fear.”
“Young master, you should not come out at night either.”
At first, it seemed ridiculous, but that very night, the wolves had indeed tried to jump over the walls.
The walls were high, so they couldn’t get through, but during Lilian’s absence, none of the villagers dared to enter the forest.
According to the report, it seemed almost the same situation now.
After Ibi left the village, the forest wolves entered it without restraint…
‘It’s certain! Absolutely certain!’
In Ruska’s mind, Ibi was already the Princess Ivbien.
‘Ugh, if only it weren’t for the academy, I would have gone to investigate myself.’
She had tried to insist to Marquis Lagselv that she go, but he was firm.
“A student’s duty is to study. Since there are matters inside the royal palace as well, stop thinking about unnecessary things and go obediently to the academy.”
Then he patted his son on the shoulder, reminding him to aim for good grades next semester as well.
Knowing that Ruska would be restless if left without guidance, the Marquis frequently sent letters to keep her updated.
After taking Ibi and Irin a little further inside, Ruska looked toward the entrance.
The banquet was about to begin.
‘I wonder how things are going with Viscount Dershina’s side?’
Marquis Lagselv had decided she would prevent Count Arad from interfering and retrieve the child, Iv, who the Count had taken.
Everyone thought Iv was a fabricated princess.
‘Judging by the way she keeps her hands covered, she must have made a fake emblem.’
So Duke Kellen indirectly asked Headmistress Seraphina to prepare a spell capable of detecting the inherent power of a royal emblem.
Seraphina, though puzzled, agreed for the time being.
Duke Kellen was not someone who acted without reason. If he requested something, there had to be a purpose.
As Ruska anxiously wondered if any news would arrive, Arcel appeared at the entrance.
Naturally, people crowded around him.
Arcel had entered the academy as the top student this year and had also ranked first in the first semester.
Because of this, people believed it was certain the Emperor would adopt Arcel as his heir.
In the past, Ruska might have felt a bit bitter seeing everyone focused on Arcel, thinking of herself as inferior, but not now.
‘Good luck, Arcel!’
This year, instead of feeling intimidated, she only felt pity for him.
‘Poor thing. I’m with Ibi and Irin.’
He would have to greet and converse with many uninterested people for a while.
In fact, the three of them weren’t entirely ignored by others—it was just that Arcel had priority.
Moreover, Ruska was adept at briefly greeting and leaving, Irin’s cold impression made it difficult to approach her, and Ibi had Irin glaring at anyone who asked, “Isn’t she the child under His Majesty’s guardianship?”
Irin’s glare seemed to say, “If you touch Ibi, I’ll bite!”—so no one dared approach her.
After some time, the attendants guarding the entrance closed the doors to the banquet hall.
“Huh? The doors are closed.”
Seeing this, Ibi looked puzzled. Ruska explained.
“According to royal law, when His Majesty attends a banquet, the doors close at the designated time. Once His Majesty greets everyone and leaves the room, they open again.”
Typically, the Emperor moves to the reception room adjoining the banquet hall after the greeting, so attendees can come and go freely during the event.
Once the doors closed, the music changed—a slower, more vigorous tune.
“This is the music played when His Majesty enters. He must have arrived.”
Ibi’s heart began to race.
‘Finally, I’m going to see His Majesty again.’
She muttered the lines she had practiced hundreds of times alone last night.
‘Can I do it well?’
Even though she had practiced diligently, what if she couldn’t speak in front of His Majesty? What if He thought she refused?
She told herself that wouldn’t happen, but worry kept creeping in.
‘It’s okay. Even if I stumble, His Majesty will surely wait for me.’
Soon after, the door beside the banquet hall opened, and Clois entered with the ministers.
He walked briskly, looking somewhat anxious, and climbed onto a slightly elevated podium on one side of the hall, scanning the crowd.
“That must be His Majesty, the Emperor!”
“I can’t believe we get to see him like this.”
Those who saw Clois for the first time, especially among the children’s guardians, were astonished.
Everyone knew he was the victor of the succession war and a powerful knight.
Still, they wondered if his reputation for majesty had been slightly exaggerated.
‘Besides, he has rarely attended royal banquets recently, and there were rumors that his health had greatly declined.’
More precisely, the rumors were about his mental state rather than his body.
His expression darkened, he spoke less, and he seemed indifferent to everything—no secret there.
Many had demanded the appointment of an heir before the Emperor’s state worsened.
Yet, standing on the podium now, none of those rumors seemed true.
His body looked robust, even healthier than before, and his handsome face remained.
Those who had mocked the Emperor’s portrait for being over-glorified fell silent.
Dressed neatly in a white ceremonial uniform, the Emperor looked even more majestic than usual.
As everyone bowed slightly, Clois raised his hand, commanding them to rise.
Many in the hall had never seen the Emperor before, so it buzzed with excitement and whispers.
Clois smiled at the crowd.
‘I need to finish this quickly.’
He was never one to prolong greetings at banquets, and today he had even more reason to keep it brief.
Pretending to glance around, he looked at Ibi standing to one side.
The child, wearing a yellow dress that suited her perfectly, gazed at him with anticipation.
Her expression alone told him that she had decided to accept his proposal.
Clois had barely slept for the past few days—not from past suffering, but from excitement akin to a child attending a banquet for the first time.
‘Once the greetings are over…’
He would call Ibi to his side. Then this adorable child would take his hand and call him “Father.”
Even imagining it made his throat tighten.
Clois could wait no longer.
“I sincerely congratulate the opening of the academy this year and the safe holding of the autumn seasonal festival. I hope everyone present enjoys themselves.”
The greeting ended there.
The crowd tilted their heads in surprise. Is that all…?
Clois turned to the chamberlain.
‘Your Majesty?’
The chamberlain, realizing the Emperor had indeed finished the greeting, urgently signaled the conductor.
The music changed immediately—the Emperor’s greeting was truly over.
Clois smiled at Ibi, hoping she would soon run to him and call him Father.
At that moment, a voice rang out in the banquet hall.
“Father!”
A blonde, green-eyed child suddenly darted through the crowd and ran straight to Clois.
The child grabbed his arm and shouted again:
“Father! I’ve missed you!”
It wasn’t Ibi—this was a strange, unfamiliar child calling him Father.
