~CHAPTER 22~
Two royal guards dragged a man along.
The knights saluted Lision and spoke.
“This is the culprit. We confirmed he is unarmed, so you need not worry.”
The man was dressed as a servant.
Whether from trying to flee or being caught, his entire body was covered in dirt and wounds.
His face and hands were dark, as if from hard labor.
He could not even look up at Lision.
He collapsed to the ground and wailed.
“Only my family, save only my family! Everything was done by me alone. Just kill me!”
Lision ignored the man’s pleas.
He commanded the royal guards who had brought him.
“From now on, this man is your responsibility. Do not take your eyes off him for a moment.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“I will interrogate him myself. If he dies or becomes unable to confess before then, the responsibility will fall on you.”
The guards saluted with stern expressions.
They certainly understood the weight of Lision’s order.
‘There will be attempts to silence him.’
The basics of assassination require multiple assassins.
If Lision did not personally protect him, the man would either be killed or driven to suicide by fear before he could confess.
It was obvious he was no professional assassin.
He could not have harmed a defenseless lady.
The real issue was not the man’s identity.
Guiding the princess and her tutor through the secluded garden of the palace via a servant was not something just anyone could do.
Those with such skills were all inside the grand hall today.
The true culprit was among them.
“Your Majesty, something fell to the ground…”
A royal guard picked up a piece of paper that had fallen.
The letter, folded twice, was stained with blood.
The image of the collapsed lady lingered in Lision’s mind.
The message was brief.
“Your Highness,
I know who killed Edric Loisen.
Please follow the one who delivered this letter.
I will reveal the truth to you.”
Lision could tell that Elpenlira must have been unable to refuse.
If Diannu Ortensa had not been with her… he did not even want to imagine it.
“Where did the person who bribed you tell you to lead the princess?”
The man trembled, curling his body like a worm.
Lision gave a slight nod.
The guard grabbed the man by the nape to force him upright.
Lision spoke softly.
“If you cooperate, I will spare your family.”
‘…’
“Do you think I cannot do what the one threatening you could?”
His face, streaked with tears, snot, and dirt, turned pale with fear.
Lision met his gaze directly.
Finally, the man blurted out.
“To the hunting ground, at the entrance…”
Lision turned without hesitation.
He ordered the servant.
“Summon Marek Loisen. Bring horses and swords.”
“Your Majesty, you do not intend to go personally, do you?”
Ellaris intervened as she watched the situation.
Lision tossed aside his cumbersome cravat and said.
“I must go myself.”
“It is dangerous, Your Majesty!”
“I already know what awaits there. That is why I must go personally.”
Marek ran out.
Lision gave him no chance to ask questions.
“We go to the hunting ground.”
“Yes.”
The servant brought the horse.
Before mounting, Lision spoke to the astonished Ellaris.
“Maintain order in the palace while I am gone.”
“Your Majesty…”
“It is an order.”
As he mounted the horse, Lision focused only on the task ahead.
Otherwise, the image of the blood-soaked blue dress would not leave his mind.
* * *
The principal of Sirene Girls’ Academy cared for Diannu.
That was why she opposed Diannu’s plan to become a tutor until the day she left school as the graduating representative.
‘Miss Ortensa is outstanding; she will find a suitable match when the time comes.’
‘As I said, I have no dowry…’
‘A beautiful face sometimes serves as an excellent dowry.’
‘Then I would live my life entirely dependent on my husband’s household.’
Diannu had long abandoned any desire for marriage.
She did not pursue personal gain or luxury, so taking on the risk of a forced marriage held no appeal.
A tutoring position, providing some freedom and dignity, promised her a simple and secure future.
The principal, lamenting the waste of such talent, still wrote a recommendation letter to Grand Duchess Erbinjel.
Along with the letter came a warning.
‘Miss Ortensa. I have taught countless young ladies over decades. I am confident in my ability to judge character.’
‘…’
‘Today, you leave this room as a tutor, but will that still be true in one or five years? If I were a gambler, I would bet it will not.’
Why did those words come to mind now?
* * *
When she opened her eyes, the first thing she saw was a dog wagging its tail.
Half-asleep, Diannu reached out and tapped the dog’s rear.
The little dog, positioned under her chin, eagerly began licking her face.
The rough, warm touch soothed her.
She relaxed completely.
The next time she opened her eyes, it was not the dog, but Erin’s serious face right in front of her.
Staring at the soft face of the little grand duke, Diannu drew a logical conclusion.
“It was all a dream…”
The visit to the palace, nearly being trampled by the princess, being stabbed while blocking her path—all of it had been a dream.
“It was not a dream, Miss Diannu.”
If Grand Duchess Erbinjel had not spoken, Diannu might have fallen asleep again, feeling at ease.
It was for the Grand Duchess’s safety.
She needed to get up, but could not move even a finger.
A heavy weight pressed down on her body and head.
As she groaned, the Grand Duchess spoke gently.
“The painkillers you took earlier are making your mind foggy. Do not overexert yourself. Rest.”
Diannu tried to think through her hazy mind, but could not recall taking any medicine.
She soon gave up and closed her eyes again.
‘Whatever. I’m tired…’
After three nights and days without proper rest, the sleep she got was sweet and comfortable.
When she opened her eyes again, the first thing she did was scream.
Her abdomen ached as if seared by fire.
The pain was unlike anything she had experienced before.
Instinctively, she tried to curl her body sideways to shield herself.
A large, warm hand pressed her shoulders down, forcing her flat on the bed.
She glared at the person holding her with full resentment.
Looking down at her with sorrowful eyes was the emperor.
Diannu stared blankly into his well-cut, gem-like green eyes.
For a moment, she thought it might be an illusion born of her dazed mind, but she was not imaginative enough for such unrealistic fantasies.
“Your Majesty…?”
Blinking for a while, she finally looked down.
Her thin nightclothes were visible.
She reflexively tried to curl up, but the stabbing pain made her groan.
“If you move, the wound will open.”
The emperor firmly pressed her down and covered her to the neck with the blanket.
His movements were careful, but the barely-there warmth of his body made Diannu’s face burn uncontrollably.
“Is this acceptable now?”
She wanted to crawl under the bed immediately, but the pain in her abdomen left her no strength to move.
Exhaustion overpowered shame.
The emperor, seeing her tugging the blanket up to her nose, politely averted his gaze.
He raised his hands to prove he meant no harm.
“I apologize. Otherwise, I would not commit such rudeness… but I needed to see that Miss Ortensa is safe with my own eyes.”
Although he covered her improper attire, the fact remained that she lay exposed before the emperor.
She tried several times to sit up, but her abdomen refused to cooperate.
After some meaningless struggling, she returned to her original position.
The emperor spoke in a reassuring tone.
“The wound has been stitched, and strong painkillers were used. It will be uncomfortable to move for a while.”
“Ugh… yes.”
“The sutured area will heal without issue. Though, there will be a scar.”
He looked worried, hardly like someone delivering good news.
Diannu nodded.
“That’s fine.”
“…Are you okay with a scar?”
She smiled slightly without realizing it.
“I won’t be showing it to anyone.”
The emperor widened his eyes slightly, then slowly turned his gaze.
“…If Miss Ortensa is safe, that is a relief.”
“But what about Her Highness, the princess? She is safe, isn’t she?”
“Thanks to you, she is unharmed.”
Diannu exhaled in relief.
The emperor looked down at her with a complicated expression.
He chose his words carefully for a long moment, then finally spoke.
“Thank you.”
Diannu shook her head.
“It happened by chance. In the end, it was the right thing to do.”
She was sincere.
Even if the student behind her had been Erin or someone else instead of the princess, she would have acted the same.
She watched the emperor silently for a long moment before adding.
“I also have my own sense of professionalism.”
“Miss Ortensa’s professionalism saved not only Elpenlira.”
“Yes?”
How many people could have received both thanks and an apology from the emperor in such a short time?
It was already embarrassing and overwhelming, but the emperor’s purpose was not yet complete.
“Do you have a wish?”
Her mind, dulled by medicine and pain, could not yet decipher the emperor’s riddle.
Diannu just blinked.
The emperor patiently explained.
“Anything you want, or wish to accomplish, I will grant.”
“If I tell you, you will grant it?”
“Yes.”
Diannu forced a smile, expecting him to say, as before, “I’m joking.”
But the emperor’s expression remained serious.
When she realized he was sincere, she nearly let go of the blanket covering her.
“…You mean any wish will be granted?”
“Yes. If it is within my power, I will grant it.”
Could there be a wish the Emperor Catalos could not grant?
At least, nothing within the imagination of a commoner like Diannu.
“While I live, I will grant one wish of yours, Miss Ortensa. Whenever you have a desire, request it.”
“…”
“I swear this by the name of the land I rule.”
The emperor extended his hand.
Diannu, entranced, gave him her right hand.
He gently clasped her hand with both of his and slowly kissed her ring finger.
It was the utmost respect a gentleman could show a lady.
The shock was greater than when she was stabbed.
A moan escaped her half-open mouth, more than words.
The emperor carefully let go of her hand and bowed politely.
“Rest now. By tomorrow, you will be able to receive visitors.”
As he turned to leave, Diannu quickly held him back.
“Your Majesty, actually, the Duke of Belua—”
The emperor pressed a finger to his lips to indicate silence.
His calm gaze made the message clear.
‘I know.’
Diannu simply nodded.
The emperor exchanged one last glance with her before leaving the room.
Staring blankly at the space he had occupied, Diannu grimaced as waves of pain rushed over her face.
‘If it hurts, then it wasn’t a dream…’
Her whole body shivered.
She pulled the blanket up over her head.
Despite the cold, her face felt inexplicably hot.
