CHAPTER 09
“I’ve been waiting so long for an uproar my neck nearly snapped. You’re saying you can’t kill him? That he won’t die? Unbelievable.”
Faced with Isaiah’s incredulous expression, Asilia fell silent.
She could understand why he’d react that way.
Asilia had trained since childhood to become a knight—trained to kill.
To hear that someone like her couldn’t manage to take the life of the man who lay next to her every night… Even if their positions were reversed, she wouldn’t believe it either.
“Come to think of it, you haven’t had proper training since you arrived in Moria, have you? Don’t tell me your skills have dulled just because you took a little break.”
Isaiah raised his eyes sharply, his usual tell when he was displeased with someone.
“Your Majesty the Empress. You were taught what your worth is. You were taught what your actions should be. Do you need to go back and be re-educated before you come to your senses?”
“My words and actions are not false. I’ve done everything I possibly could…”
“Effort, effort, effort! Don’t say you tried—show results! Honestly…”
His gaze, twisted in disgust, pierced her like a blade. But Asilia had no excuse to offer.
Because Isaiah was right. She hadn’t been able to kill him.
“Did you find out anything?”
“…Only something absurd.”
“What is it?”
“He said the Emperor of Moria is a god. Not as a metaphor to glorify the empire, but literally—a real god.”
The light in Isaiah’s eyes vanished as he listened. She didn’t need to hear him say it—she could read his thoughts: What kind of nonsense is this?
“Tell me the truth.”
“…”
“The truth is… you don’t want to kill him, do you?”
“That’s not—!”
“Yes, it is.”
Isaiah spoke firmly, his crimson eyes full of suspicion. He shifted his posture, leaning lazily into the sofa as he continued.
“You’re enjoying something you’ve never had before—attention, affection… even freedom. For you, this place must feel like paradise. Isn’t that right?”
“…”
“If that’s not it… what, are you in love with that emperor or something?”
He raised an eyebrow, then shivered in disgust.
The idea of Asilia being physically close to a barbaric man from Moria was beyond comprehension—he didn’t want to understand.
“Stop wasting time and do something useful.”
“…”
“Go tell the Emperor to stop keeping me shackled. If you won’t kill him, then I will.”
Clicking his tongue, Isaiah rose from his seat. He sighed deeply after one last look at Asilia and grabbed the doorknob.
“By tomorrow, I’d better be allowed somewhere besides the garden and classroom.”
“…”
“If not… well, I’ll be reporting everything to Revilla.”
It was a clear warning: Figure it out yourself.
With that, he left the room.
Even after he was gone, Asilia remained seated, unable to move.
Could he be right?
Could there really be a part of her—hidden even from herself—that didn’t want to kill Cretes?
Was that why she had failed?
Asilia, lost in thought, eventually shook her head.
No matter what thoughts she had, her conclusion remained unchanged:
“I must kill the Emperor of Moria.”
Whatever feelings she had for him were irrelevant.
She couldn’t afford distractions in her mission.
“Incompetence is a grave sin—prove your worth through action.”
With that familiar creed echoing in her mind, Asilia closed her eyes.
She had already displayed her incompetence too many times. At the very least, she needed to give Isaiah a chance to act.
“I must meet the Emperor.”
Resolved, Asilia stood up and left the room.
On her way to the imperial office, she suddenly stopped in her tracks.
Could she really just barge in like this?
Even if they were married, Cretes was still the Emperor of Moria.
In Revilla, it took at least a week of waiting just to be granted an audience.
“Maybe I should wait and talk to him tonight, in his bedroom…”
Just as that thought passed through her mind, Isaiah’s harsh words returned:
“Bravo. Sitting there while you can’t even be bothered to visit your own husband? I’m the fool for expecting anything from you. Hah. I’ll report the truth to His Majesty as is.”
She was used to being looked at with contempt. Being called incompetent—she could bear that.
But…
Not from the Emperor.
The one who ruled her life. Revilla’s Emperor—Zande.
She couldn’t bear hearing “I’m disappointed” from him.
He had given her several chances. This time, she would fulfill her mission and finally become someone he could trust.
With that resolve, Asilia turned to the maid following her.
“I must go see His Majesty.”
What would the response be?
Would they say that not even the Empress could meet the Emperor so easily?
Or would they give her that condescending look—“Who do you think you are?”
“Of course! His Majesty always takes a walk in the rose garden after lunch. I’ll escort you there instead of the office.”
The maid smiled and took the lead.
Asilia followed, trying to calm her pounding heart.
“…This is different.”
She stared at the maid walking cheerfully ahead.
There was no resentment for being ordered around. No sizing her up with judgmental eyes.
Everyone in Moria had been like that.
They may not have known she was a former prisoner, but they treated her as a person.
“Your Majesty…”
Unconsciously, she called out to someone in her heart—someone whose name could not be spoken here.
“If you could see Moria and its people, what would you say?”
Moria was a place where you didn’t need to drag others down to be recognized.
A place where being born without anything wasn’t a sin.
A place where you could be yourself.
“No wonder I’m starting to feel weak.”
It’s always the slow and steady flow of water that breaks down the strongest dam.
To Asilia, Moria was that kind of current.
“I must finish my mission quickly…”
And go back.
Only then could she protect herself.
She took a deep breath and stepped forward.
“Asilia?”
She looked up at the sound of her name, eyes landing on a man with black hair beyond a wall of blooming roses.
He had paused his reading and was staring at her in surprise.
“I didn’t think you would come looking for me.”
His voice was laced with disbelief. A rare, toothy smile spread across his face as he stood and held out a hand.
“I didn’t come because I missed you. I came because I have business.”
“Still, the fact remains that you sought me out, no?”
“…”
“So then, what’s this urgent business?”
His eyes were gentle and affectionate, too much for her to bear. Asilia looked down, unable to meet his gaze, and spoke quietly.
“The attendant from Revilla who came with me has been… uncomfortable. The palace staff look at him like he’s a criminal. He feels like he can’t rest, even when resting.”
Cretes raised an eyebrow.
“And?”
“…I’d like to request that you remove surveillance from Sir Isaiah Hisklear.”
A small sigh came from above her.
Had she spoken too soon?
Did he already know what Isaiah might be plotting behind their backs?
Dozens of thoughts raced through her mind.
“I’m thrilled that you came to see me, but your words couldn’t be more annoying. Mentioning another man in front of me…”
Asilia blinked.
Had she misheard?
She looked up—and Cretes was staring straight at her.
“If the man from Revilla is bothering you, then I’ll do as you wish. But there’s a condition.”
“A condition…?”
“Give me the rest of your day.”
Cretes smiled, his golden eyes crinkling with delight.
