CHAPTER 171………………………………….
“Adele!”
Not a single sound reached her ears.
As Killian strode forward, the imperial soldiers hesitated in confusion, unsure whether they should stop him or not.
The emperor’s command—that the crown prince must be kept within the imperial palace—was absolute. For now, they were obligated to obey it even at the cost of their lives.
“Your Highness! Please, stop—”
“That is enough.”
Without taking his eyes off Adele for even a moment, the emperor dismissed the soldiers. The surroundings fell silent.
It was obvious just from looking at his son’s eyes that stopping him would be useless. Killian had already stretched both arms toward that audacious guest.
“…Adele. How did you get here?”
“And what about you?! What are you doing here?!”
“…”
Their whispers scattered between them. If Killian’s voice carried a deep longing, Adele’s held a sharp, aching resentment.
“You said you’d come before I woke up! How long were you planning to stay away that I had to come all the way here to find you? Just how long—”
“I’m sorry, Adele.”
“If you know that, then please step back.”
It was Adele who regained her composure first.
You might not care because he’s your father, but I’m his daughter-in-law!
She shot Killian a quick glare, yet she couldn’t bring herself to shake off his hand.
Pretending not to notice the way his hand tightly wrapped around her left hand, Adele placed her other hand below her collarbone and bowed her head again.
“Your Majesty, please forgive my rudeness.”
“Think nothing of it. I was somewhat surprised, but from now on you will be staying here with us anyway.”
Supported by his attendants, the emperor stepped toward her. At first glance it sounded like a generous remark, but it was not something that could be taken lightly.
He was the emperor of the empire, the ruler of the continent.
Every word he spoke was power. It was law.
What he had just said meant that he intended to accept Adele as the official crown princess.
Since she had called Killian her husband and openly declared their relationship, the emperor had also made clear that he had no intention of abandoning his plan to seat Killian on the imperial throne.
This won’t be easy.
Adele lifted her head at the emperor’s words. From now on, even the smallest mistake would not be tolerated.
“It seems you arrived quite noisily. I hear you came all the way from the southern region?”
“…Yes, Your Majesty.”
Not only the common people but also countless powerful nobles filled the square in front of the imperial palace.
They were probably already calculating exactly how deeply she bowed to the emperor and how many seconds it took her to answer.
“I did not wish to greet you in such a manner, but the situation was urgent and I had no choice.”
Therefore, she had to remain confident. If he was the emperor, then she—whether she liked it or not—was the crown princess.
“Urgent, you say?”
“My husband, the Commander, lost all contact after departing for the imperial palace. It is only natural for a wife to set out in search of him.”
Until the end, Adele never once called Killian the crown prince.
Killian, who was holding her hand, now refused to even allow her to kneel.
“My lady, there is no need for this. How could you lower yourself because of me—”
“No, Commander. Of course I should.”
“….”
“While I was absent, did you not personally take care of my husband here in the imperial capital where he has no family? As his wife, it is only proper for me to greet you.”
And that is the only thing I’m grateful to Your Majesty for.
With an elegant smile, Adele drew a clear line just as firmly as the emperor had.
This man here was her husband, and this place was merely somewhere they were staying temporarily—it meant nothing more.
With that, she looked at the emperor with a humble expression.
“I truly wished to express my gratitude, but because time was short I could only prepare something modest. Please accept it.”
“…Hmm.”
Seeing Adele—perfect and sharp as a blade—the emperor’s gaze changed.
He had assumed she must be extraordinary if Killian had fallen so deeply for her, but he had not expected to feel outmaneuvered from the very beginning as the emperor.
Just from the fact that she introduced herself as Agnes Sergio Setian rather than Adelaide Setian Sergio, it was clear she had come fully prepared not to give him a single opening for criticism.
“….”
Even at another glance, the procession was astonishing. It rivaled the arrival of foreign envoys or visiting royalty.
When the emperor noticed Aaron sitting blank-eyed atop a massive beast, blinking in confusion, he couldn’t help but let out a dry laugh.
Even he found his own reaction ridiculous, so he quickly regained his imperial dignity before it was too late.
“No. There is no need to be so formal between people who will soon be family.”
“Your Majesty.”
“I understand the crown princess’s feelings, but jewels and rare treasures are gifts that the imperial family should bestow, not receive. How could I possibly accept them?”
In front of the crowd, the emperor tried his best to preserve his dignity. Rumors were already spreading that he was merely holding onto power; he could not appear to be swayed by tribute.
Of course, calling it “mere tribute” felt awkward when the end of the procession was still nowhere in sight—but if the imperial treasury were completely opened, they might be able to match that level.
“Oh dear, then what should I do? My father personally prepared these and sent them from afar.”
“…”
Seeing such a radiant beauty look troubled only heightened the expectations of those watching.
As Adele turned around at that perfect moment, the servants—who had clearly been waiting for the signal—began setting down jewel boxes one after another.
“…Oh.”
Even the surfaces of the boxes were studded densely with gemstones. They shone so brilliantly that even those without greed swallowed hard.
The emperor, who had been staring blankly at the splendor, belatedly tried to speak to stop them—but the final box, particularly eye-catching, had already been placed before him.
“I hurriedly prepared these as a token of sincerity. Would Your Majesty perhaps like to take a look?”
“…”
Go on.
Let’s all take a look together.
Silent pressure from the crowd surged toward the emperor.
With no choice left, he reluctantly nodded while still trying to maintain his dignity.
“Then I suppose I must also grant a gift to the crown princess.”
“I have already received more than enough.”
“…But I have given you nothing.”
“If that troubles Your Majesty, then when I decide what I want, I will personally tell you.”
Approaching the emperor with a polite smile, Adele examined him slowly from head to toe.
As expected of Killian’s father, he was handsome—but his sickly appearance was obvious.
Yet she could swear that the hollow, stubborn look on his face was not caused only by illness.
“…Of course. Who could refuse such a request?”
“I am deeply grateful.”
“Think nothing of it. As long as it does not damage the dignity of the imperial family or the order of succession, there is nothing I cannot grant.”
“….”
Once again, the emperor drew a line. He might not know all her intentions, but he had already realized that his potential daughter-in-law was no ordinary woman.
‘My husband’ rather than ‘Killian’s wife.’
Her very introduction had been bold. Even calling him merely the Holy Knight Commander of San Fidelio rather than crown prince seemed clearly intentional.
Does she dislike the role of crown princess?
It was impertinent, but knowing Killian’s feelings, he could not simply dislike her.
Those traits would surely change once she became empress, and frankly a proud personality like hers was far better than someone weak-willed and easily manipulated.
So the emperor decided to appear generous—but also to humble her slightly.
“So then, Viscountess Sergio—no, Crown Princess—what exactly have you brought that makes you so confident?”
“I prepared what I believed Your Majesty needed most, though it seems my thinking may have been short.”
“Something I need?”
Does such a thing even exist?
The emperor chuckled faintly and lifted his head with complete indifference. No treasure of gold or silver, no sacred relic or legendary sword could surprise him.
“This is quite surprising. No one has ever said something like that to me before.”
“I’m surprised as well. I became excited at the thought that Your Majesty might like it… but perhaps it would be better to send it back.”
“Ha.”
Why lose your courage already?
For the first time since meeting Adele, the emperor smiled with satisfaction.
He had no intention of crushing the daughter-in-law who would become empress, but with so many watching, the authority of the emperor was paramount.
“Crown Princess, raise your head. I will accept it for the sake of your sincerity.”
“No. I failed to consider that Your Majesty might not need anything at all.”
“That is enough. Whatever it is—”
“Yes. After all, it is only a dragon’s heart.”
Adele released Killian’s hand and rested her arm atop the pile of treasure chests between them.
Though she still wore an apologetic expression toward the emperor, the smile at the corner of her lips was unbearably arrogant.
“…Shall I send it back?”
