~Chapter 17~
Izaya explained to Melanie her future plans and revealed that there was a spy among the knights serving Duke Lauchen.
Startled, Melanie asked,
“So, the captain of the guard, Sir Gale…?”
“Yes. He’s your father’s spy,” Izaya confirmed.
Gale Derus, a man of impeccable conduct and exceptional skill, had earned an excellent reputation among the knights and was appointed as the Empress’ captain of the guard.
Yet in Izaya’s memory, the moment Gretchen disappeared, Gale had seized control of the imperial knights.
‘That’s why Ern had virtually no allies even within the palace. And on top of that… they tried to kill him.’
If it wasn’t just a hallucination before he died, it had been Gale and his subordinates who had discovered the secret passage back then.
So Izaya had recruited all those who had followed Gale at the time into her personal guard—ensuring they could never betray Ern again.
“To have a spy so close… the Duke might send someone new, so I can’t dismiss him. This is troublesome,” Melanie remarked.
Izaya chuckled softly.
“It’s fine. If you can’t dismiss him anyway, you might as well make use of him.”
“Make use of him? But how…?”
Izaya changed the subject.
“You’ll hear about that later. For now, you should rest—your recovery is important.”
As Izaya began to rise, Melanie hesitated but then cautiously asked,
“Your Majesty, may I… ask you something?”
Izaya’s eyes glinted sharply as she replied,
“Don’t worry about your brother, Jade. As soon as a safe place is arranged, he will be released from prison.”
“A safe place?”
“Yes. He’ll be secure there, even from your uncle. So focus on your recovery without worry.”
Melanie nodded, holding back tears.
“Thank you….”
From a distance, Ern frowned as he watched Izaya.
‘What is that maid up to…?’
Even he hadn’t anticipated that the assassin would disguise themselves as a servant.
Yet the assassin didn’t seem to intend to attack Izaya—they were aiming for the maid.
So Ern didn’t feel the need to intervene immediately.
But suddenly, Izaya provoked the assassin, turning the target onto herself.
‘Why is she so reckless? What is she planning, negotiating with an assassin…?’
At that moment, extreme fatigue washed over him.
‘Not again…’
Since sharing separate rooms with Izaya, he hadn’t had a single full sleep, and his body was reaching its limits.
Despite the crushing exhaustion, his eyes remained fixed on Izaya as she left the room.
‘Finally, she’s leaving.’
He moved swiftly to the best vantage point to watch her, unaware of how much the fatigue was sapping him.
A short while later, Izaya returned to the Empress’ quarters, only to receive alarming news.
“The Emperor has disappeared?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Izaya bit her lips, trying to remain calm. Though everything seemed outwardly normal, an assassin had already infiltrated the palace today.
If Ern were an adult, it might not matter, but at this stage, he was still a beginner in swordsmanship.
If an assassin targeted him, there would be no way to escape.
She steadied her racing heart and ordered,
“Search the Empress’ quarters and the surrounding areas thoroughly.”
Then she moved off.
‘Not here either!’
She checked the places where Ern had hidden when she pursued him, but he was nowhere to be found.
‘Where on earth did he go?’
Her heart throbbed with worry.
‘I’ve decided to give up everything to protect you… but if danger arises like before, what will I do?’
Suddenly, a faint rustling sound reached her ears.
Unsure if she had heard correctly, she nonetheless rushed toward the source, desperate.
Near a large tree not far from the Empress’ palace, she found him asleep.
Izaya collapsed beside him, checking his body from every angle.
‘You’re safe… thank goodness.’
But she quickly realized she couldn’t leave him alone and needed to call for help.
As she rose, a faint voice stopped her.
“…Don’t.”
“Ern?”
He looked pale, with dark circles around his eyes and lips tinged with a grayish hue.
“Are you sick?”
She noticed a slight fever.
‘I need to get a doctor immediately.’
She tried to pull his hand away to call for help.
“Stay here. I’ll go get someone—”
But Ern grabbed her hand.
“Don’t go.”
Her heart wavered.
His voice was weak and pitiful, his gaunt face so vulnerable.
Izaya felt the weight of his condition.
‘He must really be in pain if someone so proud is asking me to stay.’
Unable to resist, she held his hand.
“Alright. I’ll stay until you’re better.”
Judging by the rare smile on his usually expressionless face, he must indeed be very ill.
As she watched him, he collapsed sideways, dragging her with him onto the grass.
“Ern, are you alright?”
She called out anxiously, but he didn’t respond.
Her heart sank in panic.
“Ern… please…”
Then she heard a soft, steady breathing.
She realized he hadn’t fainted—he was asleep.
‘Thank goodness.’
She smiled down at him, then looked at the hand still holding hers.
A bitter smile touched her lips.
‘Why… does he always hold my hand when I’m ready to face things alone?’
But she understood one thing: she could not ignore this beloved boy.
‘Yes, just until you’re well…’
Izaya gazed at him tenderly.
Ern slowly awoke, frowning at the familiar surroundings.
‘Unbelievable. I actually fell asleep… and that dream…’
He had tried to ignore it, yet in his dream, he had clutched Izaya, begging her not to leave.
‘I couldn’t have done that… such weakness…’
He stiffened and glanced beside him.
Izaya was lying across the bedside, asleep.
‘Why are you here…?’
Then he noticed something that made his frown deepen further.
‘That’s…’
Grass stains on her dress hem proved it wasn’t a dream—what he thought had been a dream was reality.
Anger flared at his own weakness.
“Damn it.”
But a moment later, the anger faded as he saw her peacefully asleep.
‘Huh…’
He frowned lightly, but as he watched her sleep, a strange emotion washed over him.
‘Why…?’
His new bride, once only a political match, had initially only impressed him with her beauty.
He had thought he would have nothing to do with her.
Yet she persistently followed him, showing no fear toward the man everyone else avoided and even smiled at him boldly.
He had doubted her sincerity… until the day she threw herself to save him from a falling pot.
Since then, if he didn’t see her, he felt oddly anxious.
“Ern…”
Izaya murmured in her sleep.
His confused gaze sharpened.
He reached out carefully, stroking her dark hair.
A sharp pang hit his heart, tingling with unfamiliar sensation.
“Definitely… strange.”
His gaze toward her carried a dark, possessive attachment he hadn’t even realized.
“Hoho, nursing… even that brat can be useful sometimes,” Gale remarked carefully, pleased at the news that the Emperor and Empress would spend time together.
“But there’s a problem,” he added.
“A problem? What is it?”
Gale sighed before speaking.
“Do you remember that maid? Melanie Balder…”
“Ah, that useless girl. Why?”
“Her brother, Jade Balder, disappeared from prison. Checking the records, I found he was pardoned.”
Pardons were a privilege of the Emperor and Empress, and Duke Lauchen’s eyes sharpened.
‘Could it be… Izaya?’
Gale continued,
“Actually, Melanie Balder collapsed in front of Her Majesty, and after being called into the room, she emerged some time later with swollen eyes, as if she had been crying. I believe she may have gained the Empress’ sympathy then.”
The Duke ground his teeth.
“That insolent girl!”
