Chapter 29
“Is that so.”
“Yeah. But you seem to have quite a few clothes. I’m already running out of things to wear.”
Though the clothes weren’t all that different, Gaia found Pri’s clothes much nicer. The quality, for one, and anyone could tell they were expensive.
It was only natural, and Pri responded in kind.
“I’ll ask them to give you the clothes I have first, Sister.”
“If my little sister is willing to do that for me, then I’ll accept them. I couldn’t bring as much as I’d expected.”
“But can’t you just ask him for more?”
“I could. Don’t even get me started—I have a lot to say.”
“Did you really… get kidnapped or something? Did you really not come here because you wanted to?”
She asked the question again, just in case.
“Do you think I’m crazy? Why would I want to come to a place like this on purpose? Sure, it’s not exactly what I expected, but that doesn’t mean I wanted to be here.”
“Then why…?”
“I came as a guest. A guest.”
So she really was brought here against her will. As a stand-in, perhaps.
The tiny hope Pri had felt upon seeing her sister crumbled instantly.
“I see.”
“What? Is that not allowed or something?”
“Of course not.”
Just then—
“Shall I open the door?”
Before they knew it, the two had arrived in front of the dining room.
“Sister, are you sure you’re okay?”
“What wouldn’t be okay?”
“Just… let me ask you one thing. What do you think about him?”
“The King of Barbarians? Hah. He’s the reason I’m here—what else is there to say? I simply don’t like him.”
Every time Pri asked, she became more certain.
Every time her sister gave an answer, she felt disappointment—and yet, Pri couldn’t let go of her hope. And again, she was disappointed.
“What about you?”
“…Me?”
“Do you like him?”
“…Does how I feel matter?”
“Of course it— No, never mind. What would it matter anyway?”
You’re going to leave this place eventually anyway, Gaia sneered inwardly.
Even if you did fall in love with him, it wouldn’t change a thing. The emperor of the Vehfort Empire would have his head severed and raised high on a pike.
Gaia stared intently at her sister.
Her little sister, pretending to be empress here in this strange land.
Even if it was a different country, the fact that she became an empress before Gaia was irritating. The fact that this country was even larger than the Vehfort Empire only made Gaia angrier.
Still, it seems like she’s finally come to her senses. That’s a relief.
For now, she needed to behave.
Those who listened well deserved carrots, not sticks. If she pushed too hard, her sister might run away. She just needed to earn her trust, lower her guard, and once she did—drug her, knock her out, and bring her back.
It’s not hard. I can do it. If I do, I’ll become a revered empress. He’ll come for me.
Emperor Alton of Vehfort didn’t know the location of this place. He’d tried many times, but finding this barbarian land in such a vast wilderness was impossible. That was why Gaia had come herself. Now that the emperor’s knight had left, Alton would surely know the location and come for her.
That was all she needed, and yet Gaia couldn’t shake the heavy feeling in her chest.
“Sister, are you alright?”
Only when Pri gave her a light nudge did Gaia snap out of her thoughts.
“What could possibly be wrong with me?”
“…….”
Whether she worried or not, her sister always responded negatively. Pri was left speechless, unsure what to say.
Should she just stay quiet and agree with whatever her sister said?
“What are you doing?”
That one line snapped her out of it.
As if Gaia wouldn’t even allow her a moment to think.
“Ah… Yes. Sister. Let’s go in.”
The servant, who had been awkwardly standing between them, finally opened the door.
Gaia strutted in confidently, while Pri followed behind her.
To anyone watching, Gaia looked like the empress, and Pri just a guest.
So it was no surprise that Argent’s face hardened the moment he saw them.
“I didn’t expect the two of you to come together. There was some commotion outside—was this the cause?”
“You don’t seem to like that I was having a pleasant conversation with my sister?”
“Not at all. But ‘pleasant,’ you say? That’s a new one.”
Stepping back as if to become the kind older sister, Gaia grabbed Pri’s hand tightly.
“We’re incredibly close, you know. You wouldn’t understand that, coming from another country.”
“So you’re saying I shouldn’t concern myself?”
“It’s a family matter.”
Gaia’s tone was sharp.
But it was clearly different from how she’d spoken to Pri.
There was a hint of caution. Pri quietly observed her sister, taking note of the change.
So she can speak like that. She can act like that, too.
One surprise after another.
“Then let’s sit. It’s time to eat.”
Even Argent’s tone was different.
Kinder than he was to Pri.
As an example, he pulled out a chair for the first time—for Gaia. That simple act made Pri feel like something inside her cracked.
He seated Gaia on the opposite side of where Pri usually sat, and she quietly took her place, feeling small.
This is so ridiculous. Why do I feel so hurt and disappointed by this man? He’s not even mine. We’re nothing to each other. Feeling this way is just plain stupid.
Even as she mocked herself, Pri knew that somewhere along the way, that man had carved out a space in her heart. A feeling she hadn’t even realized had taken root bloomed like a flower defying the seasons.
Feelings for someone she couldn’t understand.
As if they’d always been there, only now acknowledged—once realized, the emotions came flooding in.
Yet even now, Argent’s gaze remained on her sister.
There was never anything between us. So why do I miss you like this? Why does seeing you hurt so much?
Even after sitting down, Pri couldn’t take her eyes off him for a long time.
In the meantime, various dishes were brought before them.
“I worried that Princess Gaia might not like our cuisine, so I had food from the Ezan Kingdom prepared.”
Was he this considerate when I was here?
Pri looked at the table. The food was clearly different from what she usually ate. There were many familiar dishes from Ezan. To be fair, the food she’d eaten here so far suited her taste perfectly. So much so, it made her feel like someone who had always lived here—she cleaned her plate unless something special happened.
Still, this was this, and that was that.
Why was it different for her?
Did he really want my sister from the beginning? It sure seems that way. That must be why he brought her here under the pretense of being a guest. Even willing to go to war with the Empire to make her Empress.
Pri glanced at her sister.
Her sister looked tired, likely from the recent journey, but her skin was almost translucent and white, and her platinum-blonde hair shone like an angel’s. Her blue eyes, even deeper in hue than Pri’s, were stunning even to another woman.
Pri absently reached up to touch her hair, which Seth had styled so nicely, and slowly moved her hand down. Her throat burning, she grabbed the clear glass of water and drank it all in one go.
At that moment—
Argent, who had been watching Gaia slowly move her utensils, rested his chin on his hand.
“Is everything to your liking, Princess Gaia?”
“It’s fine.”
“If anything makes you uncomfortable, don’t hesitate to say so. I want you to feel at ease.”
Gaia twitched her nose at Argent’s theatrical voice.
She cast a glance over the two of them.
It was strange. The feelings Argent had for Pri didn’t seem ordinary. The way Pri looked at him wasn’t something Gaia had seen in her sister before either.
And yet, neither of them even looked at each other. They were too busy eating.
What are they playing at?
She couldn’t tell what they were trying to do with her caught in the middle.
Are they doing this on purpose?
Is Pri just playing along, pretending not to know how humiliating this is for me? That had to be it. Otherwise, there was no reason she wouldn’t even look her way.
Are they seriously having a love spat right in front of me?
Even doing nothing, she was starting to get angry.
The food in front of her didn’t even register anymore. With a deliberately exaggerated motion, Gaia set down her utensils.
“What’s wrong? Does it not suit your taste? I did my best.”
“…Of course not. I’m just annoyed by this whole situation. It feels like I’m on a theater stage.”
In Gaia’s gaze, Argent’s eyes were clearly visible.
Eyes filled with murderous intent—like he could end her life with a single word.
A chill ran down her spine.
Fearing that this man might really treat her life like an insect’s, she’d tried to act close to Pri. But it hadn’t helped. That terrifying gaze was still fixed on her. And even in this situation, Pri—who should have been on her side—wouldn’t even look her way.
How dare she…!
That man… he looked more uncomfortable watching me pretend to be close with Pri.
And at that moment—
