Chapter 51
“H-Hold on…!”
Ian, who was about to object, lifted his head. His flushed cheeks came into view. Whether they were red out of embarrassment or from recalling yesterday’s events, it was hard to tell. Seeing him flustered like a child, Pri couldn’t help but let out a small laugh.
“What are you worrying about so much?”
“…I heard, more or less, what my mother said to you… about me. I’m sorry. I never meant to cause you any burden, Pri.”
“Hmm. A burden, you say? I don’t think it was. On the contrary, I felt relieved.”
You, who said you’d take my hand and give me freedom, and your family—I was worried about how they might treat me, but I’m glad it wasn’t the case.
Pri’s heart had settled, calm as a river flowing gently.
“Th-That is…”
“And I even felt a little envious. To see a family worry and care for one another like that. Of course, Lady Irina told me herself. She said she might seem clumsy, that as a first-time mother she often did what she shouldn’t, but that all she truly wished for was Ian’s happiness. That’s the only thing she desired.”
Remembering those words from yesterday, Pri smiled and patted his shoulder.
“So, there’s no need to worry. And no need to apologize either. If you apologize, then you’ll be making her words into something ‘wrong.’ Please, don’t turn what was a joyful moment for me yesterday into something ‘mistaken.’”
Only then did Ian give a heavy nod of understanding. His cheeks were still burning red and refused to cool down.
“Then shall we go now? I heard he insisted I come.”
“Ah… yes.”
Ian fanned his face with a large hand, trying to cool the heat from his cheeks, then nodded.
“There’s someone I need to introduce you to, Pri. Did you enjoy your meal?”
“Yes. Since I skipped breakfast and went straight to lunch, I stuffed myself.”
Pri smiled, lightly touching her own cheek as if embarrassed. Only then did Ian offer his hand to her with his usual gentle smile.
“That’s good to hear. Then let’s go. I’m certain you’ll like this person.”
“Someone I’ll like…?”
“Yes. It’s someone I brought here by His Majesty’s order.”
“…I see.”
Ian seemed almost excited.
“I didn’t think I’d get to introduce them to you so soon. His Majesty said we’d keep them a few more days before then.”
“And who might this person be?”
“Ah, now, I can’t ruin the surprise. It’s better if you see for yourself.”
He looked so delighted that Pri had no choice but to follow, unease tightening in her chest.
After following Ian down an unfamiliar corridor for some time, they arrived at a reception room—a spacious one with long sofas where many could sit.
“You’ve come.”
The door opened naturally as Pri entered, and Argent was already there waiting.
“Yes. I heard you were looking for me.”
“That’s right. There’s someone who came to see you.”
Ian still looked excited, but Pri felt nothing. Who could possibly be here for her? There was no one she’d be happy to see.
“…Very well.”
“Bring them in.”
Argent’s gaze shifted naturally toward a side door.
Pri looked at it without emotion—until her eyes widened as someone stepped slowly into the room.
She had let go of everything.
Her heart had found peace, like a calm river. All she had left was the hope of a quiet life. Then why…
Her gaze froze.
“P-Princess!”
“J-Jel?”
“Yes! It’s me!”
Seeing Jel’s radiant smile, Pri wondered if she were dreaming.
How could Jel possibly be here? This wasn’t the Kingdom of Ezuan. This was the Intellia Empire—a land infamous as the territory of barbarians, where an emperor who killed and killed again ruled supreme.
And yet Jel was here.
As Jel rushed toward her, Pri felt not joy, but a surge of sudden anger.
“Don’t tell me… you kidnapped Jel too?”
“….”
There was no answer.
“Why won’t you answer?”
Ian and Jel’s faces clouded, but Argent’s red eyes remained fixed on Pri without a flicker.
Go on, misunderstand. Hate me.
Yes, hate me as much as you like. Hate me, hate me until you want nothing more than to leave. Let that hatred fuel you, drive you to run further and further away—far enough that I can never reach you.
“Must I spell everything out for you?”
“…Was this done for my sake? Or to torment me?”
“Who knows.”
Argent fell silent again.
For you, Pri… It’s for you.
Through all the countless days, the one person most precious to you was always that maid.
In every one of your ten repeated lives, in your final moments, the name you spoke was Jel’s.
After you left Ezuan, Jel stayed in the royal palace a short while, then quit her post to search for you.
Though her mistress had gone, she clung to the hope you might one day return, and she waited, and waited.
But Jel died.
I thought, maybe, just once, I could save her.
Even when brought here to Intellia with you, it was the same. Once she reached a certain age, she fell ill with an unknown disease. Within half a year of your departure for Intellia, she died.
Her death never changed.
But this time will be different. This time, I’ve bound her within Zeren Palace. I will keep her alive. I must.
For the first time, Argent had resolved to save her—the Jel who, across ten lives, had always remained Pri’s dearest. His gaze grew calm.
Then—
Jel, stung by Pri’s sharp words, turned toward Argent, as though to defend him.
She had come here willingly. The man called the barbarian emperor treated her with utmost care, as though she were a noble lady herself.
And yet he was being misunderstood.
But as Jel looked at him, Argent gave the smallest shake of his head.
Say nothing. Whatever you saw or heard—forget it. For your mistress’s sake, say nothing, even if it makes me the villain.
She remembered his words from before they entered. The meaning of his gaze, his voice—it all came back, and Jel dropped her eyes to the floor, subdued.
“Then I’ll leave the two of you to spend some time together.”
“Even now… you still won’t answer me?”
“I see no need to answer. Then I’ll be going.”
As always, Argent only thought to himself and never spoke aloud. The more he thought, the more he wanted to do for her, the more he hid his true feelings. Just like now, when he even showed her a harsher side—so she would misunderstand him, and so it would be easier for her to leave.
Pri’s lips trembled as she stared at him, then she took Jel’s hand tightly and left.
To Pri, Jel was the most precious person. If anyone asked her, she would answer without hesitation—Jel was her friend, her family.
That was why she had left her behind.
She thought Jel would live better there. At the time, she had no idea what kind of place the land of barbarians truly was.
And now Argent had brought her back—the one person she had painfully let go of.
Pri clenched her fists without realizing it. Jel looked at her with concern.
“Princess, are you angry? Because I came?”
“No. It’s not your fault, Jel. Let’s… talk inside the room.”
“Of course! I was so worried you’d been taken somewhere awful, but it turns out I didn’t need to be. This is a wonderful place!”
“Is that so?”
“Yes! Even the knight who escorted me was so kind!”
Jel beamed at Ian, who smiled back.
Pri, lost in thought, nearly dragged Jel along without pause, but she slowed her steps.
“Ian.”
“Yes?”
“First, thank you… for bringing Jel here. If she says you treated her kindly, then you must have.”
“Of course. She is your person, Pri. That alone makes her precious.”
But today, Pri couldn’t bring herself to smile with him.
She resumed walking, her gaze flicking toward Ian.
“But Ian… what is Argent thinking, doing all this? I just… I can’t understand.”
“You don’t have to. The world is full of things beyond understanding. Even I don’t know His Majesty’s heart anymore. I thought I did once, but now I don’t.”
Hearing his blunt honesty, Pri pressed her lips together.
“…Ha.”
Then his words resurfaced in her mind.
“But you said Jel was precious, didn’t you, Ian?”
“Yes, I did.”
“Did he… say that?”
“No. I only said it because she is the maid who served you. That alone makes her precious.”
Why had she expected otherwise?
And why, again, did disappointment sting so sharply?
Foolishly, she had hoped—had wondered if perhaps Argent had called Jel precious.
“…I see.”
“For now, you both should rest. You may have had a day’s respite, but I’m sure Lady Jel is tired, and the two of you must have much to talk about.”
“…Thank you.”
With that, Pri led Jel into her chambers.
It was only natural that those inside stared in surprise. Their gazes lingered on Jel, as if trying to divine why she was here at all.
Meeting their eyes, Pri said firmly:
“This is Jel—my maid from the Kingdom of Ezuan, who has always cared for me.”
