Chapter : 15
“There’s no way……”
Itern couldn’t bring herself to finish the sentence. She pressed a small hand against her throbbing forehead.
The Emperor was already waiting impatiently for Zigkart to arrive.
If he found out that he had come all the way here alone, without any escort, it would become a serious matter.
‘He might get interested and try to keep him here……’
In her previous life, Zigkart had been taken to the Empire precisely because his brilliance had caught the Emperor’s attention.
Of course, that was when the Empire had already begun trampling over countless nations across the continent, so the situation was somewhat different now……
After much deliberation, Itern clenched her fist and trembled slightly before finally making up her mind.
“Fine. I’ll go with you and explain.”
“Really?”
“Do you think I’d lie? No—just leave the detailed explanation to him. All I can do is help make sure Father… listens to you. Understand?”
Zigkart tilted his head as he thought for a moment, then seemed to finish his calculations and nodded.
“Alright.”
“Good. Then let’s go. Ah, and one more thing.”
Itern raised her index finger, eyes wide with seriousness. Zigkart looked at her tiny finger and asked curiously.
“What promise?”
“Promise me you won’t say anything until I give you a signal.”
After a brief hesitation, Zigkart tapped her finger lightly in agreement.
‘If Mother wakes up—even for a moment—Father won’t be able to do anything reckless with him.’
All she could do now was pray that the herbs Zigkart had brought would work. Itern prayed silently all the way to the central palace.
Meanwhile
“What did you say?”
In the imperial office, Emperor Wintier glared at his aide Glihi. A chilling aura, as if ice spears were about to erupt from his eyes, filled the room.
“Say that again.”
“Your Majesty, the Princess has brought the young lord of the Grand Duchy of Randshuter. She says she has an important message for you.”
“She brought him here herself?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Wintier fell silent for a moment, dumbfounded. Only then did he recall a report from earlier that morning mentioning something about a young lord.
With his mind already frayed from the repeated rejections of the mages, he had not paid it much attention.
But now his daughter had suddenly brought the young lord herself—what in the world was this nonsense?
“Send them both in.”
After Glihi withdrew, Itern entered first. Seeing his daughter’s bright smile softened Wintier’s hardened expression slightly.
“Itern.”
“Dad, what were you doing?”
“I was working. The Emperor is always busy.”
Itern casually—or perhaps innocently—walked up to him. Wintier, now accustomed to it, lifted her onto his lap.
“Wow! So all of this is your work?”
“That’s right. Why, do you want to learn too?”
“Ugh, no. Not really.”
‘Taxes, embezzlement, corruption, embezzlement…… Just looking at it is exhausting. How do I even clean this up?’
Hidden beneath her father’s overwhelming shadow were pests that needed to be eradicated. Itern decided she would eventually have to purge those guilty of corruption.
“By the way, Itern.”
“Yes?”
“Don’t you have something to tell your father?”
So I’ve been caught. Itern stuck out her tongue slightly and tried to look cute, though her thoughts were complicated.
“Um, Father……”
“Who is the coward trembling outside the door? I suppose I should see his face.”
At the Emperor’s raised voice, the attendant quickly brought Zigkart inside.
Seeing the small boy—no different in size from his daughter seated on his lap—Wintier frowned and let out a dry laugh.
“You are supposedly the young lord of a duchy?”
“Yes. It is an honor to meet you, Emperor of Cidernell.”
Zigkart remained unusually calm, which only made Itern more nervous.
If only he had been frightened and trembling, it would have been easier for her to mediate……
But Zigkart did not avert his gaze even once. His crimson eyes, glowing fiercely in the light, looked almost aggressive.
“Get out of my sight. And return to your country immediately.”
At the Emperor’s merciless command, Itern’s eyes widened.
‘What?!’
Shouldn’t he at least ask why he came and how he got here? Wasn’t that basic human curiosity?
But Zigkart showed no reaction to the Emperor’s hostility. Instead, he calmly continued what he was doing.
Carefully, as if afraid of losing or damaging them, he placed a bundle of herbs on the Emperor’s desk.
When Wintier was about to rise with an even more terrifying expression—
“Dad! Dad, please calm down and listen to him. And please open that bundle too.”
“Itern, your father is not in the mood to play right now.”
‘Since when did he ever play with me anyway……’
She wanted to retort, but now was not the time. Itern clung tightly to her father’s neck, doing everything she could to stop him.
“This isn’t playing! It’s important! Please just open it!”
Sighing, the Emperor eventually pulled the bundle open as if conceding to his daughter’s insistence.
A bitter herbal scent filled the air.
Looking at the herbs, Wintier gave Zigkart a disinterested glance.
“You brought weeds and expect me to care?”
“They are not weeds, Your Majesty.”
Wintier pinched one of the stems lightly between two fingers and dropped it again.
“Then explain what this is.”
Zigkart glanced at Itern. It was a silent request for help if something went wrong.
Itern nodded, signaling him to continue.
Taking a short breath, Zigkart spoke clearly.
“This herb is called ‘Beremere’ in the duchy. It means ‘the grass that brings the dead back to life.’ It is especially effective in awakening those who have lost consciousness.”
