Chapter : 16
For a brief moment, Itelne glanced at her father, Emperor Wintier, but his expression was difficult to read. He looked indifferent—almost as if he hadn’t even heard Zigkart’s words.
A long silence fell.
Even Zigkart looked slightly flustered as he stared at Itelne.
Then Wintier finally spoke in a heavy voice.
“Did the Grand Duke send it?”
“…Pardon?”
“The person who sent that herb. Was it your father, Grand Duke Landshuter?”
Wintier pointed at the herb in Zigkart’s hand with his finger.
Zigkart looked up at him blankly, as if he didn’t understand the question, then calmly shook his head.
“No. My father has nothing to do with this. He doesn’t even know why I left for the Empire.”
“Then? You mean you brought it yourself?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“For what reason?”
Zigkart looked at Itelne once more. But this time, he did not wait for her signal.
“I heard rumors about the Empress of Cidnell and felt pity.”
“Don’t speak so carelessly!”
Wintier slammed his hand down on the desk. The force startled Itelne, and she hurriedly tried to calm him.
“Ah—Dad! Don’t get angry, please listen! The young duke really did it for Mother!”
At her intervention, Wintier’s anger seemed to subside slightly, but his hostility toward Zigkart did not disappear at all.
The emperor stared sharply at Zigkart, who stood his ground without flinching.
Then he spoke.
“You understand how rare and precious that herb is, do you not? Even a few gold ingots would not be enough to obtain it. I know that much. So who sent you here with it? And what exactly do you want? I will hear it directly.”
“….”
“And who came with you?”
In that moment, Itelne abruptly turned her head toward Zigkart and blinked rapidly, signaling him not to answer.
However, Zigkart replied with a composed expression.
“I came alone.”
“Do not lie. Do you think I would not interrogate you just because you are a child?”
“Interrogate me or question me as you will, the truth will not change. Your Majesty, I came here alone from the duchy. And I brought this herb to awaken the Empress. It is true that it is difficult to obtain… but—”
Zigkart rolled his eyes slightly as he chose his words.
“I’m quite good at climbing mountains. Since I was young.”
A dry laugh escaped Emperor Wintier’s lips.
Itelne felt a chill run down her spine at the sound of her father laughing.
That idiot! If he says things like that, what is he going to do!
With a short sigh, Wintier set Itelne down from his lap.
His piercing gaze remained fixed on Zigkart for a long time. Then, finally, he rested his chin on his hand and spoke in a dismissive tone.
“Very well, Young Duke. If what you say is true, then you risked your life coming here to awaken my wife… am I correct?”
“That is correct.”
“Then I should offer you an equivalent reward. What do you desire?”
Wintier’s eyes gleamed like those of an enraged lion.
Itelne quietly stepped back and pressed her fingers to her eyes, trying to read her father’s thoughts.
— Wintier Sergel Rislooman
Emperor, 31 years old
- This insolent brat is rather amusing.
- He is sharp. Keeping him in the duchy might be dangerous… and a waste.
- I tried many times myself to obtain that herb, but failed.
“Huh?”
There were more lines than usual, clearly written on the cloud-like surface of thoughts.
Itelne looked away from her finger ring, then back at her father again.
“Three thoughts…?”
Previously, she had only been able to see two lines of her father’s thoughts. But now, all three were visible.
“Does this mean I’ve gotten closer to Father? That he’s opened his heart to me…?”
If that were true, it would be nice. Itelne thought.
But there was no time to be sentimental.
“Dangerous to keep him in the duchy… and a waste? What does that mean? Keeping him here is far more dangerous—so we should send him back immediately!”
Once Zigkart’s conversation ended, Itelne decided she would find a way to send him back.
She quickly stepped between the two of them.
“Young Duke, since you brought such a precious herb as a gift, I think we should also give you something of equal value, Father. And ensure your return to the duchy is safe with an escort of soldiers.”
She looked at Zigkart as if to say, “How about that?”
Blinking his large eyes, Zigkart slightly lowered the corners of his mouth and looked away.
“I didn’t plan to return immediately, but I appreciate your thoughtfulness.”
What is this guy even saying?
Is he planning to live here?
Flustered, Itelne forced an awkward smile.
“You may not leave immediately, but still… you’ll go back tomorrow, right? You should! Your parents must be worried!”
In her urgency, she even forgot she was standing in front of the emperor.
But Zigkart remained firm.
“Not necessarily. Even though I came alone, my father likely sent a covert escort without me noticing. So they probably aren’t too worried.”
“So you’re saying you’re not going back? Are you planning to live here?”
“That wasn’t my intention. But staying a few days—surely His Majesty would permit it?”
He directed the last words not to Itelne, but to Wintier.
It was an audacity that seemed to suggest he had more than one life to spare.
Earlier he had acted so timidly—and now this!
Itelne was about to poke Zigkart in the side when Emperor Wintier suddenly let out a low laugh. It did not seem particularly cheerful… but it wasn’t entirely displeased either.
“Very well. That much I can allow.”
“Your grace is appreciated, Your Majesty.”
“But you must pray that the herb you brought actually works.”
Zigkart shrugged again and nodded casually.
“It will work. However, Your Majesty, you should understand this: this herb cannot completely cure the illness. It will only briefly—very briefly—restore consciousness.”
“What did you say?”
Wintier’s voice once again grew sharp with hostility. His rage seemed ready to draw a sword regardless of the opponent’s age.
“Are you playing word games with me?”
“Not at all. I assumed Your Majesty already knew about this herb, and therefore understood its limitations.”
This time, Wintier was momentarily at a loss for words.
Zigkart was right—and the sheer boldness of a child standing before an enraged emperor without even batting an eye was astonishing.
