Chapter 4
As the Viclus family had monopolized power for a long time, numerous problems began to arise.
Forces supporting the Viclus family took control of key positions within the Empire, and the nobility began to watch the Viclus family rather than the Emperor.
As major imperial affairs were increasingly decided according to the will of the Viclus family, the Emperor gradually fell to the status of little more than their puppet.
Countless acts of corruption ran rampant, and the Empire steadily declined.
The current Empress, Lydia Lionel Tyron, was also from the Viclus family.
She was governing state affairs in place of Crown Prince Stephan, who was only twelve years old.
The Adrian family, meanwhile, stood in opposition to Viclus, forming alliances with like-minded nobles to support the Crown Prince.
For the Adrian family, severing the ties between the Imperial House and Viclus was of utmost importance.
It was precisely this point that allowed Kal to push forward his marriage before the elders of his house.
Of course, the elders were deeply concerned.
“Your Grace, that fox-like Viclus family may be plotting something through this marriage. It could instead put our family in danger.”
“Their only daughter will serve as our hostage. And the next Empress will not come from the Viclus family, but from another house. It is time to drain the festering rot that has been consuming Tyron.”
As he repeatedly emphasized that this was all for Tyron, no one imagined that he had already taken the Viclus family’s only daughter into his heart.
That was why the marriage was permitted.
Of course, he used the excuse of a ‘hostage’ to persuade the elders… but he had no intention of treating her that way.
He would treat her well.
He would truly treat the woman who would become his wife with care—
So that she would never regret saving his life.
—
He had been walking between densely overgrown trees, organizing his thoughts.
Kier, who was beside him, suddenly spoke.
“Huh? Your Grace…! That looks like a carrier pigeon.”
At Kier’s words, Kal extended his hand toward him.
It was a silent request for the bow.
Seeing this, Kier spoke in surprise.
“Here? Even for you, Your Grace, that might be difficult…”
Despite his complaint, Kier faithfully handed over the bow.
Kal immediately aimed at the bird.
“This is close to Viclus territory.”
Shouldn’t he find out what that old fox of Viclus was up to?
Leaving the rest unsaid, Kal released the arrow.
The arrow shot like lightning and struck the bird with perfect accuracy.
Pierced cleanly through its body, the bird dropped lifelessly to the ground.
Kal gauged where it had fallen. It was a bit far, but not unreachable.
He jerked his chin toward Kier.
“Go.”
Due to the unexpectedly complex terrain of the forest, Kal and Kier split up to search for the pigeon.
Pushing aside branches that obscured his vision, Kal moved forward quickly. There was no time to waste.
After retrieving the pigeon, he needed to gather his men and head swiftly to Baron Levin’s territory.
That was the meeting place arranged with Viclus.
Helena Viclus would be waiting there.
The girl he had longed to see again.
Kal quickened his pace toward where the pigeon had fallen.
Twelve years had already passed.
He did not wish to delay any longer.
—
At that moment, a woman’s clear, melodious voice faintly drifted from beyond the thick underbrush.
Without a second thought for the pigeon, Kal headed toward the sound.
Pushing through the tangled bushes, he soon caught sight of the voice’s owner.
There, a woman with flowing red hair cradled the bird that had been struck by his arrow.
For a moment, Kal forgot everything he was supposed to do and simply stared at her.
Her red hair shimmered like gold under the sunlight, and her emerald-green eyes were as clear as jewels.
She wore a silk dress befitting a noble lady, adorned with pearl accessories in her hair.
Everything she wore was luxurious and splendid, yet not excessive or vulgar—only elegant.
Her skin, touched by sunlight, held a healthy pale glow, and her features were delicate and refined.
…If the girl who saved me had grown up, wouldn’t she look like this…?
She stood exactly as he had imagined.
Kal found it hard to believe this sudden encounter, forgetting even to breathe as he gazed at her.
Their eyes met.
Silence settled between them.
“……”
It was her clear voice that finally broke it.
“…Did you shoot this, Sir Knight?”
She extended the hand holding the bird.
Naturally, the bird looked fragile in her grasp.
“I wanted to pull the arrow out, but it was lodged too deeply. I couldn’t remove it on my own.”
Despite being a noble lady, there was no fear on her face as she looked at the dead bird—only a trace of sorrow.
Unbothered by the blood staining her hand, she extended it toward him again.
Only then did Kal fully register the situation.
And then, anger rose within him.
Why was she alone in such a deep forest?
He immediately felt the urge to take her back to where his men were.
“Why are you alone in such a deep forest, my lady? This is no place for a noblewoman.”
“…I am not alone. My knight will be here soon.”
As if to prove her words, a man’s voice calling “My lady!” came from behind.
Unlike his earlier anger at her being alone, now he felt irritation at the fact that her companion was a man.
Even though it was perfectly natural for a noble lady to be accompanied by a knight of her house.
As Kal struggled with his conflicting emotions, the woman quietly studied his face.
Then she took out a small vial—no bigger than half her palm—from her bosom.
“You may not need it, brave knight… but please, take it.”
“……”
“I hope no blemish remains on your beauty.”
It was a portable emergency medicine—something Kal himself often carried.
For something that came from a noble lady’s possession, the vial was plain and unadorned.
Kal stared at it blankly.
What did this mean?
Unable to discern her intention, he looked at her—but she only gazed back with clear, innocent eyes.
As if she had no intention at all.
She gestured again, urging him.
At last, Kal took both the bird and the vial from her hand.
She lifted her gaze and looked at his face once more.
For a brief, dreamlike moment, their eyes met again.
“My lady! There you are!”
As a blond knight arrived at her side, she turned away from Kal.
And just like that, she disappeared from his sight with him.
“……”
Left alone, Kal stared in the direction she had gone, as if entranced.
“Entranced” was the only fitting word.
The brief encounter felt like an illusion that had brushed past him.
Just like the day he first saw her twelve years ago.
Meeting her like this had never been part of his plans.
Captivated by her vividly shining eyes, he had foolishly failed to say even a single proper word.
All he could do was confirm that the woman before him was real.
Kal had always considered himself a rational man, yet his own reaction now seemed pitiful—
And yet, when he thought that she might be that girl, it was understandable.
After all, that girl had changed his life.
Soon, with the sound of rustling leaves, Kier arrived.
He approached Kal cheerfully, but upon noticing the scratch on his face, he made a fuss.
“Your Grace, there you are! What about the bird—oh! Your face is scratched. The branches here are quite sharp, aren’t they? On your way to meet your bride, no less… Well, it does add a bit of rugged charm, don’t you think?”
“……”
Kal brushed the slight scratch above his left eye with the back of his hand.
Then, seeing the medicine in his hand, he closed his fingers around it.
He hadn’t even noticed he’d been injured.
To think he had been this distracted…
Kal let out a faint, self-mocking chuckle.
It seemed she did not remember him.
Or perhaps she simply hadn’t realized that the boy from the past was him.
It was only natural.
No one would imagine that the boy dying in a filthy underground prison twelve years ago had grown into the man he was now.
That could be told later.
That the one she saved was him.
That now, he would be the one to save her.
That for her sake, he would even spare Viclus.
If he told her that—
What would she say?
If he confessed that he had longed for her all this time…
“…Enough nonsense. Let’s go.”
Kal tore the letter tied to the pigeon’s leg and tossed it to Kier.
Even without instructions, Kier would decipher it and report by evening.
“We’re late.”
As Kal quickened his pace, his heart began to pound once more.
