Chapter 120
The first room, filled with all kinds of weapons—and among them, the greatsword that fit perfectly in Riana’s hand, made just for her.
The second room, lined with countless books on enchantments.
And the last room, the workshop—or rather, the forge—that Ianheart had prepared as a gift for her.
Riana hadn’t even realized he was making such preparations.
His gentle hand, brushing against her back where her hair fell loosely, made her tremble.
“I want you to be happy in this empire.”
“….”
“This isn’t your homeland, nor is it a place familiar to you. But I hope that one day, this empire—and this palace where I live—will become the place you feel most at home.”
Ianheart’s calm yet sincere voice tickled her ears.
The tips of Riana’s fingers, clasped tightly around his waist, gave the slightest shiver.
“I know being at my side means enduring certain hardships. Honestly, I think you’d suit the role of emperor more than empress.”
In that instant, something hot welled up inside her chest.
Why was he always this kind?
He gave her everything she had unconsciously longed for, and even more—his heart, laid bare without holding anything back.
“But I’m selfish. I could never let you go, nor do I intend to.”
“….”
“Even so, I want you to be happy by my side. And if your happiness includes me, then nothing could make me more joyful.”
“…How can you even ask that?”
“Perhaps it’s too greedy of me.”
A low laugh echoed above her head.
It felt as though she cried more easily whenever she was with Ianheart.
The dam that held her tears so tightly shut always loosened in front of him, as if oiled.
“If ever my selfishness becomes too much, tell me. I’ll try to lessen it.”
As if his only desire—that Riana be happy by his side—was already too heavy a burden.
When in truth, he had already restrained himself and only shown her the smallest fragment of his longing.
The suffocating kindness of his love made her breath catch—not from being stifled, but from being freed.
Freed, because she could finally sense the depth of his feelings.
His steady hand patted her back gently.
And soon, his voice reached her again.
“Do you like my gift?”
Still buried in his embrace, Riana nodded.
“I love it… more than I can say.”
The words followed after.
Did she like it?
She could have said yes a hundred times over.
The gift itself was touching, precious, and utterly perfect.
But what moved her most—what truly reached her heart—was Ianheart’s thoughtfulness.
The fact that he had remembered a passing comment she once made about knowing a little enchantment back in Roan, and turned it into a gift like this, filled with his affection.
Riana felt overwhelmed—wanting to cry, yet thankful to fate that she had met Ianheart.
He was her unwavering ally, the partner who would walk beside her for life.
She couldn’t imagine anyone else standing where he stood now.
And in that moment, Riana finally realized her heart.
…I love you.
She had fallen for him too.
Ianheart had quietly seeped into her heart long ago—she had simply been too slow to notice.
How could she have missed it?
This vivid, blazing emotion that filled her chest and colored her entire world.
Held in his warm embrace, she soothed the waves of her surging feelings.
Time passed quietly.
Rustle—
Having fully embraced the dazzling colors of her newfound emotions, Riana slowly pulled away from his arms.
“Have you calmed down now?”
Ianheart studied her face, eyes filled with concern, tenderness, and a touch of humor.
It seemed he thought her tears had been only because of the gift.
Well…
For Riana, it had been a moment of recognizing and accepting the brightest emotion in her life. But of course, Ianheart wouldn’t know that.
“I didn’t think you’d like it this much. If I had, I would’ve prepared it sooner.”
“…Thank you. Truly… I don’t even know what to say.”
Her voice, thick with emotion, made Ianheart smile brightly.
“As long as you like it, that’s enough.”
That smile—the one Riana already loved.
Time passed, slow yet swift.
Preparations for the Founding Festival were nearly complete. The mana test would soon be put to use, and the Forest of Death remained quiet.
And now—
“…Phew.”
Riana steadied her breath, focusing every ounce of strength as she moved her hand with painstaking care.
At a glance, it might seem as though she wasn’t moving at all, her motions so fine and precise.
For over two hours, she kept at it.
Shhh—
The thin carving knife finally stilled.
In that moment, the dagger’s blade shimmered with silver light as the engraved magic circle came to life.
Flash—
The brilliance was blinding for a second, then quickly faded.
“Haa…”
Riana exhaled in relief, shoulders slumping.
On the table lay a dagger, a tiny magic circle etched neatly into one side of its blade.
The very same circle that had just glowed.
“Ah… my shoulders…”
Fatigue crashed over her. Hours of uninterrupted focus had left her body aching.
She leaned back in the chair for a while, then pressed her eyes with her fingers before leaning forward again to carefully inspect the blade.
Shrrp—
Her fingertips brushed along the engraved surface, yet there was no unevenness at all.
She had carved the sigil with a tool as thin as a needle, but no marks remained visible to the eye.
Proof that it had been completed perfectly.
“…Halfway done.”
Tapping the blade lightly with her fingernail, Riana gave a small smile.
This dagger carried two enchantments.
The first, a restoration spell—to repair itself even if shattered.
The second, a recall spell. With just a thought, it would fly back into the hand of its rightful owner, no matter where it had been thrown.
A perfect choice for a weapon that could be used both in close combat and as a projectile.
Tok— tok—
Her finger drummed lightly on the blade’s flat.
But this dagger wasn’t meant for her. Nor for anyone in the Lerteum Order.
At the end of the hilt glowed a red magic stone.
The same shade as a pair of crimson eyes.
The eyes of its true owner.
“…Should I confess first, after all?”
It would only take a few more days to finish the work, but impatience gnawed at her.
Just days ago, in this very room, Riana had come to terms with her own heart—finally realizing her feelings for Ianheart were the same as his for her.
Had she not wanted to blurt it out right then and there? To tell him she loved him too, and apologize for realizing so late?
She could picture it clearly: Ianheart’s brief surprise, followed by that radiant smile and another confession in return.
“…Maybe I should have.”
She knew he was waiting for her answer, yet she’d held back.
Why? Thinking about it now, the reason felt a little childish.
She had wanted to confess while giving him this dagger, forged with the gifts he had given her.
Her laugh came out weak, tinged with self-mockery.
“…Well, it’s already half done. Just two or three more days and it’ll be finished.”
It was silly, maybe even childish, but the desire to give him something meaningful was genuine.
‘Please wait a little longer.’
Silently, Riana asked for his patience as she bent once more over her work.
Four days later.
With just over ten days left until the Founding Festival, delegations began arriving one after another.
The number of nations attending was far more than one could count on both hands.
From vassal states to desert kingdoms of the west, northern realms, and even the eastern empire across the sea.
“Thank you for making such a long journey.”
“N-not at all. This gift, from Cynthia, is to pray for the empire’s prosperity. We hope you’ll accept it with favor.”
“I’ll accept it with gratitude.”
At Ianheart’s slight nod, Count Chadwick, Minister of the Interior, stepped forward to receive the jeweled box.
The delegation’s faces brightened with relief.
“It’s an honor…!”
Cynthia was a distant nation, untouched even by the late emperor’s conquests.
Perhaps because of that, they feared the empire all the more.
Afraid they too might be crushed like the nations around them.
They can’t even meet my eyes…
Judging by how their expressions eased only when they looked at Count Chadwick, it seemed they found Ianheart even more terrifying than the empire itself.
Which was odd—since, when calm, his face was nothing but gentle and kind.
