Chapter 24
Step, step.
Ianhardt walked out of Liana’s palace and made his way straight toward the detached palace.
Thanks to the king’s nervousness after being half-threatened by Ianhardt’s “request,” not a single person dared to roam near the detached palace.
Squeak! Kyuu—!
Leon, in his tiny black puppy form, let out a pitiful cry as Ianhardt held him by the scruff of his neck. But no one could hear that desperate sound.
“If you keep barking like that, I’ll seal your mouth with magic.”
At Ianhardt’s cold warning, Leon immediately shut his mouth.
‘Seal it?! That’s so unfair! So unfair!’
Leon grumbled in his head, but in this form, he couldn’t say anything properly.
He thought that once they arrived at the detached palace, he’d quickly return to his real form and scold Lu, the one who dared grab the neck of a great divine beast.
“…!”
‘I’m sorry…’
The large black panther whimpered as it rubbed against Ianhardt’s leg.
A moment ago, Leon had been sulking about being a mighty divine beast, but now he looked like a completely different creature.
‘Lu, I said I was sorry…’
Leon’s whining echoed in Ianhardt’s mind, making the emperor’s brows twitch.
“Shut it. I’m trying to think.”
Even though Ianhardt gave a chilly warning, the eternally immature Leon didn’t stop. He slapped Ianhardt’s leg with his thick tail in protest.
‘What could you possibly be thinking about for 30 whole minutes?!’
Yes, even for a great divine beast, being stared at by Ianhardt for 30 minutes in total silence was too much.
Of course, Ianhardt was dumbfounded by this.
Just a moment ago, Leon had seemed guilty and quiet—clearly aware he’d messed up—but it had only taken 10 minutes for him to get cranky again. Talk about blaming the victim.
“You think now is the right time to throw a tantrum? You know who brought me here in the first place?”
‘T-That’s…’
Finally, Leon shrank back again.
“Explain yourself.”
Ianhardt leaned back lazily against the table, nodding at Leon.
‘What do you mean…’
“All of it.”
Leon tried to avoid eye contact, mumbling like he had no idea what Ianhardt was talking about, but Ianhardt cut him off coldly.
It was true that he had some curiosity and even a little personal interest in the princess.
When he met her not knowing her true identity, he was already impressed by her swordsmanship. And even after finding out she was the First Princess of Rown, he still thought she wasn’t bad.
But that was beside the point. He still needed to know what Leon’s true intentions were.
Besides, Ianhardt couldn’t stay in Rown forever.
‘At most… maybe two weeks.’
After that, he’d have to return to his original post.
So Leon only had two weeks max to convince him.
“If you won’t talk, I’ll just go back to the Empire tomorrow.”
‘No way…!’
At Leon’s panicked cry, Ianhardt gave him a cold, unamused look.
“Then start explaining.”
Meanwhile, back at the palace, under the deep navy sky.
The royal palace’s daily routine began even before the sun rose. But right now, it was still too early—even the stars seemed to be asleep.
Chirrrr… Chirrrr…
From the half-open window, the sound of insects and early birds filtered in gently.
It was the time of night when nocturnal creatures were most active.
“……”
Liana, still in her nightgown, sat at the window listening to those sounds, her expression unreadable.
She looked… angry? Or maybe sad. Even she couldn’t figure out what she was feeling.
“…People’s hearts are so ridiculous.”
She muttered quietly, looking down at a fancy-looking piece of stationery in her hand.
It was the reason she hadn’t been able to sleep all night.
Her eyes slowly scanned the letter.
“Your Highness, it’s been a while since I’ve written to you. This old lady has been too busy to find time, but I know you’ll understand. After all, you look just like your mother, Iella.
More importantly, I heard some wonderful news—you’re getting married soon, aren’t you?
I heard Her Majesty the Queen found you a good match. What a joyful thing… (letter continues)”
Crinkle…
Her hand clenched the letter before she could stop herself. But unlike before, she didn’t feel like smoothing it back out.
Liana stood silently by the window as the early morning breeze drifted in.
Then, without hesitation, she took off her nightgown and changed into a shirt and pants that were easier to move in.
She picked up the sword she had left on the stand and slipped out quietly without making a sound.
Step, step.
Her footsteps stopped behind the palace—in her private training ground.
Click—shing.
The sword slid smoothly from its sheath, catching the pale moonlight as it gleamed.
“…Maybe I’ll try that today.”
Whenever her heart felt heavy, moving her body helped. But she never swung her sword around carelessly.
As a knight, she believed that was disrespectful to the sword.
Placing the sheath aside, she held the blade at a slant and closed her eyes.
Whooosh…
A faint breeze blew as Liana imagined something in her mind.
And then, when the wind stopped—
Swish—
Her sword began to move gracefully through the air.
It flowed like water, the blade an extension of her body, tracing beautiful arcs.
A long thrust forward—then a turn of the wrist into a sharp upward slash. It was precise, yet fluid.
Under the quiet moon, half-hidden by clouds, the scene was completely still.
But watching Liana’s sword dance felt like hearing a gentle melody from somewhere.
It was a sword style that looked almost like a dance.
Hoo…
Finishing her final stroke, Liana exhaled slowly.
When she opened her eyes again, the sky had brightened just a little. Still dark blue, but softer.
“…You might as well come out now.”
Her voice broke the silence of the training ground.
To anyone watching, it might’ve looked like she was talking to herself.
But there was no shame in her expression as she turned her gaze toward a spot.
And soon, the reason became clear.
“Oh dear, I’ve been caught.”
A tall figure stepped away from a tree with a light smile.
Golden hair that looked like sunlight mixed with moonlight. It was the emperor.
He held a familiar sword in his hand, just like Liana.
“Guess I should’ve hidden my presence better.”
“You didn’t even try.”
She gave a half-laugh as she replied.
She’d noticed midway through her sword movements that he had deliberately let his presence show.
If he had truly wanted to hide, she wouldn’t have noticed him at all.
“I didn’t want to be called a creep for spying.”
He stepped into the training ground, his voice playful.
Liana’s gaze shifted to his hand as he flicked open the sword sheath.
“Moving your body is the best thing when your mind is noisy.”
From the tone of his voice, she could tell he was speaking from his own experience.
So… her face must’ve looked really awful right now, if even someone who barely knew her could tell.
Or maybe he had seen it in the way her sword had moved.
Then—
Thunk.
The emperor threw his sheath far to the side.
“I don’t know why you looked so troubled just now, but… if you’re okay with it, I’d like to spar with you. What do you say?”
He met her eyes and smiled—calm, not too heavy, not too light.
“When you’re like that, being alone won’t help at all. Trust me, I’ve been there.”
“Are you trying to comfort me?”
“Who knows… If you feel comforted, let’s just call it that.”
His low voice held no mockery and no unnecessary pity.
“…You’re kind.”
She didn’t mean to say that—but the words slipped out.
It was a word she thought she’d never use on this man.
“Me?”
The emperor chuckled.
“If Kion heard that, he’d faint. He’d think the princess had gone crazy.”
Not waiting for an answer, he started casually swinging his pale silver sword with a reddish hue.
Liana gave a faint laugh.
“You’re surprisingly self-aware.”
“Well, I’m not completely heartless, you know.”
So… does that mean he is rude and shameless? That ridiculous thought popped into her head.
But in the end, Liana admitted it.
At least for now—for this moment—she didn’t hate being around this man.
