Chapter 11: The Flame of Revenge Never Withers
In the Caspian Imperial Palace, the Empress’s reception room was enveloped in a tense silence. Katrina and Ben sat across from each other, each lost in their own thoughts without so much as glancing at the other. The quiet was broken by Ben, who sipped his wine, his blue eyes gleaming with anger.
“Your Majesty, what on earth is going on?”
Hearing her son’s mocking tone, Katrina clenched her fists. She had never imagined things would spiral this far. For his sake, she had removed Geoffrey from the position of Crown Prince and sent him to the frontier. Officially, he had been tasked with guarding the border, but in truth, it was a sentence almost equivalent to death—supplies and military provisions were barely provided. Yet Geoffrey’s return had completely ruined her plans.
Three whole years… it’s hard enough to believe he survived, let alone that he annihilated the enemy.
Recalling seeing him return unharmed from the banquet hall, her blood boiled. Ben had ignored her summons for days after that incident, furious.
“The Crown Prince… as for that matter, the investigation is still ongoing,” Katrina said, forcing herself to sound composed as she observed her son’s bloodshot eyes. The son of the former Empress, whom she had exiled to the frontier, had not only survived but had earned accolades on the battlefield. That much, she could understand—it took a dog to handle such a messy task, after all.
But how on earth did he manage to come here?
Her spies and mercenaries were everywhere, all hunting Geoffrey. It was incomprehensible that he had reached the capital unharmed.
Useless lot, every last one of them.
The people obsessed with money couldn’t get anything right.
As Katrina clicked her long fingernails in frustration, Ben suddenly shouted.
“Investigating now, after the threat has freely roamed the capital? You should have acted before he appeared in front of us! What did you tell me? That I should trust only the Empress!”
Ben slammed his glass onto the table, wine splattering everywhere. He stood abruptly, staring at the red liquid soaking the carpet, and continued:
“This is very different from what you promised, Mother.”
The word Mother shone in Ben’s eyes, sharp and dangerous. She scanned the room, wary of anyone overhearing their conversation. All the maids had been sent away, but she couldn’t relax.
“…Crown Prince, calm down. He currently has no power,” Katrina said.
Ben gave a bitter smile.
“Our poor Empress. Perhaps you should take a walk outside and see what rumors are spreading.”
Staggering slightly, Ben walked to the window, running a hand roughly through his own curly blond hair.
The nerve of him, with nothing but a crumbling fortress to his name.
Geoffrey’s gaze fixed on him, sharp and predatory. Nobles might kowtow to appease him and the Empress, but the public’s perception was a different matter entirely.
They say the real Crown Prince is Geoffrey, don’t they?
Though rumors followed him like shadows, praise for Geoffrey, who had earned distinction in war, was growing everywhere. Small cracks in public opinion could soon become uncontainable tides.
“You promised to remove him from my sight,” Ben continued.
“Yes, I promised,” Katrina said urgently, stepping closer to grasp her son’s hand.
“I have not forgotten my promise to give this empire to you.”
Her only son was her entire world. Though born from an affair with the Caspian Emperor, Katrina had never doubted that Ben was destined to wear the shining crown from birth.
“Trust your mother, okay?”
“Who would believe mere words, Your Majesty?”
Ben violently shook off her hand, pushed past her shoulder, and strode toward the door.
“I thought we might even have dinner together…”
Katrina murmured to herself as Ben paused, hand on the doorknob.
“If the Empress keeps her promise, then perhaps we can consider a meal.”
With that, he left without another word, slamming the door behind him.
“…Ben.”
Katrina collapsed into her seat, stretching her hands over her face, icy tears glinting in her blue eyes.
Mio woke on a sinking, soft bed, feeling as if she could float away.
A guest of the Caspian family.
It seemed plausible, even on second thought. She didn’t fully remember her past deaths—she knew she had died, but the process was hazy.
Yes… that fits.
If the book had also implanted every horrific memory along with her possession, she might have developed severe PTSD, unable to live normally.
I would have fainted just seeing Geoffrey’s face.
Leaning against the bed’s headboard, Mio lightly rubbed her lips with her fingers, trying to gather her thoughts.
It’s inside the book, but…
Not everything matched the story.
Even though it’s inside the book, I’m living here now.
And one more thing: Is Geoffrey really Geoffrey? If things don’t follow the original story, should this Geoffrey be treated as the same as the book’s?
What the… this is like asking which came first, the chicken or the egg.
Thinking of his arrogant face gave her a headache. But more pressing was her own health. After starving in the forest, her body ached; every joint creaked, and she grew dizzy from the slightest walk.
How can I even do anything in this state?!
Her few friends came to mind.
Where are they now? I left the forest while they were away; we probably can’t meet again.
The polar bear who always left her food and the deer who guided her to fragrant fruit and lush grass were her only friends.
Funny… I never made any human friends.
It wasn’t unusual—she never had many friends anyway.
“Enough with the sad thoughts!”
Her friends, unlike her, were likely living well.
I’m the weakest, so I just have to pull myself together.
Today was very important.
It’s the last day of the fortnight.
No matter what, she had to deal with Geoffrey…
A frown clouded Mio’s face at the thought. But if she hesitated, she would lose out. She leaned against the window with the breakfast that Loren had brought.
A knock sounded, and a man with sky-blue short hair peeked in.
“Am I disturbing you?”
“…No.”
She had seen him in the forest but couldn’t reveal that here.
“My apologies for the late introduction. I am Samuel Vale, assisting the Duke.”
Samuel’s cheeks flushed slightly as he bowed.
“I’m Mio,” she said.
The introduction felt awkward. Everyone here assumed she was Geoffrey’s biggest fan.
“The Duke has requested your presence briefly, so I have come to escort you.”
Ah, that’s why he brought a chair. Mio exhaled deeply.
We always seem to meet right after breakfast.
She could wait until after digesting her meal. Besides, tonight she planned to sneak into his bedroom.
So there’s really no reason to see him now…
Yet she accepted his request. A Geoffrey fan refusing him would be strange.
Samuel helped her sit and slowly pushed her chair along.
“The office is on the same floor, so it won’t take long.”
As they passed the plush carpeted hallway, Mio thought about the man behind her. Though youthful in appearance, he must be an adult to assist the Duke.
And he has a surname, so he’s probably noble.
Samuel’s round eyes and appealing features were cute. Could she be happy forever with someone like him? It was uncharted territory, but her heart swelled with hope.
Not the blond, blue-eyed prince, but not bad either.
She had never forgotten her goal—she had to find someone other than Geoffrey.
The solution must be nearby.
She imagined marrying Samuel and picking fruit in the forest.
Samuel spoke, breaking her daydream.
“How’s your health?”
His voice was genuine.
He really cares about me… how kind.
Geoffrey had threatened her or held a knife to her neck but never wondered about her condition.
“I’m much better now,” she said.
They chatted amiably as they crossed the hall, finally arriving at the Caspian Duke’s office. The dark door was tall enough for a giant to pass through.
He’s in there.
Swallowing nervously, the door slowly opened.
“The Duke, I’ve brought her.”
“Come in now.”
“…Ah, yes.”
Sunlight poured through the large window, and only Geoffrey’s voice was audible.
Being alone with Geoffrey makes it hard to breathe.
Her head felt hot, steam rising from her nose, and her lower abdomen tingled slightly. Mio squeaked in her chair, and he jumped up to draw the curtain halfway across the window.
“Satisfied now?”
What was he saying this time? She could understand Loren and Samuel, but Geoffrey’s words were oddly confusing.
“Didn’t you want to see me?”
…Ha.
She was supposed to act overjoyed at seeing the face she had long adored.
It’s not that I dislike your handsome face… but it’s not that extreme…
And he said it so nonchalantly—it was brazen.
“Of course. I couldn’t sleep all night wanting to see you.”
Her face twisted with pain and embarrassment, but Mio pinched her thigh and forced a smile.
