Chapter 79
Consideration That Shakes the Heart
Harris, recalling the perilous situation from earlier, asked Chaelen:
“By the way, Duke, you felt it too, right? From Ellua.”
“What do you mean?”
“Up until now I didn’t think much of it, but today… I don’t know, she felt like a completely different person.”
Chaelen understood what she meant. It was only natural that Harris would feel that way.
“How could anyone stay that calm in such a situation? No—how many people could even throw themselves into danger like that?”
‘True.’
Chaelen had to admit that.
Ellua was a princess. Even if her skills could be explained away by training, he couldn’t confidently say he himself would have been able to do the same.
If Chaelen found it hard to understand, of course Harris would find it strange too.
“Do you think she’s hiding something from us?”
“And if she really is, my lady—what would you do?”
“I…”
While Harris was still considering her answer, they arrived before her carriage. Contrary to what Chaelen expected, she answered rather easily.
“Even so, I’d still be Ellua’s friend, just like now. Ellua doesn’t change just because of that. If anything, it makes me like her even more—I fell for her again, seeing how amazing she was.”
On that point, Harris was absolutely certain. Then she looked at Chaelen.
That was her stance—but what was his?
“For the first time, it seems your thoughts and mine are exactly the same, my lady.”
“Is that so? Thank you for coming with me today—and earlier, too.”
Satisfied with his answer, Harris nodded and climbed into the carriage. Before leaving, she opened the window and asked him:
“By the way, I’ve been wondering what to do with the one who orchestrated today’s incident. What do you think, Duke?”
“I’d say my thoughts on that matter would likely be the same as yours, my lady.”
“I like that answer. We do seem to agree quite well on these things.”
Harris flashed a bright smile, then her carriage rolled away.
Chaelen finally understood why Ellua was so close with Harris. Above all, it pleased him that they shared the same thoughts about Ellua.
‘That aside…’
“I really want to know who it was.”
Chaelen’s mind turned to whoever had plotted everything and placed Ellua in danger today. One thing was certain—he had no intention of letting them off lightly.
Ellua had finished her treatment and was resting in her room when Tervan entered.
She had already changed out of her riding clothes into a dress Borens had brought, and was leaning against the bed.
“Are you alright?”
“Yes, nothing worth worrying about.”
“That’s not what the palace physician told me.”
Tervan, who had witnessed everything from start to finish, could still vividly recall the moment she fell from the horse.
The situation had been so urgent he hadn’t even had the chance to intervene. Whether it was regret or guilt weighing on him, it pressed heavily upon his chest.
Ellua, her treatment complete, was ready to return to the palace. Jane must be worried sick after hearing about the accident.
“I should return now. Thank you very much for your help today.”
As Ellua rose with Borens’s support, Tervan looked at the dimming sky and—unwilling to let her go just yet—spoke impulsively.
“Why don’t you stay for dinner first?”
“Pardon? Dinner?”
“Yes.”
“Oh, well…”
Ellua hesitated, then glanced at Borens, as though asking what she should do.
Naturally, Borens gave the only answer she could.
“It would be good, my lady. You haven’t had a proper meal yet.”
‘Borens, really?’
‘Forgive me.’
After silently exchanging glances with her maid, Ellua finally nodded.
“Alright then.”
“Let’s head to the dining hall, shall we?”
Together, Ellua and Tervan left the room. But when they reached the stairs, she froze.
‘Of all things… stairs.’
Her legs and thighs were bandaged, and she faltered. Taking a breath, she gripped the railing and carefully stepped down one step at a time.
Borens, walking behind, hurried forward to help—but a hand had already reached out to Ellua first.
“Huh?”
She looked down. From one step below, Tervan was holding out his hand to her.
“Take it.”
“Take your hand…?”
“You must still be unsteady.”
Flustered at the hand extended to support her, Ellua hesitated. But his calm, patient gaze reassured her, and she gently placed her hand in his.
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
“Just be careful.”
“Yes.”
Matching her pace, Tervan descended one step at a time alongside her, ensuring she reached the bottom safely.
Moved, Ellua murmured her thoughts aloud:
“I never expected you to go this far for me.”
“I wonder what sort of man you take me for.”
“I didn’t think you’d be so considerate of the smallest things.”
Smiling faintly, Ellua’s words earned no reply—though it seemed Tervan didn’t deny them either.
Once at the bottom, she thought he would let go of her hand. Instead, he offered his arm.
When she hesitated, he simply stepped closer to her side.
“Isn’t walking difficult too?”
“Well… thank you.”
Dazed, Ellua laid her hand upon his arm. Leaning on him, walking was indeed much easier.
“I’ll wait outside. Please enjoy your meal in peace.”
“I’ll be fine, Borens. Return to the palace first.”
“No, my lady. You’re not fully recovered yet. I’ll wait here.”
Though Ellua tried to send her back, Borens was resolute. And so, only she and Tervan entered the dining hall together.
Left alone, Borens pondered. Tervan helping Ellua so tenderly was a complete surprise.
She had known the rumors about them were false. But seeing it firsthand with her own eyes… her convictions began to waver.
‘Is this really the emperor I thought I knew?’
His care for Ellua, the gentle look in his eyes, his every attention fixed solely on her—was this truly just her imagination?
The way they interacted was so natural, she couldn’t look away.
“I don’t know anymore, Princess,” Borens whispered to herself.
Meanwhile, seated in the dining hall, Ellua and Tervan waited for their meal.
The staff bustled about nervously—understandable, given the unexpected honor of serving the princess.
Soon, they brought out the food. Even at a glance, the dishes showed how much effort had been poured into them in such a short time.
“Today, we’ve prepared steak with some of the finest cuts of meat,” a servant announced.
“Thank you.”
“I hope it suits your taste.”
Salads and other side dishes were set down, with the steak as the centerpiece.
Once the servants departed, leaving only the two of them, Tervan spoke first.
“Please, help yourself, Princess.”
“Your Majesty as well.”
Seeing him pick up his utensils, Ellua followed—but then stopped.
‘Ah, I didn’t think of this.’
With her right shoulder bandaged, even cutting her food was difficult.
She glanced at Tervan, who was eating at ease, then tried to act natural, instead reaching for the other dishes.
She was hungry after everything today, but staring at the untouched steak in front of her was almost torment.
‘Why does it look even more delicious now?’
She poked half-heartedly at her salad. Just then, a hand reached over and took her plate.
“Huh?”
Following the movement, she saw Tervan carrying her plate.
“Why are you taking that?”
Without answering, he placed his own plate in front of her. To her shock, the steak was already neatly cut into bite-sized pieces.
“Your Majesty, this is…”
“You should eat that.”
Looking at her plate, Ellua realized he had been quietly cutting the steak for her all along.
He could have easily asked a servant to do it, yet he had done it himself.
As Tervan ate from the plate that had originally been hers, Ellua lowered her gaze, lips curving into a smile.
“Thank you.”
Just like earlier, his thoughtfulness made her heart feel warm and soft.
Seeing her staring at the food, Tervan teased lightly, perhaps embarrassed:
“Shall I feed you myself?”
“No, no, that’s not necessary!”
Flustered, Ellua quickly lifted a piece of steak into her mouth. It was delicious—every bit as good as it looked.
“It’s really good.”
“I’m glad you like it.”
“I never thought Your Majesty would do something like this. You’re… kinder than I imagined.”
At the word “kind,” Tervan faltered. It was something he had never expected to hear, nor had anyone ever told him before.
Ellua herself grew bashful after saying it, burying herself in her meal.
‘Why does it feel so warm in here?’
Yet, the awkward air wasn’t unpleasant—not for either of them.
When Tervan had first seen the steak, the only thought that came to mind was that Ellua wouldn’t be able to manage it.
Almost without realizing, his hands had moved to cut it for her.
That small act of consideration had changed the entire mood.
The discomfort of being alone together vanished, replaced by a gentle flow of conversation.
“You seem quite skilled at archery too,” Tervan remarked.
“I picked it up because I enjoyed shooting while riding. Of course, I was fortunate to have excellent teachers around me.”
“Your skill is better than most knights’. That’s no exaggeration.”
It wasn’t empty flattery—he meant it. He had expected as much, but seeing it firsthand had been astonishing.
“Coming from Your Majesty, that means a lot. I suppose I do have some talent, don’t I?”
Ellua brushed off his suspicion and surprise as though they were nothing, even looking pleased.
“Honestly, I couldn’t do it before. So I pushed myself, trying to learn as much as I could in a short time. My parents worried a lot about me.”
“Anyone would have.”
“I’m already worried about what happened today. Surely this won’t reach Zebenica, will it?”
That was her one and only concern now—that the news would remain within Lubein.
That it would never reach their ears.
Tervan said nothing, but he had already guessed the truth. Ellua’s accident would not stay secret.
They didn’t know it yet, but their fears would soon become reality.
