IMFTISL l CH 119 EPILOGUE

EPILOGUE 01………………………………………

A chaotic day drew to a close. Yulia was on her way back to her room after sparring with Rexin.

“Lady Yulia, a letter has arrived from Gerolta.”

“What?”

Startled by Miletta’s words, Yulia stopped in her tracks. Seeing her reaction, Miletta herself blinked in surprise. News of a letter from Gerolta should have been good news, but Yulia’s behavior seemed suspicious. Sheepishly, Yulia scratched the back of her head and took the letter.

“Ah, right. I did send a letter. Thank you, Miletta. Make sure to let me know immediately if any more letters arrive.”

“…Yes, Lady Yulia.”

While all the palace staff’s attention was focused on Geneia, who had returned from a near-death experience, Yulia had to handle this matter herself. She hadn’t come to Enahim under the escort of Gerolta. If she had, she wouldn’t have needed to sneak among the merchants. Besides, since Enahim had recently experienced chaos caused by the beasts, people in Gerolta might already be worrying that something had happened to Yulia.

As soon as Miletta left, Yulia opened the letter.

It wasn’t a long message. It simply stated that if Yulia didn’t return, they would come to Enahim in person.

‘If my sister finds out, she’ll try to kill me.’

So she had to handle this on her own. First, she had to send a letter to ensure that no one set foot in Enahim.

Yulia managed to get outside, past the royal palace. Although the beasts had vanished at once, the lingering unease among the people remained like residue throughout the city.

She hadn’t intended to send a letter, but the thought of someone actually arriving from Gerolta… was terrifying.

‘If Bati comes, it’ll be a disaster.’

Yulia had come to Enahim impulsively after an argument with her husband. Naturally, she did miss her sister and nephew. Yet the nostalgia stirred by a single letter written in the imperial language was greater than she expected.

‘It’s about time I paid my family a visit!’

Even a single visit seemed excessive. Yulia clicked her tongue in irritation.

She had never intended to settle permanently in the Empire after leaving Gerolta. How could she?

Her husband was the king of Gerolta. She was the queen. No matter how things had been at first, Gerolta was now her home.

‘Those big, chattering fools…’

The king’s close attendants had stirred her impulse. In Gerolta, all royal aides were knights, who normally served as attendants.

Bartolo probably never intended to come to Enahim personally. The boisterous attendants must have encouraged it, suggesting that Yulia might actually consider returning to Enahim from Gerolta.

Still, Yulia did feel she had stayed in Enahim too long.

She had left in a fit of anger, and due to the Empire’s unstable state, news had been delayed. Unintentionally, she had worried those left behind in Gerolta.

Yet she refused to abandon Geneia and Rexin in a dangerous situation and flee back to Gerolta.

She absolutely did not want to flee Gerolta a second time.

Her plan was to write a letter explaining everything. Bartolo was subtly susceptible to emotional appeals.

If only it weren’t for those meddlesome attendants.

She could have asked Miletta and the palace staff to deliver the letter, but the matter needed secrecy. Geneia could not learn of the news from Gerolta.

‘Besides, my sister is very busy with her soon-to-be husband.’

Why risk interference and hear the Grand Duke scolding her? Yulia shook her head.

“Stop here.”

When she shouted at the carriage driver, the vehicle promptly came to a halt.

Yulia quickly jumped down and headed straight for the trading area frequented by Geroltan merchants.

The hall was already bustling with merchants from Gerolta and various inland tribes.

Yulia shook her head and walked through without hesitation. She quickly found the group of merchants who had come with her to Enahim.

[Lady Yulia!]

[Meg.]

The Geroltans were each broader than the average Enahim person.

Meg, too, carried a visibly heavy load with a calm expression. She waved cheerfully at Yulia.

[Are you leaving now?]

[Yes. I was just about to contact you. We don’t know when we’ll come again… Is it really okay if I don’t notify His Highness?]

Meg’s worried eyes scanned Yulia. Since arriving in Enahim, Yulia had declared she would send no news to Bartolo until her anger subsided. Meg was still asking whether that decision still held. Yulia shook her head.

[I came here for that reason too. Please deliver this to Bati.]

[……Would you like to stay a bit longer here?]

Meg seemed slightly reluctant even as she took the letter.

It made sense; Yulia was no longer a child from Enahim. She was now the proud queen of Gerolta. Her origin or name no longer mattered.

The people of Gerolta genuinely loved her. Meg was no exception.

So, no matter how much she had argued with the king, Yulia believed it was time to return “home.” Her excursions had been sufficient.

Home was no longer Enahim—it had to be Gerolta.

Still, Meg spoke, despite her belief.

Yulia immediately understood what Meg wanted to say.

[Don’t worry, Meg. I’m going back to Gerolta. That’s my home.]

Once reassured, Meg smiled and nodded.

[So, I just deliver this to His Highness?]

[Yes. Tell him to wait; I’ll be there soon.]

[Understood. You really must come quickly. You know how much His Highness scolds me…]

[Don’t you trust me? I’m the queen of Gerolta.]

Yulia straightened her shoulders, showing her muscular arms.

Still, they weren’t even half the thickness of Meg’s forearms. Meg laughed heartily.

[Take care, then.]

[You too, Meg.]

Yulia’s Geroltan farewell was just as natural. She pressed her hand to her forehead and then her lips, offering a blessing.

‘That settles Bartolo’s matter. I need to get back quickly.’

After parting with Meg, Yulia returned to the carriage with a much lighter heart.

“Phew.”

The driver’s voice rang out as they maneuvered through the chaotic crowd.

The man watching Yulia board the carriage and disappear exhaled sharply.

[See! Magnolia has been scheming with the queen!]

[Watch your words, Shasha.]

The man, called by a surprisingly cute name for his size, pouted. His dark red hair was just like Meg’s.

[You’re too much! I asked where the queen went.]

Unable to restrain himself, he began chattering again. This time, he didn’t try to silence the man but watched carefully in the direction the carriage had vanished.

[Yul, she looks like she’s lost some weight.]

[…….]

Shasha knew well that even if he wanted to comment, it wasn’t his place to say so.

Who could stop these two lovebirds?

All he wanted was to bring the queen back to Gerolta quickly.

The traces of the beasts were still visible around the city. Of course, the queen wasn’t easily intimidated. Shasha began again to vent his lingering annoyance toward Meg.

It had only been two days since she had started taking frequent walks again.

I finally understood why Aksion was so obsessed with walks.

‘I’ll be a good husband to His Highness.’

The voices of countless suitors saying the same thing no longer mattered, but Aksion had apparently witnessed it all.

I didn’t need to see to know how anxious he must have been when I spoke to other suitors under the guise of a walk.

“What are you thinking to have such a look in your eyes?”

“What do my eyes look like?”

“You’re looking at me as if you’re about to devour me.”

“What are you saying?”

I scolded him for the misunderstanding but wasn’t entirely innocent. Indeed, I had looked at him that way.

“Now I understand everything.”

Aksion answered not with words but with actions. He seemed to know exactly what I was thinking. When we returned to the past, he had found me during my walks. His breathless arrival showed his sincerity.

He could find me so quickly because he knew how many walks I took.

“Who did you dislike the most?”

“They were all worthless.”

“I know that. But you must have worried, right? That I might impulsively accept a proposal.”

With someone like Aksion, it was easy to imagine me acting impulsively. He frowned, agreeing silently with my words. I giggled at that.

“The only truly scary moment was just once.”

“When?”

“When you tried to leave Enahim.”

“…….”

I knew that well. It had been Yulia who went to Gerolta on my behalf.

“I’ve never even met the king of Gerolta. Even if I had, nothing would have changed.”

“But I didn’t like it.”