CHAPTER 02
“I don’t recall ever hearing that the Emperor of Moria was mad.”
Asilia murmured to herself without realizing. Yet even as Cretes heard himself being called insane, he only laughed.
“If thinking me mad makes things easier for you, then go ahead. Maybe believing that will bring you peace of mind.”
“Peaceful or not…”
Asilia spoke slowly, biting off each word as she brushed away the hand at her waist.
“Do you really think I’d accept such a statement?”
“Whether you accept it or not…”
Cretes began, echoing her tone.
“You don’t have a choice.”
At his resolute words, Asilia frowned instinctively. But Cretes only stepped back, still calm, and gave an order.
“Phymos. Begin the preparations we’ve put off.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“She’s tall, so lengthen the hem of the dress. Her hair is silver—adjust the colors accordingly.”
Cretes stroked his chin, scrutinizing Asilia from head to toe. His handsome face was void of any humor; he was completely serious.
“Is this how Moria humiliates prisoners—by dragging them in and talking of marriage?”
“Humiliation…? Still, isn’t it better than how Revilla treats its prisoners?”
For a moment, Asilia was left speechless. As he quietly approached, Cretes leaned in and whispered.
“This is all for your sake.”
His voice was like honey melted into silk—deceptively soft, making it sound as though everything would be fine if she just listened.
“The Emperor of Moria is not someone easily understood. Don’t speak too long with him. You’ll fall for that snake-tongued devil if you’re not careful.”
There wasn’t a single false word in that warning.
She didn’t know exactly what Cretes was plotting—but she was sure it was nothing she wanted.
“…Nonsense.”
“Call it nonsense if you like—but that will make Moria a dangerous place for you.”
“…”
“If you’re curious what I mean, you’re welcome to find out. But—”
He reached out and took her chin in his hand.
She could’ve resisted, but she didn’t move.
There was something in his eyes—something overwhelming, an emotion too vast to name.
It was like one touch would unleash a flood of everything he had held back.
So she simply kept her mouth shut.
“You won’t be allowed to refuse.”
“…”
“Now that you’ve stepped into Moria, you’ll never be allowed to leave.”
With that, Cretes turned his back on her.
He casually decided on living arrangements for Asilia and Isaiah, and just before leaving the audience chamber, he added one last word.
“Then, I’ll see you again—before you’ve made up your mind.”
“…”
“Asilia.”
He spoke her name softly, wrapping his tongue around it like silk, and walked away without hesitation.
Sitting on the couch, Asilia chewed at her nail while scanning her surroundings.
The room Cretes had provided was far too luxurious for a prisoner.
It was filled with dazzling ornaments and lavish furnishings. Swords were even displayed on the walls—as if no one considered she might use them.
Asilia bit her lip.
What was she supposed to do in a situation like this?
“Orders… I need orders…”
She was nervous.
There were only two things Asilia had ever been taught:
How to lie when tortured as a prisoner.
And how to take her own life if that lie was discovered.
Or—if she were sold into slavery—how to kill her master and escape.
She’d received no training beyond that. It was only natural that fear rose in her.
Without realizing, she bit into her nail again.
But no answer came.
“Do not think. Act only according to orders. That is the reason you are still alive.”
The cold voice echoing in her mind silenced her thoughts.
To Asilia, thinking was a luxury—something she wasn’t allowed.
So it was no surprise she couldn’t come up with a way to escape.
“Isaiah…”
Maybe he would know what to do.
Asilia sprang to her feet and grabbed the doorknob—
Just as someone knocked.
“Lady Restantis. Pardon the interruption.”
The polite voice made her fingers tremble.
What should she do? Should she grab them and make threats? But then what? Should she demand to be released?
Her thoughts tangled.
The doorknob turned, and the door opened. She instinctively stepped back—and before her stood a man holding a tray.
A face she hadn’t seen nearby before.
“Were you planning to go somewhere?”
“…Do I have to report every little thing I do?”
Her voice was sharp with suspicion. The man only smiled and stepped inside.
Closing the door behind him, he passed her and said,
“Haha, no need to be defensive. But…”
He trailed off, then suddenly closed the distance behind her. As Asilia hesitated over whether to leave—
“Ghk!”
A hand suddenly wrapped around her throat.
Asilia struggled, twisting her body as the hand squeezed harder. Bloodshot eyes glared into hers as the man growled,
“You—you—think you can become Moria’s Empress?”
His face was a mask of pure, hateful rage.
“My brother died because of you. And now you dare…!”
As his grip tightened, Asilia raked her nails across the back of his hand.
“Kh… kgh…!”
Her vision began to blur.
She gathered her strength to kick him in the gut.
Is this it? Am I going to die… like this?
So suddenly, so meaninglessly?
“I knew this would happen.”
A drowsy voice came from behind the attacker.
Startled, the man let go of Asilia’s neck and jumped back.
“Y-Your Majesty…!”
His eyes darted between her and the emperor before he dropped to the floor in a panic.
“You know this room is off-limits to anyone without permission.”
Cretes’s eyes were devoid of emotion.
So cold, Asilia almost doubted he had ever looked at her gently at all.
“…”
“Will you pretend ignorance and leave, or stay and pay the price?”
Arms folded, he asked calmly.
“…I’ll leave.”
At the man’s reply, Cretes waved a hand, and the tightly sealed door opened.
“Out.”
At that single word, the man shot Asilia a death glare, then exited the room.
Asilia watched silently… and finally exhaled sharply.
Though the pressure on her throat had vanished, she still struggled to catch her breath.
“What was… just now…”
She hadn’t expected everyone here to be kind.
Of course not.
She was a knight. She’d killed hundreds—maybe thousands—of Moria’s soldiers.
She had let her guard down, lulled by the peaceful journey from the battlefield to the palace.
“I told you, didn’t I?”
“….”
“That your safest option is to become Empress of Moria.”
Even if she was treated kindly now, she was still a prisoner.
So if a citizen of Moria tried to harm her, it wasn’t like anyone could be punished.
No one would step in for a mere prisoner.
With a brief sigh, Cretes stepped closer.
He crouched in front of Asilia, still sitting on the floor, and took her chin in his hand, frowning.
“You’re injured.”
She had no way to defend herself, had been completely overpowered.
Of course she’d been hurt.
“He went for your neck this time… The next one may come with a blade.”
He said this as his fingers brushed against her skin. As his large hand passed over her throat, the swollen flesh began to calm and heal.
“…What…?”
A mage?
But no—no spell was chanted. No magic circle. Even the greatest mage couldn’t heal with just a touch.
Has Moria really placed such a man on the throne?
Come to think of it, earlier too—she’d been alone, and yet Cretes had suddenly appeared out of nowhere.
While she was still breathless from the encounter—
He leaned in, close enough to kiss her.
So close, she could feel his breath.
He studied her expression closely, then his face twisted in disappointment.
“That’s not the face of someone afraid of death.”
“….”
“No matter how seasoned a warrior may be, they still fear death when it stands before them.”
At his words, Asilia lowered her gaze.
“If you don’t obey, you die, Asilia. Move properly. Act precisely.”
All the threats she’d ever heard had carried her life in their grip.
She didn’t want to die meaninglessly—but the idea of death itself never frightened her.
“I don’t know what kind of life you’ve lived…”
Cretes raised her chin again with the same hand that had healed her.
Their gazes met—his unwavering golden eyes locking with hers. For some reason, she thought she saw a flicker of anger in them.
“Giving you time to think any further… is a luxury I won’t afford you.”
His tone was tightly controlled, as if suppressing his temper.
“Marry me. Peacefully. And I’ll protect you.”
A proposal she never wanted to hear.
