CHAPTER 04
Damn redhead.
“Now, stop doing anything foolish and get some good rest. I’m on night patrol duty for a while, so don’t even think about escaping.”
With those words, the man gave Asilia a light push on the back and shoved her into the room.
Left alone again, standing awkwardly in the middle of the room, Asilia clenched her fists and glared at the door as if she could burn a hole through it.
Adrian de Monique.
Her rival on the battlefield—and the very man who had captured her and brought her to Moria.
‘Revilla’s public enemy.’
Asilia ground her teeth.
It was bad enough he’d interfered in battle, and now he was getting in her way here too.
Suppressing the rage that boiled up inside her, Asilia eventually threw the packed bag she had prepared onto the floor.
For some reason, she felt like that emperor was always standing above her, looming over her head. It left a foul taste in her mouth.
As soon as morning came, Asilia went to find Isaiah.
Contrary to her expectation that he would have been kept far away, she was told he was staying in the palace just beyond the fence.
“I can’t figure out the emperor’s intentions. I have no idea what he’s thinking…”
With a twisted expression, Isaiah leaned back on the sofa and rubbed his chin.
“So, what you’re saying is… the Emperor of Moria isn’t mocking you, but actually proposing marriage?”
Asilia nodded silently at the question.
The fact that a man like Isaiah—who rarely repeated questions—was asking her to confirm it again, meant that Cretes’ proposal was beyond absurd.
“If Revilla is planning a strategy to rescue you as a prisoner, then we, too—”
“Why?”
“…What?”
“Why are you thinking about escaping? This is actually a good opportunity.”
Crossing his legs, Isaiah smirked.
His expression was far too arrogant for someone speaking to a superior.
Tension clear on her face, Asilia waited for what he would say next.
“You haven’t forgotten your mission, have you?”
“…”
“There are protocols for what to do if you’re captured by Moria. I’m sure you were given them.”
His blood-red eyes glinted ominously. Asilia’s fingers trembled ever so slightly.
“Don’t tell me… the reason you surrendered to Moria so easily…”
Isaiah covered his lips with his finger, chuckling—as if to say hush,
and also, yes, you’re right.
“It’s time to carry out the order His Majesty always emphasized to you.”
“…”
“And I’m here to assist in that.”
Isaiah grinned, baring his teeth. Stretching with a satisfied sigh, he got up from the sofa, humming happily.
“Anyway, if the Emperor of Moria really meant that marriage proposal, it just gives us more chances to assassinate him.”
“…”
“So go on. Get married.”
Asilia’s lips parted slightly.
No matter what she felt, if Isaiah had been assigned to assist with her mission, she couldn’t refuse him.
To her, orders from a “mission aide” were no different than a direct command from the emperor.
“But, I’m sure His Majesty once said—”
“My lady.”
Isaiah cut her off sharply. Striding toward her, he leaned down beside the sofa.
Close enough that his breath brushed her cheek. His red eyes locked onto hers with grave seriousness.
“Your opinion doesn’t matter.”
“…”
‘In the execution of His Majesty’s orders, Asilia Restantis’ opinions are to be disregarded entirely.’
“You know that directive well, don’t you? You, of all people, know why it exists.”
Asilia closed her mouth at Isaiah’s words.
Looking away first, she avoided his gaze, and Isaiah straightened up again with a smirk.
Spinning once in front of her, he continued casually,
“They said the ceremony will be held in a month, right? I’ll try to procure some potent poison before then. There should be enough of our forces stationed here in Moria.”
“I’d better go scout things out now,” he muttered, heading for the door.
“Oh, and one more thing.”
“…”
“Congratulations on your engagement, Lady Restantis.”
With those words, he left without a second thought.
The door, wide open at first, slowly began to close on its own—just like her situation.
Even with the door open, she couldn’t leave.
And eventually, it would close again, locking her back inside.
“So I’m being congratulated on marriage, huh.”
Just as she was about to wallow in her situation, the door cracked open again.
And the person who spoke in a low voice was none other than the red-haired man—Adrian.
“Looks like the two of you didn’t agree on much, huh?”
How much had he heard?
Had he overheard the part about assassinating Cretes?
Asilia tensed, alarmed, but Adrian let out a soft “ah” and spoke again.
“I came in around the part where he said he’d try to get poison.”
“…”
“Don’t worry. I won’t tell His Majesty.”
“…Hah.”
Asilia let out a hollow breath, half-laughing in disbelief.
They were plotting to kill the emperor—and he wasn’t going to tell?
“You Moria people… Are you all insane? Or just completely disloyal?”
“What?”
“Even joking about taking your emperor’s life isn’t forgivable. Aren’t you even angry that a foreigner said that about your emperor?”
At that, Adrian raised an eyebrow and gave a crooked grin.
Leaning casually against the doorframe with his arms crossed, he looked thoughtful for a moment.
“Well, I guess if His Majesty were actually in danger of dying, I’d be mad.”
“…”
“But right now, I just… find it amusing.”
He shrugged as if he didn’t expect her to understand any of this.
“If you’re curious what I mean, try it and see for yourself.”
His tone was no different from someone inviting her on a casual walk.
It was flippant, carefree.
As if nothing she did could ever truly touch Cretes.
“So you came all the way here just to spew nonsense?”
“Oh, right. No, actually. His Majesty summoned you. I came to escort you.”
With a sigh of frustration, Asilia rose from the sofa. Straightening her clothes, she followed Adrian, who talked the whole way.
“They say Moria is the land of lies, huh?”
“Moria? Lies? Hey! It’s all true! And who the hell says Moria lies a lot?!”
He sounded almost like he was trying to build rapport. Eventually, Asilia asked him a question.
“You’re a Moria soldier. How can you accept the idea of the enemy general becoming your country’s empress overnight?”
Adrian, who had been babbling about other topics, went quiet.
After a moment’s thought, he rubbed his chin.
“I don’t like to overthink things.”
“…”
“His Majesty wants to accept you as a Moria citizen. So I’ll treat you like one too.”
Asilia frowned at the word “Morian.”
“So don’t overthink it either.”
They had arrived at their destination, and Adrian gave her a gentle push on the back.
“If you ever want to leave Revilla behind, just say the word. There are plenty of people here who’ll help make that happen.”
He gestured as if urging her to go inside, and Asilia raised her head to meet his crimson gaze.
His eyes were clear, free of doubt or fear.
It infuriated her.
He had no idea how hard it was to break free.
“You don’t know anything.”
She muttered that one line, then turned away and walked off. Adrian seemed like he wanted to say something—but she didn’t care.
Not far ahead, Cretes sat leisurely, sipping tea.
“I heard you called for me.”
“Mm, yes. You’re here. About the color of the dress for the wedding—I thought it’d be better for you to choose, not me.”
He spoke nonchalantly and handed her a sheet of paper with dress designs.
“I was about to bring that up, actually.”
“No refusals.”
“Fine. I’ll marry you.”
Cretes, who had been acting aloof, looked up in surprise. He turned away from the papers to look at Asilia.
“But I have conditions.”
Cretes rested his chin on his hand, gesturing for her to continue. In his golden eyes was the look of someone staring fondly at a loved one—and Asilia clenched her fists without realizing it.
“I’ll fulfill the role of Moria’s empress—publicly.”
“…‘Publicly,’ huh.”
“But that doesn’t mean I belong to you. No matter who I meet or what I feel from now on—you have no right to stop me.”
That was her condition.
She would give her body, but never her heart.
Even if they were married, he shouldn’t expect love or affection.
“Ha… haha… hahahahaha!”
He let out a breathy laugh, which soon turned into full-blown laughter. After a while, Cretes rose from his seat.
In a single step, he was before her—his golden eyes sharp and intense.
Reaching out, he wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her close.
“Go ahead. Try it, if you can.”
His gaze dripped with obsession.
His eyes swept over her like a touch, and Asilia swallowed dryly without realizing it.
“I won’t let a single man stand by your side.”
