Episode 14
She couldn’t even remember how she had climbed the mountain.
Even when her maid called out from behind, she ignored her and just kept walking wherever her feet led her.
“Even if the land route is closed and the sea path opens, it will still be difficult to leave. The sea surrounding Moria is inhabited by sea monsters—no one can enter or exit Moria that way.”
The voice echoing in her ears was extinguishing every last spark of hope within Asilia.
But she refused to give up. Not until she saw it with her own eyes.
Formilla might have lied.
Clinging to that hope, she climbed. But the moment she reached the summit and looked out at the wide-open horizon, Asilia collapsed on the spot.
“Ha…”
A hollow laugh escaped her lips.
Her fingertips trembled, and the hope that had swelled inside her plummeted into despair.
The road she had walked in on…
Was gone.
The path she had taken with shaking legs, determined to return to Revilla no matter what—
It was nowhere to be seen.
“How…”
So that’s why he pretended to grant her freedom?
Told her she could freely roam outside the palace?
Told her she could do whatever she pleased?
Because there was no way out of the palace anyway.
It was all deception.
He pretended to be different from others, to be kind—but in the end, he was no different than anyone else who had ever tried to control her.
“Ha…”
Her mind went blank.
Staring out at the endless ocean before her, she felt nothing.
It was as if all possibilities had been blocked before she even had the chance to try.
“Asilia.”
A familiar voice came from behind.
He had probably known where she was and what she was doing, as always.
He had come all the way up here because he knew—he knew there was no way out.
“Is this… your way of doing things?”
She knew she had been treated well.
Even as a hostage, she had received better treatment here than in Revilla.
And yet, what surged through her now was betrayal.
Betrayal over his words—over saying he wanted to know her, wanted to give her freedom.
Asilia staggered to her feet and turned to face the man behind her.
The man with long black hair stared at her with eyes devoid of guilt. Instead, he looked at her as if this was all perfectly natural.
“So you tried to leave Moria.”
“……”
“I’ve never gone back on my word.”
Kretes took a step forward and stood in front of Asilia.
“Didn’t I tell you from the beginning? I’ll allow you anything—but not leaving Moria.”
He reached out and wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her into his embrace.
“If you truly want to leave, you’ll have to kill me first.”
Standing still in his arms, Asilia lowered her gaze.
“Fine.”
Wasn’t he supposed to be a god who couldn’t die?
“Then I’ll grant your wish.”
In that case, she would become the one who kills a god.
No matter what.
Kretes held his throbbing head and covered his eyes with an arm.
As he sighed for the third time in five minutes, Huimos cautiously spoke.
“It’s time for you to rest, Your Majesty.”
“…I’ll stay here tonight.”
Huimos’ eyes widened.
The man who always returned to his chamber like clockwork since the marriage—what had changed?
Wearing a suspicious expression, Huimos asked,
“Did you argue with Her Majesty?”
“……”
“Didn’t I say you shouldn’t close the land route?”
At that, Kretes turned his head and frowned.
“When did you say that?”
“Technically, I was going to, but you cut me off before I could finish.”
“So you’re saying… you knew Asilia would be mad if I closed it?”
Huimos nodded.
“If that’s what you were trying to say, you should’ve finished the sentence even if I interrupted!”
“W-what kind of logic is that?! You always get angry when I make you repeat things!”
“It’s different when it concerns Asilia!”
Kretes shouted, then paused—realizing how unreasonable he sounded—and let out another long sigh.
He hadn’t expected her to be that angry.
Well, to be exact, he had suspected she might be, but not this much.
Those eyes, brimming with betrayal.
When they looked at him like that, it felt like his heart was being ripped apart.
“I was just doing exactly what I said I would.”
“If your goal was to keep her from leaving, it would’ve been better to let her try and then bring her back.”
“Why?”
Kretes looked genuinely confused.
Whether she was caught escaping or never had the chance to leave in the first place—it was the same outcome.
“There’s a difference between trying and failing, and not being allowed to try at all.”
“……”
“When people feel truly powerless, they become far more dangerous. And don’t forget—Her Majesty is a knight.”
Knights are proud by nature.
They’re people who must prove themselves to survive—where competence is a matter of life and death.
Especially someone from Revilla, where they say it’s better to die than to be weak.
“…So you’re saying she might hate me now.”
“Not just hate. She might even despise you.”
Kretes let out another sigh at the blunt reply. Huimos just clucked his tongue and shook his head.
“Any solutions?”
“Why are you asking me for solutions?”
“Aren’t you my advisor? My marriage with the empress affects the nation. You should be the one finding answers.”
It was absurd, even for Kretes.
Huimos gave him a look of disbelief, but sighed in resignation.
“Seven days of paid leave.”
“Three.”
“Ten.”
“…Five.”
“Fifteen.”
“Fine! Seven! But if you don’t fix this, you’ll be working without pay for a month.”
At Kretes’ words, Huimos grumbled but nodded.
“Being hated by her is punishment enough. I’ll also take care of the requests Her Majesty has received.”
“…No, don’t.”
“Why not?”
“It might lead to more misunderstandings.”
“If you know that, then why did you close the route in the first place…”
As Huimos muttered, Kretes glared at him sharply.
That look said he’d be thrown out if he said another word. Huimos shrugged and continued.
“Still, it had to be said eventually. If she finds out we kept it from her, she’ll feel even more betrayed.”
“……”
“Don’t worry. I’ll explain everything to Her Majesty. And even if it goes badly… I’ll make sure she blames me.”
He tapped his chest with confidence.
Kretes sighed. Whenever Huimos acted like this, it meant he had a plan.
And he always got results.
“…Do whatever you want.”
Leaning back on the sofa, Kretes waved his hand dismissively, clearly done with the conversation.
Huimos gave a brief bow and quietly left the room.
“Still don’t understand human emotions, do you…”
What’s the point of living so long?
He had spent centuries among humans but had never tried to truly understand them.
Even with all that time, it was still difficult to grasp them fully.
“And I thought he was doing quite well…”
Huimos muttered, flipping through the documents in his hands.
He hadn’t advised Kretes much—just a few simple things:
Don’t lie. Be sincere. And make her feel like this place could become home.
He had thought they were almost there.
At this point, it wouldn’t be strange if Asilia opened her heart to Kretes.
“She must have really wanted to escape. In that case…”
Huimos muttered and slowly headed toward the training grounds.
There, a man was still swinging his sword even at this late hour.
It was none other than Adrian.
“Sir.”
At the short call, Adrian turned to Huimos.
Wiping away his sweat, he quickly approached and bowed respectfully.
“I’ve been meeting quite a few people here lately who don’t belong in a training yard,”
Adrian remarked, brushing off the sweat. Huimos stared at him in silence for a while.
The eldest son of Count Monique.
Though he came from a family that once dreamed of rebellion, that history made him all the more useful now.
After all, he couldn’t refuse an imperial order.
“I’ve heard that you’re somewhat acquainted with Her Majesty the Empress.”
“We’ve crossed swords enough. If that counts as ‘acquainted,’ then I suppose we are.”
“Then I have an order for you.”
