Chapter 54 …
A Splendid Return
“Did you have a good trip?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
By the time the Emperor had fully dealt with Nugos’s atrocities, Princess Lucilla had returned from her overseas tour.
Had she returned just a bit earlier, she would have had to clean up Nugos’s mess herself. Had she returned slightly later, she would have faced the Emperor’s wrath. The timing was, indeed, perfect.
Moreover, the Emperor, utterly exhausted from traveling across the country to search for Vintera and dealing with the aftermath of his son’s actions without rest, desperately needed a capable daughter now more than ever.
“I heard Vintera was found injured. Is she alright?”
“She is. The witch hunters kidnapped her. She was near death, but the Empress treated her. She’s fully recovered now, but we couldn’t let anyone know magic was used, so we hid her in her room under the pretense of recovery.”
“You allowed the use of magic, Your Majesty?”
“There was no other choice given the urgency of the situation.”
The Emperor was slightly irritable, aware of the contradiction in his actions.
“After treatment, I placed a magic restraint bracelet back on her, so there’s no need to worry.”
She had benefited from magic, and yet he immediately restrained her powers again? Lucilla stared, incredulous at his extreme ingratitude—but the Emperor was too absorbed in other matters to notice.
“I should grant Vintera the title of Marquess.”
“A Marquess title?”
“This time it was the witch hunters, but who knows next time? It could be the Empress, or a conservative noble.”
Lucilla didn’t fully understand why he still distrusted the Empress, but she quietly listened for now.
“I must give Vintera a definite status. I was complacent thinking just having her by my side was enough. How dare they attempt a kidnapping right under my nose!”
The Emperor ground his teeth in anger.
“By giving her the Marquess title along with land and a pension, she can build her own power. That will give her the strength to protect herself. Nobles won’t dare to ignore her. Even future emperors won’t be able to challenge her recklessly after I’m gone.”
“And on the day she’s granted the Marquess title, I will officially appoint her as my consort.”
As an official consort, she could intervene more actively in diplomacy, politics, and culture. Vintera already handled much of this work, but now she could silence those who complained.
“I hear you are close to Vintera. You will prepare the title conferral ceremony.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
After the audience with the Emperor, Lucilla returned to her office. In fact, she had come back in response to Vintera’s message, letting her know she would soon be ‘discovered’ by the Emperor and when she should return to the palace.
As expected, Nugos had botched the Emperor’s regent duties, and both the Emperor and the nobles realized her worth. Vintera’s receipt of the Marquess title was an unexpected boon.
Lucilla hoped Therros wouldn’t return at all. Seeing that he hadn’t come back yet, she wondered if he truly intended to die on the battlefield. With a small glimmer of hope, Lucilla began preparations to confer the Marquess title on Vintera.
In the deep night, when everyone was asleep, Vintera finally reunited with Leobach.
“It’s been a while, my lord. Are you alright?”
Though separated for a long time, they walked naturally together through the Maze Garden as if they had met only yesterday.
“I’m fine. It’s the first time I’ve been this badly hurt, though.”
“What happened?”
“I kept leaving clues so the witch hunters would linger nearby, waiting for the right moment to reveal myself.”
“You were waiting for Nugos to run wild?”
“Yes. I intended to be discovered injured by the Emperor. I only meant to get slightly hurt, but the bloodstone arrow struck me…”
It had been a desperate situation. Since using magic risked being witnessed unexpectedly, Vintera used the terrain to evade the witch hunters’ attacks. Knowing the Emperor was close behind, she thought she only needed to hold out a little longer—until the arrow hit her.
Thwack!
The sound of flesh tearing, blood splattering, and bones breaking was louder than thunder. She felt as if her whole body was shattering.
She lost consciousness briefly and, when she regained it, was falling backward. Hitting her head on the ground, she blacked out again, and upon waking once more, she was being violently assaulted by the witch hunters.
The pain at the arrow wound was so intense she didn’t even register the other blows.
Is this how I die?
Unable even to take revenge. She would only kill the Emperor, yet foolishly risked the empire itself. So meaningless.
“What are you doing?! Can’t you stop?”
A man yelled in rage, standing up to the hunters.
Thank goodness.
The Emperor had finally arrived…? No, his voice sounded too young to be the Emperor…
“We were only following orders from the captain…”
“You were told to subdue, not to kill, right?”
A large shadow fell over her as strong hands pulled the arrow from her body, then began emergency treatment as best they could—though the wound near her chest was difficult to touch properly.
Who is this…
The last face she saw before losing consciousness again was Count Dukal’s—but his expression was strange.
Wasn’t he hoping I’d die?
Why did he look so desperate? That was her last memory. When she came to again, Eurive was tending to her wounds.
“A bloodstone arrow… you could really have died!”
Leobach’s terrified shout brought Vintera back to reality. Why had she even cared about Dukal’s expression?
“I didn’t die. Don’t shout, it hurts my head.”
Though Vintera groaned, Leobach spoke firmly.
“Please, no more dangerous stunts. What if you really die?”
“Alright, alright. I’ve learned my lesson. But even if I die, I’ll take my revenge.”
“Don’t die after your revenge!”
“Got it.”
Seeing him about to scold her further, Vintera quickly changed the subject.
“Anyway, I survived thanks to Eurive. Removing the bloodstone couldn’t have been easy.”
As expected, mentioning Eurive relaxed Leobach’s expression.
“I’m glad you survived safely. Tell me what happened.”
A month later, the Emperor announced that Vintera had fully recovered and declared she would receive the Marquess title.
Although conservative nobles opposed the move, it only reinforced the Emperor’s determination to give Vintera definite power. Nobles from all over the country gathered for the ceremony.
The palace, more lavishly decorated than ever, easily erased memories of the bloody feast Nugos had held months earlier—if anything, it was slightly overdone.
Considering that Empress Eurive had neither a proper coronation nor a wedding, the extravagance was extraordinary. Even in a society of polygamy, handling a consort’s introduction as a state event was unheard of.
Those who entered the grand hall with discomfort were further shocked to see the Emperor and Empress seated side by side at the high table. They might have been better off not attending at all. Poor Empress, even if a puppet, looked pitiful today.
When the appointed time came, trumpets sounded and Vintera walked slowly through the left doors under the spotlight.
Amid the jewel- and gold-studded hall, her simple red dress made her stand out and appear even more elegant. Nobles seeing her for the first time—or even again—could not help but marvel at her beauty. Perhaps the understated dress highlighted her natural beauty.
Her long black hair flowed over her shoulders like a river. The Emperor twitched, as if wanting to escort her himself. His eyes never left her.
Finally, Vintera stood before the Emperor and bowed, and he smiled brightly. Standing close together, people noticed their outfits matched in color. Vintera and the Emperor looked more like a married couple than the Emperor and Empress.
The Emperor lightly placed the ancestral sword of the royal family alternately on her shoulders.
“I hereby confer upon you, Vintera, the title of Marquess.”
He then took the medal from the cushion held by a courtier and placed it around her neck.
“I hereby declare you my official and sole consort.”
As the announcement concluded, Vintera suddenly wrapped her arms around the Emperor’s neck and kissed him.
