Chapter 56 …
Princess of Estum
Vintera and the reformists were busily moving to make Princess Lucilla the next emperor.
Meanwhile, the traditionalists, noticing this, were also seeking a way to make the Third Prince Terros emperor, even if he didn’t return.
However, neither side acted recklessly.
In short, the empire was like water on the verge of boiling.
Beneath the surface, schemes and battles of wits raged, while the surface itself remained calm.
On that calm surface, Euribe calmly carried out the duties of the empress, which she had grown accustomed to.
In truth, her heart was far from peaceful.
“I thought… maybe I wanted to leave this disgusting palace and return to my homeland.”
Vintera’s words kept echoing in her mind.
Home.
Estum.
When she had just been dragged into the empire, she had no time for such thoughts—she had been too shocked by the death of her parents before her eyes, the emperor’s abuse, and the strangeness of a new environment.
By the time she had adapted enough to wonder what had become of Estum, she had no power, money, or connections to find out.
She had no choice but to convince herself that since she had been offered to the emperor, Estum must be safe.
Then she had seen the witches massacred during the founding festival…
“You said that if I became empress, the remaining witches would be spared! Why…?”
“That was when you obediently became empress. Didn’t your mother kill my eldest and lay a curse?”
How could she put into words the despair she felt then?
Had “wiped off the map” meant the people of Estum were all annihilated? Did it mean everyone was killed and their land burned?
She had become royalty and could not protect her people from foreign invasions.
She thought she had atoned for this by offering herself to the emperor.
But she was wrong.
How worthless must a life be to change nothing at all?
How pathetic and incompetent must one be?
While clinging to a faint hope that some might have survived, she discovered that Leobach was from Estum.
“Leo.”
“Yes, Ma’am.”
Because they had addressed each other that way in front of others, they now used the same titles when alone.
“How… is Estum now?”
Leobach, aware of her feelings, answered without hesitation.
“According to the empire’s official statement, it has become an uninhabitable wasteland due to a great fire and plague.”
Euribe’s face went pale, and Leobach quickly added:
“That’s a lie to keep people away. Yes, they set fire around the castle, but the inside is intact. The plague is false too.”
“The emperor preserved the castle?”
Was he trying to find a way to lift the curse?
But there would be no clue anywhere to break King Elhart’s curse.
It was the first of its kind. Witches had remained witches because they harmed no one.
Even the king had to sacrifice his life for performing the curse.
The fact that the emperor was struggling to lift it, but could never succeed, was somewhat satisfying.
Though it was not entirely pleasant, because the price was her mother’s life.
“And the people of Estum?”
“……”
“Leo?”
Seeing Leobach hesitate made her nervous.
Had something too horrific happened to speak of?
Was he choosing his words to spare her the shock?
When Leobach finally spoke, his voice was strained and choked, as if caught in his throat.
“Immediately after the surrender, a massacre occurred. Soon after, they separated witches from non-witches. Witches were taken away, non-witches were sold as slaves. People like me, who escaped, are lucky. Poor, but free.”
“Do you want to return home?”
Home was gone.
Even if the buildings remained, without the people of Estum, what was Estum?
Despair pressed down on her, but she did not collapse or falter further.
One thought gripped her:
“I must reclaim my homeland.”
She would gather the scattered people, free those enslaved, and rescue those taken by the emperor.
Then, they would all return to Estum.
Home.
“Do you know where the escapees are?”
The determination in her voice made Leobach’s eyes shine.
After a moment’s thought, he spoke cautiously:
“There is a place a little distance from the castle where they live together. It’s like a hideout.”
“Really? Where is it?”
“A place called Acladi Hill. Would you like to go see it?”
The emperor’s attention was entirely on Vintera, and Nugos was confined to the prince’s palace, so no one would notice her absence for a day.
Deceiving the emperor—something she could not have imagined before—was now possible.
He no longer seemed an insurmountable mountain, or a god who knew everything.
He was just a petty old man, clinging to the masculinity stolen by her mother’s curse, trying not to be underestimated.
“It gets quite chilly at night, so make sure to bring your cloak.”
Countess Tramont fussed as she prepared Euribe for her outing.
Her face was full of worry, but she didn’t stop Euribe from leaving the palace, knowing the courage it took.
“And this.”
The last thing the countess handed her was a palace pass stamped with the emperor’s seal.
“Do not lose it.”
It was essential to return quietly without alerting the emperor.
“Thank you, Countess. I’ll be careful.”
The countess thought Euribe was simply inspecting the welfare project she had initiated—a sort of undercover check by the empress herself.
As she watched her off, Euribe sincerely hoped that one day she could reveal the truth to her.
After passing smoothly through the main gate, they rode the horses Leobach had prepared and headed outside the castle.
Riding against the wind, she felt as if she were flying, a long-awaited freedom.
Unaware of Leobach glancing at her affectionately as they rode side by side, Euribe focused on communicating with her horse, moving swiftly forward.
“Euribe, stop!”
After about an hour, Leobach finally urged her to halt.
Startled, Euribe looked around.
She had expected at least a small village, but all she saw was an open plain.
“Leo, this place…”
Leobach jumped off his horse and approached a large nearby rock, knocking three times as if on a door.
After a moment, part of the rock opened like a real door, revealing a middle-aged woman.
“It’s been a while, Leobach. Did you bring her with you?”
“No, today I brought a very special guest.”
He smiled and came back to Euribe, extending both hands.
With his help, she dismounted, lowered her hood, and faced the middle-aged woman with some tension.
The woman’s puzzled expression gradually shifted to recognition, and her eyes widened.
“E-Euribe Princess?”
“He-hello…”
“Princess!”
The woman jumped up and ran to grasp Euribe’s hands.
“Princess, have you been well? Oh my, your face has lost so much weight!”
Our princess…
Tears came to her eyes.
Even though she had never met this woman, she felt a warmth filling her as if reunited with family.
Yet that warmth also brought a heavy sense of guilt.
She had come out from inside the rock.
Were they living in a burrow beneath it?
It reminded her that just before the founding festival, a massive witch hunt had occurred.
Chased and driven underground, they had no choice but to hide.
“Come this way. Everyone will be delighted to see you, Princess!”
Euribe expected to go inside the rock, but the woman walked behind it.
“Ah, will the princess try it herself?”
“Try what…?”
The woman took Euribe’s wrist and placed her palm on the rock’s surface.
Without a word, Euribe instinctively understood what to do.
She infused the rock with magic, feeling the wind lift her slightly as the surroundings brightened instantly.
Blinking, the barren land transformed into a beautiful village.
Though it was night and few people were out, the streets were lit with lanterns, making it appear as though the village were made of gold.
“Welcome to Acladi Hill, Princess Euribe.”
