Chapter 59 …
Shall We Run Away Like This?
“Just a little further, and we’ll reach the imperial palace.”
“Ah.”
Before she knew it, the imperial palace appeared suddenly, like a surprise attack, while she was lost in thought.
Swallowing her breath, Leobach’s golden eyes darkened.
“Euribe, my lady.”
“Hm?”
“Shall we… run away like this?”
“Let’s run away together.”
It was the same proposal he had made when she had first been captured and brought to the palace.
What had she said back then? Ah, yes.
“The emperor said my mother was foolish and couldn’t protect me. But I’ll endure. I’ll endure and prove that my mother had other intentions, that this was all part of her plan. Even if I can’t see it now, she somehow protected me.”
Right, such audacious words.
Words spoken without seeing even an inch ahead.
Since then, whenever Euribe had been in unbearable pain, she would think back to that day.
Maybe she should have run away together.
Even if it meant living as beggars, at least they would have escaped the emperor’s grasp…
But no matter how many times she rewound time to that day, Euribe would ultimately make the same choice.
Because she was the daughter of King Elhart.
“If you wish it, Lady Euribe, I am ready anytime.”
Spoken seriously, his words carried both determination and a hint of sadness.
How could a person be so transparent?
Without thinking, Euribe reached out and caressed Leobach’s cheek.
Last time, refusing him had been easy.
This time, even though she had more reasons not to run, saying “no” felt impossible.
She even felt an impulse to forget everything and run away with Leobach.
“Leo.”
“Yes?”
“If I, a princess of Estum, accept the people of the Remegaton Empire as my subjects, would that be considered a betrayal?”
“…!”
Leobach’s pupils widened at the unexpected question.
This wasn’t really a question for him—it was more a question she was asking herself.
Was it right to suddenly feel such a sense of duty as empress?
But on reflection, it had been the emperor alone who destroyed Estum and carried out the witch hunts.
Moreover, looking around today, the commoners had been suffering under centuries of discriminatory policies from previous emperors up to the current one.
Now that the people of Estum were incorporated into the empire, if she acted properly as empress…
“I will kill the emperor and place a new ruler who can completely change this empire.”
Following Vintera’s suggestion, she had no desire to become emperor herself.
Killing the emperor didn’t automatically make anyone worthy of the throne, and she had no idea what Vintera’s ultimate plan was.
But if she could become a proper empress and help the people…
“Leo.”
“Yes, Mama.”
“I won’t run away. I have work I need to do. But…”
Euribe absentmindedly took Leobach’s hand.
“When things get tough, will you be my refuge?”
No sooner had she asked than Leobach’s golden eyes glimmered brightly, as if honey had been poured into them.
He seemed to feel a new sense of purpose too.
He bowed slightly, pressing a kiss to the back of Euribe’s hand.
As one would to a ruler.
As one would to a lover.
“Of course, my empress, Mama.”
“Has something happened to Euribe?”
The moment he received Leobach’s signal, Vintera had rushed to the Maze Garden, skipping greetings and going straight to the point.
Because the only reason he would ask to meet first was for Euribe.
“Oh, no, it’s not that…”
Leobach waved his hands frantically, overwhelmed by Vintera’s serious expression.
Rolling his eyes sideways to avoid her gaze, he looked like a puppy caught in the act.
Vintera’s eyes narrowed.
“If you want to get off lightly, speak quickly.”
At her words, Leobach immediately knelt and began confessing.
“I asked Lady Euribe if she wanted to run away with me. I acted on my own without consulting my lord. I’m sorry.”
“You asked what?”
“If I wanted to run away with her…”
Leobach said nervously, glancing at her. Vintera was surprised, but not angry.
“So she refused, I see?”
“Yes. She said she had work to do.”
“Hm.”
Now that she thought about it, Euribe had been unusually motivated lately.
Especially in welfare projects, and she wouldn’t back down even when clashing with ministers.
No one welcomed the sudden, brilliant transformation of an empress who previously couldn’t even raise her voice.
How could anyone willingly follow someone who used to be disregarded?
But legally and socially, no one could disobey the empress’s orders.
They had tried to find an emperor to restrain the empress who had gone rogue, but for some reason, the current emperor allowed the situation to continue.
The next person they tried was Princess Lucilla.
‘I handled the princess well,’ Vintera thought.
Lucilla had been annoyed, feeling that her responsibilities taken after the previous empress’s death had been usurped.
But Vintera did her best to persuade her.
The princess’s future responsibilities were the emperor’s work anyway. Let Euribe handle the empress’s duties temporarily, and focus on succession.
Fortunately, Lucilla trusted Vintera, and the ministers’ complaints were ignored by the royal family.
“It’s a good change.”
Compared to the first time they met in the palace, now…
A faint smile appeared on Vintera’s face.
If Euribe continued enjoying her work as empress, wouldn’t she eventually consider the throne herself?
For now, Vintera was still working to seat Lucilla on the throne as a backup, but from the start, the true heir Vintera had envisioned was Euribe.
“Sorry, I nearly ruined my lord’s plan.”
“No, I already told Euribe. My plan is for her happiness. So even if she had run away with you, I would’ve only wished her luck.”
“Still, I shouldn’t act on my own without your orders…”
“You’re no longer my subordinate, Leobach.”
“Excuse me?”
It took a few minutes for him to understand Vintera’s words.
When he finally did, Vintera watched the color drain from his face.
White, almost blue, Leobach stammered.
“M-My lord… w-why…?”
“You can’t serve two masters at once. That would be an insult to both.”
“What… do you mean?”
“The moment you became Euribe’s protector, you ceased being my subordinate.”
“No! I still…”
“Could you tell Euribe you still serve me? She’d feel a huge sense of betrayal.”
Leobach flinched at the thought, recalling their previous conversations.
“But I swore to serve you the moment I first met you.”
“That loyalty doesn’t have to be directed at your master.”
“Huh?”
“We’ll still be good friends, right?”
“Of course.”
Smiling, Vintera helped the kneeling Leobach to his feet.
“Don’t betray me, Leobach. That’s enough for me.”
“My lord…”
“From now on, just call me ‘Vintera.’ Besides, you started calling me ‘my lord’ on your own anyway. How many times have I told you it’s embarrassing?”
While Leobach was being scolded by Vintera in the Maze Garden, Euribe walked the opposite palace garden to clear her mind.
Wanting to clear her mind didn’t make it so.
There was so much she wanted to do for the people.
Schools for commoners, orphanages, hospitals, free kitchens, improvements to water facilities…
Implementing policy was easy.
Because Estum already had models for these, it was like having a ready-made answer.
At first, the ministers’ fierce opposition made her heart race, but over time, it became a kind of challenge.
She even felt a sense of achievement in persuading them and countering their arguments point by point.
In the end, opposition always came down to money, and the policy would ultimately pass according to Euribe’s plans. She always planned meticulously within the budget.
“Walking without guards?”
A man’s voice made Euribe jump and turn around.
A tall man in uniform, muscular enough to fill it tightly, was approaching.
A strand of black hair had escaped from his neatly tied hair, softly brushing his perfect nose.
Beneath it, sea-blue eyes shone warmly.
“Long time no see, Euribe.”
The Third Prince, Theros, had returned.
