~Chapter 6~
The letter contained only a short message:
The duke will arrive tomorrow. Prepare to receive him.
I clearly warned them. I said His Grace would return soon.
As proof, the Empress had granted entry permission.
And yet—
What if no preparations had been made to welcome the duke?
What if he discovered that the Empress had taken it upon herself to live in a separate room?
He would surely fly into a rage.
Whoever it was, Duke Lauchen despised anyone who dared challenge his authority.
If she’s scolded by the father she so desperately seeks approval from, she’ll shrink back.
And once that happened, the Empress wouldn’t dare lay a hand on someone like herself—one of the duke’s people.
* * *
Meanwhile, Izaya was flipping through the ledger Melanie had given her.
Items clearly present in the warehouse are missing here… As expected, it’s a fake ledger.
She let out a faint chuckle—only for it to fade into a sigh as she recalled Melanie’s confident expression.
Still arrogant, I see. Not even realizing she’ll be eliminated by Duke Lauchen in the future.
Before her regression, Melanie had indeed been killed by the duke.
The official charge was embezzlement… but the real reason was petty and utterly ridiculous.
Izaya no longer wished to see anyone die at her father’s hands.
Even if Melanie had been disloyal, she was still one of Izaya’s subordinates.
Her gaze turned cold as she looked down at the ledger.
Fine… giving Melanie a chance wouldn’t be so bad. After I firmly establish discipline.
She turned her eyes toward the imperial palace.
A soft smile curved her lips.
He must be asleep by now.
A new room. And for the first time, sleeping separately from her husband.
Naturally, it wouldn’t be easy to fall asleep.
Still, there was much to do tomorrow.
Drawing the curtains, Izaya closed her eyes.
Let’s sleep… even if I have to force it.
* * *
Late into the night, Ern’s sword carved elegant arcs through the moonlight.
Nearby, Hans watched him, unable to sleep.
“Your Majesty, it is late.”
But Ern ignored his attendant’s plea, his gaze fixed on the Empress’s palace.
His grip tightened around the sword.
With a swift motion, the blade cut cleanly through the training dummy.
It was a strike so fast that only a master could follow it with the eye.
Yet to Hans, it looked like nothing more than frustration—vented over being forced to sleep separately from the Empress.
At this rate, if His Majesty doesn’t sleep, it could harm his health…
Then Hans noticed the slightly worn condition of the sword and came up with an idea.
“Your Majesty, the blade appears damaged. It should be sent for repairs. Perhaps you should end your training and retire for the night.”
Ern looked down at the sword.
“If you learn how to use a sword, it might come in handy.”
It was what Izaya had once told him, when she gave him the practice sword—back when he had only pretended to listen during his lessons.
Ern clenched his teeth.
“Throw it away.”
With that, he flung the sword aside irritably.
Clang!
Hans picked it up and bowed.
“Yes, I will dispose of it.”
Just as he was about to place it among the discarded weapons—
A hand landed on his shoulder.
“I’ll keep using it. Repair it.”
Hans forced a smile, hiding his suffering.
This is killing me…
At this rate, he would be up all night following the Emperor.
He had to find a way to make him sleep.
As Hans racked his brain—
“What? You argued with your wife because of night duty?”
“Yes. She stayed up waiting and got angry… I don’t know how to fix it.”
Voices of oblivious knights drifted over the wall.
Hans frowned.
Of all times… discussing marital issues when His Majesty is already troubled…
He was about to intervene—
“Stay out of it.”
Ern stopped him.
Hans sighed inwardly.
Hans, you are the Emperor’s closest attendant. If His Majesty loses his temper, you must stop him—even at the cost of your life.
So the two silently listened.
“She wouldn’t even tell me why she was angry—just kept getting mad.”
“You said she stayed up waiting? That means she couldn’t sleep without you.”
“I-Is that so?”
“Of course. She’s upset because you were late. If you want to fix it, bring her flowers on your way home.”
“Flowers? How many?”
“You’ve never given flowers before?”
“…I always had servants do it.”
“The more, the better. A few are nice—but the more there are, the prettier they look.”
“Is that true?”
A new voice suddenly joined the conversation.
The knights froze as they turned—
Their faces went pale.
“Y-Your Majesty!”
“What brings you here…?”
Ern frowned slightly.
“Answer me first.”
“Yes! It’s true! My wife said so herself!”
A faint smile appeared on Ern’s lips.
“I see. Thank you.”
Then he turned to Hans.
“Reward them.”
Reward…? Don’t tell me…
Only then did Hans understand.
So he wasn’t angry about the quarrel… he was frustrated because he didn’t know how to make up.
Perhaps—just perhaps—he wouldn’t have to stay up all night.
Filled with hope, Hans spoke quickly.
“Yes, Your Majesty. I will also arrange flowers as soon as poss—”
“I’ll get them myself.”
“…Pardon?”
But Ern had already disappeared.
Hans was left behind, uneasy.
He’s never given flowers himself before…
A bad feeling crept over him.
This… should be fine, right?
But he had no idea—
That his worry would soon become reality.
* * *
In a secluded corner of the Empress’s garden—
Someone stood before a mountain of roses, looking deeply satisfied.
This should be more than enough to calm her anger.
Ern stared toward the Empress’s palace—
More precisely, toward the room Izaya had begun using that day.
Then—
His eyes widened.
The lights are off?
It hadn’t even been a full day since they started sleeping separately.
And yet… she was already asleep?
“She couldn’t sleep without you.”
The knight’s words echoed in his mind.
Ern clenched his fists.
“I’ll always stay by your side, Your Majesty.”
He had believed those words.
Taken them for granted.
But now—
Looking at the darkened palace, he realized the truth.
She didn’t care at all about sleeping separately.
A wave of betrayal crashed over him.
“…Liar.”
He muttered quietly, turning away.
But—
His feet wouldn’t move.
* * *
Late at night, in a shabby building near the capital—
A black-haired man entered, and those waiting inside immediately bowed.
“Welcome, Your Grace.”
“There should be something you report to me first.”
The man kneeling in front handed him a document.
“Baron Ailbier, who was searching Mount Garten in the north, reported seeing someone resembling him.”
“…Is this one certain?”
The man fell silent.
After all, similar reports had already led the duke on fruitless chases in the east.
“Can’t even find a single man… Are all my subordinates incompetent?”
The room grew tense.
Then—
Someone entered.
“Duke, this…”
The man read the letter, his blue eyes darkening with anger.
“Is this all true?”
He handed it to a guard.
“Yes. According to this, the Emperor and Empress are currently living separately.”
“…It’s true?”
He had doubted it.
“Why?”
“I’m not sure. But the Empress suddenly moved her residence.”
The man crumpled the letter, his expression turning vicious.
“Izaya, you foolish girl—!”
He turned sharply.
“We proceed to the palace as planned.”
Normally, entering imperial quarters required permission—
But he had already informed his daughter.
There would be no issue.
* * *
Warm sunlight brushed against her face.
Izaya slowly opened her eyes.
Morning already.
The unfamiliar room—
And the empty space beside her—
Left a hollow ache in her chest.
He slept well… didn’t he?
Of course he did.
Even before her regression, Ern had lived just fine—pretending she wasn’t there.
A bitter smile crossed her lips as she looked into the mirror.
The real problem is me.
In her dreams—
She saw him crying.
“Izaya… please… don’t die!”
She knew he would never say such words.
And yet—
The image of him weeping lingered vividly.
Izaya shook her head sharply.
Now isn’t the time for this.
